The 7th (Service) Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment (the 'Glosters') was a unit of 'Kitchener's Army' raised immediately after the outbreak of World War I. After a short period of training it fought in the Gallipoli Campaign, distinguishing itself at the Battle of Chunuk Bair. Afterwards it served in Mesopotamia, including the capture of Baghdad. It ended the war with the North Persia Force at Baku on the Caspian Sea.
Recruitment and training
On 6 August 1914, less than 48 hours after Britain's declaration of war, Parliament sanctioned an increase of 500,000 men for the Regular British Army, and the newly-appointed Secretary of State for War, Earl Kitchener of Khartoum issued his famous call to arms: 'Your King and Country Need You', urging the first 100,000 volunteers to come forward. This group of six divisions with supporting arms became known as Kitchener's First New Army, or 'K1'.
A flood of volunteers poured into the recruiting offices and were formed into 'Service' battalions at the regimental depots: the Gloucestershire Regiment formed its 7th Battalion on 19 August at Horfield Barracks, Bristol, enlisting men from the city and across South West England. The regimental historian described the 7th as 'a battalion of men who had joined the colours immediately war broke out, many of whom should have been officers'. The commanding officer (CO) was Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Price Jordan, who had won a Distinguished Service Order (DSO) with the Gloucesters during the Second Boer War.
The new battalion came under the command of 39th Brigade in 13th (Western) Division, forming at Tidworth Camp on Salisbury Plain. The brigade moved to billets in Basingstoke in January 1915. By the end of February the arms and equipment of 13th (Western) Division were practically complete and the division concentrated at Blackdown Camp, near Aldershot for its final intensive training.
Service
On 7 June, 13th (Western) Division received warning orders for service in the Mediterranean theatre, where the Allies had landed at Gallipoli the previous month. Embarkation orders followed on 10 June and the battalion sailed from Avonmouth Docks on 19 June. The troopships went via Alexandria to Mudros, and on 11 July the battalion landed on Y Beach at Cape Helles. The division was to relieve Regular Army units of the 29th Division holding the left of the line. 7th Gloucesters was in reserve, then on 16–17 July B and C Companies went into the firing line attached to 9th Bn Worcestershire Regiment. The whole battalion relieved 9th Worcesters on 18 July, and were relieved in turn by 9th Worcesters on 21 July to go into Brigade Reserve. C and D Companies were in support of 7th Bn North Staffordshire Regiment, and on 23 July C Company moved into the firing line and assisted 7th North Staffords in forcing back a Turkish attack. After another rotation with 9th Worcesters the battalion embarked from Gully Beach and returned to Mudros on 29 July. Its casualties so far had been 29 wounded.