|
Allied Forces Index
Website and ALL Material © Copyright MMII - All Rights Reserved |
If you enjoy this siteplease consider making a donation.
Search this site:
Home
Features
Submissions
Schools
Information
World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII
Information.
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
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
Photographs
If you have any Photographs you would like to share please get in touch.
List of those who served.
- Captain William Henry Allsopp 30th Bn.
- Cpl. Barnes. MM. 1st btn. Read his Story
- Sergeant George Frederick Barrett 6th Bn.
- Private Walter George Bennett 6th Bn.
- Sjt Blundell MM. 1st btn. Read his Story
- L/Cpl Bounsall DCM. 1st btn. Read his Story
- Private Geoffrey Alan Box
- Cpl Brandon MM. 1st btn. Read his Story
- Lt Col. A E C Bredin DSO. MC. 1st btn. Read his Story
- Private Edward Butcher 1st Bn
- Private Edward Butcher 1st btn.
- Cpl Carter MM. 1st btn. Read his Story
- CQMS Collins DCM. 1st btn. Read his Story
- Pte Crookes. 1st btn. Read his Story
- Capt H R A Dartnell MC. 1st btn. Read his Story
- Lieutenant Edward George Davis 6th Bn.
- CSM Elgies MM. 1st btn. Read his Story
- Private Edward George Flower 6th Bn.
- Private Francis Benjamin Gardner 5th Bn.
- Pte. Goddard MM. 1st btn. Read his Story
- Cpl Golder MM. 1st btn. Read his Story
- Mjr W N Hayes MC. 1st btn. Read his Story
- Mjr M Holdsworth MC. 1st btn. Read his Story
- Private Arthur Kemp
- Capt R V MacNmara DSO. 1st btn. Read his Story
- CSM Northam MM. 1st btn. Read his Story
- 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. Read his Story
- Private Gordon Alexander Phillip Rose 1st Bn.
- Private Reginald Russell
- Sjt Scott MM. 1st btn. Read his Story
- Sjt Talbot MM. 1st btn. Read his Story
- Lance Corporal John Henry Topham 6th (H.D.) Bn.
- Capt C R Whittington MC. 1st btn. Read his Story
- Cpl Wright MM. 1st btn. Read his Story
- Lt Leonard Charles Burley (real name: Ludwig Carl Berlin)
- Fredrick John Byott. 4th Bn. Read his story
- Maj GR Hartwell MC. 5th Bn.
- Sgt G.H. Hooper. A Coy. 4th Bn.
- Sgt. Douglas Mason. 4th Bn.
- Frederick Nachbaur. 4th Bn. Read his story
- Gerard O'Brien. 5th Bn. (d.10 July 1944) Read his story
If you have any names to add to this list, or any recollections or photos of those listed, please get in touch.
If you have a story which you would like to share, or a website dedicated to an airfield or aircrew, please get in touch.
Send an E-mail to The Wartime Memories Project
Links
Allied Forces Index
The Wartime Memories Project is a non profit organisation.
This website is run out of our own pockets and from donations made by visitors. The popularity of the site means that it is far exceeding available resources.
If you are enjoying the site, please consider making a donation, however small to help with the costs of keeping the site running.
Or by cheque to:
PO Box 325, Stockton on Tees, TS20 1XL.
Website and ALL Material © Copyright MMII
- All Rights Reserved