The 24th Regiment of Foot
repelling the Zulu attack at Rorke’s Drift in January 1879.
Artist: Alphonse de Neuville. (1836–1885).
Painting of The Battle of Rorke's Drift, which took place in Natal, South Africa, during The Anglo-Zulu War in 1879. De Neuville based the painting on eye witness accounts and it depicts several events of the Battle occurring at once.
Defenders depicted in the painting are: Lieutenant
John Chard (to the Right at the barrier, in pale breeches,
with rifle); Corporal Scammell, of The Natal Native Contingent, incorrectly shown in The Uniform of The 24th Regiment of Foot, or Corporal William Allen (handing cartridges to Chard);
Corporal Ferdinand Schiess (wearing a Bandoleer, and stabbing a Zulu at the barrier with his Bayonet); Chaplain George Smith (bearded man handing out cartridges from a haversack); Acting Assistant Commissary James Dalton (sat in foreground with a wounded shoulder); Surgeon James Reynolds (attending to Dalton's wound);
Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead (stood in the centre of the painting pointing to his Left); Private Frederick Hitch (stood behind Bromhead); Private Henry Hook (carrying Private John Connolly on his back, away from the burning hospital); Assistant Commissary Walter Dunne (to the Left,
holding a Biscuit Box).
(Sources: David, Saul [2005]. Zulu: The Heroism and Tragedy of The Zulu War of 1879 ISBN 9780141015699; Knight, Ian [1996] Rorke's Drift 1879: "Pinned Like Rats in a Hole".
Date: 1880.
Current location: Art Gallery of New South Wales
Source/Photographer: GOOGLE ARTS AND CULTURE
(Wikimedia Commons)
The Regimental Flag
of The 24th Regiment of Foot.
of The 24th Regiment of Foot.
Date: 1896.
Author: Frederick Edward Hulme.
Source: The Flags of the World:
Their History, Blazonry, and Associations.
Their History, Blazonry, and Associations.
(Wikimedia Commons)
The following Text is from Wikipedia - the free encyclopædia.
The South Wales Borderers were a Line Infantry Regiment of The British Army, in existence for 280 years. They first came into existence, as The 24th Regiment of Foot, in 1689. Based at Brecon, Wales, The Regiment recruited from The Border Counties of Monmouthshire, Herefordshire, and Brecknockshire, but were not called The South Wales Borderers until The Childers Reforms of 1881.
The Regiment served in a great many conflicts, including The American Revolutionary War, various conflicts in India, The Zulu War, Second Boer War, and World War I and World War II.
In 1969, The Regiment were amalgamated with The Welch Regiment, to form The Royal Regiment of Wales.
The Regiment were formed by Sir Edward Dering, 3rd Baronet, as Sir Edward Dering's Regiment of Foot, in 1689, becoming known, like other Regiments, by the names of its subsequent Colonels.
British Infantryman of The 24th Regiment of Foot in 1742.
Date: 13 December 2006 (original upload date).
This File: 13 December 2006.
User: Albinoni~commonswiki
(Wikimedia Commons)
The Regiment served under The Duke of Schomberg, during The Williamite War, in Ireland, and then saw action again at The Battle of Schellenberg, in July 1704, and at The Battle of Blenheim, in August 1704, during The War of The Spanish Succession.
The Regiment were part of the amphibious expedition to The Caribbean, and participated in the disastrous British defeat at The Battle of Cartagena de Indias, in March 1741, during The War of Jenkins' Ear. The Regiment were ranked as 24th in The Infantry Order Of Precedence, in 1747, and became The 24th Regiment of Foot, in 1751.
The Regiment took part in The Siege of Fort Saint Philip, in Menorca, Spain, in April 1756, during The Seven Years' War. It was also part of the amphibious expedition against, or descent on, the Coast of France, and participated in the British defeat at The Battle of Saint Cast, in September 1758.
In June 1776, The Regiment was sent to Quebec, Canada, where it subsequently fought American rebels who had invaded the Province during their War of Independence. The Regiment were part of the 5,000 British and Hessian force, under the command of General John Burgoyne, that surrendered to the American rebels in The Saratoga Campaign, in Summer 1777, and remained imprisoned until 1783. In 1782, it became The 24th (The 2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot.
In Honoured Memory of Private James Cooper V.C.,
a Plaque in Warstone Lane Cemetery, Birmingham, England.
Private James Cooper V.C. 1840 – 1882, 2nd Battalion 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot. Who gained his Country's highest Award for Valour on 7 May 1867, in The Andaman Islands / Bay of Bengal, and is buried in Warstone Lane Cemetery, Birmingham, England.
a Plaque in Warstone Lane Cemetery, Birmingham, England.
Private James Cooper V.C. 1840 – 1882, 2nd Battalion 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot. Who gained his Country's highest Award for Valour on 7 May 1867, in The Andaman Islands / Bay of Bengal, and is buried in Warstone Lane Cemetery, Birmingham, England.
The Regiment were deployed to Egypt in the aftermath of The Battle of Abukir, in March 1801; The 2nd Battalion was raised in 1804, which suffered heavy losses at The Battle of Talavera, in July 1809, during The Peninsular War. The vast majority of The 1st Battalion were captured at sea by the French at the Action of 3 July 1810, near The Comoro Islands: The 1st Battalion of The 24th Regiment of Foot had been on The East Indiamen, Astell, Ceylon and Windham, when a French Frigate Squadron captured the last two ships. They were released the following year.
The 1st Battalion took part in The Anglo-Nepalese War, November 1814. The Regiment were deployed to Canada in 1829 and remained there until 1842.
Marble Memorial at Saint John's Church, Jhelum, Pakistan,
In Memory of the Soldiers of The 24th Regiment of Foot,
killed there in July 1857 during The Indian Mutiny.
In Memory of the Soldiers of The 24th Regiment of Foot,
killed there in July 1857 during The Indian Mutiny.
Date: 15 July 2007 (original upload date).
This File: 30 October 2007.
User: Tonkawa68
(Wikimedia Commons)
The Second Sikh War And The Indian Mutiny.
The Regiment returned to India in 1846 and saw action at The Battle of Chillianwala, in January 1849, where The Regiment fought off the enemy with bayonets, rather than rifles, and 255 of its men died during The Second Anglo-Sikh War.
Meanwhile, five Victoria Crosses were awarded to men of The Regiment, who rescued their colleagues from cannibals on The Andaman Islands, India, in May 1857. Some thirty-five soldiers of The Regiment were killed by mutineers at their garrison in Jhelum, Pakistan, in July 1857, during The Indian Rebellion.
Zulu War.
In 1879, both Battalions took part in The Anglo-Zulu War, begun after a British invasion of Zululand, ruled by Cetshwayo. The 24th Regiment of Foot took part in The Crossing of The Buffalo River on 11 January 1879, entering Zululand. The first engagement (and the most disastrous for the British) came at Isandlwana. The British had pitched Camp at Isandlwana and not established any fortifications due to the sheer size of the Force, the hard ground, and a shortage of entrenching tools.
The 24th Regiment of Foot provided most of the British Force and, when the overall Commander, Lord Chelmsford, split his Forces on 22 January to search for the Zulus, the 1st Battalion (five Companies) and a Company of the 2nd Battalion were left behind to guard the Camp, under the Command of Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Pulleine (Commanding Officer of The 1/24th Foot).
A Zulu force of some 20,000 warriors attacked a portion of
the British Main Column, consisting of about 1,800 British, Colonial, and Native Troops, and perhaps 400 Civilians. During the battle, Lieutenant-Colonel Pulleine ordered Lieutenants Coghill and Melvill to save The Queen’s Colour —the Regimental Colour was located at Helpmekaar, with
G Company.
The two Lieutenants attempted to escape by crossing The Buffalo River, where The Colour fell and was lost downstream, later being recovered. Both Officers were killed. At this time, The Victoria Cross (VC) was not awarded posthumously. This changed in the early 1900s when both Lieutenants were awarded posthumous Victoria Crosses for their bravery. The Battle of Isandlwana was dramatised in the 1979 movie “Zulu Dawn”.
Battle Of Rorke's Drift.
After The Battle of Isandlwana, some 4,000 to 5,000 Zulus headed for Rorke's Drift, a small Missionary Post garrisoned by a Company of The 2/24th Regiment Of Foot, Native Levies, and others, under the command of Lieutenant Chard, Royal Engineers. The Most Senior Officer of The 24th Regiment of Foot present being Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead.
Two Boer Cavalry Officers, Lieutenants Adendorff and Vane, arrived to inform the garrison of the defeat at Isandlwana. The Acting Assistant Commissary, James Dalton, persuaded Bromhead and Chard to stay, and the small garrison frantically prepared rudimentary fortifications.
The Zulus first attacked at 4:30 p.m. Throughout the day, the garrison was attacked from all sides, including rifle fire from the heights above the garrison, and bitter hand-to-hand fighting often ensued. At one point, the Zulus entered the hospital, which was stoutly defended by the wounded inside, until it was set alight and eventually burnt down. The battle raged on into the early hours of 23 January, but, by Dawn, the Zulu Army had withdrawn. Lord Chelmsford and a Column of British Troops arrived soon afterwards.
The garrison had suffered fifteen killed during the battle (two died later) and eleven defenders were awarded The Victoria Cross for their distinguished defence of The Post, seven Victoria Crosses going to Soldiers of The 24th Foot. The Stand at Rorke’s Drift was immortalised in the 1964 Movie “Zulu”.
The Third Anglo-Burmese War
And The Second Boer War.
The Regiment was not fundamentally affected by The Cardwell Reforms of the 1870s, which gave it a Depot at The Barracks, Brecon, Wales, from 1873, or by The Childers Reforms of 1881 – as it already possessed two Battalions, there was no need for it to amalgamate with another Regiment.
Under The Reforms, The 24th Regiment Of Foot had its name changed, and became The South Wales Borderers on 1 July 1881. This, understandably, led to The Regiment having close links with South Wales. The 2nd Battalion was deployed to Burma and saw action in November 1885 during The Third Anglo-Burmese War. The 2nd Battalion then arrived in Cape Colony South Africa, in early February 1900, and saw action at The Battle of Elands River in September 1901 during The Second Boer War.
A 3rd (Militia) Battalion, formed of the former Royal South Wales Borderers Militia, was embodied in January 1900, and the following month embarked for Service in South Africa, arriving in Cape Town on the SS Cheshire in March 1900. A 4th (Militia) Battalion, formed of the former Royal Montgomery Rifles, was embodied in May 1900 and disembodied in December the same year.
In 1908, The Volunteers and Militia were re-organised nationally, with the former becoming The Territorial Force and the latter The Special Reserve; The Regiment now had one Reserve Battalion and one Territorial Battalion.
Regular Army.
The 1st Battalion landed at Le Havre as part of 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, with The British Expeditionary Force, in August 1914, for Service on The Western Front. The 2nd Battalion landed at Laoshan Bay China, for Operations against the German Territory of Tsingtao, in September 1914, and saw Action at The Siege of Tsingtao in October 1914.
After returning home in January 1915, The 2nd Battalion landed at Cape Helles, as part of 87th Brigade, 29th Division, in April 1915; it was evacuated from Gallipoli in January 1916 and landed at Marseille, France, in March 1916, for Service on The Western Front.
Territorial Force.
The 1st Battalion embarked for Ireland, in June 1920, to maintain order during The Irish War of Independence, and to Waziristan, in February 1937, in connection with disturbances on The Frontier. Meanwhile, the 2nd Battalion was deployed to Palestine, in 1936, returning home at the end of the year.
Second World War.
The 1st Battalion, as part of 10th Indian Infantry Division, were sent to Iraq to quell a German-inspired uprising in November 1941. The Battalion saw subsequent service in Iran. The Battalion sustained enormous casualties in Libya, near Tobruk, when they lost around 500 Officers and Men, captured or killed during a General Retreat.
The Battalion found itself cut off when the German Forces outflanked them. The Commanding Officer, Lt.-Col. F. R. G. Matthews, decided to attempt to escape around the enemy and break through to British Lines. It turned into a disaster, with only four Officers and around one hundred Men reaching Sollum.
To the surprise of the survivors, the Battalion was ordered to disband in Cyprus, and the remnants of the Battalion were transferred, with the exception of a small Cadre that returned to The United Kingdom, to 1st Battalion, The King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster). A few months later, the Battalion was re-formed from the Cadre and 4th Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment
Upon the outbreak of The Second World War, in September 1939, 2nd Battalion was serving in Derry, Northern Ireland, under command of Northern Ireland District, having been there since December 1936. In December 1939, the Battalion left Northern Ireland and was sent to join 148th Infantry Brigade, 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division, a Territorial Formation.
In April 1940, the Battalion was again transferred to the newly-created 24th Guards Brigade (Rupert Force), and took part in The Norwegian Campaign, and were among the first British Troops to see Action against The German Army in The Second World War.
The Norwegian Campaign failed, and the 24th Guards Brigade (Rupert Force) had to be evacuated. Casualties in The Battalion, however, had been remarkably light, with only thirteen wounded and six killed, and two Distinguished Conduct Medals (DCMs) had been awarded.
The 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division was an Infantry Division of the British Army that saw distinguished Service in the Second World War. Pre-War, the Division was part of the Territorial Army (TA) and the two Ts in the Divisional Insignia represent the three main rivers of its recruitment area, namely the Rivers Tyne, Tees and Humber.
The 50th Division was one of two British Divisions (the other being 3rd Infantry Division) to land in Normandy, on D-Day, 6 June 1944, where it landed on Gold Beach. Four men of the Division were awarded the Victoria Cross during the War, more than any other Division of the British Army during The Second World War.
2nd Battalion, South Wales Borderers, had the distinction of being the only Welsh Battalion to take part in the Normandy Landings on 6 June 1944, landing at Gold Beach, under command of 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division and fought in the Battle of Normandy, under command of 7th Armoured Division for a few days in June 1944, before reverting to 50th Division.
Afterwards, 2nd Battalion, South Wales Borderers, enjoyed a short rest, and, on 22 September 1944, moved to join the rest of 21st Army Group fighting in Belgium. In October 1944, shortly after the failure of Operation Market Garden, the Division was sent to garrison “The Island”, the area of land between Arnhem and Nijmegen, where it remained throughout the Winter of 1944.
The last major Action for the 2nd Battalion was in April 1945, when, with the rest of the Division, they fought in the Second Battle of Arnhem. The Battalion ended its War in Germany, and remained there, as part of the Occupation Forces, until 1948, when it returned home.
6th Battalion, South Wales Borderers, Served in the Burma Campaign, with 72nd Infantry Brigade, 36th British Infantry Division, previously a Division of the British Indian Army before being re-designated the 36th British Division.
1st Battalion, South Wales Borderers, were deployed to Palestine to deal with the volatile uprising there in October 1945, and then moved to Cyprus, in April 1946. The 2nd Battalion was disbanded in May 1948 as a consequence of Defence Cuts implemented shortly after the Second World War.
The Regiment deployed to The Sudan in March 1949 and became part of the Occupation Force in Eritrea, a former Italian Colony that was ruled by a British Military Administration, in January 1950. The Regiment arrived in Brunswick, West Germany, as part of British Army of The Rhine (BAOR), in January 1953, and was then deployed to Malaya, in December 1955, as part of the response to The Malayan Emergency.
The Regiment’s conduct during The Malayan Emergency compelled Field Marshal Sir Gerald Templer, a distinguished British Officer and a man who was instrumental in the defeat of the Communist Terrorists during The Emergency, to state that: “There has been no better Regiment in Malaya during the ten years of The Emergency and very few as good”.
The Regiment were Posted to Minden, Germany, in June 1959, and returned home three years later. It arrived at Stanley Fort, in Hong Kong, in November 1963, to perform Internal Security Duties. It returned home to Lydd, in Kent, in June 1966, before deploying to Aden, in January 1967. The Regiment were amalgamated with The Welch Regiment, to form The Royal Regiment of Wales (24th/41st Foot), in June 1969.
The two Lieutenants attempted to escape by crossing The Buffalo River, where The Colour fell and was lost downstream, later being recovered. Both Officers were killed. At this time, The Victoria Cross (VC) was not awarded posthumously. This changed in the early 1900s when both Lieutenants were awarded posthumous Victoria Crosses for their bravery. The Battle of Isandlwana was dramatised in the 1979 movie “Zulu Dawn”.
Battle Of Rorke's Drift.
“Zulu”.
Available on YouTube at
Two Boer Cavalry Officers, Lieutenants Adendorff and Vane, arrived to inform the garrison of the defeat at Isandlwana. The Acting Assistant Commissary, James Dalton, persuaded Bromhead and Chard to stay, and the small garrison frantically prepared rudimentary fortifications.
“Zulu”.
Final Attack.
Available on YouTube at
The Zulus first attacked at 4:30 p.m. Throughout the day, the garrison was attacked from all sides, including rifle fire from the heights above the garrison, and bitter hand-to-hand fighting often ensued. At one point, the Zulus entered the hospital, which was stoutly defended by the wounded inside, until it was set alight and eventually burnt down. The battle raged on into the early hours of 23 January, but, by Dawn, the Zulu Army had withdrawn. Lord Chelmsford and a Column of British Troops arrived soon afterwards.
The garrison had suffered fifteen killed during the battle (two died later) and eleven defenders were awarded The Victoria Cross for their distinguished defence of The Post, seven Victoria Crosses going to Soldiers of The 24th Foot. The Stand at Rorke’s Drift was immortalised in the 1964 Movie “Zulu”.
“Zulu”.
Final Appearance and Salute Scene.
Available on YouTube at
The Third Anglo-Burmese War
And The Second Boer War.
The Regiment was not fundamentally affected by The Cardwell Reforms of the 1870s, which gave it a Depot at The Barracks, Brecon, Wales, from 1873, or by The Childers Reforms of 1881 – as it already possessed two Battalions, there was no need for it to amalgamate with another Regiment.
Under The Reforms, The 24th Regiment Of Foot had its name changed, and became The South Wales Borderers on 1 July 1881. This, understandably, led to The Regiment having close links with South Wales. The 2nd Battalion was deployed to Burma and saw action in November 1885 during The Third Anglo-Burmese War. The 2nd Battalion then arrived in Cape Colony South Africa, in early February 1900, and saw action at The Battle of Elands River in September 1901 during The Second Boer War.
A 3rd (Militia) Battalion, formed of the former Royal South Wales Borderers Militia, was embodied in January 1900, and the following month embarked for Service in South Africa, arriving in Cape Town on the SS Cheshire in March 1900. A 4th (Militia) Battalion, formed of the former Royal Montgomery Rifles, was embodied in May 1900 and disembodied in December the same year.
In 1908, The Volunteers and Militia were re-organised nationally, with the former becoming The Territorial Force and the latter The Special Reserve; The Regiment now had one Reserve Battalion and one Territorial Battalion.
First World War.
Lieutenant-Colonel Sidney John Wilkinson,
10th Battalion, The South Wales Borderers.
Killed-in-Action during The First World War.
Lieutenant-Colonel Wilkinson was educated at Wellington School. He received his Commission to The West Yorkshire Regiment in 1900 and served in The Second Anglo-Boer War.
In 1910, he achieved the Rank of Captain. As Lieutenant-Colonel, he transferred to The Welsh Regiment and, subsequently, to The South Wales Borderers.
Lt-Colonel Wilkinson was Posted to The Western Front in 1915. He was Mentioned in Despatches and awarded The Distinguished Service Order in January 1916.
He was Killed-in-Action on 7 July 1916 during The Battle of the Somme. He is Commemorated on The Thiepval Memorial.
Faces of the First World War.
Find out more about this
First World War Centenary Project at www.1914.org/faces
This image is from IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM
An excellent Regimental History
and an essential component of every Library of The Zulu War
Illustration: LEONAUR
Regular Army.
The 1st Battalion landed at Le Havre as part of 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, with The British Expeditionary Force, in August 1914, for Service on The Western Front. The 2nd Battalion landed at Laoshan Bay China, for Operations against the German Territory of Tsingtao, in September 1914, and saw Action at The Siege of Tsingtao in October 1914.
After returning home in January 1915, The 2nd Battalion landed at Cape Helles, as part of 87th Brigade, 29th Division, in April 1915; it was evacuated from Gallipoli in January 1916 and landed at Marseille, France, in March 1916, for Service on The Western Front.
The Queen’s Colour.
2nd Battalion, 24th Regiment of Foot
(The South Wales Borderers).
Date: 13 September 2013.
Source: Own work.
Author: Wally Wiglet.
(Wikimedia Commons)
Territorial Force.
1/1st Brecknockshire Battalion landed in Bombay, India, as part of 44th (Home Counties) Division, in October 1914, and moved to Aden in December 1914, before returning to Bombay in August 1915.
New Armies.
4th (Service) Battalion landed in Gallipoli, as part of 40th Brigade, 13th (Western) Division, in July 1915; it was evacuated from Gallipoli in January 1916 and moved to Egypt, and then to Mesopotamia. 5th (Service) Battalion (Pioneers) landed at Le Havre, France, as part of 58th Brigade, 19th (Western) Division, in July 1915, for Service on The Western Front.
6th (Service) Battalion (Pioneers) landed at Le Havre, as part of 76th Brigade, 25th Division, in September 1915, for Service on The Western Front. 7th (Service) Battalion and 8th (Service) Battalion landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer, France, as part of 67th Brigade, 22nd Division, in September 1915, for Service on The Western Front, but moved to Salonika, Greece, in October 1915.
10th (Service) Battalion (1st Gwent) and 11th (Service) Battalion (2nd Gwent) landed at Le Havre as part of 115th Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division, in December 1915, for Service on The Western Front. 12th (Service) Battalion (3rd Gwent) landed at Le Havre as part of 119th Brigade, 40th Division, in June 1916, for Service on The Western Front. Welsh Poet and Language Activist, Saunders Lewis, Served in The 12th Battalion during The First World War.
Inter-War.
New Armies.
4th (Service) Battalion landed in Gallipoli, as part of 40th Brigade, 13th (Western) Division, in July 1915; it was evacuated from Gallipoli in January 1916 and moved to Egypt, and then to Mesopotamia. 5th (Service) Battalion (Pioneers) landed at Le Havre, France, as part of 58th Brigade, 19th (Western) Division, in July 1915, for Service on The Western Front.
6th (Service) Battalion (Pioneers) landed at Le Havre, as part of 76th Brigade, 25th Division, in September 1915, for Service on The Western Front. 7th (Service) Battalion and 8th (Service) Battalion landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer, France, as part of 67th Brigade, 22nd Division, in September 1915, for Service on The Western Front, but moved to Salonika, Greece, in October 1915.
10th (Service) Battalion (1st Gwent) and 11th (Service) Battalion (2nd Gwent) landed at Le Havre as part of 115th Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division, in December 1915, for Service on The Western Front. 12th (Service) Battalion (3rd Gwent) landed at Le Havre as part of 119th Brigade, 40th Division, in June 1916, for Service on The Western Front. Welsh Poet and Language Activist, Saunders Lewis, Served in The 12th Battalion during The First World War.
The Seven-Button Tunic for The 24th Regiment of Foot (South Wales Borderers), circa 1879, which was worn for “Home Service”. All the features of the Jackets are the same as the originals. All the Lace and Linings are to original grade specification. Price includes Sword/Belt Hook support. These superb Replicas are made with Military Grade Wool. Unfortunately, Collar Badges are currently unavailable.
Illustration: PIPE BAND WEAR SHOP
Inter-War.
The 1st Battalion embarked for Ireland, in June 1920, to maintain order during The Irish War of Independence, and to Waziristan, in February 1937, in connection with disturbances on The Frontier. Meanwhile, the 2nd Battalion was deployed to Palestine, in 1936, returning home at the end of the year.
Second World War.
The 1st Battalion, as part of 10th Indian Infantry Division, were sent to Iraq to quell a German-inspired uprising in November 1941. The Battalion saw subsequent service in Iran. The Battalion sustained enormous casualties in Libya, near Tobruk, when they lost around 500 Officers and Men, captured or killed during a General Retreat.
The Battalion found itself cut off when the German Forces outflanked them. The Commanding Officer, Lt.-Col. F. R. G. Matthews, decided to attempt to escape around the enemy and break through to British Lines. It turned into a disaster, with only four Officers and around one hundred Men reaching Sollum.
To the surprise of the survivors, the Battalion was ordered to disband in Cyprus, and the remnants of the Battalion were transferred, with the exception of a small Cadre that returned to The United Kingdom, to 1st Battalion, The King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster). A few months later, the Battalion was re-formed from the Cadre and 4th Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment
Upon the outbreak of The Second World War, in September 1939, 2nd Battalion was serving in Derry, Northern Ireland, under command of Northern Ireland District, having been there since December 1936. In December 1939, the Battalion left Northern Ireland and was sent to join 148th Infantry Brigade, 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division, a Territorial Formation.
In April 1940, the Battalion was again transferred to the newly-created 24th Guards Brigade (Rupert Force), and took part in The Norwegian Campaign, and were among the first British Troops to see Action against The German Army in The Second World War.
Boxed Figure: The 24th Regiment of Foot.
Illustration: MONKEY DEPOT
The 2nd Battalion returned to The United Kingdom, and, on
7 December 1941 (the day The United States entered the War), transferred to 37th Independent Infantry Brigade
(re-designated 7th Infantry Brigade the day after).
On 1 March 1944, the Battalion were transferred to the newly-created 56th Independent Infantry Brigade, alongside which were 2nd Battalion, Essex Regiment and 2nd Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment, and trained for the Invasion of Normandy.
On 1 March 1944, the Battalion were transferred to the newly-created 56th Independent Infantry Brigade, alongside which were 2nd Battalion, Essex Regiment and 2nd Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment, and trained for the Invasion of Normandy.
50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division
(also known as The Tyne Tees Division).
(also known as The Tyne Tees Division).
Date: 28 May 2015.
Source: IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM
Author: Mliu92
(Wikimedia Commons)
The 50th Division was one of two British Divisions (the other being 3rd Infantry Division) to land in Normandy, on D-Day, 6 June 1944, where it landed on Gold Beach. Four men of the Division were awarded the Victoria Cross during the War, more than any other Division of the British Army during The Second World War.
2nd Battalion, South Wales Borderers, had the distinction of being the only Welsh Battalion to take part in the Normandy Landings on 6 June 1944, landing at Gold Beach, under command of 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division and fought in the Battle of Normandy, under command of 7th Armoured Division for a few days in June 1944, before reverting to 50th Division.
The last major Action for the 2nd Battalion was in April 1945, when, with the rest of the Division, they fought in the Second Battle of Arnhem. The Battalion ended its War in Germany, and remained there, as part of the Occupation Forces, until 1948, when it returned home.
6th Battalion, South Wales Borderers, Served in the Burma Campaign, with 72nd Infantry Brigade, 36th British Infantry Division, previously a Division of the British Indian Army before being re-designated the 36th British Division.
The Band of The 1/24th Regiment of Foot, photographed in 1878 in South Africa, played cheery, morale-boosting melodies as the Regiment marched to “The Killing Fields of Zululand”. Out of the entire Band, only two Bandsmen survived.
Illustration: WWW.1879ZULUWAR.COM
Post-War.
The Regiment deployed to The Sudan in March 1949 and became part of the Occupation Force in Eritrea, a former Italian Colony that was ruled by a British Military Administration, in January 1950. The Regiment arrived in Brunswick, West Germany, as part of British Army of The Rhine (BAOR), in January 1953, and was then deployed to Malaya, in December 1955, as part of the response to The Malayan Emergency.
The Regiment’s conduct during The Malayan Emergency compelled Field Marshal Sir Gerald Templer, a distinguished British Officer and a man who was instrumental in the defeat of the Communist Terrorists during The Emergency, to state that: “There has been no better Regiment in Malaya during the ten years of The Emergency and very few as good”.
The Regiment were Posted to Minden, Germany, in June 1959, and returned home three years later. It arrived at Stanley Fort, in Hong Kong, in November 1963, to perform Internal Security Duties. It returned home to Lydd, in Kent, in June 1966, before deploying to Aden, in January 1967. The Regiment were amalgamated with The Welch Regiment, to form The Royal Regiment of Wales (24th/41st Foot), in June 1969.
