Formed in Newcastle in March 1915 as a Reserve Battalion from the depot companies of the 8th, 9th & 10th Battalions.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has
KING, Frederick Cross. Second Lieutenant. 17th (Reserve) Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles, On Attachment To :- 25th Company, Machine Gun Corps. Bancourt British Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France. 23-10-1916. Age 33. Husband of Anne J. King of Ladbroke Square, London, UK.