Sherwood Foresters
Encyclopedia
The Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment) was formed during the Childers Reforms
in 1881 from the amalgamation of the 45th (Nottinghamshire) Regiment of Foot
and the 95th (Derbyshire) Regiment of Foot
. The new regiment also included the militia
and rifle volunteer
units of Nottinghamshire
and Derbyshire
.
Following a series of mergers since 1970, its lineage is today continued by the 2nd battalion, the Mercian Regiment
.
. The 45th (Nottinghamshire) Regiment of Foot
(raised in 1741) and the 95th (Derbyshire) Regiment of Foot
(raised in 1823) were redesignated as the 1st and 2nd battalions of The Sherwood Foresters (Derbyshire Regiment), while the Derbyshire and the Royal Sherwood Foresters Militias became the 3rd and 4th Battalions respectively.
These were joined by the 1st and 2nd (Derbyshire) and 3rd and 4th (Nottinghamshire) Volunteer Battalions.
In 1902 the Nottinghamshire association was made explicit, the name changing to The Sherwood Foresters (Nottingham and Derbyshire) Regiment.
The Headquarters of the Regimental District was established at Derby
.
.
During the First World War the Sherwood Foresters raised 33 battalions, of which 20 served overseas. This was mainly on the Western Front
, but also in Gallipoli, Italy
, and the Middle East
. Over 140 ,000 men served in the regiment, which lost 11,400 killed. The regiment won 57 battle honours, and 2000 decorations, including 9 VCs.
After garrison service in the interwar years the Sherwood Foresters again saw action, in the Second World War. The regiment served in the Norwegian Campaign
and the Battle of France
, and later in the North African
and Italian
campaigns. They also saw action in the Far East
. Over 16 battalions were raised, and nearly 27,000 men served in the regiment, suffering 1500 killed.
The regiment won 10 battle honours and won 400 decorations, including a VC.
In 1940 the 70th (YS) Battalion Sherwood Foresters were stationed at Holme Pierrepont Hall
near Radcliffe on Trent Nottingham. The young soldiers battalions were formed to take volunteers who had not reached the compulsory age of conscription.
In post war period Sherwood Foresters served as occupation forces in Germany, and later in the BAOR. In 1958 they saw action in Malaya
and, in 1963, in Cyprus.
and the Mercian Regiment
with The Grey and Simcoe Foresters
.
.
:
Childers Reforms
The Childers Reforms restructured the infantry regiments of the British army. The reforms were undertaken by Secretary of State for War Hugh Childers in 1881, and were a continuation of the earlier Cardwell reforms....
in 1881 from the amalgamation of the 45th (Nottinghamshire) Regiment of Foot
45th (Nottinghamshire) Regiment of Foot
The 45th Regiment of Foot was a British Army line infantry regiment. During the Childers Reforms it was united with the 95th Regiment of Foot to form the The Sherwood Foresters ....
and the 95th (Derbyshire) Regiment of Foot
95th (Derbyshire) Regiment of Foot
The 95th Regiment of Foot was formed when the 95th Rifles were redesignated as The Rifle Brigade . In 1881, during the Childers Reforms, it was united with the 45th Regiment of Foot to form the Sherwood Foresters .-History:...
. The new regiment also included the militia
Militia (United Kingdom)
The Militia of the United Kingdom were the military reserve forces of the United Kingdom after the Union in 1801 of the former Kingdom of Great Britain and Kingdom of Ireland....
and rifle volunteer
Volunteer Force (Great Britain)
The Volunteer Force was a citizen army of part-time rifle, artillery and engineer corps, created as a popular movement in 1859. Originally highly autonomous, the units of volunteers became increasingly integrated with the British Army after the Childers Reforms in 1881, before forming part of the...
units of Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
and Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
.
Following a series of mergers since 1970, its lineage is today continued by the 2nd battalion, the Mercian Regiment
Mercian Regiment
The Mercian Regiment is an infantry regiment of the British Army, formed by the amalgamation of three existing regiments on 1 September 2007.The regiment has three regular army battalion's and one Territorial Army or reserve battalion...
.
Formation
The regiment was formed as part of the reorganisation of the infantry by the Childers reformsChilders Reforms
The Childers Reforms restructured the infantry regiments of the British army. The reforms were undertaken by Secretary of State for War Hugh Childers in 1881, and were a continuation of the earlier Cardwell reforms....
. The 45th (Nottinghamshire) Regiment of Foot
45th (Nottinghamshire) Regiment of Foot
The 45th Regiment of Foot was a British Army line infantry regiment. During the Childers Reforms it was united with the 95th Regiment of Foot to form the The Sherwood Foresters ....
(raised in 1741) and the 95th (Derbyshire) Regiment of Foot
95th (Derbyshire) Regiment of Foot
The 95th Regiment of Foot was formed when the 95th Rifles were redesignated as The Rifle Brigade . In 1881, during the Childers Reforms, it was united with the 45th Regiment of Foot to form the Sherwood Foresters .-History:...
(raised in 1823) were redesignated as the 1st and 2nd battalions of The Sherwood Foresters (Derbyshire Regiment), while the Derbyshire and the Royal Sherwood Foresters Militias became the 3rd and 4th Battalions respectively.
These were joined by the 1st and 2nd (Derbyshire) and 3rd and 4th (Nottinghamshire) Volunteer Battalions.
In 1902 the Nottinghamshire association was made explicit, the name changing to The Sherwood Foresters (Nottingham and Derbyshire) Regiment.
The Headquarters of the Regimental District was established at Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
.
Service history
Following amalgamation the Sherwood Foresters saw action in Egypt in 1882 and in South Africa during the Boer WarSecond Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
.
During the First World War the Sherwood Foresters raised 33 battalions, of which 20 served overseas. This was mainly on the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
, but also in Gallipoli, Italy
Italian Campaign (World War I)
The Italian campaign refers to a series of battles fought between the armies of Austria-Hungary and Italy, along with their allies, in northern Italy between 1915 and 1918. Italy hoped that by joining the countries of the Triple Entente against the Central Powers it would gain Cisalpine Tyrol , the...
, and the Middle East
Sinai and Palestine Campaign
The Sinai and Palestine Campaigns took place in the Middle Eastern Theatre of World War I. A series of battles were fought between British Empire, German Empire and Ottoman Empire forces from 26 January 1915 to 31 October 1918, when the Armistice of Mudros was signed between the Ottoman Empire and...
. Over 140 ,000 men served in the regiment, which lost 11,400 killed. The regiment won 57 battle honours, and 2000 decorations, including 9 VCs.
After garrison service in the interwar years the Sherwood Foresters again saw action, in the Second World War. The regiment served in the Norwegian Campaign
Norwegian Campaign
The Norwegian Campaign was a military campaign that was fought in Norway during the Second World War between the Allies and Germany, after the latter's invasion of the country. In April 1940, the United Kingdom and France came to Norway's aid with an expeditionary force...
and the Battle of France
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
, and later in the North African
North African campaign
During the Second World War, the North African Campaign took place in North Africa from 10 June 1940 to 13 May 1943. It included campaigns fought in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts and in Morocco and Algeria and Tunisia .The campaign was fought between the Allies and Axis powers, many of whom had...
and Italian
Italian Campaign (World War II)
The Italian Campaign of World War II was the name of Allied operations in and around Italy, from 1943 to the end of the war in Europe. Joint Allied Forces Headquarters AFHQ was operationally responsible for all Allied land forces in the Mediterranean theatre, and it planned and commanded the...
campaigns. They also saw action in the Far East
Battle of Malaya
The Malayan Campaign was a campaign fought by Allied and Japanese forces in Malaya, from 8 December 1941 – 31 January 1942 during the Second World War. The campaign was dominated by land battles between British Commonwealth army units, and the Imperial Japanese Army...
. Over 16 battalions were raised, and nearly 27,000 men served in the regiment, suffering 1500 killed.
The regiment won 10 battle honours and won 400 decorations, including a VC.
In 1940 the 70th (YS) Battalion Sherwood Foresters were stationed at Holme Pierrepont Hall
Holme Pierrepont Hall
Holme Pierrepont Hall is a medieval hall in Holme Pierrepont near Nottingham. It is a Grade I listed building.-History:The Pierrepont family have lived at Holme Pierrepont since around 1280. Originally the area was known only as Holme, but later adopted the family surname as a suffix.The hall was...
near Radcliffe on Trent Nottingham. The young soldiers battalions were formed to take volunteers who had not reached the compulsory age of conscription.
In post war period Sherwood Foresters served as occupation forces in Germany, and later in the BAOR. In 1958 they saw action in Malaya
Malayan Emergency
The Malayan Emergency was a guerrilla war fought between Commonwealth armed forces and the Malayan National Liberation Army , the military arm of the Malayan Communist Party, from 1948 to 1960....
and, in 1963, in Cyprus.
Alliances
In 1931, the Sherwood Foresters were officially allied with the Simcoe Foresters (35th Regiment of Infantry), Canadian Militia. This alliance has continued to the present day through The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment (29th/45th Foot)Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters
The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Prince of Wales' Division...
and the Mercian Regiment
Mercian Regiment
The Mercian Regiment is an infantry regiment of the British Army, formed by the amalgamation of three existing regiments on 1 September 2007.The regiment has three regular army battalion's and one Territorial Army or reserve battalion...
with The Grey and Simcoe Foresters
The Grey and Simcoe Foresters
The Grey and Simcoe Foresters is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces. It is part of Land Force Central Area's 32 Canadian Brigade Group...
.
Amalgamation
In 1970 the Sherwood Foresters were amalgamated with The Worcestershire Regiment to form The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment (29th/45th Foot)Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters
The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Prince of Wales' Division...
.
Battle honours
- post 1881:
- Egypt (1882), Tirah, South Africa 1899–1902Second Boer WarThe Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
- Egypt (1882), Tirah, South Africa 1899–1902
- World War I:
- 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 - 18Western Front (World War I)Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
, - Piavé, Italy 1917 - 18Italian Campaign (World War I)The Italian campaign refers to a series of battles fought between the armies of Austria-Hungary and Italy, along with their allies, in northern Italy between 1915 and 1918. Italy hoped that by joining the countries of the Triple Entente against the Central Powers it would gain Cisalpine Tyrol , the...
, - Suvla, Landing at Suvla, Schimitar Hill, Gallipoli 1915,
- Egypt 1916Sinai and Palestine CampaignThe Sinai and Palestine Campaigns took place in the Middle Eastern Theatre of World War I. A series of battles were fought between British Empire, German Empire and Ottoman Empire forces from 26 January 1915 to 31 October 1918, when the Armistice of Mudros was signed between the Ottoman Empire and...
- 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
- World War II:
- Norway 1940Norwegian CampaignThe Norwegian Campaign was a military campaign that was fought in Norway during the Second World War between the Allies and Germany, after the latter's invasion of the country. In April 1940, the United Kingdom and France came to Norway's aid with an expeditionary force...
, - St Omer-La Bassee, Ypres-Comines Canal, Dunkirk 1940, North West Europe 1940Battle of FranceIn the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
, - Gazala, El Alemain, Djebel Guerba, Tamera, Medejez Plain, Tunis, North Africa 1942 -43North African campaignDuring the Second World War, the North African Campaign took place in North Africa from 10 June 1940 to 13 May 1943. It included campaigns fought in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts and in Morocco and Algeria and Tunisia .The campaign was fought between the Allies and Axis powers, many of whom had...
, - Salerno, Volturno Crossing, Monte Camino, Anzio, Campoleone, Advance to Tiber, Gothic Line, Coriano, Cosina Canal Crossing, Monte Ceco, Italy 1943 - 45Italian Campaign (World War II)The Italian Campaign of World War II was the name of Allied operations in and around Italy, from 1943 to the end of the war in Europe. Joint Allied Forces Headquarters AFHQ was operationally responsible for all Allied land forces in the Mediterranean theatre, and it planned and commanded the...
, - Singapore Island, Malaya 1942Battle of MalayaThe Malayan Campaign was a campaign fought by Allied and Japanese forces in Malaya, from 8 December 1941 – 31 January 1942 during the Second World War. The campaign was dominated by land battles between British Commonwealth army units, and the Imperial Japanese Army...
- Norway 1940
Victoria Crosses
The following members of the regiment were awarded the Victoria CrossVictoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
:
- Private Bernard McQuirtBernard McQuirtBernard McQuirt VC was born in Donaghcloney near Lurgan, County Armagh and was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:He was about 29 years old, and a...
, Indian Mutiny - Lieutenant (later Captain) Henry Singleton PennellHenry Singleton PennellHenry Singleton Pennell VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
, Tirah CampaignTirah CampaignThe Tirah Campaign, often referred to in contemporary British accounts as the Tirah Expedition, was an Indian frontier war in 1897–98. Tirah is a mountainous tract of country.-Rebellion:... - Private (later Corporal) William BeesWilliam BeesWilliam Dolman Bees VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
, Second Boer WarSecond Boer WarThe Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State... - Corporal (later Captain) Harry Churchill BeetHarry Churchill BeetHarry Churchill Beet VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
, Second Boer War - Corporal (later Sergeant) Ernest Albert EgertonErnest Albert EgertonErnest Albert Egerton VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
, Great War - Acting Corporal (later Sergeant) Fred GreavesFred GreavesFred Greaves VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
, Great War - Captain (Temporary Lt-Col, later Major-General)) Charles Edward HudsonCharles Edward HudsonMajor General Charles Edward Hudson VC CB DSO & Bar MC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.His was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions in the...
, Great War - Sergeant William Henry JohnsonWilliam Henry JohnsonWilliam Henry Johnson VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
, Great War - Private Jacob RiversJacob RiversJacob Rivers VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:...
, Great War - Corporal James UptonJames UptonJames Upton VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
, Great War - Captain (Acting Lt-Col) Bernard William Vann, Great War
- Second Lieutenant (Temporary Captain, later Colonel) Charles Geoffrey VickersCharles Geoffrey VickersSir Charles Geoffrey Vickers VC was an English lawyer, administrator, writer and pioneering systems scientist...
, Great War - Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) Albert BallAlbert BallAlbert Ball VC, DSO & Two Bars, MC was an English fighter pilot of the First World War and a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest decoration for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to members of the British or Commonwealth armed forces...
, Great War - Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) John Henry Cound BruntJohn Henry Cound BruntCaptain John Henry Cound Brunt VC, MC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces...
, Second World War