A Yorkshire Regiment History
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 Infantry Battalions (1st, 2nd and 3rd) and one Territorial Army Infantry 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 (14th/15th Foot); The Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment)(19th Foot) and The Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding)(33rd/76th Foot) 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 Territorial Army Centres (TACs) 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 paraded 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 deployments to Afghanistan have been by the 1st Battalion on Operation HERRICK 15 (November 2011-April 2012) and 3rd Battalion on Operation HERRICK 16 (February to September 2012). The 2nd Battalion is theatre reserve for these operations and the 4th Battalion has mobilised personnel to support both the 1st Battalion and 3rd Battalions in an unprecedented year of operational deployments for the Regiment.
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.