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Worcestershire Regiment In The Great War | |
By Captain H. FitzM Stacke, M.C. Published in 1928 Publisher: G. T. Cheshire & Sons Ltd, Kidderminster. History of the twelve fighting battalions - on the Western front, at Gallipoli, in Mesopotamia, Macedonia, Italy and Persia. Roll of Honour, list of Awards. A magnificent publication it is with its profusion of maps, illustrations and photos - each page of photos contains several. The Worcesters was one of the five regiments that had four regular battalions before the war, with two special reserve and two territorial battalions. By the end of the war another fourteen battalions had been raised for a total of twenty-two of which twelve went on active service. 9,460 officers and men gave their lives, 71 Battle Honours were awarded and eight VCs one of whom, attached to the RFC, was the airman Leefe Robinson, famous for shooting down a zeppelin. Battalions served on the Western Front, in Gallipoli, Macedonia, Mesopotamia, Italy; one battalion ended the war in North Persia. Appendices provide the Roll of Honour; Honours and Awards including Mention in Despatches, with date of Gazette (for ‘Companion’ of the British Empire read ‘Commander’); details of Badges, Colours and Distinctions of the regiment; and the music for regimental marches. Illustrations are by well-known artists depicting battle scenes including each VC-winning action - apart from Leefe’s zeppelin. |
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After considering various factors, explained in his very informative preface, the author decided to present this history as one general story in which the number of the battalion concerned is printed in the margin of the pages dealing with its deeds. Attention is paid to minor actions such as trench raids, which usually find no place in compressed official histories; they are recorded in this history. The plans illustrate the engagements recorded in the book, and are designed to depict the part played by the several battalions in their battles and to enable the visitor to the battlefields to recognise the ground on which each fight took place, as much as to make clear the general course of those actions. The book opens with a very interesting account of the regiment in the years before the war, beginning at the turn of the century, and there is a very comprehensive index of 25 pages. |
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Facsimile
Reprint Copy of Original Book Is available from Naval & Military Press. It is printed in two large volumes of 667pp, plus 127 plans/maps, 22pp b/w illus and 36pp of b/w photos. Published in 2002 ISBN 1843423782 The book is currently available for a special price of £45 which is excellent value for money as an original copy would cost several hundred pounds if you can find one. Order line Tel. +44 (0)1825 749494 Click here for link to Naval & Military Press |
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Latest (June 2004) This book is also now available on CD ROM in Adobe Acrobat PDF Format, from Midlands Historical Data, 49 Blossomfield Rd., Solihull, West Midlands, B91 1NB, England. The cost is £15 (which includes p & p). Check out the Military Book section on their website. Click here for link to Midlands Historical Data |
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CLICK HERE FOR AMENDMENTS TO THE WORCESTERSHIRE REGIMENT IN THE GREAT WAR |
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REGIMENTAL
HISTORY - A record of the first release of this book in 1929 A meeting of the History Sub-Committee of the Worcestershire County War Memorial was held on Saturday, 27th October, 1928. Capt. H. Fitz M. Stacke reported that the whole of the proofing of the book, including the index, was practically completed, and he submitted the first 30 pages, including the title page, dedication, foreword, preface, notes to the maps and plans, contents and introduction, etc., which were examined and approved by the meeting, as also was the arrangement of the photographs and letterpress. The meeting requested the Hon. Editor to send a letter of thanks from the Committee and a free copy of the book to the draughtsman at the Staff College, for the valuable work he had done in preparing the maps and plans. The meeting confirmed the action of the Chairman in inviting certain gentlemen who had done good service for the County and the Regiment at home during the war, to lend their photographs for reproduction and inclusion in the History. Upon the motion of Field-Marshal Sir Claud Jacob, seconded by the Chairman, the meeting resolved that the grateful thanks 0f this Committee be given to Capt. Stacke for the time and energy he has expended on the work of compiling and editing so comprehensive a History of the Worcestershire Regiment. Speaking for the Regiment, the Field-Marshal desired to thank Capt. Stacke most gratefully for all the time, hard work and trouble he had been to in order to produce a really good history. He had read through it, and it was so well arranged that the doings of any one of the many Battalions of the Regiment in existence during the War could be easily followed. He thought it was better than any other Regimental History he had seen. Upon the motion of Field-Marshal Sir Claud Jacob, seconded by the Chairman, the Meeting resolved and directed :— That a free copy of the book be sent to the Staff College, Camberley, Royal United Services Institute. Field-Marshal Sir Claud Jacob undertook to present copies to the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, and to the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. That Field-Marshal Sir Claud Jacob be requested to invite His Majesty the King and H.R.H. the Prince of Wales to be graciously pleased to accept a copy of the History and that in the event of a favourable reply two specially bound copies of the History be made for that purpose, and be presented to His Majesty and His Royal Highness by Field-Marshal Sir Claud Jacob. The Hon. Secretary submitted to the meeting a statement of the financial position of the History Fund to date, showing a balance at the bank of £358 13s. 9d., and £297 promised by subscribers for 792 copies of the book at 7s. 6d. per copy. Upon the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Field-Marshal Sir Claud Jacob, the meeting resolved that the book be issued to the subscribers who have already paid at 7s. 6d. per copy, but to those who have ordered it and have not paid and to the members of the Regiment and their wives and children, parents, grand-parents, brothers, and sisters, at 7s. 6d. per copy plus 1s. 6d. for packing and postage, and to all other applicants at 15s. per copy, plus 1s. 6d. for packing and postage. The meeting directed that a circular be sent to those who have already ordered copies, but have not paid for them, stating that the book will be forwarded to them on receipt of the sum of 9s. |
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AMENDMENTS TO THE WORCESTERSHIRE REGIMENT IN THE GREAT WAR Page xiii — footnote of the page :—Initials of Mr. Payne (“ Snaffles”) should be “C. J.” Page xv — line 26—Seventh word should be “of.” Page xxvi — footnote (g)—correct the spelling of “Jhansi.” Page xxvii — footnote (b)—for “seven” read “five.” Page 8 —fifteen lines from foot of page - " (B2)" should read " (B1)" ; and, two lines further on, " (B3)" should read " (B2)" Page 18 — footnote (d) line 3 :—After “Serving on the Staff” insert “(Brigade-Major 17th Inf. Bde.).” Page 26 — footnote (f) —for “Johnson” read “Johnston,” Page 42 — last line—Ninth word should be “Chairmen.” Page 43 — line 10— Initials of Lt.-Colonel Garnett should be "F.H." Page 44 — footnote (d)—for “3rd Battalion” read “4th Battalion.” Page 47 — illustration facing page 47 —initials of Lt.-Colonel Garnett should be "F.H." Page 48 — sixth line from foot of page—for “Holden” read “Holder.” Page 50 — footnote (c)—after “packed” delete “for.” Page 64 — last line—for “April” read “March.” Page 67 — footnote (d)—1/8th Bn. for "Kewrood" read "Kerwood." Page 67 — footnote (d). To list of the 1/7th Battalion add— “Major B. Addenbrooke R.A.M.C. (T.F.) (Medical Officer).” Page 73 — line 34— footnote (d) should read “(e)” and also in the footnotes to the page. Page 73 — footnote (d) :—the blank bracket should read “(see page 68).” Page 88 — footnote (d) :—initials of 2nd-Lt. Atkinson should be “C. J. B.” Page 106 — line 41 and footnote (c) :—initials of 2nd-Lt. Greenway should be “D. H. W.” (see page 622). Page 111 — line 28—for “sung” read “sang.” Page 128 — line 26-for “greater” read “greatly.” Page 135 — line 26 - thirteenth word should be “of.” Page 159 — footnote (a)—2/8th Bn. — For “Well” read “Wall.” Page 166 — footnote (f) add— “The collection of the wounded was directed by the devoted Medical Officer of the Battalion, Captain N. H. W. Saw, R.A.M.C., who for five days and nights worked incessantly, and several times went out into ‘No-Man’s Land’ with the utmost bravery in the course of his work of mercy. He was awarded the M.C.” Page 170 — illustration facing page 170 : — Initials of Private Turrall should be “T. G.” Page 178 — footnote (c), line 2. delete from “and” to “M.C.” Page 179 — footnote (c)—First line—last word should be "wood" Page 181 — footnote (e) —for “Tyree” read “Tyrie.” Page 185 — line 16-for “West” read East.” Page 192 — footnote (a), line 3. after “Captain Hopewell” for “was” substitute “. . . . .and Captain Tomkinson were . . . ." Page 200 — line 49 ninth word—correct the spelling of “fumes.” Page 201 — footnote (b)—correct the spelling of “was.” Page 203 — footnote (g)—Line 2—after “his Service” insert “with the Regiment.” Page 211 — three lines from foot of page :—after “ An officer” delete “(h)” and substitute “(g) “. The footnote “(h)” should actually be part of footnote “(e).” Page 218 — footnote (b)—for “has” read “as.” Page 243 — footnote (a) :—For “page 339” read “page 337.” Page 250 — footnote (a)—Line 2—after “intact” add “Battalion Headquarters of the 1/8th Worcestershire had spent two tours of four days each in the Dugout, and had it twice ‘vetted’ by Sappers.” Page 261 — line 13—after “near” delete “at.” Page 284 — marginal number opposite line 21 - " 1/8th" should read " 2/8th"
Page 284 —
footnote (c)— "M.M. was awarded to Pte. B. Norris" should read
"M.M. was awarded to Pte. B. Novis"
Page 601 — Col. 2., “1st Battalion” the
surname “Balkeway” should read “Blakeway”
Page 616 — Col. 1., “1st Battalion” the number
for Eacock, Alfred William, should read “27471”
Page 651 —
Col 1., “1st Battalion” :—add “Smith, Charles John, Lieut., F. & F. 27.5.18.”
; Col. 2., “ 1st Battalion,” Steele: for “Ben” read “Benjamin.”
Page 666
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Col 2., “Other Units :— Willis, John “9355” should read “9335” |
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