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Information provided by: Peter Donnelly
Part of: King's Own Royal Regiment Museum
First published: 13 January 2004

Overview

The 5th Battalion (Territorial Army) of the King's Own Royal Regiment recruited from North Lancashire and had Drill Halls in places such as Fleetwood, Carnforth, Morecambe and Lancaster. The Battalion was mobilised in September 1939 as part of the 42nd (East Lancashire) Divison of the TA, which in April 1940 joined the British Expeditionary Force in France. After the German invasion on 10th May the battalion withdrew to Dunkirk and provided the defence on a section of the Dunkirk perimeter before being evacuated. On return to the UK the unit was employed on anti-invasion duties. In January 1942 the Battalion was converted to Armour and became 107th Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps (The King's Own)

Facts and figures

Unit name: 1st Battalion
Force: Army
Designation: Battalion
Type: Infantry
Entered service: 1674

Chronology

04 Sep 1939: Mobilised for service

The battalion mobilised and concentrated at Carnforth, north of Lancaster, under their commanding officer Lieutenant-Colonel G Oglethorpe. The unit was under-strength, having already lost men who were underage or medically unfit for overseas service.

02 Apr 1940: Battalion leaves for France and Belgium

The advance party left the UK for France and Belgium with the main body following within the next couple of days.

10 May 1940 - 02 Jun 1940: Action in France and Belgium

On the 10th May the German armies began their advance. They swept through Holland and Belgium and, by 12th May, the French line of defence - the Maginot Line - was broken. They seemed unstoppable. The British Expeditionary Force included the following King's Own units: 5th Territorial Battalion, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th Pioneer Battalions and the 56th Anti-Tank Regiment. The 5th Battalion were to retreat to Dunkirk and help form the defensive perimeter around the Port of Dunkirk whilst others were evacuated between 26th May and 4th June. By 2nd June most of the King's Own men had embarked for England. At 9am on the 4th June Dunkirk was surrendered to the Germans.

29 Sep 1939: Moved to Northumberland

The 5th Battalion moved with the rest of the Division to Northumberland.

October 1939: New men arrive with Battalion

Towards the end of October the battailon was strengthened with the first draft of militiamen, who had by now completed their basic training.

24 May 1940: Enemy Aircraft Attack

The battalion was attacked by 24 German aircraft. During this attack Drummer J Whitbread fired a Bren gun forcing the aircraft to break formation and desist from their attacks. The next day the decision was made to evacuate the BEF through Dunkirk and the 5th Battalion were ordered to hold the line at the River Marcq at Bouvines as part of the 42nd Division.

30 May 1940: Battalion leaves Yser

The 5th Battalion was the last unit of the 42nd Division to withdraw from Yser. They were then moved to Divisional Reserve at Dunkirk.

01 Jun 1940: Departure from France

The majority of the battailon embark on HMS Locust, which arrives at Dover on 2nd June.

03 Jun 1940 - August 1940: Home Defence

The 5th Battalion arrive back in England at Dover and are pressed to service in a Home Defence roll. At first operating in the North East and Yorkshire in camouflaged buses.

05 Sep 1940: Division moves from Yorkshire

The 42nd Division, or which the 5th Battalion was part, moved from Yorkshire to Gloucestershire and the 5th King's Own were based at Winchcombe.

12 Sep 1940: Move to Maidenhead

The 5th Battalion moved to Maidenhead and live under canvas.

December 1941: Battalion converted to armour

The 5th Battalion ceased being an infantry battalion and were converted to the 107th Regiment Royal Armoured Corps (The King's Own). The battalion was to be equipped with Churchill tanks. As the unit had direct origins with the King's Own they were entitled to wear the King's Own lion cap badge.

Museums and Organisations

Name: King's Own Royal Regiment Museum
Address: City Museum, Market Square, Lancaster, Lancashire
Postcode: LA1 1HT
Telephone number: 01524 64637
Email address: kingsownmuseum@iname.com
Comments: If contacting the museum by email please supply a full postal address to which a reply can be sent. If visiting the museum in person with a particular enquiry please telephone first to ensure the curator is available.

Books and Magazines

Title: The King's Own The Story of a Royal Regiment Volume Three 1914-1950
Author: Cowper, Julia M
Pub year: 1957
Description: The best single source history of the King's Own and all sub-units for World War Two. Now out of print but should be available on inter-library loan. Now available from the King's Own Museum on cd-rom. Excellent indexing and rolls of gallantry awards.

Title: Lions of England A pictorial history of the King's Own Royal Regiment, Lancaster
Author: Eastwood, Stuart A
Pub year: 1991
ISBN: 0 947971 68 8
Description: Pictorial history of the regiment with chapter covering all operations in World War Two.

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