Major Pickering a former bandmaster with the Cheshire Regiment and now currently Director of the Cheshire Military Museum, gave members a very detailed and interesting talk about the Regiment at the November meeting of the English Speaking Union.
The Regiment was raised in 1689 by the Duke of Norfolk and given the oak leaf emblem on their cap badge by King George II. Serving all over the world, in the late 1700s the Regiment was posted to India, but missed all the great battles with Napoleon. However, the Regiment did fight in the Boer War. Setting sail on August 14, 1914 for the start of the First World War, the Regiment served on all major fronts. It was involved in Dunkirk and the siege of Malta during the Second World War.
The Regiment merged with the Staffordshire Regiment, which then became in 2005 the Mercia Regiment. They recently did a tour in Afghanistan where Josh Griffiths was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross and Daniel Hellings the Queens Gallantry Medal. Another re-organisation has made the Regiment extremely mobile and can be sent all over the world at short notice.
At the next meeting on December 9, at Portal Premier Golf Club, the speaker will be Professor Merriman, with “A reflection on Practices of Commemoration”. New members are very welcome, please ring 01606 76534 for further information.
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