Regimental History
Over 300 years of Yorkshire military service.
The Yorkshire Regiment was formed as a result of a decision made in 2004 to restructure the organisation of the Infantry. The Regiment consists of three Regular Army Battalions (1st, 2nd and 3rd) and one Territorial Army Battalion (4th).
Our home is Yorkshire and the area up to the historic boundary of the River Tees. The Regiment formed on Tuesday 6 June 2006 from the three Yorkshire Infantry Regiments; The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire; The Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment) and The Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding) plus their affiliated Territorial Army units. Collectively, these historic Yorkshire Regiments trace their history back to 1685 the year James Stuart, Duke of York, became King James II.
The 1st Battalion formed at Somme Barracks, Catterick; the 2nd Battalion at Banja Luka, Bosnia-Herzegovina; the 3rd Battalion in Battlesbury Barracks, Warminster, and the 4th Battalion at their eleven TA centres around Yorkshire and Middlesbrough. On Saturday 10 June 2006, the TA and Cadet Forces carried out rebadging parades. The 4th Battalion conducted their parade in the Museum Gardens and the three Army Cadet Forces and Combined Cadet Forces contingents at Imphal Barracks in York.
During the Regiment's first eighteen months, the 1st Battalion served in Iraq on Operation TELIC 9 (September 2006-March 2007) and the 2nd Battalion in Afghanistan on Operation HERRICK 7 (September 2007-March 2008). Soldiers from both the 3rd Battalion and 4th Battalion have served in both theatres with the 3rd Battalion deploying to Afghanistan in 2009 as part of the MASTIFF Group an as Battlefield Casualty Replacements. The most recent unit deployment to Afghanistan was by the 2nd Battalion on Operation HERRICK 11 (October 2009-March 2010). In September 2011 the 1st Battalion deployed to Afghanistan on Operation HERRICK 15 supported by forty soldiers from the 4th Battalion.
The first time the regiment started a permanent connection with Yorkshire was in the mid 17th century and this was finally set in stone in the late 19th century. Since that time Yorkshiremen, by birth and in spirit, have served throughout the world supported by their friends and families. We hope the information here gives you a flavour of our history, our connections and where you can join in and develop a wider knowledge of this fine record of service for Sovereign and Country.