Catalogue description 6TH BATTALION FORMERLY 3RD VOLUNTEER BATTALION

In 1859, the following Rifle Volunteer Corps were established in North East Surrey: the 6th Surrey Rifle Volunteer Corps at Esher, the 9th at Richmond, the 12th at Kingston upon Thames, the 15th at Chertsey and the 16th at Egham. In 1860, these were grouped together to form the 2nd Administrative Battalion of Surrey Rifle Volunteers. In 1867, the 16th Corps at Egham was disbanded. In 1880, the remaining units were consolidated and became the 6th Surrey Rifle Volunteer Corps. Later in the same year, the title was changed to the 5th Surrey Rifle Volunteer Corps and in 1882 the Corps was associated with the East Surrey Regiment. In 1887, the Corps became the 3rd Volunteer Battalion, East Surrey Regiment.

Although the Battalion as a unit did not fight in the South African War, many of its members served alongside 2nd Battalion during this period and the Battle Honour 'South Africa' was awarded as a result. In 1900, two additional companies were created at Richmond, and in 1903 a company was re-established at Egham. In 1913, the Battalion became an 'Imperial Service' Battalion, meaning that a majority of its members had accepted liability for service overseas. In 1914, the Battalion was redesignated 1/6th Battalion and was posted to India as part of 44th Division. It served in Fyzabad, Aden and Agra, before returning to England in 1919. In 1920, following the reform of the Territorial Army, the unit was again known as 6th Battalion.

In 1939, it was again redesignated 1/6th Battalion and fought in France with 44th Home Counties Division in 1940 before being evacuated from Dunkirk. The Battalion was brought back up to strength and underwent intensive training before being posted to North Africa as part of 4th Division, where it fought in Algiers, Tunis and Egypt. In 1944, it landed at Naples and was involved in the fight for Monte Cassino, in which it fought alongside 1st Battalion. In Dec 1944, the Battalion was sent to Greece. In 1946, it was placed in 'suspended animation' but was reactivated in 1947. In 1959, after the Queen's and East Surrey Regiments were amalgamated, the Battalion continued to be known as 6th Battalion. In 1961, it was amalgamated with the 23rd London Regiment to form 4th Battalion, the Queen's Royal Surrey Regiment.