9th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment - 1939 to 1945
The Battalion was raised in August 1939, when, at the conclusion of Summer Camp on Salisbury Plain, the 7th Battalion split. The Kidderminster, Stourbridge, Bewdley and Stourport companies remained with the 7th, while companies based on Dudley, Langley and Halesowen provided the nucleus of the 9th. On 16th August "key parties" were called up, subsequently sending detachments to Stourport, Hartlebury and Droitwich. Though a battalion H.Q. site was planned at Langley, it was retained at The Shrubbery. The battalion was commanded by Lieut.-Colonel J. Parkes, M.C., D.C.M., who shortly relinquished the command to take over the 7th, while Lieut.-Colonel R. H. Edwards, T.D., took over command until October, 1939, when Lieut.-Colonel W. R. Prescott, M.C., took command.
The battalion then moved to Adderbury, near Banbury, where, until June, 1940, it carried out internal security at the R.A.F. stations at Bicester, Little Rissington and Brize Norton. Here the battalion was first made up to strength by the first intakes of Militia, who were dealt with under separate arrangements at Wykham Park.
In June 1940, the battalion concentrated as a unit of the 182 (Birmingham) Infantry Brigade, 61 Division, in a tented camp at Winchcombe in Gloucestershire, for training, as was thought, for operations in N.W. Europe. This, however, did not materialise, for after preparations for a move to a tropical climate had been completed, the battalion suddenly moved to Northern Ireland and was stationed at Portrush.
9th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment - H.Q. Staff of 'F' Company
(submitted by Christopher Courtney nephew of Cpl. Ernest James Courtney)
Back Row L to R: Pte. Curtis, Pte. Bingley, Pte. Warmington, Pte. Cox, Pte. Apperley, Pte. Harris, Pte. Smith, Pte. Whitford, Pte. Wright.
Front Row L to R: Pte. Pardoe, Cpl. E. J. Courtney, L/Cpl. Davis, Sgt. Hampton, Sgt. Hollis, CSM Field, Lieut Hirons,
Major Blomfield, Lieut. Hodge, Sgt. Field, Cpl. Preston, Cpl. Freeman, Pte. Challis.
Here the battalion, while carrying out internal security duties, building defences and training hard and long, made great progress. There was also always the chance of having to move south into Eire if the Battle of the Atlantic got too bad. Unmolested by draft finding and any forms of internal disintegration, this period was of inestimable value. A great loss was suffered when Lieut.-Colonel Prescott relinquished command. He had undoubtedly welded the battalion into a first-class unit and his loss was keenly felt by all ranks. He was succeeded by Lieut.-Colonel R. R. Cripps (Artist Rifles), during whose tenure of command the battalion was stationed at Strabane, Londonderry, Cookstown, Tynan and Ballycastle.
In February 1943, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel J. H. O. Wilsey, the battalion moved to Clacton-on-Sea, staying there two months, chiefly for "Exercise Spartan," before moving to Hertford. At Hertford the battalion was ordered to carry out assault and combined operations training. This gave way to a role of a "follow-up" battalion, and this alternating training continued until October when, without warning, the battalion was placed on a lower establishment. A move to St. Margaret's Bay to carry out coast defence preceded the first real blow to the battalion as a unit—heavy draft finding. Training—intermingled with cross-Channel shelling and "fly bombs" — persisted, and the battalion, now commanded by Lieut.-Colonel K. G. Exham (Duke of Wellington's Regiment), continued to give a good account of itself both in field training and billets. In June, 1944, however, the blow of drafting fell heavily and the majority of the N.C.O.'s and men were sent away, being replaced by, category men from 77 Div. Lieut.-Colonel Exham left to take up an appointment with 21 A.G., and was succeeded by Lieut.-Colonel M. M. A. Bryant (The Gloucestershire Regiment). The unit then moved to Folkestone and thence to Shorncliffe. Here the command of the battalion was taken over by Lieut.-Colonel C. P. G. Wills, O.B.E., from the 10th Battalion. Coincident with the change, the battalion took over the new role of training ex-L.A.A. personnel for conversion to infantry. To this was added the task of re-training returned wounded from B.L.A. For a fortnight in October, 1944, a composite company, under command of Major P. Byrd, went to Sandringham to do guard duties while the King had a short holiday. The King visited the Officers' Mess in York Cottage on Sunday morning after church and met the officers. Major Byrd and Captain Holland had the honour of dining with His Majesty. The men of the Company provided parties of beaters for the royal shoots, and were provided with the traditional bottle of beer and a very good lunch. There was also an Armoured Car Troop and a troop of Bofors. Our photograph shows His Majesty inspecting the Company. |
Lieut.-Colonel K. G. Exham (later Brigadier) |
H.M. King George VI inspects the Guard Company of the 9th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment at Sandringham (October 1944)
In May, 1945, after the battalion had moved again to Hothfield Camp, near Ashford, information was received that the Division was to reorganise as a Light Division. This meant that the battalion was to be completely transportable by air and was to be trained to fight in any theatre of operations. In June, 1945, Lieut.-Colonel Wills departed to take command of the 1st Battalion in Germany, and was succeeded by Lieut.-Colonel D. H. Nott, D.S.O., M.C., and under his command the battalion set to preparing for its new task. However, with the collapse of Japan in August, 1945, this last project was abandoned and in November 61 Division was disbanded. For a short time the battalion came under command of East Kent district until finally entering into "suspended animation" on 31st December, 1945.
Officers of the 9th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment (October 1945)
Back row L to R: Lt. J. Chapman, Lt. K. S. Jackson, Lt. P. V. Hoar, Lt. M. C. Hassett, Lt. L. Ray, Lt. T. J. Gurney, Lt. D. C. Thomas, Lt. M. E. Courtney,
Lt. J. J. Horton M.C.
Centre row L to R: Lt.(Q.M.) R. E. Heap, Capt. D. B. Haslehust, Capt. H. W. Sargeant, Capt. C. F. Graham, Capt. J. B. Hall, Capt. W. Foster,
Capt. B. E. St. L. Stuart, Capt. R. M. Edelston
Front sitting L to R: Capt. K. G. Lewis, Maj. H. Kent, Maj. H. MacPherson, Brigadier B. C. S. Clarke D.S.O. (Colonel of the Worcestershire Regiment),
Lieut.-Col. D. H. Nott D.S.O., M.C. (commanding), Lieut.-Col. P. H. Graves-Morris D.S.O., M.C. (A.D.C.), Capt. W. L. Leadbeater, Maj. R. F. Barnes, Maj. J. W. Pitt, Capt. W. Jamieson
COMMANDING OFFICERS OF THE 9TH BATTALION |
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From |
To |
Officer |
Aug. 1939 |
Sep. 1939 |
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Sep. 1939 |
Oct. 1939 |
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Oct. 1939 |
Oct. 1940 |
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Oct. 1940 |
Nov. 1940 |
Major R G. Minchin |
Nov. 1940 |
Aug. 1942 |
Lieut.-Colonel R. R. Cripps (Artist Rifles) |
Sep. 1942 |
Jan. 1943 |
Lieut.-Colonel W. E. Tolley (Lincoln R.) |
Jan. 1943 |
Oct. 1943 |
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Oct. 1943 |
May 1944 |
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May 1944 |
Aug. 1944 |
Lieut.-Colonel M. M. A. Bryant (Gloster R.) |
Aug. 1944 |
June 1945 |
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June 1945 |
July 1945 |
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July 1945 |
Dec. 1945 |
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SECONDS-IN-COMMAND |
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From |
To |
Officer |
Aug. 1939 |
Oct. 1939 |
Major W. N. Brettell |
Oct. 1939 |
Jan. 1941 |
Major R. G. Minchin |
Jan. 1941 |
Feb. 1942 |
Major H. C. Gildowney (Irish Guards) |
Feb. 1942 |
Oct. 1943 |
Major D. J. Phillpotts |
Oct. 1943 |
May 1944 |
Major M. M. A. Bryant (Gloster R.) |
May 1944 |
Nov. 1944 |
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Nov. 1944 |
Aug. 1945 |
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Aug. 1945 |
Sep. 1945 |
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Sep. 1945 |
Dec. 1945 |
Major T. Macpherson, R.S.F. |
ADJUTANTS |
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From |
To |
Officer |
Aug. 1939 |
Dec. 1940 |
Captain J. H. White (Royal Warwicks) |
Dec. 1940 |
May 1942 |
Captain D. Bowles |
May 1942 |
Mar. 1944 |
Captain G. Wright |
Mar. 1944 |
Jan. 1945 |
Captain W. J. Matthews |
Jan. 1945 |
July 1945 |
Captain N. Park |
July 1945 |
Dec. 1945 |
Capt. Walter Lewin Leadbeater |
REGIMENTAL-SERGEANT-MAJORS |
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From |
To |
N.C.O. |
Aug. 1939 |
Dec. 1940 |
F. Smith |
Jan. 1941 |
Sep. 1943 |
R. Ackerman |
Dec. 1943 |
July 1945 |
J. Brown |
July 1945 |
Dec. 1945 |
J. White (Somerset L.I.) |
Sergeants of the 9th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment (October 1945)