Devonshire and Dorset Regiment
Encyclopedia
The Devonshire and Dorset Regiment, usually just known as the Devon and Dorsets, was an infantry
regiment
of the British Army
. It was formed in 1958 by the amalgamation of two county regiments:
Between 2000 and 2002, the 1st Battalion, Devonshire and Dorset Regiment served as a public duties
battalion in London, which included providing the Queen's Guard
at Buckingham Palace
.
In the 2004 re-organisation of the infantry, it was announced that the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment would cease to exist; it would be amalgamated with the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment
to form a new battalion of The Light Infantry
. As part of the preparation for this, the regiment moved from the Prince of Wales' Division
to the Light Division
, and was renamed the Devonshire and Dorset Light Infantry, on 22 July 2005.
On 24 November 2005, the Ministry of Defence
announced further changes to the amalgamations. The regiment would still merge with the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment
resulting in a single battalion; however they were now to join a new large regiment created by the amalgamation of The Light Infantry
and the Royal Green Jackets
. This new regiment was to be called The Rifles
and was to be formed in February 2007. The battalion that resulted from the merger of the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment and the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment
was designated 1st Battalion, The Rifles. On becoming part of a rifle regiment, the Devon and Dorsets no longer carried their colours
; these were laid up in Exeter Cathedral
on 27 January 2007.
- The Royal New South Wales Regiment
- 6th Battalion, Royal Malay Regiment
- 5 South African Infantry Battalion
(Bond of Friendship) - HMS Exeter
- 2e Régiment Étranger d'Infanterie
(Bond of Friendship)
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
of the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
. It was formed in 1958 by the amalgamation of two county regiments:
- The Devonshire RegimentThe Devonshire RegimentThe Devonshire Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army which served under various titles from 1685 to 1958. Its lineage is continued today by The Rifles.-Origin and titles:...
- The Dorset Regiment
Between 2000 and 2002, the 1st Battalion, Devonshire and Dorset Regiment served as a public duties
Public duties
Public duties are performed by military personnel, and usually have a ceremonial or historic significance rather than an overtly operational role.-Germany:...
battalion in London, which included providing the Queen's Guard
Queen's Guard
The Queen's Guard and Queen's Life Guard are the names given to contingents of infantry and cavalry soldiers charged with guarding the official royal residences in London...
at Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
.
In the 2004 re-organisation of the infantry, it was announced that the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment would cease to exist; it would be amalgamated with the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment
Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment
The Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire was an infantry regiment of the British Army.It was formed in 1994 by the amalgamation of two English regiments.*The Gloucestershire Regiment...
to form a new battalion of The Light Infantry
The Light Infantry
The Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Light Division. It was formed on 10 July 1968 as a "large regiment" by the amalgamation of the four remaining light infantry regiments of the Light Infantry Brigade:...
. As part of the preparation for this, the regiment moved from the Prince of Wales' Division
Prince of Wales' Division
The Prince of Wales's Division is a British Army command, training and administrative apparatus designated for all land force units in the West of England and Wales. The Prince of Wales's Division was formed in 1968 with the union of the Mercian Brigade, Welsh Brigade and Wessex Brigade...
to the Light Division
Light Division
The Light Division was a light infantry Division of the British Army formed in the early 19th Century. It can trace its origins to the Light Companies which had been formed to move at speed over inhospitable terrain and protect the main forces by skirmishing tactics...
, and was renamed the Devonshire and Dorset Light Infantry, on 22 July 2005.
On 24 November 2005, the Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
announced further changes to the amalgamations. The regiment would still merge with the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment
Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment
The Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire was an infantry regiment of the British Army.It was formed in 1994 by the amalgamation of two English regiments.*The Gloucestershire Regiment...
resulting in a single battalion; however they were now to join a new large regiment created by the amalgamation of The Light Infantry
The Light Infantry
The Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Light Division. It was formed on 10 July 1968 as a "large regiment" by the amalgamation of the four remaining light infantry regiments of the Light Infantry Brigade:...
and the Royal Green Jackets
Royal Green Jackets
The Royal Green Jackets was an infantry regiment of the British Army, one of two "large regiments" within the Light Division .-History:...
. This new regiment was to be called The Rifles
The Rifles
The Rifles is the largest regiment of the British Army. Formed in 2007, it consists of five regular and two territorial battalions, plus a number of companies in other TA battalions, Each battalion of the Rifles was formerly an individual battalion of one of the two large regiments of the Light...
and was to be formed in February 2007. The battalion that resulted from the merger of the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment and the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment
Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment
The Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire was an infantry regiment of the British Army.It was formed in 1994 by the amalgamation of two English regiments.*The Gloucestershire Regiment...
was designated 1st Battalion, The Rifles. On becoming part of a rifle regiment, the Devon and Dorsets no longer carried their colours
Colours, standards and guidons
In military organizations, the practice of carrying colours, standards or Guidons, both to act as a rallying point for troops and to mark the location of the commander, is thought to have originated in Ancient Egypt some 5,000 years ago...
; these were laid up in Exeter Cathedral
Exeter Cathedral
Exeter Cathedral, the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter at Exeter, is an Anglican cathedral, and the seat of the Bishop of Exeter, in the city of Exeter, Devon in South West England....
on 27 January 2007.
Alliances
- Les Fusiliers de SherbrookeLes Fusiliers de Sherbrooke
Les Fusiliers de Sherbrooke is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces. It is based in Sherbrooke, Quebec, with a sub-unit in Granby.-Armourial description:...
- The Royal New South Wales Regiment
Royal New South Wales Regiment
The Royal New South Wales Regiment is a reserve infantry regiment of the Australian Army based in the state of New South Wales. The regiment consists of four battalions:-Organisation:*1st/19th Battalion*2nd/17th Battalion*4th/3rd Battalion...
- 6th Battalion, Royal Malay Regiment
Royal Malay Regiment
The Royal Malay Regiment is the premier unit of the Malaysian Army's two infantry regiments. At its largest, the Malay Regiment comprised 27 battalions. At present, two battalions are parachute trained and form part of the Malaysian Army Rapid Deployment Force...
- 5 South African Infantry Battalion
South African Infantry Corps
The South African Infantry Corps is the largest combat corps within the South African Army.The unit originated as the Infantry Branch of the Union Defence Forces in 1913....
(Bond of Friendship) - HMS Exeter
HMS Exeter (D89)
HMS Exeter was a Type 42 destroyer, the fifth ship of the Royal Navy to be named Exeter, after the city of Exeter in Devon.Exeter was the first of the slightly modified 'Batch 2' Type 42 destroyers. This was a mid-build consideration with her later sister ship, HMS Southampton sporting a similar...
- 2e Régiment Étranger d'Infanterie
2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment
The 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment is an infantry regiment of the French Foreign Legion created in 1841 and is situated in the south of France at Nimes. The 2REI has participated in several conflicts, more notably in the Gulf war, in Bosnia, Chad and in different parts of Africa...
(Bond of Friendship)