Worcestershire Regiment

My late father-in-law Denis Ivor Price Reg No: 5242579 saw service in India in the late 30's and early 40's.
He was a Sergeant with the 1st batt. at Crownhill Barracks in 1932 and his final rank around 1946 was Sergeant Major.
Can someone advise me during which period he would have served in India?
Thank you in advance

Hi Mike,

Sergeant D. Price was with the 2nd Battalion in India in 1938-39. At the time he was the Officers' Mess Sergeant.

The Seniority Roll shows he was made Sergeant on the 17th April 1932. He was initially with the 1st Battalion.

Regards,

Louis

Hi Louis
I am deeply grateful for your response and many thanks for the date of his promotion to Sergeant and also his occupation in 1938-1939.
It is my understanding that Denis and his family finally came home from India at around the time of partition in 1946-1947, at which time his service career ended. He subsequently joined the British Colonial Administration in North Africa (Tripolitania).
If my understanding is correct, he must have spent the war years in or near India. Do you have access to any record of this period?
Best regards
Mike

Hi Mike,

Found some more information.

Sergeant D. Price was in Palestine with the 1st Battalion in 1938 and later that year he was transferred to the 2nd Battalion in India. The likelyhood is that he was with the 2nd Battalion throughout the Second World War in India and then Burma.

The regimental magazine of July 1939 shows he played Tennis in the 2nd Battalion sports competion at Victoria Barracks, Rawlapindi during March 1939 - sadly he was knockout in the first round by a Sergeant Adams of the Royal Ulster Rifles who went on to win the competion.

Suggest you contact the Regimental Archives at Norton Barracks, Worcester. They may have more information. Their contact details are on the home page of this website.

Do you have a photo of him in uniform you could email to the website?
webmaster@worcestershireregiment.com

Regards,

Louis

Hi Louis,

Many thanks for both the new information and the search tip.

Unfortunately, I do not have a photograph of Denis in uniform, but his closer descendants in New Zealand are currently sorting through photographs left by his wife. Unfortunately the collection has been damaged by water - I don't know the circumstances - but if something that you can use is found I will ensure that it is sent to you.

Best regards
Mike

Hi Louis - me again

I'm sorry to worry you again, but after lots of searching I cannot find any link to the Regimental Archives.

Could you please point me in the correct direction?

Best regards
Mike

PS - I hope that one or more photographs are now being scanned in New Zealand and in due course will be available to me.

Hi Mike,

Contact details for Regimental Archives are:
RHQ Mercian (Worcester), Norton Barracks, Worcester, WR5 2PA.
Email is rhq@wfr.army.mod.uk

Details are also on the home page.

Regards,

Louis

Thanks Louis!
Regards
Mike

Louis
I think you may be disseminating inaccurate information. There was more than one Sgt Price serving in the 2nd Bn in 1939 so Sgt D may not have been the one taking part in the tennis tournament. Also I have no evidence he served in Palestine and doubt whether he served in Burma.
Albuera

Thanks Albuera,

MikeB take note of Albuera comments.

Regards,

Louis

Thank you - both of you!

The doubt about the tennis tournament will be noted.

It is now been established from the childhood memories of two of his children that Denis Price and family were repatriated from India in 1943 or 1944 - probably the latter - and thus he did not serve in Burma. Amongst others there are memories of a convoy and depth charges being used during the voyage home.

I am deeply grateful for the interest shown in my search.
Thank you
Mike

As you have been so helpful in guiding me, I feel it appropriate to add the further details that have been found since my last post.
From his paybook it may be seen that 5242579 Sgt. Denis Price's second period of service in India commenced on 11 November 1937. He was repatriated to England from India together with his family on the SS Stratheden and his paybook states that his service in India ceased on 24 March 1944. I assume that this would the date the vessel sailed. He would have been demobilised in 1944/1945 after 24 or 25 years service. I do not yet have the exact date.
He was promoted from Sergeant to Colour-Sergeant in 1939, and to Company Sergeant-Major in 1940. Both these dates were quoted in 'FIRM' which I found on the internet. Unfortunately I failed to bookmark the site where I found 'FIRM'. Can you give me a link to the site?
The studio photograph which you have kindly uploaded as 'Sgt. D.I. Price' shows him wearing his WO2 armband. Perhaps the caption could be corrected?
Best regards
MikeB

Mike,

I have made the change to W.O.2.

Regards,

Louis (webmaster)

Many thanks Louis!
Regards
Mike