Below is some genealogy information on the 39th & 54th Regiments, Dorsetshire, Devonshire and Dorsetshire Light Infantry and The Rifles of the British army that may help searches for military ancestors.

Theatres of War, Army Regiments, Naval Detachments, RAF

Description: Formed in 1881 by amalgamating the 39th (Dorsetshire) Regiment of Foot and the 54th (West Norfolk) Regiment of Foot. They saw action in the Boer Wars, fighting at Spionkop, Valkrantz and Pieters and Ladysmith. During the First World War they fought across the Western, Middle Eastern, Turkish and African fronts at battles such as Mons, Le Cateau, the 1st battle of Ypres, the 2nd battle of Ypres, Neuve Chapelle, Aubers Bridge, Festubert, Loos, the Somme (1916), Arras, the 1st battle of the Somme (1918), Passchendaele, Vittorio Veneto and Gallipoli. During the Second World War they fought across the Western, Italian and Far Eastern fronts and were involved in the Normandy landings and operation Market Garden (battle of Arnhem. In 1958 they were amalgamated with The Devonshire Regiment, forming the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment. Their nickname is The Flamers or The Green Linnets, Shankey's Horses.

Military actions:

• Boer war: Spionkop
• Boer war: Valkrantz and Pieters
• Boer war: Ladysmith
• WWI: Mons
• WWI: Le Cateau
• WWI: 1st battle of Ypres
• WWI: 2nd battle of Ypres
• WWI: Neuve Chapelle
• WWI: Aubers Bridge
• WWI: Festubert
• WWI: Loos
• WWI: Somme (1916)
• WWI: Arras
• WWI: 1st battle of the Somme (1918)
• WWI: 3rd battle of Ypres
• WWI: Vittorio Veneto
• WWI: Gallipoli
• WWII: Normandy landings
• WWII: Operation Market Garden (battle of Arnhem

Websites

• Wikipedia: Dorsetshire Regiment
• Dorsetshire army museum
• British Armed Forces: Dorestshire, list of deployment
• History of the 1th Regiment, Devonshire, Devonshire and Dorsetshire Light Infantry and The Rifles regiments.

Reading materials:

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