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GREEN HOWARDS
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VICTORIA

CROSS

'A soldier can bring no greater honour to himself or to his Regiment than the
Victoria Cross, the supreme decoration for outstanding gallantry in the face of the enemy.'

Private Samuel Evans

Sevastopol 13th

Corporal William Lyons Sergeant Albert Atkinson Corporal William Anderson Major Stewart Walter Loudoun Shand Second Lieutenant Donald Simpson Bell Private William Short Captain Archie Cecil Thomas White MC Captain David Philip Hirsch Private Tom Dresser Corporal William Clamp
Second Lieutenant Ernest Frederick Beal

April

1855

Sevastopol 1Oth June 1855 Paardeberg 18th February 1900 Neuve Chapelle 12th March 1915

Fricourt lst July 1916

Horseshoe Trench 5th July 1916

Munster Alley 6th August 1916 Stuff Redoubt 1st October 1916 Wancourt 23rd Apt'.l1917
Roeux 12th May 1917 Poelcapelle 9th October 1917 St. Leger 22nd March 1918 Rossignol Wood 28th March 1918 Marcoing 28th September 1918 Piave 27th October 1918

Lieutenant Colonel Oliver Cyril Spencer Watso" DSO Private Henry Tandy DCM MM
Sergeant William McNally MM Lieutenant Colonel Derek Anthony Seagrim Company Sergeant Major Stanley Elton Hollis Lieutenant William Basil Weston

Mareth 21st March 1943 D-Day 6th June 19zt-{

Meiktila 3rd March

194_i

Cover picture: 'The Infantry will Advance' by peter Archer The 19th Foot (The Green Howards) at the Battle of the Alma on 20th September 1854.

Crimea 1855. The seige and capture of Sevastopol. British troops breaking into the Redan Fortress.

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t INTRO DU CTION
We hope that this little book will not only be a useful guide to our collection but that it will also be something you will like to keep to remind you of an interesting visit.

Our Museum is a private regimental enterprise, set up to record and preserve the heritage and long history of this small, very distinguished Infantry Regiment and also as a tribute to the generations of gallant offlcers and soldiers who served as
Green Howards over the past 300 years. This Museum is a measure of the intense pride we have in them whilst our Regimental Chapel in the nearby Parish Church of St. Mary The Virgin and our several memorials in England, Europe and Africa ensure that those who fell are never to be forgotten.

Many, many years ago an old soldier coined the slogan 'Once a Green Howard, always a Green Howard' - this is the feeling which still endures today, the spirit which sustains no less than thirty branches of our Old Comrades' Association and the quality of which we are all so proud.

GREBN HOWARDS
(Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment) The picture, by Mr. Terence Cuneo, is of the regiment being raised by Colonel Francis Luttrell at Dunster Castle, Somerset. in November 1688, for service under William, Prince of Orange, following his landing at Torbay on the 4th of that month. It was in 1744, dwingthe Wars of the Austrian Succession, that the regiment first became known as'The Green Howards'. At thar time the Regimental Colonel was the Honourable Charles Howard, the second son of the 3rd Earl of Carlisle. It was usual. then, for a regiment to be identified by the name of its Colonel and we were therefore known as 'Howard's Regiment'. Howeverin this campaign we were brigaded with another regiment whose Colonel was also named Howard, so some distinction had to be made. As we wore green facings to our uniforms it was natural that we should become 'The Green Howards' whilst the other regiment whose facings were buff in colour were known as 'The Buff Howards'. The nickname 'The Green Howards' stuck and survived until 1920 when it became the official title of the regiment. The regiment first became associated with, and affiliated to. the North Riding of Yorkshire in 1782 when it was granted the title of 'The 19th (First Yorkshire North Riding Regiment) of Foot'. Richmond became our home town in 1873. In 1875 the lare Queen Alexandra, then Princess of Wales and formerly a Princ*i of the Royal House of Denmark, presented the regiment with new Colours to replace those carried throughout the Crimean \\-": which are now displayed on the top floor of the Museum. The regiment was then graciously granted the title of 'The Princess oi Wales's Own'. On the introduction of the territorial system in 1$_ it was again altered to 'The Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment' and after the South African War the word 'Alexandra' was added. Finally, in 1920, the title became 'The Green Horvards

General the Hon. Sir Charles

Howard KB, whose name is

perpetuated ln the regimental title

Colonel Francis Luttrell, founder of the regiment 1688.

His Majesty King Haakon VII Colonel-in-Chief 1 942 - I 95 7.

Her Majesty Queen Aletandra Colonel-in-Chief I 914 192:.

(Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment)'. Our cap badge was personally designed by Queen Alexandra to incorporate The Dannebrog (the Cross of Denmark) and her
personal cypher, the whole being surmounted by her Princess's coronet. The date 1875 commemorates the regiment becoming the Princess of Wales's Own and the roman numerals 'XIX' denote the 19th Regiment of Foot.

As a mark of appreciation of the regiment's service to the county and the country over the past 300 years, six former Yorkshire Boroughs accorded the regiment the honour of Honorary Freemen. These were Beverley, Bridlington. Middlesbrough, Redcar, Richmond and Scarborough.
The regiment survives today with its ancestral roots still intact and over 300 years of history unbroken.

In 1914 Queen Alexandra was appointed our first Colonel-in-Chief, and was the first Lady to be granted that distinction in the British Army. She was much loved and had been associated with the regiment for fifty years before her death in 1925. 'fhe link with the Danish Royal House was renewed in 1942 when Queen Alexandra's son-in-law, King Haakon VII of Norway (who had married her daughter Princess Maude) consented to become Colonel-in-Chief. King Haakon was born Prince Carl of Denmark and became King of Norway when Norway dissolved the century old union with Sweden in 1905.

Colonel Leonard Currie, first commissioned into the 19th Foot by Queen Victoria in 1849 and later by

Abraham Lincoln in 1862 for service with the New York State Volunteers during the American Civil War. The
photograph was taken shortly before his death in London in 1907. He is buied at Ventnor in the Isle of Wight.

GREEN HOWARDS
King Haakon was Colonel-in-Chief for fifteen years between He was succeeded by his son King Olav V who was a very popular Colonel-in-Chief until his death in 1991. He was also succeeded by his son King Harald Y in 1992.
1.942 and. 1957 .

TTIE

The regiment first saw active service in 1690 in Ireland and in July fought at the Battle of the Boyne. It was present at the Siege of Namur in 1695. Later, again in Flanders during the campaigns of the Duke of Marlborough in 1707-1714, it earned at great cost its first battle honour - Malplaquet.

In 1744, the regiment moved for the third time to Flanders to support the House of Austria in the war against France and Bavaria.
Between 1761 and 1854, the regiment took part in many campaigns. Amongst these were the expedition against Belle Isle 1761 - the American War of Independence 1775 - the Siege of Ostend 1794 - the campaigns in Ceylon and the operations against Tippoo Sahib between 1796 and 1820. The regiment next played a distinguished part in the Battles of Alma, Inkerman, and Sevastopol during the war against Russia in the Crimean Peninsula. The Battle of the Alma is celebrated on the 20th September every year, for it was during this action that

the regiment stormed and captured the Russian position consisting of strongly fortified earthworks and fourteen guns and known as 'The Great Redoubt'. It was here that six drums were taken from the Russian Borodino, Minsk and Vladimir regiments. Five of these are held by the 1st Battalion and one can be seen in the
Museum.

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Belle Isle 1761.

A contemporary engraving showing the transports and the Force going ashore at the diversionary laruling intended to rlraw the enemy from the main assault. In fact the main landing failed. and the feint attack letl by the Grenadiers of the 19th Regiment (Beauclerk's) was so successful, a firm lodgement was established arul the
whole force was transferretl to this sector and the island uhimately captured.

His Maje*y King Olav

V.

Paerdeberg

.1

lttout

print of Kuntl,- qbout 1840 showi.ng the general ttrtd charucter of the town which had changed

little since its c:apture in 1815.

In 1868 the rcgiment took part in the Hazara Campaign aga:inst the tribes of the Black \{r-.untains rrn the \orth-West Frontier. They were in action again in the Suiian rn 1885 against thc forces of the Mahdi, and at the Batrle tri Ginni,s thel'' last wore the scarlet coat of the British Infantrr in battle. In 1897 they were present during the Tirah Campaign on the \orth-West Frontier of India, and two years later the re-gimenr plaved a prominent part in the South African War betueen 1S99 and 1902.
During the First \\-orld \\.ar of 191-1-1918, twenty-four battalions of the rcgime nt \\ -re raised and the regiment took part in most of the principal battle s and campaigns of this war including that in North Russia in 19i9. Oler 65.000 men served in its ranks - of these over 7.-i[)0 *ere ki]lcd in action and nearly 24,000 were wounded. Betwecn 1918 and 1939. thc resiment took part in the third Afghan War of 1919. the operations in Palestine during 1938, the Waziristan operations of 1937 1939, and many other internal security duties overseas including those in Shanghai between 1927
and 1930.

Ensign Dunham (Redan) Massy after being dangerou:ly wouuded in command of the Grenadier Company during the qttqck on the Great Redan fortress at Sevastopol 1855. His gallantry was so outstanding that he became known as'Redan' Massy for the rest of his life. He survivetl hi.s wounds lo become a Lieutenant General and commanded Lord Roberts' cavalry at Karulahar.

GREBN HOWARDS
In the Second World War of 1939-1945, twelve battalions of the regiment were raised. The regiment fought in Norway, France, the Westem Desert, Sicily, Italy, Burma and Germany. Two battalions were amongst the first to land in the assault on D-Day 1944.
Between 1949 and 1952 the regiment served with great distinction in the campaign against the Chinese and Malayan Communist Terrorists in Malaya.

THE

In the years since 1952, the regiment has served in Austria, West Germany, Suez, Cyprus, Hong Kong, Libya, Belize, Berlin and England. It has distinguished itself in operations in Northern Ireland, one Regimental Officer was killed in action whilst serving with very great gallantry in the Falkland Islands 1982, and elements of the 1st Battalion took part in the Gulf War.

Brigadier T. F. J. Collins, C.B.E., J.P., D.L., who

directed the formation aruL development The Regimental Museum from 1934.

of

Display of medals.

CAMPAIGNS
FONTENOY
11th

THE

MAY

1745

The scene from the French lines of the famous incident when the two armies confronted each other at close quarters and the officers came forward to pay each other compliments before the exchange of musketry.

BELLE ISLE 22nd APP.IL 1767

A picture of the Citadel fortress rvhere the
Grenadier Company was honoured. The

lock and padlock from the principal gate is shown in the case.

FLANDERS & HOLLAN'D

r794-1795
The retreat of the Duke of York's arml' through Holland in January 1 795 brought unimaginable suffering and hardships in the severest winter of the previous century. Had

it lasted only a little longer. ferr'rvould have

survived to compiete the march to Bremen.

CAMPAIGNS
CEYLON
t796_1820
In three major campaigns fought during this
unusually long period, the regiment lost fifty officers and nearly 3,000 soldiers mostly from disease due to the lack of hygiene and medical knowledge. It was also notable for the massacre of sick and wounded prisoners at Kandy from which
some

THE

Corporal Barnsley was the sole survivor. His original deposition of the incident can
be seen in the case.

THE CRIMEA
1854_185s
One of the Russian drums captured at the

Alma. The Regimental Colours, carried

throughout this war, are displayed on the opposite wall. Private Evans and Corporal Lyons both won the VC at Sevastopol.

EGYPT
1884-1885
The action at Ginnis on 31st December 1885 was the last occasion that the British Infantry wore their traditional scarlet in battle. An example of the jacket then worn is on the first floor.

TIRAH
1897-1898
Nearly three divisions were deployed in this one of (he biggest l9th-century campaigns mounted in the North'West Frontier of India. This picture shows the dramatic charge of the tribesmen upon the defended
camp perimeter.

SOUTH AFRICA

t899-1902
General Cronje's surrender to Lord Roberts at Paardeburg. The bridle and stirrups of his horse are in the showcase. The table belonged to General Christian de Wet and was taken from his headquarters by the 3rd Battalion. The remaining exhibits illustrate the great technological advances which had been made in military equipment by this time. Sergeant Atkinson won the VC at Paardeburg on 18th February 1900.

WORLD WAR
1914-191,8
The original painting by the Chevalier Fortunino Matania shows the 2nd Battalion holding the Petit Kruiseeke Cross Roads sometimes known as the Menin Cross Roads - in October 1914. Private Henry Tandy, later to win the VC, DCM and MM, is the figure carrying the casualty.

WORLD WAR
19L4-1918
Gallipoli 1915. The 6th Battalion lost two-thirds of their number in the landing at
Suvla Bay where this picture was taken.

WORLD WAR

19t4-t918
The first gas casualties 1915.

WORLD WAR
1914-1,91.8 Waiting for Zero Hour on the Somme 1916, the bloodiest battle of the war. Nine battalions of the regiment took part and their losses were pitiful.

WORLD WAR
1914-1918
The mud and blood which so cruelly characterised the war in 1,91.'1 .

WORLD WAR
19T4_T918
The field kitchen which helped sustain life and morale in the field.

WORLD WAR 79r4-1918

The smile of victory, 11th November 1918. Twelve VCs were won in this war, with four at the Battle of the Somme in 1916.

THIRD AFGHAN WAR

1919 An example of the most difficult
mountainous terrain over which the 1st Battalion fought against the Amir of Afghanistan's Army of 7,000 cavalry, 42,000 Infantry and 260 guns.

WORLD WAR
1939-1945
Aandalsnes in flames. The 1st Battalion was withdrawn from France to go with the Expeditionary Force to the aid of Norway in 1940. Their gallant, spectacular battle at Otta did much to delaY the German conquest of the Dombaas sector and ensure the safe evacuation of British and Norwegian personnel from this small port'

WORLD WAR
t939-1945
The defeat of the British Expeditionary Force ended in the sand dunes of Dunkirk' The 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th Territorial Battalions of the regiment were evacuated in this operation but were soon, once again, to face the armoured might of the German Army in the Western Deserts of

North Africa.

WORLD WAR
1939-1945
The scene after the battle in the Cauldron at Gazalainwhich the 4th and 5th Battalions fought the German armoured Africa Korps to the last round of ammunition. Casualties were huge and the majority of the survivors
became prisoners of war after their heroic defence ended on 1st June 1942.

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WORLD WAR
1939-1945
The anti-tank ditch at the Mareth line which the 6th and 7th Battalions attacked at great cost in March 1943. The Commanding Officer of the 7th Battalion won the VC in this battle but sadly died of wounds suffer,:d in the Battle of Akarit ten davs later.

WORLD WAR 1939-t945

The 1st Battalion in Sicily, July 1943. The 1st Battalion led the assault landing into Sicily on 10th July 1943. The 6th and 7th Battalions also landed that same day and having fought to Capo d'Ali near Messina were withdrawn to England to prepare for the assault on North-West Europe. The 1st Battalion went on to make the landing on the mainland of Italy.

WORLD WAR
1939-194s
The severity and hardships of the winter of 1943-1944 in Italy is typified by this photograph of the 1st Battalion advancing near the River Sangro. Later, and following the bloody battles at Minturno and Trimonsuoli on the west coast, they were in the Anzio beach-head from March to June 1944.

WORLD WAR
1939-1945
A section of the 6th Battalion near Tilly sur l1th June 1944.The 6th and 7th Battalions led the assault on Gold Beach on D-Day, 6th June 1944. Company Sergeant Major S. Hollis of the 6th Battalion won the only VC to be awarded on D-DaY.
Seules on

WORLD WAR
1939-1945
The 2nd Battalion moPPing uP in the Taungup area following their successful assault landing on the Arakan beaches of Burma in January 1945. It was at Meiktila, South of MandalaY, that Lieutenant W. B. Weston won his VC whilst serving with the 1st Battalion, The West Yorkshire Regiment.

MALAYA
1g4g-1952
During this campaign, the 1st Battalion accounted for 103 of these tYPical
Communist Terrorists at a loss of nine officers and soldiers killed in action and eleven who died on active service.

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SILVER COLLECTION
There are some fine examples of Regimental Silver created in the 18th and 19th centuries. The ram's head in the centre bears a snuff mill and belonged to the 5th West York Militia which, in 1882, became the 3rd Battalion, The Green Howards. The ram was their
mascot.

The gold on silver cup in the rear centre dates from 1795 and was given to Sir John Lawson of Brough Hall by the members oi the Catterick and Richmond Local Defence Volunteers.

This case exhibits the plate of the ancient Borough of Richmond, of the Parish Church of St. Mary The Virgin and of the Company of Mercers, Grocers and Haberdashers formed in 1580. The items shown range in date from 1595 to the present day.

MEDAL ROOM
On the wall adjoining the eighteen Victoria Crosses are the three George Crosses awarded to Green Howards. Originally, these soldiers were awarded 'The Medal of the Order of the British Empire for Gallantry', then usually known as 'The Empire Gallantry Medal'. In September 1940, when His Majesty King George VI instituted the George Cross and the George Medal, the Empire Gallantry Medal was abolished and those who had been awarded it were given the George Cross as being the equivalent in merit. The George Cross ranks immediately after the Mctoria Cross and immediately before all Orders of Knighthood. The George Medal is awarded for acts not considered to merit the higher award of the Cross. Official campaign medals were not issued until 1847 when Queen Victoria first authorised the Waterloo Medal to those who still survived from the battle in 1815. War and General Service medals were also instituted as from that same year, 1847 , and have of course, continued ever since.
,

THE

The first campaign medals issued to the regiment were for the Crimean War and it is noteworthy that the regiment holds nine of the fifteen Distinguished Conduct Medals awarded to its soldiers in that war. There are decorations and medals in this room for all the campaigns and wars in which the regiment has served. They are all personal legacies from our soldiers or given by their families. Each medal or group is named to the man (and one woman) to whom it was awarded and the regiment regards them very much as being personal permanent memorials.

A map showing where the medals were won can be seen on the centre wall opposite the Crimea case.
Also displayed is a collection of helmet plates, cap badges, buttons, belt plates and other miscellaneous items of adornment from the Regular and Volunteer battalions as well as the Militia.

NORMANBY ROOM
Named in honour of Colonel The Marquis of Normanby, KG, CBE, Honorary Colonel Commandant of the regiment between 1970 and 1982, this room is the Chamber of the Regimental Council. His late Majesty King Olav V dined here on several occasions, and his bust is by the centre window.

THE

Most of the furnitire was handmade by Mr. Robert Thompson of Kilburn, North Yorkshire, and each piece bears his 'Mouse' craft mark, an example of which can be seen on the title plate on the outside of the door on your left. Further fine examples of his work can be seen in our Regimental Chapel in the Richmond Parish Church of St. Mary nearby. Much of the silver dates from the 18th and 19th centuries. The chandeliers were the gift of the Rocky Mountain Rangers and The Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment) of
Canada.

The Colours on the right were those of the 2nd Battalion presented by HM Queen Alexandra at Windsor Castle in 1909.

UNIFORMS
OF THE REGULAR AND
General Officer's full dress coat and undress frock worn by General Samuel Townsend in 1780. His portrait, in regimental uniform, is in the Governor's residence in Gibraltar.

MILITIA BATTALIONS OF

THE REGIMENT

The levee dress of Lieutenant Thomas Tayloe 1818 and the coatee of Ensign Robert Stansfeld 1826. The latter is particularly interesting, being a transitional g4rment. The lapels are removable and were fastened to the front of the garment

for ceremonial purposes. For day-to-day

use, the lapels were removed.

The three officers' coatees of the period 1830-1855 are of special interest because they are probably unique as a regimental trio. They are of the Grenadier, Light and Battalion Companies of the regiment. The differences lie in the wings worn by the two flank companies and the epaulettes of the

Battalion Companies. The Light Company officers also carried a whistle on their sword belts. On the Grenadier Company wings
there is a grenade, and on the Light Company, a bugle horn.

The Field Seruice Marching Order of the Private sold.iers of the Battalion

Companies 1854. These garments vtere not normally presened and are thu lare specimens.

General Nesbitt's enormous cocked hat (1791 ) and the Regency dress of his granddaughter, Miss Nesbitt, in 1815. The dress shows the military influence on women's fashions after twenty years of continuous warfare.

The North York Local Militia was raised in 1806 for local defence. They were the
suicessors to the Volunteers who had been

disbanded after the Peace of Amiens. The officers are studying The Times of 22nd June 1815, publishing Wellington's dispatch

reporting the Battle of Waterloo.

The North York Militia collection is of particular importance as, in 1798, this unit of the Regular (as opposed to Local) Militia, devised a special uniform of green for its two flank companies of sharpshooters shown in the contemporary print. ln 1799, the Prince Regent reviewed the Militia at Newcastle and it was at this parade that he
suggested that Colonel Coote Manningham's

new regiment, The Rifle Brigade, should adopt a similar colour and style for their own uniforms. The North York Militia became 'Light

Infantry'in

1825

and'Rifles'in 1852. For

many years its Regimental Headquarters was located in the Keep of Richmond Castle. In 1881 it became the 4th (Militia) Battalion of The Green Howards. Both the 3rd and 4th (Militia) Battalions served in South Africa. They were disbanded in 1907 when the Territoriai Force was created bv Lord Haldane.

UNIF
THE NORTH YORK C.AVALRY
1831-1840
Raised in 1831, this Yeomanry Cavalry unit
was for home defence purposes and had

THE

RM S

OF THE VOLUNTEER BATTALIONS OF THE NORTH RIDING OF YORKSHIRE

troops over the North Riding of Yorkshire. Like the volunteer infantry units, it had black velvet facings.

THE RIFLE VOLUNTEERS

1859-1870
This period is sometimes known as that of 'The Grey Volunteers'because during this time most volunteers units all over the country wore varying shades of grey to be

different from the Regular Infantry who

wore scarlet. The two uniforms in this case are the first pattems worn after the grey went out of use, but they continue to show the accoutrements worn with that uniform.

THE NAPOLEONIC VOLUNTEERS

1795-1806
Raised for local defence purposes all over the country when the threat of a French invasion was very real. These local volunteer units were all raised and paid for by local subscription. The drum of the Reeth Volunteers indicates that every town and village up and down the county had its own Corps of Volunteers. There were no less than twenty-three different corps in the North Riding, six of battalion strength and all the rest of independent company or troop composition. The two uniforms of the Masham and Scarborough Volunteers serve to emphasise this. The uniforms were laid down by the Lord Lieutenant, who issued the commissions. Those of the North Riding were all scarlet with black velvet facings and silver lace.

THE SERGEANTS OF THE

I

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ST \-OLUNTEER BATTALION 1881-1908

amalgamateciurih ::: ::::: - -::, -- -: were incorporated in I'-: ::' .:.- -. - -districts based upon the Re,eu.a: C ,:: Regiment, This was not aitogether a p.:- :reform and although adopting the unifon-. of the Cr-::r Reeiment, they showed their indepen;.:: .:::it bv continuing to wear many o; r:: :- - r -ir3mcnts and devices ffOm th.: : . -> ::atus as sepalate --:: :. at still sports its volunte.: -Rifle Vc -- - -- - ,. > :L)qcthcr with its Regular

-. - r::1 : =:-::,]::;:iis rrn the $alls .- , :..- ..: =: .: ,'.::. :..1e br SOldigrS aS : ,ll:-r : -,-:.-:---. ::-]:r.'JarS$hCn | --: -:l- rt: -lIl-t'-lt

grOU:: . - --l:::
the

.:-::. : :l: \-llUnteers \ort.l R::::-:,r: \'r:ksrire bet*een

Ol

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l.=, - .-

-,: badge.

calling rvho stooii rcad\ tc defend their homes in times of uar. Thcir historr is Lroth intercsting and note$ orth)
.

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