1st Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment
Encyclopedia
The 1st Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment
was formed in 1881 from the 65th Regiment of Foot .
, India
. In 1882 they were shipped to Aden
while the 2nd Battalion of the regiment were in Egypt
fighting in the Battles of Kassasin and Tel-el Kebir . When war broke out in Sudan
in 1884 the 1st Battalion was sent and fought in the Battle of El Teb . A future British Field Marshal
, Herbert Plumer, 1st Viscount Plumer
, was adjudant of the 1st Battalion at this time. During this battle a platoon of the battalion came to the rescue of Capt. Arthur Wilson
who won the Victoria Cross
during the action.
In late 1884 the 1st Battalion was shipped back to England where they were to remain on various garrison duties until 1899 when the Anglo-Boer War
in South Africa
started. The 1st Battalion was formed into the 11th Brigade and fought through the war. In 1902 the battalion was shipped to India and remained there until the outbreak of the First World War in 1914.
in December 1914 and formed with in the new regular 28th Division for service in France
and Belgium
. The battalion fought in many of the battles in 1915. They suffered heavy casualties during the Battles of Ypres
and Loos
. In late 1915 the 28th Division was shipped to Salonika as part of the new British Salonika Army
that was created to stop Bulgaria
n expansion in the Balkans
. The battalion spent the rest of the war there suffering one killed in action to every three killed from Malaria
and Dysentery
.
. This Battalion served in the 15th Infantry Brigade
, part of the 5th Infantry Division
. It was landed at Åndalsnes
from the 23rd-25 April 1940 under Brig.H.E.F.Smyth. The force consisted of the 1st Green Howards the 1st Yorks and Lancs and the 1st King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
and the 148th Infantry Brigade which landed on the 20th April. The Norwegian campaign was a failure and the Allied forces were forced to withdraw.
After the battalions return to Great Britain the 5th Infantry Division began a series of journeys around the various British theatres of war without getting involved, it would the division the nickname Globe Trotters. In 1943 the globe trotting stopped and the division took part in the landings on Sicily. The battalion fought through Sicily
and on into Italy
from 1943 to 1945. It fought in many of the battles in the Italian Campaign
and ended the war in northern Italy.
with the 2nd Division
. The Yorks and Lancs were sent to the Suez War of 1956 and B Company was sent to the Aden Conflict in 1964. In 1968 the regiment chose to be disbanded rather than face amalgamation.
In 1948 the 2nd Battalion was amalgamated with the 1st who were based in Germany with the 2nd Division . The Yorks and Lancs were sent to the Suez War of 1956 and B Company was sent to the Aden Conflict in 1966. In 1968 the regiment chose to be disbanded rather than face amalgamation.
York and Lancaster Regiment
-History:It was formed in 1881 through the amalgamation of two other regiments:*65th Regiment*84th RegimentThe title of the regiment was derived not from the cities of York and Lancaster, or from the counties...
was formed in 1881 from the 65th Regiment of Foot .
Early history
After amalgamation in the army reform of 1881 the new 1st Battalion of the York and Lancaster Regiment were based in BengalBengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. In 1882 they were shipped to Aden
Aden
Aden is a seaport city in Yemen, located by the eastern approach to the Red Sea , some 170 kilometres east of Bab-el-Mandeb. Its population is approximately 800,000. Aden's ancient, natural harbour lies in the crater of an extinct volcano which now forms a peninsula, joined to the mainland by a...
while the 2nd Battalion of the regiment were in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
fighting in the Battles of Kassasin and Tel-el Kebir . When war broke out in Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
in 1884 the 1st Battalion was sent and fought in the Battle of El Teb . A future British Field Marshal
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
, Herbert Plumer, 1st Viscount Plumer
Herbert Plumer, 1st Viscount Plumer
Field Marshal Herbert Charles Onslow Plumer, 1st Viscount Plumer, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, GBE was a British colonial official and soldier born in Torquay who commanded the British Second Army in World War I and later served as High Commissioner of the British Mandate for Palestine.-Military...
, was adjudant of the 1st Battalion at this time. During this battle a platoon of the battalion came to the rescue of Capt. Arthur Wilson
Arthur Knyvet Wilson
Admiral of the Fleet Sir Arthur Knyvet Wilson VC, GCB, OM, GCVO was an English Admiral and briefly First Sea Lord who was awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry during the war in Sudan...
who won the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
during the action.
In late 1884 the 1st Battalion was shipped back to England where they were to remain on various garrison duties until 1899 when the Anglo-Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
started. The 1st Battalion was formed into the 11th Brigade and fought through the war. In 1902 the battalion was shipped to India and remained there until the outbreak of the First World War in 1914.
World War I
The 1st Battalion returned from IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in December 1914 and formed with in the new regular 28th Division for service in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. The battalion fought in many of the battles in 1915. They suffered heavy casualties during the Battles of Ypres
Second Battle of Ypres
The Second Battle of Ypres was the first time Germany used poison gas on a large scale on the Western Front in the First World War and the first time a former colonial force pushed back a major European power on European soil, which occurred in the battle of St...
and Loos
Battle of Loos
The Battle of Loos was one of the major British offensives mounted on the Western Front in 1915 during World War I. It marked the first time the British used poison gas during the war, and is also famous for the fact that it witnessed the first large-scale use of 'new' or Kitchener's Army...
. In late 1915 the 28th Division was shipped to Salonika as part of the new British Salonika Army
British Salonika Army
The British Salonika Army was a British field army of the British Army during World War I.-First World War:The Army was formed in Salonika in May 1916 under Lieutenant General George Milne to oppose Bulgarian advances in the region as part of the Macedonian front...
that was created to stop Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n expansion in the Balkans
Balkans Campaign (World War I)
The Balkans Campaign of World War I was fought between Central Powers Bulgaria, Austria-Hungary, and Germany on one side and the Allies Serbia, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, Montenegro on the other side.-Overview:The prime cause of World War I being the hostility between Serbia and...
. The battalion spent the rest of the war there suffering one killed in action to every three killed from Malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
and Dysentery
Dysentery
Dysentery is an inflammatory disorder of the intestine, especially of the colon, that results in severe diarrhea containing mucus and/or blood in the faeces with fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, dysentery can be fatal.There are differences between dysentery and normal bloody diarrhoea...
.
World War II
The 1st Battalion under the command of Lt.Col.A.L.Kent-Limon was involved in the Norwegian campaignNorwegian Campaign
The Norwegian Campaign was a military campaign that was fought in Norway during the Second World War between the Allies and Germany, after the latter's invasion of the country. In April 1940, the United Kingdom and France came to Norway's aid with an expeditionary force...
. This Battalion served in the 15th Infantry Brigade
British 15th Infantry Brigade
The 15th Infantry Brigade is a British Army brigade. It was part of the regular British 5th Infantry Division during the Second World War, and is now part of the British 2nd Infantry Division in the north of the United Kingdom, with specific responsibility for the areas of North East England and...
, part of the 5th Infantry Division
British 5th Infantry Division
The 5th Infantry Division is a regular army division of the British Army. It was established by Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington for service in the Peninsula War, as part of the Anglo-Portuguese Army, and has been active for most of the period since, including the First World War and the...
. It was landed at Åndalsnes
Battle of Åndalsnes
The Battle of Åndalsnes took place in Åndalsnes in Romsdal, Norway in 1940 during the Norwegian Campaign of World War II.After the German invasion of Norway in April 1940, British troops landed in Åndalsnes as part of a pincer movement to take mid-Norwegian city Trondheim...
from the 23rd-25 April 1940 under Brig.H.E.F.Smyth. The force consisted of the 1st Green Howards the 1st Yorks and Lancs and the 1st King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry was a regiment of the British Army. It officially existed from 1881 to 1968, but its predecessors go back to 1755. The regiment's traditions and history are now maintained by The Rifles.-The 51st Foot:...
and the 148th Infantry Brigade which landed on the 20th April. The Norwegian campaign was a failure and the Allied forces were forced to withdraw.
After the battalions return to Great Britain the 5th Infantry Division began a series of journeys around the various British theatres of war without getting involved, it would the division the nickname Globe Trotters. In 1943 the globe trotting stopped and the division took part in the landings on Sicily. The battalion fought through Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
and on into Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
from 1943 to 1945. It fought in many of the battles in the Italian Campaign
Italian Campaign (World War II)
The Italian Campaign of World War II was the name of Allied operations in and around Italy, from 1943 to the end of the war in Europe. Joint Allied Forces Headquarters AFHQ was operationally responsible for all Allied land forces in the Mediterranean theatre, and it planned and commanded the...
and ended the war in northern Italy.
Post 1945
In 1948 the 2nd Battalion was amalgamated with the 1st who were based in GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
with the 2nd Division
British 2nd Infantry Division
The 2nd Division is a regular division of the British army, with a long history. It dates its existence as a permanently embodied formation from 1809, when it was established by Lieutenant General Sir Arthur Wellesley , as part of the Anglo-Portuguese Army, for service in the Peninsular War...
. The Yorks and Lancs were sent to the Suez War of 1956 and B Company was sent to the Aden Conflict in 1964. In 1968 the regiment chose to be disbanded rather than face amalgamation.
In 1948 the 2nd Battalion was amalgamated with the 1st who were based in Germany with the 2nd Division . The Yorks and Lancs were sent to the Suez War of 1956 and B Company was sent to the Aden Conflict in 1966. In 1968 the regiment chose to be disbanded rather than face amalgamation.