Newcastle Commercials: 16th (S) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers in the Great War

The planning for the 16th (Service) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, started soon after the war began, and the Newcastle Chambers of Commerce raised money and aimed to raise several battalions in response to Lord Kitchener's call for men. The battalion arrived in France at the end of 1915 and had its first experience of a major action on the Somme in 1916. It was reinforced, reorganised, and took part in actions at Ovillers and along the Ancre. In 1917, it was involved in the advance on the Hindenburg Line and was transferred to the North Sea coast. In early 1918, the battalion was disbanded as part of a general reorganisation of the BEF. Ian Richardson has worked hard to gather documents from members of the battalion and has prepared extensive appendices on its membership and casualties, making it a fitting tribute to these young men from Newcastle who answered their country's call.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 29 October 2021
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

The planning for the formation of the 16th (Service) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, commenced within two days of the outbreak of World War I. Initially, the efforts took on a more organized appearance within a month, when the Newcastle Chambers of Commerce initiated a drive to raise funds and aim to raise several battalions in response to Lord Kitchener's call for men. The result was the formation of the 1st Newcastle Commercials, a Pals battalion. Arriving in France at the end of 1915, the battalion, like many others of its kind, encountered its first significant action on the Somme on July 1, 1916. In this instance, the battalion participated in the futile attempt to capture the German front-line village of Thiepval. The outcome is well documented; a catastrophic disaster that decimated the battalion's ranks. Nevertheless, the battalion was reinforced, reorganized, and played a significant role in actions at Ovillers and along the Ancre over the next four and a half months. In 1917, the battalion was involved in the advance on the Hindenburg Line and was subsequently transferred to the North Sea coast, with the intention of participating in the daring plan to launch a major amphibious landing behind the German lines in the summer. This audacious endeavor was thwarted by a masterful pre-emptive German counterstroke. By the end of the year, the battalion was engaged in operations in the northern part of the Salient following the formal conclusion of the Battle of Third Ypres (Passchendaele). In early February 1918, the battalion was disbanded as part of a general reorganization of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF), which resulted in divisions losing three of their twelve infantry battalions. In summary, the story of the 16th (Service) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, is a familiar one, but its unique origins and its close connection to a local area, specifically Newcastle, continue to captivate the attention of today's generation. Ian Richa.

Weight: 1480g
Dimension: 159 x 237 x 46 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526735317