Yorkshire Regiment

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The Yorkshire Regiment
(14th/15th, 19th and 33rd/76th Foot)
Yorkshire Regiment Cap Badge 289px.JPG
Cap Badge of the Yorkshire Regiment
Active 6 June 2006 to Present
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Branch  British Army
Type Line Infantry
Role 1st Battalion – Armoured Infantry
2nd Battalion – Light Infantry
4th Battalion – Army Reserve
Size Three battalions
Part of King's Division
Garrison/HQ RHQ – York
1st Battalion – Warminster, England
2nd Battalion – Episkopi, Cyprus
4th Battalion – York
Nickname(s) Yorkshire Warriors
Motto Fortune Favours The Brave
March Quick – Ça Ira
Slow – The Duke of York
Mascot 1st Battalion –Indian Elephant
2nd Battalion – Ferrets (Imphal & Quebec)
Anniversaries 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
Commanders
Colonel-in-Chief:

Deputy Colonel-in-Chief
The Duke of York

The Duke of Wellington
Colonel of
the Regiment
Major General Graham Binns
Insignia
Tactical Recognition Flash Yorkshire Regiment TRF.svg
Abbreviation YORKS

The Yorkshire Regiment (14th/15th, 19th and 33rd/76th Foot) (abbreviated YORKS) is an infantry regiment of the British Army, created by the amalgamation of three historic regiments in 2006. It is currently the only line infantry or rifles unit to represent a single geographical county in the new infantry structure, serving as the county regiment of Yorkshire. It lost one battalion as part of the Army 2020 defence review.[1]

The regiment's recruitment area today covers almost all the historic county (the three ridings of the county: East Riding of Yorkshire, North Riding of Yorkshire and West Riding of Yorkshire) except for the eastern half of South Yorkshire and the southeast of West Yorkshire, which is a recruitment area for The Rifles, and the part of the West Riding that is now in Greater Manchester. The recruitment area covers all of the present-day ceremonial counties of North Yorkshire (which extends to the northern border of historic Yorkshire — the River Tees) and East Riding of Yorkshire. Recruitment however is open to those from outside the formal recruitment area, with the regiment in particular recruiting from North East England and the Commonwealth.[2]

The regiment's antecedent units also recruited in areas that are now part of Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, Cumbria, Lancashire and Greater Manchester. The current 1st Battalion (formerly the Duke of Wellington's Regiment) was given the Freedom of Mossley in Tameside, Greater Manchester on 8 July 1967 when Mossley was part of the West Riding of Yorkshire.

Formation

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:

The regiment was officially formed on 6 June 2006.[3] 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 in York on Saturday 10 June in the Museum Gardens, York. That same afternoon representatives of the affiliated Army Cadet Forces and Combined Cadet Forces detachments (approx 50) rebadged in Imphal Barracks, York.

HRH The Duke of York KG was appointed Colonel-in-Chief and His Grace The 8th Duke of Wellington KG LVO OBE MC DL the Deputy Colonel-in-Chief, by HM The Queen.

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 Friday, 18 June 2010. The 'Honorary' set of Colours carried by the 3rd Battalion (Duke of Wellington's) was paraded by the battalion. The following day the new colours of all four battalions were paraded through the streets of York from Cliffords Tower to York Minster.

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.[4][5]

The Colonel of the Regiment:- Major General Graham Binns CBE DSO MC opted instead to change the formation of the regiments battalions, and also dispense with the antecedent regiments historical titles;[6][7] as follows:-

The 1st Battalion (Prince of Wales's Own), was serving in Munster, Germany on a two-year tour. The Munster Garrison formally closed down on 4 July 2013. The 2nd Battalion (Green Howards), was serving in Episkopi, Cyprus on a two-year tour. The 3rd Battalion (Duke of Wellington's), was permanently stationed in Warminster. The 2nd Battalion was merged into the 1st & 3rd Battalions and the 'Green Howards' ceased to exist. The 1st Battalion was then renumbered as the 2nd Battalion and the 3rd Battalion was renumbered as the 1st Battalion. At the same time the antecedent regimental names of 'Prince of Wales's Own' and 'Duke of Wellington's' ceased to be used.[8] the 4th Battalion remained unchanged, though company names changed (all companies across the regiment now have common names - Alma, Burma, Corunna, Quebec and Helmand) and 'B Company' is scheduled to be withdrawn from the order of battle by December 2016.

Current battalion roles as of 2013

1st Battalion (abbreviated 1 YORKS)

The 1st Battalion, serving as armoured infantry, is based at Battlesbury Barracks in Warminster. The battalion left 12 (Mechanised) Brigade and re-subordinated to Collective Training Group (CTG) in order to become the Land Warfare Battle Group (LWC BG). The battalion is commanded by Lieutenant Colonel A S Garner MBE.[9]

2nd Battalion (abbreviate 2 YORKS)

The 2nd Battalion, moved back from Cyrpus in August 2015 to Horne Barracks at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire. The battalion is commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Sam Humphris.[10]

Honorary Colours of the Yorkshire Regiment

4th Battalion (abbreviated 4 YORKS)

The 4th Battalion, serving as reserve infantry is the Army Reserve battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment. The battalion headquarters is in Worsley Barracks, York and forms part of 15 (North East) Brigade. The battalion operates from Army Reserve Centres across the regimental footprint with companies dispersed throughout Yorkshire in Barnsley; Beverley; Huddersfield; Hull; Leeds; Middlesbrough; Scarborough; Sheffield and York. The battalion is commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Iain Hallam.[11]

The majority of soldiers in the battalion are spare time members, with full-time civilian careers or are educational students. They train and acquire military skills during evening, weekend and works holiday periods. Many are entitled to special leave from their employer to train with the battalion. They are supported by a small number of full-time regular army and civilian staff. Soldiers from the battalion routinely serve on military operations overseas, alongside their regular counterparts.

Lineage

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The history of the 4th Battalion clearly shows the changing attitudes over the last 40 years, toward the links between regular army battalions and Territorial Army (TA) battalions. The 1966 Defence White Paper dramatically reduced the number of TA units. The effect of this in Yorkshire was the amalgamation of the territorial battalions of the Yorkshire infantry regiments into a single regiment, the Yorkshire Volunteers, created in 1967, that was no longer affiliated with any of the regular army regiments. The Yorkshire Volunteers continued in existence until 1993 when it was disbanded. The driver for disbandment was the 1990 defence review, Options for Change which recommended that the link between TA units and regular units be reintroduced.[12] Thus the Yorkshire Volunteers were broken up into three battalions, one attached to each of the remaining Yorkshire infantry regiments.[12]

The 1997 Strategic Defence Review again cut the size of the TA. As far as the Yorkshire regiments were concerned this involved not only the Yorkshire TA infantry battalions but the TA battalions of the Kings Own Yorkshire Yeomanry and the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. Too big to be amalgamated into one unit, they were instead split into two units; The East and West Riding Regiment covering those regiments covering the historical geographic areas of York, and the East and West Ridings of Yorkshire,[12] and the Tyne-Tees Regiment covering the historical areas of the North Riding, Durham and Northumberland.[12] Within both regiments the individual companies maintained their identities towards their previous units.

Barely five years later a further defence review Delivering Security in a Changing World concluded that a new infantry structure, that was geographically based and included both regular and territorial units in the same structure, was required.[13] It was as a result of this white paper that the Yorkshire Regiment was created; and the 4th Battalion was created from those parts of the Tyne-Tees Regiment and the East and West Riding Regiment that traced their history to the regular regiments amalgamated into the Yorkshire Regiment.

Thus in a 40-year period, the Yorkshire reserve infantry has moved from integration with regular units to a separate entity (The Yorkshire Volunteers), back to integration and affiliation with the regular army units, once again amalgamation into non-affiliation with the regulars (Tyne-Tees and East and West Riding Regiments) and finally, re-integration with the regular army.

History

As a newly formed regiment in its own right, consisting of five main antecedent units and their territorial and militia units, the regiment's older history can be seen in their antecedent regiments articles shown in the 'Lineage' sections below:

Modern 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 1st Battalion (Prince of Wales's Own) and the Regiment's first operational fatality.[14] Two members of the 1st Battalion (Prince of Wales's Own), Major Ian Crowley of C Company,[15] of Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire and Captain Ibrar Ali of A Company,[16] were awarded the Military Cross.

Afghanistan 2007–2008

2nd Battalion (Green Howards) Medal Parade
Sergeant 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, to extract 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[21] 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.

Kosovo 2008–2009

B Company Group of 1st Battalion (Prince of Wales Own) deployed for six-months on Op OCCULUS(K) as the last UK Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance Task Force (ISR TF). They presided over the immediate aftermath of the declaration of independence.

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,[22] having also been amongst the first British units to enter Iraq in the 2003 invasion of Iraq (as The Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding)).

Afghanistan 2009–2010

Over 90 members of the 3rd Battalion (Duke of Wellington's) deployed in August 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, who was attached to the 2nd Battalion of The Rifles, was killed by an Improvised explosive device in Sangin, on Thursday 20 August, three weeks after arriving in Afghanistan.[23] 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.

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.[24][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. In addition, Sergeant John Swithenbank and Corporal John Hardman received the Queen's Gallantry Medal.

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.

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.[28] 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.[28] Soldiers from 1st Battalion were reported to have been involved in 'high tempo' patrol operations alongside the Afghanistan police force.[29] 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.[30] On 1 January 2012 Private John King was killed in an explosion while on a foot patrol in Nahr-e Saraj,[31] 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.[32]

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.[33]

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 3 YORKS Burma Company was killed in Nahr-e Saraj during an operation to apprehend a group of insurgents who had abducted a member of the Afghan Police.[34] On 16 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.[35]

Kenya 2013

In February 2013 16 soldiers, serving with the 1st Battalion (Prince of Wales Own) Reconnaissance platoon, 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 who they accused of excessive drinking, complaining they were "being led by muppets".[36] At a 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 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.' While the soldiers defence Jonathan Lynch, said: 'This is not a case of inflated egos but a case of mismanagement.'[36] Two Lance Corporals were reduced to the rank of Private, with 60 days imprisonment and the Private soldiers were each given 40 days imprisonment.[37][38]

Regimental Battalion changes, July 2013

The 3rd Battalion (Duke of Wellington's) laid up its Regulation Colours on Saturday 20 July, at Halifax Minster, following a series of 'Freedom Parades' during the preceding week.[39] On 25 July there was a parade at the 3rd Battalion barracks, in Warminster, the Colonel in Chief, HRH The Duke of York, exchanged the Colours between the Battalions. The 1st Battalion Colours were handed over to the new Warminster Battalion '1 YORKS' and the third Battalion's Honorary Colours (76th Regiment of Foot) were handed over to the new 2nd Battalion, '2 YORKS'. The Honorary Colours will be retained, annually, by each battalion for one year.[40]

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.[41]

Yorkshire Regiment beer

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.[42][43] The information on the bottle label states that the full proceeds of the beer sales go directly to the regimental benevolent fund to help support those regimental members who require help following their discharge from the service.

Display of Yorkshire Warrior Beer Bottles, in the New Inn at Cropton, on the launch day.
Cropton Brewery

Freedom awards

Freedom of the Borough of Rotherham

On Monday 3 August 2009 Rotherham 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. The regiment was the first military unit to become 'Honorary Freemen of the Borough.

Colours and Guard of the 3rd Bn Yorkshire Regiment (Duke of Wellington's)
The Mayor of Rotherham, Cllr Shaukat Ali and Col Simon Newton, Yorkshire Regiment

'

The Yorkshire Regiment was awarded the Freedom of Warminster on its return from Afghanistan following their Homecoming Parade on 30 November 2013[44]

Freedoms awarded to the Yorkshire Regiment including those carried through from the antecedent regiments include the following:-

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), Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, Richmond, Rotherham, Scarborough, Skipton (Craven District), Stockton on Tees and Warminster[45]

The regiment also holds the distinction of having the freedom of Erquinghem-Lys, France. This was passed on from the freedom awarded to the 3rd Battalion (Duke of Wellington's) in November 2005[46] The Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding) were also awarded the Freedom of Mossley, on 8 July 1967,[47] However, after the borough of Mossley was absorbed under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972 into the new metropolitan borough of Tameside in the metropolitan county of Greater Manchester, in 1974, the Freedom to March through the town has not been exercised.

On Sunday 8 September 2013 the regiment was given the Freedom of Barnoldswick, in Lancashire during a rededication ceremony of the town War Memorial, when 46 new names from the two world wars were added.[48][49] before the 1974 provisions of the Local Government Act 1972 Barnoldswick was part of the West Riding of Yorkshire.

Battle honours

Including those inherited from preceding units

Namur 1695
Blenheim, Ramillies, Oudenaarde, Malplaquet
Louisburg, Dettingen
Quebec 1759, Martinique 1762, Havannah
St Lucia 1778, Martinique 1794 and 1809
Tournay, Belle Isle
Hindoostan, Mysore, Ally Ghur, Delhi 1803, Leswaree, Deig
Seringapatam
Corunna, Nive, Peninsula, Guadaloupe 1810, Waterloo
  • Jat War 1825–26
Siege of Bhurtpore 1825-26 (Bharatpur)
Alma, Inkerman, Sevastopol, Abyssinia
New Zealand,
Tirah, Afghanistan 1879–80
Relief of Ladysmith, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeburg, South Africa 1900–02
Mons, Le Cateau, Retreat from Mons, Battle of the Marne 1914 and 1918, Aisne 1914 and 1918, Armentières 1914, La Bassée 1914, Ypres 1914, 1915, 1917 and 1918, Langemarck 1914 and 1917, Gheluvelt, Nonne Bosschen, Neuve Chapelle, Hill 60, Gravenstafel, St. Julien, Frezenberg, Bellewaarde, Aubers, Festubert, Hooge 1915, Loos, Somme 1916 and 1918, Albert 1916 and 1918, Bazentin, Delville Wood, Pozières, Flers-Courcelette, Morval, Thiepval, Le Transloy, Ancre Heights, Ancre 1916, Arras 1916, 1917 and 1918, Scarpe 1917 and 1918, Arleux, Oppy, Bullecourt, Hill 70, Messines 1917 and 1918, Pilckem, Menin Road, Polygon Wood, Broodseinde, Poelcappelle, Passchendaele, Cambrai 1917 and 1918, St Quentin, Bapaume 1918, Rosieres, Ancre 1918, Villiers Bretonneux, Lys, Estaires, Hazebrouck, Bailleul, Kemmel, Bethune, Scherpenberg, Marne 1918, Tardenois, Amiens, Drocourt-Quéant, Hindenburg Line, Havrincourt, Epéhy, Canal du Nord, St Quentin Canal, Beaurevoir, Selle, Valenciennes, Sambre, France and Flanders 1914–18, Piave, Vittorio Veneto, Italy 1917–18, Struma, Doiran 1917, Macedonia 1915–18, Suvla, Landing at Suvla, Scimitar Hill, Gallipoli 1915, Egypt 1915–1916, Archangel 1918.
Afghanistan 1919
Otta, Norway 1940, Withdrawal to Escaut, Defence of Arras, French Frontier 1940, Ypres-Comines Canal, Dunkirk 1940, St. Valery-en-Caux, Normandy Landing, Tilly sur Seulles, Odon, Fontenay Le Pesnil, Caen, Bourguebus Ridge, Troarn, Mont Pincon, St Pierre La Vielle, Gheel, Nederrijn, Aam, Venraij, Rhineland, Schaddenhof, Brinkum, Bremen, North-West Europe 1940 and 1944–45, Jebel Defeis, Keren, Ad Teclescan, Abyssinia 1940–41, Gazala, Cauldron, Mersa Matruh, Defence of Alamein Line, El Alamein, Mareth, Wadi ZigZaou, Akarit, North Africa 1940–42, 1942–43 and 1943, Banana Ridge, Medjez Plain, Gueriat el Atach Ridge, Tunis, Djebel Bou Aoukaz 1943, North Africa 1943, Primasole Bridge, Landing in Sicily, Lentini, Sicily 1943, Minturno, Anzio, Campoleone, Rome, Monte Ceco, Italy 1943–44 and 43–45, Sittang 1942, Pegu 1942, Paungde, Yenangyaung 1942, North Arakan, Maungdaw, Defence of Sinzweya, Imphal, Bishenpur, Kanglantonbi, Kohima, Meiktila, Capture of Meiktila, Defence of Meiktila, Rangoon Road, Pyawbwe, Arakan beaches, Chindits 1944, Burma Campaign (194244).
The Hook 1953, Korean War 1952–53 (Theatre Honour)
Iraq 2003 (Theatre Honour)

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.[50] the use of the Cross of St George as the background is unique to the Yorkshire Regiment.

Alliances

Order of precedence

Preceded by Infantry Order of Precedence Succeeded by
Mercian Regiment

Lineage

Lineage
The Yorkshire Regiment (14th/15th, 19th and 33rd/76th Foot) The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire The 14th Foot West Yorkshire Regiment (The Prince of Wales's Own)
The 15th Foot East Yorkshire Regiment (The Duke of York's Own)
The Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment) (19th (First Yorkshire North Riding Regiment))
The Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding) The 33rd Foot First West Riding Regiment
The 76th Regiment of Foot
Lineage of 4th Battalion
4th Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment The East and West Riding Regiment
(Except Minden Company)[nb 1]
Kings Own Yorkshire Yeomanry Light Infantry 8th Battalion, The Light Infantry
3rd Battalion, Duke of Wellington's Regiment (Yorkshire Volunteers) Yorkshire Volunteers Humber Regt, Royal Artillery
West Riding Regt, Royal Artillery
Sheffield Artillery Volunteers
The 3rd Battalion, The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire (Yorkshire Volunteers) The Hallamshire Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment
The Leeds Rifles, Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire
The West Riding Battalion, Duke of Wellington's Regiment
The Tyne-Tees Regiment
(A & B Companies)[nb 2]
4th/5th Battalion, The Green Howards (Yorkshire Volunteers) 3rd Battalion, The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire
4th/5th Battalion, The Green Howards
7th Battalion, The Light Infantry
6th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers

Notes on 4th Battalion lineage

  1. On disbandment HQ company & four infantry companies (ex Duke of Wellington's Regiment and Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire) transferred to 4th Battalion,The Yorkshire Regiment. The Light Infantry company (ex Kings Own Yorkshire Yeomanry) transferred to 5th Battalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
  2. On disbandment two companies (ex Green Howards) transferred to 4th Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment. Three companies (ex Light Infantry and Royal Regiment of Fusiliers) transferred to 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers

References

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  2. British Army Yorkshire Regiment – Recruiting
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  4. Ministry of Defence news article – Army 2020 announcement confirms Army to be reduced by 23 units
  5. Army cuts: Yorkshire Regiment to lose 2nd Battalion (Green Howards) – BBC News, 5 July 2012
  6. DER Website news - Yorkshire Regiment changes (25 January 2013)
  7. DWR Website - reorganisation changes document, Maj Gen Graham Binns (25 January 2013)
  8. Duke of Wellington's Regimental Association website - Yorkshire Regimental Changes (25 January 2012)
  9. Yorkshire Regiment MoD website
  10. army.mod.uk - Yorkshire Regiment, 2nd Battalion
  11. army.mod.uk - Yorkshire Regiment, 4th Battalion
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  15. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 58633. p. 3616. 7 March 2008. Retrieved 21 July 2009.
  16. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 58396. p. 10413. 19 July 2007. Retrieved 21 July 2009.
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  18. 18.0 18.1 The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 58776. p. 11242. 25 July 2008. Retrieved 16 July 2009.
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  24. MoD defence News (2 February 2010)
  25. Yorkshire Regiment Website News
  26. Metro
  27. New brigade take over in Helmand
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  39. Duke of Wellington's Regiment Association Website Website - Freedom Parades and laying up Colours 2013 (3 July 2013)
  40. Duke of Wellington's Regiment Association Website - Warminster Colours Handover Parade - 25 July (3 July 2013)
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  44. BBC News online
  45. Official Mod Regimental Website, FREEDOM CITIES, BOROUGHS AND TOWNS
  46. DWR Regimental website
  47. DWR Regimental website - The Dukes and the West Riding
  48. Yorkshire Regiment Receives Freedom of Barnoldswick,
  49. DWR Regimental website, website News article 13 August 2013
  50. Yorkshire Regiment Journal, April 2007, Page 11

External links