REAL FORESTERS
This page will feature photos sent to us by current or former members of the Sherwood Foresters, 1WFR, or 2Mercian(Worcesters & Foresters), or by their families. We will change them from time to time, so check back for updates. This page is our place to recognize and show respect for the real soldiers who served in the regiment.
First World War
Sgt. George Maltby, a Boer War veteran, in a WorldWar I portrait.
Maltby was then serving with the 12th Foresters (Pioneers).
Photo from grandson Mark Buxton, via "Speedy" Mead, ex-Foresters/1WFR.
Cooks of the 12th Foresters at Shoreham Camp before being sent to France.
Photo from Mark Buxton, via "Speedy" Mead, ex-Foresters/1WFR.
(The 12th Foresters were attached to the 24th Division, arrived in France August 1915, and served for the rest of the war.)
See "Derbyshire Lads at War 1914-1918" on the Links & Contacts page for more information.
Between the Wars
Drums of the 5th Foresters band, Summer 1937. Photo from ex-WO1 Alan Derbyshire, Foresters/1WFR.
Alan's father Joe Derbyshire is pictured back row, 3rd from left.
Foresters at Up Park Camp, Kingston, Jamaica. Christmas 1936.
Photo from Ronnie Smith, Secretary, Derby Branch, WFRA.
Foresters Parade at Bordon, March 1939. Photo from Ronnie Smith, Secretary, Derby Branch WFRA.
1940s
Lance Corporal W.D. Small, 5th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (seated, front row center)
and comrades enjoy a lighter moment, somewhere in North Africa. On 11 December 1944, LCpl Small
died in Greece, where the 5th Battn. was part of a British force attempting to quell a civil war.
Photo from grandson Gary Small. Some info from Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
The Corps of Drums, 5th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (TA), performs the Beating of Retreat at Scarborough, Yorkshire, 1947.
Photo from ex-WO2 Drum Major Roy Theobald, Foresters/Derbyshire Army Cadets (in photo - drummer, front rank, far right)
The Corps of Drums, 5th Battalion Sherwood Foresters at Burneston Barracks, Scarborough, Yorkshire, 1947.
Photo from ex-WO2 Drum Major Roy Theobald, Foresters/Derbyshire Army Cadets (in photo - drummer, front rank, left )
Drum Major Jim Doherty, 5th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters, in 1947.
Photo from ex-WO2 Drum Major Roy Theobald, Foresters/Derbyshire Army Cadets
1950s
Members of the 5th Battalion Motorcycle Team, Normanton Barracks, Derby, 1951.
Photo from ex-WO2 Drum Major Roy Theobald, Foresters/Derbyshire Army Cadets
(in photo - Pte. 2nd from left. Roy's father is Sgt., left).
Cpl. Cliff Housley at Ipoh, northern Malaya, 1958. Sherwood Forester identifying insignia
(large yellow "X" on the jungle hat) clearly visible in photo. Photo from ex-Sgt. Cliff Housley,
Regimental Historian, Sherwood Foresters.
Sherwood Foresters landing on Borneo, 1959. U.S. Navy & Marine Corps personnel are from
U.S.S. Lenawee. Forester identifyng "X" visible on soldiers' jungle hats.
Photo from Cliff Housley, Regimental Historian, Sherwood Foresters.
1960s
Members of the Derby Depot shooting team, after winning their fourth annual competition, ca. 1960.
Photo from ex-WO1 Alan Derbyshire, Foresters/1WFR (Lance Corporal, seated, far right)
Additional members of the team include: (back row) Pte. Richard Knowles - 3rd from left;
L/Cpl Dick Marshall - 4th from left. (front row) Cpl. Cliff Housley - 2nd from left;
Sgt. Vic Winchester - 3rd from left; WO1 Fred Collins (RSM) - center;
Sgt. Les Parkinson - 3rd from right; Cpl Stan Rankin - 2nd from right.
Thanks to ex-Sgt. Cliff Housley, Regimental Historian, Sherwood Foresters, for the additional names.
Cpls. Derbyshire & Gray relax in camp. Libya, early 1960s.
Photo from ex-WO1 Alan Derbyshire, Foresters/1WFR
"Young" Bartram & Ricky Burgess. Cyprus, 1964. Note the U.N. headgear.
Photo from ex-WO1 Alan Derbyshire, Foresters/1WFR
Cpl. Alan Derbyshire pauses during a patrol in Nicosia, Cyprus in 1964.
1Foresters were part of the U.N. peacekeeping contingent.
Photo from ex-WO1 Alan Derbyshire, Foresters/1WFR
Photo from ex-WO2 Drum Major Roy Theobald, Foresters/Derbyshire Army Cadets
1Foresters Recce Platoon. Minden, Germany, 1969. Photo from ex-Cpl "Tanky" Harrison, Foresters/1WFR (kneeling, 2nd from left)
1970s
1WFR Honor Guard. Berlin, Germany, 1972. Photo from ex-Cpl "Tanky" Harrison, Foresters/1WFR.
2000 - Present
Members of the Derby Branch, Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regimental Association,
raise the red jacket in Derby on Badajoz Day, commemorating the storming of Badajoz
by the 45th Regiment on April 6, 1812. See the links page for related information.
