The Volunteer Force

The Cambridgeshire Regiment traces its history to the formation of the Cambridgeshire Rifle Volunteer Corps in the year 1860. The County was one of the first to raise its own Volunteer Force and, in fact, a volunteer semi-military body had already been formed in the previous year under the guise of the Cambridge Rifle Club, which was later assimilated en bloc into the 1st Cambridgeshire Rifle Volunteer Corps - the RVC. In all, ten separate RVCs were raised in Cambridgeshire and the Isle of Ely during 1860, each having their own uniform, some grey and others green. The first combined ceremonial parade of these RVCs took place at Wisbech in 1863 on the occasion of the visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales.

In time, the various Corps were amalgamated and became the 1st Cambridgeshire RVC. A standard uniform was adopted, consisting of a scarlet tunic and dark blue facings and silver lace. Usually, such facings are only permitted to a Royal Regiment and it is probable that their adoption was due to the influence of the Duke of Clarence, who took a close interest in the unit.

The Regiment's long association with The Suffolk Regiment began in 1887 when the 1st Cambridgeshire RVC became the 3rd (Cambridgeshire) Volunteer Battalion The Suffolk Regiment. Since that time the regular army Permanent Staff have been provided by The Suffolk Regiment, with the exception of the post-war period 1947-1956 when The Regiment was part of the Royal Artillery. (Since 1959 the Permanent Staff have come progressively from the East Anglian and the Royal Anglian Regiments.)

During the South African War, in response to an appeal for members of the Volunteer Force to offer themselves for active service, a contingent of 3 officers (including the Padre) and 43 Other Ranks joined the Volunteer Service Company, The Suffolk Regiment. The party saw much heavy fighting in its service and earned the Regiment's first Battle Honour 'South Africa 1900-1901".

Cambridgeshire Regiment, 1st Battalion, Colour Party at Felixstowe 1909

Unknown group of Cambridgeshire Regiment Soldiers during World War 1

Chronological History

Note: The forerunner of The Cambridgeshire Regiment (TA), the 30th Foot (Cambridgeshire) had its origin in 1702 and served with distinction in most campaigns of the 18th and 19th centuries until 1881 when it became 1st Battalion The East Lancashire Regiment, now the Queen's Lancashire Regiment. There were also Volunteer Corps in the County during the Napoleonic Wars. Not withstanding these points, the continuous history of the Regiment begins in 1860.

The Cambridgeshire Regiment

There is a site that provides information on all formations - battalions, brigades, divisions etc, including the Cambs Rgt, who were in the 27th, 39th and 12th Divs in the First World War.

Second World War

The Regimental Collection

The Regiment's Collection of its treasures has never been comprehensively displayed, principally through a lack of suitable secure space. It is now on show in the Land Warfare Hall of the Imperial War Museum at Duxford airfield, through the generosity of the Trustees of the IWM, alongside the Cambridgeshire Regiment Collection. The Collection also has a display in the Suffolk Regiment Museum at Bury St Edmunds. There are items of Regimental interest in the Fly Museum hut, generally, they are not part of the Collection.

The Regiment's Archives are with Cambridgeshire Heritage at the County Record Office at Shire Hall, Cambridge. Would-be researchers should telephone the County Archivist on 01223 717281 for an appointment.

he Collection, although well-established at Duxford, has a continuing need for funds, to maintain standards and to be able to acquire further memorabilia which may become available on the open market.

Any Visitor wishing to make a donation towards the costs of the Collection may do so in one of two ways:

Cheques should be made payable to:

'The Royal Anglian Regiment Museum Trust (Cambridgeshire)'
- or for brevity:
'R Anglian Museum Trust (Cambs)'.

Further Reading

'A Guide to the Cambridgeshire Regiment' is available ISBN 0 9531942 1 3 © The Cambridgeshire Regiment Collection, 1998.

'SOLDIERS DIED IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-19 - The Cambridgeshire Regiment' is available ISBN 1 871505 77 1 © J. B. Hayward & Son

Related Links

• The 11th Battalion, The Suffolk Regiment (The Cambs Suffolks)

• Honours Awarded To The Cambridgeshire Battalion The Suffolk Regiment (11th (S.) Batt. The Suffolk Regiment).

• 11th Battalion, The Suffolk Regiment - Full List of Casualties - 970 Names

• The email address for direct questions about the Cambridgeshire Regiment for 1909-1918 only is: Cliff Brown (cambswfa@yahoo.co.uk)

• For further reading for the First World War there are details of the 203rd (Cambridgeshire) Field Company, Royal Engineers.

The History of The Cambridgeshire Regiment - Written by Patrick Macdonald