Sherwood Foresters
Sherwood Foresters (Derbyshire Regiment) Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment) | |
---|---|
Alma (20 September) |
The Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence for just under 90 years, from 1881 to 1970. In 1970, the regiment was amalgamated with the Worcestershire Regiment to form the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment, which in 2007 was amalgamated with the Cheshire Regiment and the Staffordshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's) to form the present Mercian Regiment. The lineage of the Sherwood Foresters is now continued by The Mercian Regiment.
History
Pre 1914 history
The regiment was formed on 1 July 1881 as part of the
Following the amalgamation, the 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters saw action in Egypt during the Anglo-Egyptian War, and was stationed at Malta from September 1898. Following the outbreak of the Second Boer War in October 1899, the battalion was sent to South Africa where they arrived in December. They were stationed in the Orange Free State and took part in fighting under General Sir William Gatacre. From April 1900 they were part of the 21st Infantry brigade under General Bruce Hamilton.[3] The battalion stayed in South Africa until the end of the war, then transferred on the SS Wakool to a new posting at Hong Kong in September 1902.[4]
The 2nd Battalion served in
In October 1902, the Nottinghamshire association was made explicit, the name changing to the Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment).
First World War
Regular Army
The 1st battalion landed at
The 2nd battalion landed at
Reserve Battalions
The 3rd (Reserve) and 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalions were depot/training units.[10] They moved to Plymouth (3rd Battalion) and Sunderland (4th Battalion) in August 1914.[10] In May 1915, the 3rd Battalion joined the 4th in Sunderland, where they both remained as part of Tyne Garrison,[10] as holding and reinforcement units.[11]
Territorial Force
The 1/5th,
New Armies
The 9th (Service) Battalion landed at
Between the wars
In 1920, Sherwood Foresters were in
In December 1936, the 46th (North Midland) Division was disbanded and its headquarters was reconstituted as 2nd Anti-Aircraft Division to control the increasing number of anti-aircraft (AA) units being created north of London. At the same time, several of its infantry battalions were converted into searchlight battalions of the Royal Engineers (RE). The 6th and 7th Bns Sherwood Foresters were among these, becoming 40th (The Sherwood Foresters) Anti-Aircraft Battalion and 42nd (The Robin Hoods, Sherwood Foresters) AA Bn respectively, forming part of 32nd (South Midland) Anti-Aircraft Group in 2 AA Division.[16]
Second World War
After garrison service in the interwar years, the Sherwood Foresters next saw action in the
1st Battalion
The 1st Battalion was serving in the
2nd Battalion
The 2nd Battalion, Sherwood Foresters was serving in the
1/5th (Derbyshire) Battalion
The 1/5th (Derbyshire) Battalion was a 1st-Line
40th (Sherwood Foresters) Anti-Aircraft Battalion
In August 1940, the AA battalions of the Royal Engineers were transferred to the
42nd (Robin Hoods, Sherwood Foresters) Anti-Aircraft Battalion
Similarly, in August 1940 this battalion became the 42nd (Robin Hoods, Sherwood Foresters) Searchlight Regiment, RA, serving through The Blitz in 50th Anti-Aircraft Brigade of 2nd AA Division, covering Derby. It went to North-West Europe and served in the defence of Antwerp against V-1 flying bomb attacks during the winter of 1944–45.[23][24][25][26][27]
8th Battalion
The 8th (Nottinghamshire) Battalion was mobilised in the
2/5th (Derbyshire) Battalion
The 2/5th (Derbyshire) Battalion was formed as a 2nd-Line duplicate of the 1/5th Battalion, raised in 1939 when the TA was doubled in size. It was renamed the 5th Battalion after the loss of the 1/5th in Malaya in February 1942. It served in the
9th Battalion
On the outbreak of the Second World War, the 9th Battalion was in the process of formation as a duplicate of the 8th Battalion. Based at
The 9th Battalion left 46th Division in December 1940, and shortly afterwards became the lorried infantry element alongside the artillery of 1st Support Group in 1st Armoured Division.[34] However, on 1 November 1941, the battalion was converted to the armoured car role as 112th Regiment Royal Armoured Corps. In common with other infantry units transferred to the Royal Armoured Corps, personnel would have continued to wear their Foresters cap badge on the black beret of the Royal Armoured Corps,[35] and the regiment continued to add the parenthesis '(Foresters)' after the RAC title.[36] Lieutenant-Colonel Lancaster remained in command during this period before returning to the House of Commons.[33]
112 RAC was assigned to the 42nd Armoured Division as its armoured car regiment. It left the division in February 1943[37] and later became a draft-finding unit for other armoured car regiments fighting in the Normandy Campaign. 112 RAC ceased to exist on 14 October 1944, when it reverted to the title of 9th Foresters, which was placed in suspended animation.[38] The last entry in the War Diary notes:
- The history of this Regiment is a pure example of the complete inefficiency of 'A' Branch at the War Office, in as much as many hundreds of officers and men have wasted valuable years of their lives training for precisely nothing.[39]
10th (Home Defence) Battalion
The 10th (Home Defence) Battalion was raised for home defence in 1939 and, like most other home service units, would mainly have had consisted of men with military experience who were too old or medically unfit for active service overseas, or from younger soldiers who themselves were not old enough to be conscripted (the age for conscription being 20 at the time). The battalion was disbanded in 1941.[2]
12th Battalion
The 12th Battalion was a hostilities-only unit raised in 1940.[2] In 1942, it was sent to India, where it carried out internal security duties at Delhi. On 1 January 1944, it moved to Delawari and came under the command of the 52nd Infantry Brigade, whose role was training British infantrymen in jungle warfare.[40]
13th Battalion
The 13th Battalion was a hostilities-only unit raised in 1940.[2] In 1942, it was sent to India, where it was converted to the armoured role as 163rd Regiment Royal Armoured Corps.[41] In common with other infantry battalions transferred to the Royal Armoured Corps, the personnel of 163 RAC would have continued to wear their Foresters cap badge on the black beret of the Royal Armoured Corps.[42]
163 RAC was stationed at Rawalpindi under command of 267th Indian Armoured Brigade. However, there was a change of policy and, on 1 December 1944 (also reported as 1 December 1943), the regiment was re-converted to infantry, reverting to its previous title of 13th Sherwood Foresters and coming under command of 67th Indian Training Brigade.[43]
14th Battalion
The 14th Battalion was a hostilities-only unit raised in 1940[2] that went on to see active service in the Middle East (Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq) and Italy. It was first assigned to the 218th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home), formed for Home Service in the Yorkshire Area, but was soon reassigned to be the lorried infantry[44] component alongside the artillery of 8th Support Group in the newly raised 8th Armoured Division. In 1942, the division went round by sea to Suez, but, on arrival in July, it was broken up and 14th Foresters were sent to join the 9th Independent Armoured Brigade, with which it fought at the Second Battle of El Alamein under the command of 2nd New Zealand Division.[45]
In January 1943, the 14th Foresters went to join the 7th Armoured Brigade refitting in Persia and Iraq Command. In the summer of 1943, the battalion returned to North Africa to join the 18th Infantry Brigade in the 1st Armoured Division. In February 1944, the brigade sailed to Italy and took part in the Anzio campaign (February–May 1944) under the command of the 1st Infantry Division. In August, the brigade returned to the 1st Armoured Division and was engaged in the operations at Coriano in September. By now, the brigade's infantry battalions were badly depleted and, due to the lack of replacements in the Mediterranean, the 14th Foresters was reduced to a cadre and transferred to the non-operational 168th (London) Infantry Brigade, before being disbanded.[46]
15th (Home Defence) Battalion
The 15th Battalion was raised for Home Defence in 1940 and disbanded in 1941.[2]
16th Battalion
The 16th Battalion was formed by the re-designation of the 70th (Young Soldiers) Battalion in September 1942. The new 16th battalion transferred to the 162nd Infantry Brigade and later the 222nd Infantry Brigade.[47] On 1 January 1943 the 16th Battalion was re-designated as the 1st Battalion.[18]
70th (Young Soldiers) Battalion
In 1940, the 70th (Young Soldiers) Battalion was stationed at Holme Pierrepont Hall, near Radcliffe-on-Trent, Nottingham. Like all other Young Soldiers battalions, this was formed to take volunteers around the ages of 18 and 19 who had not yet reached the compulsory age of conscription, which was 20 at the time. In September 1942, the 70th was redesignated as the 16th Battalion.[48]
Post-war activities
In 1948, the regiment became part of the Midland Brigade, known as the
Amalgamations
In 1970, the Sherwood Foresters were amalgamated with the Worcestershire Regiment to form the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment (29th/45th Foot).[50]
In August 2007, as part of an ongoing series of further amalgamations, the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment became the 2nd Battalion, The Mercian Regiment.[51]
Regimental museum
The Sherwood Foresters Museum is based in Nottingham Castle.[52] Meanwhile, the Derby Museum and Art Gallery incorporates the Soldier's Story Gallery, based on the collections, amongst others, of the Sherwood Foresters.[53]
Battle honours
The regiment's battle honours were as follows:[2]
- post 1881:
- Egypt (1882), Tirah, South Africa 1899–1902
- First World War:
- Aisne 1914 & 18, Armentieres 1914, Neuve Chappelle, Aubers, Hooge 1915, Loos, Somme 1916 & 18, Albert 1916 & 18, Bazentin, Delville Wood, Pozieres, Ginchy, Flers-Courcelette, Morval, Thiepval, Le Transloy, Ancre Heights, Ancre 1916, Arras 1917 & 18, Vimy 1917, Scarpe 1917 & 18, Messines 1917, Ypres 1917 & 18, Pilckem, Langemarck 1917, Menin Road, Polygon Wood, Broodseinde, Poelcappelle, Passchendaele, Cambrai 1917 & 18, St Quentin, Baupaume 1917, Rosieres, Villers Brettaneux, Lys, Bailleul, Kemmel, Scherpenberg, Amiens, Drocourt-Queant, Hindenburg Line, Epehy, Canal du Nord, St Quentin Canal, Beaurevoir, Courtrai, Selle, Sambre, France & Flanders 1914 - 18,
- Piavé, Italy 1917 - 18,
- Suvla, Landing at Suvla, Schimitar Hill, Gallipoli 1915,
- Egypt 1916
- Second World War:
- Norway 1940,
- St Omer-La Bassée, Ypres-Comines Canal, Dunkirk 1940, North West Europe 1940,
- Gazala, El Alemain, Djebel Guerba, Tamera, Medejez Plain, Tunis, North Africa 1942 -43,
- Salerno, Volturno Crossing, Monte Camino, Anzio, Campoleone, Advance to Tiber, Gothic Line, Coriano, Cosina Canal Crossing, Monte Ceco, Italy 1943 - 45,
- Singapore Island, Malaya 1942
Victoria Crosses
The following members of the regiment were awarded the Victoria Cross:
- Private Indian Mutiny
- Lieutenant (later Captain) Tirah Campaign
- Private (later Corporal) William Bees, Second Boer War
- Corporal (later Captain) Harry Churchill Beet, Second Boer War
- Corporal (later Sergeant) Ernest Albert Egerton, First World War
- Acting Corporal (later Sergeant) Fred Greaves, First World War
- Captain (Temporary Lt-Col, later Major-General)) Charles Edward Hudson, First World War
- Sergeant William Henry Johnson (VC), First World War
- Private Jacob Rivers, First World War
- Corporal James Upton, First World War
- Captain (Acting Lt-Col) Bernard William Vann, First World War
- Second Lieutenant (Temporary Captain, later Colonel) Charles Geoffrey Vickers, First World War
- Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) Albert Ball, First World War
- Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) John Henry Cound Brunt, Second World War
Regimental Colonels
Colonels of the regiment were:[2]
- 1881–: (1st Battalion): Gen. 45th Foot)
- 1881-?1889: (2nd Battalion): Gen. 95th Foot)
- 188n–?: (1st Battalion): Gen. Sir 45th Foot)
- 1898–1900: Gen. Frederic Augustus Thesiger, 2nd Baron Chelmsford, GCB, GCVO
- 1900–1902: Gen. Sir Mark Walker, VC, KCB
- 1902–1905: Lt-Gen. Sir William Bellairs, KCMG, CB[54]
- 1905–1930: Gen. Sir Horace Lockwood Smith-Dorrien, GCB, GCMG, DSO
- 1930–1935: Lt-Gen. Sir William Raine Marshall, GCMG, KCB, KCSI
- 1935–1941: Maj-Gen. Sir Frederick Barton Maurice, KCMG, CB
- 1941–1946: Lt-Gen. Sir Douglas Studholme Brownrigg Wellesley, KCB, DSO
- 1946–1947: Lt-Gen. Sir Henry Beresford Dennitts Willcox, KCIE, CB, DSO, MC
- 1947–1958: Maj-Gen. Percival Napier White, CB, CBE
- 1958–1965: Maj-Gen. Cecil Benfield Fairbanks, CB, CBE
- 1965–1970: Brig. James Henry Maunsell Hackett, DSO (to The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment (29th/45th Foot))
- 1970: Regiment amalgamated with The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment (29th/45th Foot))
Memorial
A Memorial Tower, for those of the regiment who died in battle, was erected in 1923 at the summit of Crich Stand in the Derbyshire village of Crich. Built on the site of an older tower, the Memorial Tower is the destination of an annual pilgrimage on the first Sunday in July. It is 1,000 feet (300 m) above sea level, and has 52 steps to the top. From there eight counties can be seen, including landmarks such as the Humber Bridge and Lincoln Cathedral.[55]
Alliances
In 1931, the Sherwood Foresters were officially allied with the Simcoe Foresters (35th Regiment of Infantry), Canadian Militia.
East Midlands Universities Officer Training Corps
The Sherwood Foresters' stable belt continues to be used by the East Midlands Universities Officer Training Corps.[58]
Uniforms
As the 45th Regiment of Foot, the regiment initially had deep green
Notes
- ^ "No. 24992". The London Gazette. 1 July 1881. pp. 3300–3301.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Sherwood Foresters". Regiments.org. Archived from the original on 3 January 2006. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Derbyshire Regiment (Sherwood Foresters)". Anglo-Boer War. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
- ^ "The Army in South Africa - Troops returning home". The Times. No. 36871. London. 12 September 1902. p. 5.
- ^ "The War - embarkation of troops". The Times. No. 36066. London. 15 February 1900. p. 4.
- ^ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36774. London. 22 May 1902. p. 8.
- ^ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36893. London. 8 October 1902. p. 4.
- ^ "Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 31 March 1908. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ These were the 3rd Battalion (Special Reserve) and the 4th Battalion (Special Reserve), with the 5th (Derbyshire) Battalion at Becket Street in Derby (since demolished), the 6th Battalion at Saltergate in Chesterfield (since demolished), the 7th (Robin Hood) Battalion at Derby Road in Nottingham and the 8th (Nottinghamshire) Battalion at Sherwood Avenue in Newark-on-Trent (all Territorial Force).
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Sherwood Foresters". The Long, Long Trail. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
- ^ Denise Amos (29 October 2021). "The Nottinghamshire Heritage Gateway:The Sherwood Foresters in World War I". Thoroton Society of Nottinghamshire. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
- ^ Anon, The Robin Hoods.
- ^ Western Front Association (2012). "The Battle of Mount Street Bridge, Dublin, 1916". Archived from the original on 18 October 2014. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
- ^ Gerhard Nowc (11 August 2010). "100 Jahre Marineschule: Geschichte der Schule - shz.de". shz. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
- ^ Dieter-Jürgen Mehlhorn: Architektur in Schleswig Holstein. Vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart. Kiel/Hamburg 2016, Seite 140
- ^ "2nd AA Division at British Military History" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2015.
- ^ a b "History". Museum of the Mercian Regiment. Archived from the original on 22 February 2016. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
- ^ a b "BBC - WW2 People's War - History of the Sherwood Foresters". Retrieved 13 February 2016.
- ^ "1st Bn, The Sherwood Foresters: Service". Archived from the original on 7 January 2006. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
- ^ "1st Infantry Division" (PDF). British Military History. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
- ^ "149 (Sherwood Foresters) Light AA Rgt RA(TA)". Blue Yonder. Archived from the original on 10 January 2008. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
- ^ Routledge, pp. 314–63.
- ^ "RA 1939-45 42 SL Rgt". Archived from the original on 7 January 2009. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
- ^ "RA 39-45 2 AA Div". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
- ^ "The Robin Hood Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters [UK]". Archived from the original on 27 December 2005. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
- ^ Joslen, p. 463.
- ^ Routledge, p. 341.
- ^ Joslen, p. 333.
- ^ Joslen, p. 325.
- ^ Monthly Army List September 1939.
- ^ Joslen, pp. 75–6, 325.
- ^ "No. 35305". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 October 1941. p. 5899.
- ^ a b Obituary to Colonel C.G. Lancaster, Times 27 July 1977.
- ^ Joslen, pp. 213, 215, 325.
- ^ Forty pp. 50–1.
- ^ War Diary 112th Regt RAC, November–December 1941, The National Archives, Kew, file WO 166/1429.
- ^ Joslen, p. 29.
- ^ "Royal Armoured Corps [UK]". Archived from the original on 3 January 2006. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
- ^ War Diary 112th Regt RAC, January–October 1944, The National Archives, Kew, file WO 166/14603.
- ^ Joslen pp. 292, 543.
- ^ Joslen p. 497.
- ^ Forty pp. 50–51.
- ^ Joslen pp. 497, 543.
- ^ "The role of lorried Infantry". Retrieved 13 February 2016.
- ^ Joslen, pp. 168, 219, 381, 573.
- ^ Joslen, pp. 158, 230–1, 244–5.
- ^ Bellis 1994, p. 70
- ^ "THIS photograph of the 70th Young Soldiers Battalion Sherwood Foresters was taken in 1940 at Holme Pierrepont Hall. - Nottingham Post". Nottingham Post. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
- ^ "Sherwood Foresters". British Army units1945 on. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
- ^ "Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment". British Army units 1945 on. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
- ^ "In detail: army restructuring plans". BBC. 16 December 2004. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
- ^ "Sherwood Foresters Regimental Museum". National Archives. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
- ^ Hawley, Zena (11 August 2015). "Soldiers' Story gallery celebrates Derby's 300-year link with the Lancers". Derby Telegraph. Archived from the original on 25 December 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
- ^ "No. 27475". The London Gazette. 19 September 1902. p. 6021.
- ^ Crich Memorial Archived 17 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine, official site
- ^ "Regimental History". The Grey and Simcoe Foresters. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
- ISBN 978-0-9683546-2-9
- ^ "Stablebelts". Retrieved 13 February 2016.
- ISBN 0-86350-031-5
References
- Bellis, Malcolm A. (1994). Regiments of the British Army 1939–1945 (Armour & Infantry). London: Military Press International. ISBN 0-85420-999-9.
- ISBN 0-7509-1403-3.
- Gibson, Charles J. L. (1908). History of the 1st Batt. Sherwood Foresters (Notts. and Derby Regt.) in the Boer War, 1899-1902. London: Swan Sonnenschein& Co., Ltd.
- (reprint) Gibson, Charles J. L. (2009). History of the 1st Batt. Sherwood Foresters (Notts. and Derby Regt.) in the Boer War, 1899-1902. Uckfield: Naval and Military Press. ISBN 978-1-84342-178-8.
- (reprint) Gibson, Charles J. L. (2009). History of the 1st Batt. Sherwood Foresters (Notts. and Derby Regt.) in the Boer War, 1899-1902. Uckfield: Naval and Military Press.
- 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.
- Routledge, N.W. (1994). History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery: Anti-Aircraft Artillery 1914–55. London: Royal Artillery Institute/ISBN 1-85753-099-3.
- Sherwood Foresters, Officers of the Battalions (1921). "The Robin Hoods": 1/7th, 2/7th and 3/7th Battns. Sherwood Foresters. Nottingham: J & H Bell.
- (reprint) Sherwood Foresters, Officers of the Battalions (1990). "The Robin Hoods": 1/7th, 2/7th and 3/7th Battns. Sherwood Foresters. Uckfield: Naval and Military Press. ISBN 1-847349-92-7.
- (reprint) Sherwood Foresters, Officers of the Battalions (1990). "The Robin Hoods": 1/7th, 2/7th and 3/7th Battns. Sherwood Foresters. Uckfield: Naval and Military Press.
- Weetman, W.C.C. (1908). The Sherwood Foresters in the Great War 1914-1919 1/8th Battalion. Nottingham: T. Forman & Sons Ltd.
- (reprint) Weetman, W.C.C. (2014). The Sherwood Foresters in the Great War 1914-1919 1/8th Battalion. Reed Books Ltd. ISBN 978-1-4733-1425-2.
- (reprint) Weetman, W.C.C. (2014). The Sherwood Foresters in the Great War 1914-1919 1/8th Battalion. Reed Books Ltd.
External links
- Regiments.org
- Regiment Crich Memorial site Archived 17 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- History of the Sherwood Foresters
- The Royal Artillery 1939–45
- Captain W. C. C. Weetman M.C., Croix de Guerre. The Sherwood Foresters in the Great War 1914 - 1919, History of 1/8th Battalion at ISBN 1-4365-8981-9
- "BBC - WW2 People's War - History of the Sherwood Foresters".