17th (Service) Battalion (1st South-East Lancashire) and 18th (Service) Battalion (2nd South-East Lancashire)
03.12.1914 The 17th formed and the 18th formed on the 13.01.1915, both as a bantam Battalion in Bury by Lieutenant-Colonel G E Wike and a committee.
16.03.1915 The 17th moved to Chadderton near Oldham and then to Masham, Yorks to join the 104th Brigade of the 35th Division.
08.04.1915 The 18th moved to Garswood Park, Ashton-in-Makerfield and then to Masham, Yorks to join the 104th Brigade of the 35th Division.
27.08.1915 Both Battalions taken over by the War Office and moved to Cholderton, Salisbury Plain.
29.01.1916 Mobilised for war and landed at Havre and the Division engaged in various action on the Western Front including;
During 1916
The Battle of Bazentin Ridge, The fighting for Arrow Head Copse, Maltz Horn Farm, and Falfemont Farm.
Early 1917 Ceased to be a bantam Battalion.
During 1917
The pursuit of the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line, The fighting in Houthulst Forest, The Second Battle of Passchendaele.
During 1918
The First Battle of Bapaume, The Battle of Ypres, The Battle of Courtrai, The action of Tieghem.
11.11.1918 The 17th ended the war in Belgium, Grammont and the 18th in Belgium, Paricke west of Grammont.
Regiment: Lancashire Fusiliers 17th Battalion
BORN HULL 27/06/1897. SCULCOATES. KNOWN AS "KELLY" MORTIMER. SON OF JOHN HENRY MORTIMER (1871-1935) & LUCY KIRKWOOD (1871-1961), OF 6, SOUTH VIEW, HULL ROAD, HULL (WAR PENSION ADDRESS). HE HAD FIVE BROTHERS AND THREE SISTERS. ENLISTED IN HULL AS FORMER 188865 ROYAL ENGINEER'S. TRANSFERRED TO THE LANCASHIRE FUSLIERS. REPORTED MISSING […]