March commemorates ‘Sherwood Foresters’

A hundred 100 years to the day after around 20 army reservists from the former Sherwood Foresters Regiment set off to begin their basic training before heading out to France, modern day territorial soldiers followed in the footsteps as a mark of respect on Sunday.

To mark the occasion, soldiers from C Company of the Fourth Battalion the Mercian Regiment re-enacted The Great March, which began in Newark Market Place, and headed to Radcliffe-on-Trent.

They were joined by cadets, veterans and members of the local community.

Private Daniel Boycott (28) from Mansfield, who has been in the Army Reserves for 11 years, took part in the march.

He said: “It was an honour to take part and take time to remember the soldiers who set off on that day not knowing when they would return home. It’s hard to imagine what it was like for them as they marched off into the unknown.”

A service was held in Newark prior to the 14-mile march to Radcliffe, where the original troops stayed overnight before travelling on to Derby in August 1914.

Major Chris Massingham, from the Mercians, added: “The soldiers of C Company were based in Mansfield and we are their direct decedents, so it was a great honour to be invited to take part.