The Hertfordshire Regiment in the 1920s

 

Instructions for the re-formation of 1st Battalion The Hertfordshire Regiment were issued in February 1920. ... Under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel H. Page Croft, C.M.G., T.D. and with Colonel Sir Charles Longmore, K.C.B., V.D., T.D. as Honorary Colonel, the battalion was quickly up to its establishment of just over 650 all ranks, with a good proportion of both officers and men who had previously served with the Hertfordshire Regiment. By the end of 1921 headquarters (at Hertford) and outlying detachments had been established as follows:

Company   Based at   Detachments
No 1   Hertford   St Albans, Hatfield, Harpenden
No 2   Hemel Hempstead   Watford, Berkhamsted, Tring
No 3   Bishop's Stortford   Ware, Hoddesdon, Sawbridgeworth, Waltham Cross
No 4   Hitchin   Stevenage, Baldock, Letchworth
Machine Gun Platoon   Bishop's Stortford    
Corps of Drums   Ware    

It was some time before the complete order of battle of the new Terri­ torial Army had been agreed and the battalion's title and its place in 162 (East Midland) Infantry Brigade of 54th (East Anglian) Division were not confirmed until December 1922, Uniform and badges did not change from those worn prior to the First World War except that it was agreed in September 1920 that the battalion should wear a scarlet cloth 'ace of hearts' on the upper arm in khaki service dress.

Edited extract from The Hertfordshire Regiment


John Halsey's grandfather, Albert Edward Halsey, joined the Territorial Army, 1st Hertfordshire Regiment, in 1920. John has kindly supplied the following post card images of some of the annual training camps his grandfather attended.

Swimgate Camp, Dover, Kent, 1924

 

1st Herts Lines, Cockwatch Camp, Colchester, Essex, 1928

 

1st Herts Regiment, Arundal Park, 1929

 

162nd Infantry Brigade Camp, Shoreham, Sussex, 1930

 

This picture shows Albert Edward Halsey (second from left, seated) and other members of No. 2 Company, probably of the Berkhamsted Detachment in 1928

 
 

 
 

   

These men are wearing First World War Campaign medals. Tell me if you can help identify them?

 

 

Platoon of Hertfordshire Regiment at camp at Cardington, Bedfordshire, 1931

    ? Ted Halsey Fred Dell Fred Halsey Cecil Waller Draper
Platoon Sergeant Bristow   Arthur Moore Beck Manders Lance Corp Bob Bristow Ringshall ? Draper
    Rowe   Jim Sharp  
John Halsey says Ted HALSEY was my Grandfather,  Fred HALSEY was his brother, and Fred DELL was married to their sister Dora HALSEY

In August 2011 Nick Bristow.(widget @t talk21.com) of Leighton Buzzard, wrote: My Grandfather [Lance-Corporal Bob Bristow] and Great Grandfather [Platoon Sergeant Bristow] are shown in the [above] image. It would please my father no end to see a higher resolution copy of this image?     [Supplied]

     
September 2010   Page created
December 2010   Cardington Camp photo
August 2011   Bristow contact