Regimental depot
Whittington Barracks, near Lichfield. Sometimes known as Whittington Heath Barracks.
The regimental badge as depicted on a CWGC grave headstone. Author’s collection
Battalions of the Regular Army
1st Battalion
August 1914 : stationed in Fort Napier, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
Returned to England, landing Southampton 19 September 1914.
Came under orders of 22nd Brigade in 7th Division. Moved to Lyndhurst.
6 October 1914 : landed at Zeebrugge.
20 December 1915 : transferred to 91st Brigade in same Division.
Article: Friendly fire: South Staffords at Mansel Copse, 29 May 1916
Article: Tactically naive schoolboys?
Article: Failed attack at Croisilles 28 March 1917
November 1917 : moved with Division to Italy.
2nd Battalion
August 1914 : in Aldershot. Part of 6th Brigade in 2nd Division.
Landed at Le Havre 13 August 1914.
3rd (Reserve) Battalion
August 1914 : at the depot. Moved on mobilisation to Fort Stamford (Plymouth).
May 1915: moved to Sunderland.
November 1916: moved to Forest Hall (Newcastle) for duty with the Tyne Garrison.
4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion
August 1914 : in Lichfield. Moved to Jersey on mobilisation.
September 1916: moved to to Forest Hall (Marske, Redcar).
June 1917: moved to Bridge Camp, Canterbury.
10 October 1917 : landed at Le Havre and came under orders of 7th Brigade in 25th Division.
22 June 1918 : after heavy losses, remnants of various battalions including this one moved into 25th Composite Brigade. Brigade transferred to 50th (Northumbrian) Division.
11 July 1918 : reduced to cadre strength and transferred to 116th Brigade in 39th Division.
6 November 1918 : disbanded in France.
Battalions of the Territorial Force
1/5th Battalion
August 1914 : in Walsall. Part of Staffordshire Brigade in North Midland Division. Moved to Luton area and in November 1914 went on to Bishops Stortford.
Landed at Le Havre 3 March 1915.
12 May 1915 : formation became the 137th Brigade, 46th (North Midland) Division.
January 1916 : moved to Egypt, returning to France next month.
1/6th Battalion
August 1914 : in Wolverhampton. Record same as 1/5th Bn.
2/5th Battalion
Formed at Walsall in September 1914 as a home service (“second line”) unit. Became part of 2nd Staffordshire Brigade in 2nd North Midland Division. Moved to Luton area by January 1915 and in July went on to St Albans.
Moved to Ireland in April 1916 to quell disturbances.
August 1915 : formation became the 176th Brigade, 59th (2nd North Midland) Division.
Moved in January 1917 to Fovant and landed at Le Havre 25 February 1917.
30 January 1918 : disbanded in France.
2/6th Battalion
Formed at Wolverhampton in September 1914 as a home service (“second line”) unit. Record same as 2/5th Bn.
9 May 1918 : reduced to cadre strength and transferred to 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division.
31 July 1918 : disbanded in France.
3/5th and 3/6th Battalions
Formed at home bases in 1915 as “third line” units. Moved to Catterick.
8 April 1916 : renamed 5th and 6th Reserve Bns.
On 1 September 1916, 5th absorbed the 6th Bn. Moved to Lincoln in March 1917 and spent July to December at Mablethorpe. Moved to Lincoln again in 1918 but went on to Sutton on Sea and by November 1918 was back at Mablethorpe
Battalions of the New Armies
7th (Service) Battalion
Formed at Lichfield in August 1914 as part of K1 and became part of 33rd Brigade in 11th (Northern) Division. Moved to camp at Grantham in mid-September 1914.
Moved to Frensham in April 1915.
Sailed from Liverpool in early July 1915 for Gallipoli, landing at Cape Helles and remaining there 23-28 July 1915. First casualties sustained in the “Horseshoe” facing Achi Baba.
Withdrawn to Imbros and rejoined rest of division for landing at Suvla Bay 7 August 1915.
Evacuated from Gallipoli December 1915, moved to Egypt via Imbros.
Moved to France in July 1916.
8th (Service) Battalion
Formed at Lichfield in September 1914 as part of K2 and became part of 51st Brigade in 17th (Northern) Division. Moved to Wareham and on to West Lulworth and Wool in January 1915. Moved to Winchester in June 1915.
Landed at Boulogne 14 July 1915.
23 February 1918 : disbanded in France. Personnel dispersed to 2/6th and 7th Battalions and also to 7th Entrenching Battalion.
9th (Service) Battalion (Pioneers)
Formed at Lichfield in September 1914 as part of K3. Moved to Aldershot and in December 1914 went into Talavera Barracks.
Attached as Army Troops to 23rd Division, and became Pioneer Bn December 1914. Moved to Shorncliffe in March 1915 and went on in May to Oxney Park (Bordon).
Landed at Le Havre 25 August 1915.
Moved with Division to Italy in November 1917.
10th (Reserve) Battalion
Formed in Plymouth in October 1914 as a Service Battalion of K3 but in November transferred to K4 and attached to 99th Brigade, original 33rd Division. Moved to Tavistock in December 1914.
April 1915 : became a Reserve Battalion and moved soon afterwards to Harrogate. Moved on to Rugeley Camp (Cannock Chase) in November 1915.
1 September 1916 : absorbed into Training Reserve Battalions of 2nd Reserve Brigade.
11th (Reserve) Battalion
Formed in Jersey in October 1914 as a Service Battalion of K4.
April 1915 : became a Reserve Battalion and moved soon afterwards to Harrogate. Moved on to Rugeley Camp (Cannock Chase) in October 1915.
1 September 1916 : converted into 9th Training Reserve Battalion of 2nd Reserve Brigade.
Other Battalions
12th (Labour) Battalion
Formed in Brocklesby in June 1916.
29 July 1916 : landed at Le Havre in France (2 officers and 200 men)
31 July 1916: HQ and two companies departed for Caudebec, one for Le Vuy Camp (Brotonne Forest), and one for Forest Camp (Rouvray Forest).
April 1917 : transferred to Labour Corps as 26th and 27th Labour Companies.
1st (Garrison) Battalion
Formed in Lichfield in January 1917 and moved to India.
Links
Other British infantry regiments
59th (2nd North Midland) Division
66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division
External Links
Staffordshire Regimental Museum
In memoriam
This page is dedicated to the memory of my grandfather’s cousin Pte 13261 Albert Baker, who served with the 7th (Service) Battalion and was killed in action in the Battle of Messines on 7 June 1917. Also of Pte 9696 Fred Rowbotham of the battalion’s A” “Company, whose copy of the battalion history I fortuitously acquired many years ago.