大象传媒

Information provided by: Peter Donnelly

Part of: King's Own Royal Regiment Museum

First published: 13 January 2004

Overview

Like many people in Britain, troops stationed at Bowerham Barracks in Lancaster learnt of the outbreak of war whilst they attended church on Sunday 3rd September 1939. Both the 1st and 2nd Battalions were overseas, in India and Palestine respectively. The 5th Battalion (Territorial Army) was mobilised and the former 4th Battalion, now the 56th Anti-Tank Regiment Royal Artillery TA, were used to protect the docks at Barrow in Furness from possible attack. The Depot at Bowerham Barracks became the King's Own Infantry Training Centre. Men from the King's Own Regiment were involved in many theatres of war, in Europe, Africa and Asia. The territorial and newly raised battalions went across to France and Belgium in 1940. After their successful evacuation from Dunkirk the units switched to a home defence roll fearing German invasion. The 2nd Battalion saw action in Syria, North Africa, Western Desert and Tobruk before going out to the Far East for jungle training and action in Burma as 'Chindits' in 1944. The 1st Battalion was transported by air from India to Iraq to take part in the Defence of the RAF station at Habbaniya. This was the first time an infantry unit had been flown into battle. From Iraq the Battalion moved to North Africa and the Mediterranean theatre of operations. The 5th Battalion, back from Dunkirk was converted to armour and equipped with the Churchill Tank and operated as the 107th Regiment Royal Armoured Corps (King's Own) in France and Germany in 1944 and 1945. Another battalion to return from Dunkirk was the 8th Battalion. They then sailed from Glasgow to Malta in 1941 where they defended the island during the siege. In 1943 the battalion moved to Palestine and merged with the few remaining troops of the 1st Battalion which had been almost totally wiped out on the Greek Island of Leros. The new 1st Battalion moved to Italy and as part of the 10th Indian Division fought up the Adriatic Coast until the end of the war.

Facts and figures

Unit name: King's Own Royal Regiment, Lancaster

Force: Army

Designation: Regiment (Army)

Type: Infantry

Entered service: 1577

Motto: Honi soit qui mal y pense

English translation: Evil be to him who evil thinks

Battalions:

1st Battalion

2nd Battalion

5th Battalion

6th Battalion

7th Battalion

8th Battalion

9th Battalion

10th Battalion

Regimental Depot

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

Description: Pictorial history of the regiment with chapter covering all operations in World War Two.

Title: Heroic Deeds - Distinguished Conduct Medal and Military Medal Gallantry Awards to the King's Own Royal Regiment, Lancaster, 1938-1945

Author: Donnelly, Peter

Pub year: 2002

ISBN: 1 904448 06 2

Description: Booklet published by the Regimental Museum based upon research in the museum's collections and The National Archives. Includes citations for the awards of the DCM and MM to men of the King's Own in World War Two (and Palestine in 1938/39).

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