On 20 December 1915, the 7th (Service) Battalion The Royal Irish Rifles, supplemented by 6 officers and 224 other ranks from the Jersey Militia, arrived in France. Lieutenant Colonel Stocker, previously the Commanding Officer of the Militia, remained as OC D Company in command of the Jerseymen. As nearly all of D Company spoke French, they were of immense value to the rest of the Battalion during their service in France. They also astonished the country folk when they sang French songs on the march. Four months later the War Office ordered Lieutenant Colonel Stocker from the trenches because of his age – he was over 50. Captain J S Steele, later to be General Sir James Steele and Colonel of the Royal Ulster Rifles, then assumed command of the Jerseymen.