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
Captain, T/Major Archibald John GUTCH (64608)
Sergeant Edward STUPPLE, B.E.M. (6284291)
Private George BROMWICH (5257681)
Sergeant William Francis JENNINGS (4982401)
Sergeant Albert John GREATRIX (5254906)
Private Arthur Edwin Roy STACEY (14419045)
Sergeant Isaac John GUEST (5258245)
L/Corporal Alfred Henry PALMER (5257827)
Private Reginald LUGG (5436899)
Private Charles George DAYUS (5252820)
Private Jack HAYNES (5258262)
WS/Corporal Thomas George John CHAMBERS (5249767)
WS/Capt., T/Maj., A/Lieut.-Col. Robert Edward OSBORNE-SMITH (41242)
WS/Lieut. Ralph MORGAN (302126)
A/Sergeant Alfred Leonard SANDERS (5257400)
WS/Sergeant George Harold OAKLEY (5257811)
WS/Sergeant Oliver Bert MILES (5257801)
WS/Sergeant Sidney Walker WOOD (5252596)
T/Major Jack Dillon RICKETTS (66129)
T/Major Sidney Karl CLOVER, T.D. (39270)
Corporal, Lance Sergeant Norman STOKES (1700083)
WS/Sergeant Robert Foxall, EDWARDS (5255506)
Sergeant James NORTON (5254043)
Corporal Alexander Potter SCOTT (5260155)
WS/Lieut., T/Capt. Daniel John PULLEN (229617)
S/Capt., W/S Maj., A/Lieut.-Col. M. R. J. HOPE-THOMSON M.C. (52731)
WS/Major Thomas Frederick HUGHES (58523)
Lance-Corporal Albert Edward WHITE (14424131)
Private Vincent William ROSSER (1553806)
W/S Corporal Robert MASON (4914275)
Private (L/Cpl.) Leonard DAVIES (5249620)
WS/Capt. T/Major Bryan Norman Rawnsley ELDER, M.B.E. (130065)
WS/Lieut., T/Capt., A/Major Peter Geoffrey HALL (148942)
WS/Lieutenant Reginald Neil FELLOWS (315209)
Click here for details of Mention in Dispatches (MiD)
Click here for details of men awarded a Commander-in-Chief Certificate
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Glossary of Terms used |
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| 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 |