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The Legion Of Frontiersmen of The Commonwealth (United Kingdom Command) |
| Registered Charity Number 284541 |
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The Legion Of Frontiersmen of The Commonwealth (United Kingdom Command) |
| Registered Charity Number 284541 |
| The Legion of Frontiersmen was formed in 1904 by the adventurer and author Roger Pocock. His original intention was to recruit ex-servicemen and adventurers to act as mounted scouts for the British Army, riding the frontiers of the British Empire and reporting back directly to the War Office. He placed an advert in the 'Times', asking for 1000 volunteers with horse to join and was overwhelmed by the response he received. He persuaded the Earl of Londale to act as Patron and in April 1905 the Earl hosted the Inaugral Dinner, Thus were the Legion of Frontiersmen born. |
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| At the outbreak of the First World War 30 members of 'H' Manchester Troop, eager to see some action, travelled to London with their horses and volunteered their services to the War Office, only to be told to 'Go home and await your call-up'. Annoyed at this treatment they promptly took themselves off to Belgium, where they enlisted in the 3rd Belgian Lancers and seeing action a week before the 'Old Contembtibles' joined battle at Mons, became the first Britons to engage the Germans. So impressed by their courage and tenacity, King Leopold of Belgium made them his personal bodyguards, a role that they fulfilled until 1919. |
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| Meanwhile back in England, the War Office sanctioned the formation of the 25th (Frontiersmen) Battallion Royal Fusiliers under the command of the Legions' Col Dan Driscoll. Within a fortnight of formation the Battallion was on its way to fight in East Africa. Such was the high regard given to the Frontiersmen by the War Office, it was not deemed neccessary for them to undertake the normal basic training prior to embarkation. The battallion saw action until 1917, when ravaged by disease and having sustained heavy casualties they returned to the UK and were disbanded. After the War the War Office awarded the Frontiersmen 6 Battle Honours and numerous decorations, including a Victoria Cross, a posthumous award to Lt. Wibur Dartnell. |
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| The Second World War was a different story, there was no mass call-up of Frontiersmen, instead they enlisted in all branches of the military and civil forces and seeing action in all theatres of war, being of assistance where ever and whenever they could. | |
| Today the Legion is a registered Charity serving in the community whenever possible. However we have not forgotten our forebears, indeed their spirit is alive within the Frontiersmen of today, who still hold dear the priciples that spurred these great men on. |
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