• 1914: Battalion formed in Derby on 16 October 1914.
• 1915: Attached to 178th Brigade in the 59th Division.
• 1916: In mid-April 1916 the battalion was ordered to go to Ireland and help quell the Easter Rising. It disembarked at Kingstown on 25 April and moved to Dublin the following day where it was immediately involved in the violence. Click here for a full casualty list. For a good account of the Sherwood Forester's participation in the Easter Rising see: In some forgotten corner of a foreign field.
• 1917: Returned to England in January 1917 and in February it embarked for Europe. The battalion was involved in several major actions, notably: The German Retreat to the Hindenburg Line, Battle of the Menin Road, Battle of Polygon Wood, Battle of Cambrai. For an excellent study of the 2/6th's participation in the Battle of Polygon Wood on 26 September 1917 go to 'A Study of One Day's Fighting on the Western Front'. (Concentrates mainly on events concerning the 2/8th Sherwood Foresters in the same Brigade)
• 1918: On 7 May 1918 the battalion was reduced in strength, existing only as a cadre. The men were re-drafted to other battalions. The cadre was then transferred around as follows: on 7 June to 16th Division, on 17 June to 34th Division and on 28 June 117th Brigade, 39th Division. The battalion was formally disbanded on 3 August. The battalion was involved in The Battle of St Quentin, The Battle of Bapaume (first), The Battle of Bailleul & Battle of Kemmel (both constituent parts of the Battles of the Lys).

Biographies of 2/5th Men