The Queen's Own Buffs, The Royal Kent Regiment
Encyclopedia
The Queen's Own Buffs, The Royal Kent Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army
from 1961 to 1966. Its lineage is continued by the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment
.
The regiment was formed on 1 March 1961, as a consequence of defence cuts implemented in the 1950s
, by the amalgamation of The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment)
and The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment
.
In 1961 the regiment was deployed in Kenya
, then a British colony. One of its predecessor regiments, The Buffs, had earlier seen distinguished service in Kenya during the Mau Mau uprising. In the following year the regiment returned to the UK
, where the 1st Battalion was presented with its first colours
by its Colonel-in-Chief, HM King Frederick IX
of Denmark
at Folkestone
on 23 June. In 1964 the regiment was deployed to British Guiana
after violence broke out there, at a time when the South America
n colony was experiencing turbulent times. The regiment assisted in operations designed to prevent the opposing ethnic groups from descending into conflict with each other. The regiment departed South America for the Far East the following year, joining the Hong Kong
garrison.
In June 1966 the regiment deployed on a six-month tour-of-duty in the jungles of Borneo
to take part in the Indonesian Confrontation. This had started in 1962 after an Indonesian-inspired rebellion took place in Brunei
, which was successfully quelled. The 'Confrontation' officially ended a short while after the regiment arrived; it returned to Hong Kong upon the end of its tour.
The regiment existed for less than six years: on December 31, 1966, the four regiments of the Home Counties Brigade
were merged to form The Queen's Regiment
. Each of the four regular battalions in the brigade became a battalion of the new "large regiment". The 1st Battalion, Queen's Own Buffs, still in Hong Kong, were redesignated as 2nd Battalion (Queen's Own Buffs), The Queen's Regiment. In 1969 the Queen's Regiment was reduced to three regular battalions, and the county subtitles abandoned.
In 1992 The Queen's Regiment was amalgamated with The Royal Hampshire Regiment to form The Princesses of Wales's Royal Regiment.
(1961-1966) - 1st Battalion (Carleton and York), The Royal New Brunswick Regiment
(1961-1966) - The Essex and Kent Scottish
(1961-1966) - The Canterbury Regiment (1961-1964) - 2nd Battalion (Canterbury and Nelson-Marlborough, and West Coast), Royal New Zealand Infantry (1964-1966)
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...
from 1961 to 1966. Its lineage is continued by the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment
Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment
"PWRR" redirects here. For the railroad with these reporting marks, see Portland and Western Railroad.The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment is the senior English line infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Queen's Division...
.
The regiment was formed on 1 March 1961, as a consequence of defence cuts implemented in the 1950s
1957 Defence White Paper
The 1957 White Paper on Defence was a British white paper setting forth the perceived future of the British military. It had profound effects on all aspects of the defence industry but probably the most affected was the British aircraft industry...
, by the amalgamation of The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment)
The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment)
The Buffs , formerly the 3rd Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army until 1961. It had a history dating back to 1572 and was one of the oldest regiments in the British Army being third in order of precedence...
and The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment
The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment
The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1961. It was formed as The Queen's Own as part of the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 50th Regiment of Foot and the 97th Regiment of Foot...
.
In 1961 the regiment was deployed in Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, then a British colony. One of its predecessor regiments, The Buffs, had earlier seen distinguished service in Kenya during the Mau Mau uprising. In the following year the regiment returned to the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, where the 1st Battalion was presented with its first colours
Colour (flag)
A colour is a name for certain kinds of flags.*On land, it usually refers to regimental colours, but the term is also used outside military situations - for example, Boys Brigade as well as the Scout and Girl Guide flags are known as colours....
by its Colonel-in-Chief, HM King Frederick IX
Frederick IX of Denmark
Frederick IX was King of Denmark from 20 April 1947 until his death on 14 January 1972....
of Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
at Folkestone
Folkestone
Folkestone is the principal town in the Shepway District of Kent, England. Its original site was in a valley in the sea cliffs and it developed through fishing and its closeness to the Continent as a landing place and trading port. The coming of the railways, the building of a ferry port, and its...
on 23 June. In 1964 the regiment was deployed to British Guiana
British Guiana
British Guiana was the name of the British colony on the northern coast of South America, now the independent nation of Guyana.The area was originally settled by the Dutch at the start of the 17th century as the colonies of Essequibo, Demerara, and Berbice...
after violence broke out there, at a time when the South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
n colony was experiencing turbulent times. The regiment assisted in operations designed to prevent the opposing ethnic groups from descending into conflict with each other. The regiment departed South America for the Far East the following year, joining the Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
garrison.
In June 1966 the regiment deployed on a six-month tour-of-duty in the jungles of Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
to take part in the Indonesian Confrontation. This had started in 1962 after an Indonesian-inspired rebellion took place in Brunei
Brunei
Brunei , officially the State of Brunei Darussalam or the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace , is a sovereign state located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia...
, which was successfully quelled. The 'Confrontation' officially ended a short while after the regiment arrived; it returned to Hong Kong upon the end of its tour.
The regiment existed for less than six years: on December 31, 1966, the four regiments of the Home Counties Brigade
Home Counties Brigade
The Home Counties Brigade was an administrative formation of the British Army from 1948 to 1968. The Brigade administered the regular infantry battalions of the Home Counties of south east England....
were merged to form The Queen's Regiment
The Queen's Regiment
The Queen's Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army formed in 1966 through the amalgamation of the four regiments of the Home Counties Division...
. Each of the four regular battalions in the brigade became a battalion of the new "large regiment". The 1st Battalion, Queen's Own Buffs, still in Hong Kong, were redesignated as 2nd Battalion (Queen's Own Buffs), The Queen's Regiment. In 1969 the Queen's Regiment was reduced to three regular battalions, and the county subtitles abandoned.
In 1992 The Queen's Regiment was amalgamated with The Royal Hampshire Regiment to form The Princesses of Wales's Royal Regiment.
Alliances
- The Queen's Own Rifles of CanadaThe Queen's Own Rifles of Canada
The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada is a militia regiment within the Canadian Forces, based in Toronto, Ontario. The regiment is part of Land Force Central Area's 32 Canadian Brigade Group. It is the only Primary Reserve regiment in Canada to have a parachute role. The regiment consists of the reserve...
(1961-1966) - 1st Battalion (Carleton and York), The Royal New Brunswick Regiment
The Royal New Brunswick Regiment
The Royal New Brunswick Regiment is a reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces based in New Brunswick. It consists of two battalions, both of which are part of 37 Canadian Brigade Group. The regiment as it is now, was formed in 1954 by the amalgamation of the Carleton and York Regiment,...
(1961-1966) - The Essex and Kent Scottish
The Essex and Kent Scottish
The Essex and Kent Scottish is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces.The regiment was formed in 1954 by the amalgamation of The Essex Scottish Regiment and The Kent Regiment....
(1961-1966) - The Canterbury Regiment (1961-1964) - 2nd Battalion (Canterbury and Nelson-Marlborough, and West Coast), Royal New Zealand Infantry (1964-1966)
Other information
- Colonel-in-Chief: HM Frederick IX, King of DenmarkFrederick IX of DenmarkFrederick IX was King of Denmark from 20 April 1947 until his death on 14 January 1972....
- Colonel: HRH Princess Marina, Duchess of KentPrincess Marina, Duchess of KentPrincess Marina, Duchess of Kent, née Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark was a member of the British Royal Family; the wife of Prince George, Duke of Kent, the fourth son of King George V of the United Kingdom and Mary of Teck....