East and West Riding Regiment
Encyclopedia
The East and West Riding Regiment was a regiment
of the British Territorial Army from 1999 to 2006.
and the King's Own Yorkshire Yeomanry (Light Infantry) due to the reforms implemented in consequence of the Strategic Defence Review
. The regimental headquarters was based at Pontefract
and the regiment, part of 15 (North East) Brigade, comprised one small Headquarter Company and 5 Rifle Companies:
No new cap badge
was created for this regiment, soldiers wore their former regimental cap badge or were badged according to the company they joined. Headquarter Company was a composite company with TA posts initially allocated proportionally by cap badge - 20% LI/40% PWO/40% DWR. Subsequently all new recruits were badged Light Infantry
or by trade. The regimental crest was a combination of the Light Infantry and the Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire cap badges and crest from the Duke of Wellington's Regiment. During the summer of 2004 the regiment adopted a single Tactical Recognition Flash (TRF) of the White Rose of Yorkshire on a black background (this design was previously used by the 49 West Riding Division between the WWI and early in WWII).
In November 2004 the regiment dispatched a composite company (Normandy Company) to Basra
, Iraq
as part of 4 Armoured Brigade of the Multi-National Division (South East) for a 6-month tour-of-duty. During this tour the Company suffered one fatality, Private Mark Stephen Dobson, who was found dead in his accommodation at Basrah Air Station on 28 March 2005. The regiment contributed soldiers to each of the operation TELIC
deployments during the life of the regiment.
As part of the Future Infantry Structure (FIS) restructuring
of the army announced in 2004, the Light Infantry company was replaced by a company of Green Howards. The regiment became the 4th Battalion [4 YORKS] of the newly created Yorkshire Regiment (14th/15th, 19th and 33rd/76th Foot)
on 6 June 2006. HQ company & four infantry companies (Duke of Wellington's and Prince of Wales's Own) transferred to 4th Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment. Minden (Light Infantry) Company (ex Kings Own Yorkshire Yeomanry) transferred to 5th Battalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.
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 Territorial Army from 1999 to 2006.
History
The regiment was formed in 1999 by the amalgamation of the 3rd Battalion, The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire (Yorkshire Volunteers), the 3rd Battalion, The Duke of Wellington's Regiment (Yorkshire Volunteers)The Duke of Wellington's Regiment
The Duke of Wellington's Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army, forming part of the King's Division.In 1702 Colonel George Hastings, 8th Earl of Huntingdon, was authorised to raise a new regiment, which he did in and around the city of Gloucester. As was the custom in those days...
and the King's Own Yorkshire Yeomanry (Light Infantry) due to the reforms implemented in consequence of the Strategic Defence Review
Strategic Defence Review
The Strategic Defence Review was a British policy document produced by the Labour Government that came to power in 1997. Then Secretary of State for Defence, George Robertson, set out the initial defence policy of the new government, with a series of key decisions designed to enhance the United...
. The regimental headquarters was based at Pontefract
Pontefract
Pontefract is an historic market town in West Yorkshire, England. Traditionally in the West Riding, near the A1 , the M62 motorway and Castleford. It is one of the five towns in the metropolitan borough of the City of Wakefield and has a population of 28,250...
and the regiment, part of 15 (North East) Brigade, comprised one small Headquarter Company and 5 Rifle Companies:
- Waterloo Company - formerly Headquarter Company
- Minden (Light Infantry) Company
- Quebec (Prince of Wales's Own) Company
- Imphal (Prince of Wales's Own) Company
- Ypres (Duke of Wellington's) Company
- Fontenay (Duke of Wellington's) Company
No new cap badge
Cap badge
A cap badge, also known as head badge or hat badge, is a badge worn on uniform headgear and distinguishes the wearer's nationality and/or organisation. The wearing of cap badges is a convention commonly found among military and police forces, as well as uniformed civilian groups such as the Boy...
was created for this regiment, soldiers wore their former regimental cap badge or were badged according to the company they joined. Headquarter Company was a composite company with TA posts initially allocated proportionally by cap badge - 20% LI/40% PWO/40% DWR. Subsequently all new recruits were badged Light Infantry
Light infantry
Traditionally light infantry were soldiers whose job was to provide a skirmishing screen ahead of the main body of infantry, harassing and delaying the enemy advance. Light infantry was distinct from medium, heavy or line infantry. Heavy infantry were dedicated primarily to fighting in tight...
or by trade. The regimental crest was a combination of the Light Infantry and the Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire cap badges and crest from the Duke of Wellington's Regiment. During the summer of 2004 the regiment adopted a single Tactical Recognition Flash (TRF) of the White Rose of Yorkshire on a black background (this design was previously used by the 49 West Riding Division between the WWI and early in WWII).
In November 2004 the regiment dispatched a composite company (Normandy Company) to Basra
Basra
Basra is the capital of Basra Governorate, in southern Iraq near Kuwait and Iran. It had an estimated population of two million as of 2009...
, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
as part of 4 Armoured Brigade of the Multi-National Division (South East) for a 6-month tour-of-duty. During this tour the Company suffered one fatality, Private Mark Stephen Dobson, who was found dead in his accommodation at Basrah Air Station on 28 March 2005. The regiment contributed soldiers to each of the operation TELIC
Operation Telic
Operation TELIC was the codename under which all British military operations in Iraq were conducted between the start of the Invasion of Iraq on 19 March 2003 and the withdrawal of the last remaining British forces on 22 May 2011...
deployments during the life of the regiment.
As part of the Future Infantry Structure (FIS) restructuring
Delivering Security in a Changing World
The 2003 Defence White Paper, titled Delivering Security in a Changing World, set out the future structure of the British military, and was preceded by the 1998 Strategic Defence Review and the 2002 SDR New Chapter, which responded to the immediate challenges to security in the aftermath of the...
of the army announced in 2004, the Light Infantry company was replaced by a company of Green Howards. The regiment became the 4th Battalion [4 YORKS] of the newly created Yorkshire Regiment (14th/15th, 19th and 33rd/76th Foot)
Yorkshire Regiment
The Yorkshire Regiment is one of the largest infantry regiments of the British Army. The regiment 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 covering the historical areas...
on 6 June 2006. HQ company & four infantry companies (Duke of Wellington's and Prince of Wales's Own) transferred to 4th Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment. Minden (Light Infantry) Company (ex Kings Own Yorkshire Yeomanry) transferred to 5th Battalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.