In Collaboration With Charles Griffin



Cardwell Reforms 1881
The old numbered regiments were re-organised and most were amalgamated and given territorial titles. The 45th (the Nottinghamshire Sherwood Foresters) Regiment became the 1st battalion of the new regiment, and the 95th (the Derbyshire) Regiment of Foot became the 2nd battalion. The new title was The Sherwood Foresters ( Derbyshire Regiment) which remained until 1902.
Militia and Volunteer Battalions
Also included in the new regiment were the militia forming the 3rd and 4th battalions. The Derbyshire Militia (Chatsworth Rifles) formed the 3rd, and the Nottinghamshire or Royal Sherwood Foresters formed the 4th. The HQ was in Derby. The volunteer battalions were: 1st Derby, 2nd Chesterfield, 3rd Nottingham, and 4th Newark.

The second battalion first went to Gibraltar in 1881 and then on to Egypt to take part in the 1882 campaign. After that they went to India and fought in the Tirah.

Heights of Dargai 1897
2nd Battalion at Peshawar 1897
2nd Battalion at Peshawar 1897
The British force sent into the Tirah was under the command of Sir William Lockhart. The force was very large, containing 12 British battalions and 24 Indian/Gurkha battalions. The 2nd battalion Derbyshires were part of the 1st Division and were commanded by Colonel Dowse. The Dorset and the Northampton battalions suffered from cholera during the journey to the north-west and were confined to camp for 10 days. The Derbyshires fared better, avoiding the outbreak, but they did suffer from sore feet.

Lockhart made it clear to the Orakzai and Afridi tribesmen that he was advancing through their territory and they were not to impede him. He planned an advance over the Chagru Kotal on the 20th October. Sappers tried to improve the road but were harassed by Afridis firing from the Dargai Heights. They could not be dislodged with artillery so the 2nd division was sent up to clear them on the 18th. This first assault was achieved quickly and the Heights were captured but there was not enough water up there and the position had to be abandoned.

Many questioned the decision to withdraw and were proved right because the tribesmen regained possession of the defences soon afterwards. It was decided to scale the Heights again on the 20th, this time the Derbys were brought in from the 1st Division to help. The Gurkhas were to lead the attack with the Dorsets in support and the Derbys in reserve. The Gurkhas bravely rushed at the defences but, having suffered 71 casualties, were pinned down. Next, the Dorsets tried to cover the open ground but were cut down. Three companies of the Derbys then made the attempt but they were having to go through a narrow space which was easy for the Afridi marksmen to aim at. During this attack, Lt Pennell won his VC.

A mass of men from all three regiments was hiding behind a ledge and unable to go forward or back. The commander of this action, Major-General Yeatman Biggs ordered a further attempt led by the Gordon Highlanders and the 3rd Sikhs. The rest of the Derbyshire battalion, with Gurkhas, was to be in support, and the Dorsets in reserve. The attack was to be preceded by an artillery barrage. When this ceased the determined Gordons swept forward taking many casualties but causing great concern amongst the tribesmen. The Derbys and Dorsets, at first, gave covering fire but were so inspired that they joined the attack.

The men from the first attack who had been pinned down for hours could hardly believe their luck that their ordeal was soon to end. The final yards were almost easy as the tribesmen had started to run away. The commander of the Gordons survived the advance and seeing that the Heights were won, ordered Sergeant Cursley of the Derbys to use his signal flag to inform the Divisional commanders that Dargai was cleared. The regiment had lost one officer and 3 men killed, 8 wounded.

Badge
Badges
Colours
Corps of Drums and Musicians
Marches
Quick: Young May Moon
I'm ninety-five
Regimental Anniversaries
6th April Badajoz Day
20th September Alma Day
Mascot
Derby Ram
Nicknames
The Sand Bags
The Coal Heavers
The Bill Browns
(3rd Battalion)
Uniforms
1660 - 1881
Colonels
1660 - 1881
Commanding Officers
1830 - 1881
Soldiers
1660 - 1881
Colours
1660 - 1881
Corps of Drums and Musicians
1660 - 1881
Battle Honours
Seven Years War
LOUISBURG

Peninsular War
ROLICA
VIMIERA
TALAVERA
BUSACO
FUENTES D'ONOR
CUIDAD RODRIGO
BADAJOS
SALAMANCA
VITTORIA
PYRENEES
NIVELLE
ORTHES
TOULOUSE
PENINSULA

First Burma War
AVA

Seventh Kaffir War
SOUTH AFRICA 1846-7

Crimean War
ALMA
INKERMAN
SEVASTOPOL

Indian Mutiny
CENTRAL INDIA

Abyssinian War
ABYSSINIA

First Sudan War
EGYPT 1882

Tirah Campaign
TIRAH

South African War
SOUTH AFRICA 1899-1902

World War 1
AISNE 1914, 1918
NEUVE CHAPELLE
LOOS
SOMME 1916, 1918
YPRES 1917, 1918
CAMBRAI 1917, 1918
ST QUENTIN CANAL
FRANCE AND FLANDERS 1914-18
ITALY 1917-18
GALLIPOLI 1915

World War 2
NORWAY 1940
GAZALA
EL ALAMEIN
TUNIS
SALERNO
ANZIO
CAMPOLEONE
GOTHIC LINE
CORIANO
SINGAPORE ISLAND

Predecessor Units
45th (Nottinghamshire Sherwood Foresters) Regiment
95th (the Derbyshire) Regiment of Foot
Titles
1881 Sherwood Foresters (Derbyshire) Regiment Amalgamation of 45th and 95th, Becoming the 1st and 2nd battalions respectively.
1902 The Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire) Regiment
1970 The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment
Further Reading
The History of the Sherwood Foresters 1919-57
by G N Barclay (Clowes 1959)

History of the 45th: First Nottinghamshire Regiment, Sherwood Foresters
by P H Dalbiac History of the 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts. and Derby Regt.) in the Boer War 1899-1902
by Capt C Gilson

The Journal of the Worcestershire & Sherwood Foresters Regiment
by Firm and Forester

10th (S) Bn The Sherwood Foresters : The History Of The Battalion During The War
by W N Hoyte

Historical Record of the Royal Sherwood Foresters: Or Nottinghamshire Regiment of Militia
by A E Lawson

The Sherwood Foresters in the Great War
by H C Wylly (Gale & Polden 1924)

History of the 1st and 2nd Battalions, The Sherwood Foresters 1740-1914
by H C Wylly (1929)


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by Stephen Luscombe