BRITISH INFANTRY REGIMENTS (2)
No. 47. The Staffordshire Regiment
Private: Desert Combat Dress
Drummer: Full Dress
Background: Armoured Personnel Carriers
From a watercolour painting by Christopher A. Collins.
Postcard No. 47 THE STAFFORDSHIRE REGIMENT (The Prince
of Wales's)
The Staffordshire Regiment now incorporates the former North
Staffordshire (64th) and South Staffordshire (38th) Regiments, which were
amalgamated in 1959. Its origins go back to 1705 when the 38th Foot was
raised at Lichfield in The Kings Head public house. The 64th Foot was
raised in 1756. On the right sleeve all ranks wear a glider badge, which
commemorates the part played by the 2nd Battalion, The South Staffordshire
Regiment in the Airborne Landings in Scilly 1943 and in Arnhem 1944. The
backing cloth worn behind the cap badge originates from the South
Staffords who served for over 50 years in the West Indies and had to
repair their uniforms with jute sacking.
The soldier depicted is a rifleman wearing desert combat dress with basic
belt order webbing equipment. His glass reinforced plastic helmet has a
cloth cover with a band into which camouflage material can be inserted and
a chin strap designed for use by airborne forces. He is armed with a light
support weapon. On his right arm he wears the 7 Armed Bde flash.
A side drummer of the 1st Battalion Corps of Drums is shown wearing a home
service helmet and standard scarlet. He is carrying a silver drum. Sets of
silver drums were presented to both North and South Staffords by various
individuals and bodies in the country after World War I.
In the background is shown a desert scene with Warrior armoured personnel
carriers. 1 Staffords deployed to Saudi Arabia with 7th Armoured Brigade
as part of Op Granby in October 1990.
Published 1993
Copyright © 1993 Published by Geoff White Ltd.
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