The Robin Hood Battalion
Encyclopedia
The Robin Hood Battalion was a unit of the British Territorial Army.
which created a flurry of interest in establishing such volunteer corps
by the more affluent classes of British society. The unit was, also, simply known as the Robin Hood Rifles; the title's name being in honour of the legendary Robin Hood
.
After the culmination of the Cardwell-Childers reforms
on 1 July 1881, the Sherwood Foresters (Derbyshire Regiment) was formed (later the Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment)
and the Robin Hood Rifles became its 3rd Volunteer Battalion.
In 1900, due to the Second Boer War
, the Rifles experienced a substantial increase in size. Men of the battalion volunteered for service in the war -- which had been raging since 1899 -- and returned home when it ended in 1902, gaining the Robin Hood Rifles its first Battle Honour
"South Africa 1900-02". In 1908, reserve forces of the British Army were reorganised, and the battalion was transferred to the Territorial Force
, as the 7th Battalion (TF). In the following year, they were redesignated as the 7th (Robin Hood) Battalion.
On 19 September a duplicate battalion of the Robin Hoods was formed, the original becoming the 1/7th. It joined the 2nd Notts and Derby Brigade, 2nd North Midland Division which later became the 59th (2nd North Midland) Division. Another duplicate battalion, the 3/7th, was formed in March 1915 and remained in Britain for the duration of the war.
The 1/7th landed in France in February 1915 with the rest of the 46th Division. The Battalion saw heavy fighting at the Battle of Hohenzollern Redoubt
-- a subsidiary action of the Battle of Loos
-- which was their first major action of the war. The battalion received its Victoria Cross
(VC) when Temporary Captain Charles Geoffrey Vickers
was awarded the VC -- the highest award for bravery in the face of the enemy -- for his actions at Hohenzollern on 14 October. The battalion was involved in the First Day of the Somme on 1 July 1916 and the brigade they were part of sustained very severe casualties in the attack on the Gommecourt Salient. The day ended as bloodiest in the British Army
's history, with 60,000 casualties being incurred.
In the home front the 2/7th Robin Hoods had, meanwhile, been sent to Ireland
with the rest of the 59th Division to help suppress the 1916 Easter Uprising in Dublin. The division return to England
in January 1917 and then moved to France in February. The 2/7th took part in many actions, including at 'Third Ypres'
and Cambrai. The battalion was absorbed by the 1/7th on 31 January 1918 and the Robin Hoods reverted to their original name, the 7th (Robin Hood) Battalion. On 7 May the 7th Robin Hoods were reduced to cadre strength. The First World War ended on 11 November 1918. On 14 June 1919 the Battalion was disbanded. The following year, the Territorial Force was reformed as the "Territorial Army", and on 7 February the 7th (Robin Hood) Battalion (TA) was reraised.
During WWI, Captain Albert Ball
–fourth ranking ace of the Royal Flying Corps
–had been awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions in 1916-1917 while seconded from the Robin Hoods.
region.
The Second World War began on 3 September 1939. In August 1940 it became the 42nd (Robin Hoods, Sherwood Foresters) Search-Light Regiment, RA. The regiment was involved in the German Blitz
against British cities, the Robin Hoods serving in Derby
, East Midlands
. After the Allied invasion of Normandy
on 6 June 1944, the regiment landed in France and undertook similar duties during the North-West Europe campaign. It was awarded the Croix de Guerre
by Belgium
for their defence of the port of Antwerp against German V1
and V2
rockets. When the war in Europe
ended in May 1945 the Robin Hoods were in Germany
.
In 1961 the regiment converted to engineers and re-titled as the 350 (The Robin Hood Foresters) Field Squadron. In 1967, with reforms of the Armed Forces it left the RE, returning to the Sherwood Foresters as The Robin Hood (Territorial) Battalion, a TAVR III (Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve) unit. In 1969 the Robin Hoods were reduced to cadre strength when they became the Robin Hood (T) Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters, RE. The Robin Hoods were sponsored by 72 Engineer Regiment, RE. In 1971, with further defence reforms, the Robin Hoods became D (Robin Hood Foresters) Company, 3rd (V) Battalion of the newly formed Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment.
In 1992 the Robin Hood lineage was discontinued upon D Company becoming the HQ Company; the company was disbanded in 1999. The name is presently (as of 2005) maintained by A (Robin Hood Rifles) Company, Nottinghamshire Army Cadet Force of the Army Cadet Force
. It is affiliated with the Rifles Regiment.
History
It was formed as the 1st Nottinghamshire (Robin Hood) Volunteer Rifle Corps by Adjutant Jonathan White on 15 November 1859. It was one of many such 'corps' to be formed at a time of increased fear of war with FranceSecond French Empire
The Second French Empire or French Empire was the Imperial Bonapartist regime of Napoleon III from 1852 to 1870, between the Second Republic and the Third Republic, in France.-Rule of Napoleon III:...
which created a flurry of interest in establishing such volunteer corps
Volunteer Force (Great Britain)
The Volunteer Force was a citizen army of part-time rifle, artillery and engineer corps, created as a popular movement in 1859. Originally highly autonomous, the units of volunteers became increasingly integrated with the British Army after the Childers Reforms in 1881, before forming part of the...
by the more affluent classes of British society. The unit was, also, simply known as the Robin Hood Rifles; the title's name being in honour of the legendary Robin Hood
Robin Hood
Robin Hood was a heroic outlaw in English folklore. A highly skilled archer and swordsman, he is known for "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor", assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men". Traditionally, Robin Hood and his men are depicted wearing Lincoln green clothes....
.
After the culmination of the Cardwell-Childers reforms
Childers Reforms
The Childers Reforms restructured the infantry regiments of the British army. The reforms were undertaken by Secretary of State for War Hugh Childers in 1881, and were a continuation of the earlier Cardwell reforms....
on 1 July 1881, the Sherwood Foresters (Derbyshire Regiment) was formed (later the Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment)
Sherwood Foresters
The Sherwood Foresters was formed during the Childers Reforms in 1881 from the amalgamation of the 45th Regiment of Foot and the 95th Regiment of Foot...
and the Robin Hood Rifles became its 3rd Volunteer Battalion.
In 1900, due to the Second 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...
, the Rifles experienced a substantial increase in size. Men of the battalion volunteered for service in the war -- which had been raging since 1899 -- and returned home when it ended in 1902, gaining the Robin Hood Rifles its first Battle Honour
Battle honour
A battle honour is an award of a right by a government or sovereign to a military unit to emblazon the name of a battle or operation on its flags , uniforms or other accessories where ornamentation is possible....
"South Africa 1900-02". In 1908, reserve forces of the British Army were reorganised, and the battalion was transferred to the Territorial Force
Territorial Force
The Territorial Force was the volunteer reserve component of the British Army from 1908 to 1920, when it became the Territorial Army.-Origins:...
, as the 7th Battalion (TF). In the following year, they were redesignated as the 7th (Robin Hood) Battalion.
First World War
When the First World War began in August 1914 the Robin Hood Rifles were part of the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Brigade (later the 139th Brigade (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire)), North Midland Division (later the 46th (North Midland) Division).On 19 September a duplicate battalion of the Robin Hoods was formed, the original becoming the 1/7th. It joined the 2nd Notts and Derby Brigade, 2nd North Midland Division which later became the 59th (2nd North Midland) Division. Another duplicate battalion, the 3/7th, was formed in March 1915 and remained in Britain for the duration of the war.
The 1/7th landed in France in February 1915 with the rest of the 46th Division. The Battalion saw heavy fighting at the Battle of Hohenzollern Redoubt
Hohenzollern Redoubt
The Hohenzollern Redoubt, near to Auchy-les-Mines in France, was a German fortification on the Western Front in World War I.-Introduction:The British first attacked the Redoubt on September 25, 1915, the first day of the Battle of Loos...
-- a subsidiary action of the Battle of 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...
-- which was their first major action of the war. The battalion received its 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....
(VC) when Temporary Captain Charles Geoffrey Vickers
Charles Geoffrey Vickers
Sir Charles Geoffrey Vickers VC was an English lawyer, administrator, writer and pioneering systems scientist...
was awarded the VC -- the highest award for bravery in the face of the enemy -- for his actions at Hohenzollern on 14 October. The battalion was involved in the First Day of the Somme on 1 July 1916 and the brigade they were part of sustained very severe casualties in the attack on the Gommecourt Salient. The day ended as bloodiest in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
's history, with 60,000 casualties being incurred.
In the home front the 2/7th Robin Hoods had, meanwhile, been sent to Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
with the rest of the 59th Division to help suppress the 1916 Easter Uprising in Dublin. The division return to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in January 1917 and then moved to France in February. The 2/7th took part in many actions, including at 'Third Ypres'
Battle of Ypres
There were five Battles of Ypres during World War I:*First Battle of Ypres *Second Battle of Ypres...
and Cambrai. The battalion was absorbed by the 1/7th on 31 January 1918 and the Robin Hoods reverted to their original name, the 7th (Robin Hood) Battalion. On 7 May the 7th Robin Hoods were reduced to cadre strength. The First World War ended on 11 November 1918. On 14 June 1919 the Battalion was disbanded. The following year, the Territorial Force was reformed as the "Territorial Army", and on 7 February the 7th (Robin Hood) Battalion (TA) was reraised.
During WWI, Captain Albert Ball
Albert Ball
Albert Ball VC, DSO & Two Bars, MC was an English fighter pilot of the First World War and a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest decoration for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to members of the British or Commonwealth armed forces...
–fourth ranking ace of the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
–had been awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions in 1916-1917 while seconded from the Robin Hoods.
Second World War
With the advent of air power and the reduced need for so much infantry, the Robin Hoods were one of many units to be converted to the anti-aircraft role. The battalion re-roled on 10 December 1936 and became the 42nd (The Robin Hoods, Sherwood Foresters) Anti-Aircraft Battalion, RE. It joined the 32nd (Midland) Anti-Aircraft Brigade, 2nd Anti-Aircraft Division and was based in the West RidingWest Riding of Yorkshire
The West Riding of Yorkshire is one of the three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. From 1889 to 1974 the administrative county, County of York, West Riding , was based closely on the historic boundaries...
region.
The Second World War began on 3 September 1939. In August 1940 it became the 42nd (Robin Hoods, Sherwood Foresters) Search-Light Regiment, RA. The regiment was involved in the German Blitz
The Blitz
The Blitz was the sustained strategic bombing of Britain by Nazi Germany between 7 September 1940 and 10 May 1941, during the Second World War. The city of London was bombed by the Luftwaffe for 76 consecutive nights and many towns and cities across the country followed...
against British cities, the Robin Hoods serving in Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
, East Midlands
East Midlands
The East Midlands is one of the regions of England, consisting of most of the eastern half of the traditional region of the Midlands. It encompasses the combined area of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire and most of Lincolnshire...
. After the Allied invasion of Normandy
Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings...
on 6 June 1944, the regiment landed in France and undertook similar duties during the North-West Europe campaign. It was awarded the Croix de Guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
by 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...
for their defence of the port of Antwerp against German V1
V-1 flying bomb
The V-1 flying bomb, also known as the Buzz Bomb or Doodlebug, was an early pulse-jet-powered predecessor of the cruise missile....
and V2
V-2 rocket
The V-2 rocket , technical name Aggregat-4 , was a ballistic missile that was developed at the beginning of the Second World War in Germany, specifically targeted at London and later Antwerp. The liquid-propellant rocket was the world's first long-range combat-ballistic missile and first known...
rockets. When the war in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
ended in May 1945 the Robin Hoods were in Germany
Germany
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...
.
Post-War
In 1946 the Robin Hoods were placed in 'suspended animation' when it was still in Germany. The following year they were reconstituted into the TA as the 577th (The Robin Hoods, Sherwood Foresters) Searchlight Regiment, RA. Further name changes took place throughout the 1940s and 1950s. On 10 March 1955 the Robin Hoods amalgamated with the 350th (The South Nottinghamshire Hussars Yeomanry) Heavy Regiment and 528th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (West Nottinghamshire) to form the 350th (The Robin Hood Foresters) Heavy Regiment, RA. The following year Heavy was changed to Light.In 1961 the regiment converted to engineers and re-titled as the 350 (The Robin Hood Foresters) Field Squadron. In 1967, with reforms of the Armed Forces it left the RE, returning to the Sherwood Foresters as The Robin Hood (Territorial) Battalion, a TAVR III (Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve) unit. In 1969 the Robin Hoods were reduced to cadre strength when they became the Robin Hood (T) Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters, RE. The Robin Hoods were sponsored by 72 Engineer Regiment, RE. In 1971, with further defence reforms, the Robin Hoods became D (Robin Hood Foresters) Company, 3rd (V) Battalion of the newly formed Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment.
In 1992 the Robin Hood lineage was discontinued upon D Company becoming the HQ Company; the company was disbanded in 1999. The name is presently (as of 2005) maintained by A (Robin Hood Rifles) Company, Nottinghamshire Army Cadet Force of the Army Cadet Force
Army Cadet Force
The Army Cadet Force is a British youth organisation that offers progressive training in a multitude of the subjects from military training to adventurous training and first aid, at the same time as promoting achievement, discipline, and good citizenship, to boys and girls aged 12 to 18 and 9...
. It is affiliated with the Rifles Regiment.