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Duke of Wellingtons (West Riding) Regiment
At the outbreak of the Second World War the 1st Battalion Duke of Wellingtons West Riding Regiment was sent to France as part of the British Expeditionary Force. During the retreat of Dunkirk they formed part of the rear guard. In 1942 the 1st Battalion landed in North Africa and took part in a number of key battles, notably at Djebel Bou Aoukaz in 1943. In 1944 they landed at Anzio and were in action in some of the most desperate fighting of the war, including Monte Ceco in October 1944, where Private Richard Burton was awarded the Victoria Cross.
The 2nd Battalion, Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment spent the early years of the war in defence of Britain. In February 1942 the 2nd Battalion was hastily mobilised and sent to reinforce Burma. Within a week of landing at Rangoon the battalion was in the rearguard action defending the bridge across the River Sittang, which was then blown up before the battalion could withdraw across the river.
They were in action in the Battle of Paungde in March that year and the campaign became a long retreat until they reached India in May. After reorganisation the 2nd Battalion was assigned to the Chindits and formed two columns, the 33rd and the 76th. As part of that force both columns were involved in the Relief of Imphal from March to July 1944.
2/6th Battalion, Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment deployed to France with the BEF and were evacuated in June 1940. They converted to armour in 1942 and became 115th Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps.
The 2/7th Battalion Duke of Wellington, West Riding Regiment was deployed to France in March 1940. They were caught up in the German advance, which began on the 10th of May. By the 7th of June they had withdrawn to Dieppe and saw action at St Valery-en-Caux before being evacuated to Britain. They were employed in the UK on defence and training duties. They converted to armour in 1942 and became 115th Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps.
The 1/7th Battalion Duke of Wellington, West Riding Regiment served in France and Iceland. They landed in Normandy on the 11th of June 1944 and served with distinction, gaining a Battle Honour Fontenay-le-Pesnil on the 25th of June 1944. They took part in the liberation of Holland and were there when the war ended.
The 8th Battalion, Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment was reformed in July 1940. In 1941 the battalion was converted to 145th Regiment, Royal Armored Corps.
The 9th Battalion, Duke of Wellingtons West Riding Regiment was re-raised in 1940. The 9th converted to 146 Regiment, Royal Armourned Corps and were sent to India and saw action in Burma. After the end of the war they went to Sumatra.
The 10th Battalion, Duke of Wellingtons West Riding Regiment were employed in Britain throughout the war on home defence duties and in training reinforcements for the overseas battalions.
6th Battalion, Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment served with 147th Infantry Brigade, 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division. They served in Iceland, on the Home Front and in Normandy. The battalion disbanded in 1944 after suffering heavy losses, most of the men transferred to the 7th Battalion.
12th Oct 1939 Holding the Line
13th Oct 1939 Reliefs
5th Nov 1939 Inkerman Dinner
24th Nov 1939 Aircraft Tested
26th Nov 1939 Orders
27th Nov 1939 Upto the Line
4th Dec 1939 In the Front Line
10th May 1940 Holland and Belgium invaded
10th May 1940 News
13th May 1940 On the Move
15th May 1940 In Defence
17th May 1940 Orders 
18th May 1940 On the Move
19th May 1940 Withdrawal
19th May 1940 Planning
20th May 1940 Reorganisation
20th May 1940 Under Pressure
21st May 1940 Withdrawal
21st May 1940 Planning
22nd May 1940 Attacks Repulsed
23rd May 1940 Shortening the Front
24th May 1940 Air Raids
27th May 1940 Withdrawal
28th May 1940 Under Attack
1st Jun 1940 Evacuation
5th Jun 1940 Counter Attack
7th June 1940 Ground attack
9th Jun 1940 Held until the Last
9th Jun 1940 In Defence
10th Jun 1940 On the March
11th Jun 1940 Furious Fighting
11th Jun 1940 In Action
11th Jun 1940 Orders
11th Jun 1940 Enemy Advance
12th Jun 1940 Situation Hopeless
12th Jun 1940 Ultimatum
10th Jan 1941 Orders
26th Feb 1941 Exercise
27th Feb 1941 Exercise
28th Feb 1941 Exercise
3rd Mar 1941 Reliefs
5th Mar 1941 Reliefs
6th Mar 1941 Reliefs
7th Mar 1941 Reliefs Completed
8th Mar 1941 Thaw
13th Mar 1941 Reorganisation
18th Mar 1941 Exercise
19th Mar 1941 Exercise
21st Apr 1942 Exercise
 After disembarking from landing craft, troops of 1st Battalion, Duke of Wellington's Regiment take cover on the beach at Cromer in Norfolk, 21st of April 1942. Live machine-gun and mortar fire was used during this exercise. © IWM (H 18927)
21st Apr 1942 Exercise
26th Apr 1942 On the Move
22nd January 1944 Battle of Anzio
26th Jan 1944 Ready to Move
27th Jan 1944 Postings
30th January 1944 Battle of Anzio
Feb 1944 Chindit force preparations In early February 1944 preparations began for the 2nd Chindit Expedition. The Special Force or 3rd Indian Division as it was known consisted of the following units, which were split into Columns.
3rd West African Brigade and 14th Brigade
- 6th Btn. Nigeria Regiment. (Columns 66 & 39)
- 2nd Btn. Black Watch (Columns 42 & 73)
- 7th Btn Nigeria Regiment (Columns 29 & 35)
- 1st Btn. Beds & Herts Regiment (Columns 16 & 61)
- 12th Btn. Nigeria Regt (Columns 12 & 43)
- 2nd Btn. York & Lancaster Regiment (Columns 84 & 65)
- 7th Btn Leicestershire Regiment (Columns 47 & 74)
- 54th Field Company, Royal Engineers
77 Brigade and 111 Brigade
- 3rd Btn. 6th Gurkha Rifles (Columns 36 & 63)
- 1st Btn. Cameronians (Columns 26 & 90)
- 1st Btn. Kings (Liverpool) Regiment (Columns 81 & 82)
- 2nd Btn. Kings Own Royal (Lancaster) Regiment (Columns 41 & 46)
- 1st Btn. Lancashire Fusiliers (Columns 20 & 50)
- 3rd Btn. 4th Gurkha Rifles (Column 30)
- 1st Btn. South Staffordshire Regiment (Columns 38 & 80)
- 3rd Btn. 9th Gurkha Rifles (Columns 57 & 93)
23rd Indian Infantry Brigade
- 1st Btn. Essex Regiment (Columns 44 & 56)
- 2nd Btn. Duke of Wellington's Regiment (Columns 33 & 76)
- 4th Btn. Border Regiment (Columns 34, 55)
- 60th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, deployed as infantry, (Columns 60 & 68)
- 12th Field Company, Royal Engineers
16th Brigade Morris Force
- 1st Btn. Queens Royal West Surrey Regiment (Columns 21 & 22)
- 4th Btn. 9th Gurkha Rifles (Columns 49 & 94)
- 2nd Btn. Leicestershire Regiment (Columns 17 & 71)
- 3rd Btn. 4th Gurkha Rifles (Column 30)
- 45th Recce Regiment (Columns 45 & 54)
- 51st and 69th Field Regiments, Royal Artillery, deployed as infantry (Columns 51 & 69)
- 2nd Field Company, Royal Engineers
Dah Force
Stronghold Defences
- R S & U Troop 160th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery (25 Pounders)
- W X Y & Z Troops 69th Light Anti Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery (Bofors)
Divisional Troops
- 219th Field Park Company, Royal Engineers
- Detachment 2nd Burma Rifles
- 145th Brigade Company, R.A.S.C.
- 61st Air Supply Company, R.A.S.C.
- 2nd Indian Air Supply Company, R.I.A.S.C.
Feb 1944 Chindit force preparations
3rd February 1944 Battle of Anzio
1st May 1944 Patrols
2nd May 1944 Intelligence
3rd May 1944 Recce
4th May 1944 Recce
5th May 1944 Prisoners Taken
6th May 1944 Prisoners Taken
7th May 1944 Exchange of Fire
8th May 1944 Straffing
9th May 1944 New Positions
10th May 1944 Orders
11th May 1944 Under Attack
12th May 1944 On the Move
13th May 1944 On the Move
14th May 1944 On the Move
15th May 1944 Rifles
16th May 1944 On the March
17th May 1944 On the March
18th May 1944 Enemy Position
19th May 1944 Plans
20th May 1944 On the March
21st May 1944 Intentions
22nd May 1944 Ambush
24th May 1944 Move
26th May 1944 Rations
28th May 1944 Supplies
29th May 1944 Ambush
30th May 1944 Attack
31st May 1944 Intelligence
1st Jun 1944 Competition
2nd Jun 1944 Competitions
3rd Jun 1944 Fund Raising
4th Jun 1944 Church Parade
5th Jun 1944 Preparations
6th Jun 1944 Cheered on their Way
7th Jun 1944 Convoy
8th Jun 1944 Loading
9th Jun 1944 On the Move
10th Jun 1944 On the Move
11th Jun 1944 On the Move
12th Jun 1944 Busy Day
13th Jun 1944 Air Raids
14th Jun 1944 Air Raids
15th Jun 1944 Planning
16th Jun 1944 In Action
16th Jun 1944 Air Raid
17th Jun 1944 In Action
17th Jun 1944 Assembly
18th Jun 1944 Artillery Active
18th Jun 1944 Mortar Fire
18th Jun 1944 In Action
18th Jun 1944 Attack Made
19th Jun 1944 Enemy Patrol
19th Jun 1944 Patrols
20th Jun 1944 Enemy Active
20th Jun 1944 Recce
21st Jun 1944 Civilians Evcauated
22nd Jun 1944 Shelling
22nd Jun 1944 Air Raid
23rd Jun 1944 Mines
23rd Jun 1944 Reliefs
24th Jun 1944 Attack Made
24th Jun 1944 Briefing
25th Jun 1944 In Action
25th Jun 1944 Hard Fighting
26th Jun 1944 In Action
26th Jun 1944 In Action
1st Jul 1944 Hard Fighting
2nd Jul 1944 Shelling
3rd Jul 1944 Reliefs
4th Jul 1944 Enemy Aircraft
5th Jul 1944 Patrols
6th Jul 1944 Reorganisation
7th Jul 1944 Gun Positions
8th Jul 1944 Quiet
9th Jul 1944 Unexploded Ordnace
10th Jul 1944 Recces
11th Jul 1944 Reliefs Complete
12th Jul 1944 Patrols
13th Jul 1944 Fighting Patrols
14th Jul 1944 Anti Tank Obstacle
15th Jul 1944 Attack Made
16th Jul 1944 Prisoners
17th Jul 1944 Ground Gained
18th Jul 1944 Orders
19th Jul 1944 Awaiting Orders
20th Jul 1944 Awaiting Orders
21st Jul 1944 Awaiting Orders
22nd Jul 1944 Recce
23rd Jul 1944 Advance Party
24th Jul 1944 Reliefs
25th Jul 1944 Reliefs Complete
26th Jul 1944 Heavy Shelling
27th Jul 1944 Prisoner Taken
28th Jul 1944 Enemy Weapons
29th Jul 1944 Attack Made
30th Jul 1944 Less Air Activity
31st Jul 1944 Patrols
17th August 1944 Reorganisation
18th August 1944 Enemy Withdrawal
11th Sep 1944 Orders
11th Sep 1944 Ground Gained
28th Sep 1944 Orders
29th Sep 1944 In Action
2nd Oct 1944 Orders
2nd Oct 1944 Situation
3rd Oct 1944 Orders
3rd Oct 1944 Support
21st Nov 1944 Orders
24th Nov 1944 Reliefs
25th Nov 1944 Shelling
24th March 1945 Sports
26th March 1945 Reliefs
26th March 1945 Reliefs
If you can provide any additional information, especially on actions and locations at specific dates, please add it here.
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Want to know more about Duke of Wellingtons (West Riding) Regiment? There are:2051 items tagged Duke of Wellingtons (West Riding) Regiment available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War. |
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N Yeadon 6th Airborne Armoured Regiment Reconnaissance Corps N Yeadon served with the 6th Airborne Armoured Regiment Reconnaissance Corps British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact with Dan , his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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JJ Williamson Duke of Wellingtons West Riding Regiment JJ Williamson served with the Duke of Wellingtons West Riding Regiment British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact with Dan , his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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GV White Duke of Wellingtons West Riding Regiment GV White served with the Duke of Wellingtons West Riding Regiment British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact with Dan , his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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MG Weeks Duke of Wellingtons West Riding Regiment MG Weeks served with the Duke of Wellingtons West Riding Regiment British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact with Dan , his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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H Watson Duke of Wellingtons West Riding Regiment H Watson served with the Duke of Wellingtons West Riding Regiment British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact with Dan , his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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F Ward 4th Sqd (Sharpshooters) County Of London Yeomanry F Ward served with the 4th Sqd (Sharpshooters) County Of London Yeomanry British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact with Dan , his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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H Wall Duke of Wellingtons West Riding Regiment H Wall served with the Duke of Wellingtons West Riding Regiment British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact with Dan , his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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LG Vine Duke of Wellingtons West Riding Regiment LG Vine served with the Duke of Wellingtons West Riding Regiment British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact with Dan , his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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S Underwood Duke of Wellingtons West Riding Regiment S Underwood served with the Duke of Wellingtons West Riding Regiment British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact with Dan , his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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A Umpleby Duke of Wellingtons West Riding Regiment A Umpleby served with the Duke of Wellingtons West Riding Regiment British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact with Dan , his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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