The legion of frontiersmen is a patriotic organisation formed in britain in 1905 and designed to bolster the defensive capacity of the british empire. Many was the story they could, and sometimes did, tell of their adventures in lands where you could travel great distances without encountering another human being. The legion of frontiersmen was founded in britain in 1904 and was a movement designed to attract and use men whose experience reflected active military service, hunting, roughing it and exploring in wild places. Welcome to the h all o f h onor of the 6th parachute regiment lf. There are detailed accounts of members achievements, especially in world war one in which, of new zealand v. Cushny had forwarded the notes to the south african national museum of military history, shortly after his death. Welcome to everyone who has managed to make the trip to whangarei for this 2015 conference. Long outofprint, copies command steep prices in the antiquarian book. The legion of frontiersmen gb is affiliated to the civil defence association cda and is part of the international frontiersmen network, the legion of frontiersmen independent overseas command ioc. The frontiersmans pocketbook university of alberta press. This book is the first comprehensive account of the cultural and racial origins of the.
Many legion archives and assets have vanished over the years during the moves of headquarters. Welcome to the website of countess mountbattens own legion of frontiersmen. Lieutenant colonel daniel driscoll volunteered the service of his unit of a hundred frontiersmen, envisaging their employment on the western front as behindthelines raiders. The mystery of the union flag the frontiersmen historian. Featherstonhaugh, the royal canadian mounted police, garden city, 1940 245249. The legion of frontiersmen is home to many unproved and usually unprovable stories. The legion of frontiersmen were established by a captain roger pocock who was born in england but went to canada and served with the north west later royal canadian mounted police in the 1880s. Its ethos reflected pride in, and service to the imperial ideal popularised at the time by such writers as rudyard kipling. The legion today frontiersman in utility dress more than a century after its formation, the core aim of the legion of frontiersmen remains the same. Geoff pocock has done a brilliant job in presenting the information available as a readable history, credit should surely go to him and to all the members of the legion of frontiersmen past and present and also to the publishers for their foresight in publishing this book.
After sailing to england in april 1917, the battalion was absorbed into the 19th reserve battalion on april 22, 1917. The legion of frontiersmen was formed in 1904 for fellowship and service to the state at any time of need. From the very start, the legion of frontiersmen had a strong ethos of loyalty, duty and service to crown and country. Legion of frontiersmen and the frontier homestead region of lac ste. Published on behalf of the council of the legion of frontiersmen by legion of frontiersmen. The book, mainly chronological in order tells of the legions founding in new zealand in 1911, of its spread around the country and of the service to both country and community by its members. These frontiersmen are the subjects of allan eckerts dramatic history. Commonwealth headquarters are the command and control centre for countess mountbattens own legion of frontiersmen world wide. Formed in 1927, the new command of the legion of frontiersmen started with the officers and men of the 25th battalion royal frontiersmen fusiliers.
The legion of frontiersmen was formed in london in 1904, and management of this world wide organisation has always remained in the united kingdom. Pocock, has written two books in connection with the frontiersmen, one hundred years of the legion of frontiersmen, and his biography of the founder of the legion, outrider of empire. In february 1915 he formed the 25th battalion of the royal fusiliers with many recruits from the legion of frontiersmen. More than a mere historic curiosity, the frontiersmans pocketbook remains a. History of the frontiersmen australian division new zealand command nz command pro.
This is the talk page for discussing improvements to the legion of frontiersmen article. The demise of the legion of frontiersmen in africa south african. Followers of this website will know that the legion of frontiersmen has by its nature attracted many strange tales and not a few myths. If you are interested in joining the legion, please contact the legion adjutant, email andy. The legion of frontiersmen is a voluntary service formed in britain in 1905 by roger pocock. They cover diverse topics from the long history of the legion of frontiersmen. The independent overseas command is a member of the united nations association. This loyalty was put to the test 10 years after the legion s formation, in the first world war. Once hundred years since the war in gallipoli, 9000 members of the legion of frontiersmen lost their lives during world war i, giving their lives for. Photo provided by legion of frontiersmen legion cadet corps aust command 225 bn. Soldiers of the empire history of the new zealand command legion of frontiersmen legion. Legion of frontiersmen, independent command canada. As the matters are of interest, the notes have been broken up into. The city of london and colour squadron maintains the colours for the countess mountbattens own legion of frontiersmen, and attends all the ceremonials as the.
The following is from ray westlakes book, kitchener army, 25th battalion royal fusiliers city of london regiment frontiersmen this battalion was formed by the legion of frontiersmen, a self governing military organisation which had been in existence since 1904, with branches throughout the empire and british isles, and offered its services on the outbreak of war in 1914. Legion of frontiersmen 12409 67 st nw edmonton, ab. Its proud, unique history and military background combine well with its present skills and experience, providing local communities with a welltrained and disciplined body of men and women dedicated to serving the community whenever called upon to do so. Legion of frontiersmen soldiers and their units great. The legion of frontiersmen is a voluntary service formed in britain in 1905 by roger pocock, a former constable with the northwest mounted police and boer war veteran prompted by fears of an impending invasion of britain and the empire, the organisation was founded to be a field intelligence corps on a romanticised conception of the frontier and imperial idealism. Prompted by prewar fears of a pending invasion of britain, the organisation was founded on a romanticized conception of the fronti. In 1909 he published the frontiersmans pocketbook, the list of contributors including some of the wellknown names, a number of whom were members of the legion of frontiersmen, others specialist in their field but all determined to support the empire in its time of need. This is not a forum for general discussion of the articles subject put new text under old text. Units in the united kingdom countess mountbattens own.
The legion of frontiersmen is a paramilitary group formed in britain in 1905 by roger pocock, a former constable with the northwest mounted. Dowds 1951 history booklet not only were frontiersmen from winnipeg, canada, making their way to valcartier camp, but according to the dundee courier. He was later to go to the united state where he became a boundary rider, trapper, explorer and seaman. The frontiersmen historian website and blog page 2. We have tried to resolve the mysteries and stories in a constant search for the truth. Events within this eccentric legion have ranged from rifle smuggling to hijacking cars onto the ppcli troop train, to attempting the first flight around the world. Bristol male voice choir, gurt winter concert 2012, the colston hall duration. The early legion of frontiersmen reflected kiplings poem the lost legion and these largely unknown frontiersmen have both an honourable and a colourful early history.
Countess mountbattens own legion of frontiersmen registered charity no. Click here to start a new topic please sign and date your posts by typing four tildes new to wikipedia. Behobeho east africa 1915 1917 nyangao kilimanjaro great war 1917 belgium 1914 18. Enlisted into the legion of frontiersmen new zealand command p troop in 1996. Significantly, roger did not ask daniel driscoll to contribute to his pocketbook, despite driscoll having been significantly involved in recruiting for the legion and his own frontier experiences including.
Countess mountbattens own frontiersmen is a voluntary uniformed reserve force. The 210th frontiersmen battalion, cef was a unit in the canadian expeditionary force during the first world war. The legion of frontiersmen new zealand command, unofficial website. The frontiersmans pocketbook bruce peel special collections roger pocock on. The legion of frontiersmen canadian division regulations and. See also the history of the legion of frontiersmen, with particular reference to canadian division, privately published, regina, c 1980 96, and r. Legion of frontiersmen new zealand command new zealand medals and awards over the many years of the existence of the legion of frontiersmen, there has not been a great deal of service recognition except for the original long service and efficiency medal and meritorious service medals. Indeed, frontiersmen were among the very first britons to go into battle against germany in 1914. If you are a seller for this product, would you like to suggest updates through seller support. The frontiersmen historian website and blog page 3. In the field of military history, this investigation has produced histories. Books production date 1971 creator legion of frontiersmen canadian division headquarters author history of the legion of frontiersmen with particular reference to the legion of frontiersmen canadian division author legion of frontiersmen publisher imperial war museums home connect with iwm.
The countess mountbattens own legion of frontiersmen was conceived and organized. The legion of frontiersmen heroes who have seen service in n every part of our empire, receive new colour from sir p. The frontiersmans pocketbook bruce peel special collections. So i like to think that our ancient alliance has been of some practical use to the former ruling family. The legion of frontiersmen was formed in london in 1904, and management of this world wide organisation has always remained in the united kingdom city of london and colour squadron. A late frontiersman who joined the colour squadron in 1957 recalled reading through the minutes book of headquarters meetings going right back to the founding days. The history of the legion of frontiersmen with particular reference to the legion of frontiersmen. The independent overseas command is registered in london 89923. The legion of frontiersmen was founded in 1904 by an english army captain pocock and the organization was, at that time, recognized by the then war office as an intelligence unit associated with the armed forces. The frontiersmen s cooperation with the british legion carried on for many years, as can be seen from the photograph showing the frontiersmen bearing standards lining the front of the stage at the british legion festival of remembrance at the albert hall in 1936. The legion of frontiersmen, founded in 1904 by a quixotic writer and adventurer. Several impatient members of the winnipeg legion of frontiersmen turned up in london on the chance of being included in an early draft for france. The pro patria project is to be an ongoing new zealand military history initiative being undertaken by p troop fm mike subritzky, and e squadron lt mike smith of the legion of frontiersmen.