1st Battalion King's Liverpool Regiment

1st Battalion King's (Liverpool) Regiment

caption	Hamlet Bagguely Jr. was a private in the 1st battalion of the King's (Liverpool) Regiment of the British Army, formerly known as the 8th Regiment of Foot, until his death at the Battle of the Somme on September 2, 1916. This was a regular army infantry battalion with a long history (formed in 1685, served in Canada in the War of 1812) that was shipped to France very early in World War I. Hamlet joined them as a replacement in September 1915. The 1st Bn KLR was attached to the Second Division of the British Army on the Western Front in World War I. An infantry battalion consisted of roughly 1000 men at that time and would have been sub-divided into four companies plus battalion headquarters staff. During the period Hamlet was in France, the battalion was involved in a number of significant actions including the Battle of Loos,

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Hamlet Bagguely Jr. was a private in the 1st battalion of the King's (Liverpool) Regiment of the British Army, formerly known as the 8th Regiment of Foot, until his death at the Battle of the Somme on September 2, 1916. This was a regular army infantry battalion with a long history (formed in 1685, served in Canada in the War of 1812) that was shipped to France very early in World War I. Hamlet joined them as a replacement in September 1915. The 1st Bn KLR was attached to the Second Division of the British Army on the Western Front in World War I.

An infantry battalion consisted of roughly 1000 men at that time and would have been sub-divided into four companies plus battalion headquarters staff.

During the period Hamlet was in France, the battalion was involved in a number of significant actions including the Battle of Loos,

1Bn KLR Unit Diary Information September 1915 to September 1916

The following official unit diary entries for the 1st Battalion King's (Liverpool) Regiment during the period Hamlet served with them give a slight glimpse of what he experienced in the year before his death.

January to June 1916

Diary for this period can be found here.

September 1916

COUIN 1/9/16
In Billets. Training during the day. Demonstration of SOS Signals at 8pm. 2nd Lieutenant Wellsthorpe arrived from Pembroke Dock [ie 3rd Kings in UK]. 2nd Lieutenant Ruvany [sp?] returned from Lewis Gun School and assumed command of 'C' Company.

2/9/16
Training continued. Lieutenant Col Norris assumed command of 6 Brigade temporarily. Captain AG Knowles assumed command of Battalion during absence of Commanding Officer.

3/9/16 To Trenches
Marched off at 12 noon to right subsection of Serre Station south of Hebuterne. 20 minute intervals between Companies to Courcelles au Bois. 5 minutes interval after Courcelles au Bois to Tramway Terminus where guides from 17th MV? Regt met Battalion. Relief completed at 4.50 pm - Boche shelled heavily . Lots of 'minnies' [minenwerfers] on our front line. Our line destroyed for 35 yards. Some casualties - Battalion 'Stood To' all night at gas alert. Patrols sent out during the night into No Man's Land at frequent intervals.

4/9/16 Trenches
Same Place. Enemy very active at intervals. A large number of 'minnies' fell just behind our front line. Usual toll of casualties.

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