Staffordshire Regiment – A Brief History

The Staffordshire Regiment (the Prince of Wales's) incorporates the former South and North Staffordshire Regiments, which were amalgamated in 1959. Its origins go back to 1705 when the 38th Foot (later 1st South Staffords) was raised at Lichfield in the King's Head public house (still in business) and was known as Lillingston's Regiment. the 64th Foot (later 1st North Staffords) was raised in 1756 and the 80th (Staffordshire Volunteers) in 1793. The 98th was raised and disbanded on five occasions between 1760 and 1818. It was finally reformed in 1824 and became 2nd North Staffords in 1881. The Depot for the South (38th & 80th) and North (64th & 98th) Staffords was established at the newly built Whittington Barracks in 1881. The North Staffords adopted the title 'the Prince of Wales's' from the 98th Foot, which had it conferred in 1876 by Queen Victoria, although the title had been held by a previous 98th in 1805.

All four original regiments spent much of their time propping up the Empire and one or more were involved in the American War of Independence, Napoleonic Wars (Sphinx carried on Regimental Colour for 1801), Opium Wars (Dragon carried on Regimental Colour), Sikh Wars, Crimea, Indian Mutiny, Zulu War, Egypt and Sudan and the Boer War. there were 35 Staffordshire battalions in World War I and 17 in World War II. Thirteen members of the Regiment have won the Victoria Cross, including LCpl Coltman VC, DCM & Bar (a stretcher bearer who was the most decorated other rank in World War I), Major Cain and LSgt Baskeyfield at Arnhem and Lt Cairns with the Chindits.