1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment War Diaries - 1939-1945
The 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment was on active service in the Sudan in 1940 when the 5th Indian Division was formed there, and joined the 29th Brigade of that Division. After taking part in the Eritrean and Abyssinian campaigns, the 29th Brigade was transferred in August 1941, via Egypt, to the Western Desert, and was an independent Brigade directly under the command of Army Headquarters.
During 1942, the 1st Battalion had been involved in heavy fighting in North Africa and, after the fall of Tobruk, on 21st June 1942 most of the Battalion was captured and imprisoned in a POW cage, which housed some 30,000 men. However, a small number of men evaded capture and it was from these that a small cadre was selected, including Captain Richard Dray MC to return to England.
Lieut.-Col. W. R. ‘Willie’ Cox (later Brigadier) commanding the 11th Battalion had great influence at the war office, and arranged for the 1st Battalion to be reformed around the established and well-trained structure of the 11th Battalion.
On the 1st January 1943 at Pinner near Harrow the 1st Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment was reborn when the small cadre of two officers and ten men from the original Battalion marched into the centre of the men of the 11th Battalion carrying their Colours. The 11th Battalion was now disbanded and so became the new 1st Battalion. The 11th had previously moved to Harrow a month earlier on the 5th December 1942 and already had their headquarters in the town.
During 1943 the 1st Battalion were absorbed in the training for the task ahead. In June 1944 the Battalion was at Heathfield where they continued their training in preparation for 'D' Day. On the 7th June all the Officers and Warrant Officers attended a Divisional Conference at Hastings, and personal messages were received from General Montgomery, also a message from General Eisenhower. On the 14th June 1944 orders were received for the Motor Transport party (337 men) to join the 214 Brigade column at Tilbury docks in London. The party left Heathfield at 08.30 hours on the 15th June and arrived at the marshalling area north of Tilbury at 14.00 hours. They remained there for the next 3 days preparing to embark for Normandy.
On the 15th June 1944 the main marching party of the Battalion, left Heathfield and travelled to Filham Park near Glyndebourne, which was the marshalling area for Newhaven. On the 16th June they were transported by troop carriers to Newhaven where they debussed and marched to the quayside. The whole of 214 Brigade was now in the harbour. Initially the men proceeded to embark into Landing Craft Infantry (L.C.I.) vessels but were later taken off and that evening of the boarded the ship s.s. Canterbury. The next morning, 17th June, the ship was still at anchor with still no sign of a move.
The same day at 05.30 hours the vehicle party at Tilbury Docks commenced loading on to the transport ship 'MT48' (Empire Duke), the ship finally sailed on the 18th June at 14.30 hours.
Finally, late in the afternoon on the 18th June the s.s. Canterbury with the marching parties and the commanding officer left Newhaven. The ship left its anchorage and proceeded to the Solent. By dusk the ship was just off the Isle of Wight and at anchor once again. Due to server gales the ship did not sail again until mid-day on the 22th June, arriving off the Normandy coastline that afternoon, but had to stand-off and wait until 17.15 hours before disembarking.
CLICK ON THE MONTH/YEAR LINKS BELOW TO VIEW THE BATTALION WAR DIARY (still under construction)
Sudan & Eritrea
Apr. 1940 |
May 1940 |
Jun. 1940 |
Jul. 1940 |
Aug. 19140 |
Sep. 1940 |
Oct. 1940 |
Nov. 1940 |
Dec. 1940 |
Jan. 1941 |
Feb. 1941 |
Mar. 1941 |
Apr. 1941 |
May 1941 |
Jun. 1941 |
Jul. 1941 |
Aug. 1941 |
Sep. 1941 |
Oct. 1941 |
Nov. 1941 |
Dec. 1941 |
North Africa
Jan. 1942 |
Feb. 1942 |
Mar. 1942 |
Apr. 1942 |
May 1942 |
Jun. 1942 |
Jul. 1942 |
Aug.1942 |
North-West Europe
1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment route from landing beach to Vernon on the River Seine (1944)