1939
MARCH
29 Secretary of State for War Leslie Hore-Belisha announced plans to double size of TA.
APRIL
26 Military Training Act introduces conscription.
28 5th Foresters reach establishment strength, start of recruitment for 2/5th Battalion.
JULY
15 First conscripts arrive at Normanton Barracks, Derby.
AUGUST
13–27 Training camp at Holyhead.
21 Territorial AA units mobilised.
23 Nazi-Soviet non-aggression pact signed.
24 Effective date of TA commissions for army superiority.
Lt-Col Henry Breedon Everard becomes CO of the battalion.
31 Call-up of Army Reserve and Supplementary Reserve.
SEPTEMBER
1 German invasion of Poland.
CLIVE signal to implement Civil Defence Scheme and mobilisation of TA.
3 Britain declares war on Germany.
15 139 Brigade HQ opened.
OCTOBER
17 First casualty of the war, Pte EB Hill, dies of meningitis.
1940
FEBRUARY
17 Home Defence Scheme issued.
MARCH
7 139 Brigade advised of move to France.
APRIL
5 Home Defence responsibilities end.
11 Advance party leaves for BEF.
26 Battalion leaves Derby for Southampton and embarks on SS Lady of Mann.
MAY
10 German invasion of France and Belgium.
15 Battalion entrains for move to front.
17 Battalion operations around Tournai.
21 Battalion deploys on Canal de la Haute Deule.
26 Action at Oignies.
28–30 Battalion in positions at Dunkirk perimeter.
JUNE
1/2 Battalion evacuated from Dunkirk.
6–14 Battalion reforms at Belle Vue Park, Manchester.
18 Major Jacob Hassell appointed CO.
JULY
6 Battalion moves to Haddington, Scotland.
OCTOBER
16 Battalion moves to Galashiels.
1941
JANUARY
8 Battalion move to East Derham, Norfolk.
APRIL
2–8 First corps level exercise.
22–24 Divisional exercise DRAKE.
MAY
21 Major (Acting Lt-Col) REH Stott becomes CO.
28–30 Divisional exercise NELSON.
JUNE
20–25 Corps-level exercise BULLDOG.
22 German invasion of Soviet Union.
JULY
13–18 Coast Defence duties near Great Yarmouth.
SEPTEMBER
11–13 Corps Exercise BOXER.
27–3 Oct. Army manoeuvres (Exercise BUMPER).
NOVEMBER
16 Battalion moves to Folkestone, Kent.
1942
MARCH
30 Battalion moves to New Romney, Kent.
MAY
28–30 Exercise ALERT.
JUNE
20–25 Corps-level exercise BULLDOG.
22 German invasion of Soviet Union.
JULY
24–31 Corps Exercise HAROLD.
AUGUST
15–17 Live firing exercise results in four deaths.
OCTOBER
23–11 Nov. Second Battle of El Alamein.
24 46th Division mobilisation to be sent overseas complete.
NOVEMBER
6 Operation TORCH, Allied invasion of French North Africa.
DECEMBER
18 Inspection by HRH King George VI.
23 Embarkation at Liverpool on HMT Derbyshire.
1943
JANUARY
3 Derbyshire berths in Algiers Harbour.
9 Battalion Transport and tracked vehicles arrive Algiers Harbour.
13 Battalion departs Algiers for Tunisa.
18 Battalion takes up over positions at Green Hill.
29 Air raid on Main Dressing Station in rear area at Sedjenane.
FEBRUARY
4 The MDS at Sedjenane bombed by enemy planes.
Enemy shell "A" Company positions, killing Revd Harold Barratt and two others.
26 Orders for move of the Battalion to Beja.
27 Orders received to return to Sedjenane area.
28 Battalion takes up positions east of Sedjenane.
MARCH
1 Designation of Unit changed from 2/5th Battalion The Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment) to 5th Battalion The Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment).
2 Battle of Sedjenane - frontline positions overrun.
3 Battalion in Anti-Tank localities west of Sedjenane.
4 Battalion took up a defensive position around Djebel Aboid.
13 Attack on the Djebel Bel March supported by 3rd Para Bn.
14 Lt-Col REH Stott promoted to command 139 Brigade, Major EA Hefford takes over as CO.
17 Battle of Tamera.
18 The Battalion concentrated in Transport Lines to refit.
20 The Battalion moved to a rest area East of Beja.
APRIL
22 1st Army offensive in Medjerda valley.
24 5th Foresters and 2/5 Leicesters take Djebel Bessioud.
MAY
7 Advance elements of the 1st and 8th Armies enter Tunis.
20 Victory March in Tunis.
JUNE
20–25 Exercise "Conqueror", a landing exercise against US 1st Infantry Division.
28 The old HQ Company is divided into HQ company and S company.
JULY
10 Allies invade Sicily.
AUGUST
17 Air raid on Bizerta, battalion suffers four casualties.
31 Battalion leaves for Assembly Area near Bizerta harbour.
SEPTEMBER
5 The Battalion embarks on three LCIs and two LSTs of the US Navy.
7 Salerno invasion convoy sails.
9 D-Day at Salerno. 5th Foresters land after midnight and move to an assembly area.
10 Attack on Taborra north of Salerno.
11 German counter-attack down the Irno valley to Ponte Fratte.
12 A patrol under Captain PC Palmer is ambushed by Germans in British uniform, only two ORs return.
16 8th Army links up with the US 5th Army in the south of the beach-head.
19 Attack by Pioneer Platoon and C Company on the cemetery at Ponte Fratte.
22 Attack on Santa Cruce.
23 Attack on Il Telegrafo hill.
25 Occupation of Pregiato.
29 Battalion at rest.
OCTOBER
1 Fall of Naples.
6 Battalion takes over positions near Volturno River from US 1st Airborne Division.
8 Patrol manages to cross the blown railway bridge over the Volturno at Cancello but cannot establish a foothold north of the river.
12–13 Crossing of the Volturno.
14 Major Brian Keith-Lucas assumes temporary command.
17 Major Dennis Worrall, 16th DLI, assumes temporary command.
23 Lt-Col JR Welchman takes over as CO.
NOVEMBER
21 Battalion moves to San Clemente in preparation for operations at Monte Camino.
DECEMBER
1–6 Battle of Calabritto.
25 Pioneer platoon suffer casualties whilst locating mines in Calabritto area.
29 Positions handed over to 2/5th Leicesters.
30 Battalion has a belated Christmas dinner and service.
1944
JANUARY
7–8 Battalion attacks Colle Cedro.
15 Friendly-fire incident with American patrol.
18 56th Division and 5th Division cross the Garigliano.
19–20 128 (Hampshire) Brigade unsuccessfully assaults across the Garigliano.
20–21 Foresters attack and occupy Vandra.
20–22 1st Battle of Monte Cassino (Battle of the Rapido).
22 Allied landings at Anzio.
25 Battalion relieved by 2/5th Leicesters and 46th Recce Bn.
27/28 Battalion moves to Suja and comes under command of 138 Brigade.
FEBRUARY
1 Lt Thompson receives the MC for patrol behind enemy lines.
3/4 Battalion relieves 6th Yorks and Lancs on Mt Tuga.
14–19 Battalion withdrawn to rest area at San Clemente.
21 Battalion embarks at Naples on HMTS Ascania.
22 Ascania sets sail in convoy of ships for Middle East.
26 Ascania docks at Port Said.
27 Battalion disembarks and conveyed to camp as Qassasin.
MARCH
2–12 Battalion is given leave in Cairo.
9–13 Battalion moves to Tulkarm in Palestine.
25 Battalion moves to the Haifa area for Intemal Security Duties.
APRIL
2 Curfew is lifted in Haifa and battalion is released from patrol duties.
11 Battalion moves to Ar Rama north of Nazareth.
MAY
11–12 Battalion moves to Mazar Camp near Damascus in Syria.
14–25 Exercise TAIM in Lebanon.
JUNE
6 Normandy landings.
15–16 Battalion moves to Qassasin.
27 Battalion embarks on MS Sobieski and MV Britannic at Port Said.
JULY
2 Sobieski docks at Naples in the evening and Britannic docks at Taranto.
6 The Battalion is concentrated at Pignataro.
17 Move to forward concentration area at Bevagna.
25 Battalion inspected at Perugia by HM King George VI.
AUGUST
20–23 Battalion transferred to Isola Del Fano east of the Appenines in preparation for Operation OLIVE.
26 Start of Operation OLIVE - attack on the Gothic Line.
29 Battalion takes Monte Montino unopposed and moves on to Monte Fabbri.
30–31 Assault on Gothic Line at Belvedere Fogliense (Monte Vecchie).
SEPTEMBER
1–2 Battalion secures Monte Zaggaralli, completing the breakthrough of the initial Gothic Line defences.
4 Action at on Il Trebbio.
13 Attack on German positions at Gemmano.
14–15 Battle of Taverna (‘Fiery Farm’).
20 The battalion enters San Marino territory.
21 Battalion occupies Verruchio.
23–24 Crossing of River Marrechia at Poggio Berni.
OCTOBER
16–18 Battle of Cesena.
21-31 Battalion resting at San Clemente.
NOVEMBER
21–23 Battle of River Cosina - the battalion’s last action in Italy.
25 Battalion relieved in front line and concentrated at Forli.
30 Battalion moves to Rome.
DECEMBER
2 Battalion is air-lifted to Salonika and comes under 7th Indian Brigade.
6–9 General strike in Salonika.
11 Grenade accident in Salonika kills two men.
15-17 Further strike and demonstrations.
25 Christmas Parade service.
1945
JANUARY
​9 ELAS attempt to steal fuel from beach-head dump.
12 Cease-fire agreement signed in Athens.
16 ELAS evacuates Salonika.
FEBRUARY
​8 Battalion leaves Salonika for Piraeus.
10 Battalion disembarks Piraeus.
15 Inspection by Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden.
MARCH
​28 Battalion sports meeting in Olympic Stadium, Athens.
APRIL
9 Brigade sports meeting in Olympic Stadium, Athens.
15 Embarkation on MV Eastern Prince at Piraeus.
17 Eastern Prince docks at Taranto.
​MAY
2 Battalion arrives at concentration area at Bertinoro.
3 All organised resistance in ITALY ceases at 0800 hrs.
8 VE Day.
​11 Battalion arrives at Caporetto, on Austrian border.
13 Battalion arrives Judenburg, Carinthia.
27-30 Operation COSSACK to round up Cossacks serving in German army.​
JUNE
1 Conclusion of Operation COSSACK.
​JULY
​21 Battalion gymkhana.
23 Battalion arrives in Leibnitz, Styria.
30 Underground factory found by patrol.
AUGUST
​1 Concentration camp and masss grave found.
27 Start of patrols to find SS personnel.
SEPTEMBER
​ 7-10 Battalion takes over frontier post duties on Yugoslav border.
OCTOBER
​7 Battalion lumber camp at Schloss Brunsee.
NOVEMBER
25 Austrian Elections.​
DECEMBER
1 Prohibited frontier zone comes into force.​​
1946
JANUARY
​5 Divisional ski course.
FEBRUARY
​4 Arms stash discovered in Mureck.
MARCH
9 Major HWH Houghton replaces Lt-Col Welchman as CO.
19-27 Men are posted to 2nd Loyals and 2nd Monmouthshire battalions.
28 The battalion is officially disbanded.