The Worcestershire Rifles (Worcs Rifles) was a volunteer, part-time unit of the British Army based in the county of Worcestershire that had a long, yet split history in two units before merging into the larger Worcestershire Regiment. Following active service in World War I, during which its strength was tripled to three battalions, and World War II, in which its strength was doubled to two battalions, the unit was reduced to a company, and later expanded to two companies. Following reductions in the early 21st century, the two companies were merged and later reduced to a platoon in 2006. Today, the regiment's lineage is continued in the anti-tank platoon of the 4th Battalion, Mercian Regiment, still based in Kidderminster where the first volunteers had formed.
Volunteer Force
Background Following Napoleon III's coup and successful take over of France in 1851, a French threat of invasion loomed over the United Kingdom. With this threat, company sized Rifle Volunteer Corps (RVCs) units were formed across the country.Beckett, p. 27. On 1 July 1859, the British government announced that it would issue 25 Long Enfield Rifles per 100 volunteers, on the condition that the corps provided safe ranges, secured the weapons, set approved rules, and made themselves subject to periodic military inspection. On 4 May 1859, the Worcestershire (Worcs) Rifles were formed. Just two years into the unit's history, the many RVCs, which became increasingly difficult to administer, were grouped into 'Administrative Battalions'. Thus, the 1st Battalion, Worcestershire Volunteer Rifles or the 1st Administrative Battalion, Worcestershire Volunteers was formed later that year. The battalion's initial organisation on formation was as follows, and it was intended that each RVC had 100 men.Beckett, Appendix VII.Westlake Tracing the Rifle Volunteers, pp. 249–253.Frederick Volume I, p. 318.
Battalion Headquarters, in Hagley 1st (Worcestershire Rifles) RVC, in Wolverley 2nd (Tenbury) RVC, at Berrington Road drill hall, Tenbury Wells 3rd (Kidderminster) RVC, at The Shrubbery, Kidderminster – many of these men were employed in the production of carpets 4th (2nd Kidderminster) RVC, at The Shrubbery, Kidderminster 5th (Bewdley) RVC, at Load Street drill hall, Bewdley 6th (Halesowen) RVC, in Grammar School Lane drill hall, Halesowen 7th (Dudley) RVC, at Wolverhampton Street drill hall, Dudley 8th (Stourport) RVC, at Lion Hill drill hall, Stourport-on-Severn 9th (Stourbridge) RVC, at Bell Street drill hall, Stourbridge 16th (Oldbury) RVC, in Oldbury – many were employed in the several iron foundries and construction of railway carriages 20th (Kidderminster) RVC, at The Shrubbery, Kidderminster
In 1863, the Volunteer Act 1863 (26 & 27 Vict. c. 65) was passed, which required the volunteers to be mobilised in the event of an invasion. In 1872, under the provisions of the Regulation of the Forces Act 1871, jurisdiction over the volunteers was removed from the county lord-lieutenants and placed under the Secretary of State for War. This started the process of integrating the volunteer units into the British Army. On 16 March 1880, the corps was consolidated into a single battalion and the individual titles were removed. The formation then became the 1st Worcestershire Rifle Volunteers. The above RVCs were re-designated as 'companies', lettered A-L and remained based at their former locations.
1st Volunteer Battalion On 1 May 1881, General Order 41/1881 (41st order of 1881) was issued to the Army, signed under the name of the Secretary of State for War, and becoming known as the Childers Reforms. These wide-ranging reforms would seed the creation of the modern British Army with the disestablishment of the old-style numbered regiments, and creation of new county regiments. Among the changes was the union of the 29th (Worcestershire) Regiment of Foot and 36th (Herefordshire) Regiment of Foot, creating the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the new Worcestershire Regiment (Worcs), the county regiment of both Worcestershire and Herefordshire (at least initially). Along with the regular changes, the county RVs were merged into the new regiments creating new 'Volunteer Battalions'. The 1st Worcestershire RVs therefore became a volunteer battalion of the new regiment on 1 July 1881. In 1882, a new 'M Company' was formed in Dudley.
Following a supplement to the original reforms, in June 1883, the RVs in the Worcs became the 1st Volunteer Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment; however, the Worcs' uniform was not adopted, and the old style uniforms were retained. Between 1885 and 1886, the battalion's headquarters moved to Stourbridge.
In 1891, headquarters moved to Kidderminster, and A Company followed shortly thereafter. During the South African War, the battalion sent volunteers to serve alongside the regular 1st and 2nd battalions. For their efforts, the battalion was granted its first battle honour; "South Africa 1900–1901".Hart's 1909, p. 997.
Territorial Force Under the army reforms introduced by Secretary of State for War Richard Haldane in 1907, the existing auxiliary forces (the Imperial Yeomanry and Volunteer Forces) were to be combined (with effect from 1 April 1908) as a new organisation to be known as the Territorial Force (TF). In his 'Territorial and Reserve Forces Bill', Mr Haldane set up an establishment of fourteen divisions (infantry), fourteen mounted brigades (yeomanry), army troops, and troops for coastal defence. These to be raised and administered locally by a number of Territorial Force Associations. Under these reforms, the structure of infantry units were also altered, with each containing a peace establishment of 1,009 of all ranks in 8 companies 'A' to 'H', all under command of a Lieutenant-Colonel.Westlake, The Territorials, Introduction and p. 2.Westlake, Men-at-Arms, p. 3.
Therefore, on 1 April 1908, the battalion became the 7th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment, falling in line after the 2 battalions of the former Worcestershire Militia and four regular battalions. The new battalion was organised into the following new organisation:Westlake, The Territorials, p. 63.
Battalion Headquarters, at The Shrubbery KidderminsterHart's 1909, p. 275. A Company, at The Shrubbery Kidderminster B Company, at Berrington Road drill hall, Tenbury Wells (from 1912 Teme Street drill hall) Half-Company, at The Shrubbery Kidderminster Detachment, in Bockleton C Company, at Lion Hill drill hall, Stourport-on-Severn – new drill hall at same location erected in 1911 Half-Company, at the George Hotel, Bewdley D Company, in Lion Hill drill hall, Stourport-on-Severn – new drill hall at same location erected in 1911 Half-Company, in Kinver E Company, in Oldbury F Company, at Grammar School Lane drill hall, Halesowen G and H Companies, at Wolverhampton drill hall, Dudley
Under the reforms, each TF battalion was assigned to a higher formation, whereby the 7th Worcs joined the Gloucester and Worcester Brigade, South Midland Division.Westlake British Territorial Units, p. 14.
First World War
Under the conditions of the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907, members, if embodied, were liable for service anywhere in the United Kingdom, but they could not be ordered to go overseas. Officers and men of the peacetime TF could also offer to serve outside the United Kingdom in time of national emergency. Under the conditions set out for the Imperial Service Section, a territorial could undertake to serve abroad, but only with his own unit, or with part of his own unit: he could not be drafted as an individual to any other unit except at his own request.Westlake British Territorial Units, pp. 3–4.
After the outbreak of war, units of the TF were invited to volunteer for Overseas Service. On 15 August 1914, the War Office issued instructions to separate those men who had signed up for Home Service only, and form these into reserve units. On 31 August, the formation of a reserve or 2nd Line unit was authorised for each 1st Line unit where 60 per cent or more of the men had volunteered for Overseas Service. The titles of these 2nd Line units would be the same as the original, but distinguished by a '2/' prefix. In this way duplicate battalions, brigades and divisions were created, mirroring those TF formations being sent overseas, and absorbing the large numbers of volunteers coming forward. Later the 2nd Line TF battalions were raised to full strength ready to go overseas, and began to form Reserve (3rd Line) units to supply reinforcement drafts.Westlake British Territorial Units, pp. 17–18.
1/7th Battalion Mobilisation As the international situation deteriorated in July and August 1914, the South Midland Division was on their annual summer exercise and quickly mobilised. On 4 August 1914 the battalion was embodied in Kidderminster and immediately moved to Chelmsford with the South Midland Division, undertaking training and home defence. On formation of the new 2/7th Battalion on 21 September 1914, the original 7th Bn was redesignated as the 1/7th Battalion, and the brigade entitled as 1st Gloucester and Worcester Brigade in the 1st South Midland Division.
France In September 1914, the battalion moved to Swindon, and from there to Maldon. Finally, on 22 March 1915, the South Midland Division crossed to France. They then arrived in Cassel and began digging trenches and took up positions in defence of the city. On 13 May 1915, in an effort to standardise the TF, the 1st Gloucester and Worcester Brigade became the 144th Infantry Brigade, and South Midland Division became 48th (South Midland) Division.
The Somme
On 1 July 1916, the division was moved south to the area around Auchonvillers, near the River Somme, the 'Mailly-Maillet sector'. Here the British Fourth and French 6th Armies attacked on a large front between Gommecourt to the north of Albert and Faucoucourt to the south. The attacks to the south of Albert to Bapaume were very successful, inflicting a considerable defeat to the Germany 2nd Army. However, north the Albert-Bapaume road, the British attack was a catastrophe and constituted most of the 60,000 casualties on the first day of the battle. The British VIII Corps were on the left of Fourth Army, with their area of attack around the villages of Serre and Beaumont-Hamel. 48th (South Midland) Division were in the 'Divisional Reserve' near Meilly-sur-Rouvres and Meillet during the initial attack.
On 15 July 1916, the battalion was in the area of Ovillers-la-Boisselle and attack German position that afternoon, which marked the beginning of the second phase of the Battle of the Somme; in contrast to the disaster of the first day of the Somme it turned out to be hugely successful for the British. By this time, the 48th Division was part of X Corps in the Reserve Army, and held the village of Ovillers. Following a failed attack from the Warwickshire Brigade (143rd), another attack was ordered on 15 July but here enemy fire wiped out the leading troops, before the attack was called off and the survivors relieved. However, the 144th Brigade continued the offensive with the 1/4th (City of Bristol) Gloucesters and 1/7th Worcs gaining positions in and around Ovillers. The 1/7th Worcs gained a defensive position in the ruined church being directly above abandoned German dug outs, still intact in the church vaults. During the evening of 15 July, the 143rd and 144th Brigades were sent forward again to relieve the 32nd Division and continue the attack.