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List of battalions of the Devonshire Regiment

This is a list of battalions of the Devonshire Regiment, which existed as an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1958.

Original composition

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When the 11th (North Devonshire) Regiment of Foot became the Devonshire Regiment in 1881 under the Cardwell-Childers reforms of the British Armed Forces, seven pre-existent militia and volunteer battalions of Devonshire were integrated into the structure of the regiment. Volunteer battalions had been created in reaction to a perceived threat of invasion by France in the late 1850s. Organised as "rifle volunteer corps", they were independent of the British Army and composed primarily of the middle class.

Battalion Formed Formerly
Regular
1st 1685 1st Battalion, 11th (North Devonshire) Regiment of Foot
2nd 1858 2nd Battalion, 11th (North Devonshire) Regiment of Foot
Militia
3rd (Militia) 1853 South Devon Militia[1]
4th (Militia) 1853 East Devon Militia[2]
Volunteers
1st (Exeter and South Devon) Volunteer 1853 1st Devonshire (Exeter and South Devon) Rifle Volunteer Corps[3]
2nd (Prince of Wales's) Volunteer 1860 2nd Devonshire Rifle Volunteer Corps (Prince of Wales's)[3]
3rd Volunteer 1860 3rd Devonshire Rifle Volunteer Corps[4]
4th Volunteer 1860 4th Devonshire Rifle Volunteer Corps[4]
5th (The Hay Tor) Volunteer 1860 5th Devonshire Rifle Volunteer Corps[5]

Reorganisation

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The Territorial Force (later Territorial Army) was formed in 1908, which the volunteer battalions joined, while the militia battalions transferred to the "Special Reserve". All volunteer battalions were renumbered to create a single sequential order. Also in 1908, the 3rd (Militia) Battalion was one of the 23 infantry militia battalions to disband, and so the 4th was renumbered at the 3rd.[1]

Battalion Formerly
4th 1st (Exeter and South Devon) Volunteer Battalion
5th (Prince of Wales's) Amalgamation of 2nd (Prince of Wales's) and 5th (The Hay Tor) Volunteer Battalions
6th 4th Volunteer
7th (Cyclist) Cyclist sections of 1st (Exeter and South Devon), 2nd (Prince of Wales's), and 5th (The Hay Tor) Volunteer Battalions

First World War

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The Devons fielded 28 battalions and lost over 6,000 officers and other ranks during the course of the war.[6] The regiment's territorial components formed duplicate second and third line battalions. As an example, the three-line battalions of the 4th Devons were numbered as the 1/4th, 2/4th, and 3/4th respectively, with the third line battalions, being redesignated reserve battalions in 1916. Four battalions of the regiment were formed as part of Secretary of State for War Lord Kitchener's appeal for an initial 100,000 men volunteers in 1914. They were referred to as the New Army or Kitchener's Army. The Volunteer Training Corps were raised with overage or reserved occupation men early in the war, and were initially self-organised into many small corps, with a wide variety of names, such as the Bideford and District Emergence League formed in early August 1914 with 80 members.[7] Recognition of the corps by the authorities brought regulation and as the war continued the small corps were formed into battalion sized units of the county Volunteer Regiment. In 1918 these were linked to county regiments.[8]

Battalion Formed Served Fate
Regular[9][10]
1st 1685 Western Front, Italian Front
2nd 1858 Western Front
Special Reserve[9][10]
3rd (Reserve) 1908 Britain
Territorial Force[9][10]
1/4th 1853 Mesopotamia
1/5th (Prince of Wales's) 1908 India, Sinai and Palestine, Western Front
1/6th 1860 India, Mesopotamia
1/7th (Cyclist) 1908 Britain See Inter-War
2/4th Exeter, September 1914 India, Sinai and Palestine Disbanded, in Egypt, August 1918
2/5th (Prince of Wales's) Plymouth, September 1914 Egypt Disbanded, in Egypt, June 1916
2/6th Barnstaple, September 1914 India, Mesopotamia Disbanded, in 1919
2/7th (Cyclist) Totnes, October 1914 Britain Disbanded, in 1919
3/4th
4th (Reserve), from April 1916 		Exeter, March 1915 Britain, Ireland Disbanded, in 1919
3/5th (Prince of Wales's)
5th (Reserve), from April 1916 		Plymouth, March 1915 Britain Absorbed by 4th (Reserve) Battalion, in September 1916
3/6th
6th (Reserve), from April 1916 		Barnstaple, March 1915 Britain Absorbed by 4th (Reserve) Battalion, in September 1916
3/7th (Cyclist) 1915 Britain Disbanded, in March 1916
15th January 1917
from 86th Provisional Battalion (Territorial Force) 		Britain Disbanded, in 1919
16th (Royal 1st Devon and Royal North Devon Yeomanry) Egypt, January 1917 Sinai and Palestine, Western Front Disbanded, in 1919
New Army[9][10]
8th (Service) Exeter, August 1914 Western Front, Italian Front Disbanded, in 1919
9th (Service) Exeter, September 1914 Western Front, Italian Front Disbanded, in 1919
10th (Service) Exeter, September 1914 Western Front, Salonika Disbanded, in 1919
11th (Reserve) Exeter, November 1914 Britain Converted to 44th Training Reserve Battalion in September 1916
Others[9][10]
12th (Labour) Devonport, May 1916 Western Front Became Nos. 152 and 153 Companies, Labour Corps, in April 1917
13th (Works) Saltash, June 1916 Britain Became 3rd Labour Battalion, in April 1917
14th (Labour) Plymouth, August 1916 Western Front Became Nos. 154 and 155 Companies, Labour Corps, in April 1917
1st Garrison Weymouth, August 1915 Egypt, Sinai and Palestine Disbanded, in 1919
2nd (Home Service) Garrison Exeter, July 1916 Britain Converted to 5th Battalion, Royal Defence Corps, in August 1917
51st (Graduated) October 1917
from 206th Graduated Battalion 		Britain Disbanded, in 1920
52nd (Graduated) October 1917
from 210th (Infantry) Battalion, Training Reserve 		Britain Converted to service battalion and disbanded in Germany, in 1920
53rd (Young Soldier) October 1917
from 35th Training Reserve Battalion 		Britain Converted to service battalion and absorbed into 1/5th Battalion in Germany, in 1920
Volunteer Training Corps[11]
1st Battalion Devonshire Volunteer Regiment
later the 1st Volunteer Battalion, Devonshire Regiment		 Exeter Disbanded post war
2nd Battalion Devonshire Volunteer Regiment
later the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, Devonshire Regiment		 Plymouth Disbanded post war
3rd Battalion (North Devon) Devonshire Volunteer Regiment Chester Disbanded 1918
4th Battalion (South Devon) Devonshire Volunteer Regiment
later the 3rd Volunteer Battalion, Devonshire Regiment		 Torquay Disbanded post war
5th Battalion (East Devon) Devonshire Volunteer Regiment Sidmouth Disbanded 1918

Inter-War

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By 1920, all of the regiment's war-raised battalions had disbanded. The Special Reserve reverted to its militia designation in 1921, then to the Supplementary Reserve in 1924; however, its battalions were effectively placed in 'suspended animation'. As World War II approached, the Territorial Army was reorganised in the mid-1930s, many of its infantry battalions were converted to other roles, especially anti-aircraft.

Battalion Fate
5th (Prince of Wales's)
7th (Cyclist) Originally to convert to 7th (Devon and Warwick) Medium Brigade, Royal Garrison Artillery; however instead disbanded in 1921.[12]

Second World War

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The regiment's expansion during the Second World War was modest compared to 1914–1918. National Defence Companies were combined to create a new "Home Defence" battalion, and in addition to this 25 battalions of the Home Guard were affiliated to the regiment, wearing its cap badge. By 1944 two anti-aircraft rocket batteries (Z Battery) were also part of the regiment.[13] Due to the daytime (or shift working) occupations of these men, the batteries required eight times the manpower of an equivalent regular battery.[14] A number of Light Anti-Aircraft (LAA) troops were formed from the local battalions to defend specific points, such as factories.[15] .[16]

Battalion Formed Served Fate
Regular
1st 1685 India, Burma[17]
2nd 1858 Malta, Sicily, North West Europe[18] See Post-World War II
Supplementary Reserve
3rd 1908 See Post-World War II
Territorial Army[19]
4th 1853 Gibraltar, Britain
5th (Prince of Wales's) 1908 Britain Converted to 86th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery, in 1941[20]
6th 1860 Britain, Ireland Converted to 628th Heavy Regiment, Royal Artillery, in January 1947
7th (Haytor) 1939
as a duplicate of 5th (Prince of Wales's) Battalion[21] 		Britain Converted to 87th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery, in 1941[20]
8th 1939
as a duplicate of 4th Battalion[22] 		Britain Disbanded, in 1947
9th 1939
as a duplicate of 6th Battalion[23] 		Britain Disbanded, in August 1942
10th November 1939
from No. 80 Group, National Defence Companies 		Britain Become 30th Battalion, in December 1941
11th July 1940
from Regimental Depot 		Britain, Ireland Disbanded, in September 1943
12th July 1940
from 50th (Holding) Battalion[24] 		Normandy, North West Europe[25] Disbanded, in November 1945[26]
30th December 1941
from 10th Battalion 		Britain Disbanded, in 1945
50th (Holding) 1940 Britain Became 12th Battalion, in 1940[24]
Home Guard[27]
Battalion Headquarters Formation Sign (dark blue on khaki) Battalion Headquarters Formation Sign (dark blue on khaki)
1st Exeter DVN 1 2nd Ottery St. Mary DVN 2
3rd Cullompton DVN 3 4th Barnstaple DVN 4
5th Bideford DVN 5 6th Chumleigh DVN 6
7th Oakhampton DVN 7 8th Holsworthy DVN 8
9th Newton Abbot DVN 9 10th Torquey DVN 10
11th Knightsbridge DVN 11 13th Totnes DVN 13
14th Bovey Tracy DVN 14 15th Plympton DVN 15
16th Plymouth DVN 16 17th Devonport DVN 17
18th Saltash DVN 18 19th Seaton DVN 19
20th Tiverton DVN 20 21st Plymouth DVN 21
22nd Exeter (5th Bn Southern Railways) DVN 22 23rd (Drake's) Tavistock DVN 23
24th Hartland DVN 24 25th Illfracombe DVN 25
Home Guard Anti-Aircraft units[13][15]
Formation Sign
(dark blue on khaki)		 Headquarters or Location AA Formation and Designation Formation Sign
(dark blue on khaki)		 Headquarters or Location AA Formation and Designation
DVN 101 Plymstock 144th Battery, 18th Anti-Aircraft Regiment (Home Guard) (Z battery) DVN 102 Plymouth 142nd Battery, 18th Anti-Aircraft Regiment (Home Guard) (Z battery)
DVN 1 Exeter,
(Great Western Railways)		 A Troop LAA DVN 9 Newton Abbot,
(Great Western Railways)		 A Troop LAA
DVN 10 Torre,
(Great Western Railways)		 A Troop LAA DVN 16 Plymouth and Laira Junction,
(Great Western Railways)		 A Troop LAA
DVN 17 Plymouth,
(Dockyards)		 A Troop LAA DVN 17 Ernesettle and Bull Point
Ammunition depots		 B Troop LAA
DVN 22 Barnstaple,
(Southern Railways)		 A Troop LAA DVN 22 Exeter and Exmouth,
(Southern Railways)		 B Troop LAA
DVN 22 Exeter Junction and Axminster,
(Southern Railways)		 C Troop LAA DVN 22 Templecombe and Yeovil Junction,
(Southern Railways)		 D Troop LAA
DVN 22 Oakhampton, Meldon Quarry, Tavistock and Bere Aslton,
(Southern Railways)		 E Troop LAA DVN 22 Launceston and Wadebridge,
(Southern Railways)		 F Troop LAA

Post-World War II

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In the immediate post-war period, the army was significantly reduced: nearly all infantry regiments had their first and second battalions amalgamated and the Supplementary Reserve disbanded.

Battalion Fate
2nd Disbanded, in June 1948[28]
5th (Prince of Wales's) Reformed, in January 1947. Later amalgamated with the 4th Battalion, in May 1950.[21]

1957 Defence White Paper

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Under the 1957 Defence White Paper, it was announced that the Devonshire Regiment would amalgamate with the Dorset Regiment, to form the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment, in May 1958.

Battalion Fate
1st Amalgamated with 1st Battalion, Dorset Regiment to form 1st Battalion, Devonshire and Dorset Regiment[29]
4th Transferred to the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment without a change in title[22]

References

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  1. ^ a b Parkyn p.223
  2. ^ Parkyn p.222
  3. ^ a b Westlake p.63
  4. ^ a b Westlake p.64
  5. ^ Westlake p.65
  6. ^ "The Devonshire Regiment In the First World War". Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  7. ^ Westlake, Ray (2020). Guide to the Volunteer Training Corps 1914-1918. Uckfield: Naval and Military Press. p. 23. ISBN 9781783315390.
  8. ^ Westlake pp. 4-7
  9. ^ a b c d e "Devonshire Regiment". Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  10. ^ a b c d e "Unit History: Devonshire Regiment". Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  11. ^ Westlake p. 114
  12. ^ "7th (Cyclist) Battalion, The Devonshire Regiment". Archived from the original on 30 November 2007. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  13. ^ a b Whittaker p. 107
  14. ^ Whittaker p. 23
  15. ^ a b Whittaker pp. 115-116
  16. ^ "Devon Home Guard". Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  17. ^ "1st Battalion, Devonshire Regiment". Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  18. ^ "2nd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment". Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  19. ^ "The 4th, 6th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th and 30th Battalions The Devonshire Regiment in World War Two". Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  20. ^ a b "The 5th and 7th Battalions The Devonshire Regiment in World War Two". Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  21. ^ a b "5th Battalion, The Devonshire Regiment". Archived from the original on 9 February 2007. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  22. ^ a b "4th Battalion The Devonshire Regiment (and all Devonshire infantry successors)". Archived from the original on 5 March 2007. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  23. ^ "6th Battalion, The Devonshire Regiment". Archived from the original on 19 April 2007. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  24. ^ a b "The 12th and 50th Battalions The Devonshire Regiment in World War Two". Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  25. ^ "12th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment". Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  26. ^ "12th Battalion The Devonshire Regiment". Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  27. ^ "History of the Home Guard". Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  28. ^ "2nd Battalion, 11th Regiment of Foot / 2nd Battalion, The Devonshire Regiment". Archived from the original on 1 January 2007. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  29. ^ "1st Battalion, 11th Regiment of Foot / 1st Battalion, The Devonshire Regiment". Archived from the original on 26 February 2007. Retrieved 7 April 2021.

Bibliography

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  • H. G. Parkyn, Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research, Vol. 15, No. 60 (Winter, 1936), Society for Army Historical Research, 1936
  • Ray Westlake. Tracing the Rifle Volunteers: A Guide for Military and Family Historians, Casemate Publishers, 2010
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