INTRODUCTION TO THE WRITING OF
THE STAFFORDSHIRE REGIMENTS "KNOTTED TOGETHER"I became fascinated and absorbed with all aspects of military history over 30 years ago, but in particular, aspects focusing on the county of Staffordshire, especially the Imperial Regiments of Staffordshire up until the end of the Great War, and to a lesser extent The English Civil War conflict within Staffordshire.
I was continually disappointed that there was not a detailed reference book in just one volume, containing information on all the Volunteer and Regular Regiments who have served in and from Staffordshire. With a few notable exceptions, very little had been printed or recorded on the Staffordshire Militia or the Staffordshire Rifle or Artillery Volunteers, who appear to have been largely ignored and forgotten about, by history.
It is common knowledge within military, collecting and historical research circles in Great Britain, and in many other such groups around the globe interested in military history, campaigns, stategies, tactics, medals, uniforms, badges, helmets, armaments etc., that the Regular Staffordshire Regiments, since their formation have served all over the world, taking part in nearly every War and every Battle in which British Forces have been engaged for about the last three hundred years. Such groups will be familiar with the numbered, and later county regiments of Staffordshire, be these either the North Staffordshire Regiment (The Prince of Wales’s) or South Staffordshire Regiment.
Scores of others, without any military interests, who as a part of their daily lives unwittingly pass close to a battlefield, fort, camp area or other former abode visited in past history by Staffordshire soldiers, will have not necessarily have any knowledge of the numbered, and later county regiments of Staffordshire. Gravestones, monuments, artefacts, militaria and other relics of former empire days that they come across, do
not have the least significance to them. Sir John Fortescue, a famous Army historian, once said of the South Staffords: “one could not help reflecting that if this Regiment wore the kilt, the whole British Army would ring with its fame”.
It is a matter of fact, that Staffordshire’s Regular Battalions were seldom in Staffordshire at all. They disappeared from Staffordshire for years on end, constantly
shifting station and being employed in some corner of the world “propping up the Empire”. All Englismen at large, and specifically Staffordshire men and women can be proud that amongst others, it was with the blood and bones of Staffordshire men, the British Empire was built, for there is not an Ocean or Continent on the globe in which the bones of Staffordshire men do not rest as silent sentinels.
However, there were county Militia, Rifle Volunteers, Yeomanry Cavalry and Volunteer Artillery who were also very active within Staffordshire and in deed much of the rest of Great Britain, and in some instances even abroad on active service.
These volunteer regiments were very much in evidence in the Victorian era, their part time soldiers also serving their Queen and country. But in the majority of cases history has largely overlooked and forgotten about the Volunteer Regiments of Staffordshire - or perhaps until now sufficiently detailed information has not been available, compiled and “knotted together” in a single volume.
I was induced to write this book to put on record not only the remarkable Histories of the Grand Old Numbered Regiments of Foot, from their conception through their loss of identity under the Cardwell Reforms of 1881, and their re-grouping to form into
new two Battalion County Regiments. I also wished to record the hitherto lesser
known histories of the various Staffordshire Militia, Yeomanry, Rifle and Artillery Volunteer Regiments, who with the exception of the Militia, were later absorbed into the Territorials; the most famous of whom being the 137th Staffordshire Brigade who
served with the 46th North Midland (Territorial Force) Division during the Great War
with such distinction.
The Staffordshire Militia and the Volunteer Battalions became the 3rd and 4th Battalions of the South Staffordshire Regiment and the North Staffordshire Regiment
belonging to the Special Reserve from 1908. Following the conclusion of the 1914-18 war these Special Reserve Battalions did not reform, though are still shown in Army Lists. After nearly three hundred years of faithful, if often broken and
unspectacular service, the Stafford Militia, like all good old soldiers, just faded away!
They say “Old Soldiers Never Die”........., but it is obvious that the body does, yet the
memories can be allowed to live on. This is a history of the deeds of Staffordshire men, most of whom who have long since passed away, the memory of whose service, bravery and heroism should not be allowed to die. It is my intention with this work,
that the memories of all the Imperial Regular and Volunteer Regiments of Staffordshire will continue to live on.
The compilation of a history of this sort, though aided by many current, former and excellent authoritive works albeit specific to only one or two particular regiments of the total number, is still a long and demanding task involving many hours of study,
reflection, writing and re writing. Over seven years of research and compilation has gone into “Knotted Together”, and it has been a labour of love, and my self-imposed task for many years preceding my initial published articles in the Armourer Magazine, and will continue long after the publication of the first edition of this work.
I consider myself in no way an expert, only a knowledgeable student. It is certain that
I have not got everything correct, and experts in particular fields will wish to differ from my assumptions and findings. I encourage the emergence of new facts and
artifacts coming to light, helping to produce a more complete picture. Indeed,
information and artifact examples could well reside in the private collection of a reader of this book, its owner unaware that it is a previously unrecorded item or snipet of information, or a unique example of an item. It is sincerely hoped that if this is the case the present custodian would make known the item, anonymously if so desired, so
that details can be made available to present and future students, researchers and
collectors. Consequently, this book is still a long way from being the completed last word on the Imperial and Volunteer Regiments of Staffordshire, but a useful beginning in the compilation of such information available to me during the work of
writing it. However, this said, I have tried hard to achieve a readable and interesting work that is accurate and comprehensive.
I would like to hear from anybody with Imperial Staffordshire regimental items for sale.
DAVE COOPER
Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.
____________________________________________________________________
Published by Churnet Valley Books
ISBN 1 904546 10 2
244 x 170mm Paperback
168 pages (8 in full colour)
Price £12.95 (plus postage & packing).
Available From DAVE COOPER.
Tel: 01538 702738 Fax: 01538 702662
Evenings: 01538 703354
Mobile: 07971 277995
E-Mail: davercooper@antique-armoury.freeserve.co.uk
Postage:
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Europe add £5.75
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