Machine Gun Battalion formation

[ubervamp]

Hi guys

I've been reading up on the Machine Gun Guards and their formation, and have come across two differing dates for their formation. Some sources state 1916 as the year of formation, hence the "1916" on the badge, others state the battalion was formed in 1917, the "1916" referring to the Guards Machine Gun training centre (Doyle, among others) Anyone care to throw some light?

Cheers

Colin

[badjez]

Colin,

The following is from the non-reputable source Google: '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 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 following is edited from contemporary War Office sources and can be more reliable.

WO Inst 154 published 23.11.15. ordered transfer of the personnel of Motor MG Service to MGC. Transfer to be carried out from 01.12.15.

10.11.15. WO Inst 106: MG Training Centre had been established at Grantham. W.E.F. 18.11.15. Drafts for training to be sent. This included men from Militia Bn for training as the nucleus of brigade MG Coy.

16.12.15. WO Inst 176: Infantry Brigade MG Companies for 1st to 12th Divisions were to be formed overseas under arrangements made by FMC-in-C British Army France.
Infantry Brigade MG Companies for 15th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20, 21st, 23rd, 24th, 25th & 37th Divisions, and for Divisions of 4th & 5th New Armies, were to be formed at MG Training Centre, Grantham.

28.04.16. ACI 891: Three Depot Cavalry MG Sqns formed, one for each Reserve Cavalry Bde.

23.05.16. ACI 1044: Further info on Depot Cav MG Sqn.

1916. ACI 1649: Ref ACI 357 of 1916, MGC Officer Cadet Bn to be formed, consisting of HQ and four Coy, each of 150 cadets..

ACI 1907 published 06.10.16. notified the formation, at Bisley, of the MGC Cadet Bn w.e.f. 25.09.16.

ACI 1994 published 19.10.16. notified that the MGC (Cavalry) Depot Sqn had been concentrated as the MGC (Cavalry) Training Centre at Maresfield Pk, w.e.f. 11.10.16.

ACI 2228 published 28.11.16.
MGC Officer Cadet Bn [? Or whatever unit formed by ACI 1649 of 1916] re-designated as No1 MGC Officer Cadet Battalion- HQ & four Coy. Each Coy Establishment increased from 150 to 200 cadets.

No2 MGC OCB formed 11.11.16. with same Establishment as No1 Bn.

12.09.17. ACI 1417: Re-designation of MGC OCB.
No1 & No2 MGC OCB re-designated as No23 & 24 OCB.

ACI 74 published 04.02.21. Disbandment.

Stephen.

[2747andy]

Colin,
The information below is from various sources and some dates can be confusing, although I will summarise at the end from a "Cap Badge" perspective! It was initially formed in 1915 when machine gun companies were formed in the Guards Division, I suspect it was not until around April 1917, when the four companies were grouped together as a single battalion of the Machine Gun Guards, that the "Star" badge came in to wear (?) before being re-designated by Royal Warrant in May 1918 as the 6th, or Machine Gun, Regiment of Foot Guards.

In June, the regiment was reorganised into battalions:

1st Battalion - Conversion of 1st Life Guards
2nd Battalion - Conversion of 2nd Life Guards
3rd Battalion - Conversion of Royal Horse Guards ("The Blues")
4th Battalion - Re-designation of the existing Guards Machine Gun battalion
5th (Reserve) Battalion - Re-designation of Guards Machine Gun Training Centre

The four Machine Gun Companies in the Guards Division were formed into a unit named the 4th Battalion Machine Gun Guards on 1 March 1918.

By a Royal Warrant of 10 May 1918 and as stated in Army Order 161 of 1918, the Guards Machine Gun Regiment was formed. It comprised four Machine Gun Battalions: the three Household Cavalry Regiments (the 1st and 2nd Life Guards and the Royal Horse Guards) formed the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions, and the 4th Battalion Machine Gun Guards joined and was renamed the 4th (Foot Guards) Battalion.

The Army Order stated that the title of the regiment was the 6th or Machine Gun Regiment of Foot Guards (or Guards Machine Gun Regiment).

To sum up, I believe the Star badges would have been worn by Foot Guards personnel only but not until they were grouped together as a Bn (?) prior to that when separate MG companies they probably retained the badges of their parent units? When they changed to a Regiment, again only the Foot Guards Bn changed to the new "Guns & Garter" badge? The Household Cavalry elements retaining their own insignia! Hence despite there being quite a lot of soldiers within the GMGB and subsequently GMGR not many would have worn the bespoke badges? Hope this was not too confusing?

Apr 1917 - Star
May/June 1918 - Guns & Garter
February 1920 - Disbanded.

Although not disbanded until 1920, immediately post War personnel would have returned to parent units, demobilised or back filled throughout the Brigade? So both badges would have been in wear for very short periods? The Star a year and the Guns & Garter 6 months or so?

Andy

[ubervamp]

Thanks guys!

Very helpful and much appreciated

I'm trying to add some information to my badge albums, so I hope you don't mind me ripping you off and reproducing some of this info?

Cheers

Colin

[2747andy]

Colin,
the info is there to be shared "Rip Away"!

Andy

[badjez]

Colin,

Feel free.

Stephen.

[Staffsyeoman]

Just one word of caution:

The Guards Machine Gun set up (either the Machine Gun Guards or the Guards Machine Gun Regiment) was never part of the MGC structure. The Guards being the Guards, they did their own thing.