The Fourth Battalion, The King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment) and the Great War

Lieut.-Colonel W. F. A. WADHAM
and
Captain J. CROSSLEY
COPYRIGHT
These notes have been compiled, more or less in the form of a diary, with a view to placing on record the services of those who voluntarily came forward to serve their country in its hour of need.
WALTER F. A. WADHAM.
February, 1920.
Notes by Lieut.-Col. W. F. A. Wadham, V.D.
The year 1914 will for ever be looked back upon as the most memorable in the history of the Battalion.
The outbreak of the Great War in the month of August of that year caused the Mobilization Scheme, over which for years past each succeeding Adjutant had, in his turn, burned much midnight oil in endeavours to bring up-to-date the efforts of his predecessor, to be put to the test.
On Sunday, August 2nd, of that year, the Battalion proceeded to Camp at Kirkby Lonsdale to undergo the usual fourteen days’ Annual Training as one of the units forming the West Lancashire Brigade of the Territorial Force. War and rumours of War then filled the air, and, upon arrival at Kirkby Lonsdale, a warning was issued by the Brigade Commander (Colonel G. L. Hibbert, D.S.O.) for the units composing the Brigade not to make themselves too comfortable, nor to make preparations for any lengthened stay, as orders had been received to detain the trains in which the troops had arrived, and further orders for the troops to return to their peace stations were hourly expected. These orders duly arrived in the early hours of Monday, August 3rd, and at 9.30 a.m. the Battalion started on its homeward journey, after the shortest Annual Training on record.
The Detachments proceeded to their various peace Headquarters, and the men were dismissed to their homes, with a warning that, in the event of the expected Mobilization taking place, they would be immediately recalled.