Sherwood Foresters - 5th Bn (TF)

This post will look at regimental numbering in the 5th (Territorial Force) Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment) between 1908 and 1914. The 5th and the 6th Battalions of this regiment were administered by the Derbyshire County Association whereas the 7th and 8th Battalions were administered by the Nottinghamshire County Association.

Until the 1st April 1908, the 5th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters had been the 1st Volunteer Battalion, Sherwood Foresters. The 5th Battalion was headquartered at Derby and its eight companies drew men from the following areas: 

A Company: Derby

B Company: Derby

C Company: Derby

D Company: Long Eaton, with a drill station at Melbourne

E Company: Ripley, with drill stations at Codnor Park, Alfreton and Butterley

F Company: Belper, with drill stations at Horsley, Crich and Kilburn

G Company: Ilkeston, with drill stations at Long Eaton, Heanor and Langley Mill

H Company: Swadlincote, with a drill station at Repton

By August 1914 the battalion formed part of the Notts & Derby Infantry Brigade in the North Midland Division. 

Here are some sample regimental numbers and joining dates for the the 5th Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters.

423 joined on the 9th May 1908 

802 joined on the 3rd February 1909

1199 joined on the 23rd March 1910 

1329 joined on the 11th January 1911 

1545 joined on the 29th March 1912 

1764 joined on the 2nd January 1913 

2096 joined on the 5th May 1914 

2257 joined on the 8th August 1914 

A reserve or ‘second-line’ battalion was formed at Derby on the 16th October 1914, the original 5th Battalion now becoming the 1/5th Battalion and the new reserve battalion becoming the 2/5th Battalion. A 3/5th Battalion would be formed at Derby on the 29th March 1915. The 2/5th Battalion would serve overseas from February 1917 but the 3/5th never did so, becoming the 5th Reserve Battalion in April 1916 and ultimately absorbing the 6th Reserve Battalion. 

Use the regimental numbers above to estimate when a man would have joined this battalion between 1908 and August 1914. For example, if your man had the number 1800 and lived in Crich, he would have joined this battalion in 1913 and probably served with F Company. 

The photo I have used on this post shows officers of the 5th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters and was published in The Tatler on the 4th November 1914.

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To search for photos of your Sherwood Foresters ancestors, check my British Army Ancestors website.