THE ROYAL BERKSHIRE REGIMENT

THE LAST TWELVE YEARS

POST WAR REDUCTIONS

In the years following the second world war, all Infantry Regiments in the British Army had to suffer the amalgamation of the two Regular Battalions. The Royal Berkshire Regiment was no exception. At the time of the amalgamation the 2nd Battalion were on Active Service against the 'Shifta' Rebels in Eritrea with the 1st Battalion in Germany. A decision was made to join the two Battalions together in Eritrea. The Parade to Amalgamate these two Battalion took place on the 5th March 1949 and that is where our story starts.

AMALGAMATION PARADE

of the 1st and 2nd Battalions Royal Berkshire Regiment

Mr Robert MASON, the foreign office representative, Colonel Fitzpaterick, Commissioner of Police, numerous members of the British Community, the Ethiopian Liaison Officer for Eritrea, and a good attendance of Italians and of Eritrean's were also present.

Colours of the 1st and 2nd Battalions on parade together, Asmara, Eritrea,

1st Battalion's Colours

2nd Battalion's Colours

Who were the 'Shifta'Rebels, and Where is Eritrea ?

In 1869 on completion of the Suez Canal, an Italian trading Company purchased from the local chief certain  areas near Assab. In 1882 these areas were taken over by the Italian Government and colonization had begun. The coast at this point was unhealthy and the Italian settlers finding it so, began to push inland, and shortly Massawa (now the only useful port) was annexed.

In 1888  fresh Italian forces were sent to Massawa, their influence spread throughout the territory and by this time they were thinking in terms of a protectorate over Ethiopia itself. In  1889 certain other territories were ceded by the Emperor Menelik of Ethiopia to Italy.

Between 1902 and 1908 various treaties were signed by the Italians and Emperor Menelik guaranteeing the Eritrea-Ethiopian borders whilst in 1906 England, France and Italy signed a treaty virtually guaranteeing the independence of Ethiopia.

All remained peaceful until 1934 when a confrontation took place between Italian and Ethiopian Levees at Wal Wal on the Italian Somaliland- Ethiopian border. All moves to sort this out failed and on the 3rd October  1935 Italian troops crossed the border. Haile Selassie achieved a few local successes but by May 1936 the Italians were in control.

In 1941 the British fought and beat the Italians in this country and from that date the British had garrisoned the country.

THE SHIFTA REBELS

The word 'SHIFTA' had come to mean almost any wrongdoer, but this is not quite correct. A 'SHIFTA' proper is a type, native, of course, who like the Indian of the North-West provinces, lives by means of his rifle - a bandit, outside the law, who for many reasons appears to have assumed the role of a modern robin hood, for such they are regarded by the local natives. In many cases they protect their villages against other marauding bands operating in a similar manner. 'SHIFTA' bands consist mostly of Copts. Some were politically minded terriosts the most notorious being the Mosarghi Brothers, Uoldegabriel and Berthe.

And it was in this country operating against these gangs that the Royal Berkshire Regiment operated, some of the worlds toughest country. They remained there until 1951 went they went to Egypt via Cyprus.

The story of the Battalions activity during this time is covered in 'The Last Twelve years' on sale at the Regimental Museum.

Sgt G COWLEY, Lt N BENN, Sgt E WEEKS

Sgt STRONG Lt J ELLIS, Sgt Jock. Lt ELLIS died of wounds, shot by Shifta rebels 1950

Patrol of Royal Berkshire's in Eritrea

Funeral of Cpl CURTIN, Killed in Ambush Eritrea 1950

1st Royal Berkshires at the Jungle camp Agoradt 

Briefing for a patrol in Eritrea

The 1st Royal Berkshires Machinegun section, Eritrea.

Royal Berkshire Bren gun carrier, Eritria