Page Contents
- Consolidation and training.
- Colonel William H. E. Murray.
- Presentation of the Regimental Colours.
- Review of the Territorial Forces in Chatsworth Park: 3rd July.
- Annual Camp at Scarborough Racecourse: 24th July – 8th August.
- “A” (Chesterfield) Company, the 6th Battalion.
- “B” (Chapel-en-le-Frith) Company, the 6th Battalion.
- 2623 Colour-Sergeant Instructor William Lewis Jackson.
- “H” (Whaley Bridge) Company, the 6th Battalion.
- 4440 Colour-Sergeant William Seaton.
- 306 Pioneer Sergeant John Beard.
- Quartermasters Store, the 6th Battalion.
- 1251 Acting Sergeant Major John Shepherd.
- 96 Sergeant Shoemaker Richard Holmes.
- Other Battalions of the Sherwood Foresters Brigade.
- Other Notable Events of 1909.
- Men known to have enlisted during 1909.
Consolidation and training
During 1909 the Battalion had been re-clothed in both scarlet tunics and service dress uniforms in line with the 1st and 2nd Battalions with the exception that the shoulder plate had the number “6” and the letter “T”, which replaced the red and white “2 VB” cloth badge.
During the early months of 1909 Company dinners and prize giving ceremonies, usually for shooting, were held. Classes of Instruction in tactics and map-reading were also held during the winter months and were generally felt to be very useful for all ranks.
Colonel William H.E. Murray
Early in the year Colonel William HE Murray (Royal Scots) took over Command of the Notts and Derby Brigade from Colonel Manvers and began a series of instructional tours and inspections.
Presentation of the Regimental Colours
On the 19th June the Battalion was presented with the Colours at Windsor Park by His Majesty King Edward VII. The Battalion was represented by Lieut.-Colonel Jackson and 23 Officers and men and Lieutenants Saxby and Heathcore received the Colours from the King. The following day the Colours were received with great excitement in Chesterfield and were presented to the Battalion by the ladies of Derbyshire.
Two pictures from the JH Waterhouse Series of 1909. Major Clayton is clearly visible in the top photograph, whereas 1251 Acting Sergeant Major John Shepherd, Colour-Sergeants 36 William John Harrison (“E” Company) and Edward J Hall (“A Company) are recognisable in the bottom photograph.
Review of the Territorial Forces in Chatsworth Park: 3rd July
“Review of the Derbyshire Territorials Chatsworth 3/7/09” (J.H. Waterhouse Series #4).
The summer continued to be a busy time for the Battalion with a grand review of the Territorial Forces of Derbyshire by the Duke of Devonshire, which was held at Chatsworth Park on July 3rd.
The Territorial Forces represented that day included the Derbyshire Yeomanry; the Derbyshire Howitzer Brigade of R.F.A.; the 5th and 6th Battalions Sherwood Foresters; the Mounted Brigade, A.S.C. Company; and the Derbyshire Field Ambulance. The Review was inspected by both Lieut.-General Sir Laurence Oliphant, Commander-in Chief Northern Command, and the Duke of Devonshire.
During Whitsuntide a Camp was held at Edale, which allowed new recruits to be put through their class firing, whilst the trained men were exercised in small tactical methods. In was noted in the Regimental Annual that there was lack of suitable rifle ranges on which the men could practice firing.
Annual Camp at Scarborough Racecource: 24th July – 8th August
This years Annual Camp took place at Scarborough (Seamer Racecourse) from Saturday July 24th until Sunday August 8th and was a Notts and Derby Brigade Camp.
It is often difficult to distinguish between photographs taken at the 1908 and 1909 Scarborough Camps. If the card has “6th Notts & Derby” written on the front then we can assume that it is after April 1908 and my rule of thumb is that if some of the men are wearing 2VB uniforms or insignia then it is likely to be in 1908 rather than 1909.
Men of “A” Company the 6th Battalion marching out of Scarborough Camp, August 1909. The annual training camp took place from July 24th to August 8th (YMCA Series #54).
Officers of the 6th Battalion in 1909. This picture was taken in the front of the Pavilion on the Race Course in Scarborough and includes Colonel William Murray and Major Arthur Mann from the Notts and Derby Brigade.
2nd Lieutenant Basil Derbyshire (left) and 2nd Lieutenant Arthur Cuthbert Brooke Taylor (right) are holding the reigns of the Battalion Mascot Duke II.
Not present for the photograph were the following Officers of the Battalion:- 2nd Lieutenant Francis Edward Wintle, Captain Arthur Clayton Vallance, Surgeon Lieut.-Colonel Alfred Chawner, Acting Chaplain Rev JM Mills, Acting Chaplain Rev Canon SH Molineux, Major Christopher Barker Symonds, Major Edward Hall, Captain and Hon Major William Bradbury Robinson, 2nd Lieutenant Lancelot Heygate and Captain Regiment Turner DSO.
Shortly afterward the Camp Lieut.-Colonel Edward Colles, who had been in ill-health during Camp, died of his illness. He had served with the Derbyshire Volunteers since 1884 and held the Volunteer Officer’s Decoration. For many years he Commanded the Whaley Bridge Company.,
“A” (Chesterfield) Company, the 6th Battalion
“A” (Chesterfield) Company Officers and Senior N.C.O.s (unknown publisher).
Front row from left: —–, Col.-Sergt EJ Hall, Lt. Wiliam Broomhead, Lt. William Elphinstone, Arthur Hopkins, Arthur Wilson Shea, 146 Sergt.-Buglar William Bramwell, 96 Sergt.-Shoemaker Richard Holmes.
Many of the men are wearing the Long Service Medal and the Queens South Africa Medal with bars. Indeed, the Corporal standing on the far left appears to have the India Medal 1896 with bars (“Punjab Frontier 1897-98”, “Tirah 1897-98”), QSA with bars and KSA with bars suggesting that he had previously served with the 2nd Battalion.
“B” (Chapel-en-le-Frith) Company, the 6th Battalion
“B” (Chapel-en-le-Frith) Company, Officers and N.C.O.s (HP Hansen Series).
Front row from left: —-; 2623 Col.-Sergt Instr. William Lewis Jackson; 397 Col.-Sergt Peter Muir; —-; —-.
Officers Second row from left: Captain Henry Welch; Colonel Cavendish; 2Lt. Graham Earwalker; 2Lt. Evelyn Brown Johnson; Major Goodman; Colonel Jackson.
The gentleman with bowler hat and walking stick is Colonel Cavendish VD, Born 15th November 1838. Lt/Col.- 2nd Derbyshire Volunteers 1869 and Hon/Col.- 2nd Volunteer Battalion The Sherwood Foresters, 1882, Colonel A.D.C. 1891. He vacated command and Hon Colonel in 1896. Died 12th July 1918 [Information Courtesy of Mel].
2623 Colour Sergeant Instructor William Lewis Jackson
William Lewis Jackson was born in Brinsley Nottinghamshire in 1870 and enlisted in the Derbyshire Regiment on the 28th August 1889 aged 19.
William Jackson served with the 2nd Battalion Derbyshire Regiment in the East Indies for 9 years from October 1890 until October 1899 and took part in the Tirah Campaign (1897-98). He was awarded the India Medal of 1895 with two clasps; Punjab Frontier (1897-98) and Tirah (1897-8). He was awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal with Gratuity in 1908.
William was posted to the 6th Battalion as a Colour Sergeant Instructor on the 29th July 1909.
“H” (Whaley Bridge) Company, the 6th Battalion
A group of Senior NCOs of “H” (Whaley Bridge) Company at Scarborough Racecourse in 1909 (unknown publisher).
- 306 Pioneer Sergeant John Beard from Whaley Bridge.
- 4440 Colour-Sergeant Instructor William Seaton.
- 283 Armourer Sergeant William Fidler who was awarded an acting armourer certificate in December 1908 and the Volunteer LSM in January 1909. William enlisted into the 2nd Volunteer Battalion The Sherwood Foresters on 13th January 1891 and served with the number 3176. He was discharged in July 1916 aged 48.
- 316 Col-Sergt W Hidworth was discharged from the TF Reserve in 1911.
- The other men in Tunic Order are Sergeant Marksmen but their identify has not been determine to date.
4440 Colour Sergeant William Seaton
4440 Colour-Sergeant Instructor William Seaton transferred to “H” (Whaley Bridge) Company in 1909 from the 1st Battalion. William Seaton held the rank of Colour-Sergeant in the 1st Battalion and served with No 1 Company Mounted Infantry in South Africa. He was recommended for the VC but was awarded the DCM for his actions in the Transvaal on 28th October 1901.
306 Pioneer Sergeant John Beard
John Beard enlisted into the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters on 28th January 1886 and served with the number 2063 until the formation of the Territorial Force on 1st April 1908. He was promoted to Pioneer Sergeant in 1891 but reverted to Sergeant when he transferred to the 29th Provisional Battalion on 10th December 1915. He was posted to the 21st Battalion on 1st January 1917 and was renumbered 331176 in April 1917.
John was discharged due to termination of engagement on 11th April 1917 aged 50 having served for 31 years in the Sherwood Foresters. He was awarded the Long Service Medal in May 1906 and the Silver War Badge. Prior to the War John was a cabinet maker and lived with his wife Lizzie and their two children on Hockley Lane in Whaley Bridge.
Quartermasters Store, the 6th Battalion
Quartermasters Store and Office at Scarborough Camp in 1909 (unknown publisher).
Back row: Pte Holmes, Pte Jameson, 137 Quartermaster Sergeant Joseph Farnsworth and 511 Sergeant Cook George Hoult.
Sitting: Lieutenant and Quartermaster William Broomhead, 1251 Sergeant-Major John Sheppard and 306 Pioneer Sergeant John Beard.
Front row: 96 Sergeant Shoemaker Richard Holmes.
1251 Acting Sergeant Major John Shepherd
John Shepherd was discharged to pension in 1913. He originally served as Colour Sergeant of “H” Company, 2nd Battalion and served in the Tirah Campaign of 1897-98. He enlisted into the Derbyshire Regt on 17th November 1885. He was awarded the India Medal with Punjab Frontier 1897-98 and Tirah 1897-98 Clasps. John Shepherd was posted to the 2VB Derbyshire Regiment on 3rd April 1901 (above).
96 Sergeant Shoemaker Richard Holmes
Daily Parades throughout the Camp started at 6 am and during the first week the early morning parades were devoted to Company training such as physical training and entrenching. These parades were often followed by Battalion tactical training either within the allotted training area or a short march from Camp. Training in close order drill, fire control, skirmishing, scouting and attach and defence were all practiced at the Annual Camps.
During the Annual Camps the Signallers and machine gun section usually carried out their special training away from the rest of the Battalion. In addition a start was made on individual training for those men detailed for Battalion transport and sanitary duties.
During the first week of Camp the Brigade undertook two tactical exercises, the first at Wykeham Moor and the second close to Mowthorpe. The men had a long march to Wykeham moor and undertook operations against a flagged enemy including several schemes of attack and defence based on trenches which had been dug around ‘Seamer Beacon’. The Battalions of the Brigade took turns in both attack and defence.
Other Battalions of the Sherwood Foresters Brigade
Senior Officers of the Notts and Derby Brigade (unknown publisher). At the front are Colonel William Murray and Colonel Geoffrey Jackson; however this particular card came from the ‘Huskinson collection’ so is likely to also feature Charles Henry Huskinson. 
The Band of the 5th (Derby) Battalion.
“H” (Southwell) Company of the 8th (Nottinghamshire) Battalion. This photographs was taken by Howard Barrett of Southwell.
“F” (Arnold) Company of the 8th (Nottinghamshire) Battalion (YMCA Series).
Note that these men are wearing either the “T 8 Notts & Derby” or the 4 VB N & D Shoulder Badges. See here for details of the Drill Hall.
Other Notable Events of 1909
- 2225 Colour-Sergeant Joseph Musson discharged to Pension (served with 1st Battn in South Africa).
- Colour-Sergeant S Maine posted from 1st Battn to C Company.
- 4440 Colour-Sergeant William Seaton posted from 1st Battn to B Company.
- Sergeant F Mansell of 4th Battn (Newark) attached for duty.
- 2623 Colour-Sergeant William Lewis Jackson posted from 2nd Battn to B Company.
- 4440 Colour-Sergeant Instructor William Seaton transferred to H Company.
- Colour-Sergeant Instructor AW Young discharged to Pension.
- 2905 Colour-Sergeant Edward Pullen of 4th Battn (Newark) posted to D Company.
Derbyshire Territorials in the Great War 
Mike, with regards to officers second row from left: i.e. Captain Welch Henry etc, the unknown gentleman with bowler hat and walking stick is Colonel Cavendish VD, Born 15th November 1838, Lt/Col 2nd Derbyshire Volunteers 1869 and Hon/Col 2nd Volunteer Battalion The Sherwood Foresters, 1882, Colonel A.D.C. 2.7.1891. He vacated command and Hon Colonel 1896. Died 12th July 1918.
Thanks Mel; thats well spotted! Will add the details cheers Mike