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  • The Heart of England's Infantry

The Mercian Regiment

Composed of one regular and one reserve battalion, The Mercian Regiment utilises the devastating power and speed of the armoured role to fearsome effect on exercise and operations.

The Mercian infanteer is at the heart of the action, providing the fighting element of the British Army's forces.

Ready to decisively engage the enemy in close quarter combat, Mercians are highly skilled with sophisticated weapon systems ranging from the SA80 A3 rifle through to the Warrior Armoured Infantry Fighting Vehicle with its 30mm cannon.

Professional, courageous and fiercely proud of our regiment, Mercians are highly regarded throughout the British Army and we are regularly called upon for operations both in peacetime and during armed conflict.

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Active from

1 September 2007

Role

Infantry

Specialism

Armoured Infantry

  • Operation Telic 11 (Iraq)
  • Operation Herrick 6, 10, 12, 14, 15 & 17 (Afghanistan)
  • Operation Orbital (Ukraine)
  • Operation Cabrit 8 & 16 (Estonia) 
  • Operation Tosca (Cyprus) 
  • Operation Shader (Iraq)
  • Operation Trenton (South Sudan)
  • Operation Firic (Falkland Islands)
  • Operation Toral (Afghanistan)
  • Operation Serval (Mali)

The Mercian Regiment Mascot, a Swaledale Ram, known as "Private Derby" is held on the official strength of the Regiment. As one of very few official mascots, he has his own regimental number and is funded by the Crown. He is on the ration strength, and draws his rations like any other soldier.

The first Private Derby was acquired in April 1858 by the 95th Derbyshire Regiment of Foot at the Siege and capture of Kotah, during the Indian Mutiny Campaign of 1857 - 1858.

The current Regimental Mascot is Private Derby XXXIII (33rd). He is based in a purpose-built pen behind Regimental Headquarters in Lichfield, Staffordshire, where he is looked after by The Ram Major and Ram Orderly.

When The Regiment exercises the freedom of a town or city, Private Derby leads the parade from the front.

To find out more about joining the Mercian Regiment, click the link below.

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Through the years

Historically recruited from the five counties that formed the ancient kingdom of Mercia and known as The Heart of England’s Infantry, the regiment was formed on 1st September 2007. The Mercian Regiment has deployed on more than fifteen operational tours since its formation, making it one of the most operationally experienced.

  • 1689 - Formation of The Duke of Norfolk's Regiment of Foot
  • 1751 - Became 22nd Regiment of Foot
  • 1782 - Became 22nd The Cheshire Regiment of Foot
  • 1881 - Became The Cheshire Regiment
  • 2007 - Amalgamated to create The Mercian Regiment
  • 1823 - Formation of 95th Regiment of Foot
  • 1825 - Became 95th Derbyshire Regiment of Foot
  • 1881 - Amalgamated to create The Sherwood Foresters (Derbyshire Regiment)
  • 1902 - Became The Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment)
  • 1970 - Amalgamated to create The Worcestershire & Sherwood Foresters Regiment (29th / 45th Foot)
  • 2007 - Amalgamated to create The Mercian Regiment
  • 1741 - Formation of Colonel Houghton's Regiment of Foot
  • 1751 - Became 45th Regiment of Foot
  • 1782 - Became 45th (1st Nottinghamshire) Regiment of Foot
  • 1866 - Became 45th (Nottinghamshire Regiment) Sherwood Foresters
  • 1881 - Amalgamated to create The Sherwood Foresters (Derbyshire Regiment)
  • 1902 - Became The Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment)
  • 1970 - Amalgamated to create The Worcestershire & Sherwood Foresters Regiment (29th / 45th Foot)
  • 2007 - Amalgamated to create The Mercian Regiment
  • 1705 - Formation of Luke Lillingston's Regiment of Foot
  • 1751 - Became 38th Regiment of Foot
  • 1782 - Became 38th (1st Staffordshire) Regiment of Foot
  • 1881 - Amalgamated to create The South Staffordshire Regiment

 

  • 1793 - Formation of 80th Regiment of Foot
  • 1793 - Became 80th (Staffordshire Volunteers) Regiment of Foot
  • 1881 - Amalgamated to create The South Staffordshire Regiment

 

  • 1756 - Formation of 2nd Battalion 11th Regiment of Foot
  • 1758 - Became 64th Regiment of Foot
  • 1782 - Became 64th (2nd Staffordshire) Regiment of Foot
  • 1881- Amalgamated to create The North Staffordshire Regiment (The Prince of Wales's)

 

  • 1824 - Formation of 98th Regiment of Foot
  • 1876 - Became 98th (The Princes of Wales) Foot
  • 1881- Amalgamated to create The North Staffordshire Regiment (The Prince of Wales's)

 

  • 1959 - Amalgamated to create The Staffordshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's)
  • 2007 - Amalgamated to create The Mercian Regiment
  • 1694 - Formation of Colonel Farrington's Regiment of Foot
  • 1751 - Became 29th Regiment of Foot
  • 1782 - Became 29th (Worcestershire) Regiment of Foot
  • 1881 - Amalgamated to create The Worcestershire Regiment

 

  • 1701 - Formation of Viscount Charlemont's Regiment of Foot
  • 1751 - Became 36th Regiment of Foot
  • 1782 - Became 36th Herefordshire Regiment of Foot
  • 1881 - Amalgamated to create The Worcestershire Regiment

 

  • 1970 - Amalgamated to create The Worcestershire & Sherwood Foresters Regiment (29th / 45th Foot)
  • 2007 - Amalgamated to create The Mercian Regiment

Explore our equipment

Used in the reconnaissance role to find and mark targets to destroy. Equipped with their own anti-armour weapons, they can also pack a punch.

They are designed to achieve a first-round hit at 600 metres and harassing fire out to 1,100 metres.

The rifle fires a 7.62mm round and has enhanced accuracy of engagement during longer-range firefights.

High explosive, smoke and illuminating rounds to a maximum range of 5650m.

The general purpose machine gun (GPMG) can be used as a light weapon and in a sustained fire role.

The Javelin anti-tank weapon and the Next-generation light anti-tank weapon.

Locations

When not deployed 1 MERCIAN are based in Bulford, Wiltshire, and 4 MERCIAN are based in various locations throughout the Midlands.

1 MERCIAN BATTLEGROUP:

Battlegroup Headquarters, Forward Land Forces (Estonia) Battlegroup

Operation CABRIT 16

1 MERCIAN HOME:

Picton Barracks, Bulford, Wiltshire, SP4 9NY

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Wolseley House, Wolseley Cl, Fallings Park, Wolverhampton, WV10 9QR

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Hawkins Ln, Burton-on-Trent, DE14 1PZ

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Stanney Ln, Ellesmere Port, CH65 9AH

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The Shrubbery, Birmingham Rd, Kidderminster, DY10 2BY

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Bath St, Mansfield, NG18 1BA

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Hucknall Lane, Nottingham, NG6 8AQ

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Greek Street, Stockport, SK3 8AD

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Bucknall Rd, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 6AB

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Ubique Barracks, Peel House Ln, Widnes, WA8 6TH

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New Dancox House, Pheasant St, Worcester, WR1 2EE

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Heath Avenue, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS14 9TJ

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Contact us

General Enquiries: [email protected]

Recruitment Questions: [email protected]

News from The Regiment

  • News
  • 9 Aug 2023
  • Future Soldier

Lessons identified in Ukraine shapes British Army exercise

Exercise Iron Cyclone, on Wiltshire’s Salisbury Plain Training Area, has recently reviewed how the British Army delivers training and what to train against - a pilot exercise designed to train the troops differently.

  • News
  • 24 Oct 2022
  • Deployments

Soldiers embrace the dark below in Wiltshire exercise

The Army Reserve infantry units of the 20th Armoured Brigade Combat Team (20 ACBT) combined their firepower and went underground as part of Exercise Spearpoint in October.

  • News
  • 6 Oct 2022
  • Army Expo

Warfight at Army Expo: Our warfighting capability on full display

A range of state-of-the-art air and land assets showcased the British Army’s lethal punch as it displayed its warfighting capability during the Army Expo in September.

  • News
  • 4 Oct 2022
  • Future Soldier

Mercian Regiment marches to mark merger of 1st and 2nd Battalions

Soldiers from the newly formed 1st Battalion exercised their freedom to march through Chester, Tamworth and Nottingham last week.