The Devonshire Regiment
The Devonshire Regiment was raised in 1685 by Henry, Duke of Beaufort in Devon, Somerset and Dorset, for the suppression of the Monmouth Rebellion.
It was numbered 11th Foot in 1747, to which North Devonshire was added in 1782.
On 1 July 1881, the 11th (North Devonshire) Regiment became the Devonshire Regiment.
On 17th July 1958, The Devonshire Regiment merged with The Dorset Regiment, to form The Devon and Dorset Regiment.
The 2nd Battalion wore a rosette above the cap badge in the Colours of the French Croix de Guerre. This was granted in recognition of its services at Chemin de Dames on 27 May 1918 while serving in conjunction with the French Fifth Army.
The Regimental badge is the Castle of Exeter on an eight-pointed star, with a Crown occupying the top point. Below the Castle is the motto Semper Fidelis (Always faithful).
The 1st/The Devonshire Regiment
1927 1st/Devonshire
Oct 1927 The 1st/Devonshire arrived at Malta.
1928 1st/Devonshire
1 Jan 1928 Strength: 9 officers and 808 men.
1 July Strength: 26 officers and 820 men.
1929 1st/Devonshire
1 Jan 1929 Strength: 27 officers and 841 men.
1 Oct Strength: 27 officers and 882 men. The 1st/Devonshire Regiment embarked for Quetta.
The 2nd/The Devonshire Regiment
Pte Stanley Simons C Coy died 7 Sep 1911 aged 23 yrs (Pembroke Military Cemetery).
(Pembroke Military Cemetery)
1909 2nd/Devonshire
28 July 1909 The 2nd/Devonshire Regiment arrived from Crete on the Rameses.
Baptisms in 1909:
- 14 Nov Arthur Edward Caines born on 12 October 1909, son of Rebecca and Pte George James Caines, of Mtarfa Barracks.
1910 2nd/Devonshire
1911 2nd/Devonshire
Baptisms in 1911:
- 16 July Herbert Eric Garnham born on 24 June 1911, son of Eva May and Sgt Herbert William Garnham, of Married Quarters, St Georges Barrracks.
1912 2nd/Devonshire
18 Jan 1912 The 2nd/Devonshire Regiment embarked for Alexandria on the Rewa, arriving there on 21 January.
The 2nd/The Devonshire Regiment
1938 2nd/Devonshire
July 1938 The 2nd/Devonshire Regiment arrived at Malta.
1939 2nd/Devonshire
30 June 1939 27 officers and 323 men formed a reserve in readiness at Attard.
1940 2nd/Devonshire
(Pembroke Military Cemetery)
23 Jan 1940 2nd/Devonshire Regiment marched into St Andrews Barracks and handed over St George's Barracks and Ta' Qali to 2nd/Royal West Kent Regiment.
10 June Took over Marsaxlokk Defence Sector and all Passive Air Defence (PAD) responsibilities from 2nd/Royal West Kent Regiment. The battalion also took over the gymnasium and the garages at St Andrews Barracks.
Together with A Coy 2/KOMR, it was responsible for co-ordinating with the defence plans of RAF Station Kalafrana and patrolling the boom at Wied Is Shakka (GR 5015). The landing places on the SW coast were guarded by 2/KOMR.
10 June A Carrier Plt of 2/Devon together with a Coy 8/Manch defended the landing ground at Hal Far RAF Station.
13 June During the air raid of 13 June, two casualties from 1st/Devonshire Regiment were treated at ADS Tarxien and evacuated to Mtarfa hospital. No 7342748 Pte John Henry Slade and No 5615850 Pte Henry William James Kite were killed.
30 June Strength: 24 officers and 670 men.
29 July On 29 July, No 5619974 Pte John Henry Foote D Coy 2nd/Devonshire Regiment was accidentally shot by a private who was cleaning his rifle.
18 Dec 1940 Villa Cecy in Tarxien was handed over to 2nd/Devonshire Regiment.
1941 2nd/Devonshire
30 June 1941 Strength: 30 officers and 934 men.
1942 2nd/Devonshire
1943 2nd/Devonshire
1943 The 2nd/Devonshire left Malta for Egypt in preparation for the invasion of Sicily.
Bibliography
- Farmer J. S., 1984. The regimental records of the British Army Reprint Edition, Trowbridge, Wiltshire: Crecy Books.
- Badges of H M Services. Briggs and Co Ltd, Manchester.
- Edwards T. J., 1980. Regimental Badges First Edition, Tonbridge, Kent: Ernest Benn Ltd.
- TNA:WO 379/15. Stations of Regiments 1901–1920.