Midlands Regiments in the First World War

The Midlands produced thousands of soldiers who served in the British Army during the First World War. This page brings together our specialist research hubs for the region's historic infantry regiments, helping you explore their history, understand where they served and uncover the stories of the men who fought within their ranks.

Explore the Midlands Regiment Research Hubs

Browse our collection of dedicated research hubs covering each of the Midlands' historic infantry regiments. Every guide combines original research, historical insight and practical advice to help you better understand the regiment and the soldiers who served within it during the First World War.

Leicestershire Regiment

A proud county regiment with strong links to Leicester and the surrounding countryside, serving with distinction across the Western Front and beyond.

Lincolnshire Regiment

One of England's oldest county regiments, recruiting across Lincolnshire's towns and villages before serving in many of the Great War's major campaigns.

Currently in Development

North Staffordshire Regiment

Known as the 'Prince of Wales's', this county regiment recruited across North Staffordshire's industrial communities and pottery towns.

Currently in Development

Northamptonshire Regiment

Closely associated with Northamptonshire's market towns and rural communities, with battalions serving on the Western Front and in the Middle East.

Royal Warwickshire Regiment

One of Britain's oldest infantry regiments, tracing its origins to the seventeenth century and serving throughout the First World War.

Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment)

Famous for recruiting across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, with strong county identities and an enduring association with the legendary Sherwood Forest.

South Staffordshire Regiment

Recruiting from Wolverhampton, Walsall and the Black Country, this regiment reflected the industrial heart of southern Staffordshire.

Currently in Development

Worcestershire Regiment

A distinguished county regiment whose battalions served across several theatres of war, recruiting from Worcester, Kidderminster and the wider county.

Understanding the Midland's Infantry Regiments

Map showing Scotland within the United Kingdom and the geographical origins of Scotland's historic infantry regiments.

The Heart of England's County Regiments

Unlike many parts of Britain, the Midlands cannot be defined by a single landscape or industry. Instead, it is a region of remarkable contrasts. From the rolling farmland of Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire to the market towns of Leicestershire, the forests of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, and the growing cities of Birmingham and Coventry, every county developed its own identity. Those local identities were reflected in the county regiments that recruited from them, creating proud military traditions that endured for generations.

By 1914, eight historic infantry regiments represented the Midlands, each drawing volunteers from its own towns, villages and communities. Although they shared a common regional heritage, they fought as distinct regiments with their own battalions, battle honours, customs and traditions. As the British Army expanded during the First World War, these regiments raised dozens of new battalions, allowing men to serve alongside neighbours, workmates and friends while maintaining the strong county identities that had shaped Britain's regimental system for centuries.

Whether you're researching an ancestor, studying a particular battalion or simply exploring Britain's military history, understanding the county regiment in which a soldier served is often the key to interpreting his wartime story. The research hubs below examine each of the Midlands' historic infantry regiments individually, providing historical context, battalion information and practical guidance to support your research.

Forged in Industry

When Britain entered the First World War in August 1914, the Midlands became far more than a recruiting ground for county regiments. It was one of the nation's industrial powerhouses, supplying the weapons, vehicles, equipment and skilled workforce needed to sustain the British Army throughout the conflict. From the Black Country's ironworks and foundries to Birmingham's armaments factories, the region helped equip millions of soldiers while also providing thousands of volunteers to fight on the front line.

Birmingham stood at the heart of Britain's wartime manufacturing effort. Long known as the "City of a Thousand Trades", its factories produced rifles, machine guns, ammunition and countless other military necessities. Nearby Coventry became a major centre for engineering and vehicle production, while Derby's railway workshops and engineering firms played an essential role in transporting troops and maintaining the nation's military infrastructure. Across Staffordshire, the potteries adapted to wartime production, while the heavy industries of Wolverhampton, Walsall and the Black Country continued to supply steel, iron and manufactured goods vital to the war effort.

Yet the Midlands' contribution extended far beyond its factories. Men left workshops, mines, farms and offices to enlist in the county regiments that had represented their communities for generations. The Royal Warwickshire Regiment, Worcestershire Regiment, Sherwood Foresters, Leicestershire Regiment, Lincolnshire Regiment, Northamptonshire Regiment, North Staffordshire Regiment and South Staffordshire Regiment all drew recruits from towns and villages whose industries were simultaneously helping to supply the army they joined.

This close connection between industry and military service gives the Midlands a distinctive place in the story of the First World War. While the region's factories manufactured the tools of war, its communities also filled the ranks of Britain's infantry battalions, ensuring the Midlands made an indispensable contribution both on the home front and on the battlefields of Europe and beyond.

Frequently Asked Questions About Midlands Regiments

Which infantry regiments recruited in the Midlands during the First World War?

Eight historic county regiments recruited across the Midlands during the First World War: the Leicestershire Regiment, Lincolnshire Regiment, North Staffordshire Regiment, Northamptonshire Regiment, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment), South Staffordshire Regiment and Worcestershire Regiment. Together, they raised dozens of battalions and served in every major theatre of the war, while maintaining the strong county identities for which the British Army's regimental system became renowned.

Which regiment represented Birmingham in the First World War?

Although Birmingham was one of Britain's largest cities, it did not have a regiment bearing its name. Instead, the city was primarily associated with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, which recruited across Warwickshire, including Birmingham. During the First World War, thousands of men from the city enlisted into the regiment, alongside many who joined neighbouring county regiments or Kitchener's New Army battalions.

Why were British infantry regiments based on counties?

The British Army organised most infantry regiments around historic counties to encourage local recruitment and strengthen regimental identity. Men often enlisted alongside neighbours, friends and work colleagues, creating close links between a regiment and the communities from which it recruited. This county system remained at the heart of the British Army throughout the First World War.

How were soldiers recruited into the Midlands' county regiments?

Before and during the First World War, most volunteers joined the regiment serving the county where they lived. As the army expanded after 1914, existing Regular and Territorial battalions were joined by newly formed Service Battalions, allowing local communities across the Midlands to continue serving together while meeting the enormous demands of wartime recruitment.

How can I research a soldier who served in a Midlands regiment?

If you know a soldier's service number, regiment or battalion, our Army Service Explorer is an excellent place to start. By analysing First World War service numbers, it can identify a soldier's most likely battalion before directing you to the relevant regiment research hub. From there, battalion histories, war diaries and other military records can help build a picture of where he served and the campaigns in which he took part.

Which Midlands regiment should I research if I don't know where my ancestor served?

The answer usually depends on where your ancestor lived when he enlisted. Most men joined the county regiment recruiting in their local area, although this was not always the case. If you only know a service number, the Army Service Explorer can often identify the most likely regiment and battalion, helping you narrow your search before exploring the relevant research hub.

Continue Your Research

Whether you have a service number, regiment or battalion, the Army Service Explorer helps identify military units, trace their wartime service and begin uncovering the stories of the soldiers who served with them during the First World War.

Or Explore Another Regiment Library

The Army Service Explorer covers infantry regiments from across Britain and Ireland. Continue exploring our growing collection of regional First World War regiment libraries.

Scottish Regiments

North West England Regiments

North East England Regiments

London Regiments

South East England Regiments

West Country Regiments

Wales & Borders Regiments

Island of Ireland Regiments

Or compare with WWII Regiments and Corps here