The 1st Royal Tank Regiment is a result of the amalgamation of four regiments: 1, 4, 7 and 8 RTR.

The Regiment’s history can be traced back to the formation of A Company of the Heavy Section of the Machine Gun Corps in May 1916. D Company formed in July 1916 and on 15 September 1916, became the first tank unit ever to go into action against the enemy.

In December 1916, the new arm was expanded with A and D Companies becoming Battalions and the formation of G and H Battalions. n June 1917 these units became Battalions of the newly formed Tank Corps and all were involved in the battle of Cambrai in November 1917. In January 1918, A, D, G and H Battalions were renamed 1, 4, 7 and 8 Battalions.

After the Great War 1 Battalion became the Depot Battalion at Bovington, 4 Battalion returned to England, while 7 and 8 Battalions were disbanded. In 1923 the Tank Corps was granted the prefix “Royal”. 1 Battalion was reformed in 1934, 7 Battalion in 1937 and 8 Battalion in 1938.

In 1939, the Royal Tank Corps became the Royal Tank Regiment.

WW2 to 1958

1, 4, 7 and 8 RTR all saw intensive action throughout World War 2: in France with the British Expeditionary Force; North Africa, including the Seige of Tobruk and Battle of El Alamein; Italy, Normandy and the advance into Germany. The end of the war found 1, 4 and 7 RTR in Germany and 8 RTR in Italy.

After a period in Germany, 1 RTR served in Korea, the Canal Zone, Hong Kong and the Middle East, parading in 1966 as the last British Armoured Regiment east of Suez.

After a period in Italy, 4 RTR served in the Middle East until 1955. 7 RTR returned to England serving briefly in India, then Hong Kong from 1951 to 1954 from where it sent a Squadron to Korea. 8 RTR served in Austria, then Egypt before returning to the UK.

1959-1997

In 1959, 4 and 7 RTR amalgamated while 8 RTR amalgamated with 5 RTR in 1960. In 1963, 4 RTR deployed to Southern Arabia, moving to the Far East in 1964. 4 RTR returned to the UK in 1966 followed by a posting to Germany.

From 1966 onwards, both 1 and 4 RTR served in either the UK or Germany with deployments to Northern Ireland, Canada and Cyprus; 1 and 4 RTR amalgamated in 1993 at Tidworth.

In 1996 the new First returned to Germany and in 1997 the Regiment deployed to Cyprus as part of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force.

1998-present

In 1998 the First was nominated to form the Army element of the Joint Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Regiment. The Regiment moved to RAF Honington, becoming operational in its new role by the end of 1999. On formation G Sqn deployed a Troop to Kuwait to provide biological warfare agent detection and monitoring.

In 2001 the Regiment deployed a Specialist Monitoring Team to Afghanistan. During 2003 the Regiment deployed to Iraq for Op TELIC. The Regiment was renamed The Joint Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Regiment in 2005.

In 2006 the Regiment deployed H Squadron to Iraq as a Light Infantry Company, and in 2008/09 the Regimental Headquarters and T Squadron deployed to Iraq as a Military Liaison and Training Team. In 2010, D Squadron deployed to Afghanistan to operate Viking armoured vehicles in support of offensive infantry operations.

This year the Regiment has also deployed a new capability to Afghanistan enabling DNA analysis in theatre. In addition, A Squadron is located at Warminster charged with providing the armoured demonstration squadron for the Land Warfare Centre, equipped with Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks.

Soldiers from A Squadron have also been used frequently to deploy on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.