| Other Info | Private W. Bourne enlisted on the 8th September 1910 in Bromsgrove aged 18. He went to France with the 1/8th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment (14th Platoon, 'D' Company), sailing from Folkestone aboard the SS Invicta for Boulogne where they disembarked (1.15 am) the following day. He was discharged [ K.R. Para 392 (xxi)] on the 17th September 1915 on the termination of his second period of engagement. In the photo above he is wearing the Imperial Service badge on the right breast. This badge was issued to those members of the Territorial Force that had volunteered for service overseas. The Territorial Force was which was created on 1st April 1908 from the old Volunteers and Yeomanry was intended as a home defence force. However, during 1910/11 the Government polled all Territorial units to see if there were members willing to serve overseas in time of crisis. Individual members who accepted this commitment joined the 'Imperial Service Section' and were entitled to wear the silver 'Imperial Service' badge (instituted in 1912). |
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