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8th Battalion, Kings Own Royal (Lancaster) Regiment
The 8th Battalion, Kings Own Royal (Lancaster) Regiment was formed in 1940 as a pioneer battalion for hostilities-only. They served with the British Expeditionary Force as GHQ (General Headquarters) troops during the 1940 campaign in France and Belgium. They were evacuated back to Britain after the retreat. In August 1941 8th Battalion moved to man the Malta garrison and served through the Siege. In November 1943, the battalion was moved to Palestine and then to Italy with 25th Indian Infantry Brigade, 10th Indian Infantry Division. 8th Battalion was disbanded in Italy, on 30 January 1944, and its personnel merged with the few surviving remnants of the 1st Battalion King's Own, which was virtually lost during the fighting at Leros when only 58 officers and men managed to escape being captured.
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Want to know more about 8th Battalion, Kings Own Royal (Lancaster) Regiment? There are:1318 items tagged 8th 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 Second World War. |
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Pnr. Kennedy McMaster 8th Btn. Kings Own Royal (Lancaster) Regiment Kennedy McMaster joined the Territorial Army on 26th of April 1939 at Kirkcubright, Scotland, and was originally posted to the 314th Field Battery, Royal Artillery. He was called to colours on 2nd of September 1939 and in February 1940, he was transferred to the 8th Battalion, King's Own Royal (Lancaster) Regiment.
His records show he embarked to Flanders with the BEF on 25th of April 1940. On 28th of May 1940, he was captured at Ostend during the Dunkirk rearguard action.
He was originally in Stalag XXA and then Stalag XXB. His occupation during that time is described as stone breaking (2 years) and cook (3 years). Notes show that he was at Thorn and Marienburg, attached to working parties. Whilst a cook, he cooked for 25 people. He worked long hours and his working conditions were described as reasonable. He was liberated by the Americans.
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Pte. Frederick Gardiner 8th Battalion Kings Own Royal (Lancaster) Regiment (d.28th May 1940) Fred Gardiner was my mother's youngest brother and was only 27. He was attached to GHQ as a lorry driver that is all I know. He died in Belgium during the retreat to Dunkirk in 1940. He is buried in Adinkerke.
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L/Cpl. Charles Frederick Baldwin 8th Btn. King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) (d.28th May 1940) Charles Baldwin was my great, great uncle. From what I know of him he was a kind and funny man who my grandad remembers fondly.
He was at Dunkirk fighting in the rearguard and I believe he was hit by either a shell or bomb and killed. His charred wallet was posted home to his mother. He was 33 and had no children.
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Pte. Frank McAdams 8th Btn. Kings Own Royal (Lancaster) Regiment (d.23rd July 1941) Frank McAdams served with 8th Btn. Kings Own Royal (Lancaster) Regiment and is remembered on the Brookwood Memorial.
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Sgt. Anthony Maloney 5th Btn. King's Own Royal (Lancashire) Rgt. I think my grandad was at Stalag XXID, but he never spoke about it even to my grandmother. Sadly, he died in 2001 aged 93. He was Sgt Anthony Maloney of the 5th Btn King's Own Royal (Lancashire) Regiment. He was captured in 1940 but I have no exact dates or location. Any information would be appreciated. My grandma can only remember that he was at Posen in Poland - Stalag XX1D is the only camp I can find mention of there.
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Pte Henry Hynd Young 8th Pioneer Btn Kings Own Royal Regiment My dad, Harry Young, died some years ago, but I only recently got sight of his war record. He was captured on 29 April 1940 at Amiens, France and was taken to Stalag XXA, prisoner no. 19412, on 21 July 1940 from a Dulag. He was transferred to Stalag XXB on 1 November 1940 and appears to have stayed there until repatriated. He arrived back in the UK on 19 May 1945. Would be interested to know how he would have spent his time and any photographs would be particularly welcome as he never spoke about his time as a POW apart from mentioning he went on a Death March.
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