1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment 1944-45 - Awards and Citations

Introduction

During the Second World War soldiers were recognised for their devotion to duty and bravery. Some of these men were officially acknowledged by a recognised award. However, because the number of awards were limited by the Army, many who were recommended never actually received an award.

Recommendations for awards were made by officers and men who witnessed actions by fellow comrades which they thought to be outstanding. The adjudicating processes took such recommendations through successive command levels where they were either approved or rejected. This process could take several months before an individual would know whether he had been recognised in this way. Once approved, the award is published in the “London Gazette” with the date when it was finally approved. It should be noted that this date was not the date of the action for which it was originally recommended.

Shortly after the war the 1st Battalion history (N.W. Europe 1944-45) was recorded in a book written by Major D. Y. Watson. At the time all the documents relating to awards and citations were not available. As a result a number of errors and omissions were made. Errors were also made due to the fact that documents relating to award recommendations were sometimes never approved, although copies were still kept on record. An example of this was a recommendation for a Military Cross for Major P. G. Hall for his actions at the “Autobahn” (Vehlingen, Germany) in March 1945. This was never approved. A few weeks later he was recommended again; this time for a Distinguished Service Order for his actions at “Ahlhorn crossroads” - this was approved. The 1st Battalion history correctly mentions the D.S.O. award but incorrectly shows the citation which was made for the M.C.

Other errors in the 1st Battalion history were made for; Lieut.-Col. Hope-Thomson, Major Grubb, Major Elder, Lieut. Fellows, Pte. White, Sgt. Stokes – all showed the wrong citation. In addition citations were omitted for Sgt Stupple, Sgt Jennings and Sgt. Greatrix. There was also no mention of Sgt. Miles, Cpl. Chambers and Pte. Haynes who were awarded foreign decorations.

It is the intention of these pages to set the record straight and correct previous errors by publishing copies of all citations in full together with photos and additional information where possible.

Summary of Awards to men of the 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment
5 - Distinguished Service Order (2 were officers attached to the 1st Battalion)
7 - Military Cross (4 were attached to the Battalion)
20 - Military Medal
1 - Silver Star (USA)
1 - Bronze Star Medal (Netherlands)
1 - Criox de Guerre (France)
22 - Mention in Dispatches

Example of an original award recommendation

Award of Military Medal to Acting Sergeant Alfred Leonard Sanders

 

Below is a list of the Officers and men who were awarded a gallantry medal.

Click on the individual name or image to read the full details:

Major A. A. Grubb

Major A. J. Gutch

Sgt. E. Stupple

Pte. G. Bromwich

Sgt. W. F. Jennings

Sgt. A. J. Greatrix

Pte. A. E. R. Stacey

Sgt. I. J. Guest

L/Cpl. A. H. Palmer

Pte. R. Lugg

Pte. C. G. Dayus

Pte. J. Haynes

Cpl. T. G. J. Chambers

Lieut.-Col. R. E. Osborne-Smith

Lieut. Ralph Morgan

Lieut. R. Morgan

Sgt. A. L. Sanders

Sgt. G. H. Oakley

Sgt. O. B. Miles

Sgt. S. W. Wood

Major J. D. Ricketts

Major S. K. Clover

Cpl. N. Stokes

Sgt. R. F. Edwards

Sgt. J. Norton

Cpl. A. P. Scott

Lieut. D. J. Pullen

Lieut.-Col. M. R. J. Hope-Thomson

Major T. F. Hughes

LCpl. A. E. White

Pte. V. W. Rosser

Cpl. R. Mason

Pte. L. Davies

Major B. N. R. Elder

Major P. G. Hall

Lieut. R. N. Fellows

 

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS OF AWARDS NOT APPROVED

CLICK HERE FOR A DETAILED OF MENTION IN DISPATCHES (MiD)

CLICK HERE FOR A DETAILS OF MEN AWARDED A COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CERTIFICATE

 

Glossary of Terms used

1 WORC R

1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment

2i/c

Second –in-Command

75’s

mines

A.A. & Q.M.G.

Assistant Adjutant & Quarter-Master General

A.A.G.

Assistant Adjutant General

A/Lieut.-Col.

Acting Lieutenant-Colonel

A/Q.

Adjutant/Quartermaster

B.A.O.R.

British Army On the Rhine

B.E.M.

British Empire Medal

Bde.

Brigade

Bren

Light Machine Gun

C.Q.M.S. or CQMS

Company Quartermaster Sergeant

CCP

Casualty Clearing Post

CO

Commanding Officer

CSM

Company Sergeant Major

D.A.A.G.

Deputy Assistant Adjutant General

D.A.Q.M.G.

Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General

D.R.

Dispatch Rider

D.S.O.

Distinguished Service Order

F.U.P or FUP

Forming Up Position or Forming Up Point

FARELF

Far East Land Forces

FDLs

Forward Defensive Lines

FOO

Field Observation Officer (Artillery Officer)

GSO

General Staff Officer

H.E.

High Explosive

HQ

Headquarters

ITC

Infantry Training Centre

L.O.

Liaison Officer

L/Cpl.

Lance Corporal

Lieut.-Col. or Lt.-Col.

Lieutenant-Colonel

LMG

Light Machine Gun

LOB

Left Out of Battle

M.G.

Machine Gun

M.C.

Military Cross

M.M.

Military Medal

Maj.

Major

NCO

Non Commissioned Officer

O.B.E.

Officer of the Order of the British Empire

OCTU

Officer Cadet Training Unit

Ops.

Operations

PIAT

Projector Infantry Anti-Tank (fires 3 lb. Hollow-Charge Grenade)

R.A.P.

Regimental Aid Post

R.O.

Retired Officer

Recce

Recognisance

RHQ

Regimental Headquarters

S. P.

Self -Propelled Gun

schü mines

German anti-personnel mine (made of wood)

Sgt. or Sjt

Sergeant

Spandau

German rapid-fire machine gun

Sten

Machine Carbine Gun (simple and cheap to manufacture)

T.A.

Territorial Army

T.D.

Territorial Decoration

W.S.

War Substantive

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