South Staffords at Dover 1939

Discussion in 'British Army Units - Others' started by Fossil Phil, Jul 3, 2012.

  1. Fossil Phil

    Fossil Phil Junior Member

    Hi,

    I am looking for some help regarding the South Staffords in Dover in 1939. I believe from graffiti I have found in the area that they occupied the Grand Shaft Barracks at the Western Heights. Certainly one name I have seen, T.E. Harrison, dates to 11th October 1939. Unfortunately the battalion number is illegible.

    Would anyone have an idea which battalion this could have been please? Could it have been a newly raised battalion from a Militia group perhaps? Both No.1 and No.2 Militia Training Groups were at the barracks at that time too.

    I'd like to track down the appropriate War Diary if possible.

    Thank you.
     
  2. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    Here is one battalion related to Dover, but it was not formed until early 1940.


    10th (Pioneer) Battalion, The South Staffordshire Regiment

    The battalion was raised at Dover on March 27th, 1940. It moved to Sevenoaks by July 1st, 1940 and to Carnoustie by October 1st, 1940. It became infantry on October 24th, 1940.

    206th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home) – 4 December 1940 to 28 February 1942
    The 206th Brigade served in the Folkstone area in Kent during this period. The 10th Battalion was located at Ashford on January 1st, 1941.

    Service as Royal Artillery
    It was disbanded on March 1st, 1942 and the personnel went to form the 183rd Field Regiment, Royal Artillery (‘Q’, ‘R’ and ‘S’ Btys). The batteries were renamed as ‘P’, ‘Q’ and ‘R’ on March 11th, 1942 and numbered as 183rd-185th on January 1st, 1943. It served under the 38th (Welsh) Infantry Division in the United Kingdom from July 4th, 1942 until April 7th, 1943. The regiment was then sent to join 1st Army in Tunisia. It formed part of the 10th Army Group RA on its formation in North Africa on July 27th, 1943. The regiment was converted to the 61st Heavy Regiment, R.A. in North Africa on November 1st, 1944 with the 31st to 33rd Batteries. It served in Italy under this formation from late 1944 until the end of the war.
     
  3. Fossil Phil

    Fossil Phil Junior Member

    Thank you Dryan, very interesting. I don't suppose by any chance you have a record of where exactly the 10th Battalion was raised in Dover? That detail could help me a great deal.

    A second piece of graffiti, that of Pte. C.A. Robertson, is listed as 'Signal Section' but sadly the rest can't be made out.

    Here is Harrison's name from the Drop Redoubt fort near the Grand Shaft Barracks.
     

    Attached Files:

  4. Fossil Phil

    Fossil Phil Junior Member

    I hope no-one minds bumping up this thread.

    I've misread the graffiti in the Drop Redoubt fort and it actually reads "Pte. Harrison South Stafford Regt 10th October 1939 3962084"

    It certainly couldn't have been the 1st or 2nd Battalions as they were elsewhere at that time I believe. Could it be the 7th Battalion? Were they raised at then?

    The 7th King's Own Royal Regiment was raised in February 40 from the 16th Holding Battalion also at the Grand Shaft Barracks so I suppose it seems possible...

    Thank you for any help anyone can provide.
     
  5. GPRegt

    GPRegt Senior Member

  6. Fossil Phil

    Fossil Phil Junior Member

    Thank you Steve.
     

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