Commanding Officers of the 7th Battalion

Successive schemes and experiments continued until 1906/1907, when the movement for reform finally bore fruit in the measures by which Lord Haldane framed the new military system. The forces of the country were reorganised into three main groups—the forces overseas, the Expeditionary Force and the Territorial Force, the latter being enlisted for home defence and formed on the cadre of the old Yeomanry and Volunteers.
Responsibility for home defence was entrusted to the new Territorial Force, which was organised into permanent Brigades and Divisions on the pattern of the Regular Army, so as to provide a force able to take the field against an invasion. That recognition of the value of the Volunteer units was marked by a new designation, and the two Volunteer Battalions of the County were entitled the 7th and 8th Battalions of the Worcestershire Regiment. Orders were given that the renumbered Territorial Battalions were in future to wear the same uniform and badges and to carry the same Colours (but it was not until after the World War 1 that the Territorial Battalions displayed on their Colours the Regimental Battle Honours) as the Regular Battalions.

At the time of the Haldane reorganization, the command of the 7th Worcestershire was held by Colonel E. V. V. Wheeler.

1914 (September) 2/7th Battalion formed at Kidderminster.
1915 (January) 2/7th Battalion attached to 2nd Gloucester and Worcester Brigade, 2nd South Midland Division.

1915 (April) 3/7th Battalion formed at Worcester.
1915 (May) 1/7th Battalion became part of 144th Brigade, 48th Division.

1916 (April) 3/7th Battalion became 7th (Reserve) Battalion on 8th April 1916.
1916 (October) 7th Reserve Battalion (3/7th) absorbed the 8th Reserve Battalion (3/8th).

1918 (February) 2/7th Battalion disbanded in France (6th February 1918).

1919 (April) Kidderminster: 1/7th Battalion was disembodied (2nd April 1919).

Battalion was disbanded on the 1st April 1967.
Below is a list of all the officers who have commanded the 7th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment from 1908 to 1967.

MORE DETAILS ABOUT EACH OFFICER MY BE OBTAINED BY CLICKING ON THE INDIVIDUAL SURNAME

 

1/7th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment

Surname
Forename/s
First Commissioned in to
From
To

Wheeler

Edward Vincent Vashon

Worcestershire Regiment

Apr. 1908

Feb. 1910

Garratt

John Whitmore

Worcestershire Regiment

Feb. 1910

Nov. 1914

Harman

Alexander Ramsey

Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)

Nov. 1914

1917 Jul.

Tomkinson

Francis Martin

Worcestershire Regiment

Jul. 1917

Jul. 1921

Du Sautoy

Edward Francis

Sherwood Foresters

1921 Jul.

1928

Elkington

Christopher Garrett

Gloustershire Regiment

1928

May 1932

Prescott

William Ralph

Worcestershire Regiment

May 1932

Nov. 1936

Edwards

Robert Harry

Worcestershire Regiment

Nov. 1936

Sep. 1939

Parkes

John

Worcestershire Regiment

Sep. 1939

Jun. 1940

Molloy

Thomas Prince Lloyd

Dorset Regiment

Jun. 1940

Oct. 1941

Cavendish

Ronald Valentine Cecil

Sherwood Foresters

Oct. 1941

Aug. 1942

O'Brien-Twohig

Joseph Patrick

Royal Inniskillings

Aug. 1942

Nov. 1942

Versfeld

Edwin Francis Stanley

Worcestershire Regiment

Nov. 1942

Mar. 1944

Stocker

Alonzo John

South Wales Borderers

Mar. 1944

May 1944

Brierley

John Buckley

Worcestershire Regiment

May 1944

Jun. 1944

Street

Charles Arthur

South Staffordshire

Jun. 1944

Feb. 1945

Irvine

Thomas Alexander

Cameronians

Feb. 1945

Aug. 1945

Brierley

John Buckley

Worcestershire Regiment

Aug. 1945

Oct. 1945

Stotherd

Sidney Hugh Curwen

Cheshire Regiment

Nov. 1945

Jan. 1947

Bolland

Thomas Arthur William

Royal Irish Fusiliers

Jan. 1947

Feb. 1947

Lattey

Henry James Cumming

Worcestershire Regiment

Mar. 1947

Jun. 1951

Cronin

Derrick Norrington

Worcestershire Regiment

Jun. 1951

May 1955

Nott

Arthur Harley

Worcestershire Regiment

May 1955

Apr. 1958

Tooby

Edward Reed Ward

Worcestershire Regiment

Apr. 1958

Mar. 1961

Hamilton

Russel Ernest

Cheshire Regiment

Mar. 1961

Mar. 1964

Bannister

John Wilson

Worcestershire Regiment

Mar. 1964

Mar. 1967

Note:

Lieut.-Colonel A. R. Harman was invalided home sick on the 19th January 1916. Major F. M. Tomkinson took over temporary command until Lieut.-Colonel A. R. Harman rejoined from hospital on the 10th May 1916 and resumed command of the 1/7th Battalion.

Lieut.-Colonel F. M. Tomkinson went sick and was invalided on the 29th November 1917. Major H. W. Adshead to over temporary command until Lieut.-Colonel F. M. Tomkinson returned and resumed command on the 4th March 1917.

Lieut.-Colonel F. M. Tomkinson took over temporary command of 145th Brigade on the 3rd June 1918 and Major J. P. Bate, M.C. (1/8th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment officer) took over temporary command of the 1/7th Battalion. On the 21st June 1918 Lieut.-Colonel F. M. Tomkinson resumed command of the 1/7th Battalion.

 

2/7th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment

Surname
Forename/s
First Commissioned in to
From
To

Wheeler

Edward Vincent Vashon

Worcestershire Regiment

1914

1915

Peyton

Algernon George

Worcestershire Regiment

1915

May 1916

Dorman

Leslie Claude

Worcestershire Regiment

May 1916

Oct.1917

 

3/7th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment

Surname
Forename/s
First Commissioned in to
From
To

Thomas

Charles William

1st Volunteer Bn. Worcestershire Regt.

Apr. 1915

Sept. 1916

 

CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO COMMANDING OFFICERS INTRO PAGE
CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO HOME PAGE