Regiment: Machine Gun Corps (MGC)

At the outbreak of World War I in August 1914 the tactical potential of machine guns was not appreciated by the British Military. The Army therefore went to war with each infantry battalion and cavalry regiment containing a machine gun section of just two guns each. This was supplemented in November 1914 by the formation of the Motor Machine Gun Service (MMGS), administered by the Royal Artillery, consisting of motor cycle mounted machine gun batteries. A machine gun school was also opened in France.

A year of warfare on the Western Front proved that, to be fully effective, machine guns must be used in larger units and crewed by specially trained men. To achieve this, the Machine Gun Corps was formed in October 1915 with Infantry, Cavalry and Motor branches, followed in 1916 by the Heavy Branch. A depot and training centre was established at Belton Park in Grantham, Lincolnshire, and a base depôt at Camiers in France.
The Boy David Memorial to the Machine Gun Corps in London. The Vickers Guns on each side of the Boy David (which each have a laurel wreath laid over them) are actual Vickers Guns.
The inscription on the memorial: “Saul hath slain his thousands but David his tens of thousands”.
The inscription on rear of the memorial

The Infantry Branch was by far the largest and was formed initially by the transfer of battalion machine gun sections to the MGC, these being grouped into Brigade Machine Gun Companies, three per division. New companies were raised at Grantham. In 1917 a fourth company was added to each division. In February and March 1918, the four companies in each division were formed into a Machine Gun Battalion.

The Cavalry Branch consisted of Machine Gun Squadrons, one per cavalry brigade.

The Motor Branch, after absorbing the MMGS, formed several types of units: motor cycle batteries, light armoured motor batteries (LAMB) and light car patrols. As well as motor cycles, other vehicles used included Rolls-Royce and Ford Model T cars.

The Heavy Section was formed in March 1916, becoming the Heavy Branch in November of that year. Men of this branch crewed the first tanks in action at Flers, during the Battle of the Somme in September 1916. In July 1917 the Heavy Branch separated from the MGC to become the Tank Corps, later called the Royal Tank Regiment.

The MGC saw action in all the main theatres of war, including France, Belgium, Palestine, Mesopotamia, Egypt, Salonika, East Africa and Italy. In its short history the MGC gained an enviable record for heroism as a front line fighting force. Indeed, in the latter part of the war, as tactics changed to defence in depth, it commonly served well in advance of the front line. It had a less enviable record for its casualty rate. Some 170,500 officers and men served in the MGC with 62,049 becoming casualties, including 12,498 killed, earning it the nickname ’the Suicide Club’.

At the end of hostilities the MGC was again re-organised in a smaller form as many of its soldiers returned to civilian life. However, the Corps continued to see active service in subsequent wars: the Russian Civil War, the Third Anglo-Afghan War, and in the Northwest Frontier of India. It also served prominently in the British army which occupied parts of Germany in the period between the 1918 Armistice and the Versailles Peace Treaty. Its equipment and training made it possible for a relatively small garrison to control a large population.

By 1920 the headquarters in Belton Park was closed and the War Office was seeking to dispose of the many buildings. The Corps was disbanded in 1922 as a cost-cutting measure.

Last Name
Address
Narrative
8 Providence Place, Spring Street, Hull, East Yorkshire, UK
       
Died on
16/01/1922
       
Aged
23
Born Hull 1898, Eldest son of Thomas William Thornton Campbell (1873-1941) and Catherine Gettings (1877-1963), of 8 Providence Place, Spring Street, Hull (1911 Census) and 6, St Stephens Square, Spring Street, Hull (war Pension address). Son of a wood turner. He had four brothers and four sisters. Served in the East Yorkshire and Border […]
8, Dorset Gardens, Brunswick Avenue, Hull
       
Died on
06/12/1920
       
Aged
30
Born Hull, 1890. Son of Elizabeth Colley, of 8, Dorset Gardens, Brunswick Avenue, Hull (War Pension address). A Tailor's Assistant. Called up for service, on 09/10/1916. Served as Private, 86699, Machine Gun Corps. Wounded by gun shot on 23/01/1918. Wounded by Gas, on 16/10/1918. Discharged on 09/07/1919. Died of Tuberculosis, on 06/12 […]
THE HAWTHORNES, BEVERLEY, EAST RIDING, EAST YORKSHIRE, United Kingdom
       
       
Died on
14/04/1918
       
Aged
32
BORN BEVERLEY 30/12/1886. YOUNGEST SON OF SETH PICKERING (1846-1905) & MARY CRAIKE (1848-1904), OF 'THE HAWTHORNES', BEVERLEY. EDUCATED AT BEVERLEY GRAMMAR SCHOOL. HIS FATHER WAS A CABINET MAKER AND SHOP KEEPER IN BEVERLEY. HE WORKED AS AN APPRENTCIE CABINET MAKER FOR HIS FATHER AND LATER WAS A RUBBER PLANTER, IN DUTCH BORNEO. HE E […]
NORTH GATE, WALKINGTON, BEVERLEY, EAST YORKSHIRE, United Kingdom
       
       
Died on
28/03/1918
       
Aged
19
BORN WALKINGTON, EAST YORKSHIRE 1899. FIFTH SON OF TOM & SARAH ANN HAYTON, NORTH GATE, WALKINGTON. ENLISTED AGED 16 YEARS OLD. WAS RECALLED BY PARENTS & RE-ENLISTED AGED 18. HDM 12/4/18. EX 26498 EYR. HE IS PHOTOGRAPHED WITH HIS SERVING FIVE BROTHERS AND TWO BROTHERS IN LAW IN THE HULL DAILY MAIL ON THE 23RD DECEMBER 1915. * […]
Handforth Lodge Cottage, Handforth, Cheshire
       
Died on
02/11/1918
       
Aged
27
LLOYD Francis. Lance Corporal, 6834, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry). Formerly 10/1308 East Yorkshire Regiment. He died 2 November 1918. at Peacock Field Wilmslow Road Handforth. Born at Handforth, Cheshire. He lived at Grimsby. Enlisted at Hull. Son of John and Sarah of Handforth Lodge Cottage, Handforth. At rest in St Chad Churchyard, […]
1, Edwins Place, Porter Street, Hull
       
Died on
12/07/1924
       
Aged
25
Born Hull 1899. Son of Maria Quinn, of 1, Edwins Place, Porter Street, Hull (war Pension address). described a 5 foot, 6 inches tall, 132 lbs weight, 36-38 inch chest, brown eyes, black hair, Roman Catholic religion. Enlisted on 25/04/1915, giving his age as 19. Served as Private, 70552, Rifle Brigade and 2nd Machine Gun Corps. Posted t […]
41 , WATERLOO STREET, HULL, EAST YORKSHIRE, UK
       
       
Died on
01/01/1920
       
Aged
21
BORN HULL 1900. SON OF HERBERT & EMMA RANSOM, OF 41 WATERLOO STREET, HULL (1911 CENSUS). LISTED ON CLIFTON STREET SCHOOL ROLL OF HONOUR. NO CWGC RECORD. HIS DEATH WAS REPORTED IN THE HULL DAILY MAIL ON 23/12/1920, AGED 21
41 WATERLOO STREET, HULL, EAST YORKSHIRE, United Kingdom
       
       
Died on
22/12/1920
       
Aged
20
BORN HULL 1899. ONLY SON OF HERBERT RANSON (1871-1910) & EMMA TRYPHENA DAWSON (1866-1953), OF 41 WATERLOO STREET, HULL (WAR PENSION ADDRESS). HIS FATHER RAN WAS A WATCH MAKER AND RAN A JEWELLERY REPAIR SHOP. HE HAD THREE SISTERS. HE SERVED AS PRIVATE, 155469, MACHINE GUN COPRS. HE DIED ON 22/12/1920 AGED 20. HIS ARMY EFFECTS WERE LEF […]