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5th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment
The 5th (Service) Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment was a Kitchener Battalion, raised at Reading on the 25th August 1914. They underwent training at Shorncliffe, Folkestone and Malplaquet Barracks at Aldershot. They proceeded to France on the 31st of May 1915 and served with 35th Brigade in 12th (Eastern) Division on the Western Front. They underwent instruction withthe more experienced 48th (South Midland) Division and took over a section of the front line at Ploegsteert Wood on the 23rd of June 1915. They were in action in The Battle of Loos from the 30th of September, taking over the sector from Gun Trench to Hulluch Quarries consolidating the position, under heavy artillery fire. On the 8th they repelled a heavy German infantry attack and on the 13th took part in the Action of the Hohenzollern Redoubt, capturing Gun Trench and the south western face of the Hulluch Quarries. During this period at Loos, 117 officers and 3237 men of the Division were killed or wounded.By the 21st they moved to Fouquieres-les-Bethune for a short rest then returned to the front line at the Hohenzollern Redoubt until the 15th of November, when they went into reserve at Lillers. On the 9th of December, 9th Royal Fusiliers assisted in a round-up of spies and other suspicious characters in the streets of Bethune. On the 10th the Division took over the front line north of La Bassee canal at Givenchy. On the 19th of January they began a period of training in Open Warfare at Busnes, then moved back into into the front line at Loos on the 12th of February 1916. In June they moved to Flesselles and carried out a training exercise. They moved to Baizieux on the 30th June and went into the reserve at Hencourt and Millencourt by mid morning on the 1st of July. They relieved the 8th Division at Ovillers-la-Boisselle that night and attacked at 3.15 the following morning with mixed success. On the 7th they attacked again and despite suffering heavy casualties in the area of Mash Valley, they succeeded in capturing and holding the first and second lines close to Ovillers. They were withdrawn to Contay on the 9th July. They were in action in The Battle of Pozieres on the 3rd of August with a successful attack capturing 4th Avenue Trench and were engaged in heavy fighting until they were withdrawn on the 9th. They moved north and in 1917 were in action at Arras in The First Battle of the Scarpe, The Battle of Arleux and The Third Battle of the Scarpe. They remained in the Arras sector until the 30th of October when they moved to Hesdin for the Cambrai offensive in which the Division suffered heavy losses. On the 6th of February 1918 rhe 5th Berkshires transferred to 36th Brigade still with 12th (Eastern) Division. In March 1918 they moved by motor lorry from Busnes to Albert and were in action in The Battle of Bapaume and spent the spring engaged in heavy fighting a the enemy advanced across the old Somme battlefields. On the 1st of July 1918, they attacked Bouzincourt. but were repelled by the enemy. They were relieved on the 10th and moved to the area south of Amiens. They were in action in The Battle of Amiens and were engaged in heavy fighting from the 22nd pushing the enemy back and capturing Meaulte, Mametz, Carnoy, Hardecourt and Faviere Wood with in a week. In September they were in action in a successful attack on Nurlu and pursued the enemy back to Sorel Wood. They were in action during The battles of the Hindenburg Line, including The Battle of Epehy and The Battle of the St Quentin canal. In October they fought in The Final Advance in Artois reaching the Scheldt Canal by the 27th. They were withdrawn for rest on the 30th and after the Armistice moved to the area east of Douai and were engaged in battlefield salvage and sports until demobilisation began.
25th Aug 1914 5th Battalion, Bershire Regiment raised 5th Battalion, Berkshire Regiment is raised at Reading, a part of Kitchener's first army, they join 35th Brigade in 12th (Eastern) Division.
14th Jun 1915 In Reserve 
20th Jun 1915 In Reserve
27th September 1915 Orders
7th Oct 1915 Reliefs
13th Oct 1915 On the Attack
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
21st August 1916 Battalion relieved in trenches
18th Oct 1916 Orders
19th Oct 1916 Under Shellfire
1st Jan 1918 Training
2nd Jan 1918 Training
3rd Jan 1918 Training
4th Jan 1918 Training
5th Jan 1918 Moves
6th Jan 1918 Moves
7th Jan 1918 Training
8th Aug 1918 Attack Made
13th Aug 1918 Prisoners Taken
22nd Aug 1918 Attack Made
22nd Aug 1918 Village taken 
Mark V (Female) tanks of the 4th Battalion, Tank Corps, passing through Meaulte on 22nd of August 1918, the day the village was captured by the 5th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment of 12th Division. © IWM (Q 7301)
25th Aug 1918 Attack Made
6th Sep 1918 Ground Gained
25th Sep 1918 Medals Awarded
If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
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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 with5th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment during the Great War 1914-1918. - Aston Robert John. Pte. (d.10th August 1918)
- Bennett Charles. L/Cpl. (d.3rd Jul 1916)
- Betteridge Frederick Alfred James. Pte. (d.25th Oct 1916)
- Birkby Henry Alexander. 2nd Lt. (d.20th Apr 1916)
- Birkby Henry Alexander. 2nd Lt. (d.20th Apr 1916)
- Blight Thomas Henry. Pte. (d.26th Aug 1918)
- Breach MC. Alfred D.. Lt.
- Cornish George Henry. Pte.
- Costello Thomas. Pte.
- Epsly MM &2 Bars. Grigg Francis. Sgt. (d.5th April 1918)
- Evans MM. William Henry. Sgt.
- Eyles Thomas Charles. Pte. (d.15th Oct 1916)
- Fellowes Basil Hamilton Abdy. 2nd Lt. (d.22nd March 1917)
- French William. Pte. (d.24th June 1917)
- Godfrey Albert. Pte. (d.18th June 1918)
- Goodwin William Alfred. Pte. (d.30th Nov 1917)
- Hansford Frederick Henry John. Pte
- Jones Arthur Inkerman. Pte. (d.8th Mar 1918)
- Martyn William Frederick. Pte. (d.25th August 1918)
- Mount Francis. Capt. (d.13th Oct 1915)
- Parker Edmund. Pte.
- Pawling Reynard. Pte (d.19th October 1916)
- Peace Thomas. Pte. (d.5th April 1918)
- Rolls William. Pte. (d.16th Oct 1916)
- Sampson Harold Stanley. Pte. (d.18th September 1918)
- Sillence Alfred Frank. Pte. (d.19th October 1915)
- Swain John. Pte. (d.11th Aug 1918)
- Tambling Frederick Gilbert Billings. Pte. (d.17th March 1917)
- Ward DCM and Bar. Edward. CSM. (d.28th October 1918)
- Ward Jessie. Pte. (d.30th Nov 1917)
- Warner Albert Charles. Pte. (d.14th May 1917)
- White Sidney Albert. Pte. (d.12th May 1918)
- Whiting William Jesse. Pte. (d.30th Nov 1917)
- Woodbridge Edgar Harry. RSM. (d.4th Jan 1916)
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 5th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment from other sources.
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2nd Lt. Henry Alexander Birkby 5th Btn. Royal Berkshire Regiment (d.20th Apr 1916) Henry Alexander Birkby was killed in action on the 20th of April 1916, aged 26 and is buried in Bethune Town Cemetery, France.
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Pte. Edmund Parker 5th Btn. Royal Berkshire Regiment We came across this information in a notebook when my mother died.
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2nd Lt. Henry Alexander Birkby 5th Btn. Royal Berkshire Regiment (d.20th Apr 1916) Henry Alexander Birkby was killed in action on the 20th of April 1916, aged 26 and is buried in Bethune Town Cemetery, France.
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L/Cpl. Charles Bennett 5th Btn. Royal Berkshire Regiment (d.3rd Jul 1916) Charles Bennett pre-war occupation was a footman at Walcot Stables, Kintbury, Hungerford.
He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial in France.
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Pte. Arthur Inkerman Jones 5th Btn. Royal Berkshire Regiment (d.8th Mar 1918) Arthur Jones was born in 1889 in Drayton, Berkshire one of a family of 8, he was the third eldest son.
His two brothers both served in WW1, George was in the 3rd Battalion of the Berkshire Regiment. He died from an illness in Reading while still in training.
His other brother Hubert served with The Royal Garrison Artillery and survived the war.
Arthur joined the 5th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment in 1917 and left for the Western front.
He was sent to Fleubaix North East of Lille. On the 8th of March 1918 he was killed in action. He is buried at Rue Petillion Military Cemetery, Fleubaix.
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Pte. Harold Stanley Sampson 5th Btn. Royal Berkshire Regiment (d.18th September 1918) Harold Sampson was the son of a Devonshire farmer, Henry Sampson, his mother was Emily. He was born in Cornwood, Devon, in 1862 and was one of 8 children. By 1911, the family were living at Bowerdon Farm, Buckfastleigh, Harold was 15 and working on the farm. Henry Sampson was not keen for Harold to sign up, possibly as he was needed on the farm.
Harold enlisted with the Royal Berkshire Regiment and in 1918 was with the 5th Battalion, part of Kitchener's 12th (Eastern) Division that took part in the Battle of Epehy on 18th September 1918. Unfortunately, Harold was one of 265 Allied service men killed on that day.
Harold was buried in Epehy Wood Farm Cemetery close to the village of Epehy. Plots I and II were created by the men of the 12th (Eastern Division) for the casualties of that battle.
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Pte. Alfred Frank Sillence 5th Btn. Royal Berkshire Regiment (d.19th October 1915) Alfred Sillence was the youngest of 5 brothers that went to war, and unfortunately the 1st to die.
Alfred was killed near the end of the Battle Of Loos as he was about to be withdrawn from the line. He has no known grave but is commemorated on the panels at Dud Corner Cemetery.
Only 2 of the 5 brothers returned, one being my Great Grandfather.
His brother William George was killed at Gallipoli about 6 weeks later.
Sons of Mr. and Mrs. James Sillence of Field Cottage, West Woodhay, Newbury, Berks.
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Lt. Alfred D. "Trott" Breach MC. 5th Btn. Royal Berkshre Regiment My great uncle, Alfred Breach was awarded the Military Cross.
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Pte. Albert Charles Warner 5th Btn. Royal Berkshire Regiment (d.14th May 1917) Albert Warner served with the 5th Royal Berkshire Regiment his Obituary is included in De Ruvignys Roll of Honour Vol 4.
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Sgt. Grigg Francis Epsly MM &2 Bars. 5th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment (d.5th April 1918)  From the records that have survived we know that Uncle Grigg Epsly joined the Army Special Reserve on the 17th March 1913, then the Regular Army on 19th August 1913, his age in August was noted as 17 years 11 months. His previous occupation was shown as a carman.
He was sent to France with the BEF on 17th of December 1914 until 29th of January 1915 when he was admitted to hospital with severe frostbite and was sent back to the UK to a convalescent home until 22nd of June 1915.
He returned to the front line on 23rd of June 1915 and served until he was wounded in the right thigh and knee at Armentieres on 5th of October 1915. He was sent home for treatment from 11th of October 1915 until 1st of September 1916, returning to front line duties in France on 20th of January 1916.
During action in trenches to the north west of Pozieres between the 7th and 9th August 1916 the Germans, using flamethrowers, attacked British trenches several times and each time were repelled. During this action Grigg was awarded his first Military Medal, he was quoted in the Reading Mercury later as saying 'It was for a bit of work I did in the trenches'.
On 17th if March 1917 Grigg (who was now a Corporal) led a group of 3 men in a bombing squad which was part of an operation involving 9 officers and 200 men to raid the German trenches near Arras. The objectives were to capture prisoners and identify the enemy regiments entrenched, and destroy dug outs and machine gun and trench mortar emplacements. Every man involved had to empty their pockets and remove all badges and identity discs in case of capture.
After this action one of the NCOs involved told the Reading Mercury "Corporal Epsly, who received a bar to his Military Medal, deserved a lot more recognition than he actually got. He put a whole machine gun section out of action by charging them single handed with bombs. He simply did it 'on his own' while we were waiting for the wire-cutters to cut the wire so our troops could get through". All objectives were achieved and the raid was over within 25 minutes, the war diary notes that 2 musical instruments were taken on the raid and were played in the German trenches! Casualties were 2 officers and 6 men killed, 3 men missing and 21 men wounded.
Between the 20th and 30th November 1917 British troops supported by tanks, attacked the German trenches near Gonnelieu, Grigg was awarded a second bar to his Military Medal during this action. The attack successfully achieved its objectives but the Germans mounted a sustained counter attack on the 30th November and re took most of the ground they had lost. Grigg was wounded on the 30th but it wasn't serious enough to require hospitalisation.
On the 5th of April 1918 Grigg and the 5th Royal Berkshire Regiment were in the trenches near Bouzincourt when the German Spring Offensive began. The attack was severe and sustained and Grigg was reported Missing In Action presumed killed, one of many casualties on that fateful day.
His body was never identified and therefore his name is one of those inscribed on the walls of the British Cemetery at Pozieres. He was just 22 years old.
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CSM. Edward Ward DCM and Bar. 1/5th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment (d.28th October 1918) At the start of the war in 1914 Edward Ward was a regular soldier. Not long after he was made a Company Sergeant Major. A story he told his family was about a route march he was on. His men sang "A little child shall lead us". The officer in charge made everyone march again. Ted said he wasn't offended by the hymn only by the double length route march. He died in a military hospital in Manchester.
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Pte. George Henry Cornish 5th Btn. Berkshire Regiment George Cornish enlisted in the 5th Battalion, Royal Berks at Wokingham Town Hall.
He left Aldershot on 30th of May 1915 for France, ready for the Battle of the Somme. He served on the Somme, Arras, Cambrai and Amien. He was wounded whilst in a sap with Sgt Bennelick from Crowthorne who lost a leg, George, my father carried him back.
In 1919 George transferred to 1st Battalion, Royal Berks and sailed for Karachi,whilst in India he was seconded to the Indian Police Force for one day during the Royal visit.
He left the Army in 1922 and lived to 91 years old.
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Pte. Robert John Aston 5th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment (d.10th August 1918) Robert Aston was killed on the 10th of August 1918.
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RSM. Edgar Harry Woodbridge 5th Btn. Berkshire Regiment (d.4th Jan 1916) We only found out about Edgar Harry Woodbridge while doing the family tree. Edgar is buried in the Southern Calais Cemetery. We have visited his grave many times. We took our 16 year old grandson on 2 August this year. Edgar died of wounds. He is my husband's great uncle. We would love to find out more about him if anyone can help.
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Pte. Thomas Peace 5th Btn Royal Berkshire Regiment (d.5th April 1918) My great grandfather and uncles spent years trying to trace where Thomas Peace lay. Exactly 100 years after his death I managed to find his details and where his name is proudly placed on the wall at the Pozieres Memorial.
We will soon be travelling as the first in our family to lay a wreath in his honour.
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Sgt. William Henry Evans MM. 5th Btn. Royal Berkshire Regiment William Evans served with the 5th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment.
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Pte. Albert Godfrey 5th Btn. Royal Berkshire Regiment (d.18th June 1918) Pte Albert Godfrey died as a result of illness during his time as a prisoner of war at Peronne in France.
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Capt. Francis Mount 5th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment (d.13th Oct 1915) Francis Mount was the great uncle of Prime Minister David Cameron.
The 5th Battalion, Royal Berkshires attacked with 35th Brigade against the Quarries as part of the final offensive action during the Battle of Loos on the 13th of October 1915.
They had to cross a large area of open ground while under fire from German trenches in front and from positions on the flanks.
Despite the heavy rifle and machine gun fire the 35th Brigade secured 250 Yards of German trench which became known as the ‘Hairpin’.
This small success was however overshadowed as the Divisions elsewhere were repulsed and little other ground was taken.
Captain Mount was killed in this action and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial.
65 men of the 5th Btn Royal Berkshire Regiment are recorded as killed on the 13 of October 1915.
58 were never identified and are commemorated on the Loos memorial.
5 others are buried in Dud Corner.
2 further burials were made elsewhere.
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Pte. Thomas Charles Eyles 5th Btn. Royal Berkshire (d.15th Oct 1916) Thomas Eyles is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing on the Somme.
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Pte. Frederick Gilbert Billings Tambling 5th Btn. Royal Berkshire Regiment (d.17th March 1917) My granddad Fred Tambling was born on 14th December, 1887 in Moorfields, Gloucester and was only 29 when he was killed in action in Arras on 17th March, 1917.
The information I have has been told to me by his surviving relatives. He lived in Bristol for most of his life and married his wife, Kate Bascombe on 12th July, 1908, when he was 23 and she was 24. He was very much loved and missed by his wife who was left on her own to bring up their three small children, the youngest of which was my father, who was three when my grandfather died. Apparently she was granted 18 shillings and 4 pence a week for her pension as a war widow.
My grandfather had a variety of jobs before he was conscripted, including working as a railway porter, for a chocolate manufacturer and for a watchmaker. He used a bike for cycling to and from his workplaces.
The family eventually emigrated to South Africa where his widow died having never remarried.
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