First World War
In 1913, Lieutenant Colonel John Rhodes took command. He offered a £1 bounty for joining and as a result a number of men from the mainland joined up in preference to other units. In 1914, the Rifles were mobilised to man local fortifications. The First Battalion of 900 men were raised for foreign service and a second battalion of 900 raised for home service. Training commenced, firstly at Parkhurst and then at Bury St. Edmunds and Watford. On 30 July 1915 they sailed from Liverpool aboard the Aquitania (some wood of which now forms a bar in Sandown Broadway) as part of the 163rd Infantry Brigade, 54th East Anglian Division to Gallipoli.
Read more about this topic: Wight Rifles
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