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The 29th Regiment of Foot
was officially linked with the county of Worcestershire
in 1782 to help recruiting, but as recruits so gained
were often ordered elsewhere, as the Regiment was often
abroad and rarely had its Depot in the county, there was
little more than a formal connection for nearly a century.
Then, in 1877, the 29th and 36th
(Herefordshire) Regiments established their depots
in the new Norton Barracks. In 1881 these Regiments became
the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the Worcestershire Regiment,
which adopted the 36th’s motto ‘FIRM’. |
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| A much longer association
with the city and county, however, was held by the Worcestershire
Militia: though re-established in 1770, it had
been involved in the Civil War and preparations to resist the
Armada and, as part of the national Militia, had roots in Saxon
times. With only one short Break, the Worcestershire Militia
was embodied from 1793 - 1816, including service in Ireland
in 1798. In 1878 its Depot was moved from St. George’s Square
in the city to Norton Barracks and in 1881 the two Militia battalions
became the 3rd and 4th Battalions of the Worcestershire Regiment
and from them most of the Regular battalion’s recruits were
drawn. In 1900 two more Regular battalions were raised and the
Militia became the 5th and 6th Battalions. |
A third infantry
element of the country’s defence was the Worcestershire
Volunteer Force. In Worcestershire part-time Volunteer
Infantry units were formed in 1798, disbanded during the
brief peace of 1802 then reformed in 1803. Later, most
were grouped into six battalions, one being based in Worcester
and becoming Local Militia in 1808 and serving till 1816.
In 1859-60 Volunteers were again raised and the city became
HQ of the end Worcestershire Rifle Volunteers, the 1st
WRV being based in Kidderminster. In 1883 both became
Volunteer Battalions of the county Regiment.
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In 1908 the Volunteers became the 7th and 8th Territorial
Battalions of the Regiment, the 8th with its HQ in the
Silver Street premises bought a few years previously
by the Volunteers.
During WW1 the Regiment expanded to 25 battalions, including
three Volunteers, one of which was based in the city;
the two Territorial units became six, of which four
were on active service.
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In WW2 the 7th and
8th Battalions again saw active service and of the twelve Home
Guard battalions which wore the badge of the Regiment, the last
was based in the city.
Until Norton Barracks was built, Militia and Volunteer battalions
were frequently billeted in the city during their training periods
and for over two centuries the city’s streets have witnessed
innumerable parades. In recent years the Regiment has regularly
exercised its Freedom of Entry rights, granted in 1950, by marching
through the city with "drums beating, colours flying and bayonets
fixed".
Today, tangible reminders of the long-standing
bond between City and Regiment remain: the Star Hotel took its
name from the badge of the Worcestershire Regiment; and the
New Worcestershire Soldier Exhibition will provide an attraction
to visitors for many years to come as it is extended and developed
by new research.
The War Memorial is another obvious reminder, but it is not,
of course, exclusive to the Regiment; nor is St George’s Chapel
in the Cathedral, but it is perhaps in the Chapel, hung with
many Regimental Colours, that the associations of the Faithful
City with its county Regiment can be most strongly felt. |
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