Liverpool Rifles
The 5th Lancashire RVC was the senior unit included in the Liverpool-based 2nd Administrative Battalion Lancashire Rifle Volunteers when it was formed in May 1860 (dates are of first commissions issued):[3][4][5][6][7] In March 1862 the 2nd Admin Battalion was consolidated as a single unit under the title of its senior subunit, the 5th (Liverpool Rifle Brigade) RVC.However, the West Lancashire Division did not go to war as a single formation: its infantry battalions volunteered for Foreign Service and went to the Western Front separately as reinforcements for the British Expeditionary Force.[16][17][19] Later the 2/6th King's was brought up to war readiness in the 2nd Liverpool Brigade of 2nd West Lancashire Division and a Third Line battalion (3/6th) was formed as reserve to provide drafts to the 1/6th and 2/6th.[14][15][17][21][22] Soon after the battalion's arrival, 15th Brigade was temporarily transferred to the Regular 28th Division, but returned to the 5th in time for the fighting around Ypres in April 1915.[24] Poison gas was used during the preliminary German attack, facilitating the assault against positions held by the 2nd Duke of Wellington's Regiment.Demobilisation proceeded during January 1919 and the division had dwindled to small numbers by the end of April 1919 as men went home.[14][19] In July 1916 the 57th Division moved to Aldershot Command for final training, with 2/6th Battalion at Bourley, and then at Inkerman Barracks, Woking, from 27 September 1916.The men of the 6th (Rifle) Bn joined with those from the 5th King's to form 43rd Provisional Battalion in the defences of East Anglia.Part of the new role of the former provisional units was physical conditioning to render men fit for drafting overseas, and 25th Kings landed at Calais as a 'Garrison Guard' battalion in May 1918.[33] In the 1930s the increasing need for anti-aircraft (AA) defence for Britain's cities was met by converting TA infantry battalions to that role.[53][54][55][56][57][58] Intelligence indicated that the Germans could start launching V-1 flying bombs against London at any time from January 1944 onwards, and AA Command began bring S/L units south to thicken up the defences as part of Operation Diver.These raids were met by intense AA fire and Royal Air Force night-fighters, which scored an impressive number of 'kills' in conjunction with radar-controlled S/Ls.[58][59] AA Command was now being forced to release manpower for the planned Allied invasion of Normandy (Operation Overlord), and all Home Defence searchlight regiments were reduced by one battery.[34][59][60] The beginning of the V-1 campaign against London came on 13 June, a week after Overlord was launched on D Day, and Operation Diver was put into effect.[59][61] By January 1945 21st Army Group fighting in North West Europe was suffering a severe manpower shortage, particularly among the infantry.[62] At the same time the German Luftwaffe was suffering from such shortages of pilots, aircraft and fuel that serious aerial attacks on the UK could be discounted.
United KingdomTerritorial ForceKing's Regiment (Liverpool)Princes ParkLiverpoolWestern FrontThe BlitzOperation DiverOperation DoomsdayBattle honoursSouth Africa 1900–01Territorial ArmyBritish ArmyLancashireFirst World WarRoyal ArtillerySecond World WarVolunteer MovementWar OfficeNational Rifle AssociationLord SeftonAltcar Rifle RangeSouthport39th (Liverpool Welsh) Lancashire RVCToxteth64th (Liverpool Irish) Lancashire RVCWithnellLiverpool IrishLiverpool Scottish46th (Liverpool Welsh) Royal Tank RegimentChilders Reformslieutenant-colonelSecond Boer WarBattle HonourHaldane ReformsLiverpool BrigadeWest Lancashire DivisionBritish Expeditionary Force2nd Liverpool Brigade2nd West Lancashire DivisionCanterburyLe Havre15th Brigade5th Division28th DivisionHill 60Second Battle of YpresPoison gasDuke of Wellington's RegimentCheshire RegimentThird ArmyArmy Council165th (Liverpool) BrigadeBattle of the SommeBattle of GuillemontBattle of GinchyBattle of Flers–CourceletteBattle of MorvalThird Battle of YpresBattle of Pilckem RidgeBattle of the Menin Road RidgeBattle of CambraiBéthuneBattle of the LysAdvance to VictoryLa BasséeArmistice with GermanyBrusselsMargate57th (2nd West Lancashire) Division171st (2/1st Liverpool) Brigade.256-in Japanese Ariska rifles.303 Le-Enfield riflesLewis gunsAldershot CommandWokingBoulogneSecond Battle of PasschendaeleSecond Battle of ArrasBattle of the ScarpeBattle of Drocourt-Quéant LineBattle of the Canal du NordCambraiFinal Advance in Artois and FlandersLandguard CommonBlackpoolOswestry5th King's43rd Provisional BattalionEast AngliaMilitary Service Act 191625th King'sCalais59th (2nd North Midland) DivisionBattle of Albert55th (West Lancashire) DivisionRoyal Engineers33rd (Western) AA Group2nd AA DivisionFort Nelson, HampshireMunich CrisisAnti-Aircraft CommandWoolton4th AA DivisionChesterRifle green50th AA BdeOrkneyShetlandHome FleetScapa FlowSearchlight Control11th AA DivisionWest MidlandsV-1 flying bombs27th AA BdeBaby BlitzRoyal Air Forcenight-fightersOperation Overlord38th AA BdeThames EstuaryBofors 40 mmNorth Sea21st Army GroupNorth West Europe