THE MAKE UP OF THE DUKE OF LANCASTER'S REGIMENT

Battalions. The Regiment formed on 1 July 2006 with three Regular battalions, reducing to two by March 2007. 

1st Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (1 LANCS), a light role battalion was based initially in Osnabruck with 4 Brigade but it moved to Catterick in 2008.

2nd Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (2 LANCS), a light role battalion moved from Catterick to Cyprus (Episkopi) in 2008.

3rd Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (3 LANCS), was based at North Luffenham until March 2007, by which time the officers and men dispersed to the 1st and 2nd Battalions and the battalion was disbanded.

4th Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, our TA battalion, (4 LANCS), also includes The Regimental Band of The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment.

Colonel in Chief.  The Colonel-in-Chief is Her Majesty the Queen, Duke of Lancaster.

Colonel of the Regiment.  The Colonel of the Regiment is Brigadier Mike Griffiths who is currently serving as Director Personal Services (Army). 

Deputy Colonels. The span of the new Regimental area is such that the Colonel needs to be assisted by three Deputy Colonels, Colonel Andrew Dennis in the North, Colonel Steve Davies in the Centre and Colonel Peter Rafferty in the South.

RHQ. Most functions are centralised at Fulwood Barracks, Preston.  However a number of Regimental Headquarters functions are delegated to Area and City HQs in Carlisle, Liverpool and Manchester.  In particular these HQs are responsible for representing the RHQ in their areas.  This is known as 'footprint' coverage. 

Badge.   The Cap Badge of the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment brings together elements of the three predecessor regiments that form the new regiment. From the King's Own Royal Border Regiment comes the Fontenoy laurel. From the Queen's Lancashire Regiment comes the Red Rose of the House of Lancaster. From the King's Regiment comes the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment motto, Nec Aspera Terrent - 'Difficulties be Damned'.

Regimental Colours.  The Formation Committee's proposed design  was submitted to the Ministry of Defence in 2005.  The design carries forward Regimental distinctions from all three Regiments. The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment carries forward all the battle honours of its predecessor regiments but with a total of 303 Battle Honours inherited from our predecessor Regiments, the Formation Committee had to be selective about which were to be on the colours.  Colours are hand made and took many months to produce.  They were presented to all three battalions by Her Majesty The Queen, Duke of Lancaster, our Colonel in Chief on 26th June 2008 in Fulwood Barracks, Preston. 

Regimental Flag. The flag comprises a Regimental crest on a royal blue ground.  The Colonel of the Regiment's flag has no other markings.  Battalion flags have the battalion number at the top left in yellow Roman numerals.  There is a 'Detachment Commander's Flag' which is the plain flag with a yellow 'blaze' in the top left corner.

Signage. Regimental sign boards follow the same design as the flag, with yellow lettering.

The Rank of Kingsman.  Our private soldiers are known by the distinctive title of 'Kingsman'.

Dress and Embellishments:

Cap Badge: As shown on the home page.  The badge is matt gold with polished highlights, the Rose in red enamel. On the beret it is backed with a red diamond.

Collar Badges: Inward facing Lions of England, in silver (as KORBR, but larger).

Buttons: Domed gold button mounted with a silver Fleur-de-Lys (as KINGS, but improved, mounted quality for all ranks). This emblem also has East Lancashire ('Lilywhite' 59th) and Loyals heritage.

Facing Colour: (as on Regimental Colour & Drummers' Full Dress). Royal blue (as QLR).

Piping: (OR No. 1 Dress). Scarlet.

Stable Belt: Maroon (as QLR).

Tactical Recognition Flash (on combat dress): A yellow glider (as KORBR) on a dark green ground with a maroon surround (5cm x 3 cm).

Glider Flash (on No 1 Dress, SD, Mess Dress,etc). Yellow glider (gold wire for officers) on appropriate cloth background (as KORBR).

Lanyard: Maroon (as QLR).

Slip-on Rank Slides: Maroon embroidered on olive drab material with rank insignia and title 'Duke of Lancaster's' in two lines.

Metal Shoulder Titles: 'Duke of Lancaster's' in two lines on gold bar.

Officers' Gold Lace:  A black 'worm' (thread) to be worn on epaulettes and mess waistcoat.

No. 1 Dress Hat: Dark blue, red piping on the rim and a red band.  This represents a royal regiment and is no change from the hat worn by all three predecessor regiments.

Side Hat: Maroon with green crown (KINGS' pattern).

Beret: Khaki brown, with a scarlet diamond cap badge backing.

Mess Dress: The officers mess dress is a scarlet jacket with blue facings and white piping.  Shoulder boards are gold wire with a black 'worm' (thread).  They are be usable on the No1 Dress jacket.  The mess dress waistcoat is dark blue with gold lace trimmings, again with the black 'worm'.  Mess overalls are unchanged from those worn at present.  NCOs mess dress is unchanged, except that the officers pattern waistcoat is worn.

Barrack Dress Shirt Sleeve Order: Officers wear KINGS-style blue-grey shirt.

Officers' Jersey: Dark green (as KINGS).

Officers' Cane: Black with round silver head embossed with regimental crest (as QLR).

Parade Belt Buckle (ORs): The Sphinx superscribed Egypt charged with the Queen's Crown, with a Rose below, all within a laurel wreath. Clasp inscribed 'Duke of Lancaster's Regiment'.

Ceremonial Dress (Drummers, Pioneers, etc): We conform fairly closely to the correct pre-1914 dress, including Royal blue facings and home service helmets (foreign service white helmets in Cyprus).

Charities:  The Charities of all three present Regiments are combined in a new scheme, The Regimental Charity of The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment.

Museums: There is no change to locations or Trustee bodies.

Regimental Marches. A new march based on the KORBR march has been adopted as the Quick March; 'The Red Rose' is the Slow March. 'The Kingsman' or as it is better known, the 'Kingo' has been adopted as the Regimental song.  Other Regimental marches will be played on appropriate occasions.

Regimental Chapels. The Regiment will maintain existing chapels in Carlisle and Manchester Cathedrals, and Fulwood Barracks Chapel.  Where chapels have separate trustee bodies, these will remain in being.

Regimental Collect, Grace and Hymn.  These have been agreed and blessed by the Chaplain General.  Regimental Hymn, 'For Those in Peril on the Sea', (as QLR).

Regimental Days.  The principal Regimental Days are Waterloo, Ladysmith and St George's Day. There is a second tier of 'Regimental Celebrations': Fontenoy, Guadeloupe, Somme, Quebec, Arroyo and Inkerman. The customs associated with all these days can be found in the Regimental Handbook

Regimental Journal. The journal is entitled 'The Kingsman'.

Regimental Customs. The principle adopted was to be inclusive and to take the best, the unique and most distinctive from all predecessor Regiments. This is reflected in the Regimental Handbook, a copy of which can be obtained from Regimental Headquarters.