1st Northamptonshire Rifle Volunteer Corps
1st Northamptonshire Rifle Volunteer Corps 4th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment 50th (Northamptonshire Regiment) Searchlight Regiment, RA 585 (Northamptonshire Regiment) Searchlight Regiment, RA | |
---|---|
Active | 29 August 1859 – 10 March 1955 |
Country | Palestine Second World War: Henry James Fitzroy, Earl of Euston |
The 1st Northamptonshire Rifle Volunteers were a unit of the
Early history
An invasion scare in 1859 led to the creation of the
- Now every man of sense, Sir,
Should welcome with three cheers
And rally round Lord Spencer
and the Althorp Volunteers.[3]
- Now every man of sense, Sir,
Within months the following units had been raised in the county:[4][5][6][7][8]
- 1st Northamptonshire RVC at Althorp with the 5th Earl Spencer appointed to command on 29 August 1859.
- 2nd Northamptonshire RVC raised at Towcester after a meeting held at the Pomfret Hotel on 12 July 1859 with the 5th Earl of Pomfret appointed to command on 19 October.
- 3rd Northamptonshire RVC planned at Northampton but converted to Mounted Rifles in March 1860 (see below).
- 4th Northamptonshire RVC raised from 'professional men and tradesmen' after a meeting at Northampton Town Hall on 2 June 1859, with the first officers commissioned on 15 February 1860.
- 5th Northamptonshire RVC raised from employees of the military contractor Isaac, Campbell & Co at Northampton, with the company's proprietor Samuel Isaac appointed as captain and his brother Saul Isaac as lieutenant on 3 March 1860.
- 6th Northamptonshire RVC raised at Peterborough, with the Hon George Wentworth-Fitzwilliam, former MP for Peterborough, appointed as commanding officer 3 March 1860.
- 7th Northamptonshire RVC raised at Wellingborough, with the first officers commissioned on 20 September 1860
- 8th Northamptonshire RVC raised at Daventry with Sir Rainald Knightley, Bart, MP for South Northamptonshire, appointed to command on 23 November 1860.
All these units were included in the 1st Administrative Battalion, Northamptonshire RVCs, in 1860, under the command of William Fitzroy, Earl of Euston (later
- 1st Northamptonshire Mounted Rifle Volunteer Corps, raised at Overstone 3 Mar 1860 by Col Robert Loyd-Lindsay, VC, joined 1st Admin Bn 1862.[11][12]
- 1st Northamptonshire Engineer Volunteer Corps at Peterborough, raised 1867.[13]
- 9th Northamptonshire RVC raised at Kettering, 22 April 1867.[5]
The 1st Northamptonshire MRV was absorbed by the 4th Northampton RVC in 1863
The Administrative Battalion was consolidated as the 1st Northamptonshire RVC in 1880, with the following organisation:[5][6]
- A Company (ex 1st RVC)
- B Company (ex 2nd RVC)
- C to G Companies (ex 3rd RVC)
- H and I Companies (ex 6th RVC)
- K and L Companies (ex 7th RVC)
- M Company (ex 8th RVC)
- N Company (ex 9th RVC)
Under the Childers Reforms of 1881, the 1st Northampton RVC was attached as a Volunteer Battalion to the Northamptonshire Regiment on 1 July, and formally changed its title to 1st Volunteer Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment, in December 1887.[5][6][7] (As with the Admin Bn, there was no 2nd Volunteer Bn). The Earl of Euston took over as Lt-Col Commandant on 4 February 1882.[14]
In the mobilisation scheme introduced after the Stanhope Memorandum of December 1888, the battalion initially formed part of the South Midland Brigade, which would have assembled at Warwick in the event of war. Later it joined the volunteer battalions of the Suffolk Regiment in the Harwich Brigade, tasked with defending the naval base at Harwich.[14][16]
By 1900 the unit had grown to a double battalion of 16 companies distributed as follows:[5][17]
- A Company at Althorp
- HQ and B to F Companies at Northampton
- G and H Companies at Peterborough
- I and K Companies at Wellingborough
- L Company at Daventry
- M and N Companies (one of them composed of cyclists) at Kettering
- O Company at Rushden
- Q Company at Desborough and Rothwell
- R Company at Raunds
In December 1899 the Volunteers were invited to form special service companies to reinforce their Regular battalions serving in
After the Boer War the battalion joined with the volunteer battalions of the
Territorial Force
When the Volunteer Force was subsumed into the new
The 4th Bn Northamptonshire Regiment formed part of the
First World War
Mobilisation
On 26 July 1914, the 4th Northamptons went into camp at
1/4th Northamptons
After the Home Service men and the unfit had been transferred to the 2/4th Bn, the 1/4th was brought up to strength with recruits and training continued at Bury St Edmunds. The battalion moved to
Gallipoli
In the early hours of 15 August the battalion transhipped to the destroyers
At the beginning of September the 1/4th Northamptons were transferred to
Egypt
After a week at Mudros, the battalion was transferred to Egypt, landing at
In April 1916, after rest, the division took up positions in No 1 (Southern) Section of the
Palestine
On 26 March the 1/4th Northamptons were ordered to entrench a position on the Gaza road to cover the mounted troops during the
Stationary trench warfare having set in, the battalion was brought up to strength before a new attempt on the Turkish position (the
On 27 November the weak (400 strong) battalion distinguished itself at Wilhelma, decisively repulsing three attacks made by 3000 Turks with ample artillery support. When the battalion's flanks were threatened, the CO ordered counter-attacks by two platoons on each flank to restore the position. The action protected the vital Jaffa–Jerusalem road, the main supply route for the British force advancing to capture Jerusalem.[36][37]
The next forward movement was not until March 1918, after which trench warfare set in again. In June the 54th Division was ordered to reinforce the Western Front, the 4th Northamptons entraining for Kantara. But the order was rescinded and the 54th returned to Palestine.[38]
The final offensive of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF), known as the Battle of Megiddo, opened on 19 September 1918 with the Battle of Sharon. 162nd Brigade formed the second wave, attacking at 09.40 into considerable machine-gun and shell fire. The battalion pressed on despite the heat and casualties (including the CO mortally wounded) and reached their objective by 06.45 the following morning after a running fight of 14 miles in which it had taken numerous German and Turkish prisoners for the loss of 75 killed and wounded. As a result of the EEF's attacks on 19/20 September, the Turks retreated and the cavalry took up pursuit.[39]
54th Division was then taken out of the line and concentrated at Haifa, where it was engaged in repairing communications for the rapidly advancing army.[23] Although the 4th Northamptons marched north, reaching Beirut on 31 October, they saw no more fighting; the Armistice of Mudros was signed on that day. On 4 December they embarked to return to Kantara by sea. In early 1919 the battalion took part in suppressing riots in Egypt, which delayed demobilisation. The cadre of the battalion reached Northampton on 4 November 1919.[22][40]
2/4th Northamptons
The 2/4th Battalion formed at Northampton on 27 November 1914. It constituted part of
3/4th Northamptons
The 3/4th Battalion was formed at Northampton on 12 May 1915. It moved to
62nd Provisional Battalion
In June 1915, the Home Service men of the 2/4th Northamptons were posted, together with those of the 2/1st Cambridgeshire Regiment, to form the 62nd Provisional Battalion.[5][22][41] This was a coast defence battalion forming part of 3rd Provisional Brigade, attached to 69th Division in Norfolk.[42]
9th Northamptons
The Military Service Act 1916 swept away the Home/Foreign service distinction, and all TF soldiers became liable for overseas service, if medically fit. The Provisional Battalions thus became anomalous, and on 1 January 1917 the 62nd Bn became 9th Bn Northamptonshire Regiment in 223rd Mixed Brigade. Part of its role was physical conditioning to render men fit for drafting overseas. Based initially at Cley next the Sea, it moved to Sheringham in mid-1918 and remained on the Norfolk coast until disbandment on 24 March 1919.[5][22][25][41][42]
Interwar
The 4th Bn Northamptonshire Regiment was reformed with the TF on 7 February 1920 (the TF was reconstituted as the
The battalion had four affiliated cadet corps in 1921:[14]
- The King's School, Peterborough
- Northampton School for Boys
- Magdalen College School, Brackley
- Kettering Grammar School
In 1930 a machine-gun company was added to the establishment and the 4th Battalion was reorganised with HQ, A and B (Machine Gun) Companies at Northampton (with a platoon at Towcester), C Company at Wellingborough, Rushden, Raunds and Irthlingborough, and D Company at Kettering.[44]
In the 1930s the increasing need for anti-aircraft (AA) defence for Britain's cities was addressed by converting a number of TA infantry battalions into searchlight battalions of the Royal Engineers (RE). The 4th Northamptons was one unit selected for this role, becoming 50th (The Northamptonshire Regiment) AA Battalion, RE, on 1 October 1937, with the following organisation:[5][7][45][46][47][48][a]
- HQ at Northampton
- 400th AA Company at Northampton
- 401st AA Company at Northampton
- 402nd AA Company at Peterborough
- 403rd AA Company at Kettering
The unit was subordinated to 34th (South Midland) AA Group (later Brigade) (later Brigade) as part of 2nd AA Division in Anti-Aircraft Command.[46]
Second World War
Mobilisation
The TA's AA units were mobilised on 23 September 1938 during the
On 1 August 1940, in common with the other RE AA battalions, the unit was transferred to the Royal Artillery (RA), becoming 50th (The Northamptonshire Regiment) Searchlight Regiment, RA., with the AA Companies redesignated Searchlight Batteries.[5][7][45][46][47][48][54][55]
Blitz
By the Blitz of late 1940, 50 Searchlight Rgt had been transferred within 2 AA Division to 50th Light AA Bde, responsible for the air defence of Derby and Nottingham.[56][57][58][59]
The regiment supplied a cadre of experienced officers and men to 233rd S/L Training Rgt at Saighton Camp where it provided the basis for a new 556 S/L Bty formed on 13 February 1941. This battery later joined a newly forming 92nd S/L Rgt.[60]
In 1941 the searchlight layout over the Midlands was reorganised, so that any hostile raid approaching the Gun Defended Areas (GDA) around the towns must cross more than one searchlight belt, and then within the GDAs the concentration of lights was increased.[61]
Mid-war
By the end of the Blitz in May 1941, 50th S/L Rgt was in 50th Light AA Bde in 2nd AA Division, and remained with it until June 1942 when it joined a newly formed 72nd AA Bde in 2nd AA Division, though 402 and 403 Btys remained attached to 50th AA Bde.[62][63][64]
On 10 September 1942, 400 (Northampton) Battery was transferred to
50th (Northampton) S/L Rgt remained with 72nd AA Bde until December 1942, when it left to join 47th AA Bde in 2 AA Group (which had replaced 2nd AA Division). It remained with this brigade throughout 1943.[70][71][72][73]
Operation Diver
2 AA Group was responsible for defending the assembly camps, depots and embarkation ports for
On 13 June, a week after the Overlord fleets had left to launch
637 (Northamptonshire Regiment) Infantry Regiment, RA
By the end of 1944, the German Luftwaffe was suffering from such shortages of pilots, aircraft and fuel that serious aerial attacks on the UK could be discounted. At the same time 21st Army Group fighting in North West Europe was suffering a severe manpower shortage, particularly among the infantry.[78] On 23 January 1945 the War Office began to reorganise surplus AA regiments in the UK into infantry battalions, primarily for line of communication and occupation duties, thereby releasing trained infantry for frontline service.[79][80] On 23 January 1945 the regiment became 637 (The Northamptonshire Regiment) Infantry Regiment, RA.[5][7][45][47][55][48][54][81][82] It formed part of 304 Infantry Bde (itself formed by conversion of 38th Light AA Bde).[82][83][84][85]
In February the surplus (older or unfit) men were sent to Bursledon, near Southampton, where 82nd S/L Rgt was acting as a holding unit. The men remained with that regiment while they were awaiting posting or demobilisation. The regiment's Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) women were posted to AA brigade HQs.[86]
After infantry training, including a short period attached to 55th (West Lancashire) Infantry Division, 304 Bde was sent to Norway in June 1945 following the liberation of that country (Operation Doomsday).[47][48][82][85] Afterwards it was placed in suspended animation at Much Hadham, Hertfordshire, on 10 February 1946.[5][81]
Postwar
When the TA was reconstituted on 1 January 1947, the regiment was reformed as 585 (The Northamptonshire Regiment) Searchlight Regiment, RA, forming part of 76 AA Bde (the former 50 AA Bde). It retained the right to wear the Northamptons' cap badge. The regiment was redesignated a Mixed Light Anti-Aircraft/Searchlight Regiment in March 1949 ('Mixed' indicating that personnel of the Women's Royal Army Corps were integrated within the unit).[5][45][47][55][87][88][89][90]
When AA Command was disbanded on 10 March 1955, there was a considerable reduction in the number of TA air defence units. As a result, 585 Regiment was amalgamated with
However, 438 LAA Regiment only lasted until 1961, when it was broken up. R Battery reverted to infantry and merged with 5th (Huntingdonshire) Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment, to become 4th/5th Bn Northamptonshire Regiment, subsequently part of the Royal Anglian Regiment.[5][88][91][93][94][95]
Uniforms and insignia
The original uniform was grey with scarlet facings and the headgear was a shako, in which the 5th Northampton RVC wore a red tuft. The shako was replaced by a spiked helmet in 1879. When the Volunteers were affiliated to the Regular county regiments they were given the option of adopting the scarlet coat, but the 1st Northampton VB rejected this and retained the grey jacket. Only when the battalion became the 4th Northamptons did it adopt a scarlet uniform faced in white.[96] The facings were changed to the buff of the old 48th Foot (1st Bn Northampton Regiment) in 1926.[14]
In common with the Regular
Upon conversion to the RE and then the RA, the battalion was granted the right to retain its county regiment association by continuing to wear the Northamptonshire Regiment cap badge. This was kept until the amalgamation of 1955.[47]
Honorary Colonels
The following served as Honorary Colonels of the unit:[14][98]
- Charles Spencer, 6th Earl Spencer, appointed Hon Col 4th Bn Northamptonshire Regt 1913.
- Albert Spencer, 7th Earl Spencer, appointed Hon Col 4th Bn Northamptonshire Regt 1924 and 50th (Northamptonshire Regt) AA Bn, RE, from 1937.
Battle Honours
The battalion was awarded the following
2nd Boer War:
First World War[99]
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|
|
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Gaza was one of the 10 honours selected by the whole Northamptonshire Regiment to be emblazoned on the King's Colour.[100]
The RE and RA do not carry battle honours, so none were awarded for service during the Second World War.
Footnotes
- ^ A new 4th Battalion was raised just before the outbreak of war in 1939 as a duplicate of the regiment's other TA battalion, the 5th (Huntingdonshire). The new 4th Bn served in home defence for most of the war, and finally on the lines of communication in North West Europe. It was merged back into the 5th Bn after the war.[5][49]
Notes
- ^ Beckett.
- ^ Gurney, p. 314.
- ^ Beckett, p. 265.
- ^ Beckett, Appendix VII.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Frederick, pp. 227–8.
- ^ a b c d e Westlake, Rifle Volunteers, p. 190–1.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Northamptonshire Volunteers at Regiments.org.
- ^ Gurney, pp. 314–5 & 324–5.
- ^ Monthly Army List, January 1866.
- ^ Northampton at Drill Hall Project.
- ^ Beckett, Appendix X.
- ^ a b Gurney, p. 315.
- ^ a b Westlake, Engineer Volunteers, p. 13.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Army List.
- ^ Gurney, p. 319.
- ^ Gurney, p. 320.
- ^ a b c Gurney, p. 321.
- ^ a b Leslie.
- ^ East Anglian Bde RFA at Regiments.org.
- ^ Litchfield, p. 101.
- ^ London Gazette, 20 March 1908.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m James, p. 89.
- ^ a b c d e Becke, Pt 2a, pp. 125–32.
- ^ a b c Northamptons at Long, Long Trail.
- ^ a b c d e f g h 54 Div at Long, Long Trail.
- ^ Gurney, pp. 326–7.
- ^ a b c Regimental History, pp. 326–7.
- ^ a b c d Becke, Pt 2b, pp. 91–8.
- ^ Regimental History, p. 340.
- ^ Regimental History, pp. 328–9.
- ^ Regimental History, pp. 329–30.
- ^ Regimental History, p. 330.
- ^ Regimental History, pp. 331–2.
- ^ Regimental History, pp. 332–3.
- ^ Regimental History, pp. 334–5.
- ^ Gurney, p. 327.
- ^ Regimental History, pp. 336–7.
- ^ Regimental History, p. 338.
- ^ Regimental History, p. 339.
- ^ Regimental History, pp. 340–1.
- ^ a b c d e Regimental History, p. 341.
- ^ a b David Porter's work on Provisional Brigades at Great War Forum
- ^ Titles & Designations.
- ^ a b Gurney, p. 336.
- ^ a b c d e Frederick, pp. 859, 868.
- ^ a b c d Watson & Rinaldi, pp. 111, 114.
- ^ a b c d e f g Litchfield, p. 189.
- ^ a b c d e "2nd AA Division 1939 at British Military History" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 January 2016. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
- ^ Joslen, pp. 307, 358.
- ^ Routledge, pp. 62–3.
- ^ Routledge, pp. 65–6, 371.
- ^ AA Command 3 September 1939 at Patriot Files.
- ^ Routledge Table LX, p. 378.
- ^ a b 50 S/L Rgt at RA 39–45.
- ^ a b c Farndale, Annex M, p. 339.
- ^ "2nd AA Division 1940 at British Military History" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
- ^ 2 AA Div at RA 39–45.
- ^ Farndale, Annex D, p. 258.
- ^ Routledge Table LXV, p. 396.
- ^ Frederick, p. 862.
- ^ Routledge, p. 399.
- ^ Order of Battle of Non-Field Force Units in the United Kingdom, Part 27: AA Command, 12 May 1941, The National Archives (TNA), Kew, file WO 212/79.
- ^ Order of Battle of Non-Field Force Units in the United Kingdom, Part 27: AA Command, 2 December 1941, TNA file WO 212/80.
- ^ Order of Battle of Non-Field Force Units in the United Kingdom, Part 27: AA Command, 14 May 1942 with amendments, TNA file WO 212/81.
- ^ 30 Searchlight Regiment War Diary 1942, TNA file WO 166/7780.
- ^ Joslen, pp. 465, 467.
- ^ Litchfield, p. 226.
- ^ 30 Searchlight Regiment War Diary 1943, TNA file WO 175/479.
- ^ 30/62 Searchlight Regiment War Diary 1943, TNA file WO 175/480.
- ^ Order of Battle of Non-Field Force Units in the United Kingdom, Part 27: AA Command, 1 October 1942 with amendments, TNA file WO 212/82.
- ^ Order of Battle of Non-Field Force Units in the United Kingdom, Part 27: AA Command, 13 March 1943, TNA file WO 212/83.
- ^ Order of Battle of AA Command, 1 August 1943, TNA file WO 212/84.
- ^ a b Order of Battle of AA Command, 27 April 1944 with amendments, TNA file WO 212/85.
- ^ a b Pile.
- ^ a b Routledge, pp. 408–10.
- ^ Order of Battle of AA Command, 27 April 1944, TNA file WO 212/85.
- ^ Frederick, p. 1050.
- ^ Ellis, pp. 141–2.
- ^ Ellis, pp. 369, 380.
- ^ Infantry Regiments RA at RA 39–45
- ^ a b Frederick, p. 883.
- ^ a b c 637 Inf Rgt at RA 39–45.
- ^ Frderick, p. 1050.
- ^ 304 Inf Bde at RA 39–45.
- ^ a b Joslen, p. 400.
- ^ 82 S/L Rgt War Diary 1945, TNA file WO 166/16822.
- ^ a b Frederick, p. 1024.
- ^ a b c 564–591 Rgts at British Army 1945 on.
- ^ 67–106 AA Bdes at British Army 1945 on.
- ^ Watson, TA 1947.
- ^ a b Frederick, p. 1013.
- ^ Litchfield, p. 39.
- ^ a b Litchfield, p. 139.
- ^ Huntingdon Bn at Regiments.org.
- ^ 4/5th Northants at Regiments.org.
- ^ Gurney, pp. 314–5, 319–22.
- ^ Gurney, pp. 322–3, 407.
- ^ Burke's
- ^ Regimental History, Appendix I.
- ^ Gurney, p. 406.
References
- Maj A. F. Becke,History of the Great War: Order of Battle of Divisions, Part 2a: The Territorial Force Mounted Divisions and the 1st-Line Territorial Force Divisions (42–56), London: HM Stationery Office, 1935/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2007, ISBN 1-84734-739-8.
- Maj A. F. Becke,History of the Great War: Order of Battle of Divisions, Part 2b: The 2nd-Line Territorial Force Divisions (57th–69th), with the Home-Service Divisions (71st–73rd) and 74th and 75th Divisions, London: HM Stationery Office, 1937/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2007, ISBN 1-84734-739-8.
- Ian F. W. Beckett, Riflemen Form: A study of the Rifle Volunteer Movement 1859–1908, Aldershot: Ogilby Trusts, 1982, ISBN 0-85936-271-X.
- Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage, 100th Edn, London, 1953.
- Maj ISBN 1-84574-059-9.
- Gen Sir ISBN 1-85753-080-2.
- J.B.M. Frederick, Lineage Book of British Land Forces 1660–1978, Vol I, Wakefield, Microform Academic, 1984, ISBN 1-85117-007-3.
- J.B.M. Frederick, Lineage Book of British Land Forces 1660–1978, Vol II, Wakefield, Microform Academic, 1984, ISBN 1-85117-009-X.
- Lt-Col Russell Gurney, History of the Northamptonshire Regiment 1742–1934, Aldershot: Gale & Polden, 1935.
- Brig E.A. James, British Regiments 1914–18, Samson Books 1978/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2001, ISBN 978-1-84342-197-9.
- Joslen, H. F. (2003) [1960]. Orders of Battle: Second World War, 1939–1945. Uckfield, East Sussex: Naval and Military Press. ISBN 978-1-84342-474-1.
- N.B. Leslie, Battle Honours of the British and Indian Armies 1695–1914, London: Leo Cooper, 1970, ISBN 0-85052-004-5.
- Norman E. H. Litchfield, The Territorial Artillery 1908–1988 (Their Lineage, Uniforms and Badges), Nottingham: Sherwood Press, 1992, ISBN 0-9508205-2-0.
- Gen Sir Frederick Pile's despatch: "The Anti-Aircraft Defence of the United Kingdom from 28th July, 1939, to 15th April, 1945" London Gazette 18 December 1947
- Regimental History Committee, The Northamptonshire Regiment, 1914–1918, Aldershot: Gale & Polden, 1932/Uckfield: Naval & Military, 2005, ISBN 1-84574-270-2.
- Brig N. W. Routledge, History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery: Anti-Aircraft Artillery 1914–55, London: Royal Artillery Institution/Brassey's, 1994, ISBN 1-85753-099-3
- Titles and Designations of Formations and Units of the Territorial Army, London: War Office, 7 November 1927.
- Graham E. Watson & Richard A. Rinaldi, The Corps of Royal Engineers: Organization and Units 1889–2018, Tiger Lily Books, 2018, ISBN 978-171790180-4.
- R. A. Westlake, Royal Engineers (Volunteers) 1859–1908, Wembley: R.A. Westlake, 1983, ISBN 0-9508530-0-3.
- Ray Westlake, Tracing the Rifle Volunteers, Barnsley: Pen and Sword, 2010, ISBN 978-1-84884-211-3.
External links
- British Army units from 1945 on
- The Drill Hall Project
- David Porter's work on Provisional Brigades at Great War Forum
- The Long, Long Trail
- Orders of Battle at Patriot Files
- The Regimental Warpath 1914–1918 (archive site)
- Land Forces of Britain, the Empire and Commonwealth – Regiments.org (archive site)
- The Royal Artillery 1939–45
- Graham Watson, The Territorial Army 1947