To the existing two battalions of the King's Own were added two battalions of the Royal Lancashire Militia who became the 3rd and 4th (Militia) Battalions. The badge of the Lancashire Militia was the red rose so this was incorporated into the regimental badge to replace the numeral IV.

The second battalion which had been formed in 1858, served in the Mediterranean then the West Indies. They fought in the Zulu War of 1879 and then proceeded to India. They returned to the UK in 1896 and were stationed in Fort Tregantle, just outside of Plymouth until December 1899 when they embarked for the war in South Africa.

Spion Kop 1900

Spion Kop

Spion Kop is regarded as one of the worst disasters that befell the British Army during the Boer War. It was one action of many that took place during the attempted Relief of Ladysmith. The whole expedition was commanded by Sir Redvers Buller. The King's Own were part of Woodgate's Brigade in the 5th Division along with 2nd Lancs Fusiliers, 1st South Lancs and 1st York and Lancs.

The Divisional Commander, General Sir Charles Warren decided that Spion Kop, near the Tugela River, needed to be taken. He chose Colonel Thorneycroft and his mounted infantry, and Colonel Edward Woodgate, an ex-King's Own officer, to lead 3 battalions up Spion Kop, and remove the Boers who were defeding it. Spion Kop is a flat-topped mountain and the troops had to scale the slopes silently in the dark. When the summit was reached they dug in, but as day dawned it became clear that they were not on the summit and had established themselves in a place where Boer artillery and rifle fire could easily be brought to bear.

Woodgate's brigade were pinned down under murderous fire all day from the higher ground, and from surrounding hills. The Boers fought bravely to assault their position. Woodgate himself was mortally wounded by shrapnel over the left eye but continued as long as he could.

Re-inforcements came, the Middlesex. Dorsets and Somersets. But this only made a bigger target for the Boer guns. The trenches were filling up with dead, and men were crazy with thirst. For the men on that hill it must have seemed like hell on earth for the whole day. More re-inforcements came in the form of the Scottish Rifles and the 3rd KRRC. They made more headway against the enemy, and by nightfall it became possible to withdraw the men from Spion Kop. The regiments had become hopelessly mixed up so it took many hours for them to re-group. Out of 1,700 men, more than 1,000 were killed that day.

More than 200 men of the King's Own died. Of the officers that died there was Major Ross, Captain Kirk and Lieutenant Wade. Wounded officers included Captain Sandbach, Lt Dykes, Lt Stephens and 2nd Lt Nixon.

Relief of Ladysmith 1900

Redvers Buller's attempt to relieve Ladysmith continued in February 1900 with three Divisions under Lyttleton, Hart and Warren. The Lancashire regiments were brigaded in Warren's Division, at first under General Wynne but after he was wounded, Kitchener, at that time a colonel, took over. In the Battle of Pieters Hill on the 24th Feb, the Royal Lancasters stormed a Boer position on the heights and swept them off. It was final straw for the Boers who had besieged Ladysmith for 4 months. Many of the regiment were killed. Of the officers Lt Coe and 2nd Lt N J Parker were killed and Major Yeatherd, Lt Martin, Lt Davidson and Lt R G D Parker were wounded. Ladysmith was finally relieved on 28th Feb 1900.

In the Trenches 1915

Le Cateau 1914

The 1st Battalion embarked for France in the 12th Brigade, 4th Division BEF. They were at Harcourt in the Battle of Le Cateau on 26th August. In his book 'The British Army of 1914' R M Barnes says this: The King's Own, for some reason, formed up in quarter-column in rear of a position it was to occupy. They piled arms and officers fell out and formed a group. Fortunately some of them, and most of the men had lain down, when suddenly German machine-guns opened fire. The Colonel was killed and most of those standing up were hit, including one company which was about to move off. The regimental transport which was just arriving with rations, stampeded, knocking down the Brigadier and the Brigade-Major. Rifle fire was quickly opened and silenced the machine-guns. Five minutes later 2 or 3 German batteries poured in a storm of shells causing many further casualties.

Frezenberg 1915

In August 1914 the 2nd Battalion was at Lebong north of Calcutta. They were brought back to England and placed in the 83rd Brigade, 28th Division, then posted to France in January 1815. In May they were almost entirely wiped out at Frezenberg which was part of the 2nd Battle of Ypres. On 8th May they were placed with A and D companies forward and B and C companies in support. The Germans opened fire with high explosive and shrapnel which obliterated the front companies. Many men from C coy tried to escape the onslaught but were cut down. B coy also tried to get away and some of them managed to survive, others were taken prisoner. Out of 1,100 men, only 67 answered the roll call after the battle.