Keep Military Museum in Dorchester
Dorchester's history can be traced back to the Iron Age.Two miles southwest of the town centre, sat on a steep chalk hill, is the large Iron Age hill fort Maiden Castle, which was one of the most powerful settlements in pre-Roman Britain. The fort was important to the Romans and the Saxons, whose invasions of Dorset weren't seen as complete until they had captured the hill.
The town, originally named Durnovaria, was founded by the Romans in AD 70. The town still has some Roman features, including part of the town walls and the foundations of a Roman town house, which are freely accessible near County Hall. There are many Roman finds in the County Museum. The Romans built an aqueduct to supply the town with water but only a few traces remain at nearby Whitfield Farm. Near the town centre is Maumbury Rings, an ancient British earthwork converted by the Romans for use as an Amphitheatre, and to the north west is Poundbury Hill, another pre-Roman fortification.
In the 17th century the town was at the centre of the Puritan emigration to America, and local Rector, John White, organised the settlement of Dorchester, Massachusetts. The town was heavily defended against the Royalists in the English Civil War.
In the 1613 and 1725 two great fires destroyed large parts of the town, but some of the mediaeval buildings, including Judge Jeffreys' lodgings, and the Tudor almshouse can still be found in the town centre, amongst the replacement Georgian buildings, many of which are built in Portland limestone.
Another landmark of Dorchester ist the famous Keem Military Museum.
Keep which stands for castle tower is a modern military museum which uses touch screen computers and creative displays to tell the stories of courage, humour, tradition and sacrifice of those who served in the regiments of Devon and Dorset for over 300 years. The uniforms, weapons and medals all bear silent witness to those of a bygone age and of more recent conflicts. The diversity of articles on display allows the imagination to recreate the world of these soldiers and their families from 1685 to the present day. An added bonus is the spectacular view from the battlements of Dorchester and surrounding countryside brought to life in the novels of Thomas Hardy.
The museum is housed in The Keep, a Grade II listed building. It was built as the gateway to the former barracks of the Dorsetshire Regiment in the 1870s. In the building were the guardroom, cells and the armoury. Today it has been modernised into a state-of-the-art military museum retaining many of the original features, including one of the cells.
The museum is housed in The Keep, a Grade II listed building. It was built as the gateway to the former barracks of the Dorsetshire Regiment in the 1870s. In the building were the guardroom, cells and the armoury. Today it has been modernised into a state-of-the-art military museum retaining many of the original features, including one of the cells.
The Devonshire and Dorset Light Infantry
The Devonshire Regiment was raised in Bristol in 1685 as the Duke of Beaufort's Musketeers to help crush the Duke of Monmouth's Westcountry uprising. In 1689 the Regiment moved out to Ireland and took part in the relief of Londonderry before being one of the few English Regiments to fight with King William III at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.
Only a few years later during the War of Spanish Succession, the Dorset's, or Colonel Coote's Regiment, was raised in Ireland in 1692. The Regiment eventually numbered the 39th was raised as part of the doubling in size in the Army, which was to take part in the Duke of Marlborough's campaigns on he continent in Europe. Though neither the Devon's or the Dorset's were to take part in any of the four big battles during the twelve years of the wars they campaigned in the Low Countries including France, Germany, Spain and North America.
It was not until 1755 during the period of tension prior to the Severn Years War, when a further expansion of the Army was required that the 54th of Foot was raised in Salisbury, Wiltshire, by Lieutenant-Colonel John Campbell. Throughout the 18th century, soldiers were recruited in the West Country to form units in local defence of the south coast but most were disbanded or placed on a lower state of readiness once the immediate threat had subsided
Battle of Dettingen
The practice of awarding battle honours began in the 18th Century, with some being rewarded retrospectively but not for those who fought in the British Isles.'Dettingen' is therefore the senior battle honour of the West Country Regiments, despite participation in the Boyne and the Duke Of Marlborough's campaigns. Dettingen was fought in 1743 by the Devonshire Regiment, the 11th of Foot. The Regiment fought with a small Army of 37,000 men, which marched from Flanders to the Rhine Main valley in Germany, where they faced a large French Army of over 60,000 men. The British personally commanded by King George II, were cut off by the French Army by their Austrian and Hanoverian allies. In the battle to escape from the trap.They withstood two charges of elite French Guard Cavalry and inflicted heavy casualties on them. The British then advanced to meet the French who after the ebb and flow of battle withdrew suffering terrible casualties.
The defeat of the French allowed the Allies to regain a sound position. Afterwards the French commander remarked on the poor tactics of the Allied Army, but on the splendid discipline and fire power of the British Infantry. This was the last occasion that a reigning British monarch led his army into battle. Today the Regiment's premier battle honour of Dettingen is born on the side of the 1st Battalions Commanding Officer vehicle.
Battle of Plassey
The Dorset Regiments first Battle honour was won in India in 1757.
The Regiments motto 'Primus In Indus' born on the cap badge of the Devon and Dorset's today, commemorates this fact and the Regiments singular achievement at the battle of Plassey. Under General Clive, 534 members of the 39th Foot were despatched to the Calcutta area, following a suffocation of many British prisoners in the infamous 'Black Hole' incident. A new Nabob of Bengal had determined to rid his territory of British merchants and the East India factory at Calcutta. Black Hole Incident is the name given to an event that took place during Nawab Sirajuddaula's capture of Calcutta on 20 June 1756. The nawab ordered the European prisoners to be confined in a 'Black Hole', a chamber of 18 feet by 14 feet 10 inches, with only one small window. The prisoners were crowded into that 'Black Hole' throughout that hot night of June, and in the morning many were found to have perished of suffocation or their wounds. The number of victims afterwards given out and accepted in Europe was 123 dead out of 146 confined.
After a 15 mile advance through monsoon floods the 3,000 men under General Clive faced the seemingly overwhelming forces of Nabob who advanced to meet them. The enemy numbered 60,000 including elephants and cannon. The battle started with the Nabobs artillery pounding the British positions, but rain that developed into a monsoon thunder storm which dampened the natives powder leaving them at the mercy of the British. The enemy were eventually defeated by a vigorous attack led by the Grenadiers of the 39th. The victory at Plassey paved the way for British primacy in India.
'Plassey' is a unique honour awarded only to the Dorset's
'Plassey' is a unique honour awarded only to the Dorset's
American War of Independence
After spending their early years either in Gibraltar or as marines aboard the Fleet in the Mediterranean, the Regiment was sent to America to bring the independently-minded colonialists to heel. Their first action in 1775 was with Commodore Parker's ill coordinated attempt on Charleston. Later that year they attacked New York, inflicting Washington's third defeat in as many months, and occupied Rhode Island without a fight and garrisoned it for the next two years.
Marabout
In 1801, after Nelson had defeated the French Fleet in the Battle of Nile, the British Army landed to push the French out of Egypt. Two Battalions of the 54th took part in the campaign against the French who following Admiral Nelsons victory at the Battle of the Nile, were cut off and ripe for expulsion.
The landing in Aboukir Bay was opposed and is an early example of the Regiment taking part in amphibious landings against an enemy held coastline.
The 54th were given the task of Fort Marabout as their objective. Guns were positioned under the cover of musket fire and sharpshooters of the Regiments light companies. So effective was the fire of both musket and cannon that it helped to reduce the morale of Fort Marabouts garrison and the commander surrendered when he saw the 54ths columns forming up.
The 54th were given the task of Fort Marabout as their objective. Guns were positioned under the cover of musket fire and sharpshooters of the Regiments light companies. So effective was the fire of both musket and cannon that it helped to reduce the morale of Fort Marabouts garrison and the commander surrendered when he saw the 54ths columns forming up.
With the fort taken the main British assault could now take place with the support of the 'Royal Navy's' gunboats. The attack on the outer defences went well, and faced with the inevitability of defeat the French surrendered. In addition to 'The Sphinx' badge awarded to many Regiments, the 54th were given one of the French cannons as a trophy which the Regiment took with it wherever it went. However, in 1840 the War Office decided to rehouse the cannon at the RMA Woolwich. In return it granted the 54th permission to wear the inscription 'Marabout' under the badge of 'The Sphinx' rather than the usual 'Egypt', an honour unique within the British Army.
Since then the cannon has been returned to the Regiment and can now be seen in the Regimental Museum at 'The Keep' in Dorchester.
Since then the cannon has been returned to the Regiment and can now be seen in the Regimental Museum at 'The Keep' in Dorchester.
The Peninsula War
The first phase of the Peninsula War was essentially defensive, with the 2nd Battalion of the 39th being the only representative of the regiments of Devon and Dorset to take part. However, by 1811 both the llth and lst Battalion 39th were in action and earning an impressive list of battle honors.
The Battle of Albuera, of May 1811, was a classic infantry engagement, which, although expensive in losses, resulted in victory and finally established the infantry's superiority over their French counterparts.
At Salamanca, the British took up positions on a ridge largely out of sight of the enemy, during a tremendous thunderstorm. The French Marshall Marmont's line became strung out and lacked decisive strength at any point. French attacks on the British left flank were checked but in the center the Army fell back under the onslaught of a French cavalry counter-attack. The l lth stood firm in a square bristling with a hedge of steel bayonets that broke the French squadrons. Reforming, the 6th Division was sent forward to restore the center. The 6th Division was then sent against a key feature of the French line on the plateau. The 11th sought to repeat their earlier success, but ousting the enemy from a well-chosen defensive position proved to be expensive. For over an hour the two sides, amid the flame and smoke of burning grass, fought a tremendous musketry duel. Volleys thundered and the French had to withdraw, thus opening the way to another great British victory. The Devon’s earned the nickname "The Bloody Eleventh" at Salamanca - a reflection of the 341 casualties suffered in the battle and of the tenacity of the West Country soldier.
The Victorian Era
Much of the Victorian era was spent fighting small wars in far-flung corners of the globe, or garrisoning the more remote parts of the Empire. All three of the Regiments spent time soldiering in India, some for periods as long as ten years. The 39th suffered 40% of the Regiment killed or who died of their wounds at the Battle of Maharajoor in 1843, whilst the 54th, whilst sailing to help crush the Indian Mutiny their troopship, the SS Sarah Sands caught fire. Whilst the crew abandoned ship the officers and men of the 54th evacuated the the women and children, heaved overboard flaming gunpowder barrels, and rescued The Colours before putting out the fire. Queen Victoria was so impressed with accounts of the action that she commanded that the 54th's actions were to be read at the head of every Regiment.
The 54th took part in the First Burma war in 1821, whilst the 11th campaigned there from 1890 to 1892. The 11th also spent a very pleasant 20 years in Sydney, Australia.
The 39th had a bitter time in the Crimea in 1854 at Redan fighting with the Anglo-French against the Russians. They took part in the siege of the strategically important Black navel port of Sevastapol. In September 1855 they entered Redan, a key outwork of Russian fortifications and after bitter fighting and significant losses they earned the battle honour of 'Sevastapol'.
The Boer War
The Devons and Dorsets also took part in the Boer War.
Following the victory at Elandslaagte, lst Devon’s, along with the rest of Sir George White's force, were pushed back to Ladysmith, where they were besieged by the Boers. For most of the siege, the Devon’s held a sector of the perimeter but when the Boers threatened to take the dominating land to the west of the town, the Devon’s were tasked to clear Wagon Hill Point. On arriving at the crest, the Devon’s charged across the plateau and ejected the Boers from the rocks on the opposite crest.
Lt Masterson was awarded the Devon’s' first VC, despite multiple wounds, for continuing to move around the fire-swept plateau. A force that included 2nd Devons and 2nd Dorsets relieved Ladysmith.on the 28th February 1900
Thus the Regiment earned battle honors for both the Ddefence and Ladysmith, but not before the 2nd Devon’s had suffered heavy casualties on the slopes of Spion Kop, in an attempt to relieve the town.
Thus the Regiment earned battle honors for both the Ddefence and Ladysmith, but not before the 2nd Devon’s had suffered heavy casualties on the slopes of Spion Kop, in an attempt to relieve the town.
Ghandi later prime minister of India was a stretcher-bearer for the Devon’s throughout the siege. The latter days of the campaign were spent in operations pacifying the Boer countryside, in which the volunteers and yeomanry played their part.
IMPERIAL YEOMANRY AND THE VOLUNTEERS
The hit and run tactics of the Boer farmers, together with marksmanship and their knowledge of the countryside, presented a challenge to the Army that absorbed vast amounts of manpower to counter.. For the first time since the start of their movement, the Volunteers were called upon to support the Regular Army. Imperial Yeomanry Companies and Volunteer Service Companies were formed in 1900. Both counties found a company of infantry to join the regular battalions and a company of mounted yeomanry to counter Boer mobility of the open veldt. The volunteers and yeomanry of the two counties earned their first battle honors for their contribution to the Boer War Campaigns of 1900-1901. The Dorset Yeomanry were reputed to be the first troops into Pretoria but had to withdraw to allow General Roberts to enter in triumph.
The North West Frontier
The Northwest frontier is a phrase that conjures up images of skirmishes in the hills of northern India and the foothills of the Himalayas, with fiercely independent and warlike tribes. By the end of the Nineteenth Century, the Boundaries of the British Empire were well established in modern day Pakistan and India. However, constant expeditions to pacify the Pathan and other hill tribes were required to maintain any semblance of peace. During the Tirah/Punjab campaign of 1897 Private Vickery won a Victoria Cross for the Dorset Regiment for repeatedly rescuing soldiers during two battles.
1914 - 1918
By the outbreak of the First World War the Foot regiment of the 11th had become the Devonshire Regiment, whilst the 39th and 54th had amalgamated to become the Dorsets. During the war the two Regiments between them raised 38 Battalions. Both Regiments fought as part of the BEF (British Expeditionary Force).
The British Army was the smallest of the major protagonists. It was lightly equipped and had been specifically trained for policing the Empire.
Despite this, however it was able to have an effect on the battlefield out of all proportion to its numerical strength. The experience of facing the 'Boer' marksmen had led to the Army being able to fire 15 aimed shots a minute. Such fusillades of rifle fire stopped the massed German formations and led to reports that Britain´s 'Little Army' had many more machine guns than it actually possessed.
Despite this, however it was able to have an effect on the battlefield out of all proportion to its numerical strength. The experience of facing the 'Boer' marksmen had led to the Army being able to fire 15 aimed shots a minute. Such fusillades of rifle fire stopped the massed German formations and led to reports that Britain´s 'Little Army' had many more machine guns than it actually possessed.
The 1st Dorsets were involved during the first battle of the war which was fought in the industrial landscape around 'Mons' in Belgium. Outnumbered, but not out fought the Dorsets took part in the retreat of 'Mons' and the battle of 'Le Cateau', both of which severely tested the stamina of the troops. Six weeks later, the 1st Devons, who had been employed in rear area security, came into action in the battle of 'Aisne'.
Battalions of both regiments took part in the 'Race to the Sea' as both sides sought each others open northern flank. Actions were fought at 'La Basse', 'Givenchy' and 'Ypres' before the stalemate of trench warfare set in for the winter. In these actions many of the regiments regulars were killed and the responsibility for the rest of the war fell on the people of the West Country who filled in the empty ranks of both regiments.
Western Front 1915 - 1916
A citizen army was gradually brought into the field during 1915. Its equipment had been slow to arrive as industry had taken time to convert to war production, and when it did arrive, it was scarce and of poor quality. None-the-less the men were the cream of their generation and were fired on by patriotism and sense of duty. The 1st of July 1916, the battle of the Somme, is an event engraved on national consciousness. On that day, the Army suffered huge casualties for disappointing gains.
The Regiment had five Battalions in action on the first day of the four month battle. Their experiences sum up those of the 4th Army as a whole. The 2nd Devon's attacking at 'Olliviers' were engaged by German machine guns from the flank and suffered 431 casualties mostly in no mans land, out of a strength of 700 men with no gains to show for their losses. The 1st Dorset's suffered less badly and some reached the enemy in 'Leipzig Redoubt' but the shattered remains of the Battalion were back at their starting point by nightfall. Further south, the 8th and 9th Devon's were successful and reached their objectives around the fortified village of 'Mametz' with only moderate casualties despite heavy machine gun fire. The 5th Dorset's, meanwhile, had a lucky escape when a suicidal frontal assault against the German-held village of 'Friscourt' was cancelled within moments of the attack. The regiments experience on the first day was one of tragedy, success and luck. However as the battle ground on into November in poor conditions, all battalions suffered cruelly. In subsequent fighting near Highwood, Pte Veal won his VC for rescuing a wounded officer under fire.
Both the British and the Germans fought in appalling conditions as the rain and shell fire turned 'Passchendaele' into a battlefield of mud and water. Slowly the British pushed the Germans back. Small advances on the 'Pilkem Ridge' were made with huge casualties being taken by both Devon's and Dorset's. The Devon's and Dorset's both fought in battles on the Somme and Flanders suffering heavy casualties. The 2nd Devon's were transferred to a quiet sector in Champagne, to 'Bois Des Buttes', only to find that they were in the midst of yet another German offensive.
Bois de Buttes 28th May 1918
In 1918 the 2nd Devon's had been transferred to a quiet sector to retain and reinforce after two months of heavy fighting. Poorly deployed by the French Army they had inadvertently been moved into the path of the last German offensive of the war. The front lines were overwhelmed by artillery, gas attacks and German stormtroopers, and the Devon's found themselves outnumbered and outflanked by infantry and tanks, whilst under fire from aircraft and artillery. The Devon's stood their ground and fought against all the odds. The fighting soon broke down into disorganised and isolated fighting, but Bois de Buttes became an island in the centre of the German advance, and as such disrupted the enemy and bought time for the defences to be organised and reserves committed. The last stand was made by the Commanding Officer, Lt Col Anderson-Moreshead, and a dwindling band of Devon's, along a vital road. The Colonel died along with his men who fought to the last. Of The Battalion 23 officers and 528 men died, were wounded or were taken prisoner. Only 40 succeeded in crossing the canal to rejoin the rearguard.
The Middle East & Mesopotamia
Devon's and Dorset's also fought in the Middle East at Mesopotamia. The 6th Indian Division was ordered to take up the advance up the Tigris valley to Baghdad. The force, including the 2nd Dorset's was insufficiently strong enough to overcome three successive Turkish positions. The Division now reduced to 50% withdrew to Kut.
Besieged in Kut and unable to be relieved, the 2nd Dorset's though had no choice but to surrender after a 100 day siege, and were forced on a 'death march' to Turkish prisoner of war camps. Of the 12,000 men who went into Turkish captivity, 70% died on the march and through subsequent ill treatment. The 5th Dorset's landed at Gallipoli, whilst the 4th Dorset's took Hai Bluff at a cost of 232 killed and wounded. Baghdad fell to the British and was garrisoned by the 4th Dorset's.
Second World War 1939 -1940
The Second World War started with most of the Regulars overseas, but the TA was immediately mobilized to defend the West Country coast. 20 Battalions were raised, 11 for the Devon's and 9 for the Dorset's. The 2nd Dorset's joined the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) that was again sent to Flanders, where they spent the `Phoney War', The German blitzkrieg drove the British and French back, and the 2nd Battalion the Dorset Regiment were lucky to escape from the beaches of Dunkirk in the famous `little ships'. The Regular Army had lost all its heavy equipment in France. Consequently, the TA was the linchpin of the defence of Britain. A change of Army policy saw infantry being moved away from their home area, hence most of the regiments were to be found covering the landing grounds in he south-east of England and on the east coast.
The Mediterranean theatre
1939 saw the 2nd Devon's and lst Dorset’s moving to garrison the strategically important 'island of Malta. This seemingly unglamorous role became crucial as Malta sat astride Rommel's Africa Corps supply route. Effectively besieged, bombed by the Luftwaffe and starved, the Battalions shared the suffering of the Maltese people, who were awarded the George Cross for their endurance in adversity.
Following the restoration of Allied superiority in the Mediterranean, as the ebb and flow of the North African campaign finally swung against the Germans, the Devon’s and Dorset’s and 231 Malta Brigade left the island.
Allied strategy was now to knock Italy out of the war, attract German reserves and keep them there in order to prevent reinforcing the fighting in Russia and France. The Devon's and Dorset’s took part in their first amphibious assault landing when the Allies invaded Sicily in 1945. A second landing followed this on the mainland of Italy at 'Porto Venere' on 8th September 1943. Shortly afterwards, with their recently acquired experience of assault landings, the two battalions were brought home to spearhead the D-Day invasion of France with the 50th Division. At the western end of the Mediterranean the 4th Devon’s were garrisoning the vitally important 'Rock of Gibraltar'. Highly trained and knowing the labyrinth of tunnels dug during the sieges it would have been very difficult for an enemy to take the Rock. None came to put them to the test.
Burma 1944 - 1945
Nowhere, during the Second World War, was the fighting harder or were the conditions worse than in the jungles of Burma. The 14th or "Forgotten" Army, withdrew 1,000 miles, pursued by the victorious Japanese, to the borders of India. Here reinforced by formations that included the 1st Devon’s and the 2nd Dorset’s, they stood and fought. The all-conquering Japanese were bought to a standstill during the battles of Imphal and Kohima, which marked the turning point in the War for the British in the Far East.
With the Japanese halted at Imphal, the lst Devon's were tasked to capture a vital feature in the enemy line nicknamed "Nippon Hill", which had defied all previous attempts by other units. The attack, on 11 April 1944, was made with heavy artillery fire and air support. The attack went well until the crest was reached. Here the assault companies were met with a hale of machine gun fire and grenades and the Japanese had to be flushed out of the maze of underground tunnels and bunkers built into the hilltop.
Stung by the loss of the vital feature, the Japanese launched three desperate counter-attacks during the night. The Devon's beat off two attacks, one got onto the position but was eventually broken up, with the help of superbly accurate artillery and small arms fire.
Stung by the loss of the vital feature, the Japanese launched three desperate counter-attacks during the night. The Devon's beat off two attacks, one got onto the position but was eventually broken up, with the help of superbly accurate artillery and small arms fire.
During an epic battle in the jungle-clad hills of Assam, the Japanese were fought to a standstill by the British 2nd Division who advanced to relieve the town of Kohima. The 2nd Dorset’s attacked strongly entrenched Japanese positions on a steep wooded spur centered on the District Commissioner's bungalow.
On the night of the 26/27 May 1944 they gained a foothold on the vital, dominating, spur and in the following eighteen days fought determinedly, at close quarters, with the enemy.
Despite heavy casualties from hand to hand fighting, they dominated "no-man's land" and eventually, with the aid of a tank hauled up the spur, took the "Tennis Court" terrace above the bungalow. The Japanese were cleared from their bunkers and taking the crest of the Spur enabled other attacks on the Kohima Ridge to prosper.
The twin battles of Imphal and Kohima enabled the British Army to take the offensive in the Far East and start to push the Japanese back down towards the Malay Peninsular.
On the night of the 26/27 May 1944 they gained a foothold on the vital, dominating, spur and in the following eighteen days fought determinedly, at close quarters, with the enemy.
Despite heavy casualties from hand to hand fighting, they dominated "no-man's land" and eventually, with the aid of a tank hauled up the spur, took the "Tennis Court" terrace above the bungalow. The Japanese were cleared from their bunkers and taking the crest of the Spur enabled other attacks on the Kohima Ridge to prosper.
The twin battles of Imphal and Kohima enabled the British Army to take the offensive in the Far East and start to push the Japanese back down towards the Malay Peninsular.
D-Day
Three battalions of the Regiment were in action on D-Day. Two came by sea and one by air.
The German commander, Field-Marshall Rommel, had aimed to defeat the Allied landings on the beaches, which were covered with mines and obstacles. The dunes were dominated by mutually supporting strong points, with anti-tank and machine-guns in concrete emplacements. After an uncomfortable and rough sea crossing the Dorset’s, in the 50th Division's first wave, were landed slightly to the east of their objective at Le Hamel. The Devon’s, the reserve battalion of 231 Brigade, were supposed to land on a well-ordered beach.
In fact, the beach was still under fire and far from organised. However, after clearing the local German defensive crust, the two battalions then advanced more easily inland and ended `The Longest Day' in and around the village of Ryes. Casualties were lighter than had been feared. The Dorset’s advanced towards Bayeux and the Devon’s took the important coastal battery at Longues Sur Mer. Leading elements of the 12th Devon’s had earlier landed by glider on the left-flank of the Allied lodgement and then moved to reinforce the 6th Division on theOrne bridge and Canal.
As the campaign developed further, other units from Devon and Dorset arrived. The Territorial Army units landed with XII Corps and 43rd Wessex Division, two weeks after D-Day. The 86th Anti-tank Regiment, formerly the 5th Devon’s, supported the 43rd Wessex Division, including the 4th and 5th Dorset’s and 94th Hants and Dorset Regiment Royal Artillery, in their first battle on the slopes of Hill 112.
This feature, the keystone of the German position in Normandy, was strongly defended by the Waffen SS of 9th and 10th SS Panzer Divisions. The attack was opened with a tremendous bombardment which 94th Field Regiment took part in with their 25pdr guns, the workhorse of the Artillery. 129 Brigade was to keep the Germans occupied on Hill 112 whilst 130 Brigade, with the 4th and 5th Dorset’s, was to attack on the lower ground and break through the German position in order to allow an outflanking sweep by the armour. 86th Anti-tank Regiment was active on the entire Divisional front and played its part in keeping the SS Panzers at bay.
The initial attack by the 5th Dorset's on Chateau Fontaine Etoupfour, held by a Battalion of 10th SS was a success. The attack by 4th Dorset on Etterville, held by fully alert SS Panzer grenadiers, was met with stiff opposition and heavy mortar fire, but was also successful. The final phase of the attack was in support of the Hampshire’s and the Churchill tanks of the Royal Tank Regiment. However, a battalion of German Tiger tanks had moved into the area and separated the British infantry from their tanks, who were then fighting for their lives. On their own, the infantry in Maltot were easy prey to well organised SS counter attacks. Despite their early success, the 4th Dorset’s were eventually reduced to little more than a company in strength.
The 2nd Devon’s and lst Dorset’s were also to play their part in the battles fought around Tilly and Hottot where they took on the Wermacht at close quarters. The German 7th Army was ground down and eventually destroyed in the Falaise Pocket and the campaign in Normandy was thus won. 43rd Wessex Division carried out an assault river crossing of the Seine and by quickly bridging they allowed the British Armour to pursue the defeated German Army across Northern France.
Holland/Germany 1944 - 1945
Following the defeat of the German army in Normand and the pursuit across northern France, the enemy staged a dramatic recovery and established a line along the Dutch frontier.
General Montgomery then conceived a plan to lay down a carpet of airborne troops to secure vital river crossings on a narrow route into the heart of Germany. Along this axis the British 30 Corps was to advance down a "carpet" of airborne troops.
Once over the River War at Nijmegen the 43rd Wessex Division took the lead and advanced to the Rhine at Arnhem. 4th Dorset’s were given the task of crossing the Rhine to reinforce the airborne troops but the river current was too strong and they were dispersed along the enemy beach.The battalion again suffered many casualties; three hundred soldiers were killed, wounded, missing or taken prisoner. The lst Dorset's and 2nd Devon’s fought their last battle together at Aam in the wet autumn weather in Holland. Meanwhile the Territorial battalions fought both the mud and the Germans as they sought to break the Siegfried Line at Geilenkirchen. That wet autumn was followed by a hard winter with fighting in the Reichswald Forest and the Ardennes.
The final act of the war began with the crossing of the Rhine by the 12th Devon’s in their gliders, and the 4th and 5th Dorset’s by assault craft supported by the 25pdr guns of the 94th and 110th Lt Anti Aircraft Regiment, formerly 7th Dorset’s. The final drive took the regiments across northern Germany to Bremerhaven on the North Sea coast.
Northern Ireland
The lst Battalion was posted to Northern Ireland prior to the troubles that began at the end of the sixties. At the very beginning of the civil Rights disturbances, the Battalion was deployed from its garrison duties in Malta, at very short notice, dressed in khaki drill. Initially, the Catholic community welcomed the soldiers but Republican and Unionist politics prompted the re-emergence of the IRA and the polarisation of the communities.Since then, during thirty years of military involvement, soldiers of the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment have gained a very high reputation for fairness and professionalism in the Province. Four and six month emergency tours have returned the Battalion to Belfast Fermanagh, and South Armagh on a regular basis, while a two year residential tour during the period 1983 and 1985 and again in 2002 - 2004 have seen soldiers of the Regiment regularly deployed Province wide in support of the old Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) and the new Police Service Northern Ireland (PSNI).
The Regiment is proud of its Northern Ireland achievements in winning hearts and minds of both sections of the population, its finds of terrorist weapons and bomb-making equipment, and the high standards of self-discipline achieved by its soldiers.
Bosnia
The conflict between the different communities of the Former Republic of Yugoslavia presented a challenge to Europe in its own immediate sphere of influence. In 1995, the lst Battalion was deployed to central Bosnia under the auspices of the United Nations. Wearing the light blue berets of the UN and with the Warrior armoured vehicles painted white, the warring factions were kept in check during the first part of the tour, but as the international community's patience ran out a more aggressive stance was adopted.
The Battalions most significant contribution to creating the conditions that enabled the Dayton Peace agreement to be signed was the taking of Mount Igman, which dominated the beleaguered city of Sarajevo.