RANGERS’ HISTORICAL RECORDS From 1859 to the Conclusion of the Great War

This book is laid out in five parts, the first takes the history of the Regiment from 1859 to the outbreak of the Great War and the remaining four consist of one each to the First Battalion, the Scond Battalion, the Amalgamated Battalion and finally the Depot and Reserve battalion during the war. There is a list of honours and awards but no roll of honour nor index.The foundation of the Rangers as a unit of the Volunteer Force was laid in 1859 and the first part of the book contains a brief record their history from then to the outbreak of war, including descriptions of dress and equipment and names of officers and the Rangers’ part in the S African War. On formation of the Territorial Force in 1908 the battalion became “The Rangers,” the 12th (County of London Battalion), The London Regiment, in the 3rd Brigade of the 1st London Division. In December 1914 the battalion left the division and landed in Le Havre on Xmas Day and joined GHQ troops (L of C) till February 1915 when it was transferred to 84th Brigade, 28th Division; it took heavy casualties during Second Ypres. Then it moved down to Gommecourt and in that ill-fated attack suffered 560 casualties. There is an error on page 48 where the other division in that attack is referred to as the ‘48th’; it should, of course, be ‘46th’. A second-line battalion (2/12th) was formed in September 1914 (the original battalion became 1/12th) and went to France in February 1917 with 175th Brigade, 58th Division and the third part of the book describes its formation, training and actions at the front. A year later, in February 1918, the two battalions amalgamated to become 12th London (Rangers) in 58th Division and fought with that division for the rest of the war. The chapters in each part of the book were written by various contributors who were present during the events they describe, which include activities out of the line; the list of contents names the authors of each chapter. The maps are good and there is some good detail in the narrative, including identification of officers and other ranks in the action. Soldiers Died lists 1140 dead in addition to fifty officers; 28 battle honours were awarded.