THE HISTORY OF THE 2/6th (RIFLE) BATTALION "THE KING'S" (LIVERPOOL REGIMENT) 1914-1919 [Illustration: Photo by Houghton, Margate. LIEUT.-COL. W. A. L. FLETCHER, D.S.O.] THE HISTORY _of the_ 2/6th (Rifle) Battalion "The King's" (Liverpool Regiment) 1914-1919 _BY_ CAPT. C. E. WURTZBURG, M.C. _Adjutant, Nov. 1916-Nov. 1918_ WITH A FOREWORD BY MAJOR-GENERAL SIR R. W. R. BARNES, K.C.B., D.S.O. _Late G.O.C. 57th (West Lancs.) Division_ PRINTED FOR THE REGIMENTAL COMMITTEE BY GALE & POLDEN LIMITED WELLINGTON WORKS, ALDERSHOT 1920 To the Memory OF LIEUT.-COL. W. A. L. FLETCHER, D.S.O. THE OFFICERS WARRANT OFFICERS NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND RIFLEMEN WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY _Not fearing death, nor shrinking for distress, But always resolute in most extremes._ FOREWORD As I had the honour of commanding the 57th (West Lancashire) Division during the greater part of the time that the Division was fighting in France and Flanders in the Great War, included in which Division was the 2/6th Battalion "The King's" (Liverpool Regiment), I am very glad that the Author has given me the opportunity of recording in print my appreciation of the gallant and soldierly conduct of this fine battalion whilst under my command. Captain Wurtzburg's work in writing this history of the battalion in which he served is, I am sure, of great value: to the survivors of the battalion, as a record of their achievements; to the relatives of the fallen, as showing that their sacrifice was not in vain; and to the historians of the future, who will obtain inspiration as to the realities of war from the experiences of this fighting unit. The 2/6th "The King's" (Liverpool Regiment) took part with distinction in all the fighting of the Division from February, 1917, up to the Armistice. The battalion showed its offensive spirit in the third battle of Ypres, the breaking of the Drocourt-Quéant switch of the Hindenburg Line, the battle of Cambrai, and the capture of Lille; and its steadiness in defence during the long periods of trench warfare, and especially in the terrible gas bombardment of Armentières. The battalion was always to be depended upon, and its fine "tone" was, I think, largely owing to that good Commanding Officer and sportsman, the late Lieutenant-Colonel W. A. L. Fletcher, who imbued his battalion with his own personality, and than whom no man in the war more truly gave his life for his country. In these present difficult times of peace we are all, I think, inclined to forget the great lesson of the war--that it is only by "comradeship" we can overcome these difficulties; and the records of the 2/6th "The King's" (Liverpool Regiment) should help to remind us that this battalion gained its name and achieved its object by the equal and united efforts of its Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers, and Riflemen.