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WELCOME TO THE WORCESTERSHIRE REGIMENT
WEBSITE
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The Worcestershire Regiment dates back to 1694
when Colonel Thomas Farrington, an officer of the Coldstream Guards raised a
new regiment in London. It was then the custom for Regiments to be named
after their Colonels, and this new Regiment was named Farrington’s
Regiment of Foot. This method of naming regiments led to confusion, as
regiments were re-named with each Colonel, and it was possible for more than
one Colonel, and therefore more than one regiment, to have the same name.
Until 1751, the Regiment had eight different Colonels, and therefore eight
different names. In 1751 regiments were given numbers, and the Regiment was
numbered 29.
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WORCESTER
CATHEDRAL AND REGIMENTS CONNECTIONS
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 Worcester Cathedral has long links with the Worcestershire Regiment. It was at the cathedral that the men who trained for war went to worship, there the Colours of the Regiment rested during the Regiment's absence on active service, and it was there that those who returned went to offer thanksgiving.
Today in the St. George's Memorial Chapel in the Cathedral you will find
many tributes to the Worcestershire Regiment and its men.
Click here or on the images
to read his story
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BATTLE FOR
TRIPSRATH
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NEW BOOK
REVIEW |
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 The morning of 18th November
1944 saw the 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment move across the
Dutch/German boarder and commenced their attack on German soil to
take the village of Tripsrath. As part of 214 Brigade they were the
first British troops to fight on German soil. Their job was to
take the north-west side of Geilenkirchen to cover the left flank
and support the Americans.
CLICK HERE
OR IMAGE FOR STORY
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 The
excellent book by Ken Ford gives a graphical account of
the Battle for Geilenkirchen. This was the first battle on German soil to be fought by the British
troops in WW2 and the men of the Worcestershire Regiment
played an important part by their attack on Tripsrath.
This book has some first hand accounts from men of the
Worcestershire Regiment. It tells the full story of both
the British and US forces. Highly recommended read.
DETAILS,
CLICK HERE OR IMAGE
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LONG SERVICE
& GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL
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 The Long Service & Good Conduct (LSGC) medal was instituted in
1830 during the reign of King William IV. The medal was originally awarded to infantry NCOs and men who had completed 21 years' good conduct.
In 1870, this qualifying period was reduced to 18 years. Many soldiers
of the Worcestershire Regiment have been awarded this medal since its
introduction.
Click here
or on the images for full details
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CHELSEA
PENSIONERS AND THE WORCESTERSHIRE REGT.
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 The Royal Hospital, Chelsea, has been the home of the Chelsea Pensioners for over 320 years.
Founded by a Royal Warrant by King Charles II in 1682. However the building of the Hospital
by Christopher Wren was not completed until 1690. Read details of the
Worcestershire Regiment (29th Foot) men who became pensioners on their
discharge from the armed forces.
Click here or on the images
for full details
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1st
BATTALION - N.W. EUROPE 1944-45 - MEDALS & CITATIONS
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 During
1944-45 the 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment were awarded 35 medals
for bravery and distinguished service in the field of battle. Five
officers serving with the Battalion were awarded the Distinguished
Service Order and a further seven awarded the Military Cross. Some 20
Military Medals were awarded to the rank and file.
Click here or on the images
for details of the
Medals and Citations
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LOST DIARY
OF LIEUT. R. C. T. GOODWIN (1940)
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 During the 7th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment withdrawal to Dunkirk in
May 1940, Lieut. Ron Goodwin lost his diary during the haevy fighting
near the La Bassée Canal. A German soldier, Horst Kallmeyer, found the
diary and started to use it himself. Some 65 years later the diary was
found by the grandson of Horst Kallmeyer whilst clearing out his
grandparents apartment.
Click here or on the images
for story of the diary
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HISTORY OF
SHOULDER-BELT PLATES OF THE 29TH FOOT
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 Shoulder-Belt
Plates, sometimes referred to as Cross-Belt Plates were first seen in
use in the 29th Foot (Worcestershire Regiment) around the 1770's. They
are described in Army Dress Regulations officially as
"Breastplates". They were eventually abolished in 1855.
Click here or on the images
for history of Shoulder-Belt Plates.
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SUBALTERN'S
SAGA by LIEUT. W. H. S. CHANCE
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 William
Hugh Stobart Chance was commissioned in to the Worcestershire Regiment
in March 1915. He joined the 2/8th battalion as a platoon commander of
'D' Company. In April 1916 he was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps,
trained as a pilot and saw action in France flying Martinsyde aircraft
on bombing raids. In September 1916 he was forced to crash land in enemy
territory and became a prisoner of war.
Click here or on the images to
read his story.
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WORCESTERSHIRE
REGIMENT OFFICERS & MEN IN RFC
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 At
the beginning of the First World War in August 1914 the Royal Flying
Corps (RFC) only had 166 aircraft. By July 1916 this had reached 421.
Due to the heavy losses more pilots were required and officers from the
Army where seconded to train as pilots. During this period many
Worcestershire Regiment officers and men where transferred to the RFC,
which later became the RAF.
Click here or on the images to obtain full details
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GALLIPOLI
1915 - Private Ben Wards Story
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 Private
Ben Rubery Ward was a regular soldier with 'W' Company, 4th
Battalion Worcestershire Regiment. He landed with the Battalion in
Gallipoli in April 1915. After 3 months of fighting, Private Ward
contracted enteric and dysentery and was hospitalised.
Whilst he was in hospital he wrote an account of his experiences
during the landing and fighting in Gallipoli.
Click here or the images to read
his story
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FRED
"JOE" LYNCH - FROM THE RANKS TO LIEUT.-COLONEL
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 Fred "Joe" Lynch was conscripted into the army in 1945 as a
private soldier. He reached the rank of Sergeant in just 2 years and was
made Regimental Sergeant Major in 1959. By 1966 he was granted a
commission as Lieutenant (Quartermaster). He rose through the ranks and
became Lieut.-Col. in 1979. He was a regular member of the Regiment
Shooting team.
Click here or on the images
to read his story
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Battalion
Commanders |
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 Since the Worcestershire Regiment was raised in 1694 there has been many fine
commanding officer. In an effort to preserve the history of these
officer, this website is now building up a record of all the Battalion
Commanders.
Click on left image to access all Battalion Commanders records.
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Contacting Regimental Archives |
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 The
Worcestershire Regimental Archives hold extensive records and other
material which could help anyone researching their ancestors who served
with the regiment. They also provide advise on how to seek further
information.
The search fee for this service is £15 and is non-returnable.
Payment should be by cheque payable to The Worcestershire Regimental Museum and sent to the address
below together with details of the person you are researching:
The Worcestershire Regiment Museum Trust
Crookbarrow Road,
Worcester, WR5 2PA
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Roll of Honour lists
Why not take a look at the alphabetically sorted Roll of Honour lists for the Worcestershire Regiment. There are full list for Boer War, First World War, Second World War and the Malaya Emergency. Click on the Roll of Honour tabs on the left.
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1st Battalion Reunion dinner
2009 |
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 Veterans
and guests of the 1st Battalion, N. W. Europe(1944-45) met for their annual reunion
dinner on Sat. 16th May 2009 at Kidderminster.
For Photos click image.
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Worcestershire Militia (871 to 1886) |
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 History of the Militia dating back to 891 and King Alfred and were know under the name of the
Fyrd.
Click image
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29th (Worcestershire) Regiment History |
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 The history of the 29th Foot (Worcestershire) Regiment from 1694 to 1891. This unique record of the Regiment was written by Major H. Everard. The book gives details of officers and the battles fought. This are also good accounts of the dress of the officers and men of the Regiment.
Click the image to read
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Tower of London - Guard Duty (1938) |
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 On the 8th March 1938 the men of the 1st Battalion of spent 3 months on Guard Duty at the Tower of London.
While the Grenadier Guards were away at camp.
Click photo to read story.
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Vernon - Seine
Crossing 1944 |
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August 1944, preparations were completed for bridging the river. In XXX Corps the 43rd Division which was given the task of crossing at Vernon. 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment of 214 Infantry Brigade
was chosen to make the assault crossing at Vernon.
Click on the image to read full story and first hand accounts.
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Wounded in
Action (1944) |
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 Information and personal stories of the men of the 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment during the N.W. Europe campaign
in 1944-45.
Click on left image to read story
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Palestine (1938-39) |
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 In September, 1938, the 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, which was then stationed in Aldershot, received orders to move to Palestine. The Arab revolt, which had been simmering for some time, reached serious proportions and it was necessary to reinforce the existing British garrison there.
An advance party of the Battalion left on 2nd Sept. 1938, the main body sailed from Southampton on 14th September.
Click map for the full story.
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Parade and Drill Notes |
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 This booklet produced for the 1st Battalion in 1934 was an update of an initially produced document in 1908. It provides Guidance notes for Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and men of the Regiment,
in order to keep the drill up to the required standard.
Click the image to read it.
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Prisoners of
War |
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 Full details for WW1 & WW2 Worcestershire Regiment prisoners of war.
Plus stories as told by the men who were held in prisoner of war camps in both world wars.
Click image for details
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SUBMITTING PHOTOS
If you would like to submit any photos to this website Click
here for details how to do it
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Norton
Barracks |
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 Norton
Barracks was demolished in the early 1990's and sold by the M.O.D. to
property developers for house building. Just prior to this in May
1987 a number of photos were taken of the buildings which were already in
a poor state.
Click on right image to view the photos
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Victoria Cross
Hero |
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 Captain William Leefe Robinson was gazetted to the Worcestershire Regiment in December 1914.
By March 1915 he was attached to the Royal Flying Corps. He shot down the first German Airship in England in 1916.
click the image for details
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36th Foot
(History) |
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 Viscount William Charlemont was appointed Colonel of a newly raised regiment of foot in Ireland on 23rd April, 1694. Became 36th Foot and later 2nd Battalion Worcestershire.
Click the image for details
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General Farrington Documents (1694) |
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 Unique documents relating to the raising and equipment of the 29th Foot Regiment (1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment) on its first formation in 1694 and during the years immediately after that date. The documents show details of numbers of me and the cost. Also details of the Farrington family tree.
Click image for details.
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29th Foot
(1807 to 1809) |
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 An interesting account of life as a soldier in the 29th Foot from 1807 to 1809 by the then Lieut. Charles Leslie (later Colonel), he joined the Depot of the 29th Foot in 1807, remained with the Regiment until 1813, he transferred to the 60th Rifles. This account starts in 1807, Parkhurst Barracks on the Isle of Wight.
and ends just after he was wounded at Talavera.
Click image to read account.
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Cpl. G. W.
Wheeler (POW) |
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 Corporal
Gilbert William Wheeler was mobilized with the 8th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment. In January 1940 he landed at Le Havre, France as part of the British Forces. He was with 'C' company and was captured at Bambecque in May 1940 and ended up as a POW at Stalag VIIIB at Lamsdorf, Poland.
Click the image for details
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Malaya Emergency (1950-53) |
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 History of the 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiments actions in Malaya during the Malaya Emergency from 1950 to 1953.
This section includes maps and photos. Also included is a full Roll of Honour, Awards and Decorations and Full List of Officers who served during the campaign.
Click the adjacent image of the Cameron Highlands, Malaya to read the full story.
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Dunkirk (May 1940) |
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 Just a day after war was declared with Germany, advance elements of the British Expeditionary Force (B.E.F.) left for
France.
The 7th & 8th Territorial Worcestershire Battalions were part of the B.E.F.
Click the image for details.
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Book Review |
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 Great
War Diaries of
Brigadier General Alex Johnston
These diaries provides valuable insights into trench
warfare. Johnson was commissioned into the Worcestershire Regiment, he went over
to France in August 1914 as the signals officer for 7th Infantry Brigade.
Always close to the front line, his signals and staff duties gave him
insights into war at higher levels of command.
CLICK HERE OR IMAGE FOR DETAILS
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Burma Campaign (1944-45) |
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 The story of both the 2nd and 7th Battalions in Burma. The 7th Battalion supported by Tanks, M.M.G.'s and Artillery, captured the village of Kohima in June 1944. The 2nd Battalion fought at the Mandalay.
This section also a full photo album of the 7th Battalion taken at the time by CQMS Fred
Weedman.
Click the image for details
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Eritrea (1941) |
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 The story of the 1st Battalion of the Regiment during the fighting with the Italians in Eritrea during 1941.
Accounts of the battles of Keren and Amba Alagi.
Details click image.
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FORUM AND FAMILY MILITARY RESEARCH
Do you have an opinion or any information you would
like to share with us? Or do you just want to see what others are saying? You
can also post questions about the regiment. Everyone is welcome to make a post
on the forum!!!! (Click here
for the Forum)
CONTACT REGIMENTAL ARCHIVES
You can submit a
research request to a researcher at the Worcestershire Regimental
Archives. Search fee is £15.
(Click here to send them an
email)
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www.WorcestershireRegiment.com
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