[From a personal paper by John Adams]
Formed at Clandeboye Co Down, September 1914
Lt Col Stewart W. Blacker
2nd in Command
Major W.G. Fitzgerald
Company Commanders
Captain G.R. Irwin A Company
Captain J.F. Atkinson B Company [Missing believed Killed, 1/7/1916]
Captain S.J. Scott C Company
Captain D.G. Shillington D Company [Wounded 1/7/1916]
Second Lieutenants
A.D. Allen, L.M. Anderson, J.G. Boyle, J.G Brew [Wounded 1/7/1916], C.H. Ensor [Wounded, 1/7/1916], J.G.E. Fitzgerald, J.G. Given, C.M. Johnston [Killed in Action, 1/7/1916], J. Johnston, H.K. Jackson [Wounded 1/7/1916], G. Lutton, W.G. Menaul, J.M. Stronge, A. Small, R.S. Townsend [Missing believed Killed, 1/7/1916], A.B. Townsend.
Quartermaster
Major Ferguson
R.S.M. Stillwell
C.S.M. A. Tuck A Company
C.S.M. McKane B Company
C.S.M. Cross C Company
C.S.M. Sharpe D Company
2nd Lieuts who came later
G.St G.S. Cather later VC [Killed in Action, 2/7/1916], G.E. Bancroft [Wounded 1/7/1916], G.C. Dickson, R.B. Flood, J.E. Gibson [Wounded 1/7/1916], R.T. Montgomery [Missing believed Killed, 1/7/1916], J.G. Shillington [Wounded 1/7/1916]
January 1915
2nd Lieuts J.G. Brew and C.M Johnston were promoted Captains
2nd Lieuts L.M. Anderson, C.H. Ensor, J.G.E. Fitzgerald, R.S. Hood, J.E. Gibson, W.J. Menaul and J.G. Shillington were promoted Lieutenants
June 1915
Lieut C.H. Ensor promoted temporary Captain
2nd Lieuts A.D. Allen, G.E. Barcroft, G. St G.S. Cather, G.C. Dickson, J.A. Johnston, R.J. Montgomery, W.F. Reid and J.M. Stronge to be temporary Lieutenants
[Details of casualties on 1st July 1916 from the 9th R.I.F. War Diary]
Even though we are told by historians that the army commanders who planned the Somme Offensive expected a walk over, it is very noticible that none of the Company Serjeant Majors of the 9th Battalion were permitted to go over the top. It would appear that someone didnt share their optimism and that the CSMs were being held back to ressurect the slaughtered battalion.