list battalions king regiment liverpool oldest line infantry regiments british_army having formed numbered 8th king regiment foot unlike british_army infantry regiments associated county king represented city liverpool regiments affiliated city british_army years continuous existence regiment amalgamated form manchester later amalgamated king royal border regiment queen lancashire regiment form present duke lancashire border king notably saw active service second boer war world wars korean war world war regiment contributed dozens battalions men killed second world war 5th 8th irish battalions landed operation overlord 1st 13th fought burma campaign served italy greece king later fought korean war earning regiment battle honour awarded men regiment additional awarded officer attached 10th scottish battalion great war peacetime regiment battalions based united_kingdom colonies british_empire duties varied riots suppressed belfast england middle_east bases garrisoned places west_germany reviews conducted regiment history colonial wars reforms 1860s 1880s substantially reorganised british_army principally single battalion regiments form regiments multiple battalions king regular battalions adopt new title numbering system abolition july battalions 8th king regiment foot 1st 2nd battalions king liverpool regiment 8th foot associated liverpool allocated town 13th regular regiments gained auxiliary battalions integration militia volunteers lancashire transferred king ultimately new system envisaged regular battalion based united_kingdom overseas late 1870s bombed based attack dynamite campaign instigated barracks sustained minor structural damage explosion killed child badly wounded mother soon rioting strikes required battalion intervention prevent disorder battalion moved ireland based uneventful posting 1st responded riots belfast disorder coincided introduction home rule bill battalion returned england years later 2nd king indian fought second war war punctuated battalion overseas service 1880s intent imposing imperial rule britain issued ultimatum consisting demands rejected anticipated invasion began november form progressed transports enabling rapid capture frontier forts capital capital seizure battalion provided escort oversaw exile guerrilla campaign british followed completion annexation january lasting years year king operated small groups pursuing jungle casualties numbered officers men time battalion returned india early 2nd stationed gibraltar overseas service 1st king included year residence nova scotia beginning january battalion provided man guard honour body canadian prime minister returned britain battalion subsequently stationed west_indies second boer war began years later prior outbreak war british boer escalated 1st king formed company mounted infantry underwent intensive training declared october invaded boer force general general held authority british personnel dispersed heavy losses incurred british major engagements war hill retreat british concentrated largest contingent ensued having besieged positioned artillery pieces surrounding hills overlooking town october general white ordered attack northern boer positions white plans described vague ambitious complicated battle proved disaster known british monday 1st king allocated colonel column intended advance secure believed constitute boer left flank unbeknownst half brigade separated column night march following artillery batteries including oblivious morning light brigade discovered right flank exposed distance cavalry french men pinned heavy rifle artillery fire amidst rumours attack town imminent failure evident white ordered column retreat noon artillery provided cover chaos followed prevented greater loss life north west took prisoner enclosed november beginning day siege king commanded lieutenant colonel assigned north eastern defensive sector colonel instituted programme fortification development area construction defences occurred night rain oppressive heat cold limited opportunity rest january king mounted infantry helped boer attempt penetrate southern perimeter late january supplies particularly acute disease town resorted consuming garrison horses reinforcements began arrive south_africa november general relief besieged garrisons general priority divided corps assumed personal command expedition relief effort hindered successive defeats december termed british black week january early february siege ended february king gained volunteer company mounted infantry absorbed battalion britain eventually extended prosecution war august van corporal knight held positions evacuated wounded mounted heavy fire received victoria_cross days later boer forces attacked forefront advance south protracted engagement ended king ordered withdraw having expended ammunition casualties exceeded earned victoria_cross nominal annexation september resolve war instead boer transitioned guerrilla warfare resisted british king concentrated operated detachments occupied networks provided armoured trains detachment overwhelmed december situated near railway garrisoned primarily contingent king equipped gun nicknamed nocturnal attack conducted fog yielded considerable success scores prisoners taken gun captured king attack circumstances controversial general court martial later sentenced major ordered surrender dismissed army author publicly questioned decision contended wounds major cotton sustained revision officer sentence boer war provided opportunity regiment volunteer battalions serve overseas regular forces supplying individual detachments service companies militia battalions numbered 5th 6th war deployed south_africa intact late conflict memorial sculpted commemorate regiment service afghanistan burma south_africa erected liverpool unveiled field marshal sir september world war regiment fielded battalions world war pre war establishment regular militia territorial battalions served abroad receiving battle honours victoria crosses service western balkans india russia died course war battalions suffering average deaths thousands wounded sick taken prisoner specific formations battalions nearly casualties 55th composed entirely battalions king incurred dead wounded missing period january november vigorous recruiting campaign involving pre war personalities lord lord derby facilitated rapid expansion british_army territorial units formed duplicate battalions august differentiate instance designated 5th 5th battalions respectively second line battalions raised home service recruit training ultimately dispatched western replaced line driven conviction war resolved quickly seeking alternative secretary state war lord appealed initial volunteers form new army 17th earl derby proposed forming battalion recruited men workplace proposal proved successful week thousands volunteered service eventually formed 17th 18th 19th 20th battalions collectively battalions known city liverpool battalions liverpool lord derby addressed recruits august began onset war august time 1st king based command lieutenant colonel 1st king boarded southampton battalion landed august 6th brigade original components engaged german_army belgium went retreat sustained september allies resolved stand river east paris having acted rearguard 2nd division 1st king brigade prevented german force cutting 4th guards brigade forming rearguard battery royal field artillery brigade guns earning praise 2nd division commanding officer allies halted german advance battle ensuing retreat prompted allied counter offensive ended battles fought battalion moved north called race sea action battalion captured small village north east battle progressed german command sought decisive victory outnumbered launched major assault november located south 1st king units available defend british lines force half divisions including composite attacked miles extending german units breached places quickly lost momentum gradually pushed desperate defence advanced dense formations effectively led sword wielding officers defence 1st king held virtually destroyed 3rd prussian foot guards concentrated rapid fire artillery support battle end 1st king casualties numbered officers ranks original strength officers ranks battalion dead lieutenant colonel killed sniper october end march king battalions western 1st 5th participated holding attack designed support allied offensive preliminary bombardment failed destroy barbed wire fatally 1st king hail fire inflicted heavy casualties king wounded lieutenant colonel carter platoon managed reach german lines blockade communications trench hour fire allied artillery withdrawing british lines battalion casualties amounted killed wounded missing month later april german offensive began second 4th 6th king major battle second subsidiary action offensive saint 4th king sustained casualties day period majority supporting 4th rifles 27th 6th supported 1st defence hill regiment involvement second battalions fought collectively excess casualties regiment victoria_cross recipient war assisting wounded soldiers battle 10th battalion fought battle june local action losses liverpool scottish neared killed wounded missing officers present surviving unscathed british instigated new offensive september coincide french champagne regions king represented offensive battalions standard infantry pioneers tons gas day battle discharged thousands cylinders strong winds blew gas backwards advance 1st king units having contend partially uncut barbed wire advance 9th king stalled took germans prisoner battalion later assisted german counter attack october battalions arrived year ended including 17th 18th 19th 20th liverpool formed brigade 30th division battle came big push july day battle worst single day casualties british military history earl derby brother brigadier comprised 17th 19th 20th 18th reassigned 21st brigade december 30th division formed attacked south britain suffered majority nearly casualties 1st 30th division began advance left meeting limited opposition completed objectives comparatively minimal casualties losses incurred 18th heavy machine gun fire advance battalion commanding officer lieutenant colonel killed shell july intentionally battalion casualties avoid deployment brigade reserves battalions entered offensive battalions contributed attempts capture village july september early hours august attempt 1st 5th 8th attacked conditions rendered visibility poor 1st 8th reached german line trenches entered village situation deteriorated 8th support battalion driven germans continued occupy line trenches isolated contained counter attacks 8th companies 1st surrounded captured 8th annihilated losses amounting killed wounded missing 1st lost commanding officer colonel sustained casualties 1st later received draft officers men wanting alleviate pressure french south believing holding high command ordered 2nd 55th divisions resume battle 9th attack failed proved ill prepared identical starting time objectives actions battle captain attached liverpool scottish gained attending rescuing wounded man land village captured final struggle began september time 12th king contribution regiment casualties ended november allies began prepare series combined allied april plans significantly disrupted german_army strategic withdrawal northern france phased withdrawal conducted february april reduced german miles regiment second line battalions arrived western 57th 2nd west lancashire division february support ill fated britain initiated area april involved regiment 11th 13th battalions 13th moved forward near les capturing men completing objectives south barbed wire varied results 18th consolidated wire relieved 10th 19th 20th eventually withdrawn having suffered heavy losses yards wire casualties king initial phase offensive exceeded battle allies prepared offensive north flanders notorious conditions transformed terrain shell holes trenches mud regiment battalions active stage july august belonged situated sector north territorial battalions overcame second objectives progress difficult confusion prevailed 18th king 2nd nocturnal advance battalions consolidate 30th division initial objective king losses accumulated surpassing 3rd supporting 8th casualties heaviest officers ranks 10th medical officer captain received posthumous second victoria_cross attending recovering wounded spite wounds fatigue battle succumbed wounds august account captain 6th liverpool rifles described conditions endured soldiers area king contributed november assisted defensive actions new year neared acute manpower shortages western left divisions decided adopt battalion system 5th 8th 9th 10th king integrated second line hundreds men distributed king battalions 20th disbanded february strength dispersed liverpool allies germany prepared final attempt achieve decisive victory contingent western march hour artillery gas shell barrage mile beginning operation michael spring offensive pioneers 11th king occupied trenches near attack began companies engaged troops battalion casualties day exceeded reserve 21st 22nd undertake counter attacks largest conducted 19th village battalion advanced darkness uncertain german positions retook original trenches unopposed later came sustained attack holding support lieutenant colonel ordered withdrawal germans overwhelmed survivors capturing wounded situation dire forcing troops withdraw evacuated went retreat 1st king occupying positions near came attack 24th held deteriorating flanks compelled retreat covered men headquarters battalion commander lieutenant colonel murray men command arrived later day march offensive extended soon repulsed allies having lost suffered casualties comparable allied losses germany abandoned operation april german_army launched operation flanders april day battle involved king battalions situated bombardment allied positions began subsequent infantry attack displaced portuguese forces exposing left flank king repulsed frontal assaults heavy casualties continued attacked flanks counter attacks 7th king 5th took prisoners german forces significant gains capturing april british commander chief general issued backs walls order day days later 1st king volunteered messenger having witnessed preceding runners killed awarded regiment victoria_cross 4th king experienced heavy fighting near april casualties despite relentless battles allies discontinued april battle liverpool fought climax 17th having withdraw loss company 18th 19th repelled attackers german_army halted july king 11th battalion disbanded april followed temporary consolidation 17th composite battalion brief unity ended reduced form training august months defensive allies launched offensive area meticulous preparation gave element surprise began 8th prisoners taken hours german collapsed following battle albert begun 21st 13th king suffered casualties captured soldiers machine guns 1st assisted taking war end europe came signing armistice november history illustrated initial reaction soldiers december remnants 1st king marched german frontier ease fixed colours battalion based months british_army rhine joined battalions 13th including 25th reserve served egypt belgium majority disbanded late hostilities end 17th king november battalion sailed russia october allied intervention force assembled support white forces civil war battalion moved based intact short period battalion companies served separately duration stay russia 17th left september disbanded later reformed regiment battalions reformed inter war reductions reduced regiment territorial battalions 8th disbanded early 1920s 9th absorbed restructuring infantry mid-1930s converted 6th 7th 10th new roles 6th transferred 38th king 7th joined 40th king 10th battalion queen 1st king britain control ireland eroded irish war independence 1st battalion deployed county county republican activity british forces frequently subjected movement supporters oppressive measures attempt escalating violence compared regiments operating county king acquired favourable reputation adversaries humane treatment prisoners saved lives conduct described prominent leader circumstances establishment south battalion moved northern_ireland stationed brief deployment turkey army occupation battalion returned england resumed overseas service malta egypt battalion time egypt peaceful comfortable occasionally dealt rioting occasion company deployed jerusalem october greek cyprus demanding union greece battalion reinforced british garrison companies arrived air transports followed sea transported india 1st king posting initially battalion relocated service volatile continued second world war 2nd king continued serve india following armistice war leading special column battalion reached feet high war concluded battalion engage forces personnel remained majority joined garrison battalion reformed hong_kong followed india finally iraq year stationed near baghdad residence lasted years uneventful distinction british battalion serve second world war immediately returning england 2nd king battalion regiment undertake public duties buckingham palace battalion based parts country nearly decade gibraltar garrison second world war regiment expansion modest scale great war battalions list battalions formed including 8th liverpool irish battalion battalions converted armour anti air roles 11th continued wear cap badge black infantry units converted way 12th transferred late regiment battalions 1st 2nd 13th stationed abroad remainder defend united_kingdom possible german invasion 1st 13th battalions serve burma 2nd italy greece 5th 8th western world war formed duplicate 5th served transferring april battalions switched roles 40th 7th king experienced active service 23rd 40th fought acquired nickname italy greece italy greece having spent years gibraltar 2nd departed december 28th previously reinforce egypt battalion landed italy 4th division joined campaign march division conducted opposed crossing final fourth battle 2nd king constituted 2nd main element initial assault schedule minutes lacking artillery support battalion attempted traverse sustained mortar artillery fire boats capsized strong current resultant losses collectively struggled consolidate minefields determined german defence inflicted casualties 2nd king mortally wounded commanding officer lieutenant colonel williams depleted remnants withdrew 14th 2nd king men killed missing wounded months battles captured broken allies captured rome june 2nd king fought subsequent advance king captured fierce battle involved 4th later secured defended counter attack earning regiment unique battle honour british_army months service difficult mountainous terrain heavy casualties battalion awarded mentioned despatches recipients single secured fortified farmhouse major leadership conduct december deployed greece reinforce british forces embroiled country civil war conflict greece government forces communist partisans followed vacuum created german withdrawal partisans sought establish new political authority confronted british supported government exile ordered hours flown december 2nd king engage partisans brief action seizing occupied barracks cost casualties seven week internal security employment instances house house street fighting athens mid january city cleared insurgents agreed followed agreement february king remained year support tense peace left cyprus burma 13th raised october coastal defence england assigned home battalion sailed india december coinciding japan entrance war intended internal security garrison duties 13th strength contained men old medically downgraded condition result men trained japan occupied burma allies formed unit intended penetrate deep japanese lines india 13th king provided majority british contingent formally designated commanded brigadier organised groups operation began february group commanded formed 13th king divided independent columns nos commanded majors battalion japanese opposition encountered initially allowing cross advance burma took similar operation formed columns expedition suffered heavy casualties fought japanese lines killed crash march decided break remaining formations converted airborne infantry battalions 1st king converted 15th king parachute regiment joined attached 44th remained rest war normandy germany 5th 8th received specialist training preparation planned invasion france selected form nucleus 5th objectives maintaining beach organisation securing positions providing defence counter attack invasion neared battalions moved camps ports southern england embarked aboard landing ship tanks liverpool irish embarked aboard monarch passenger ship served belfast liverpool line war having delayed invasion fleet proceeded normandy june king battalions landed day 5th sword 3rd british infantry division companies liverpool irish landed assault wave intense machine gun mortar fire landing major company proceeded allowing establish command post reaching sand dunes contrast company sector late arrival reconnaissance party tanks exposed landing infantry heavy machine gun fire company officer commanding second command wounded sword moved inland 5th king attempted hostile positions casualties included lieutenant colonel killed sniper platoon lieutenant mortally wounded attack german position captured soldiers fire beach groups collected wounded dead located marked minefields attempted maintain organisation directed vehicles troops inland battalions operated beach groups weeks depleted disbanded august strength having transferred units reinforcements 5th king survived reduced disbandment avoided determination lieutenant colonel argued nearly senior unit active allies advanced nazi_germany february began form dedicated units secure important objectives equipment installations intelligence personnel 5th king provided nucleus target force elements 5th reached naval port kiel securing cruiser admiral hipper taking sailors prisoner battalion continued conduct intelligence operations disbandment july process followed command lieutenant colonel 1st king 15th king remained india responsibility area north east standard infantry battalion departed liverpool late april 2nd king deployed weeks battalion carried internal security duties prelude israel establishment weeks return cyprus army reduced strength 2nd king chose absorbed 1st lineage terminated september battalions amalgamated ceremonial parade attended honorary colonel regiment major general battalion posted west_germany shortly moved february korean war battalion ordered korea june korean war entered period stalemate trench warfare prevailing liverpool king embarked aboard hong_kong underwent training landing korea september replacing 1st 29th 1st king took defensive positions moving miles seoul battalion time proved uneventful night patrols clashed chinese troops battalion withdrew reserve months important feature known hook crescent shaped ridge scene intense fighting commonwealth forces chinese night chinese forces commenced sustained bombardment hook defended duke wellington regiment days later company king conducted nighttime raid chinese positions known raid second lieutenant platoon intended execute actual attack inadvertently minefield suffering wounded strength attack abandoned forcing company withdraw wounded british lines protection artillery king moved right sector hook company platoon company reserve attached hours battle began heavy artillery barrage targeted positions minutes successive chinese waves attacked king moved forward reinforce point position soon came attack infantry companies attack repulsed assistance commonwealth artillery chinese directed attention king point troops assembled 1st king lieutenant colonel called artillery tank machine gun fire effectively destroyed battalion sized formation fighting continued british cleared remaining troops hook approximately british casualties numbered including killed chinese losses estimated killed wounded 1st king left korea hong_kong october time battalion suffered dead wounded men served king korea regular soldiers rest national service king moved britain posted west_germany following year final return home amalgamation defence white paper known secretary state war duncan announced government intention reduce army overseas responsibilities abolish national service regiments units amalgamation disbandment decision merge king dismayed serving retired personnel regiments share historical connection 63rd west suffolk regiment foot constituted 8th foot second battalion redesignated june colours regiments time presence queen mother manchester liverpool formally came september july successor regiment amalgamated joining form duke lancaster regiment surviving territorial battalion king liverpool 5th retained identity reduced company lineage later company formation company integral component duke contained liverpool scottish platoon victoria_cross recipients battle honours regiment battle honours follows martinique delhi afghanistan burma defence south_africa great war retreat albert road wood line canal france flanders macedonia india afghanistan second world war normandy landing line capture line italy athens greece burma hook korea regiment regiment kings liverpool regiment lord sir king regiment liverpool sir grant sir brig general
King's Regiment (Liverpool)