Monmouthshire Regiment

Last updated
Monmouthshire Regiment
Monmouthshire Regiment cap badge.png
Cap badge
Active1908–1967
CountryFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
Branch Flag of the British Army.svg Territorial Army
Type Infantry
Size1–10 battalions
Engagements Second Boer War
World War I
World War II

The Monmouthshire Regiment was a Territorial infantry regiment of the British Army. Originating in units of rifle volunteers formed in Monmouthshire in 1859, the regiment served in the Second Anglo-Boer War and both World War I and World War II before losing its separate identity in 1967. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

Contents

Origins

Units of rifle volunteers were formed throughout Great Britain in 1859 and 1860 in response to a perceived threat of invasion by France following the Orsini affair. The raising of such units was to be authorised by lieutenants of counties in England, Wales and Scotland. [6] The first corps in Monmouthshire was raised on 9 September 1859. [1] [7] By 1880 the various small corps in the county had been consolidated into three battalion-sized units, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Monmouthshire Rifle Volunteer Corps. [1] [7] [2] [3] In the following year the Childers Reforms of line infantry saw the three Monmouthshire corps becoming volunteer battalions of the regular South Wales Borderers. In 1885 they were redesignated as the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Volunteer battalions of the South Wales Borderers (the 1st Volunteer Battalion being formed at the same time from the 1st Brecknockshire Rifle Volunteers). [1] [7] [2] [3]

Although the volunteer battalions saw no active service as units, during the Second Boer War they provided volunteer Active Service Companies to serve in South Africa, all of which were attached to the regular 2nd Battalion, South Wales Borderers, and they received the battle honour "South Africa 1900-02". [1] [2] [3] [8]

Formation of the regiment

Reserve forces were reorganised under the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907. Among other provisions the act abolished the Volunteer Force and replaced it with a new Territorial Force. Units were transferred, with changes in nomenclature, to the new force on 1 April 1908. [9]

The three Monmouthshire volunteer battalions were redesignated (and partially reorganised) as battalions of a new territorial-only Monmouthshire Regiment: [8] [9]

The Territorial Force was organised into 14 infantry divisions, and the 1st-3rd Battalions of the Monmouthshire Regiment, along with the 1st Battalion, Herefordshire Regiment, formed the Welsh Border Brigade, part of the Welsh Division. [4] [5]

First World War

With the outbreak of war in August 1914 the Territorial Force was mobilised. In all the Monmouthshire Regiment formed battalions, most of which fought on the Western Front, during the conflict as follows: [10] [11]

Inter-war

All units of the Territorial Force were disbanded soon after the end of the war in 1918 and 1919. Early in 1920 recruitment restarted and in October 1920 the force was renamed to the Territorial Army. [12] [13] The three battalions were reconstituted in February 1920:

In 1921 it was announced that there would be a reduction in the size of the Territorial Army with a number of pairs of infantry battalions amalgamated. [14] [15] The 3rd Battalion was amalgamated with the Brecknockshire Battalion, South Wales Borderers to become the 3rd (Brecknockshire and Monmouthshire) Battalion, The Monmouthshire Regiment in 1922. [3]

In 1938 and 1939 there was a reorganisation of the Territorial Army as the threat of a new European war re-emerged. Many infantry battalions were converted to an anti-aircraft role: in 1938 the 1st Battalion became a searchlight regiment as 1st (Rifle) Battalion, The Monmouthshire Regiment (68th Searchlight Regiment). [1] [7] [16]

In March 1939 it was announced that the size of the TA was to be doubled, with each existing unit forming a duplicate. [17] [18] By June 1939 the regiment comprised four battalions: [8] [19]

Second World War

1st (Rifle) Battalion

On 1 August 1940 all the infantry battalions that had converted to anti-aircraft roles transferred to the Royal Artillery (RA) and from that date ceased to be part of the corps of their parent regiments. 68th Searchlight Regiment (which regained its Monmouthshire Regiment subtitle in 1942) served through the war in Anti-Aircraft Command until in November 1944 it reverted to infantry as 68th (Monmouthshire) Garrison Regiment, RA (later 609 (Monmouthshire) Regiment, RA) and carried out duties on the Lines of Communication for 21st Army Group in North West Europe. [16] [20] [21]

2nd Battalion

Men of the 2nd Monmouthshire Regiment, part of the 160th Infantry Brigade of the 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division, leap from their Universal Carrier during an exercise near Newry in Northern Ireland, 26 April 1941. Troops of the 2nd Monmouthshire Regiment leap from their Universal carrier during an exercise near Newry in Northern Ireland, 26 April 1941. H9234.jpg
Men of the 2nd Monmouthshire Regiment, part of the 160th Infantry Brigade of the 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division, leap from their Universal Carrier during an exercise near Newry in Northern Ireland, 26 April 1941.
Private A. Anderson of the 2nd Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment, during the assault on Venraij, 17 October 1944. The British Army in North-west Europe 1944-45 BU1238.jpg
Private A. Anderson of the 2nd Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment, during the assault on Venraij, 17 October 1944.

The 2nd Battalion was mobilised on the outbreak of war in September 1939, as part of 160th Infantry Brigade, which also included the 1/4th and 1/5th battalions of the Welch Regiment, attached to the 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division. After a long period of training in Northern Ireland and England, they landed in Normandy on 28 June 1944, twenty-two days after the initial D-Day landings, with the rest of 53rd Division and fought in the Normandy Campaign in the Battle for Caen. Soon after arrival, they took part in Operation Epsom, spending two weeks in trenches between Hill 112 and the River Odon. [22] [23]

They next saw action in the Battle of the Falaise Gap in August 1944, where the battalion suffered heavy casualties and 'A' and 'B' Companies had to be amalgamated. 'B' Company was soon reformed again from a large number of men from the now disbanded 5th East Lancashire Regiment of the 59th (Staffordshire) Infantry Division. [22] The battalion later advanced with the 53rd (Welsh) Division, liberating Merville and crossing into the Netherlands. By October they had reached the Nederrijn and took part in the attack on 's-Hertogenbosch. [22]

In December 1944 they took part in the counter offensive against the German advances in the Ardennes forest. [22] In January 1945 they moved to The Netherlands for a period of training prior to Operation Veritable, also known as the Battle of the Reichswald. They entered Germany on 8 February, taking part in a month's heavy fighting and suffering 300 casualties before being withdrawn for rest. [22]

Men of the carrier platoon of the 3rd Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment, part of 159th Infantry Brigade of the 11th Armoured Division, February 1945. The British Army in North-west Europe 1944-45 BU1829.jpg
Men of the carrier platoon of the 3rd Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment, part of 159th Infantry Brigade of the 11th Armoured Division, February 1945.

The battalion continued to advance across Germany, forcing a crossing of the River Aller at Rethem on 11 April 1945. This was their last major action of the war: they were at Hamburg when the German Instrument of Surrender came into effect. [22] Later, the battalion was sent to Italy in November and was disbanded the following September. [22]

3rd Battalion

The 3rd Battalion was mobilised at the same time as the 2nd Battalion as part of the 159th Infantry Brigade, alongside the 4th Battalion, King's Shropshire Light Infantry and the 1st Battalion, Herefordshire Regiment, part of the 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division and trained alongside it in Northern Ireland and England. In May 1942 the battalion, together with the rest of the 159th Brigade, were transferred to the 11th Armoured Division and trained for another two years before, on 14 June 1944, the battalion landed in Normandy, just eight days after D-Day. They spent several weeks attempting to break out of the bridgehead in the vicinity of Caen as part of Operation Goodwood and Operation Bluecoat. On 5 August they were nearly surrounded by enemy forces on Bas Perier Ridge and suffered heavy casualties and were reduced to half strength, forcing them to temporarily amalgamate with the 1st Battalion, Royal Norfolk Regiment of the 185th Brigade, of 3rd Division, which was temporarily attached to the 11th Armoured. [23] [24] It was during the fighting that eventually lead to Corporal Sidney Bates, of the 1st Royal Norfolks, being posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. [25]


Reinforced, the battalion advanced after the retreating German forces, passing through Belgium and taking part in the liberation of Antwerp in early September 1944. They moved into the Netherlands as part of the force protecting the flanks of the airborne troops that had landed in Operation Market Garden. [24] The commanding officer of the battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Hubert Gerald Orr, was killed on 25 September 1944 at Sint Anthonis along with the Commanding Officer of the 3rd Royal Tank Regiment. [24] [26] In November 1944 they took part in the Battle of Broekhuizen (also known as the Battle of the Venlo Pocket). [24] [27]

In February 1945 they broke through the Schlieffen line after which they were withdrawn to Belgium where they were re-equipped for the advance into Germany. In April 1945 they crossed the Rhine into the Teutoburg Forest where they had the task of clearing the road to Ibbenbüren. The battalion encountered very heavy resistance and failed to achieve its objective. Corporal Edward Thomas Chapman was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions during this action. [24]

Such were the battalion's casualties (40 killed in action, 80 wounded) that it took no further part in the conflict and was replaced in the 159th Brigade by the 1st Battalion, Cheshire Regiment. The battalion was transferred to the 115th Independent Infantry Brigade. It was disbanded in January 1946. [24] Throughout the whole campaign, the battalion had suffered 1,156 casualties, including 67 officers, 25 killed, and 1,089 other ranks, with 242 (of 267?) of them paying the ultimate price. [28]

4th Battalion

The 4th Battalion, which had been created on 1 June 1939 as a duplicate of the 2nd Battalion, was mobilised in August 1939 as part of 113th Infantry Brigade, serving with the 15th and 2/5th Welch Regiment, part of the 38th (Welsh) Infantry Division, which was itself formed as a duplicate of the 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division. The battalion did not leave the United Kingdom, performing guard duty and acting as a training unit. On 12 December 1942 it was redesignated the 1st Battalion, South Wales Borderers; the original 1st SWB having been disbanded after most of the unit was captured in North Africa. [23] [29]

Post War to amalgamation

All Territorial and war-formed units were disbanded soon after the end of the war. The Territorial Army was re-established in April 1947, although there was a considerable reconfiguration with some pre-war units not reformed, or converted to a different role. The Monmouthshire Regiment was reduced to a single battalion: the 2nd Battalion, based in Pontypool. [2]

The former 1st (Rifle) Battalion did not return to the regiment after the war, but remained in Anti-Aircraft Command as 603rd (1st Battalion, The Monmouthshire Regiment) (Mixed) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery ('Mixed' indicating that members of the Women's Royal Army Corps were integrated into the regiment). It continued to wear the distinctive silver or white metal cap badge of the 1st (Rifle) Bn, Monmouths, together with the Royal Artillery's collar badges. In addition, the buttons and non-commissioned officers' chevrons were black, to denote the unit's ancestry as a Rifle battalion. After the abolition of AA Command on 10 March 1955, the regiment formed 'P' (1 Monmouth) Battery in 283rd (Monmouthshire) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, later 'R' (1 Monmouth) Battery in a combined 282nd (Glamorgan and Monmouthshire) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery. When the TA was reduced into the Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve (TAVR) in 1967, 282 Regiment became 211 (South Wales) Battery in 104th Light Air Defence Regiment, Royal Artillery, with D (Monmouthshire) Troop at Newport. [7] [21] [30]

The 3rd Battalion was converted to form 637th (3rd Bn The Monmouthshire Regiment) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery (TA) and similarly ceased to be part of the regiment. [3] It was eventually amalgamated in 1955 with 638th (Brecknock) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery (TA) and ceased to exist as a separate unit. [31]

In 1967 the remaining battalion was disbanded. A new unit, the Welsh Volunteers, continued the lineage of all Welsh territorial infantry battalions. The successor unit today is the 3rd Battalion, the Royal Welsh. [2] [8]

Battle honours

The regiment was awarded the following battle honours. Those shown in bold type were selected for display on the colours or appointments. [1] [2] [32]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Staffordshire Regiment</span> Military unit

The South Staffordshire Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence for only 68 years. The regiment was created in 1881 under the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 38th Regiment of Foot and the 80th Regiment of Foot. The regiment saw service in the Second Boer War, World War I and World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Scots</span> Infantry regiment of the British Army from 1633 to 2006

The Royal Scots, once known as the Royal Regiment of Foot, was the oldest and most senior infantry regiment of the line of the British Army, having been raised in 1633 during the reign of Charles I. The regiment existed continuously until 2006, when it amalgamated with the King's Own Scottish Borderers to become the Royal Scots Borderers, which merged with the Royal Highland Fusiliers, the Black Watch, the Highlanders and the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders to form the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">160th (Welsh) Brigade</span> Military unit

160th (Welsh) Brigade or Brigâd 160 (Cymru), is a regional brigade of the British Army that has been in existence since 1908, and saw service during both the First and the Second World Wars, as part of the 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division. It is a regional command responsible for all of Wales. The Brigade is also regionally aligned with the Eastern European and Central Asian regions as part of defence engagement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lancashire Fusiliers</span> Line infantry regiment of the British Army 1688–1968

The Lancashire Fusiliers was a line infantry regiment of the British Army that saw distinguished service through many years and wars, including the Second Boer War, and the First and Second World Wars. It had many different titles throughout its 280 years of existence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Welch Regiment</span> British Army formation

The Welch Regiment was an infantry regiment of the line of the British Army in existence from 1881 until 1969. The regiment was created in 1881 under the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 41st (Welch) Regiment of Foot and 69th Regiment of Foot to form the Welsh Regiment, by which it was known until 1920 when it was renamed the Welch Regiment. In 1969 the regiment was amalgamated with the South Wales Borderers to form the Royal Regiment of Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Wales Borderers</span> Military unit

The South Wales Borderers was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence for 280 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">52nd Lowland Volunteers</span> Military unit

The 52nd Lowland Volunteers is a battalion in the British Army's Army Reserve or reserve force in the Scottish Lowlands, forming the 6th Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, also known as 6 SCOTS. Due to its erstwhile association with the 1st Regiment of Foot, it is the senior Reserve line infantry battalion in the British Army. It is one of two Reserve battalions in the Royal Regiment of Scotland, along with 51st Highland, a similar unit located in the Scottish Highlands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King's Shropshire Light Infantry</span> Military unit

The King's Shropshire Light Infantry (KSLI) was a light infantry regiment of the British Army, formed in the Childers Reforms of 1881, but with antecedents dating back to 1755. It served in the Second Boer War, World War I, World War II and Korean War. In 1968, the four regiments of the Light Infantry Brigade amalgamated to form The Light Infantry, with the 1st KSLI being redesignated as the 3rd Battalion of the new regiment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Middlesex Regiment</span> Infantry regiment of the British Army

The Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 until 1966. The regiment was formed, as the Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment), in 1881 as part of the Childers Reforms when the 57th (West Middlesex) and 77th (East Middlesex) Regiments of Foot were amalgamated with the county's militia and rifle volunteer units.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Border Regiment</span> Military unit

The Border Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, which was formed in 1881 under the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 34th (Cumberland) Regiment of Foot and the 55th (Westmorland) Regiment of Foot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Berkshire Regiment</span> Military unit

The Royal Berkshire Regiment (Princess Charlotte of Wales's) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 until 1959. The regiment was created in 1881, as the Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire Regiment), by the amalgamation of the 49th (Princess Charlotte of Wales's) (Hertfordshire) Regiment of Foot and the 66th (Berkshire) Regiment of Foot. In 1921, it was renamed the Royal Berkshire Regiment (Princess Charlotte of Wales's).

The 159th Infantry Brigade was an infantry brigade of the British Army. Part of the Territorial Army (TA), the brigade was assigned to the 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division and served with the division in the early stages of the Second World War until May 1942 when it was transferred to be the motorised infantry element of the 11th Armoured Division. The brigade would serve with the 11th Armoured in North-west Europe from June 1944 to May 1945.

The 155th Brigade was an infantry brigade of the British Army that saw active service in both the First and the Second World Wars. Assigned to the 52nd (Lowland) Division, the brigade saw active service in the Middle East and on the Western Front during the First World War. During the Second World War, now the 155th Infantry Brigade, it continued to serve with the 52nd Division in Operation Dynamo, and later in North-western Europe from late 1944 until May 1945.

The Liverpool Brigade, later 165th (Liverpool) Brigade was an infantry brigade of Britain's Volunteer Force that served during World War I with the 55th Division of the British Army. During World War II, again as part of the 55th Infantry Division, the brigade remained in the United Kingdom.

The 113th Brigade was an infantry brigade formation of the British Army active in both the First and the Second World Wars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">115th Brigade (United Kingdom)</span> Military Unit

The 115th Brigade was an infantry brigade formation of the British Army raised during both the First and Second World War.

The 224th Brigade was a Home Defence formation of the British Army in World War I and World War II. It existed under several variations of the 224th Brigade title.

The Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalion was a bicycle infantry battalion of the British Army. Formed in the Territorial Force in February 1914, it remained in the United Kingdom throughout the First World War. After the war, in 1920, it was converted to infantry and became the 5th (Huntingdonshire) Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment, in the Territorial Army. The battalion saw extensive service in the Second World War, fighting in France in 1940, Tunisia from 1942–43 and later Sicily and Italy from 1943–45 before ending the war in May 1945 in Austria. It continued to serve after the Second World War until May 1961 when it was amalgamated with the 4th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment, to form the 4th/5th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment.

The Brecknockshire Battalion was a Welsh unit of the British Army's auxiliary forces. First raised in 1859, it became a Volunteer Battalion of the South Wales Borderers. During World War I it served in garrison at Aden, where it was engaged in the Battle of Lahej. It was amalgamated with another battalion in the 1920s but regained its independence in time for World War II, when it served in home defence and supplied reinforcements to the forces fighting overseas. Postwar it was reformed as a light anti-aircraft regiment of the Royal Artillery and was one of the founder units of today's 104th Regiment Royal Artillery in the Army Reserve.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Mills, T F. "1st Battalion, The Monmouthshire Regiment". Regiments.org. Archived from the original on 26 January 2008. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Mills, T F. "2nd Battalion, The Monmouthshire Regiment". Regiments.org. Archived from the original on 12 January 2008. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Mills, T F. "3rd Battalion, The Monmouthshire Regiment". Regiments.org. Archived from the original on 20 October 2007. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Baker, Chris. "The Monmouthshire Regiment". The Long, Long Trail. The British Army in the Great War of 1914-1918. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "The Monmouthshire Regiment TF World War I. Fact Sheet: 7-B07-11" (PDF). The Regimental Museum of The Royal Welsh (Brecon). Retrieved 4 May 2013.
  6. War Office Circular, 12 May 1859, published in The Times, 13 May.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Frederick, pp. 171–3.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Margesson 1977 , pp. 85–86
  9. 1 2 Order in Council dated 19 March 1908 "No. 28121". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 March 1908. pp. 2149–2162.
  10. Margesson 1977 , p. 17
  11. 1 2 "South Wales Borderers and Monmouthshire Regiment. Summary of the Great War 1914-1918. Fact Sheet 3-B7-12" (PDF). Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  12. "New Territorial Army – The Government Scheme". The Times . 31 January 1920.
  13. "New Citizen Army – 2nd Line Defence Scheme". The Times . 31 January 1920.
  14. "Territorial Army Reduction". The Times . 15 July 1921.
  15. "Territorial Army Amalgamations – 40 Battalions Affected". The Times . 5 October 1921.
  16. 1 2 Frederick, p. 872.
  17. "Territorial Army - Establishment doubled". The Times . 30 March 1939.
  18. "13 Additional Divisions - Method of Expansion". The Times . 30 March 1939.
  19. Monthly Army List, May 1939.
  20. Joslen, p. 463.
  21. 1 2 Litchfield, p. 182.
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "2nd Battalion The Monmouthshire Regiment TA. World War 2. Fact Sheet 7-B09-07" (PDF). Regimental Museum of the Royal Welsh (Brecon). Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  23. 1 2 3 Margesson 1977 , p. 20
  24. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "3rd Battalion The Monmouthshire Regiment TA. World War 2. Fact Sheet 7-B09-08" (PDF). Regimental Museum of the Royal Welsh (Brecon). Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  25. "No. 36774". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 October 1944. p. 5016.
  26. "Orr, Hubert Gerald". Casualty Details. Commonwealth War Graves Commission . Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  27. Gaunt, John (2000), "The Battle of Broekhuizen", After the Battle, 107: 24–27
  28. The Black Bull - From Normandy to the Baltic with the 11th Armoured Division, Patrick Delaforce
  29. "4th Battalion The Monmouthshire Regiment TA. World War 2. Fact Sheet 7-B09-09" (PDF). Regimental Museum of the Royal Welsh (Brecon). Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  30. Frederick, pp. 1001, 1025, 1040.
  31. Litchfield, Norman E H, 1992. The Territorial Artillery 1908-1988, The Sherwood Press, Nottingham, p183
  32. 1 2 The battle honour "Aden" was awarded for the services of the 1/1st Brecknockshire Battalion, South Wales Borderers. The Battalion had been merged with 3rd Battalion Monmouthshire Regiment in 1922, and the battle honours for the First World War were awarded in 1924.
  33. "Battle Honours. Further List of Awards". The Times . 10 April 1924. p. 8.

Bibliography