Description:Until India was granted its independence in 1947, there was a large part of the British Army that was integrated with the Indian Army – ‘policing’ the Empire’, and keeping order in case of racial tension between Hindus and Muslims.
Through its history the Staffordshire Regiment has been involved in many campaigns and wars and has been stationed in many parts of the world. Formerly called the North and South Staffordshire Regiments, the two were amalgamated in January 1959. The Regiment is based at Whittington Barracks, near Lichfield.
Company Sergeant Major John M. Walker is third from left, front row (holding a French horn) and Reginald Fred Brooks, a trumpet / cornet player, is third from right, middle row. Thomas George Wheeldon is third from left, back row.
Ron (Frankie) Flood (not pictured) kindly shared his memories:
“I joined as a Band Boy at 16. Just before the regiment went to Trieste, Italy for 3 years before being deployed to Korea... at age 19.”
(Additional information kindly provided by David Wheeldon).