Dukes battalions spread far and wide on VE Day
THE BATTALIONS of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment were spread far and wide on VE Day
The 1st Battalion were in Palestine, dealing with the Jewish uprising, stationed in Haifa, Majdal and Askalon.
The 2nd Battalion were in India stationed in Dimapur, Bangalore and Dehra Dun.
The 5th Battalion were in France, under command of the Czech Independent Armoured Brigade, mopping up pockets of German resistance around Dunkirk. 6th Battalion were in Colchester, training recruits
The 1/7th Battalion were in Arnhem, rounding up Dutch nationals who had become members of the Dutch SS Division that had joined the Germans. The 1/7th Bn held their victory parade at the Hague, in Holland, on May 30.
The 9th Battalion were in Burma (Chindits) taking part in Op Turret, the amphibious landing behind the Japanese forces trying to withdraw from the Arakan.
The ‘Dukes’ were awarded the Freedom of Halifax after the war, in June, but due to most of the regiment still being abroad the parade was done by territorial army units and the Regimental Band.
The 7th Duke of Wellington Took the Salute, at Bull Green.
By VE Day on May 8th 1945, The Duke of Wellington’s Regiment had been on active service from the beginning of the conflict, with four battalions serving in the Dunkirk Campaign.
Units of the Regiment had served and fought with distinction in all the major theatres of war - from North West Europe to Burma and Singapore; from Tunisia to Italy and from Iceland to Palestine.
The Halifax Depot training and administrative staff had been dispatched to join with the Durham Light Infantry, at Brancepath Castle, to form a Training Centre.
After more than six years of conflict, the 1/7th Battalion was preparing to represent the Regiment as part of the British Liberation Army in Germany.
To recognise these achievements, and to honour the 1,406 ‘Dukes’ who did not return to their homes, the Freedom of Halifax was bestowed on the Regiment by the County Borough of Halifax on June 18, 1945.
MORE ONLINE: Go to www. halifaxcourier.co.uk