One of colleagues at work has brought in her son today. He saw me looking at the main website and then asked me 'Which regiment did I serve in during the war?'
Kids - don't you just love 'em!
Anyway it got me thinking...... Imagine it is 1914, war has just been declared and you want to do your patriotic bit. Which Regiment/Corps would you put down on your attestation form as the one you would be willing to serve with?
I shall ignore my old unit, the RAOC, and stick with the local boys, the East Surrey Regiment.
Anyone else.......................
Ian

Ian,

Again the I am going for the local choice. It's the Royal Sussex Regiment for me.

I am intrigued by your signature, Albert Charles Grenyer 12th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment is one of my ancestors. Do you have any information on him?

Cheers

Ali

As I have spent nearly 30 years fixing aircraft (including a WW1 vintage SE5A) I guess it should be the RFC....................but I think it would have to be one of my local Service Battalions, the 7th Beds.

John.

I was born a Somerset man, raised as a Wiltshireman and now I am living in Gloucestershire so local choice is available! I would not be able to choose my father's Regiment as it wasn't raised until WW2 (Paras).

Working for the RN I suppose I should be loyal and serve in one of HM Ships but I have opted for the 'Light Bobs' of the Somerset LI.

When I left school I joined the Royal Military Police , so I would have to choose the MFP. Not the MMP, I was thrown from a pony when I was 2 years old and I won't go near the damn beasts now!
Failing that then it would have to be any kilted Scottish regiment, I turn a pretty ankle in a kilt

'A' Company of 1st Bn. Royal Welch Fusiliers or The Buffs or The Artists' Rifles.

Good topic!

Growing up in Toronto Canada, I would not hesitate for a moment in signing on at the recruiting office for the 3rd Battalion (Toronto Regt.) Canadian Expeditionary Force.

Or (as one of my uncles did) the 35th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, made up of mostly Jewish recruits who served primarily in Mespot/Egypt etc.

I'd stick to my old TA unit, The London Scottish.

Terry

Good choice - the good old 'Iron Regiment'.

I was just following in the footsteps of the Sussex this weekend with my Sussex OMRS medal collector friends.

My preference is the (württemberg) Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 247.
I hope none of you mind my choice for the "other side"...

As I'm being sponsored through uni by the Queens Royal Lancers I suppose I should say the 17/21st Lancers or the 16/5th. Yet I also feel the call of the county regiment - so by a whisker the DCLI has it........Then again the R.F.C has a certain Je ne sais pas about it!
Joe

My second choice unit when I joined the Army was the 17/21st Lancers. The Major who interviewed me asked why and wasn't too impressed when I said, "the cap badge is brilliant!".

When I was interviewed by the then Q.R.L Colonel, Lt Gen Swinburn (in true cavalry style at his Exmoor farmhouse, having just been for a brief hack!!), I gave exactly the same reason! He called me a cheeky young scamp and signed me down as a potential officer. I think he thought I was joking!

Jan,
don't be afraid of the other side; its the right side. So let me guess: since I am already in my 30th year military active duty, I don't necessarily like to go to a Great War. But if I could prevent the guy on the left sided picture to write a letter home on May 1st, 14:00hrs, 1918, sitting atop of a foxhole - KIA by a grenade from the other side - I certainly would join Infanterieregiment 49, preferrably RgtKdr.

Having researched my home village extensively, one regiment and one battalion stand out, so I suppose I'd have been swept along with my coal mining mates and joined the Sherwood Foresters, 11th Battalion (hello Greenwoodman!!). If I'd been a territorial then it would have been the 1/6th Sherwood Foresters.

Am I glad that I never had to face that decision in 1914!

All the best,
Andrew

Steady the Buffs, or at a push I would go over the river (spit) and join the Dirty Half-Hundred

Considering my relatives fought in 3 different armies I am in a quandry over which regiment I would join. Considering all of the research I have done so far my choice would probably be the 99th Reserve Infantry Regiment (Prussian).

In truth, knowing what I do about the war and this particular unit I would probably be better off in the Swiss Guard.

Ralph

Aye, aye Andrew. The 11th Sherwoods, particularly in Italy to watch Colonel Hudson win his VC, to find out just what it was that Grandad did to win his MM (and promotion to paid Lance Corporal!), and to see whether Edward Brittain did expose himself to enemy fire on the fateful 15th June 1918.

Time travel, anyone?

Great question.

Family tradition gives me little option but the Royal Navy or the Royal Marines but having researched most of the fatalities from my village I'd be proud, if not down right scared, to stand alongside any of them and most of them were in The Buffs.

The 6th K.S.L.I., would have been my choice, if they had let women in.

It would have to have been my local TF battalion - 7th Bn King's (Liverpool Rgt)

The Expeditionary Force Canteens, preferably in the Mediterranean.
I love warm weather and I do make a good cup of tea (the REAL thing, no teabags!!)

I would have to say the 10th Light Horse Regiment or if I failed my riding test; the 11th Battalion AIF.
These were the first two Western Australian units formed in 1914.

Cheers
Andrew

The ‘natural’ choice would be my local 1/6th South Staffords but perhaps it should be 2nd South Staffords following in Grandfathers footsteps.

On second thoughts, maybe I’d prefer to be in a supply depot. back in Blighty!

Roy

Andrew
When I am in Oz, I live just outside Carramar on the Wanneroo Rd.
I use the 10th Light Horse, Heritage Trail as my early morning running track.
Have you been there? not much to see now but still interesting.
See you on ANZAC day?
John.

Kate, you're a girl after my own heart - can't abide a badly made cuppa, especially one made with manky teabags! LOOSE LEAF RULES!!!



Anyway, what was the question??
Ah yes.....

Well, I dunno!
It's a toughey isn't it? Have a Grandfather who served with the Navy, a great uncle in the MP, my other grandfather in the royal engineers, my greatgrandfather in the Royal Artillery ...... it's a tough choice for a girl to make.

I think I would say .... gimme big guns!
BUT, not those horrible rocket launched ones that make that horrid noise like a screeming whompf.
The first time I heard that noise I burst into tears - dead embarresing cos I was in my early 20's at the time!
They scare the pants off me those things!


Mind you, being a girl would I get on the big guns?
Not a chance so I will plump for being a nurse, patching up my boys. VAD's it is then.

Fleur

10th Batt. Royal Irish Rifles. (South Belfast Volunteers)

Formed as part of the 36th (Ulster) Division for Kitcheners New Army for the Great War from the South Belfast Ulster Voulnteer Force in 1914.
Brave young men who were defending their native land at the time took up the call to fight for King and Country.
Best remembered for their attack on the German lines at the Battle of the Somme 1916.

It would have to be 'The Incomparables', 2nd Bn Hampshire Regiment.
Not sure that I'd like Gallipoli too much though with the 29th Division.

Failing that, 8th Bn, Devonshire Regiment.

Marc

Hi John

I recall going there as a kid, but it's been a while.

I'll be at the Dawn Service at Kings Park on Anzac Day. Will you be able to make it there?

Cheers
Andrew

Hi Andrew
That is the plan at the moment (subject to work)
John.

It would have to be either the Royal Dublin Fusiliers or to be one of the Guillemont bombers with J V Holland when he won the VC



Conor

Being born and bred in Birmingham It would have to be the Deccan Horse!!

However, an obvious choice would be one of the City battalions, probably the 3rd Birmingham (16th RWR).

Terry

The early choice, and admirable one would be my local Regiment, The 1/1st Herts Guards !! who distinguished themselves in many actions. If I "survived" long enough then i may see a transfer into
the Tank Corps. (sprocket saddo' )

It would have to be .
The 1st/1st Bucks Bn. Oxford & Bucks. Light Infantry At Pozieres on the night of the 20 & 21/07/1916



Cheers

Brian

Brian,

You can't sign up for two days - it has to be "for the duration" surely.

A bit like marriage, Kate says!

You don't want to end up being court martialled for desertion. There will be no pardon this time!

Well with hindsight and if I were British it would be KRRC since I am an honorary member.
This is because I saw a man in the bar of the Union Jack Club a few years ago. He was wearing a blazer with what looked to a man with beer in him a patch which was the VC! Well, I had to talk to him and it was badge of KRRC. He was Doug Hughes and his friend Andy Anderson since died.
They were on their way to Calais to be honored as they were sacrifice troops who held up a German armored division on its way to Dunkirk. He was in combat five days or so and a POW until the end. We are pals now and have met at UJC again.
Great stories! Once I asked if he ever saw an act of kindness from a German, thinking of POW time. He told me no , not as POW but he and another rifleman he did not know were in a cellar in Calais with many wounded. His Sten gun was out a window and was kicked away by a German! He then heard a grenade armed but the German saw the wounded and did not toss it.
I am proud to know men like these. If you are ever in the UJC bar and wonder if the old fellow you see would like to talk the answer has always been yes! Heck, I ran into another with a Burma Star but that's another story.

Being an ex Royal Marines Commando

The only choice would have to be the Royal Marines Light Infantry.

Mind you that would have meant standing in a water logged trench with a "Jolly Jack Tar" holding a rifle

Never mind "us ex bootnecks" always found contentment in the X Gun Turret

Martin

One of the Staffordshire Territorial units, probably the 5th South Staffords or 6th North Staffords.

Being a Matelot for the past 21 years the obvious choice would be the Royal Naval Division failing that I might join up with the majority of the local lads in the 4th Bn Green Howards.

Martin, Whats wrong with Jolly Jack Tar, no don't bother I don't think I want you to tell me.

Roger

For me it would have been the 8th Bn Black Watch (Royal Highlanders), 26th Inf Bde, 9th Scottish Div.

Jon

It seems obvious to me ..........................

4th King's Own
3 VC's
No contest

Regards.

Andy.

As a Lancashire lad and If it's VC's then it would have to be the Lancashire Fusiliers
(6 before breakfast)


Peter

i supose that as a northampton born lad i would have had to enlisted in the county regiment but failing that some nice cushy number out of harms way polishing a generals boots would have done me.


Arm

Typical Northamptonian - automatically gravitates to footwear!!

Typical coward likes to keep his head down!

I don't have a drop of highland blood in me, but the sight of a kilted regiment matching to a pipe band brings a tear to my eye. However, unlike Lee I DON'T turn a pretty ankle in a kilt.

My choice:
72nd Battalion (Seaforth Highlanders of Vancouver)
or
42nd Battalion (Black Watch of Montreal)

175 (tunnelling)company, R.E.?

Why not change the geography as well as the history !!!!



Dave.

My choice: It would have to be what was probably the best regiment ever to serve in the British Army, yep I'm sure you all guessed right, the Lancashire Fusiliers!!!! other than that I would have joined the Manchester Regiment or Grenadier Guards!!

To be honest though I reckon I would have wanted to join a unit stationed in some colonial outpost away from the action!

Cheers Neil.

As my grandfather and my father both served in this regiment it would have to be the South Staffords for me
Maurice Davis

Hard choice, I have always loved horses so the RHA "The Pride of the Army, The Right of the Line" appeals, but I have been in flute bands since I was 11 so any battalion with a good corps of drums in need of a bass drummer....

The best recruiting poster I ever saw was "The Cameronians - Scotland's only Rifle Regiment - be different AND be in the money!" The picture showed a pound sign in rifle uniform with rifle at the trail, that and the Regiment's fantastic history are a heavy draw