A Brief History of the Staffordshire Regiment
The Staffordshire Regiment (the Prince of
Wales's) incorporates the former South
and North Staffordshire Regiments, which
were amalgamated in 1959. Its origins go
back to 1705 when the 38th Foot (later 1st
South Staffords) was raised at Lichfield in
the King's Head public house (still in
business) and was known as Lillingston's Regiment. the 64th Foot (later
1st North Staffords) was raised in 1756 and the 80th (Staffordshire
Volunteers) in 1793. The 98th was raised and disbanded on five
occasions between 1760 and 1818. It was finally reformed in 1824 and
became 2nd North Staffords in 1881. The Depot for the South (38th &
80th) and North (64th & 98th) Staffords was established at the newly
built Whittington Barracks in 1881. The North Staffords adopted the title
'the Prince of Wales's' from the 98th Foot, which had it conferred in 1876
by Queen Victoria, although the title had been held by a previous 98th in
1805.
All four original regiments spent much of their time propping up the Empire and one or more were involved in the American War of Independence, Napoleonic Wars (Sphinx carried on Regimental Colour for 1801), Opium Wars (Dragon carried on Regimental Colour), Sikh Wars, Crimea, Indian Mutiny, Zulu War, Egypt and Sudan and the Boer War. there were 35 Staffordshire battalions in World War I and 17 in World War II. Thirteen members of the Regiment have won the Victoria Cross, including LCpl Coltman VC, DCM & Bar (a stretcher bearer who was the most decorated other rank in World War I), Major Cain and LSgt Baskeyfield at Arnhem and Lt Cairns with the Chindits.
Post War Service
Post-war service by the Regiment has covered Palestine, Egypt, Trieste,
Cyprus, Hong Kong, Korea, Kenya, British Honduras/Belize, Gibraltar,
Berlin, BAOR, GB and Northern Ireland. 1 STAFFORDS (equipped with
Warrior) deployed to Saudi Arabia with 7 Armd Bde on Operation Granby
in Oct 90. As a result of Operation Desert Sabre from 24-28 February
1991, STAFFORDS were granted two Battle Honours: Gulf 1991 and
Wadi al Batin.
STAFFORDS are now based in Tern Hill Shropshire and will serve in Hong Kong from September 1996 to February 1997. STAFFORDS (V) are based at Wolverhampton, Stoke-on-Trent, Burton-upon-Trent and Tamworth and are committed to ARRC duties.
Regimental Marches:
Quick March - 'The Staffordshire
Regiment' (a combination of the old
South and North marches 'Come
Lasses and Lads' and 'the Days We
Went A Gypsying'.
Slow March - 'God Bless the Prince of Wales'.
Badges and Distinctions:
Regimental Badge - The Stafford Knot, with Prince of Wales's Plumes superimposed and a Crown above the Knot. the buff Holland Patch is worn behind the badge.
Cap Badge - The Stafford Knot with Prince of Wales's Plumes above Holland Patch worn behind the badge.
Holland Patch - Authorised for the South Staffords in 1935 and commemorating 57 years continuous service of the 38th Foot in the West Indies. It represents the local cloth, a sort of sacking, which the Regiment used for waistcoats and to line their tunics - possibly the first known use of tropical uniform.
Glider Badge - A bronze glider badge is worn on the upper right sleeve by all ranks. Originally awarded to 2nd South Staffords in recognition of their part in the glider landing in Sicily (9-10 July, 43), the first major operational use of British glider-borne troops as part of the 1st Airlanding Brigade.
Black - All ranks wear black stable belts and senior ranks wear a black lanyard to commemorate the fact that the North Staffords were the last regiment (1959) to have black facings and a black Regimental Colour.
The Staffordshire Regiment in the Gulf War.
Regimental march - "Come Lasses and Lads".
