THE HISTORY OF THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE REGIMENT 1934-1948

2nd Battalion was in Northern Ireland on the outbreak of the Second World War (1939-45) and immediately joined the British Expeditionary Force to France. It was evacuated in June 1940 and spent the following two years in Britain re-training and re-equipping.

2nd Battalion then joined the forces sent to invade Madagascar in May 1942 and then Persia (now Iran) and Iraq in September of the same year. It next fought in Sicily and Italy before being transferred to North-West Europe in February 1945.

1st Battalion had moved to India in 1932 and served there and in Burma throughout the Second World War, fighting at Imphal (1944) during the latter campaign. In 1939 the regiment only had one Territorial battalion, the successor to the Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalion raised in February 1914. This had risen to three by 1945. One of these, the 5th (Huntingdonshire) Battalion, served in France and Belgium (1940), North Africa (1942-43), Sicily (1943) and Italy (1944-45).

Battle honours - awarded for the actions in the Second World War:

Defence of Escaut, Defence of Arras Ypres-Comines Canal, North-West Europe 1940-45, Djediada, Djebel Djaffa, Oued Zarga, Djebel Tanngoucha, Sidi Ahmed, North Africa 1942-43, Landing in Sicily, Adrano, Sicily 1943, Sangro, Garigliano Crossing, Anzio, Cassino II, Monte Gabbione, Trasimene Line, Monte La Pieve, Argenta Gap, Italy 1943-45, Madagascar, Yu, Imphal, Tamu Road, Bishenpur, Monywa 1945, Myinmu Bridgehead, Irrawaddy, Burma 1943-45