1900 - Mr E.G. Mardon called a meeting in Bristol on 15th March 1900 to raise a new battalion of volunteers. Field-Marshall Lord Roberts, VC was appointed its' Honorary Colonel. Originally the new regiment was to be called The City of Bristol Artillery Volunteers, but the War Office did not want more artillery units. It was agreed to form the 3rd Volunteer Battalion The Gloucestershire Regiment. The official date of formation was 24th August 1900.

Lieut-Colonel G.E. McClellan (late 3rd Dragoon Guards) was appointed Commanding Officer. By the end of the year 900 men had enrolled. The Regiment's uniform was khaki with red facings, a red stock, cord breeches, leather leggings and a slouch hat adorned with plumes of feathers! A leather bandolier was also worn. The officers uniform was heavily braided with silver lace.

Lieutenant Rodgers, 3rd Volunteer Battalion. 1900

Drills were held at Bedminster Police Station, Queen's Square, and Kingsdown Baths. A Headquarters building was purchased in November 1900. The crest adopted for the Regiment was: The Arms of the City of Bristol, surmounted by a Sphinx, superscribed "Egypt". The Colt Gun Company loaned a Colt Gun to the Battalion.

1901 - The first annual camp was held at Kingsdown, Box, 7th August 1901.

1902 - 5th March the Battalion provided a Guard of Honour during a visit to Bristol of The Prince of Wales (future King George V). Annual Camp was at Eastdown, Salisbury.

1903 - Lieut-Colonel C.E.H. Hobhouse, MP appointed Commanding Officer of the Battalion.

1904 - Annual Camp was at Minehead. The Battalion travelled on ss Britania.

1905 - Field Marshall Lord Roberts, VC visited the Battalion, 4th February.

1906 - The Battalion competed in the combined Naval and Military Tournament at Springfield Estate, Westbury Park.
Annual Camp was at Salisbury Plain.

1907 - Annual Camp at West Lulworth.

1908 - Strenght: 763 men.
1st April 1908 the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act came into being. The 3rd Volunteer Battalion was redesignated the 6th Battalion the Gloucestershire Regiment (T.F.)

1909 - 19th June at Windsor Castle, King Edward VII presented Colours to the Battalion. The Colours were received by Lieuts. C.E. Coates and O. Bryant, and Colour-Sergeants Chandler, Tucker, and Beer. The Colours were brought to Bristol on 20th June and marched through crowds to the HQ.
Annual Camp was held at Swanage.

1910 -

1911 - Strength: 1006 men.
Officers from the Battalion attended the first Levee of King George V's reign.
Annual Camp at Conway. Lieut-Col. Hobhouse relinquished command of the Battalion.

1912 - Sergeant-Major Farquharson retired and Colour-Sergt. Instructor R.H. Harper was appointed in his place.
Annual Camp at West Down South.

1913 - 14th February, Lord Roberts, VC visited Bristol. 4th July King George V visited the Royal Agriculteral Show. The Battalion turned out for both visits.
Annual Camp was at Swanage.

For the Years 1914-1918 click here.

1923 - New Bandmaster, Mr. Grindrod, joined the Battalion from the Inniskilling Dragoons.

1924 - Captain and Quartermaster H. Farquharson died.

1925 - Whitsuntide Camp held at Portishead.
Annual Training held at Swanage, 2-16th August.
June, Bn (jointly with 4th Bn) mounted a Guard of Honour at Temple Meads Station on visit of The King to Bristol.

April - Lieut-Colonel E.W. Lennard assumed command of the Bn.
October - Lieut & QM R.H. Harper, MC retired.
Capt. H. Calvert Fisher to be Major.
Rev. G. Jarvis-Smith, MC to be Chaplain IV class (attached)
Lieut. F.C. Gibaud to be Capt.
2nd Lieut. R. Hazledine, from QMS Wellington School, OTC.
2nd Lieut. F.A. Moore (from N.S. Yeomanry)
Lieut. R.D.G. Pearce to be Capt.
CQMS E. Warrick (late 1st Bn) to be Lieut & QM.
Sergt. C.R. Reynalds (late 21st RGH Armoured Car Co.) to be 2nd Lieut.
Lieut. P.W. Jayne (late MGC) joined Bn.
Lieut. E.K. Milliken (late Indian Army) joined Bn.

Territorial Efficiency Medal Awarded to:
7250270 Pte A.W. Innes (HQ Wing)

Bn adopted a Harlequin Great Dane as Regimental Mascot.

1926 - Annual Training held at Porthcawl.
Capt. L.A. Powell, MC appointed Adjutant, succeeding Capt. E.B. Pope, DSO.
Lieut. Henry Suddaby Grant joined Bn.
2nd Lieuts. G.R. Bridge and V.E.G. Stevens to be Lieuts.

Territorial Decorations Awarded to:
Lieut-Col. Ernest William Lennard (CO 6th Bn)
Sir Charles E.H. Hobhouse (Hon. Colonel, 6th Bn)

India General Service Medal (clasp 'Waziristan') awarded to 4178912 Sergt. S. Warburton.
Territorial War Medal Awarded to 5174421 CQMS F.C. Williams.

25th October - Capt. V.B. Bingham-Hall, MC (seconded to RAF) was killed in a flying accident in Egypt.

1927 - Strength: 17 Officers and 558 other ranks.
Annual Training held at Windmill Hill, Salisbury Plain, 31st July - 14th August.
Lieut. H.R. Newman to be Captain.

1928 - Strength: 15 officers, 522 other ranks.
2nd Lieut. Ivor Kelvin Kinsey posted to Bn (from Bristol Grammar School, OTC)
Capts. A. Harris and H.R. Newman from Active List to TA Reserve of Officers
Lieut. P.W. Jayne to be Capt.
Lieut. T.R. Bridge resigned his commission.

Major R.I. Dacre, RAMC (TA) attached 6th Bn, awarded TD
CSM L.G. Flower, MM won the Elkington Cup at Bisley.

1929 - Strength: 14 officers, 466 other ranks.
2nd Lieut. A.F. Gowan joined Bn
Lieut. E. Brookhouse-Richards transferred to TA Reserve of Officers.
Lieut-Col. E.W. Lennard, TD to be Brevet-Colonel. Transferred to TARO.
Major H. Calvert-Fisher promoted to Lieut-Colonel, to command Bn.
Capt. E.N. Gardner, MC to be Major
Lieut. H.S. Grant to be Capt.
Capt. C.M. Hughes-Games, MC to be Major.

Annual Training held at Weymouth.

Territorial Efficiency Medals Awarded to:
Sergt. W.H. Fagan
Sergt. E.W. Williams
Lce-Cpl. T.B. Partridge
Bandsman H. Marshall
Pte C. Stower

1930 - Strength: 16 officers, 460 other ranks.
Capt. D.W. Ware to be Major.
Lieut. V.E.G. Stevens to be Capt. (transferred to Reserve)
Lieut. R. Hazzeldine to be Capt.
2nd Lieut. G.V. Rockett to be Lieut.
2nd Lieuts. C.A. Parker, S.C. Smith-Cox and A.J. Taylor joined Bn.
Capt. L.A. Powell, MC (Adjutant) posted back to 1st Bn, replaced by Capt. F.W. Sharpe from 2nd Bn.

Whitsuntide Camp held at Portishead.
Annual Training held at Ludgershall, Salisbury Plain.

Territorial Efficiency Medal Awarded to: Sergt. J. Bundy

1931 - Strength: 17 officers, 472 other ranks
2nd Lieut. I.K. Kinsey to be Lieut.
Lieut. G.V. Rockett resigned his commission
2nd Lieuts. J. Fraser, W.P. Jefferies and M.V. Osmond joined Bn

Whitsuntide Camp held at Portishead.
Annual Training held at Marlborough.

1932 - Strength: 17 officers, 446 other ranks

Whitsuntide Camp was cancelled due to lack of funding.
Annual Training was cancelled due to lack of funding.

Battalion dog mascot 'Braggs II' joined the Bn.

1933 - Strength: 19 officers, 415 other ranks
Lieut-Col. H. Calvert-Fisher to be Brevet-Colonel.
2nd Lieut. W.P. Jefferies and Lieut. A.F. Gowan resigned their commissions.
2nd Lieuts. J. Fraser, C.A. Parker, S.C. Smith-Cox, and A.J. Taylor to be Lieuts.
Lieut. & Quartermaster E. Warrick to be Captain and QM.
2nd Lieuts. E.C.K. Weston, D.C. Ling, and F. Bonning joined the Bn.

Whitsuntide Camp was held at Portishead.
Annual Training was at Salisbury Plain.

Territorial Efficiency Medals Awarded to:
CSM G. Mills
Corpl. S.F.G. Clarke
Drummer G. Bridges
CQMS F. Bracey
CQMS F.C. Williams
RQMS A.W. Gregory

1934 - Strength: 14 officers, 406 other ranks
Colonel H. Calvert-Fisher died.
Lieut-Col. E.N. Gardner, MC appointed to command Bn.
Capt. E.M.B. Gilmore replaced Capt. F.W. Sharpe as Adjutant of the Bn. Capt. Gilmore was commissioned in August 1918 1st Bn. Served as Adjutant 2nd Bn 1923-26. Company Commander at Sandhurst 1933-1934.
Capt. F.C. Gibaud to be Major.
Lieut. C.A. Parker resigned his commission.
Lieuts. J. Fraser and A.J. Taylor transferred to TARO.
2nd Lieut. F. Bonning resigned commission.

Whitsuntide Camp was held at Yate.
Annual Training was at Swanage.

Territorial Efficiency Medals Awarded to:
CSM L.G.R. Flower, MM (clasp to TEM)
Cpl. V. Norris
Sergt. J.W. Prince
Pte S. Leonard

Efficiency Medal (Territorial) awarded to:
Sergt. W.H. Thomas
Pte B. Litson
Pte A.J. Peacock
Lce-Cpl. E.J. Fry
Lce-Sergt. A. Fisher
Pte T.E. Mills
Sergt. J. Bundy
Bandsman W. Mann

1935 - Strength: 15 officers, 389 other ranks
Lieut-Col. E.N. Gardner, MC awarded the Territorial Decoration.
2nd Lieut. M.H. Ricketts joined Bn
Capt. E.M.B. Gilmore appointed Adjutant, replacing Capt. F.W. Sharpe.

Whitsuntide Camp was held at Chipping Sodbury.
Annual Training was at Windmill Hill, Salisbury Plain.

1936 - Strength: 19 officers, 461 other ranks
Major D.W. Ware, Major F.C. Gibaud, and Major W.A. Jackman (MO) awarded the Territorial Decoration.
2nd Lieut. E.C.K. Weston to be Lieut.
2nd Lieuts. A.G.F. Mathers, J.H. Mallard, J.F. Giles, and E.R.B. Kirby joined the Bn.

Efficiency Medal (Territorial) awarded to:
Sergt. T.B. Thompson
Sergt. W. Walburton
Sergt. A.G. Hopkins
Sergt. J.H. Chiddy
Cpl. R.C. Leppier
Lce-Cpl. R.J. Weeks
Bandsman E.A. Edwards
Pte H.S. Twinn
Pte T.H. Cole
Pte A. Silverstone
Pte J.W. Halverson
Pte W.J. Fry
Pte D.C. Rose

Whitsuntide Camp was held at Chipping Sodbury.
Annual Training was at Preston, Weymouth.

Battalion dog mascot 'Braggs II' died.
'Braggs III' joined the Bn.

1937 - Strength: 21 officers, 460 other ranks

Major D.W. Ware, TD to TARO.
2nd Lieuts. D.A.F. Mathers, J.P. Skelly joined Bn.
Lieut. G.H.A. Leeds joined Bn (late regular army - KSLI)
Capt. J.D. Allan Gray (RAMC-TA) attached to Bn.
Capt. W. Jayne to be Major
Lieut. C.R. Reynolds to be Capt.

Drum-Major A.E. Hingott retired.

Efficiency Medal (Territorial) awarded to:
Lce-Cpl. E. Moody
CSM E. Wilcox
Pte C. Oliffe
Pte C. Lawrence
Pte F. Shackell
Pte W. Thompson
Lce-Cpl. W. Barrett
Pte A. Williams
Cpl. G. Tamlyn

Whitsuntide Camp was held at Little Sodbury Common.
Annual Training was at Windmill Hill, Salisbury Plain.

A detachment, commanded by Major D.W. Ware, TD, lined part of the procession route in London for the Coronation of King George VI.

1938 - Strength: ? officers, 591 other ranks
Lieut-Col. W.A. Jackman, TD (RAMC-TA) left Bn to command 144th Field Ambulance RAMC (TA), raised in Bristol.
Capt. J.D. Allan Gray (RAMC-TA) transferred to another unit.
2nd Lieut. M.H. Ricketts to be Lieut.
2nd Lieuts. P.L.S. Bathgate, H. Newman, and T.G.N. Baynam joined Bn.

Whitsuntide Camp was held at Chipping Sodbury.
Annual Training was at Portcawl.

Battalion converted into the 44th Battalion, Royal Tank Corps (later the 44th Royal Tank Regiment).

1939 - Mobilized and training near Bristol.

1940 - Moved to tank concentration areas for higher training.

1941 - Spring, embarked for North Africa.
Took part in fighting outside Tobruk and around El Duda.
May-June the Regiment suffered heavy casualties near Knightsbridge.
Later in the year they moved to Palestine and prepared for the crossing to Sicily.

1942 -

1943 - September, landed in Italy and engaged along the Adriatic Coast.

1944 - January, the Regiment sailed for England and took part in the Normandy Landings in June.
Saw action at the Caen bridgehead and in August advanced to Belgium and then in support of the 101st American Airborne Division near Nijmegen.

1945 - Regiment placed in "suspended animation."