Regimental Day D-Day 6 June Battalion Days Waterloo Day 18 June Imphal Day 22 June Yorkshire Day 1 August Quebec Day 13 September Alma Day 20 September
The regiment's formation was announced on 16 December 2004 by Geoff Hoon and General Sir Mike Jackson as part of the restructuring of the infantry. It was formed from the merger of three regular battalions, plus a reserve battalion:[5]
The regiment was officially formed on 6 June 2006.[6] The reserve "Territorial Army" (as it was then known) battalion re-badged in TA Centres on the same day, but later paraded publicly to re-badge on 10 June 2006 in the Museum Gardens, York. That same afternoon, representatives of the affiliated Army Cadet Forces and Combined Cadet Forces detachments (approx 50) re-badged in Imphal Barracks, York.[7]
The four battalions of the regiment were presented with new Queens and Regimental Colours at a parade in Imphal Barracks, York, to replace the antecedent regiments' former colours, on 18 June 2010. The 'honorary' set of colours carried by the 3rd Battalion (Duke of Wellington's) was paraded by the battalion. The new colours of all four battalions were later paraded through the streets of York from Cliffords Tower to York Minster.[9]
As part of the Army 2020 reorganisation, in July 2012 an announcement was made that the Yorkshire Regiment would be reduced to two regular battalions, with the 2nd Battalion (Green Howards) disbanded and its soldiers dispersed to the remainder of the regiment on completion of their Cyprus tour in the autumn of 2013.[10]
However, on 25 January 2013 the Colonel of the Regiment, Major General Graham Binns, announced instead a change in the order of battle: the 2nd Battalion was merged into the 1st and 3rd Battalions; the 1st Battalion was then renumbered as the 2nd Battalion and the 3rd Battalion was renumbered as the 1st Battalion. He also announced that they would dispense with the antecedent regiments' historical titles.[11]
On 13 January 2022, the Duke of York returned his military affiliation with the regiment to the Queen.[12]
On 6 April 2023, The Yorkshire Regiment was granted Royal status with immediate effect by King Charles III, changing the regiment's name to the "Royal Yorkshire Regiment".[13]
History
Iraq 2006–2007
The deployment of 1 YORKS (Prince of Wales's Own) Battle Group to Basra, Iraq in November 2006 was the first major operational deployment for the Yorkshire Regiment. A Company, under command of Major Richard Hall were based initially in Basra Palace with responsibility from Abu Al Kasib to the whole Al-Faw Peninsula, before moving to Shaibah Logistics Base and being charged with handing over security responsibilities of the base to the Iraqi Army. B Company, under command of Major Dan Bradbury, were based in Shiaba Logistics Base and had responsibility for Az Zubayr, whilst C Company were detached to 2nd Battalion, Duke of Lancaster's Regiment in the COB. During Op Telic 9 Private Luke Simpson of A Company, from Howden, East Riding of Yorkshire, was killed, becoming the regiment's first operational fatality.[14] Two members of the 1st Battalion, Major Ian Crowley of C Company,[15] of Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire and Captain Ibrar Ali of A Company, were awarded the Military Cross.[16]
Afghanistan 2007–2008
2nd Battalion (Green Howards) Medal ParadeSergeant Lee Johnson, late of the 2nd Battalion (Green Howards)
The 2nd Battalion (Green Howards) of the regiment were deployed to the Helmand Province of Afghanistan in September, 2007 in an 'Operational Mentoring and Liaison' role with the Afghan National Army. Whilst there they took part in the Battle of Musa Qala during which Sgt Lee Johnson was killed shortly after 10am on 8 December 2007, in the lead up to the operation to retake the town from the Taliban forces, after his Vector armoured vehicle ran over a landmine.[17] Sgt Johnson had previously received a MID for assisting his company commander, Major Jake Little, in extracting soldiers who were surrounded by Taliban fighters. Major Little was later awarded a Military Cross for his "inspirational leadership" to extract his men.[18][19] Acting Sergeant John Cockburn was also awarded a Military Cross for his actions in the same tour of duty.[18][20]
The 2nd Battalion (Green Howards) returned to their barracks in Weeton, Lancashire during April, 2008 and were presented with their service medals at a parade there on 30 April 2008 by Major General Andrew Farquhar, Honorary Colonel of the Battalion, along with Brigadier Andrew Mackay, of 52 Infantry Brigade, and Brigadier Mike Griffiths, of 42 (North West) Brigade.[21]
Kosovo 2008–2009
B Company Group of 1st Battalion (Prince of Wales Own) deployed for six-months on Op OCULUS(K) as the last UK Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance Task Force (ISR TF). They presided over the immediate aftermath of the Kosovo's declaration of independence.[22]
Iraq 2008–2009
In November 2008, elements of the 1st Battalion (Prince of Wales's Own) redeployed to Iraq on Op Telic 13. In May 2009, 'A Company' of the 1st Battalion (Prince of Wales Own) handed over their Iraq British military HQ protection duties, in Baghdad, to Alma Company of the 3rd Battalion (Duke of Wellington's). Alma Company were subsequently amongst the last British soldiers to leave Iraq at the end of July 2009.[23]
Afghanistan 2009–2010
Over 130 members of the 3rd Battalion (Duke of Wellington's) deployed in July 2009 as Battle Casualty Replacements to various other British regiments in Helmand Province. Burma Company of the 3rd Battalion (Duke of Wellington's) deployed to Afghanistan in August 2009 and were then followed by members of Corunna Company. 18-year-old Pte Jonathon Young, of Burma Company, was killed by an Improvised explosive device in Sangin, on Thursday 20 August, three weeks after arriving in Afghanistan. A serjeant, from the 2nd Battalion The Rifles, 29-year-old Serjeant Paul McAleese, was killed when he went to the assistance of Pte Young.[24]
On 1 February 2010, 22-year-old Corporal Liam Riley, of Sheffield, and 27-year-old Lance Corporal Graham Shaw, of Golcar in Huddersfield were killed by separate IED's, Malgir, near Gereshk in Helmand Province, whilst on base security foot patrols. Both soldiers, from Corunna Company of the 3rd Battalion (Duke of Wellington's), were attached to the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, as Battle Casualty Replacements.[25]Prince Harry had trained with Cpl Riley at Suffield in Canada and paid tribute to him in a news release.[26]
The 2nd Battalion (Green Howards), plus 60 members of the 4th Battalion, deployed with 11th Light Brigade in September 2009 for a seven-month posting in Op Herrick XI as the OMLT Battle Group.[27] Their actions featured in a series of Newsnight programmes shown both during the deployment and after their return, which focused on OMLT 2 in Sangin under Major Rob Palfrey. Two members of the Battalion were awarded the Military Cross, Lieutenant Colin Lunn of Doncaster, and Acting Corporal Andrew Wardle of Hetton-le-Hole in Sunderland.[28] In addition, Sergeant John Swithenbank and Corporal John Hardman received the Queen's Gallantry Medal.[29]
On 23 June 2010, 26-year-old Lance Corporal David Ramsden of Otley, who was serving with the 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment, was killed. The NCO from 1st Battalion (Prince of Wales Own) was serving as part of the Police Advisory Team which was tasked to respond to an incident at a checkpoint near Gereshk in Helmand Province, when the Ridgeback armoured vehicle he was travelling in rolled into a waterway. He was killed alongside colleagues Colour Sergeant Martyn Simon Horton, Private Douglas Niall Halliday and Private Alex Isaac.[30]
Afghanistan 2011–2012
In October 2011, 500 members of the 1st Battalion (Prince of Wales Own) were deployed to Helmand province in Afghanistan for a six-month tour in support of the 20th Armoured Brigade, their first deployment to Afghanistan as a complete battalion.[31] The battalion was split up for the deployment, with A Company working with 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, B and C Companies with the Danish Army, and the Brigade Headquarters providing staff for Headquarters Task Force Helmand. 1 YORKS soldiers formed the Brigade Reconnaissance Force with members of 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards.[31] Soldiers from 1st Battalion were reported to have been involved in 'high tempo' patrol operations alongside the Afghanistan police force.[32] B Company serving as part of the Danish Battle Group in the Nahr-e Saraj (North) area of operations, patrolled aggressively into several contested areas. On 1 December 2011 the Battalion was involved in a dawn raid on a suspected IED factory.[33] On 1 January 2012 Private John King was killed in an explosion while on a foot patrol in Nahr-e Saraj,[34] on 27 January Lance Corporal Gajbahadur Gurung of the Royal Gurkha Rifles was killed while serving with 1 YORKS in the Nahr-e Saraj district.[35]
On 6 March 2012, six members of Corunna company, 3rd Battalion (Duke of Wellington's) were killed in the Lashkar Gah Durai region after their Warrior Armoured vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device.[36]
On 29 April 2012, the 3 YORKS Battle Group took over responsibility of Nahr-e Saraj (South), Helmand province from the 5th Battalion, the Rifles. On the 3 June 2012 Private Gregg Thomas Stone of Burma Company, 3 YORKS was killed in Nahr-e Saraj during an operation to apprehend a group of insurgents who had abducted a member of the Afghan Police.[37] On 15 September 2012, Sergeant Gareth Thursby and Private Thomas Wroe of the 3rd Battalion were killed in Nahr-e Saraj by a rogue Afghan police officer.[38]
Kenya 2013
In February 2013, 16 soldiers serving with the reconnaissance platoon of 1st Battalion (Prince of Wales Own), staged a mutiny whilst on a training exercise in Kenya. Led by Corporal Anthony Brown, they staged a sit down strike in front of 1,000 people. Each soldier refused to stand up when individually commanded to do so. As they went through their drills, a ringleader shouted 'sit down' and the dissenters dropped to ground. Commanders ordered each man in turn to stand up but were ignored. The soldiers had clashed with their newly appointed commanding officers whom they accused of excessive drinking, complaining they were "being led by muppets".[39] At courts martial, in December 2013, the soldiers pleaded guilty to disobeying a lawful command. Cpl Brown was sentenced to 60 days imprisonment and a dishonourable discharge. The prosecutor, Col. Clive Whitwham, said: 'There was a feeling they were not being appreciated, that they were not being well managed. 'The platoon was said to have worked well in Afghanistan. There was said to have been a perception that they had got a little too big for their boots.' The soldiers defence Jonathan Lynch, said: 'This is not a case of inflated egos but a case of mismanagement.' Two lance corporals were reduced to the rank of private, with 60 days imprisonment and the Private soldiers were each given 40 days imprisonment.[40][39]
Regimental Battalion changes, July 2013
The 3rd Battalion (Duke of Wellington's) laid up its Regulation Colours on 20 July 2013, at Halifax Minster, following a series of 'Freedom Parades' during the preceding week.[41] On 25 July there was a parade at the 3rd Battalion barracks, in Warminster, the Colonel in Chief, the Duke of York, exchanged the Colours between the Battalions.[42][43][44]
Iraq 2014
In October 2014 the UK Ministry of Defence confirmed that a team of about a dozen soldiers from the Yorkshire Regiment's 2nd Battalion were training Kurdish forces in Iraq fighting Islamic State militants to use UK-supplied heavy machine guns.[45]
Experimental unit
Following the Army 2020 Refine, 2 YORKS was converted to an 'Enhanced Light Force Battalion',[46] part of a 120 million pound three-year programme. The battalion will help spearhead the British Army's transformation into the 'Future Soldier' programme relating to the Light Infantry.[47][48] 1 YORKS continues to convert to the Boxer MIV, and then form part of the new 'Experimentation Battlegroup'.[47]
The 2nd Battalion (2 R YORKS), is based in Dale Barracks, Chester. The battalion is the British Army’s 'Experimentation Battalion', involved with trialing future light infantry equipment and tactics under the Land Warfare Centre.[47]
Display of Yorkshire Warrior Beer Bottles, in the New Inn at Cropton, on the launch day.Cropton Brewery
On St George's Day 23 April 2008, Paul and Phil Lee, the owners of the Cropton Brewery & New Inn, released a new beer called Yorkshire Warrior. The beer, which is only available in eight North Yorkshire pubs, was produced to celebrate the proud achievements of the regiment and to commemorate the sacrifices the soldiers and families of the regiment have endured.[52][53]
York Medal
Each year, the regiment awards the York Medal to the individual who has contributed the most to the aims of the regiment over the course of the previous year, with notable recipients including Captain Tom Moore.[54]
Freedom awards
Colours and Guard of the 3rd Bn Yorkshire Regiment (Duke of Wellington's)The Mayor of Rotherham, Cllr Shaukat Ali and Col Simon Newton, Royal Yorkshire Regiment
Freedoms awarded to the Royal Yorkshire Regiment (including those carried through from the antecedent regiments) include the following:[55]
Cities: Bradford, Kingston-upon-Hull, Leeds, Sheffield, York and Wakefield.
Towns and districts: Barnsley, Beverley (East Riding of Yorkshire), Bridlington (East Riding of Yorkshire), Halifax (Calderdale), Harrogate, Huddersfield (Kirklees), Keighley, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, Richmond, Rotherham, Scarborough, Skipton (Craven District), Stockton on Tees and Warminster.
The regiment also holds the distinction of having the freedom of Erquinghem-Lys, France, which was passed on from the freedom awarded to the 3rd Battalion (Duke of Wellington's) in November 2005.[56] The Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding) were also awarded the Freedom of Mossley, on 8 July 1967.[57]
On 3 August 2009, Rotherham, South Yorkshire became the first town to bestow the 'Freedom of the Borough' on the Yorkshire Regiment. This gives the regiment the right to march through the town with 'flags flying, bands playing and bayonets fixed'. At a ceremony outside the Town Hall the regiment paraded two guards of soldiers who had recently returned from Iraq, and the colours of the 3rd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment (Duke of Wellington's), led by the Kings Division Band, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Vallings, the Battalion commanding officer. The Mayor of Rotherham, Councillor Shaukat Ali, on behalf of the Borough, presented the Freedom Scroll to Colonel Simon Newton, who accepted the honour for the Regiment.[58]
On 8 September 2013 the regiment was given the Freedom of Barnoldswick, Lancashire (the town was until 1974 in the West Riding of Yorkshire) during a rededication ceremony of the town's war memorial, when 46 new names from the two world wars were added.[59]
The regiment was awarded the Freedom of Warminster, Wiltshire on its return from Afghanistan following their homecoming parade on 30 November 2012.[60]
Infantry regiments are permitted to display 43 battle honours from the two world wars on the Queen's Colour and 46 honours from other conflicts on the Regimental Colour. Upon amalgamation, the Yorkshire Regiment had to choose from the total list of honours of its three antecedents which honours would be displayed on its new colours. The chosen honours were:
Queen's Colour
Mons; Marne 1914, 18; Aisne 1914, 18; Armentieres 1914; Ypres 1914, 15, 17, 18; Hill 60; Loos; Somme 1916, 18; Arras 1917, 18; Cambrai 1917, 18; Lys; Tardenois; Selle; Valenciennes; Piave; Vittoria Veneto; Doiran 1917; Suvla; Gallipoli 1915; Norway 1940; Dunkirk; St Valery en Caux; Normandy Landing; Odon; Fontenay le Pesnil; Schaddenhof; NW Europe 1940, 44–45; Keren; Gazala; El Alamein; Mareth; Akarit; Djebel Bou Aoukaz 1943; Sicily 1943; Minturno; Anzio; Monte Ceco; Sittang 1942, 45; Pegu 1942; Defence of Sinweya; Imphal; Meiktila; Burma 1942–45
Regimental Colour
Namur 1695; Blenheim; Ramillies; Oudenarde; Malplaquet; Dettingen; Louisburg; Quebec 1759; Bellisle; Martinique 1762; Havannah; St Lucia 1778; Martinique 1794, 1809; Tournay; Mysore; Seringapatam; Ally Ghur; Delhi 1803; Leswarree; Dieg; Corunna; Guadaloupe 1810; Java; Nive; Peninsula; Waterloo; Bhurtpore; Alma; Inkerman; Sevastopol; New Zealand; Abyssinia; Afghanistan 1879–80; Tirah; Relief of Kimberley; Paardeburg; Relief of Ladysmith; South Africa 1899–1902; Afghanistan 1919; Korea 1952–53; The Hook 1953; Iraq 2003
In addition to the displayed honours, the regimental colours also display four emblems from the antecedents regiments:
White Horse of Hanover – displayed top right; from the Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire
Star of Brunswick – displayed bottom left; from Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire
Dannebrog Cross – displayed bottom right; from the Green Howards
Elephant & Howdah – displayed bottom centre; from the Duke of Wellington's Regiment
The Battalion's Roman Numeral is in the top left corner of each flag.[61] The use of the Cross of St George as the background is unique to the Yorkshire Regiment.
The Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, forming part of the King's Division.
The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers is an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Queen's Division. Currently, the regiment has two battalions: the 1st Battalion, part of the Regular Army, is an armoured infantry battalion based in Tidworth, Wiltshire, and the 5th Battalion, part of the Army Reserve, recruits in the traditional fusilier recruiting areas across England. The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers was largely unaffected by the infantry reforms that were announced in December 2004, but under the Army 2020 reduction in the size of the Army, the 2nd Battalion was merged into the first in 2014.
The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (PWRR), also known as the Tigers, is the senior English line infantry regiment of the British Army, second in the line infantry order of precedence to the Royal Regiment of Scotland and part of the Queen's Division.
The Queen's Own Yeomanry (QOY) is one of the Army Reserve light armoured reconnaissance regiments.
The Queen's Lancashire Regiment (QLR) was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the King's Division. It was formed on 25 March 1970 at Connaught Barracks in Dover through the amalgamation of the two remaining Lancashire infantry regiments, the Lancashire Regiment and the Loyal Regiment. In July 2006 the regiment was amalgamated with two other Northern infantry regiments to form the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment.
The East and West Riding Regiment was a regiment of the British Territorial Army from 1999 to 2006. In 2006, it was re-designated as the 4th Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment.
The Mercian Regiment is an infantry regiment of the British Army, which is recruited from five of the counties that formed the ancient kingdom of Mercia. Known as 'The Heart of England's Infantry', it was formed on 1 September 2007 by the amalgamation of three existing regiments. The Regiment has had fifteen operational deployments since its formation.
The Royal Welsh is an armoured infantry regiment of the British Army. It was established in 2006 from the Royal Welch Fusiliers and the Royal Regiment of Wales.
The Royal Irish Regiment is a light infantry regiment of the British Army. The regiment was founded in 1992 through the amalgamation of the Royal Irish Rangers and the Ulster Defence Regiment. Their oldest predecessor, the 27th Regiment of Foot, was first raised in June 1689 to fight in the Williamite War in Ireland. Other notable regiments in their lineage include the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, Royal Irish Rifles and the Royal Irish Fusiliers.
The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the King's Division. It was created in 1958 by the amalgamation of the West Yorkshire Regiment and the East Yorkshire Regiment. After 48 years service, the regiment was amalgamated again, this time with two other Yorkshire regiments. It became the 1st Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment, with the Green Howards forming the 2nd Battalion and the Duke of Wellington's Regiment forming the 3rd Battalion on 6 June 2006. Following further merges, in 2012, the battalion was redesignated as the new 2nd Battalion (2Yorks).
The West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) (14th Foot) was an infantry regiment of the British Army. In 1958 it amalgamated with the East Yorkshire Regiment (15th Foot) to form the Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire which was, on 6 June 2006, amalgamated with the Green Howards and the Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding) to form the Yorkshire Regiment (14th/15th, 19th and 33rd/76th Foot).
1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards (QDG) is a regiment in the Royal Armoured Corps (RAC) of the British Army. Nicknamed The Welsh Cavalry, the regiment recruits from Wales and the bordering English counties of Cheshire, Herefordshire, and Shropshire. It is the senior RAC cavalry regiment and therefore senior regiment of the line of the British Army.
The Royal Dragoon Guards (RDG) is a cavalry regiment of the British Army. It was formed in 1992 by the amalgamation of two other regiments: The 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards and the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards. Based in Battlesbury Barracks, Wiltshire, the regiment currently serves as the armoured cavalry reconnaissance unit of 20th Armoured Brigade Combat Team. Previously equipped with the Scimitar armoured reconnaissance vehicle, it started converting to the Warrior tracked armoured vehicle in 2022.
The Rifles is an infantry regiment of the British Army. Formed in 2007, it consists of four Regular battalions and three Reserve battalions. Each Regular battalion was formerly an individual battalion of one of the two large regiments of the Light Division. Since formation, the regiment has been involved in the later stages of the Iraq War and in the War in Afghanistan.
The Princess Louise Fusiliers is a Primary Reserve light infantry regiment of the Canadian Armed Forces. Formed as 66th The Halifax Battalion of Infantry and then named 66th Battalion after Princess Louise in 1879, it took its present name in May 1920. The 6th Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC amalgamated with the regiment in 1936
The United Kingdom was one of the first countries to take part in Operation Enduring Freedom against the Taliban regime in autumn 2001.
This is the Operation Herrick ground order of battle, which lists any British ground forces that have taken part in the duration of Operation Herrick between 2002 and 2014.
The Yorkshire Volunteers was an infantry regiment of the British Territorial Army. The regiment was raised on 1 April 1967 and disbanded on 25 April 1993.
Malgir is a village in Gereshk District in Helmand Province in Afghanistan. It is located approximately 15 kilometres southwest of Gereshk. In recent years the area has been subject to many conflicts with the British army and the Taliban.
Theo DM (2009–2011), was an English Springer Spaniel who served as a bomb detection dog for the British Army whilst stationed in Afghanistan. His handler, Lance Corporal Liam Tasker, was killed in March 2011, and Theo died within hours, following a seizure. The pair had set a new record for bomb finds during their time on deployment. Theo was awarded the Dickin Medal, also known as the animals' Victoria Cross, in 2012.
↑ "Roll of Honour". Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on 31 January 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
↑ "2nd Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment"(PDF). The Yorkshire Regiment Journal. 4. Method Publishing: 8, 41. April 2008. Archived from the original on 7 January 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2014.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
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