5th (Huntingdonshire) Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment
The Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalion was a bicycle infantry battalion of the British Army. Formed in the Territorial Force in February 1914, it remained in the United Kingdom throughout the First World War. After the war, in 1920, it was converted to infantry and became the 5th (Huntingdonshire) Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment, in the Territorial Army. The battalion saw extensive service in the Second World War, fighting in France in 1940, Tunisia from 1942–43 and later Sicily and Italy from 1943–45 before ending the war in May 1945 in Austria. It continued to serve after the Second World War until May 1961 when it was amalgamated with the 4th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment, to form the 4th/5th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment.
A bicycle company at Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, c. 1910
Men of the 5th (Huntingdonshire) Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment, during an exercise near Christchurch, Dorset, 12 March 1941
Men of the 5th (Huntingdonshire) Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment, on the march near Coldragone, Italy, 25 May 1944
Northamptonshire Regiment
The Northamptonshire Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 until 1960. In 1960, it was amalgamated with the Royal Lincolnshire Regiment to form the 2nd East Anglian Regiment, which was amalgamated with the 1st East Anglian Regiment, the 3rd East Anglian Regiment and the Royal Leicestershire Regiment to form the present Royal Anglian Regiment.
Cap badge of the Northamptonshire Regiment.
Troops of the 1st Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment marching past Prince Arthur, the Duke of Connaught, at his inspection of the 2nd Brigade, near Bruay, 1 July 1918.
Troops from 2nd Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment, part of the 17th Brigade of the 5th Division, wait to board landing craft at Catania, Sicily, for the invasion of Italy, 2 September 1943.
Troops of the 5th (Huntingdonshire) Battalion, 11th Infantry Brigade, 78th Infantry Division pick their way through the ruins of Argenta, 18 April 1945.