Mercian Volunteers
| Mercian Volunteers | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1967–1988 |
| Allegiance |  Line Infantry |
| Size | Two battalions |
| Garrison/HQ | 1st Battalion – Walsall 2nd Battalion – Shirley |
The Mercian Volunteers was a
Formation
The regiment was formed on 1 April 1967, as the successor to Territorial Army infantry battalions of the
- HQ Company (Staffordshire), at Walsall
(from 5th Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment) - A Company (Cheshire), at Stockport Armoury, Stockport
(from 4th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment and 7th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment) - 7th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment)
- C Company (Staffordshire), at Burton-on-Trent)
(from 5th/6th Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment - D Company (Sherwood Foresters), at Nottingham
(from 5th/8th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters)
In 1971 a fifth company, E Company (Cheshire), was raised from the cadre of 4th/7th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment.
1st Battalion
Upon the formation of the 2nd Battalion on 1 April 1975, the original unit was designated as the 1st Battalion of the regiment with its headquarters at Wolseley House in Wolverhampton. It also lost E Company (Cheshire) to the newly raised battalion. The battalion's structure afterwards was as follows:[1][2]
- HQ Company, at Wolseley House, Wolverhampton; Mortar Platoon at Droitwich Spa and Anti-Tank Platoon at Sutton-in-Ashfield
- A Company (Cheshire), at Stockport Armoury, Stockport
- B Company (Worcestershire), at The Shrubbery, Kidderminster and Worcester
- C Company (Staffordshire), at Burton-on-Trent and Rugeley
- D Company (Sherwood Foresters), at Nottingham
The Home Service Force, a home defence unit, established in 1982 at the height of the Cold War, saw each Territorial infantry battalion raise a company of HSF soldiers; this led to the formation of G (HSF) Company at Kidderminster.[3]
In the late 1980s, the decision was made to place control of the territorial infantry units back under the control of the local county-line infantry regiments and so the battalion was broken up, and the companies used as the foundation blocks for building these new battalions. The companies were broken up as follows:
2nd Battalion
The 2nd Battalion was formed on 1 April 1975, mostly from the Light Infantry and Mercian Volunteers. Its structure upon formation was:[4][2]
- HQ Company, at Shirley
- A Company, at Silver Street in Worcester, and Stourport-on-Severn
(from A Company, Light Infantry and Mercian Volunteers) - B Company, at Stoke-on-Trent and Crewe
(from B company, Light Infantry and Mercian Volunteers) - C Company, at Ellesmere Port and Northwich
(from E Company, 1st Battalion, Mercian Volunteers) - D Company, at Whittimere Street Drill Hall, Walsall
(from E Company, Light Infantry and Mercian Volunteers)
Along with the 1st Battalion, the 2nd Battalion also raised a Home Service Force company in 1984, namely F (HSF) Company at Worcester.[3]
As described above, the 2nd Battalion was also broken up as follows:[4][2] A and F (HSF) Companies to 4th (Volunteer) Battalion, Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters, with the same lettering; B and D Companies to 3rd (Volunteer) Battalion, Staffordshire Regiment, retaining the lettering; C Company to 3rd (Volunteer) Battalion, Cheshire Regiment, as the same.
Honorary Colonels
1st Battalion
- 1975–1980: Colonel Edward R.W. Tooby,
- 1980–1988: Colonel Charles J. Baines, DL[1]
2nd Battalion
Deputy Honorary Colonels
 |
From 1971 to 1972, the companies of the regiment each maintained a Deputy Honorary Colonel, in succession to the previous battalions.
- B Company: Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander W.R.H. Pettigrew,
References
- ^ a b c d e "1st Battalion, Mercian Volunteers". Archived from the original on 3 March 2007. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "Mercian Volunteers - British Army units from 1945 on". Retrieved 3 April 2021.
- ^ a b "HSF Cap Badges". 31 May 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "2nd Battalion, Mercian Volunteers". Archived from the original on 3 March 2007. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
- ^ "Colonel Edward Reed Ward TOOBY, O.B.E., M.C., T.D. (64486)". Retrieved 3 April 2021.
- ^ "7th Battalion, The Worcestershire Regiment (and all Worcestershire successors)". Archived from the original on 3 March 2007. Retrieved 3 April 2021.