The Sherwood
Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment) also well known
as The Notts and Derbys, was the county Regiment of Nottinghamshire
and Derbyshire. It was amalgamated in 1970 with The Worcestershire
Regiment to form The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment.
The history of the Notts and Derby goes back to 1741 when the 45th
Regiment of Foot was formed and in 1823 the 95th Regiment of Foot
came into being.
The 45th Regiment of Foot:
In 1741 a new regiment was raised
when Britain was committed to War against France and commanded by
a Colonel Houghton. In 1745 the Regiment was in Gibraltar and under
the command of a Colonel Warburton, and two years later it was serving
in Nova Scotia. In 1751 numerical titles were introduced and the
Regiment became the 45th Regiment of Foot.
AMERICAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE
The actions of the
French against the British in Canada resulted in the 45th being
called out on active service. It was one of the regiments that won
undying fame in storming and capturing from the French the Naval
Arsenal of Louisburg, a stronghold that had been heavily and extensively
fortifed. Although not present as a unit, the 45th was represented
by its Grenadier Company in the British force that the gallant Wolfe
led up the St Lawrence River to capture Quebec. The 45th served
for twenty years in Canada and for its gallantry at Louisburg was
later awarded the first of a long roll of battle honours which now
adorn the Colours. On returning home the Regiment served for some
years in Ireland and when the American War of Independence broke
out, was among the reinforcements sent to New York in 1776. It fought
at Long Island, Philadelphia, Brandywine, Germantown and in other
places, suffering losses but always exhibiting a high degree of
courage and fortitude.
WEST INDIES
After the War, the
45th reduced to less than 100 all ranks, returned home to Nottingham.
The citizens of Nottingham requested that the Regiment should be
called "The Nottinghamshire Regiment" and His Majesty
agreed, providing 300 men were recruited in the county. With volunteers
from the Nottinghamshire Militia and the influence of local landowners,
the stipulated number was soon obtained. Between 1786 - 1802 the
45th was in the West Indies, almost constantly engaged in fighting
the French for possession of these Islands; Martinique, Dominica
and Les Saints being captured. Unfortunately yellow fever took a
far heavier toll of the Regiment than did the enemy. After a brief
period at home the 45th was soon on active service again. The Regiment
was despatched to South america in 1807 where it took part in the
attack on Buenos Aires, when every man of the small British Force
had to fight for his life in the street-fighting that followed the
capture of the town. After this action the Regiment embarked for
home.
PENINSULAR WAR
The following year
the 45th became part of the Peninsular Army under Sir Arthur Wellesley,
the future Duke of Wellington. They were present at the opening
battle at Rolica in 1808 and served continuously until the siege
of Toulouse in 1814, winning no less than thirteen
battle honours.At the Battle of Talavera, the French flung themselves
in dense masses upon the advanced posts of the British Army, which
were held by the 45th who opposed them with such firmness and courage
that the enemy troops were firstchecked and then brought to a standstill.
Retiring slowly, the 45th held up the enemy attack so completely
that all the sting was taken out of it and the British were able
to win a great victory. Wellington, describing the battle in his
official report said "Upon this occasion the steadiness and
discipline of the 45th Regiment were conspicious".The nickname
'The Old Stubborns' was bestowed upon the Regiment for its conspicious
bravery at Talavera.
In the Battle of Busaco,
the 45th again distinguished itself, leading the attack on a dense
column of the enemy troops which had reached the crest of the hill.
The attack, made with the bayonet, was so fierce that the enemy
was driven pell-mell down the slopes, leaving some hundreds killed
and wounded. Wellington wrote in his despatches "I can assure
you I never witnessed a more gallant charge".
In the siege of Badajoz,
a detachment of the 45th succeeded in getting into the castle first
and the red coatee of an officer of the 45th was hoisted in place
of the French flag to indicate the fall of the castle. This feat
is commemorated on the 6th April each year when red jackets are
flown on Regimental flag staffs and at Nottingham Castle.
At Vimiera, Fuentes
d'Onor, Ciudad Rodrigo, Salamanca, Vittoria, the forcing of the
passes in the Pyrenees and at Nivelle, Orthes and Toulouse, the
Regiment forming part of Picton's famous 3rd Division, added to
its reputation and was recognised as being amongst the best of Wellington's
veteran units. When the Campaign ended, the 45th returned to its
home county to recruit.
BURMESE WAR
The Regiment was serving
in Ceylon in 1819 and from there went to India and took part in
the first Burmese War of 1824 - 25. This was an arduous campaign
- dense tracts of steamy jungles had to be traversed and a number
of strongly constructed and stubbornly defended stockades stormed
and destroyed. This campaign added the Battle Honour 'AVA' to the
Colours. The Regiment returned home from India in 1838.
KAFFIR WAR
The 45th was split
into a 1st and a reserve battalion in 1843 and the 1st Battalion
was sent to South Africa where it played a prominent part in the
defence of Natal during the Boer disturbances. The Reserve Battalion
saw active service in South America in the defence of Montevideo
in 1846 and also served in South Africa during the Kaffir War of
1846 - 47 before being re-absorbed in the 1st Battalion. Reduced
to a single battalion regiment for some years and distributed between
the Eastern Frontier and Natal until 1859, the 45th took part in
the Kaffir War of 1851 - 53 and the expedition across the Orange
River. A roll of honour of those who died during this period can
be found here.
CHANGE IN TITLE
The secondary title
"The Sherwood Foresters" was granted to the 45th in 1866
by Queen Victoria; the Nottinghamshire Militia having previously
been granted the title of 'The Royal Sherwood Foresters' in 1813.
ABYSSINIA
In 1867, the 45th formed
part of the British force which under General Sir Robert Napier
(later Lord Napier of Magdala) fought in the Abyssinian campaign.
This was one of the most remarkable exploits in the history of the
British army. Magdala, the capital, was a fortified city perched
on the summit of a huge rock with almost perpendicular sides and
approachable on one side only. It was situated four hundred roadless
miles from the coast in the midst of a great range of mountains,
over which the troops had to climb and in some places had to haul
their guns and limbers up by ropes. The 45th marched 300 miles in
24 days and actually covered 70 miles in 4 days over a mountain
pass 10,000 feet high to be present at the capture of Magdala.
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The 95th Regiment of Foot:
The 95th as the 95th
Derbyshire Regiment of Foot was the sixth regiment to bear this
number in the British Army the previous ones being;
1760 - 1763, 95th
Regiment of Foot (Burton's) - Disbanded.
1779 - 1783, 95th
Regiment of Foot (Reid's) - Disbanded.
1794 - 1796, 95th
Regiment of Foot (Edmeston's) - Disbanded.
1803 - 1812, 95th
Regiment of Foot (Coote-Manningham's) 1812 - retitled the 95th Regiment
of Foot (Riflemen) (Coote-Manningham's) and in 1816
- the 95th Regiment of Foot (Riflemen) became the Rifle Brigade
1816 - 1818, 96th
Regiment of Foot retitled 95th Regiment of Foot (Don's). Disbanded
as 95th in 1818.
1823 - 95th (Derbyshire)
Regiment of Foot
During its early years
the 95th Derbyshire Regiment saw service in Malta (1824 - 30), The
Ionian Islands (1830 - 35), Ireland (1835 - 36), Ceylon (1836 -
47) Hong Kong and China (1847 - 50), England (1850 - 54).
CRIMEAN WAR
The 95th was called
on active service in 1854 for the Crimean War. It experienced all
the hardships of the arduous campaign and was in the thick of all
the heaviest fighting. At the Alma it was in the forefront of the
attack across the river and up the heights. Owing to the heavy casualties
amongst the officers, the Queens Colour was finally carried by Private
Keenan - an event traditionally celebrated by the Regiment handing
over one of its Colours to the custody of a Private soldier on the
anniversary of the Battle of Alma, 20 September where it is Trooped
through the ranks of the Regiment in commemoration of Keenan's gallantry
and the steadiness of the soldiers, at this, their first battle.
At this time, as a result of heavy casualties that were occurring
to Colour Parties, an Army Order was issued that Colours would no
longer be carried in battle. However,at the Battle of Inkerman the
Russians, 30,000 strong, attacked and found the 95th as one of the
regiments on outpost duty, fighting stubbornly in small parties
to hold on until the repeated British bayonet charges caused the
Russians to withdraw. As the Army Order concerning Colours had not
been received, the 95th Colours were carried throughout the battle
and these were the last in the Army to be present in a major battle.
Although the Battalion strength was under 100 as it marched away
from Inkerman, it nevertheless continued to serve in the trenches
before Sevastopol and the final attack on the fortifications. The
saying in the 2nd Division "There may be few of the 95th
left, but those are as hard as nails" led to the nickname
of "The Nails".
INDIAN MUTINY
The 95th was on its
way to the Cape from Ireland ( 1856 - 57) when the Indian Mutiny
occurred. The Regiment was diverted to Bombay where it joined the
Central Indian Field force, whose achievements in marching and fighting
through jungle and over arid plains under tropical skies still stand
as a marvel of military achievement and endurance. It fought at
Awah, Kotah, the Battle of Kotah-ke-Serai, the siege and capture
of the great fortresses of Gwalior and Pouree, and the capture of
the rebel camp of Koondryee. In sixteen months it marched over 3,000
miles and took part in 14 actions. Private McQuirt won for the Regiment
its first VC at Rowa. The 95th remained in India until 1870.
The Regiment returned
to England and served there from 1870 - 77 and 1880 - 81 with a
tour in Ireland 1877 - 80 moving to Gibralter in 1881.
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THE SHERWOOD FORESTERS
1881 - 1914
The Cardwell Reforms
of 1881 brought together the 45th and 95th Regiments of Foot with
the Militia of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire plus the Volunteer
Regiments of the two counties to form The Sherwood Foresters (Derbyshire
Regiment). It is of interest that it was not until 1902 that Nottinghamshire
was added to the title. The Regiment now consisted of: 1st Battalion
(45th), 2nd Battalion (95th); 3rd Battalion (late Derbyshire Militia)
and 4th Battalion (late Royal Sherwood Foresters) Militia Battalions;
and 1st and 2nd (Derbyshire) and 3rd and 4th (Nottinghamshire) Volunteer
Battalions. The Headquarters of the Regimental District was established
in Derby.
The 2nd Battalion saw
active service in Egypt during 1882 and later went on to India.
In 1888 they took part in the Sikkim Expedition to Tibet and in
1897 they were once again in active service in the Tirah Expedition
where Lieutenant H S Pennell won the VC during the capture of the
Dargai Heights. It was in India in 1885 that the Battalion established
what is accepted as a World sporting record, when two companies
contested a tug-of-war pull that lasted 2 hours 41 minutes. (This
was before the rules were changed to prevent sitting).
The outbreak of the
Boer War in 1899 found both regular battalions in Malta and during
November of that year the 1st Batalion sailed for South Africa where
they were to remain until the end of the War in 1902. They took
part in most of the major battles and shared all the hard marching
and privations of that long campaign. On one occasion they marched
400 miles in 45 days and were engaged with the enemy 28 times. The
4th Battalion and Service Companies of the Volunteer Battalions
also took part in the campaign with great credit. The 2nd Battalion,
still stationed in Malta, provided volunteers for the many Mounted
Infantry companies. VCs were won by Corporal H Beet and Private
W Bees, while amongst the many other decorations bestowed on Foresters
were no fewer than twenty two Distinguished Conduct Medals. Click
here for BOER War Roll of Honour
The growing threat
of War with Germany at the beginning of the Century caused a further
re-organisation of the Army. In 1908 the 3rd and 4th Battalions
became part of the Special Reserve with liabilities for overseas
service, whilst the Volunteer Battalions became the 5th, 6th, 7th
(Robin Hoods) and 8th Battalions of The Sherwood Foresters in the
newly formed Territorial Force, later renamed the Territorial Army.
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WORLD WAR 1 1914
- 1918
The History of the
Regiment in the First World War is very much the story of the men
of the counties of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. When War was
declared, The Sherwood Foresters consisted of eight battalions and
a Depot in Derby. During the War the Regiment expanded to a maximum
of 33 Battalions of which 20 served overseas. Altogether, some 140,000
men, nearly all from Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, served in the
Regiment - 11,409 of whom did not return.
The 2nd Battalion was
part of the British Expeditionary Force which landed in France in
September 1914 and went straight into the bitter fighting on the
Aisne. On 20 September (the anniversary of the Battle of the Alma
- a previous Battle Honour of the 95th) the Battalion carried out
a counter-attack to plug a gap in the British Lines. The casualties
were almost identical with those at the Alma; 17 out of 22 officers
and 214 out of 930 other ranks. Reinforced, the Battalion fought
another major battle in October at Ennettiere on the way to Ypres,
holding a vastly superior German force for 48 hours and losing in
the process 16 officers and 710 other ranks.
The 1st Battalion was
in India at the outbreak of the War and was sent to France in November
1914 without any chance to adjust to European conditions and as
a result suffered badly in its first four winter months of 'Trench
War'. The Battalion took part in two major battles in 1915 - Neuve
Chapelle and Loos - and suffered severe casualties. Private J Rivers
and Corporal J Upton were awarded VCs for bravery.
Both 1st and 2nd Battalions
continued to serve in France until after the Armistice on 11 November
1918 and overall were the most heavily committed of all the Battalions
in the Regiment. The 3rd and 4th Militia Battalions were embodied
at the outbreak of War but remained in the UK as holding and reinforcement
units. The Territorial Army was immediately mobilised on the outbreak
of War and the original four Sherwood Forester Territorial Battalions,
the 5th, 6th, 7th (Robin Hoods) and 8th formed the 139 (Forester)
Infantry Brigade in the 46 (North Midland) Division. In September
the Territorial Army was doubled and almost overnight the 2/5th,
2/6th, 2/7th (Robin Hoods) and 2/8th Battalions of the Regiment
were formed from the original battalions and were made up into the
178 (Forester) Infantry Brigade of 59th (North Midland) Division.
In February 1915, the
139th (Forester) Brigade had the distinction of being part of the
first Territorial division to land in France. By the end of the
year they had been engaged in heavy fighting and Captain C G Vickers
of the 1/7th (Robin Hoods) had been awarded the VC. This Forester
Brigade served in France for the remainder of the War and suffered
severe casualties. In particular it gained special recognition for
its valour on the opening day of the Somme Battle on 1st July 1916,
where it suffered 80% casualties and its magnificent part in the
breaking of the Hindenburg Line and the final defeat of the German
Army in the Autumn of 1918; Lieutenant Colonel B W Vann MC the Commanding
Officer of the 1/6th Battalion and Sergeant W H Johnson of the 1/5th
Battalion being awarded the VC for conspicious bravery in the latter
action.
In 1916, the 178 (Forester)
Brigade although only partially trained, was despatched to Dublin
to suppress the Easter Rebellion. This operation was completed successfully
although at some cost in casualties, especially to the 2/7th (Robin
Hoods) and 2/8th Battalions. In 1917 the Brigade moved to France
and took part with distinction in the latter part of the 2nd Battle
of Ypres (Passchendaele) suffering heavy casualties and also at
Cambria later in 1917. The Brigade continued to fight in France
until 1918.
As the new Kitchener
Armies were raised in 1914, the 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th and
14th (Service) Battalions were formed, followed by the 15th (Bantams),
16th (Chatsworth Rifles), 17th (Welbeck Rangers), 18th (Bantams),
19th and 20th Battalions.
The 9th Battalion took
part in the ill fated Gallipoli campaign in 1915 and gained a name
for its stubborn fighting qualities similar to those of the 45th
Foot some 100 years previously. The Battalion arrived in France
in August 1916 and fought through the remaining Somme offensive;
the bitter drawn-out battle of Passchendaele in 1917, where in October
Corporal F Greaves was awarded the VC; followed by the German breakthrough
in the Spring of 1918 and the final successful Allied offensive
later in the year.
The 10th Battalion
went to France in July 1915 and moved almost immediately into the
notorious bloody Ypres Salient. In 1916, it took part in the first
ten days of continuous fighting on the Somme, returning for a second
time into the grim battle in August and yet a third time in October/November.
In 1917 the Battalion fought magnificently throughout the 2nd Battle
of Ypres suffering further heavy casualties and like the 9th Battalion
continued in the forefront of battle throughout 1918 to the end.
The 11th Battalion
arrived in France in August of 1915 and within the month was engaged
in a minor role in the Loos Battle. It took part in the opening
day of the Somme offensive on 1st July 1916 and suffered such grevious
losses it was relieved that night. It returned to the bitter struggle
in late July and again in October for the final attempt to break
through the German rear position. In 1917, the Battalion was heavily
engaged in the second Ypres Battle for Passchendaele Ridge. In November
it moved with its Division to Northern Italy to asist the Italians
in their struggle against the German/Austrian offensive and won
further renown for its successful stand at Asiago, where its Commanding
Officer Lieutenant Colonel C E Hudson DSO MC was awarded the VC
for outstanding bravery and leadership. In October 1918 the 11th
Battalion was returned to France and took part in the final offensive.
The 12th Battalion
arrived in France in August 1915. The following month it took part
in the Battle of Loos and from then onwards was engaged in most
of the major battles until the end of 1918. Although its primary
role was that of a Divisional Pioneer Battalion it was drawn into
the fight in times of crisis and gained recognition for gallant
action on several occasions, notably the Battle of Loos in 1915
and the final German offensive in 1918. This Battalion, under the
editorship of Captain Roberts MC created and published what must
be the most famous wartime news sheet of all - "The Wipers
Times".
The 15th (Bantam) Battalion,
made up initially of men who although fit were below the normal
minimum service height of 5' 3", moved to France with the 35th
(Bantam) Division in 1916. The Battalion fought with great distinction
and heavy casualties throughout the 1916 battles on the Somme. However
at the end of 1916, the problems of finding 'bantam' reinforcements
in sufficient numbers became too difficult; the 15th Foresters was
redesignated a normal 'service' battalion and fought as such until
the end of the War.
The 16th (Chatsworth
Rifles) and 17th (Welbeck Rangers) Battalions arrived in France
in late April 1916 and played a prominent part in the Somme Battle
from August to the bitter end in November 1916. Their losses were
heavy: These Battalions were also engaged in the 1917 offensive
and again in the great German offensive on the Somme and Lys in
the Spring of 1918, after which they were reduced through severe
losses to Cadre form to train the newly arriving American Forces.
Their finest hour and certainly the period of their heaviest casualties
came in the 2nd Battle of Ypres and particularly the grim fighting
leading to Passchendaele. It was for outstanding bravery during
this battle that Corporal E A Egerton (16th Battalion) was awarded
the VC.
All other battalions
filled the vital role of reinforcement and training units combined
with Home Defence, attempting to keep pace with the heavy losses
over the four years of the War. However, towards the end of the
War , the high rate of casualties necessitated amalgamation of weakened
Battalions and, as with other Regiments, Forester Battalions started
to disappear from the Order of Battle. Throughout all the fighting,
officers and soldiers alike, displayed the same selfless courage
that had won The Sherwood Foresters so many Battle Honours in the
past. After the War, no less than 57
Honours were added to that list. For outstanding acts of bravery,
nine members of the Regiment were awarded the Victoria Cross including
Captain A Ball VC DSO MC Royal Flying Corps, who was previously
a Robin Hood. Over two thousand more received other decorations,
honours and distinctions.
The cost was
high as shown on the War Memorials throughout Nottinghamshire and
Derbyshire. There can hardly have been a village or city street
that did not produce men to serve in The Sherwood Foresters - 11,409
of whom did not return.
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BETWEEN THE WARS
1919 - 1939
As peace returned to
the World, all Battalions of The Sherwood Foresters were withdrawn
to the UK. By early 1919 the Territorial and Service Battalions
were all disbanded or reduced to Cadres while the two regular Battalions
- the 1st and 2nd, reformed on a peacetime basis. In late 1919,
the 2nd Battalion set out on an overseas tour which was to last
for nearly seventeen years. After 2½ years in Egypt, the
Battalion suddenly found itself ordered to Constantinople and precipitated
into a peace-keeping role between the Greeks and the Turks in what
has become known as the Chanak incident; the peace was held and
in late 1922 the 2nd Battalion sailed for India. Meanwhile in 1920
the 1st Battalion had also found itself involved with another less
critical peace-keeping role in Schleswig-Holstein, where a plebiscite
was being held to decide whether the country should join Denmark
or Germany. After six months and a brief visit to Copenhagen, the
Battalion returned to England. However, in June 1922 they returned
to internal security duties again - this time in Southern Ireland
where they spent a difficult if uneventful six months on guards
and patrols. Subsequently the Battalion remained in the UK until
1935.
It is not easy for
a Regiment to distinguish itself in peacetime but apart from their
general military efficiency, both Battalions played their part in
gaining for the Regiment a reputation as the leading soccer Regiment
in the Army. The 1st Battalion won the Army Football Cup for three
years running in 1930, 31 and 32 and the 2nd Battalion (which had
won the Army Cup in 1911 and 1912) became the All India Champions
during 1926 - 28.
In October 1934, the
2nd Battalion left India for the Sudan and remained there until
early 1938. A pleasant year in Guernsey followed before the Battalion
moved to Bordon near Aldershot in early 1939. In 1935 the 1st Battalion
started an overseas tour with a posting to the West Indies where,
amongst other duties, it assisted the civil police in containing
the disturbances in Jamaica in 1938. En route to Palestine in 1939,
the 1st Battalion met up briefly with the 2nd Battalion at Bordon,
where a memorable joint parade and reunion was held. In Palestine
the Battalion was soon on active service and suffered casualties
including one officer killed in operations in the disturbances there.
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WORLD WAR 2 1939
- 1945
The 2nd Battalion landed
in France with the British Expeditionary Force in September 1939
and took part in the early stages of the 'Phoney War' and the advance
into Belgium. The 1/5th, 2/5th, and 9th Battalions also joined the
BEF, the former as lines of communication troops and the latter
two for pioneer duties. All three of these Battalions were totally
ill-equipped for the operational tasks they eventually had to perform
in the retreat to the Channel Coast. At one period the 2nd, 2/5th
and 9th Battalions were together defending the Dunkirk perimeter
before the successful evacuation. At the same time the 1/5th Battalion,
after a period of fighting alongside the 51st Highland Division,
was evacuated from Cherbourg.
In April 1940, the
8th Battalion had landed in Norway as part of the ill-fated attempt
to assist the Norwegian Army against the Germans. This Battalion
had had little training and was not fully equipped; a situation
made worse when the ship carrying its vehicles and heavy equipment
was sunk. The Battalion became involved in a withdrawal through
mountains and deep snow pursued by ski troops supported by aircraft
and tanks; the remnants eventually being evacuated to Scotland.
In June 1940 the 1st
Battalion was moved from Palestine to reinforce the Garrison of
Cyprus, where they suffered their first war casualties in an air-raid.
Early in 1942 the Battalion was moved to Egypt, converted to a motorised
role and joined the Desert Army. Unfortunately after a sharp engagement
in the Knightsbridge Box, the Battalion was ordered to surrender
when the Garrison in Tobruk capitulated.
The 1/5th Battalion
after a year in England sailed for the Far East and arrived in Signapore
on 29 January 1942 just prior to its capture by the Japanese.
As a result of these
early defeats, many Foresters spent long years in captivity. Those
of the 1/5th Battalion suffered horrendously at the hands of the
Japanese while working on the notorious Burma-Siam Railway; 450
officers and men of this Battalion died in captivity.
Our fortunes turned
with the 8th Army's victory at El Alamein in November 1942. The
14th Battalion took part with distinction in this Battle. It had
been originally formed as the 50th Battalion in 1940 but was renumbered
after a few months and then in July 1942 had been converted to a
Motor Battalion. In January 1943 the 2/5th Battalion, by now renamed
the 5th Battalion, joined the 1st British Army in Tunisia and was
followed shortly by the 2nd Battalion. The Battalions took part
in severe and difficult fighting, in particular at Sedjenane and
the Medjez Plain and suffered many casualties before the remnants
of the German Armies capitulated at Cap Bon.
The 5th Battalion were
next in action in Italy at the assault landing at Salerno in September
1943. They suffered heavy casualties there and later in the difficult
and fiercely resisted fighting advance up to the Cassino area.
The 2nd Battalion took
part in the assault landing at Anzio in January 1944 where they
were joined later by the 14th Battalion and took part in what was
probably the toughest fighting of the whole War. After the fall
of Rome the 2nd, 5th and 14th Battalions continued the difficult
fight up the length of Italy, adding a further eleven battle
honours to the seven earned in North Africa.
In December 1944 the
5th Battalion was despatched to Greece to help quell the Civil War
which had started there after the German withdrawal. Meanwhile the
14th Battalion had been disbanded and many of its officers and men
were posted to the 2nd and 5th Battalions. At the end of the War
the 2nd Battalion was in Palestine and the 5th back in Italy from
where they moved into Austria with the liberation armies. The 1st
Battalion was meanwhile re-forming in England.
Brief mention should
now be made to some of the other Battalions of the Regiment. The
9th Battalion had been converted to an armoured car role after Dunkirk
but was disbanded in October 1944. The 12th and 13th Battalions
had been sent to India where the 12th became a Jungle Training Unit
providing officers and men for the 14th Army's campaign in Burma
and the 13th was converted to 163rd Regiment Royal Armoured Corps.
They were both disbanded in India, the 12th Battalion in February
1946 and the 13th Battalion in September 1945. The 8th Battalion,
after retraining in Northern Ireland and a period of defence of
the South East coast of England was converted to a pre-OCTU at Wrotham,
where it gave valuable service in training large numbers of potential
officers. The 6th and 7th (Robin Hoods) Battalions in their respective
anti-aircraft roles as 40th Searchlight Regiment (later 149th LAA
Regiment) Royal Artillery and 42nd SL Regt Royal Artillery did their
share in the Air Defence of the UK and then later operating in North
West Europe. The Robin Hoods were awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre
for their actions in the Antwerp Box shooting down V1 and V2 Bombs.
The requirement for
infantry in World War 2 was considerably less than in World War
1 and the casualties were thankfully correspondingly lower. A total
of 26,940 officers and men served in the Foresters, of whom 1,520
were killed or died of wounds and about three times that number
were wounded. The Foresters won 25 Battle
Honours, ten of which are emblazoned on the Queen's Colours.
The VC was posthumously awarded to Captain J H C Brunt MC, who at
the time was serving with the 6th Battalion The Lincolnshire Regiment.
Some 400 other Foresters received awards for gallantry and outstanding
War Service.
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THE POST WAR YEARS
1945 - 1970
By mid 1945 the 1st
Battalion had been re-formed and was training as part of 61 Light
Division to move out to take part in the final defeat of the Japanese.
However with the end of hostilities its role was changed and instead
it joined the Army of Occupation in Germany. The 2nd Battalion remained
in Palestine seeing further active service during the post war disturbances
there. Meanwhile TA and Service Battalions were disbanded. As the
old colonies and territories of the British Empire were granted
their independence, the size of the Army was reduced. In 1948 the
1st and 2nd Battalions were amalgamated to form one battalion, although
for a short period (1952 - 1955) as a result of the Korean War,
the 2nd Battalion was reactivated; the Sherwood Foresters as a Regiment
did not take part in this War but provided men for other Regiments.
During the post war
period the 1st Battalion served first as a lorry-borne infantry
battalion in Germany and then as Garrison Troops in Egypt. Early
in 1953 the Battalion moved to Libya where they became a motorised
battalion equipped with armoured track vehicles. Service in the
same role in Germany followed. In 1958 the Battalion reverted to
a normal infantry role and took part in the closing stages of the
jungle fighting against the communists in Malaya. Then, after a
further period in Singapore, the Battalion returned to the UK in
1961.
In December 1963 the
Battalion found itself in a United Nations peace-keeping role in
Cyprus once again keeping the Turks and Greeks apart. In 1964 1
Foresters moved again to Germany as a mechanised infantry battalion
and served there until returning to UK in early 1970. It was during
this period that Nottingham, Derby, Chesterfield, Ilkeston, Mansfield,
Newark, East Retford and Buxton bestowed their 'Freedom' on the
Regiment further cementing ties with their County Regiment.
The Territorial element
of The Sherwood Foresters consisted of the re-formed 5th Battalion
based in Derbyshire and the 8th Battalion in Nottinghamshire, while
the old 6th and 7th (Robin Hoods) Battalions continued in the form
of 575 (The Sherwood Foresters) LAA Regt RA and 350 (Robin Hood
Foresters) Light Regt RA. Unfortunately all of these were reduced
in size by subsequent Defence cuts, the 5th and 8th Battalions being
finally amalgamated to form the 5th/8th Battalion.
As the strength of
the Army diminished it was decided to group regiments together into
administrative brigades with common basic depots. Initially the
Sherwood Foresters were grouped with the Royal Warwickshire, Royal
Lincolnshire and Royal Leicestershire Regiments in the Midlands
Brigade; this was renamed the Forester Brigade in 1958 when the
Royal Lincolnshires left the group. A Forester Brigade cap badge
and buttons were introduced but regiments retained their own collar
badges. The Regimental Depot at Normanton Barracks in Derby became
an outstation of the Brigade Depot at Leicester and finally closed
in 1963. In 1963 a further regrouping occurred and the Foresters
found themselves linked with the Cheshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire
Regiments in the Mercian Brigade based on Lichfield Staffordshire.
A new common cap badge was introduced but regiments retained their
old buttons. The grouping was again changed in 1969; regimental
cap badges were restored and The Sherwood Foresters found themselves
part of the Prince of Wales's Division.
On 28th February 1970
at Battlesbury Barracks Warminster in Wiltshire the 1st Battalion
The Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment)
amalgamated with 1st Battalion The Worcestershire Regiment to form
1st Battalion The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment
(29th/45th Foot)
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On 16 December
2004 the Secretary of State for Defence announced, under the Future
Army Structure, that the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment
(29/45 Foot) would become the 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment
(Worcesters and Foresters) along with the 1st Battalion (Cheshires)
and the 3rd Battalion (Staffords). So as Colonel Dalbaic wrote on
the completion of his History of the 45th Regiment:
"Thus
by a stroke of a Minister's pen........the Regiment which had maintained
the best traditions of the British Army and the Honour of England
in four continents, were swept away as if unworthy of a moment's
consideration."
History repeats itself,
but we look forward to writing new chapters in the regimental history
of the soldiers from the counties of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire
as they become part of the Mercian Regiment.
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