Chris Selwyn's Meanderings

My walking journals and ancestry research

1914

1914
1st King’s Dragoon Guards mobilise for war

Month summary

While in Lucknow, the 1st King’s Dragoon Guards Regiment receive the order on 31st August to mobilise for action in support of the British war effort in Europe.


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The Transvaal Scottish is raised and go to German South West Africa

Summary

The South West Africa Campaign of 15th September 1914 to 9th July 1915 was a campaign against the German occupation of the territory known as German South West Africa (now a large part of Namibia).

General Louis Botha was asked by the British Government whether he could mount a force to invade German South West Africa to which he replied that he could.

Botha gathered together a force along the border between the two countries in September 1914 but the resulting invasion faltered when Lt.Col. “Manie” Maritz staged a revolt against the British and its occupation of South Africa and sided with the Germans. This first invasion came to an end with the South African defeat at the Battle of Sandfontein.

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1st King’s Dragoon Guards set sail

Summary

They sail from Bombay on 16th October.

Major R.S. Hunt was listed as being present on 23 Oct 1914 at mobilisation. The 1st King’s Dragoon Guards Regiment consisted of –

  • 16 officers (Commanding Officer Lt.Col. J.A. Bell-Smyth)
  • 532 men
  • 512 horses

The regiment formed part of the 8th (Lucknow) Cavalry Brigade in the 1st Indian Cavalry Division of Indian Expeditionary Force A

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1st King’s Dragoon Guards cross the Mediterranean

Summary

Aboard the H.T. Franz Ferdinand the 1st King’s Dragoon Guards cross the Mediterranean Sea from Suez and arrive in France. Eventually the entire Lucknow Cavalry Brigade assembles in Orléans.

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1st King’s Dragoon Guards move nearer to the Western Front in Northern France

Summary

Having assembled with the rest of the brigade in Orléans, the 1st King’s Dragoon Guards relocate near the Western Front at Lisbourg.

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