World War Two: Worcestershire Regiment 1st Battalion's story

Both our county regiments were involved with the 53rd (Worcestershire Yeomanry) Air Landing Light Regiment RA dropping by Gliders in the early hours of June 6, supporting the airborne assault.

The 1st Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment would land on June 22, 1944, after being delayed by weather and logistical problems.

This battalion had to be reformed a year earlier after being almost completely annihilated in North Africa in 1942.

By 1942 the battalion was combat experienced after serving in Palestine, the Sudan and Eritrea.

In May they were deployed on an overstretched Allied line in North Africa.

They were tasked with protecting the extremely important port of Tobruk.

The Germans were desperate to take this valuable asset and began moving north.

The following month, with German units advancing across the desert, the battalion was ordered to create a defensive ‘Box’ on Point 187.

Other regiments in the area were doing the same.

On June 13 the ‘Worcesters’ Box’ was bombed and shelled for the first time.

What followed was a series of heavy attacks across the area.

The defensive boxes around Tobruk were attacked one by one and overrun.

The box occupied by the Worcesters soon became very isolated.

At dawn on June 20, 1942, wave upon wave of enemy tanks, supported by infantry and artillery, advanced.

Heavy fighting ensued with bravery shown by every man.

Major Nott took a jammed Bren gun, cleared it and used it most effectively.

Captain Sargeant resupplied the ‘Worcesters’ Box’ with ammunition and beer by driving a truck under fire.

By the late afternoon, with smoke and a violent dust storm raging, the enemy began to overwhelm the battalion.

Casualties mounted and, as the sun set, plans were made to withdraw to Tobruk.

The padre, Rev Welchman, remained with the wounded and just two platoons acted as a rearguard.

By the early hours of the next day most of the battalion had been killed or captured inside the ‘Worcesters’ Box’. The battalion had stood firm yet again.

The brave men who did escape from the ‘Worcesters’ Box’ were sent to Egypt whilst Tobruk fell.

The 1st Battalion had technically ceased to exist.

They were eventually moved back to England under the leadership of Captain Richard Dray MC.

Meanwhile, Lt Col ‘Willie’ Cox commanded the 11th Battalion at Pinner, near Harrow.

Willie managed to get permission from the War Office to reform the 1st Battalion using the men of the 11th Battalion.

On January 1, 1943, the 11th Battalion was renamed the 1st Battalion.

The surviving two officers and 10 men from the original 1st Battalion ceremonially marched into a vacant space within the newly-reformed battalion.

On January 5 their colours were laid up in Worcester Cathedral for the duration of the war.

The year 1943 was therefore one of reconstruction with the battalion headquarters set up in Harrow with outstations at Eastcote, Northolt and Ruislip.

By the end of the year they moved to Hythe in readiness for the invasion of occupied Europe in the new year.

At the start of 1944 the battalion had settled into a tough training regime.

They were placed in the 43rd (Wessex) Division who wore the distinctive arm patch displaying a yellow ‘west’ facing Wyvern on a dark blue background.

At this time 75 per cent of the battalion had certified as first-class shots with the rifle.

Field Marshall Montgomery was very impressed when he visited the battalion to watch their realistic battle exercises.

Sadly, company sergeant major (CSM) Henry Burton was killed in a training accident, showing how intense the training had become.

Eighty years ago the battalion had moved to a large tented camp at Heathfield Park.

Training now concentrated on waterproofing equipment, swimming in full kit, working alongside tanks and using landing craft.

The D-Day landings could happen any day and the Worcesters were ready and waiting for their orders.

Our columnist Paul Harding runs Discover History which offers hands-on learning of the county’s history.