Green Howards Regimental Museum
Encyclopedia
The Green Howards Regimental Museum is the museum of the Green Howards infantry regiment of the British Army. It is located in the old Trinity Church in the centre of the market place of Richmond
in the Richmondshire
district of North Yorkshire
, England. The Green Howards were amalgamated with The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire
and The Duke of Wellington's Regiment
, all Yorkshire-based regiments in the King's Division
, to form The Yorkshire Regiment
on 6 June 2006.
Founded in 1938, The museum houses artefacts and displays showing three centuries of the history of the regiment.
es (VC) and three George Cross
es.
The Victoria Cross for Lt Col Oliver Cyril Spencer Watson VC DSO
Commanding the 2nd/5th King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
at the time of his award of the VC is also held by the museum. He was Commissioned into the Green Howards in 1897 and promoted to Lieutenant
in 1898 and posted to their 2nd battalion in India. He served in the Tirah Expedition 1897-8 on the North West Frontier
where he was severely wounded and the Boxer Rebellion
1900. He was promoted Lieutenant
in 1898 and after being invalided from India in 1903 he retired to the reserve of regular officers in 1904. In 1909 he joined the 1st County of London Yeomanry (Middlesex, Duke of Cambridge's Hussars)
. He was promoted Lieutenant in 1911, Captain
in 1913. He served in Gallipoli in April 1915 and was promoted to major in July 1915, before returning to the UK. Attached to 2/5th Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry in 1916, he went to France as second-in-command in 1917. He was Mentioned in Despatches and awarded the DSO in May 1917. He was wounded at Bullecourt
on 3 May 1917. He was awarded the VC for gallantry, on 28 March 1918 at Rossignol Wood
, France. Organising bombing parties and leading attacks under intense fire, he was killed covering the withdrawal of his men.
The medal bar of Pte Henry Tandey VC DCM MM
, who transferred from the Green Howards 12th Battalion on 26 July 1918 to the 5th Battalion The Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
, is also held by the regiment. Tandey's VC was awarded for gallantry during a counter-attack following the capture of Marcoing
, France, on 28 September 1918 and the citation for it was printed in the London Gazette on 14 December 1918. Tandey's DCM
(Canal du Nord
, during the 2nd Battle of Cambrai
on 28 August 1918) and MM
(Havrincourt
on 12 September 1918) were also awarded for acts of gallantry whilst serving with the 5th battalion of the Duke of Wellington's Regiment.
Richmond, North Yorkshire
Richmond is a market town and civil parish on the River Swale in North Yorkshire, England and is the administrative centre of the district of Richmondshire. It is situated on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, and serves as the Park's main tourist centre...
in the Richmondshire
Richmondshire
Richmondshire is a local government district of North Yorkshire, England. It covers a large northern area of the Yorkshire Dales including Swaledale and Arkengarthdale, Wensleydale and Coverdale, with the prominent Scots' Dyke and Scotch Corner along the centre. Teesdale lies to the north...
district of North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, England. The Green Howards were amalgamated with The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire
Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire
The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the King's Division. It was created in 1958 by the amalgamation of The West Yorkshire Regiment and The East Yorkshire Regiment...
and The Duke of Wellington's Regiment
Duke of Wellington's Regiment
The Duke of Wellington's Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army, forming part of the King's Division.In 1702 Colonel George Hastings, 8th Earl of Huntingdon, was authorised to raise a new regiment, which he did in and around the city of Gloucester. As was the custom in those days...
, all Yorkshire-based regiments in the King's Division
King's Division
The King's Division is a British Army command, training and administrative apparatus designated for infantry regiments in the North of England. The King's Division was formed in 1968 with the union of the Lancastrian Brigade, Yorkshire Brigade and North Irish Brigade...
, to form The Yorkshire Regiment
Yorkshire Regiment
The Yorkshire Regiment is one of the largest infantry regiments of the British Army. The regiment is currently the only line infantry or rifles unit to represent a single geographical county in the new infantry structure, serving as the county regiment of Yorkshire covering the historical areas...
on 6 June 2006.
Founded in 1938, The museum houses artefacts and displays showing three centuries of the history of the regiment.
Medal display
Within the museums collection are 3,750 medals and decorations presented to members of the regiment including 16 Victoria CrossVictoria 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....
es (VC) and three George Cross
George Cross
The George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations...
es.
The Victoria Cross for Lt Col Oliver Cyril Spencer Watson VC DSO
Oliver Cyril Spencer Watson
Oliver Cyril Spencer Watson VC DSO was an English soldier in the First World War. He was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.Watson was commissioned into the Green...
Commanding the 2nd/5th 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:...
at the time of his award of the VC is also held by the museum. He was Commissioned into the Green Howards in 1897 and promoted to Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in 1898 and posted to their 2nd battalion in India. He served in the Tirah Expedition 1897-8 on the North West Frontier
North-West Frontier (military history)
The North-West Frontier was the most difficult area, from a military point of view, of the former British India in the Indian sub-continent. It remains the frontier of present-day Pakistan, extending from the Pamir Knot in the north to the Koh-i-Malik Siah in the west, and separating the...
where he was severely wounded and the Boxer Rebellion
Boxer Rebellion
The Boxer Rebellion, also called the Boxer Uprising by some historians or the Righteous Harmony Society Movement in northern China, was a proto-nationalist movement by the "Righteous Harmony Society" , or "Righteous Fists of Harmony" or "Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists" , in China between...
1900. He was promoted Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in 1898 and after being invalided from India in 1903 he retired to the reserve of regular officers in 1904. In 1909 he joined the 1st County of London Yeomanry (Middlesex, Duke of Cambridge's Hussars)
County of London Yeomanry
Several British Army regiments have born the title County of London Yeomanry . Most have been mounted, then armoured regiments.-1st County of London Yeomanry:...
. He was promoted Lieutenant in 1911, Captain
Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
in 1913. He served in Gallipoli in April 1915 and was promoted to major in July 1915, before returning to the UK. Attached to 2/5th Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry in 1916, he went to France as second-in-command in 1917. He was Mentioned in Despatches and awarded the DSO in May 1917. He was wounded at Bullecourt
Bullecourt
Bullecourt is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region in France.-Geography:Bullecourt lies on the Upper Cretaceous plain of Artois between Arras and Bapaume and east of the A1 motorway. This shows Bullecourt just north of centre. Quéant is the larger of the two...
on 3 May 1917. He was awarded the VC for gallantry, on 28 March 1918 at Rossignol Wood
Rossignol Wood
Rossignol Wood is a forest northeast of Hebuterne, France. It is the site of a small World War I cemetery.-External links:* * http://www.ww1battlefields.co.uk/somme/gommecourt.html...
, France. Organising bombing parties and leading attacks under intense fire, he was killed covering the withdrawal of his men.
The medal bar of Pte Henry Tandey VC DCM MM
Henry Tandey
Henry Tandey VC, DCM, MM was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces...
, who transferred from the Green Howards 12th Battalion on 26 July 1918 to the 5th Battalion The Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
Duke of Wellington's Regiment
The Duke of Wellington's Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army, forming part of the King's Division.In 1702 Colonel George Hastings, 8th Earl of Huntingdon, was authorised to raise a new regiment, which he did in and around the city of Gloucester. As was the custom in those days...
, is also held by the regiment. Tandey's VC was awarded for gallantry during a counter-attack following the capture of Marcoing
Marcoing
-References:*...
, France, on 28 September 1918 and the citation for it was printed in the London Gazette on 14 December 1918. Tandey's DCM
Distinguished Conduct Medal
The Distinguished Conduct Medal was an extremely high level award for bravery. It was a second level military decoration awarded to other ranks of the British Army and formerly also to non-commissioned personnel of other Commonwealth countries.The medal was instituted in 1854, during the Crimean...
(Canal du Nord
Canal du Nord
The Canal du Nord is a long canal in northern France. The canal connects the Canal latéral à l'Oise at Pont-l'Évêque to the Sensée Canal at Arleux. The French government, in partnership with coal-mining companies in the Nord and Pas-de-Calais departments, developed the canal to help French coal...
, during the 2nd Battle of Cambrai
Battle of Cambrai (1918)
The Battle of Cambrai was a battle between troops of the British First, Third and Fourth Armies and German Empire forces during the Hundred Days Offensive of the First World War. The battle took place in and around the French city of Cambrai, between 8 and 10 October 1918...
on 28 August 1918) and MM
Military Medal
The Military Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land....
(Havrincourt
Battle of Havrincourt
- Notes :# - a mistake on the part either of Byng or of Repington, as it was actually the 62nd Division....
on 12 September 1918) were also awarded for acts of gallantry whilst serving with the 5th battalion of the Duke of Wellington's Regiment.