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4th Battalion, Kings Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment
4th Battalion, King's Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment, was a unit of the Territorial Force with their HQ in Ulverston. They served with the North Lancashire Infantry Brigade, West Lancashire Division. When war broke out in August 1914 they had just departed for annual camp when they were recalled to home base, they mobilised for full time war service on the 5th of August 1914 and concentrated at Bedford. In April 1915 the North Lancs Brigade joined 51st (Highland) Division and were renamed 154th Brigade. They proceeded to France in May, landing at Boulogne. The Division concentrated in the area of Lillers, Busnes and Robecq and were rushed to the defence of Ypres, being in action until the 19th of May when they moved to Estaires on the River Lys. They were in action in the The Battle of Festubert and The Second Action of Givenchy before moving south to The Somme taking over the line near Hamel. On the 6th of January 1916 the battalion transferred to 164th Brigade, 55th (West Lancashire) Division. The Division relieved the French 88th Division south of Arras, they moved to The Somme in late July taking over a section of front line near the village of Guillemont. They were in action at the The Battle of Guillemont, The Battle of Ginchy, The Battle of Flers-Courcelette and The Battle of Morval. The Division moved to Flanders in october 1916 and took over the front line between Wieltje and Railway Wood. In 1917 they were in action at Pilkem Ridge and Menin Road Ridge during the Third Battle of Ypres. They moved south to Cambrai where they suffered very heavily during the German Counter Attacks on the 30th of November 1917. In the Spring of 1918 they were in action in the Battle of the Lys including the Defence of Givenchy on the 9th to the 17th of April. In October they took part in the Final Advance in Artois. After the Armistice they were ordered to advance through Belgium and occupy the Rhine bridgeheads, but these orders were with drawn and the Division was demobilised in Brussels between January and April 1919.
5th May 1915 On the Move 
6th May 1915 Orders
8th May 1915 Orders
9th May 1915 In Reserve
10th May 1915 In Reserve
11th May 1915 In Reserve
12th May 1915 In Reserve
13th May 1915 In Reserve
14th May 1915 On the March
15th May 1915 In Reserve
16th May 1915 In Reserve
17th May 1915 In Reserve
18th May 1915 Orders Received
19th May 1915 Reliefs
21st May 1915 Trench Work
22nd May 1915 Trench Work
23rd May 1915 Some Shelling
24th May 1915 Intermittent Shelling
25th May 1915 Occasional Shelling
26th May 1915 Intermittent Shelling
27th May 1915 Heavy Shelling
28th May 1915 Quiet Day
29th May 1915 Line Advanced
29th May 1915 Instructions
30th May 1915 Order Received
1st Jun 1915 Reliefs
2nd Jun 1915 Trench Work
3rd Jun 1915 Trench Work
4th Jun 1915 Reorganisation
5th Jun 1915 Quiet
6th Jun 1915 Relief Complete
7th Jun 1915 Orders Received
8th Jun 1915 Orders
9th Jun 1915 Preparations
10th Jun 1915 Preparations
11th Jun 1915 Preparations
12th Jun 1915 Orders
13th Jun 1915 Artillery Active
14th Jun 1915 Artillery in Action
14th Jun 1915 Orders
15th Jun 1915 In Action
15th Jun 1915 Attack Made
15th Jun 1915 Report
16th Jun 1915 Attack Made
16th Jun 1915 Attack Made
16th Jun 1915 Communication
16th Jun 1915 Report
16th Jun 1915 Orders
17th Jun 1915 Reliefs
18th Jun 1915 Orders Received
19th Jun 1915 Artillery in Action
23rd Jun 1915 Trench Work
24th Jun 1915 Orders
25th Jun 1915 Orders Received
26th Jun 1915 Reorganisation
27th Jun 1915 On the Move
28th Jun 1915 HQ Moves
29th Jun 1915 Orders Issued
30th Jun 1915 Mine Explodes
10th Sep 1915 Working Parties and Instruction
11th Sep 1915 Enemy Aircraft
12th Sep 1915 Reliefs
16th Oct 1915 The Derby Scheme
1st Dec 1915 Derby Scheme Armlets
11th Sep 1915 Last day of Derby Scheme Recruitment
10th Jan 1916 Group System Reopens
9th February 1916 Call Ups
20th of July 1916 In Brigade Reserve Billets
7th Aug 1916 Reliefs
16th Mar 1917 Reliefs
If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
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| Want to know more about 4th Battalion, Kings Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment? There are:5300 items tagged 4th Battalion, Kings Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.
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Those known to have served with4th Battalion, Kings Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment during the Great War 1914-1918. - Collin VC. Joseph Henry. 2nd Lt. (d.9th Apr 1918)
- Collin VC Joseph Henry. 2nd Lt. (d.9th April 1918)
- Dronsfield Alfred. Pte. (d.19th April 1918)
- Ebdell Thomas. Pte. (d.8th Nov 1918)
- Edmondson John. Rfm. (d.1st Nov 1918)
- Fearn Joseph. Pte.
- Foy James. Pte. (d.20th Nov 1917)
- Gorman George. Cpl. (d.18th Aug 1917)
- Jackson MM. Joseph Henry. L/Cpl. (d.5th December 1917)
- Metters Edward John. Pte. (d.15th June 1915)
- Plummer Charles William Sheppard. Pte.
- West William James. Pte. (d.20th Nov 1917)
All names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
please Add a Name to this List
Records of 4th Battalion, Kings Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment from other sources.
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2nd Lt. Joseph Henry Collin VC 4th Btn. King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment) (d.9th April 1918)  Joseph Collin was killed in action 9th April 1918, aged 24 and buried in the Vieille-Chapelle New Military Cemetery in France.
An extract from The London Gazette, dated 25th June, 1918, records the following:- "For most conspicuous bravery, devotion to duty and self-sacrifice in action. After offering a long and gallant resistance against heavy odds in the Keep held by his platoon, this officer, with only five of his men remaining, slowly withdrew in the face of superior numbers, contesting every inch of the ground. The enemy were pressing him hard with bombs and machine-gun fire from close range. Single-handed 2nd Lt. Collin attacked the machine gun and team. After firing his revolver into the enemy, he seized a Mills grenade and threw it into the hostile team, putting the gun out of action, killing four of the team and wounding two others. Observing a second hostile machine gun firing, he took a Lewis gun, and selecting a high point of vantage on the parapet whence he could engage the gun, he, unaided, kept the enemy at bay until he fell mortally wounded. The heroic self-sacrifice of 2nd Lt. Collin was a magnificent example to all."
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L/Cpl. Joseph Henry Jackson MM. 1/4th Battalion Kings Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment) (d.5th December 1917)  L/Cpl Joseph Jackson was a 23 year-old member of the 1/4th Battalion, King's Own.
He was born in Askam in 1894 as the son of Joseph and Ann. In 1901 the family was living at 92 Steel Street. Joseph had eight siblings, Mary, Elizabeth, Alice, John, Margaret, Anna, William Penny and Fanny.
His father was an ironworks labourer, who died in 1902 in a mining accident, aged 45, and is buried in St Peter's Churchyard, Ireleth.
In 1911 the family were living at 139 Steel Street and L/Cpl Jackson was a miner at Roanhead Mines for the Kennedy Brothers.
At the time of his death in 1917, the family was at 79 Steel Street.
In 1918 his mother was granted a pension of eight shillings (40p) a week.
Joseph was a pre-war territorial soldier and won his Military Medal for gallantry at Blairville in May 1916. Under intense bombardment he took ammunition to two guns of the 164th Trench Mortar Battery, despite being hit by a piece of shrapnel.
He was also presented with a gold watch from the people of Askam and Ireleth to mark his distinguished service.
The Barrow News on 25th of August 1917 noted that he was badly wounded and had been missing since July.
It noted, "His many friends regret this gallant soldier's misfortune, but are looking forward to seeing him again soon."
By 22nd of September news reached Askam that he was a prisoner of war and was in a hospital at Munster with a broken leg, which was later amputated.
He died of his wounds in hospital on 5th of December 1917 but news of the soldier's death did not reach his mother until February the following year.
L/Cpl Jackson injury and capture was part of the Third Battle of Ypres, the struggle though the mud towards Passchendaele.
Information researched by Linda and Joan Martin (Family members).
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Cpl. George Gorman 12th Btn. Kings Liverpool Regiment (d.18th Aug 1917) George Gorman was killed in the Battle of Langemark on 18th of August 1917 serving with the 12th Battalion, King's Liverpool Regiment.
He was originally in the 4th Battalion Kings Own Lancaster Regiment.
He lived in Tyson's Square, Ulverston, then on Lancashire and was married to Margaret Ann. They had 2 children, William and Edith Mary.
George worked as a shipyard labourer.
George's parents William and Mary Gorman lived in Moseley Street, Blackburn, Lancashire.
George was born in Kendal, Cumbria.
George is remembered on the Cenotaph in both Kendal and Ulverston.
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Pte. Alfred Dronsfield 1/4th Btn. Kings Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment (d.19th April 1918) Alfred Dronsfield was my great Uncle, he went to war with my Grandad James Dronsfield, who returned. As a child I remember when asked about the war he was not happy to talk about it. However I heard from a cousin that he was shot three times at Gallipoli. Having visited Uncle Alfreds grave in Festuberg I was moved to tears to realise just how young they were.
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Pte. William James West 1/4th Btn. King's Own Regiment (d.20th Nov 1917) My Great Grandmother Clara Roberts was William West's wife. I wouldn't be here if he hadn't sacrificed his life. Clara remarried to have my Grandmother.
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Pte. Thomas Ebdell 5th Battlion, B Coy. South Wales Borderers (d.8th Nov 1918) Born on 15th May 1899 Tom Ebdell was too young to join up when the first world war broke out. So he lied.
On 19th August 1915 Tom enlisted as 3606, Private, in the 4th King's Own Royal Lancashire Regiment, 2nd/4th Battalion, B company. But on February 26th 1916 he was discharged for being under the age of 17.
There is no record of Tom going home. He had been training in Wales at the time of his discharge, maybe this is why he then almost immediately became Private 49552 of the 5th Battalion South Wales Borderers.
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Pte. James Foy 4th Btn. King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment (d.20th Nov 1917) James Foy, Private 28023, served in the 1/4th Btn. King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment and is remembered on the Malton War Memorial (Sadlers).
James was born on 15th November 1877. He married Mary Ann Ward on 1st July 1908 and between 1909 and 1916 they had five children.
On 28th February 1917, James was called up and enlisted at Newcastle and he was posted to 80th TR Battalion.
On 1st March James joined 80th TR Battalion (Preston?.) On 8th June of that year, he embarked at Folkstone and on the same day disembarked at Boulogne. On 9th June he joined the BEF at Etalpes (80th TR Batt). On 23rd June James transferred to 1/4th Kings Own Royal Lancs ("B" company?), and on 15th July he joined the battalion.
On 31st July 1917 the battalion was involved in the Battle of Pilckem Ridge. On 20th September they took part in the Battle of Menin Road Ridge.
On 1st November the 1/4th was at Lempire east of Peronne under Lt Col G.B. Balfour. On 3rd November they were at Longagavesnes (playing football and training up to the 19 November).
20th November saw the battalion involved in the Battle of Cambrai. Zero hour was set at 6.20.am. At 6.22 A, B, and C company went over the top. At 6.37 A coy tried but failed to contact B coy. By 12.40am it was all over, with 81 reported missing, 11 dead and 120 wounded.
James Foy was recorded as missing in action. He had served 267 days.
On 28th November his disc was forwarded to the Central Office for effects by the battalion of an infantry regiment.
A request to London from Preston for any personal possessions to be forwarded to Mary was made on 8th January 1918.
On 26th January James was listed on the official German list of the dead (Y.78172). The next day Mary was informed but told his death had to be confirmed as fact.
On 4th July 1918 Mary received notice of a pension award (£37/11s a week to commence on 22nd July 1918). (NB James is still officially missing.)
James's ID Discs are forwarded from Preston on 26th November 1918 and on 28th November 1918 Mary acknowledges receipt of Discs.
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Pte. Charles William Sheppard Plummer 4th Btn. Kings Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment) Charles William Sheppard Plummer, known as Bill, was my grandad. He was born on the 6th Feb 1896 in a hamlet called Limpool on the borders of Notts and Yorks. His father was a shepherd.
Bill joined the Lincs Regiment on 3.12.1914. He was awarded The Silver War Badge and discharged because of wounds on 19.9.1917. The Silver War Badge no. is 273533.
He married Harriet Reek on the 30th May 1918 at Brant Broughton near Newark and he died on 28th August 1981.
I have tried to find out where he fought but to date I have been unsuccessful. I think his war records may have been amongst those burnt.
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2nd Lt. Joseph Henry Collin VC. 4th Btn King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment) (d.9th Apr 1918)  Joseph Henry Collin was awarded his commission on the 28th August 1917
He was the son of Joseph and Mary Collin (nee McDermont) of 8 Petteril Terrace, Harraby Carlisle, he was born 10th April 1893 in Jarrow.
He was 24 years old and a Second Lieutenant in the 1/4th Battalion King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment when he was awarded the VC for his actions on 9th April 1918 at Givenchy France.
Citation: For most conspicuous bravery, devotion to duty and self-sacrifice in action. After offering a long and gallant resistance against heavy odds in the Keep held by his platoon, this officer, with only five of his men remaining, slowly withdrew in the face of superior numbers, contesting every inch of the ground. The enemy were pressing him hard with bombs and machine-gun fire from close range. Single-handed 2nd Lt. Collin attacked the machine gun and team. After firing his revolver into the enemy, he seized a Mills grenade and threw it into the hostile team, putting the gun out of action, killing four of the team and wounding two others. Observing a second hostile machine gun firing, he took a Lewis gun, and selecting a high point of vantage on the parapet whence he could engage the gun, he, unaided, kept the enemy at bay until he fell mortally wounded. The heroic self-sacrifice of 2nd Lt. Collin was a magnificent example to all.
(The London Gazette, 25 June 1918)
His Victoria Cross is displayed at The King's Own Royal (Lancaster) Regiment Museum, Lancaster from the 26th August 2006.
The bronze memorial memorial plaque to Second Lieutenant Joseph Henry Collin VC of 4th Battalion King's Own Royal Regiment, was successfully bid for by the Regimental Museum at a recent auction in Carlisle. Thanks to public donations, the Museum fought off three other bidders to secure the plaque for £2500. It will now be displayed alongside Collin's VC.
Joseph is buried in Vieille-Chapelle New Military Cemetery Lacouture and is commemorated in the Palmer Hospital in Jarrow.
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Rfm. John Edmondson 1st Battalion The Rifle Brigade. (d.1st Nov 1918) My Paternal Great Grandfather, John Edmondson, enlisted at Dalton in Furness on 7th August 1914 with the 4th Battalion of Kings Own Lancashire Regiment.
From 1915 to 1918 John sent my Great Grandmother (his girlfriend), Jane Wall, known as Jenny, many postcards from France, the last one received was in September 1918.
On John's Record for Soldier's Died in the Great War his Regiment was the Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own) 1st Battalion, Rifleman B/202112
(Comments: Formerly S/4/122327 R.A.S.C). He died of his wounds on 1st November 1918 and is buried at Ramillies British War Cemetery, Ramillies, Pas-de-Calais, France, Grave Ref: G.24.
The very sad thing about this story is that he never knew that Jenny was pregnant with his son when he died. She brought up their son by herself, which I know in those days must of been tough as a single mother. Although through her life Jenny had a few chances of marrying she never accepted the proposals and died in her 92nd year a single lady.
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