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The Dorset Regiment
The Dorset Regiment was raised in 1702 and won its first Battle honour in India in 1757 which is commemorated in their motto 'Primus In Indus'
At the outbreak of the Second World War, the Dorset's regulars were overseas, in order to defend the Westcountry coast, 9 battalions of the Dorset's TA were immediately mobilised.
In 1939 lst Battalion of the Dorset’s were sent to Malta to garrison the strategically important island in the middle of Rommel's Africa Corps supply route. Along with the 2nd Devon’s they endured the bombing by the Luftwaffe on the besiged island and shared the suffering of the Maltese people, until the Allies gained superiority in the Mediterranean in 1943.
The 2nd Dorset’s joined the British Expeditionary Force and were sent to Flanders, where they remained until they were drive back to Dunkirk by the advancing Germans. The 2nd Battalion had a lucky escape from the beaches of Dunkirk in the famous `little ships', loosing all its heavy equipment in France. They were to be in the thick of battle again in 1944 when alongside the 1st Devon's The 2nd Dorsets were part of The 14th or "Forgotten" Army who were forced to withdraw over 1,000 miles, across the jungles of Burma to the borders of India, pursued by Japanese forces. They were involved in the famous battles at Imphal and Kohima, which helped to turn the tide in the Far East.
The Battalions of the Dorset's who were based in the UK in the early years of the War were involved in the defense of the landing grounds of the south east coast of England as well as undertaking training.
When the Allies invaded Sicily in July 1943, The Dorset’s alonside The Devon's took part in their first amphibious assault landing. A second landing followed this on the mainland of Italy at 'Porto Venere' on 8th September 1943. The stay in Italy was to be short lived, the two battalions were brought home, thier experience of assault landings was to spearhead the D-Day invasion of France as part of the 50th Division. Having landed slightly to the east of their objective at Le Hamel, on a beach that was still under enemy fire, they made thier way inland and by night fall were in and around the village of Ryes. The Dorset’s then advanced towards Bayeux.
The Territorial Battalions of The Dorsets landed with XII Corps and 43rd Wessex Division. Fighting their first battle against the Waffen SS of 9th and 10th SS Panzer Divisions on the slopes of Hill 112 as part of the 43rd Wessex Division.
The 5th Dorset’s were sucessful in attacking Chateau Fontaine Etoupfour. The 4th Dorset's attack on Etterville, was met with stiff opposition and heavy mortar fire, but was also successful. However during the final phase of the attack in Maltot, a battalion of German Tiger tanks separated the British infantry from their tanks, the 4th Dorset’s reduced to little more than a company in strength.
The lst Dorset’s also took part in the battles fought around Tilly, Hottot and the Falaise Pocket. The 43rd Wessex Division carried out an assault river crossing of the Seine and by quickly advanced across Northern Franch.
Having crossed the River Waal at Nijmegen the 43rd Wessex Division lead the advance to the Rhine at Arnhem. The 4th Dorset’s were to cross the Rhine to reinforce the airborne troops but the current was too strong and they were dispersed along the enemy beach. Again the 4ths suffered many casualties with three hundred either killed, wounded, missing or taken prisoner.
The lst Dorset’s and 2nd Devon’s fought their last battle together at Aam, Holland. The Autumn of 1944 was very wet, the Dorset's Territorial battalions fought in the mud as they struggled to break through the Siegfried Line at Geilenkirchen. The winnter which folowed brough hard fighting in the Reichwald Forest and the Ardennes.
In 1945 The 4th and 5th Dorset’s crossed the Rhine by assault craft supported by The 7th Dorset’s (by now renamed the 94th and 110th Lt Anti Aircraft Regiment) with their 25 pounder guns. The final drive of the War took the Dorsets across Northern Germany to Bremerhaven on the North Sea coast.
In 1958 The Dorset Regiment amalgamated with The Devonshire Regiment to become the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment
Recomended reading: Normandy: Hill 112 - The battle of the Odon
Battalions during the Second World War.
- 1st Battalion
- 2nd Battalion
- 3rd Battalion (Dorset Regiment of Militia)
- 5th Battalion
- 6th (Home Defence) Battalion
- 7th (Garrison) Battalion
- 8th Battalion
- 9th Battalion
- 30th (Service) Battalion
- 50th (Holding) Battalion
- 70th (Young Soldier) Battalion
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List of those who served with The Dorset Regiment during The Second World War
- Cpl. Barnes 1st Btn. Read his Story.
- Pte. Robert William Clarabut 1st Btn (d.6th Jul 1943) Read his Story.
- Crookes 1st Btn. Read his Story.
- Frank Tom Kerle Read his Story.
- Cpl. Cecil George "Jim" Lovell 4th Btn .`C` Coy. Read his Story.
- Captain William Henry Allsopp 30th Bn.
- Sergeant George Frederick Barrett 6th Bn.
- Private Walter George Bennett 6th Bn.
- Sjt Blundell MM. 1st btn.
- L/Cpl Bounsall DCM. 1st btn.
- Private Geoffrey Alan Box
- Cpl Brandon MM. 1st btn.
- Lt Col. A E C Bredin DSO. MC. 1st btn.
- Private Edward Butcher 1st Bn
- Private Edward Butcher 1st btn.
- Cpl Carter MM. 1st btn.
- CQMS Collins DCM. 1st btn.
- Pte Crookes. 1st btn. Read his Story
- Capt H R A Dartnell MC. 1st btn.
- Lieutenant Edward George Davis 6th Bn.
- CSM Elgies MM. 1st btn.
- Private Edward George Flower 6th Bn.
- Private Francis Benjamin Gardner 5th Bn.
- Pte. Goddard MM. 1st btn.
- Cpl Golder MM. 1st btn.
- Mjr W N Hayes MC. 1st btn.
- Mjr M Holdsworth MC. 1st btn.
- Private Arthur Kemp
- Capt R V MacNmara DSO. 1st btn.
- CSM Northam MM. 1st btn.
- Private Sidney Pear 5th Bn.
- Private Reginald Edmund Price 4th Bn.
- Private George Edward Prior 1st Bn.
- Private George Edward Prior 1st btn.
- Sjt Redpath MM. 1st btn.
- Private Gordon Alexander Phillip Rose 1st Bn.
- Private Reginald Russell
- Sjt Scott MM. 1st btn.
- Sjt Talbot MM. 1st btn.
- Lance Corporal John Henry Topham 6th (H.D.) Bn.
- Capt C R Whittington MC. 1st btn.
- Cpl Wright MM. 1st btn.
- Lt Leonard Charles Burley (real name: Ludwig Carl Berlin)
- Fredrick John Byott. 4th Bn.
- Maj GR Hartwell MC. 5th Bn.
- Sgt G.H. Hooper. A Coy. 4th Bn.
- Sgt. Douglas Mason. 4th Bn.
- Frederick Nachbaur. 4th Bn.
- Gerard O'Brien. 5th Bn. (d.10 July 1944)
Frank Tom Kerle Dorset Regiment
My father, Frank Tom Kerle, served with the Dorset Regiment from approx 1939 to 1945. When alive he often reflected on his sentry duties and Wyke Regis and along the Kent coast. He took part in the D-Day landings and helped as a stretcher bearer and was injured undertaking these duties. I would love to find more details about my late father's war years.
Cpl. Barnes 1st Btn. Dorset Regiment
I am sorry to say that my father passed away 10 years ago and, like many of his generation, did not talk about what he went through, except in the company of, “Those who were there.” I do know that he was on Malta during the siege and was part of the 1st Battalion. It was given the title, “1st Malta Brigade” along with, "2nd Devons" and, "1st Hampshires"., and as such my father wore the Maltese cross on one sleeve, below any other brigade insignia. For most of the rest of the war that was 50th Division, (231st Infantry Brigade). The Dorset Regiment, (Malta Brigade), took part in the landings in Sicily, Italy and D Day, and was involved right through to “the Island”, before the battalion was returned to England as a training battalion.
The preface of the Dorset book, “Three Assault Landings”, pays tribute to all “footsloggers” with the verse by "A. P Herbert"
New men, new weapons, bear the brunt;
New slogans gild the ancient game
The infantry are still in front
And mud and dust are much the same
Hail, humble footman, poised to fly
Across the West, or any, wall
Proud, plodding, peerless P.B.I.
The foulest, finest job of all!
Amazing how nothing has changed in 60 odd years
Cpl. Barnes, Dorset Regiment, revisits Normandy 50 years after D-Day.
Crookes 1st Btn. Dorset Regiment
My grandfather served in the Dorsetshire Regiment in the 1930s and again in WW2. I have a nice named group photo of "A" Company, No.2 Platoon, 1st Battalion The Dorsetshire Regiment taken in India in 1933. Although strictly speaking, not wartime, I'm sure many of these young men (like my grandfather) saw service in WW2. I am happy to send copies to any relatives of the men in the photo. They are: Ptes Gibbs, Higman, O'Dare, Hennessy, Pengelly, Fuguill, Gillard, Vaughan, Allen, Jayes, Siggins, Male, Bennett, Lofting, Kimber, Marsh, Lee, Mogg, Dobbs, Rawles, White(my great uncle), Wharton, Harlow, Mills, Coombes, Fotherby, McDermott, Griffiths, Ratchford, LCs Hutchings, Crookes(my grandfather), Paine, Blake, Sgt.Mills and 2/Lt Warden. Unfortunately there are no initials listed.
Cpl. Cecil George "Jim" Lovell 4th Btn .`C` Coy. Welsh Regiment
My father, Cecil Lovell, did his basic training with the Dorset Regt. As a native of Weymouth, he enlisted in Dorchester on 11 September 1942, aged 18yrs. After basic training he was transferred to the Welch Regiment, 4th Battalion, `C` Company. He served throughout the Northern Europe campaign and was demobbed on 17th August 1947. I have photos of two of his friends, a D.Forbes and W.Carter
Pte. Robert William Clarabut 1st Btn Dorsetshire Regiment (d.6th Jul 1943)
My Grans brother died in the war, aged 21. His name was Robert W Clarabut, I'd like to find out more about him, is anyone still alive today who knows of him?
I see from the Doretshire Regiments page of your website that you have details of my unlce (Gerald O'Brien who died in 1944) Im trying to trace any photos of the regiment prior to D Day.
Apologizes for my poor English. A British soldier Frederick (Fred) Nachbaur, would like to meet a Dutch family who has being very kind to the boys of the 4th Dorset Reg. In particullarly the three siters Tina, Emma and Pietje. Many regards,
Presd. Liberation of the Neth. Branch 005, Royal Canadian Legio, Apeldoorn, the Netherlands, www.rclbranch005.nl
My father was with the 4th Dorsets. His name is Fredrick John Byott. He told me on D-Day on there way to Normandy all the troops on the boat were singing that old song. "To a wedding we are going." If only it was, my father was on Gold Beach. Dad told me he left from New Haven that day for Normandy. I would like to here from any one that was in his regiment that time, or any one that knew him. He was from London. I would all so like to know more about the 4th Dorsets. My father is still alive today and is 79 years old.
Thank you for all those that fought for our freedom today, you are all heros. Sandra Byott
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