529:, two companies of 1/5th North Staffs led, the other two being in the second line, followed by bombing parties to clear enemy dugouts. The men of 1/5th Bn are recorded as shouting 'Forward the Potters' and 'Up the Potters' when they attacked. Things did not go according to plan: the British bombardment had been ineffective while the German artillery brought down a barrage on the division's jumping-off trenches. Charging towards 'Big Willie' trench on the flank of the Hohenzollern, the 1/5th North Staffs came under enfilade fire and lost 20 officers and 485 other ranks in the first few minutes of the attack, the highest casualty rate of any battalion in the 46th Division. The killed included the commanding officer, Lt-Col John Knight, who had been a Volunteer since 1883. Only a handful of the battalion got as far as Big Willie, and there they held on desperately against prompt German counter-attacks. The British attack was quickly called off.
787:
reserve line was being rolled up from the flank, and soon the remnants of the battalion were forced back to a communication trench west of
Bullecourt. Both here and in the defences further to the north west a few survivors fought on for some hours. A small party, which eventually succeeded in withdrawing, reported that it had fallen back from post to post, beating off many attacks, and that an officer was last seen at 16.00 still firing a Lewis gun, though with one hand smashed. Almost the whole battalion had been killed or captured, including the CO, Lt-Col H. Johnson (wounded and captured). Only one front-line officer of 176th Brigade made it back, and the survivors were collected that night two miles back, to hold a trench there.
502:
943:
573:
equipment for consolidating the anticipated captures. But the attack was another disaster, the first wave being cut down almost on the start line. The jumping-off and communication trenches were completely inadequate, and the following waves were badly delayed, completely mixed up, and suffering casualties from German shellfire. The brigadier tried to organise a second attack by 1/5th North Staffs and 1/5th South Staffs, but the 1/5th North Staffs now had only 200 men present, and their commanding officer was wounded. After several delays they were told to 'sit tight' and abandon an attack that the
51:
67:
494:
641:
Brigade's attack on 'Aconite' trench, in two waves behind a creeping barrage beginning at 02.47. By 07.00 the two right companies held
Aconite, but the two left companies were held up in severe house-to-house fighting. A second push at 08.00 cleared the cellars round the church and caused heavy casualties to the defenders. But in the afternoon a German counter-attack drove the battalion back to its start line.
337:, Regular infantry battalions became linked in pairs assigned to particular counties or localities, and the county Militia and Volunteers were affiliated to them. The populous county of Staffordshire was divided into two under this scheme, and from 1873 the 1st Admin Bn was attached to 'Sub-District No 19', headquartered in Lichfield and associated with the
525:, and the division was moved down from Ypres on 1 October for the purpose. The Germans recaptured the Hohenzollern trench system on 3 October, and the new attack was aimed at this point, the actual objective for 1/5th being 'Big Willie' trench followed by 'The Dump' behind the Hohenzollern trenches. It went in at 14.00 on 13 October behind a
914:, the TA's AA units were mobilised on 23 September 1938, with units manning their emergency positions within 24 hours, even though many did not yet have their full complement of men or equipment. The emergency lasted three weeks, and they were stood down on 13 October. Afterwards, Britain's AA defences were further strengthened.
922:
in
February 1939. In June a partial mobilisation of TA units was begun in a process known as 'couverture', whereby each AA unit did a month's tour of duty in rotation to man selected AA and searchlight positions. On 24 August, ahead of the declaration of war, AA Command was fully mobilised at its war
636:
attacked, with 137th
Brigade providing a diversion using dummies representing an advancing battalion. On 14 June, two companies of 1/5th North Staffs raided 'Narwal' and 'Contact' trenches, occupying the position for 40 minutes before withdrawing with prisoners, having caused considerable casualties.
1461:
Col Sir
William Warrington Dobson, VD, TD, of Seighford Hall, chairman of Parkers Burslem Brewery, joined the 1st VB North Staffs in 1880 and rose to be its commanding officer 1900–08. He chaired the organising committee for the Staffordshire Territorial Association, and was appointed Hon Col of the
754:
for his gallantry. That night the rest of 176th
Brigade in Bourlon Wood were subjected to a violent bombardment of high explosive and gas shells, but the division was not directly attacked the following morning. By 4 December the decision had been made to withdraw from the Bourlon Salient, and 59th
572:
This time 1/5th North Staffs and 1/5th South Staffs were supporting the attack of 137th
Brigade, with bombing parties accompanying the 2nd, 3rd and 4th waves, while the rest of the battalions in the 5th–8th waves were to set off from the Support Line and further back, carrying heavy loads of trench
379:
of
December 1888 proposed a more comprehensive Mobilisation Scheme for Volunteer units, which would assemble in their own brigades at key points in case of war. In peacetime these brigades provided a structure for collective training. Under this scheme the Volunteer Battalions of the 'North Staffs'
786:
and covered by morning mist. The battalion repulsed the first attack on its front, but shortly afterwards was driven from its defences and forced back through the village. At 12.15, supported by heavy artillery firing from the rear, it was still clinging to the southern edge of
Bullecourt, but its
644:
After Lens, the division was withdrawn into reserve, and did not engage in major operations again during 1917. On 29–30 January 1918 the 1/5th North Staffs was broken up to provide replacements to other North Staffs battalions, some going to the 1/6th
Battalion in 137th Brigade, some to the 2/5th
619:
defences well beyond the Somme battlefields, but 46th Division was withdrawn from the pursuit on 17 March. It spent some time clearing the battlefield of 1 July 1916 and burying the dead who had been lying in No Man's Land for almost 10 months. The men buried in these small battlefield cemeteries
665:
The 2nd-Line battalion was formed on 1 November 1914 at Hanley from men who had not volunteered for overseas service, together with the many new recruits under training. Initially it was intended to provide drafts for the 1/5th Battalion in France, but this role was later taken over by the 3/5th
749:
of the 2/5th saw this counter-attack being prepared, and on his own initiative he and a comrade went out to reconnoitre the buildings at the western end of Fontaine. His comrade was hit almost immediately, but Thomas stayed out for three hours, shot several German snipers, and gathered valuable
640:
46th Division was now ordered to capture Lens itself, beginning on 28 June. 1/5th North Staffs was in Brigade Reserve for the attack, which gained its objectives with few casualties. Another divisional attack on 1 July aimed at capturing more houses and trenches. 1/5th North Staffs led 137th
471:
to train for deployment overseas. On 1 November a 2nd-Line TF battalion designated the 2/5th was formed at Hanley from the Home Service men and new recruits, the original battalion becoming the 1/5th. The North Midland Division began landing in France in late February 1915 and by 8 March had
590:
Early 1917 saw the 46th Division still holding the line in the same area. However, at the beginning of March, patrols found that the Germans were beginning to retreat from the Gommecourt defences. The division followed up slowly and cautiously, but on the night of 14 March an attack on
1311:, which had been crossed by 21st Army Group. Part of the duty was to provide illumination for engineers building bridges and also to prevent boat attacks on the bridges. On the night of 7/8 April, D Troop of 362 Bty provided 'artificial moonlight' for a raid by the
741:
on 28 November. Fierce German counter-attacks began on 30 November. Two infantry assaults were made against 176th Brigade, the second striking 2/5th North Staffs near Fontaine between 11.00 and 12.00. Both attacks were easily broken up under British artillery fire.
1064:. In 1941 the searchlight layout over the Midlands was reorganised, so that any hostile raid approaching the Gun Defended Areas (GDA) around the towns must cross more than one searchlight belt, and then within the GDAs the concentration of lights was increased.
1196:. Air defence of the crowded bridgehead was vital, and by day the Allies had almost total air superiority, but night raids were common. Communications between sites and operation rooms proved to be a headache, even though the regiment had been loaned the
577:
says 'would have been a mere waste of life'. Even though they had not been in the leading waves, the 1/5th North Staffs lost 219 officers and men out of a strength of about 600. The battalion's commander, Lt-Col W. Burnett, died of his wounds later, and
1492:
Basil Thomas Fitzherbert, of Norbury and Swynnerton in Staffordshire (1836–1919) was commissioned as lieutenant of the 38th Staffs RVC on 17 September 1860, but became captain of the 40th Staffs RVC on 1 December the same year. He was the father of
1322:(8 May 1945) the regiment handed in its S/L equipment and began occupation duties in Germany – apart from a detachment sent to provide illumination for a British Army Exhibition in Paris. The regiment took over responsibility for the districts of
1419:
The regiment later dropped the searchlight part of its designation. On 1 May 1961, P and R Batteries reverted to the infantry role and were amalgamated with 6th Bn North Staffs to form 5th/6th Bn, while a Troop of Q Battery joined 7th Bn
231:
was raised in Longton, near Stoke-on-Trent, on 30 September 1859, and was quickly followed by others. By May 1860, there were enough company-sized RVCs in the Stoke area to be formed into the 1st Staffordshire Administrative Battalion.
1240:
killed 5 men (including 3 from 41 S/L) and wounded four men of 41 S/L. Lieutenant Gilbert Rabbetts of 41 S/L 'acted with great gallantry, rapidly removing wounded to hospital, though himself badly wounded' and was later awarded the
1208:
In September the sudden Allied breakout from the Normandy bridgehead left the regiment behind, and it moved up behind the troops, coming under the command of 51 AA Defence HQ, and deploying in troop 'clumps' along the Rivers
462:
On the outbreak of war in August 1914, the battalion mobilised at Hanley and soon afterwards was invited to volunteer for foreign service. This was accepted by the majority of the men, and the North Midland Division moved to
1085:' targets to industrial cities in Northern England. On the nights of 27/28 and 29/30 July, there were heavy raids and 41 Rgt's searchlights were engaged in illuminating targets for the AA guns. Sergeant L. Cox shot down a
368:. It was formally designated as the 1st Volunteer Battalion of the North Staffordshire Regiment in 1883. Previously its uniform had been red with blue facings, but in 1886 it adopted the white facings of the North Staffs.
1346:. As demobilisation began, the regiment was kept up to strength for these duties into 1946 by absorbing cadres from other disbanded S/L and LAA regiments. The regiment was placed in suspended animation on 1 March 1946.
556:
sector, suffering a steady trickle of casualties over the coming months. In May, however, it moved south to take part in the forthcoming offensive on the Somme. The division was ordered to assault the north side of the
884:
to control the increasing number of anti-aircraft (AA) units being created in the Midlands and North of England. At the same time, several of its infantry battalions were converted into searchlight battalions of the
599:
headquarters despite the protests of the divisional commander. The battalions had been on the training grounds practising for the attack when it was brought forward. Although 'the assault was gallantly pressed'
1249:
1218:
1375:
1191:
41 (5 NSR) was the first full searchlight regiment to land in Normandy during Overlord, joining some independent batteries that had landed earlier, and until the autumn was the only such unit operating in
1489:, was commissioned into the 41st (5th North Staffs) AA Bn in 1938 and served on the staff during World War II. (There were two other Wedgwoods among the officers of 41 S/L Rgt on the eve of World War II.)
1283:
By February 1945 the regiment was reporting no hostile activity, but it was frequently called upon to illuminate and identify friendly aircraft infringing the defence zone. It was also fitting out a
1098:
709:
The 59th Division took part in following the German Retreat to Hindenburg Line in March and April, but it was not until September that it was engaged in its first full-scale action, the phase of the
790:
What remained of 59th Division fought rearguard actions during the British Army's 'Great Retreat'. It was sent north to recuperate, but there the survivors were caught up in the second phase of the
532:
In December 1915 the division was ordered to Egypt, and 137th Brigade arrived there by 13 January. A week later the move was countermanded and the troops re-embarked for France, concentrating near
2201:
1236:
Meanwhile, some 41 S/L Regiment personnel were attached 31 AA Brigade HQ for trials using 'Elsie' to track enemy mortar fire. On 18 November a premature explosion while firing a captured German
2248:
2968:
History of the Great War: Order of Battle of Divisions, Part 2b: The 2nd-Line Territorial Force Divisions (57th–69th), with the Home-Service Divisions (71st–73rd) and 74th and 75th Divisions,
1097:
In October 1942 AA Command reorganised its structure, replacing the AA Divisions with AA Groups coinciding with RAF Fighter Command's Groups. 41 Searchlight Regiment came under
849:
in October 1915. In April 1916 it was redesignated the 5th Reserve Battalion, North Staffs, and in September absorbed the 6th Reserve Battalion (formerly the 3/6th Bn from
3468:
1280:
and small arms fire: the regiment was credited with two 'kills'. Another heavy mid-level raid on 23 January resulted in more 'kills' shared with the LAA batteries.
3478:
1056:
of 1940–41. The Heavy Anti-Aircraft (HAA) guns of the Derby AA Barrage fired for the first time on 19 August. In November, one of 363 Bty's LMG teams shot down a
3473:
248:, was appointed lieutenant-colonel to command the battalion. On 1 June 1880 the administrative battalion was consolidated as the new 2nd Staffordshire RVC, with
782:
Salient, with the 5th North Staffs in the thinly held 'Forward Zone', covering Bullecourt itself. This was where the heaviest German attack fell, following a
2953:
History of the Great War: Order of Battle of Divisions, Part 2a: The Territorial Force Mounted Divisions and the 1st-Line Territorial Force Divisions (42–56)
1256:
to illuminate aircraft and shipping trying to supply the Germans besieged in the town. The regiment took up positions along the long vulnerable line of the
1002:(often abbreviated as '41 (5 NSR) S/L Rgt') and the companies were designated as batteries. By now the unit had reverted to 2 AA Division, forming part of
1431:, the 5/6th Bn becoming C (Staffordshire) Company. When the Mercian Volunteers were disbanded in 1988, C Company transferred to 3rd (Volunteer) Battalion
666:
Battalion. Mirroring its 1st-Line parent, the battalion formed part of 2nd Staffordshire Brigade in 2nd North Midland Division; these were later numbered
352:
took Cardwell's scheme a stage further, the linked battalions converting into single two-battalion regiments. However, while the 38th and 80th became the
2198:
1042:
755:
Division held covering positions while this was carried out. By 7 December the British were back on the line that they would hold for the coming winter.
930:
was forming in 4 AA Division, and 41 AA Battalion was to join it, but the orders to mobilise on 22 August 1939 were actually issued to the battalion by
3483:
1391:
2779:
2336:
2245:
1494:
2757:
1541:
The battalion's first CO, Lt-Col Coote Manningham Buller (and several of his military relatives) is commemorated on a plaque at All Saints Church,
1378:
at Stoke. In 1949 it was redesignated as a (Mixed) Light Anti-Aircraft/Searchlight Regiment (the 'mixed' referring to the fact that members of the
342:
2746:
2157:
2768:
717:. This was a carefully prepared assault with massive artillery preparation, and most of the objectives were taken easily. The next phase, the
565:
attacking from the south, aimed at cutting off the salient, but was in fact a diversion for the main attack a few miles south that opened the
371:
Under Childers the Volunteers were assigned a place in the scheme of national defence, and the Staffordshire RVCs were expected to join the
689:– the troops of the 59th Division were the first TF units to serve in Ireland. After the suppression of the trouble, the division moved to
365:
1972:
2350:
927:
915:
893:
with HQ and 362–364 AA Companies at Winton Terrace, Stoke, and 365 AA Company at the Drill Hall, Newcastle-under-Lyme. It formed part of
881:
1291:
cannon to the S/L detachments. Otherwise, training was started for the regiment to take over garrison duty in Germany at the war's end.
1172:
On 15 April 1944 the regiment received orders to mobilise for overseas service, which was completed by 19 May. On 7 June (the day after
950:
41st AA Battalion spent the autumn of 1939 drawing searchlight equipment from stores, moving to its war stations, and digging in its AA
1141:
1072:
1038:
931:
865:
in July. It remained in the United Kingdom as a training unit in the North Midland Reserve Brigade of the TF until the end of the war.
569:. During the preparations for this attack, the 1/5th North Staffs dug practice trenches behind the line for the division to rehearse.
1455:
Lt-Col Coote Manningham Buller, first commanding officer of the 1st Administrative Bn Staffs RVC, appointed 7 April 1865, until 1873.
1200:(RCS) line section of 42 S/L Regt (which was waiting to deploy to Normandy) and had the assistance of 153 and 154 Line Sections RCS.
361:
338:
2234:
1180:
where it practised laying out mobile searchlight sites and waterproofed its equipment ready for landing in Normandy. It embarked at
2790:
2121:
1673:
1075:
Searchlight Control (SLC) Radar, known as 'Elsie', was introduced from 1941 and was in widespread use by 1942. In July 1942, the
775:
2735:
2680:
1133:. By now, Luftwaffe bombing raids were rare, and the regiment concentrated on 'Bullseye' exercises to practise cooperation with
595:
Graben (trench) by the 1/5th North Staffs and 1/6th South Staffs led to heavy casualties. The rushed attack had been ordered by
2273:
442:
298:
3378:
3297:
3256:
3223:
3207:
3143:
3011:
633:
1264:
SLC and cooperating with Light Anti-Aircraft (LAA) batteries. There were frequent German raids in late December (during the
721:(26 September), was equally successful, with 176th Brigade advancing steadily behind its barrage onto the final objectives.
1435:(The Prince of Wales's). This battalion in turn was disbanded in 1999, with C Company becoming C (Stafford) Company of the
1101:, which reorganised its defences in January 1943. 41 S/L Regiment was ordered to take over searchlight sites defending the
1003:
894:
227:
As a result of an invasion scare in 1859, Rifle Volunteer Corps (RVCs) began to be organised throughout Great Britain. The
3435:
918:
was formed in 1938 and 33 AA Brigade was transferred to it, while all TA AA formations were brought under a newly created
3363:
667:
3430:
1399:
758:
At the end of January 1918, the battalion absorbed a draft of men from the 1/5th Battalion, which was being broken up (
518:
283:
E Company at Stoke-on-Trent (10th Staffs RVC formed 19 January 1860), with an affiliated Cadet Corps from 1875 to 1884.
3327:
3312:
3278:
3241:
3192:
3177:
3162:
3124:
3105:
3083:
3064:
3045:
3026:
2990:
2975:
2960:
1312:
874:
671:
3138:, London: Macmillan, 1940/London: Imperial War Museum & Battery Press/Uckfield: Naval and Military Press, 2009,
2724:
978:, but then orders came for the whole battalion to move to the Derby and Nottingham GZ to provide illumination for
472:
completed its concentration – the first complete TF formation to arrive on the Western Front. It was numbered the
3463:
2361:
164:
1514:
There is a World War I memorial to 32 members of F (former L) Company 1/5th North Staffs at Granville Square in
1486:
826:
822:
818:
814:
714:
654:
1528:
854:
830:
806:
473:
405:
212:
70:
880:
In December 1936 the 46th (North Midland) Division was disbanded and its headquarters was reconstituted as
357:
353:
204:
188:
148:
1458:
Lt-Col Joseph Knight, VD, former second-in-command of the 1st VB North Staffs, appointed 1888, until 1900.
1535:
1521:
1386:
was disbanded and the number of air defence units reduced: 576 LAA/SL Regiment was amalgamated with 349 (
1379:
1242:
829:
in 39th Division. All these formations were training cadres, the 39th Division being engaged in training
180:
501:
1149:
833:
troops. On 6 November 1918 the battalion was demobilised and the remaining men drafted to other units.
609:
579:
1217:, although there was no German air activity. On 22 October the regiment transferred to the command of
558:
1148:, the invasion of German-occupied France. The regiments re-equipped their AA LMG sections with twin
3155:
History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery: The Years of Defeat: Europe and North Africa, 1939–1941
1472:
1462:
new 5th North Staffs on 26 May 1908, remaining Hon Col of the 41st S/L Rgt until his death in 1941.
813:. When that division returned to the United Kingdom to be rebuilt, the 5th Bn transferred first to
795:
730:
596:
134:
2582:
794:, the Battles of Bailleul (14–15 April) and Kemmel Ridge (17–18 April) forming part of the larger
1114:
942:
791:
771:
710:
505:
46th (North Midland) Division's memorial at Cité de Madagascar, site of the Hohenzollern Redoubt.
322:
277:
138:
130:
801:
In May 1918 the shattered 59th Division was temporarily disbanded and its battalions reduced to
693:
and resumed training. It returned to England in January 1917 and began final battle training at
497:
46th Division memorial at Vermelles, starting point for the division's attack on 13 October 1915
1436:
1432:
1197:
718:
562:
416:
1952:
1620:
510:
1479:
1323:
1319:
919:
810:
783:
632:
in April. Late in May, the division began small-scale operations against Hill 65. On 8 June,
605:
477:
468:
446:
381:
263:
17:
3339:
2872:
2858:
2844:
2801:
1634:
3415:
3033:
1515:
1276:
single-engined fighter-bombers across the Scheldt was engaged by 20 of 41 S/L's sites with
1269:
1237:
1161:
979:
315:
294:
3249:
A Lack of Offensive Spirit? The 46th (North Midland) Division at Gommecourt, 1st July 1916
1475:
of the Wedgwood pottery firm was the original lieutenant of the 36th Staffs RVC at Hanley.
1315:
against Dunkirk, and on 25 April the Troop shelled the Germans with its new Polsten guns.
8:
2930:
2919:
2908:
2897:
2886:
1265:
877:
in 1921). Once again it was in 137 (Staffordshire) Bde in 46th (North Midland) Division.
734:
650:
629:
566:
376:
305:
126:
118:
3445:
2700:
2118:
628:
After rest and training, 46th Division returned to the line in the mining sector around
1428:
1387:
1284:
1145:
842:
1482:, was a captain in the 5th North Staffs, killed in action at Bucquoy on 14 March 1917.
1129:
with bombs, incendiaries and flares. In August 1943, 362 Bty moved from Pollington to
3374:
3359:
3323:
3308:
3293:
3274:
3252:
3237:
3219:
3203:
3188:
3173:
3158:
3139:
3120:
3101:
3079:
3060:
3041:
3022:
3007:
2986:
2971:
2956:
1421:
1273:
1261:
1184:
on 8 August and by 11 August was deployed to defend the vital US Army supply port of
1181:
1173:
1060:
bomber at Borton-in-the-Wolds, while in February 1941, 365's Bty HQ was strafed by a
951:
873:
On 7 February 1920 the 5th North Staffs was reformed in the TF (reconstituted as the
850:
805:, the surplus men being drafted to other units. On 9 May the 5th North Staffs joined
537:
536:
by mid-February. The only result of this move was an outbreak of infectious disease (
397:
233:
208:
3113:
History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series: Victory in the West
3094:
History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series: Victory in the West
441:
At the same time, the men of J Company at Leek mainly transferred to a newly formed
1501:
1440:
1339:
1331:
1026:
858:
802:
746:
526:
434:
G Company (former G & H) at The Barracks, Barracks Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme
349:
334:
216:
3436:
Land Forces of Britain, the Empire and Commonwealth – Regiments.org (archive site)
3059:, London: HM Stationery Office, 1948/Imperial War Museum and Battery Press, 1992,
2107:
3150:
2955:, London: HM Stationery Office, 1935/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2007,
2252:
2205:
2125:
1343:
1226:
1193:
995:
886:
698:
616:
196:
3271:
The Kaiser's Battle, 21 March 1918: The First Day of the German Spring Offensive
1071:, returning to Oakham in January 1942. In that month 365 Bty was transferred to
356:(the 'South Staffs'), the Staffordshire Rangers were instead affiliated to the
3292:, London: HM Stationery Office, 1948/Uckfield: Naval and Military Press, 2009,
2970:
London: HM Stationery Office, 1937/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2007,
1287:('Barge AA No 1') with searchlights for duty on the Scheldt, and deploying new
1102:
1082:
1068:
1061:
751:
743:
522:
509:
The battalion was not involved in the 46th Division's first action (the German
176:
114:
94:
55:
50:
3006:, London: Fisher Unwin, 1919/Raleigh, NC:Poacher Books/Lulu Publishing, 2011,
1260:
for the winter, adopting an 'extended canopy' layout, introducing new Mk VIII
3457:
1527:
A memorial to the 59th (North Midland) Division and its units was erected in
1288:
1257:
1134:
1086:
1057:
1007:
955:
911:
686:
604:) it was a complete failure. Among the dead from 1/5th North Staffs was Capt
514:
385:
241:
172:
3320:
History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery: Anti-Aircraft Artillery 1914–55
3119:, London: HM Stationery Office, 1968/Uckfield: Naval & Military, 2004,
3100:, London: HM Stationery Office, 1962/Uckfield: Naval & Military, 2004,
3089:
1372:
576 (5th Bn, The North Staffordshire Regiment) Searchlight Regiment RA (TA)
1335:
1300:
1052:
was followed by an intense period of enemy air activity that culminated in
690:
192:
168:
66:
3410:
3344:, Centre for First World War Studies, University of Birmingham, June 2004.
1427:
In 1967 the 5/6th North Staffs and 7th Cheshire were both merged into the
1354:
The following officers commanded 41 (5NSR) S/L Rgt during World War II:
1214:
1122:
862:
493:
245:
200:
184:
84:
3405:
3234:
The Territorial Artillery 1908–1988 (Their Lineage, Uniforms and Badges)
891:
41st (5th North Staffordshire Regiment) Anti-Aircraft Battalion, RE (TA)
3349:
Titles and Designations of Formations and Units of the Territorial Army
3078:, London: Macmillan, 1935/Imperial War Museum and Battery Press, 1995,
3038:
History of the Great War: Military Operations, France and Belgium, 1916
1763:
1383:
1370:
On 1 January 1947 the regiment was reformed in the Territorial Army as
1327:
1130:
1110:
1106:
1049:
975:
971:
963:
779:
541:
404:
of the North Staffs, and the Staffordshire Brigade was assigned to the
372:
259:
A Company at Longton (original 2nd Staffs RVC formed 30 September 1859)
3286:
History of the Great War: Military Operations, France and Belgium 1917
3157:, Woolwich: Royal Artillery Institution, 1988/London: Brasseys, 1996,
3132:
History of the Great War: Military Operations, France and Belgium 1917
3072:
History of the Great War: Military Operations, France and Belgium 1918
3053:
History of the Great War: Military Operations, France and Belgium 1917
1185:
1126:
1125:
picked up by the searchlights engaged two of the regiment's sites at
1118:
1077:
1053:
1019:
994:
On 1 August 1940 the AA battalions of the RE were transferred to the
841:
A reserve battalion, designated the 3/5th, was formed in May 1915 at
675:
649:) and 2/6th battalions serving in the 59th Division, and some to the
287:
144:
2605:
41 S/L Rgt War Diary, November–December 1944, TNA file WO 171/1203.
2561:
41 S/L Rgt War Diary, September–October 1944, TNA file WO 171/1203.
2525:
31st AA Brigade War Diary, April–August 1944, TNA file WO 171/1080.
1542:
1451:
The following officers served as Honorary Colonel of the regiment:
1443:, with the Staffordshire lineage being continued by 3rd Battalion.
1304:
1277:
1222:
1157:
959:
946:
90 cm Projector Anti-Aircraft, displayed at Fort Nelson, Portsmouth
846:
517:
on 30–31 July 1915), but was in the forefront of the attack on the
237:
80:
431:
F Company (former L) at The Armoury, Town Hall, High Street, Stone
3136:
The German Retreat to the Hindenburg Line and the Battle of Arras
2408:
41 S/L Rgt War Diary, August–November 1940, TNA file WO 166/3059.
1538:, Staffordshire, is dedicated to all the Staffordshire Regiments.
1253:
1230:
1152:. In February, RHQ and 363 Bty moved from Thorne to The Croft at
1034:
1011:
983:
738:
592:
270:
122:
3202:, Samson Books 1978/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2001,
2983:
Riflemen Form: A study of the Rifle Volunteer Movement 1859–1908
2632:
41 S/L Rgt War Diary, February–March 1945, TNA file WO 171/5089.
1233:. 362 Battery had three men killed by one of these V-1 attacks.
1000:
41st (5th North Staffordshire Regiment) Searchlight Regiment, RA
697:, where there was a large purpose-built camp on the edge of the
521:
in October that year. This was an attempt to restart the failed
199:
searchlight regiment in Home Defence and was the first complete
2516:
41 S/L Rgt War Diary, April–August 1944, TNA file WO 166/14873.
2507:
31st AA Brigade War Diary, February 1944, TNA file WO 171/1080.
2285:
41 AA Bn War Diary, August–November 1939, TNA file WO 166/3059.
1268:), and on 1 January 1945 a low-level daylight raid by about 40
1177:
1113:, while 363 Bty and Regimental HQ moved to the Militia Camp at
1015:
694:
682:
533:
3356:
The Corps of Royal Engineers: Organization and Units 1889–2018
2650:
41 S/L Rgt War Diary, May–December 1945, TNA file WO 171/5089.
2573:
31st AA Brigade War Diary, October 1944, TNA file WO 171/1080.
2327:
365 S/L Bty War Diary, July–August 1940, TNA file WO 166/3208.
1308:
1210:
1160:
respectively. Meanwhile, 'Bullseye' exercises continued with
1153:
1030:
967:
464:
408:. There were minor changes to the battalion's organisation:
3425:
2552:
31st AA Brigade War Diary, July 1944, TNA file WO 171/1080.
2498:
41 S/L Rgt War Diary, February 1944, TNA file WO 166/14873.
2417:
365 S/L Bty War Diary, February 1941, TNA file WO 166/3208.
1248:
In late November the regiment moved north of Antwerp under
962:. By November, 362 and 363 Companies were operating in the
701:
training area, before embarking for France on 17 February.
553:
2614:
41 S/L Rgt War Diary, December 1944, TNA file WO 171/1203.
2471:
41 S/L Rgt War Diary, January 1943, TNA file WO 166/11502.
2318:
41 AA Bn War Diary, May–August 1940, TNA file WO 166/3059.
1033:
where they formed 541st S/L Bty with recruits mainly from
733:. The division entered the recently captured line between
674:
respectively. Training was carried out at Luton and later
653:
9th (Service) Battalion, which was serving as Pioneers in
582:
of the Manchester Regiment was appointed CO in his place.
2623:
41 S/L Rgt War Diary, January 1945, TNA file WO 171/5089.
2543:
41 S/L Rgt War Diary, August 1944, TNA file WO 166/14873.
2489:
41 S/L Rgt War Diary, August 1943, TNA file WO 166/11502.
2444:
41 S/L Rgt War Diary, January 1942, TNA file WO 166/7792.
1683:
1681:
762:). Henceforth the 2/5th became simply the 5th Battalion.
311:
K Company at Hanley (36th Staffs RVC formed 18 June 1860)
3440:
2569:
2567:
2480:
41 S/L Rgt War Diary, March 1943, TNA file WO 166/11502.
620:
were later re-interred in Gommecourt Wood New Cemetery.
3322:, London: Royal Artillery Institution/Brassey's, 1994,
3040:, Vol I, London: Macmillan,1932/Woking: Shearer, 1986,
2641:
41 S/L Rgt War Diary, April 1945, TNA file WO 171/5089.
974:
GZ, while 365 Company was guarding vital points around
561:
on 1 July 1916. The operation, in conjunction with the
3420:
2462:
41 S/L Rgt War Diary, July 1942, TNA file WO 166/7792.
1678:
889:(RE). The 5th North Staffs was one of these, becoming
3305:
Battleground Europe: Loos –1915: Hohenzollern Redoubt
2564:
2435:
41 S/L Rgt War Diary, May 1941, TNA file WO 166/3059.
1953:
Accounts of attack on Bucquoy at Buxton War Memorials
1439:. In 2007 the West Midlands Regiment was merged into
1382:
were integrated into the regiment). On 10 March 1955
1361:
Lt-Col Marcus Jelley, OBE, from 9 June 1940 to VE Day
1225:
area to be employed in the 'Anti-Diver' role against
615:
The Germans eventually retreated as far as their new
333:
Under the scheme of 'localisation' introduced by the
1774:
Cherry, pp. 247–8, 257–8, 266–7, 271, 286–92, 296–7.
1524:
to former pupils who served in the 5th North Staffs.
1176:) it was ordered to move to a concentration area in
476:
in May, when the Staffordshire Brigade was numbered
3218:. Uckfield, East Sussex: Naval and Military Press.
954:(LMG) positions. Battalion HQ moved from Stoke to
729:59th Division was next moved south to join in the
544:) that weakened units and men for months to come.
3469:Military units and formations established in 1859
3019:Most Unfavourable Ground: The Battle of Loos 1915
3004:The 46th (North Midland) Division at Lens in 1917
1495:Francis Fitzherbert-Stafford, 12th Baron Stafford
1140:By 1944, 41 S/L Rgt had come under the orders of
980:68th (North Midland) AA Regiment, Royal Artillery
552:The 46th Division went back into the line in the
215:(previously the Territorial Army) as part of the
3455:
3342:The Territorial Force in Staffordshire 1908–1915
3076:The German March Offensive and its Preliminaries
2667:
2665:
2534:Ellis, Vol. I, Appendix IV; Vol II, Appendix IV.
2399:89 S/L Rgt War Diary 1941, TNA file WO 166/3109.
1358:Lt-Col J.O. Doyle, OBE, TD, appointed 2 May 1936
1045:, and fought in the North West Europe campaign.
415:B Company (former B & K) at the Drill Hall,
400:in 1908, the 1st Volunteer Battalion became the
384:, whose place of assembly in case of war was at
358:Prince of Wales's (North Staffordshire) Regiment
343:80th (Staffordshire Volunteers) Regiment of Foot
328:
3479:Military units and formations in Stoke-on-Trent
3187:, Vol II, Wakefield, Microform Academic, 1984,
2736:414–443 Regiments at British Army units 1947 on
2681:564–591 Regiments at British Army units 1947 on
2173:
2171:
2169:
2167:
2165:
1252:, leaving two Troops of 362 Bty deployed round
428:E Company at the Drill Hall, Hill Street, Stoke
425:D Company at The Armoury, Bath Street, Tunstall
3474:Military units and formations in Staffordshire
3172:, Vol I, Wakefield, Microform Academic, 1984,
2337:2 AA Division 1940 at British Military History
2246:4 AA Division 1939 at British Military History
1574:
1572:
1570:
1568:
1566:
1564:
1562:
1560:
1558:
1029:of experienced men to 235 S/L Training Rgt at
1010:of England. In May, Battalion HQ had moved to
419:(one of the battalion's main recruiting areas)
3216:Orders of Battle: Second World War, 1939–1945
3185:Lineage Book of British Land Forces 1660–1978
3170:Lineage Book of British Land Forces 1660–1978
2662:
2305:
2303:
1520:A World War I memorial plaque was erected at
1299:In April, the regiment moved up first to the
778:), 59th Division was holding the line of the
2235:AA Command 3 September 1939 at Patriot Files
2162:
2153:
2151:
2149:
2147:
2145:
437:H Company (former M) at Trent Vale, Trentham
3354:Graham E. Watson & Richard A. Rinaldi,
2199:2nd AA Division at British Military History
1555:
30:5th Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment
3273:, London: Allen Lane, 1978/Penguin, 1983,
2997:Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage,
2300:
2185:
2183:
2006:
2004:
2002:
2000:
1998:
1708:
1706:
1704:
1702:
1660:
1658:
1656:
1654:
1142:31st (North Midland) Anti-Aircraft Brigade
982:. At the same time, Battalion HQ moved to
211:. Its successors continue to serve in the
32:41st Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery
3484:1859 establishments in the United Kingdom
3426:Imperial War Museum War Memorials Archive
2828:
2826:
2824:
2142:
1018:with 365 Bty, while 363 Bty moved to the
1014:, near Nottingham; now it moved again to
685:to help quell disturbances following the
366:98th (Prince of Wales's) Regiment of Foot
362:64th (2nd Staffordshire) Regiment of Foot
339:38th (1st Staffordshire) Regiment of Foot
290:(13th Staffs RVC formed 26 February 1860)
266:(3rd Staffs RVC formed 27 September 1859)
3266:, London: Allen Lane 1971/Fontana, 1975.
3057:Messines and Third Ypres (Passchendaele)
2293:
2291:
1759:
1757:
1755:
1753:
1751:
1741:
1739:
1737:
1735:
1733:
1731:
1729:
1727:
1485:Arthur's nephew and Clement's grandson,
941:
681:In April 1916 the battalion was sent to
500:
492:
382:Staffordshire Volunteer Infantry Brigade
318:(40th Staffs RVC formed 1 December 1860)
299:the Old Barracks at Newcastle-under-Lyme
273:(6th Staffs RVC formed 28 December 1859)
3264:The First Day on the Somme, 1 July 1916
2758:1st Mercian Volunteers at Regiments.org
2346:
2344:
2180:
1995:
1699:
1651:
1604:
488:
3456:
3351:, London: War Office, 7 November 1927.
3213:
2821:
2189:Watson & Rinaldi, pp. 109–10, 113.
1602:
1600:
1598:
1596:
1594:
1592:
1590:
1588:
1586:
1584:
1349:
422:C Company at Newcastle Street, Burslem
360:(the 'North Staffs'), formed from the
308:(28th Staffs RVC formed 26 April 1860)
280:(9th Staffs RVC formed 4 January 1860)
3394:, London: Longmans, 1959/Corgi, 1966.
3392:In Flanders Fields: the 1917 Campaign
2288:
1748:
1724:
821:on 17 June, then to 117th Brigade of
3236:, Nottingham: Sherwood Press, 1992,
2341:
1466:
1004:32nd (Midland) Anti-Aircraft Brigade
910:As tensions rose at the time of the
391:
2725:AGRAs at British Army 1945 onwards.
2192:
1581:
1446:
1400:2nd Army Group Royal Artillery (AA)
1037:. This battery then formed part of
765:
668:176th (2/1st Staffordshire) Brigade
412:A Company at Portland Road, Longton
13:
3421:Commonwealth War Graves Commission
3251:, West Wickham: Iona Books, 2008,
2985:, Aldershot: Ogilby Trusts, 1982,
2780:West Midland Regt at Regiments.org
2769:3rd Staffordshire at Regiments.org
1121:. On the night of 9 March 1943, a
895:33rd (Western) Anti-Aircraft Group
861:in March 1917 and to the coast at
836:
660:
483:
14:
3495:
3431:Orders of Battle at Patriot Files
3399:
3373:, Barnsley: Pen and Sword, 2010,
2791:Mercian Regiment at Regiments.org
2747:6th North Staffs at Regiments.org
2272:41 AA Bn War Diary, August 1939,
2158:5th North Staffs at Regiments.org
2098:, Vol I, pp. 387–8, 441–5, 530–1.
1973:Gommecourt New Wood CWGC Cemetery
1313:1st Czechoslovak Armoured Brigade
1041:, which was later converted into
1025:In early 1941, 41 S/L Rgt sent a
937:
905:
868:
672:59th (2nd North Midland) Division
236:Major Coote Manningham Buller, a
2924:
2913:
2902:
2891:
2880:
2866:
2852:
2838:
2809:
2795:
2784:
2773:
2762:
2751:
2740:
2729:
2718:
2709:
2694:
2685:
2674:
2274:The National Archives (TNA), Kew
1992:Campbell-Johnson, pp. 19, 24–30.
1764:North Staffs at Long, Long Trail
1203:
1081:transferred its attention from '
750:information. He was awarded the
252:permitted as an official title:
240:officer who had served with the
65:
49:
3406:British Army units from 1945 on
3070:Brig-Gen Sir James E. Edmonds,
3051:Brig-Gen Sir James E. Edmonds,
2653:
2644:
2635:
2626:
2617:
2608:
2599:
2590:
2576:
2555:
2546:
2537:
2528:
2519:
2510:
2501:
2492:
2483:
2474:
2465:
2456:
2447:
2438:
2429:
2420:
2411:
2402:
2393:
2384:
2375:
2366:
2355:
2330:
2321:
2312:
2279:
2266:
2257:
2239:
2228:
2219:
2210:
2130:
2112:
2101:
2088:
2075:
2062:
2053:
2044:
2035:
2022:
2013:
1986:
1977:
1966:
1957:
1946:
1937:
1928:
1919:
1910:
1901:
1888:
1885:, pp. 171, 193, and Appendix 3.
1875:
1866:
1857:
1848:
1839:
1826:
1813:
1804:
1795:
1786:
1777:
1768:
1715:
1415:R (5th North Staffords) Battery
1406:P (5th North Staffords) Battery
1092:
932:34th (South Midland) AA Brigade
900:
724:
457:
3307:, Barnsley: Leo Cooper, 2003,
3002:Lt P. S. C. Campbell-Johnson,
2715:Routledge, Table LXXV, p. 442.
1690:
1667:
1642:
1628:
1614:
1487:Sir John Wedgwood, 2nd Baronet
1006:responsible for defending the
815:103rd (Tyneside Irish) Brigade
715:Battle of the Menin Road Ridge
452:
380:and 'South Staffs' formed the
321:M Company was formed later at
1:
2938:
2085:, pp. 232–4, 321, Appendix 8.
998:(RA), with the unit becoming
926:On the outbreak of war a new
855:North Midland Reserve Brigade
774:opened on 21 March 1918 (the
547:
478:137th (Staffordshire) Brigade
474:46th (North Midland) Division
375:garrison in case of war. The
329:Localisation and mobilisation
209:D-Day landings of 6 June 1944
3371:Tracing the Rifle Volunteers
2381:Routledge Table LXV, p. 396.
1983:Campbell-Johnson, pp. 10–19.
1801:MacDonald, pp. 50–52, 106–7.
1508:
1338:, dealing with thousands of
989:
704:
563:56th (1/1st London) Division
511:flamethrower attack at Hooge
354:South Staffordshire Regiment
189:North Staffordshire Regiment
187:as the 5th Battalion of the
7:
3336:, London: War Office, 1950.
3318:Brigadier N. W. Routledge,
2263:Routledge Table LX, p. 378.
1674:Training Depots, 1873–1881.
1536:National Memorial Arboretum
1522:Newcastle-under-Lyme School
1250:105th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
1167:
1067:May 1941 saw RHQ moving to
297:(16th Staffs RVC formed at
10:
3500:
3358:, Tiger Lily Books, 2018,
3021:, Solihull: Helion, 2005,
2372:Farndale, Annex D, p. 258.
2297:Farndale, Annex M, p. 339.
1529:St Mary's Church, Stafford
1365:
1294:
1144:, which was earmarked for
966:Gun Zone (GZ), 364 in the
882:2nd Anti-Aircraft Division
825:on 27 June and finally to
585:
222:
15:
3448:The Territorial Army 1947
3441:Royal Artillery 1939–1945
3232:Norman E. H. Litchfield,
3200:British Regiments 1914–18
2362:2 AA Division at RA 39–45
2251:23 September 2015 at the
2225:Routledge, pp. 65–6, 371.
2204:23 September 2015 at the
443:2nd North Midland Brigade
250:The Staffordshire Rangers
108:
100:
90:
76:
61:
44:
36:
27:
3411:British Military History
2999:100th Edn, London, 1953.
2177:Frederick, pp. 859, 866.
2124:15 November 2009 at the
2010:Becke, Pt 2b, pp. 17–23.
1836:, Vol I, pp. 252–9, 308.
1687:Beckett, pp. 135, 185–6.
1549:
1534:A grove of trees at the
1473:Clement Francis Wedgwood
1380:Women's Royal Army Corps
1048:The quiet period of the
396:On the formation of the
16:Not to be confused with
3332:Brigadier A. P. Sayer,
3284:Captain Wilfred Miles,
3214:Joslen, H. F. (2003) .
2691:Litchfield, Appendix 5.
2659:41 S/L Rgt War Diaries.
2137:Titles and Designations
2119:Training Bns at Warpath
2108:North Staffs at Warpath
1934:Campbell-Johnson, p. 9.
1712:Becke, Pt 2a, pp. 61–7.
792:German spring offensive
772:German spring offensive
623:
139:German spring offensive
3464:Staffordshire Regiment
3098:The Battle of Normandy
2351:41 S/L Rgt at RA 39–45
2059:Miles, pp. 226, 262–7.
1648:Beckett, Appendix VII.
1437:West Midlands Regiment
1433:Staffordshire Regiment
1198:Royal Corps of Signals
947:
719:Battle of Polygon Wood
506:
498:
406:North Midland Division
3290:The Battle of Cambrai
3130:Captain Cyril Falls,
3117:The Defeat of Germany
2816:Who Was Who 1941–1950
1963:MacDonald, pp. 559–6.
1925:MacDonald, pp. 556-7.
1907:MacDonald, pp. 496–8/
1872:MacDonald pp. 338–41.
1863:MacDonald pp. 229–33.
1664:Westlake, pp. 217–22.
1480:Arthur Felix Wedgwood
1409:Q (Wirral) Battery –
1342:('DP's) and released
1150:Browning machine guns
1089:with his site's LMG.
945:
920:Anti-Aircraft Command
811:16th (Irish) Division
784:hurricane bombardment
606:Arthur Felix Wedgwood
504:
496:
447:Royal Field Artillery
293:G and H Companies at
229:2nd Staffordshire RVC
161:Staffordshire Rangers
28:Staffordshire Rangers
18:Stafford Rangers F.C.
3416:Buxton War Memorials
3269:Martin Middlebrook,
3262:Martin Middlebrook,
2216:Routledge, pp. 62–3.
2072:, Vol I, pp. 228–32.
2050:Miles, pp. 167, 213.
2032:, Vol II, pp. 288–9.
1898:, Vol I, pp. 465–70.
1854:MacDonald pp. 293–4.
1810:MacDonald pp. 57–65.
1792:MacDonald, pp. 41–4.
1531:, after World War I.
1374:. It formed part of
1270:Messerschmitt Bf 109
1162:No. 264 Squadron RAF
776:Battle of St Quentin
519:Hohenzollern Redoubt
489:Hohenzollern Redoubt
301:on 24 February 1860)
295:Newcastle-under-Lyme
256:HQ at Stoke-on-Trent
205:North-Western Europe
3111:Major L. F. Ellis,
2981:Ian F. W. Beckett,
2848:, 22 November 1938.
2671:Frederick, p. 1023.
2309:Litchfield, p. 215.
1721:MacDonald, pp. 8–9.
1624:, 30 December 1856.
1578:Frederick, pp. 312.
1396:441 LAA/SL Regiment
1388:Lancashire Yeomanry
1350:Commanding Officers
1266:Battle of the Bulge
1109:, 364 Bty going to
1105:, 362 Bty going to
1073:83 S/L Regiment, RA
711:3rd Ypres Offensive
580:Major A.E.F. Fawcus
567:Battle of the Somme
377:Stanhope Memorandum
179:. It fought on the
3183:J.B.M. Frederick,
3168:J.B.M. Frederick,
2426:Routledge, p. 399.
2390:Frederick, p. 861.
1845:MacDonald, p. 109.
1783:Rawson, pp. 122–4.
1429:Mercian Volunteers
1318:Immediately after
1285:Landing Craft Tank
1146:Operation Overlord
948:
897:in 2 AA Division.
796:Battles of the Lys
559:Gommecourt Salient
507:
499:
469:Bishop's Stortford
3379:978-1-84884-211-3
3340:Andrew Thornton,
3298:978-1-84574-724-4
3257:978-0-9558119-0-6
3225:978-1-84342-474-1
3208:978-1-84342-197-9
3198:Brig E.A. James,
3144:978-1-84574-722-0
3090:Major L. F. Ellis
3012:978-1-4457-9613-0
2931:IWM WMA Ref 61975
2920:IWM WMA Ref 51092
2909:IWM WMA Ref 38452
2898:IWM WMA Ref 38344
2887:IWM WMA Ref 13648
2862:25 September 1860
2276:file WO 166/3059.
2019:Wolff, pp. 191–5.
1943:Falls, pp. 108–9.
1916:MacDonald p. 555.
1696:Dunlop, pp. 60–1.
1622:Edinburgh Gazette
1467:Prominent Members
1422:Cheshire Regiment
1340:displaced persons
1274:Focke-Wulf Fw 190
1262:centimetric radar
1221:and moved to the
1182:Southampton Docks
1043:133rdLight AA Rgt
952:Light machine gun
853:) and joined the
851:Burton-upon-Trent
731:Battle of Cambrai
538:Paratyphoid fever
398:Territorial Force
392:Territorial Force
154:
153:
149:North West Europe
40:30 September 1859
3491:
3247:Alan MacDonald,
3229:
3034:James E. Edmonds
2966:Maj A. F. Becke,
2951:Maj A. F. Becke,
2948:(various dates).
2933:
2928:
2922:
2917:
2911:
2906:
2900:
2895:
2889:
2884:
2878:
2870:
2864:
2856:
2850:
2842:
2836:
2830:
2819:
2813:
2807:
2805:, 14 April 1865.
2799:
2793:
2788:
2782:
2777:
2771:
2766:
2760:
2755:
2749:
2744:
2738:
2733:
2727:
2722:
2716:
2713:
2707:
2698:
2692:
2689:
2683:
2678:
2672:
2669:
2660:
2657:
2651:
2648:
2642:
2639:
2633:
2630:
2624:
2621:
2615:
2612:
2606:
2603:
2597:
2594:
2588:
2586:, 20 April 1945.
2580:
2574:
2571:
2562:
2559:
2553:
2550:
2544:
2541:
2535:
2532:
2526:
2523:
2517:
2514:
2508:
2505:
2499:
2496:
2490:
2487:
2481:
2478:
2472:
2469:
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2442:
2436:
2433:
2427:
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2400:
2397:
2391:
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2255:
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2208:
2196:
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2110:
2105:
2099:
2092:
2086:
2079:
2073:
2066:
2060:
2057:
2051:
2048:
2042:
2039:
2033:
2026:
2020:
2017:
2011:
2008:
1993:
1990:
1984:
1981:
1975:
1970:
1964:
1961:
1955:
1950:
1944:
1941:
1935:
1932:
1926:
1923:
1917:
1914:
1908:
1905:
1899:
1892:
1886:
1879:
1873:
1870:
1864:
1861:
1855:
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1846:
1843:
1837:
1830:
1824:
1817:
1811:
1808:
1802:
1799:
1793:
1790:
1784:
1781:
1775:
1772:
1766:
1761:
1746:
1745:James, pp. 98–9.
1743:
1722:
1719:
1713:
1710:
1697:
1694:
1688:
1685:
1676:
1671:
1665:
1662:
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1646:
1640:
1632:
1626:
1618:
1612:
1606:
1579:
1576:
1545:, Staffordshire.
1447:Honorary Colonel
1441:Mercian Regiment
1344:prisoners of war
1307:and then to the
1229:heading towards
1227:V-1 flying bombs
875:Territorial Army
766:German Offensive
602:Official History
575:Official History
350:Childers Reforms
335:Cardwell Reforms
217:Mercian Regiment
203:unit to land in
71:Territorial Army
69:
54:
53:
25:
24:
3499:
3498:
3494:
3493:
3492:
3490:
3489:
3488:
3454:
3453:
3446:Graham Watson,
3402:
3397:
3364:978-171790180-4
3303:Andrew Rawson,
3226:
3151:Martin Farndale
2941:
2936:
2929:
2925:
2918:
2914:
2907:
2903:
2896:
2892:
2885:
2881:
2876:7 December 1860
2871:
2867:
2857:
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2796:
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2398:
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2385:
2380:
2376:
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2367:
2360:
2356:
2349:
2342:
2335:
2331:
2326:
2322:
2317:
2313:
2308:
2301:
2296:
2289:
2284:
2280:
2271:
2267:
2262:
2258:
2253:Wayback Machine
2244:
2240:
2233:
2229:
2224:
2220:
2215:
2211:
2206:Wayback Machine
2197:
2193:
2188:
2181:
2176:
2163:
2156:
2143:
2135:
2131:
2126:Wayback Machine
2117:
2113:
2106:
2102:
2093:
2089:
2083:Kaiser's Battle
2080:
2076:
2067:
2063:
2058:
2054:
2049:
2045:
2040:
2036:
2027:
2023:
2018:
2014:
2009:
1996:
1991:
1987:
1982:
1978:
1971:
1967:
1962:
1958:
1951:
1947:
1942:
1938:
1933:
1929:
1924:
1920:
1915:
1911:
1906:
1902:
1893:
1889:
1880:
1876:
1871:
1867:
1862:
1858:
1853:
1849:
1844:
1840:
1831:
1827:
1818:
1814:
1809:
1805:
1800:
1796:
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1782:
1778:
1773:
1769:
1762:
1749:
1744:
1725:
1720:
1716:
1711:
1700:
1695:
1691:
1686:
1679:
1672:
1668:
1663:
1652:
1647:
1643:
1633:
1629:
1619:
1615:
1607:
1582:
1577:
1556:
1552:
1511:
1469:
1449:
1368:
1352:
1297:
1206:
1194:21st Army Group
1170:
1095:
996:Royal Artillery
992:
940:
928:54th AA Brigade
916:4th AA Division
908:
903:
887:Royal Engineers
871:
839:
837:3/5th Battalion
803:training cadres
768:
727:
707:
699:Salisbury Plain
663:
661:2/5th Battalion
626:
617:Hindenburg Line
588:
550:
491:
486:
484:1/5th Battalion
460:
455:
394:
331:
225:
197:Royal Artillery
195:it served as a
157:
147:
143:
141:
137:
133:
129:
125:
121:
117:
113:
83:
48:
31:
29:
21:
12:
11:
5:
3497:
3487:
3486:
3481:
3476:
3471:
3466:
3452:
3451:
3443:
3438:
3433:
3428:
3423:
3418:
3413:
3408:
3401:
3400:Online sources
3398:
3396:
3395:
3388:
3382:
3369:Ray Westlake,
3367:
3352:
3346:
3337:
3330:
3316:
3301:
3282:
3267:
3260:
3245:
3230:
3224:
3211:
3196:
3181:
3166:
3147:
3128:
3109:
3087:
3068:
3049:
3030:
3017:Niall Cherry,
3015:
3000:
2994:
2979:
2964:
2949:
2942:
2940:
2937:
2935:
2934:
2923:
2912:
2901:
2890:
2879:
2874:London Gazette
2865:
2860:London Gazette
2851:
2846:London Gazette
2837:
2820:
2808:
2803:London Gazette
2794:
2783:
2772:
2761:
2750:
2739:
2728:
2717:
2708:
2693:
2684:
2673:
2661:
2652:
2643:
2634:
2625:
2616:
2607:
2598:
2589:
2584:London Gazette
2575:
2563:
2554:
2545:
2536:
2527:
2518:
2509:
2500:
2491:
2482:
2473:
2464:
2455:
2446:
2437:
2428:
2419:
2410:
2401:
2392:
2383:
2374:
2365:
2354:
2340:
2329:
2320:
2311:
2299:
2287:
2278:
2265:
2256:
2238:
2227:
2218:
2209:
2191:
2179:
2161:
2141:
2129:
2111:
2100:
2087:
2074:
2061:
2052:
2043:
2041:Wolff, p. 199.
2034:
2021:
2012:
1994:
1985:
1976:
1965:
1956:
1945:
1936:
1927:
1918:
1909:
1900:
1887:
1874:
1865:
1856:
1847:
1838:
1825:
1812:
1803:
1794:
1785:
1776:
1767:
1747:
1723:
1714:
1698:
1689:
1677:
1666:
1650:
1641:
1636:London Gazette
1627:
1613:
1580:
1553:
1551:
1548:
1547:
1546:
1539:
1532:
1525:
1518:
1510:
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1506:
1505:
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1490:
1483:
1476:
1468:
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1464:
1463:
1459:
1456:
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1417:
1416:
1413:
1407:
1367:
1364:
1363:
1362:
1359:
1351:
1348:
1296:
1293:
1219:101 AA Brigade
1205:
1202:
1169:
1166:
1103:Humber Estuary
1094:
1091:
1083:Baedeker Blitz
1069:Melton Mowbray
1062:Heinkel He 111
991:
988:
939:
938:The Phoney War
936:
907:
904:
902:
899:
870:
869:Interwar years
867:
857:. It moved to
838:
835:
767:
764:
752:Victoria Cross
744:Lance-Corporal
726:
723:
706:
703:
662:
659:
625:
622:
610:pottery family
608:of the famous
587:
584:
549:
546:
523:Battle of Loos
490:
487:
485:
482:
459:
456:
454:
451:
439:
438:
435:
432:
429:
426:
423:
420:
413:
393:
390:
330:
327:
326:
325:
319:
312:
309:
302:
291:
284:
281:
274:
267:
260:
257:
224:
221:
177:Stoke-on-Trent
175:' area around
155:
152:
151:
110:
106:
105:
102:
98:
97:
95:Stoke-on-Trent
92:
88:
87:
78:
74:
73:
63:
59:
58:
56:United Kingdom
46:
42:
41:
38:
34:
33:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
3496:
3485:
3482:
3480:
3477:
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3470:
3467:
3465:
3462:
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3459:
3450:
3449:
3444:
3442:
3439:
3437:
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3432:
3429:
3427:
3424:
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3412:
3409:
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3404:
3403:
3393:
3389:
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3383:
3380:
3376:
3372:
3368:
3365:
3361:
3357:
3353:
3350:
3347:
3345:
3343:
3338:
3335:
3331:
3329:
3328:1-85753-099-3
3325:
3321:
3317:
3314:
3313:0-85052-903-4
3310:
3306:
3302:
3299:
3295:
3291:
3287:
3283:
3280:
3279:0-14-017135-5
3276:
3272:
3268:
3265:
3261:
3258:
3254:
3250:
3246:
3243:
3242:0-9508205-2-0
3239:
3235:
3231:
3227:
3221:
3217:
3212:
3209:
3205:
3201:
3197:
3194:
3193:1-85117-009-X
3190:
3186:
3182:
3179:
3178:1-85117-007-3
3175:
3171:
3167:
3164:
3163:1-85753-080-2
3160:
3156:
3152:
3148:
3145:
3141:
3137:
3133:
3129:
3126:
3125:1-84574-059-9
3122:
3118:
3114:
3110:
3107:
3106:1-84574-058-0
3103:
3099:
3095:
3091:
3088:
3085:
3084:0-89839-219-5
3081:
3077:
3073:
3069:
3066:
3065:0-901627-75-5
3062:
3058:
3054:
3050:
3047:
3046:0-946998-02-7
3043:
3039:
3035:
3032:Brig-Gen Sir
3031:
3028:
3027:1-874622-03-5
3024:
3020:
3016:
3013:
3009:
3005:
3001:
2998:
2995:
2992:
2991:0-85936-271-X
2988:
2984:
2980:
2977:
2976:1-84734-739-8
2973:
2969:
2965:
2962:
2961:1-84734-739-8
2958:
2954:
2950:
2947:
2944:
2943:
2932:
2927:
2921:
2916:
2910:
2905:
2899:
2894:
2888:
2883:
2877:
2875:
2869:
2863:
2861:
2855:
2849:
2847:
2841:
2834:
2829:
2827:
2825:
2817:
2812:
2806:
2804:
2798:
2792:
2787:
2781:
2776:
2770:
2765:
2759:
2754:
2748:
2743:
2737:
2732:
2726:
2721:
2712:
2706:
2704:
2697:
2688:
2682:
2677:
2668:
2666:
2656:
2647:
2638:
2629:
2620:
2611:
2602:
2596:Sayer, p. 90.
2593:
2587:
2585:
2579:
2570:
2568:
2558:
2549:
2540:
2531:
2522:
2513:
2504:
2495:
2486:
2477:
2468:
2459:
2453:Sayer, p. 78.
2450:
2441:
2432:
2423:
2414:
2405:
2396:
2387:
2378:
2369:
2363:
2358:
2352:
2347:
2345:
2338:
2333:
2324:
2315:
2306:
2304:
2294:
2292:
2282:
2275:
2269:
2260:
2254:
2250:
2247:
2242:
2236:
2231:
2222:
2213:
2207:
2203:
2200:
2195:
2186:
2184:
2174:
2172:
2170:
2168:
2166:
2159:
2154:
2152:
2150:
2148:
2146:
2138:
2133:
2127:
2123:
2120:
2115:
2109:
2104:
2097:
2091:
2084:
2081:Middlebrook,
2078:
2071:
2065:
2056:
2047:
2038:
2031:
2025:
2016:
2007:
2005:
2003:
2001:
1999:
1989:
1980:
1974:
1969:
1960:
1954:
1949:
1940:
1931:
1922:
1913:
1904:
1897:
1891:
1884:
1881:Middlebrook,
1878:
1869:
1860:
1851:
1842:
1835:
1829:
1822:
1819:Middlebrook,
1816:
1807:
1798:
1789:
1780:
1771:
1765:
1760:
1758:
1756:
1754:
1752:
1742:
1740:
1738:
1736:
1734:
1732:
1730:
1728:
1718:
1709:
1707:
1705:
1703:
1693:
1684:
1682:
1675:
1670:
1661:
1659:
1657:
1655:
1645:
1639:
1637:
1631:
1625:
1623:
1617:
1610:
1605:
1603:
1601:
1599:
1597:
1595:
1593:
1591:
1589:
1587:
1585:
1575:
1573:
1571:
1569:
1567:
1565:
1563:
1561:
1559:
1554:
1544:
1540:
1537:
1533:
1530:
1526:
1523:
1519:
1517:
1513:
1512:
1503:
1499:
1496:
1491:
1488:
1484:
1481:
1477:
1474:
1471:
1470:
1460:
1457:
1454:
1453:
1452:
1444:
1442:
1438:
1434:
1430:
1425:
1423:
1414:
1412:
1408:
1405:
1404:
1403:
1401:
1397:
1394:Regiments as
1393:
1389:
1385:
1381:
1377:
1376:74 AA Brigade
1373:
1360:
1357:
1356:
1355:
1347:
1345:
1341:
1337:
1333:
1329:
1325:
1321:
1316:
1314:
1310:
1306:
1302:
1292:
1290:
1289:20 mm Polsten
1286:
1281:
1279:
1275:
1271:
1267:
1263:
1259:
1258:River Scheldt
1255:
1251:
1246:
1244:
1239:
1234:
1232:
1228:
1224:
1220:
1216:
1212:
1204:Low Countries
1201:
1199:
1195:
1189:
1187:
1183:
1179:
1175:
1165:
1163:
1159:
1158:Skipwith Hall
1155:
1151:
1147:
1143:
1138:
1136:
1135:Night fighter
1132:
1128:
1124:
1120:
1116:
1112:
1108:
1104:
1100:
1090:
1088:
1087:Junkers Ju 88
1084:
1080:
1079:
1074:
1070:
1065:
1063:
1059:
1058:Dornier Do 17
1055:
1051:
1046:
1044:
1040:
1036:
1032:
1028:
1023:
1021:
1017:
1013:
1012:Wilford House
1009:
1008:East Midlands
1005:
1001:
997:
987:
985:
981:
977:
973:
969:
965:
961:
957:
956:Hewell Grange
953:
944:
935:
933:
929:
924:
921:
917:
913:
912:Munich Crisis
898:
896:
892:
888:
883:
878:
876:
866:
864:
860:
856:
852:
848:
844:
834:
832:
828:
827:116th Brigade
824:
823:39th Division
820:
819:34th Division
816:
812:
808:
804:
799:
797:
793:
788:
785:
781:
777:
773:
763:
761:
756:
753:
748:
745:
740:
736:
732:
722:
720:
716:
713:known as the
712:
702:
700:
696:
692:
688:
687:Easter Rising
684:
679:
677:
673:
669:
658:
656:
655:37th Division
652:
648:
642:
638:
635:
634:138th Brigade
631:
621:
618:
613:
611:
607:
603:
598:
594:
583:
581:
576:
570:
568:
564:
560:
555:
545:
543:
539:
535:
530:
528:
524:
520:
516:
515:Ypres Salient
512:
503:
495:
481:
479:
475:
470:
467:and later to
466:
450:
448:
444:
436:
433:
430:
427:
424:
421:
418:
414:
411:
410:
409:
407:
403:
402:5th Battalion
399:
389:
387:
386:Wolverhampton
383:
378:
374:
369:
367:
363:
359:
355:
351:
346:
344:
340:
336:
324:
320:
317:
314:L Company at
313:
310:
307:
304:J Company at
303:
300:
296:
292:
289:
286:F Company at
285:
282:
279:
276:D Company at
275:
272:
269:C Company at
268:
265:
262:B Company at
261:
258:
255:
254:
253:
251:
247:
243:
242:Rifle Brigade
239:
235:
230:
220:
218:
214:
210:
206:
202:
198:
194:
190:
186:
182:
181:Western Front
178:
174:
170:
166:
162:
156:Military unit
150:
146:
140:
136:
132:
128:
124:
120:
116:
111:
107:
103:
99:
96:
93:
89:
86:
82:
79:
75:
72:
68:
64:
60:
57:
52:
47:
43:
39:
35:
26:
23:
19:
3447:
3391:
3390:Leon Wolff,
3384:
3370:
3355:
3348:
3341:
3333:
3319:
3304:
3289:
3285:
3270:
3263:
3248:
3233:
3215:
3199:
3184:
3169:
3154:
3135:
3131:
3116:
3112:
3097:
3093:
3075:
3071:
3056:
3052:
3037:
3018:
3003:
2996:
2982:
2967:
2952:
2945:
2926:
2915:
2904:
2893:
2882:
2873:
2868:
2859:
2854:
2845:
2840:
2832:
2815:
2811:
2802:
2797:
2786:
2775:
2764:
2753:
2742:
2731:
2720:
2711:
2702:
2696:
2687:
2676:
2655:
2646:
2637:
2628:
2619:
2610:
2601:
2592:
2583:
2578:
2557:
2548:
2539:
2530:
2521:
2512:
2503:
2494:
2485:
2476:
2467:
2458:
2449:
2440:
2431:
2422:
2413:
2404:
2395:
2386:
2377:
2368:
2357:
2332:
2323:
2314:
2281:
2268:
2259:
2241:
2230:
2221:
2212:
2194:
2136:
2132:
2114:
2103:
2095:
2090:
2082:
2077:
2069:
2064:
2055:
2046:
2037:
2029:
2024:
2015:
1988:
1979:
1968:
1959:
1948:
1939:
1930:
1921:
1912:
1903:
1895:
1890:
1882:
1877:
1868:
1859:
1850:
1841:
1833:
1828:
1820:
1815:
1806:
1797:
1788:
1779:
1770:
1717:
1692:
1669:
1644:
1635:
1630:
1621:
1616:
1608:
1504:, VC winner.
1450:
1426:
1418:
1411:from 493 HAA
1410:
1395:
1371:
1369:
1353:
1336:Lower Saxony
1317:
1298:
1282:
1247:
1238:81 mm mortar
1235:
1207:
1190:
1171:
1139:
1096:
1093:Home Defence
1076:
1066:
1047:
1039:89th S/L Rgt
1024:
999:
993:
984:Spondon Hall
949:
925:
909:
906:Mobilisation
901:World War II
890:
879:
872:
845:, moving to
840:
807:49th Brigade
800:
789:
769:
759:
757:
739:Bourlon Wood
728:
725:Bourlon Wood
708:
691:Curragh Camp
680:
664:
646:
643:
639:
627:
614:
601:
589:
574:
571:
551:
531:
508:
461:
458:Mobilisation
440:
401:
395:
370:
347:
332:
249:
228:
226:
213:Army Reserve
193:World War II
169:British Army
167:unit of the
160:
158:
22:
3385:Who Was Who
3288:, Vol III,
1638:4 May 1860.
1502:John Thomas
1123:Dornier 217
863:Mablethorpe
747:John Thomas
453:World War I
246:Crimean War
244:during the
201:searchlight
185:World War I
109:Engagements
104:The Potters
101:Nickname(s)
91:Garrison/HQ
85:Air Defence
3458:Categories
3334:Army Radar
3115:, Vol II:
3055:, Vol II,
2939:References
1609:Army Lists
1390:) LAA and
1384:AA Command
1328:Marienberg
1324:Hildesheim
1301:River Waal
1137:aircraft.
1131:North Cave
1111:Scunthorpe
1107:Pollington
1099:5 AA Group
1050:Phoney War
976:Ironbridge
972:Nottingham
964:Birmingham
923:stations.
780:Bullecourt
651:'New Army'
548:Gommecourt
542:Diphtheria
373:Portsmouth
207:after the
171:from the '
3149:Gen. Sir
3134:, Vol I,
3096:, Vol I:
3074:, Vol I,
2946:Army List
2094:Edmonds,
2068:Edmonds,
2028:Edmonds,
1894:Edmonds,
1832:Edmonds,
1509:Memorials
1478:His son,
1186:Cherbourg
1127:Yokefleet
1119:Doncaster
1078:Luftwaffe
1054:the Blitz
1020:Sheffield
990:The Blitz
986:, Derby.
843:Catterick
770:When the
760:see above
705:3rd Ypres
676:St Albans
647:see below
527:gas cloud
348:The 1881
288:Kidsgrove
173:Potteries
165:volunteer
131:3rd Ypres
2701:Watson,
2249:Archived
2202:Archived
2122:Archived
1823:, p. 73.
1543:Dilhorne
1305:Nijmegen
1278:Bren gun
1223:Brussels
1168:Normandy
960:Redditch
847:Grantham
735:Cantaing
323:Trentham
278:Tunstall
238:half-pay
81:Infantry
2833:Burke's
2703:TA 1947
1392:493 HAA
1366:Postwar
1295:Germany
1254:Dunkirk
1231:Antwerp
1117:, near
1035:Glasgow
958:, near
859:Lincoln
831:US Army
597:V Corps
593:Bucquoy
586:Bucquoy
513:in the
417:Shelton
271:Burslem
223:Origins
135:Cambrai
123:Bucquoy
45:Country
3377:
3362:
3326:
3311:
3296:
3277:
3255:
3240:
3222:
3206:
3191:
3176:
3161:
3142:
3123:
3104:
3082:
3063:
3044:
3025:
3010:
2989:
2974:
2959:
1500:L/Cpl
1320:VE Day
1178:Sussex
1115:Thorne
1016:Oakham
695:Fovant
683:Dublin
534:Amiens
264:Hanley
234:Brevet
163:was a
62:Branch
37:Active
1883:Somme
1821:Somme
1550:Notes
1516:Stone
1332:Peine
1309:Rhine
1215:Somme
1211:Seine
1174:D-Day
1154:Selby
1031:Troon
1027:cadre
968:Derby
465:Luton
316:Stone
191:. In
145:Blitz
142:WWII:
119:Somme
3375:ISBN
3360:ISBN
3324:ISBN
3309:ISBN
3294:ISBN
3275:ISBN
3253:ISBN
3238:ISBN
3220:ISBN
3204:ISBN
3189:ISBN
3174:ISBN
3159:ISBN
3140:ISBN
3121:ISBN
3102:ISBN
3080:ISBN
3061:ISBN
3042:ISBN
3023:ISBN
3008:ISBN
2987:ISBN
2972:ISBN
2957:ISBN
2096:1918
2070:1918
2030:1917
1896:1916
1834:1916
1330:and
1272:and
1213:and
1156:and
1022:GZ.
970:and
737:and
670:and
630:Lens
624:Lens
554:Vimy
540:and
364:and
341:and
306:Leek
159:The
127:Lens
115:Loos
112:WWI:
77:Role
1398:in
1334:in
1303:at
1243:MBE
817:in
809:of
183:in
3460::
3153:,
3092:,
3036:,
2823:^
2664:^
2566:^
2343:^
2302:^
2290:^
2182:^
2164:^
2144:^
1997:^
1750:^
1726:^
1701:^
1680:^
1653:^
1583:^
1557:^
1424:.
1402:.
1326:,
1245:.
1188:.
1164:.
934:.
798:.
678:.
657:.
612:.
480:.
449:.
445:,
388:.
345:.
219:.
3387:.
3381:.
3366:.
3315:.
3300:.
3281:.
3259:.
3244:.
3228:.
3210:.
3195:.
3180:.
3165:.
3146:.
3127:.
3108:.
3086:.
3067:.
3048:.
3029:.
3014:.
2993:.
2978:.
2963:.
2835:.
2818:.
2705:.
2139:.
1611:.
1497:.
645:(
600:(
20:.
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