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2nd Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment
The 2nd Dorsets 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.
18th Jan 1940 Reliefs
14th Feb 1940 Inspection
 Rifle inspection for men of the 2nd Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment at Rumegies, 14th of February 1940. © IWM (F 2572)
14th Feb 1940 Inspection
11th of April 1940 5 Inf Bde Adm Order No 10 Part 1 
25th of April 1940 Pipe band playing
30th of April 1940 Recce
16th May 1940 Orders
27th May 1940 Hard Fighting
3rd Apr 1944 In Action
8th Apr 1944 Advance
11th of April 1944 On the March
12th of April 1944 Patrol
14th Apr 1944 Break Through
14th Apr 1944 Rain
15th Apr 1944 Break Through
16th Apr 1944 Attacks
17th Apr 1944 Attacks
18th Apr 1944 Attack Made
18th Apr 1944 In Action
19th Apr 1944 Reliefs
20th Apr 1944 Reliefs
13th May 1944 In Action
If you can provide any additional information, especially on actions and locations at specific dates, please add it here.
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Those known to have served with 2nd Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment during the Second World War 1939-1945. - Bagnall MID David Ernest. WOII.
- Berry Dennis Lionel. Cpl. (d.27th Apr 1944)
- Clark Frank Allen. Pte. (d.27th Apr 1944)
- Cole Henry Thomas. Sgt.
- Ellis Owen Bertram. Pte.
- Ellwood Thomas. Pte.
- Hart Joseph. Pte.
- Hindes William Cyril. Pte. (d.9th February 1945)
- Hughes Edward William. Pte. (d.10th May 1940)
- Pratt Stephen Henry.
- Skeggs Walter Thomas George. Pte.
- Taylor John William Thomas. A/Cpl. (d.20th May 1944)
- Varley Cecil William. Sgt. (d.1st May 1944)
The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
please
Add a Name to this List
Records of 2nd Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment from other sources.
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Want to know more about 2nd Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment? There are:1340 items tagged 2nd Battalion, Dorsetshire 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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A/Cpl. John William Thomas Taylor 2nd Btn Dorsetshire Regiment (d.20th May 1944) Acting Corporal John Taylor served with the 2nd Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment in WW2. He died 20th of May 1944 aged 36 years. He is buried Gauhati War Cemetery in India. Son of John Henry and Mary Ann Taylor of Faversham, Kent.
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Pte. Owen Bertram Ellis 2nd Battalion Dorset Regiment My father, Owen Ellis spent six years in India with the Dorset Regiment, returning home at the start of WW2. He was in the British Expeditionary Forces, but sadly was captured at Dunkirk and spent 5 years in Stalag 8b POW camp.
When he got home he saw his son of five for the first time, then went on to have four more sons. I am the third son and hold my father's records.
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Pte. Edward William Hughes 2nd Btn. Dorset Regiment (d.10th May 1940) My uncle whom I never met, Ted Hughes, was born in 1920.
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Pte. Thomas Ellwood 2nd Btn. Dorsetshire Regiment Like most veterans my late father, Thomas Ellwood never spoke much about that time in his life. Therefore, I only know very little, just from a couple of photographs.
I believe he was in the 2nd Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment and served in India and the Burma, Kohima conflicts. My mother told me that Dad was wounded in the war and I believe he was in France at some point.
I have a photo of him with a samurai sword and one that looks like he is standing next to an Indian boy. I hope someone can fill in some blanks for me or recognises a loved one on the photo.
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Pte. Joseph Hart 2nd Btn. Dorset Regiment Joseph Hart's daughter, Betty, recalls visiting her father at Dorchester Barracks. He had just returned from Dunkirk aboard a fishing boat.
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Pte. William Cyril Hindes Gordon Highlanders (d.9th February 1945) William Hindes served in India with the Gordon Highlanders then was seconded to the 2nd Dorset Regiment, B Company for the Burma campaign.
He was killed in action on the 2nd February 1945 on the banks of the Irrawaddy just prior to the final assault to Mandalay and Rangoon.
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Pte. Walter Thomas George Skeggs 2nd Btn. Dorsetshire Regiment I have found two records showing my father, Walter Skeggs, as missing in action and then as a casualty in June 1940, so possibly from the evacuation at Dunkirk.
I have also found notes saying that he was a commando and, I believe that this may have been 5 Commando as 5 Commando were formed in Bridlington, East Yorkshire around the time that the Dorsetshires were guarding the East Yorkshire coast prior to their deployment to India.
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Stephen Henry Pratt 2nd Btn. Dorsetshire Regiment Stephen Pratt was my maternal grandfather; it would appear from the photographs I have that he was in the Dorsetshire Regiment. My father tells me that Stephen was at Dunkirk, so if he was indeed Dorsetshires this would make him 2nd Battalion. I would love to know if anyone can date the photos and confirm if it is the Dorsetshire Regiment.
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Cpl. Dennis Lionel Berry 2nd Btn. Dorsetshire Regiment (d.27th Apr 1944) Dennis Berry was the youngest son of Frank and Lulu Berry and was born in Taunton, Somerset.
He was killed at the battle of the Tennis Court, Kohima on 27 April 1944, aged 26. He came from a keen sporting family and was a talented cricketer along with his two brothers Ken and John (who also played football for Taunton Town FC).
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WOII. David Ernest "John" Bagnall MID 2nd Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment My Father David Bagnall never spoke about the war. We found out he'd changed his name to join up, and was known as John, though his name was David. We know he was in the Dorsetshire Regiment. He was at Dunkirk, in Burma, and after the War was in India, from that I think he must have been in the 2nd Battalion. We know he was twice Mentioned in Dispatches, because he had 2 oak leaves on his medal ribbons, but other than that we know nothing of his time in the Army. My brother and I would love to know some of his story, and if anyone has any information, we would be very grateful to hear from you. My Mother had a book with photographs of him with Lord Mountbatten, and I think, General Slim.
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