1st Sherwood Foresters (MOT) Infantry Battalion

Discussion in 'British Army Units - Others' started by DavidW, Oct 11, 2012.

  1. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    I do have a copy of the regimental history as well as most other WWII British regimental histories.

    Although I am an American, my grandparents came from Worcestershire and we maintain family connections there. I am one of the authors of a 14 volume series entitled "The British Armies in World War Two: An Organisational History". I am currently researching a work on the Canadian Army in the Second World War starting with a volume of the Canadian Army at home.

    Dan, as your research gets underway, I can copy pertinent sections of from the regimental history if needed.
     
  2. DanAussie

    DanAussie Member

    Thanks Dryan for all your assistance in this matter, I think I'm pretty good so far, it was the huge gap of missing information from their (1st Battalion) posting in Bermuda to their posting in Cyprus which was the main mystery in relation to Grandad. He mentioned to me on several occasions that he felt that the commanders seemed a little foolish for sending his company to Norway. He certainly spoke of no action there (or none to speak of) that they simply marched them in and marched them back. This seems to fit into your remarks about his movements perhaps with the 1/8th Battalion above Dryan.

    He was certainly with a HQ Coy, he spoke of limited intelligence training, he spoke of the fact that at age 24 at the outbreak of the war was regarded as a senior NCO amongst the younger troops. Without rank even one would have to say that as a career soldier, who had served with the Regiment since 1932 (some 7 years) would have considerable experience compared to new enlistments. I guess the question here is:

    Would those perhaps be reasons why a unit may be broken up (or parts of it) to bolster other Battalions going into action?

    Like you say I would need his Service Records to confirm this, unfortunately I have no time to wait for this, but will certainly be investigating further.

    Either way you guys have certainly shed further light on early movements, which has been incredibly helpful. Thank you. :)

    Dan
     
  3. DavidW

    DavidW Well-Known Member

    Hi Dan.

    I am just someone with a passionate interest in the Western Desert.

    David Ryan has helped me too, with enquiries on numerous occasions.
     
  4. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    A number of battalions were broken up or changed roles as the war progressed. There are a number of reasons for this. The pool of recruits lessened as the war continued and casualties mounted. There was also a need to train and retrain men, for example Anti-Aircraft Command and artillery in general moving into infantry roles. The 8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters reflects these changes:

    8th (Nottinghamshire) Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment) (T.A.)

    148th Infantry Brigade – 3 September 1939 to 24 July 1942
    The battalion was located in Newark, Arnold, Mansfield and Worksop. It was embodied on September 1st, 1939 at Newark. The brigade left for Norway on April 14th, 1940 and landed there on the 18th. It served in Norway until April 30th, and then returned to the United Kingdom on May 6th. The battalion moved to Ramsgate in Kent in June 1942 and afterwards to Wrotham Camp near Seven Oaks. The brigade was redesignated as the 148th Training Brigade on July 25th, 1942 and the battalion remained with it as an OCTU unit. This brigade later became the 148th Pre OCTU Training Establishment.
     
  5. DanAussie

    DanAussie Member

    G'Day DavidW,

    Hello to you sir, you are right, forums such as this one sure have some gifted individuals, their knowledge and understanding is perhaps even undervalued by themselves. I admit that I have read extensively over the years but it never seems to stick, perhaps its a case of too much brain eradicator in my younger years. lol :D

    @Dryan - Thanks mate, obviously this first early posting (Norway) is still a bit of a mystery, between Grandad's account and the movements of the 1st Battalion afterward, everything fits perfectly except for the early posting to Norway. I will get hold of his service records just to satisfy my curiosity on this matter. The good thing about forum threads is you never know who will read through them and come forward to add or detract from previous commentary. It would have been great to be able to positively confirm this piece of Grandad's account but I can in no way complain for the information in this thread is more than I ever expected to find. Thanks WW2 Talk, Dryan and DavidW.

    Also a very special thank you to Trevor Smallman, cheers thanks heaps mate.

    Dan :) :) :)
     
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  6. Simon Thelwall

    Simon Thelwall New Member

    Simon Thelwall - Member.
    Sorry for butting in on this long discussion about the Sherwood Forresters. My father, Gerald Thelwall, was gazetted into the regiment during '37 i think, from Sandhurst. He went straight out to Jamaica, where his father, Hubert, had served with them prior to WW1 - seconded to the West India Rgmt. Then my father went to Palestine - as mentioned above, and then presumably Cyprus, about June 1940. He met and married our Mother, who lived in Famagusts - her Dad was Harbourmaster there. Then i think Dad was moved onto 'Staff' and moved to Cairo during '41, and sometime later got sent to staff college in Quetta? My mum, and by then, my eldest Bro, were evacuated to South Africa.
    Strangely a post earlier in this run, by Steve Foster, mentions a relative who was in the Caribbean, and a great friend of my parents, Rodney Foster, was out in Jamaica and got to know my Dad then. Stayed life time friends and i have many photos of them at Jamaica, and Cyprus.
    Are there links here, or not?
     
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  7. Hogdog

    Hogdog New Member

    Hi I am currently researching my late father's service history. And have found this thread to be most enlightening My father was Leonard Shepherd and he joined the 1st sherwood foresters in 1934. He was in B company 7th platoon. I'm currently reading the 1936 regimental annual. Where he was posted to Bumuda He served 11yr 229 day During the war I have found out he was captured at tubruk and was POW in Italy. Camp PG 70. Where he escaped. But details are a bit sketchy . My brother as told me managed to get an Italian uniform and walked through the gates But not sure.. Any details on this camp or escapees would be Grateful ....
     
  8. Hi Hogdog
    My father Corporal Joseph Smallman was also in 'B' Company in Bermuda and dad was also in PG70
    See this link

    British Army in Bermuda from 1701 to 1977
    See if you can post his army number etc and I am sure details will be found
    Trevor
     
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  9. Hogdog

    Hogdog New Member

    Hi Trevor. I have came across your father's name in the Forester annuals. I have 1935/36/38. Your dad and my dad would have presumingly known each other Being in the same regiment and battalion serving abroad and in the same theatres during the war. Its been hard for me to get infomation on his escape. I now understand dad may have been also in campo pg60 before being moved to pg70.. My dad was also served in palistine 1939 where he suffered a blast wound. I have his medal with clasp.
     
    dbf likes this.
  10. Hi,
    Presume it would be boxing as the two vets I met both said the dad was a very good boxer and sportsman with one saying that you would never of thought he was a boxer.
    The best way to find out and you will get lots is to start another request under the section on ''Prisoners of War'' where you will get lost of help.
    Did you lool at the link on Bermuda as I supplied quite a few of dads photographs to the site ?
    If not scroll through the enntries till 1935/6
    Put as much info you have including his number dad was promoted to Corporal in Palestine and was moved to 'C' company before moving to Cyprus
    Trevor
     

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