18th (Service) Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps (Arts and Crafts)

The 18th (Service) Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps (Arts and Crafts), was a unique unit of the British Army formed during the First World War. Raised in 1915, its designation "Arts and Crafts" distinguished it from other service battalions of the King's Royal Rifle Corps (KRRC).

The battalion was specifically recruited from individuals involved in artistic and creative trades and professions. This included artists, architects, designers, craftsmen, and those employed in related industries. The intention behind forming such a battalion was to utilize the skills and talents of these men, not necessarily in direct combat roles (though they were trained as soldiers), but in ways that would contribute to the war effort through their specific expertise.

While the exact nature of their wartime activities is sometimes debated and not fully documented, it is understood that the battalion was involved in tasks beyond typical infantry duties. This potentially included camouflage design and implementation, mapmaking, producing instructional materials, creating models and diagrams for training purposes, and possibly even producing propaganda or morale-boosting art. The "Arts and Crafts" designation signified a commitment to skilled labor and creative problem-solving within the military context.

Like other service battalions, the 18th (Service) Battalion, KRRC, likely saw periods of frontline service and suffered casualties, despite the specialized skills of its members. Its history is intertwined with the larger history of the KRRC and the overall British war effort on the Western Front. Following the end of the First World War, the battalion was disbanded, with its members returning to their civilian occupations. Records of the battalion's specific activities remain scattered and incomplete, making a full and detailed account of its contributions challenging to compile.