Derbyshire Lads: The Sherwood Foresters: 16th Battalion

16th (Service) Battalion ('Chatsworth Rifles')

117th Brigade, 39th Division

Outline History

1915: The 16th Sherwood Foresters, nicknamed the 'Chatsworth Rifles' after their founder's ancestral home, were formed at Derby by the Duke of Devonshire and the Derbyshire Territorial Force Association on 16 Apr 1915. They were attached to 117th Brigade, 39th Division in September, in the same Brigade as the 17th Sherwood Foresters (the Welbeck Rangers). The 39th Division had been formed in August and the Chatsworth Rifles joined for training. Initially the 39th Division was based in the Winchester area before moving to Aldershot in late September and, finally, Witley in November.
1916: The 39th Division began arriving in France during late February and early March. Its first serious action was at Richebourg, one of the attacks launched to distract the Germans on the eve of the Battle of the Somme. The Division arrived on the Somme in August and took part in the Battle of the Ancre Heights and the Battle of the Ancre. During 1916 the battalion lost 197 men and 7 Officers killed. For more details of the 16th Sherwood Foresters and the Battle of the Somme, see Dr. Mike Briggs' 'Chesterfield Sherwoods on the Somme' website.
1917: The Division moved north to Belgium and the Ypres Salient, around which the Chatsworth Rifless participated in numerous battles during the Third Battle of Ypres, namely: The Battle of Pilckem , The Battle of Langemarck, The Battle of the Menin Road, The Battle of the Polygon Wood, The Second Battle of Passchendaele. During 1917 the battalion lost 244 men and 2 Officers killed.
1918: On 16th May the battalion was reduced to a Cadre as part of an army-wide reorganisation, the men of the unit being re-posted to other battalions. The cadre moved to 197th Brigade of the 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division on 19th June, and on 15th August was moved back to the 39th Division in a non-combat capacity. During 1918, before being reduced to cadre, the battalion lost 133 men and 7 Officers killed. During the war as a whole the battalion lost 590 men and Officers killed.

Biographies of 16th Battalion Men

None at present


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16th (Service) Battalion ('Chatsworth Rifles') 117th Brigade, 39th Division Outline History 1915: The 16th Sherwood Foresters, nicknamed the 'Chatsworth Rifles' after their founder's ancestral home, were formed at Derby by the Duke of Devonshire and the Derbyshire Territorial Force Association on 16 Apr 1915. They were attached to 117th Brigade, 39th Division in September, in the same Brigade as the 17th Sherwood Foresters (the Welbeck Rangers). The 39th Division had been formed in August and the Chatsworth Rifles joined for training. Initially the 39th Division was based in the Winchester area before moving to Aldershot in late September and, finally, Witley in November. 1916: The 39th Division began arriving in France during late February and early March. Its first serious action was at Richebourg, one of the attacks launched to distract the Germans on the eve of the Battle of the Somme. The Division arrived on the Somme in August and took part in the Battle of the Ancre Heights and the Battle of the Ancre. During 1916 the battalion lost 197 men and 7 Officers killed. For more details of the 16th Sherwood Foresters and the Battle of the Somme, see Dr. Mike Briggs' 'Chesterfield Sherwoods on the Somme' website. 1917: The Division moved north to Belgium and the Ypres Salient, around which the Chatsworth Rifless participated in numerous battles during the Third Battle of Ypres, namely: The Battle of Pilckem , The Battle of Langemarck, The Battle of the Menin Road, The Battle of the Polygon Wood, The Second Battle of Passchendaele. During 1917 the battalion lost 244 men and 2 Officers killed. 1918: On 16th May the battalion was reduced to a Cadre as part of an army-wide reorganisation, the men of the unit being re-posted to other battalions. The cadre moved to 197th Brigade of the 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division on 19th June, and on 15th August was moved back to the 39th Division in a non-combat capacity. During 1918, before being reduced to cadre, the battalion lost 133 men and 7 Officers killed. During the war as a whole the battalion lost 590 men and Officers killed. Biographies of 16th Battalion Men None at present