Your County Infantry Regiment
The Royal Anglian Regiment is the East of England’s premier Infantry Regiment.
We are a professional, adaptive and close-knit regiment who have proven our war fighting ability on recent operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
We have two Regular battalions and a Reserve battalion based in the East of England.
FACTS & FIGURES
ACTIVE FROM
1 September 1964
ROLE
Combat
SPECIALISM
Infantry
The Royal Anglian Regiment provides three Infantry battalions to the 1st (United Kingdom) Division. The 1st (UK) Division is the British Army's most versatile force - light, agile, lethal, and expeditionary.It is the lead for the delivery of land operations outside the Euro-Atlantic area and offers NATO the agility to command operations on its flanks. It is the UK's persistently engaged force, working with partners throughout the world through strategic global hubs.
- The 1st Battalion (The Vikings) is a Light Role Infantry battalion based in Cyprus as the Regional Standby Battalion, held at short notice to deploy in times of crisis. Once back in the UK, the battalion will begin transitioning to become one of the Army's new Security Force Assistance (SFA) Battalions in January 2025.
- The 2nd Battalion (The Poachers) is a Light Mechanised Infantry battalion, utilising Jackal and Foxhound vehicles, held at high readiness, highly mobile and able to deploy at range with sufficient protection for non-permissive theatres.
- The 3rd Battalion (The Steelbacks) is our Reserve Infantry battalion clear warfighting role and stand ready to fight as part of the WHole Force in time of war. Over the coming years, the Army Reserve will increasingly take responsibility for Homeland Protect and Resilience operations, supported by the Regular componet.
Our Skills
As close combat specialists, all Royal Anglians are highly skilled on a range of weapon systems that enable targets to be engaged day or night.
Working as part of a close-knit team, they are able to operate over all kinds of terrain in all weathers.
There are further opportunities to train as a specialist, such as:
- Sniper
- Combat Team Medic
- Specialist Weapons operator
- Assault Pioneer
- Drivers
- Infantry Logistician
- Combat Communications Specialist
- Intelligence Specialist
Our deployments
Since 2002 the Regiment has deployed its soldiers on operations to:
Afghanistan:
Operation FINGAL (2002)
Operation HERRICK 6 (2007)
Operation HERRICK 11 (2009)
Operation HERRICK 16 (2012)
Operation HERRICK 19 (2013)
Operation TORAL 1 (2015)
Operation TORAL 7 (2018)
Operation TORAL 11 (2020)
Iraq:
Operation TELIC 6 (2005)
Operation TELIC 8 (2006)
Operation TELIC 12 (2008)
Mali: Operation NEWCOMBE 5 (2015)
South Sudan: Operation TRENTON 6 (2019)
Mali: Operation Newcombe (2021)
Our People
We are a county based Regiment bound together by a closely-knit family spirit.
Our approach is classless, based on mutual respect and trust, where developing and believing in our soldiers is paramount.
We are a forward looking, self-starting and welcoming team for whom the mission remains key.
The Royal Anglian Regiment
The Regiment is where I feel I belong Matt, 24
Our Battalions
The Royal Anglian Regiment primarily recruits from the following 10 counties across the East of England:
- Essex
- Hertfordshire
- Bedfordshire
- Cambridgeshire
- Suffolk
- Norfolk
- Northamptonshire
- Leicestershire
- Rutland
- Lincolnshire
The 1st Battalion is based in Dhekelia, Cyprus until August 2023 before being located with the 2nd Battalion in Cottesmore, Rutland. The 3rd Battalion has a location in an Army Reserve Centre in close proximity to each of the 10 counties with its Headquarters in Bury St Edmunds.
All three Battalions retain very strong links to the counties that they represent.

Make a donation to The Royal Anglian Regiment Benevolent Charity
About the Charity
The Royal Anglian Regiment Benevolent Charity is registered with the Charity Commission (No 1085050). The stated object of the Charity is the relief of persons who are:
• in need, hardship or distress and
• are serving or former members of The Royal Anglian Regiment or Former Regiments and dependents of such persons.
How you can help
You can support The Royal Anglian Benevolent Charity by clicking the Charity Checkout link below and give a donation directly.

Read the Royal Anglian News
You can read the latest and past editions of the Royal Anglian Newsletter on the Regimental website.
The past editions are available here - past editions.
To read the current edition click on the link below.
Through the years
The modern Regiment and its forebears have a long and proud history dating back to 1685. The antecedent county regiments amalgamated between 1958 and 1963. The Royal Anglian Regiment was formed on the 1st September 1964 and was the first of the large infantry regiments.
Our Locations
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1st Battalion (The Vikings)
Alexander Barracks, Dhekelia, Cyprus, BFPO 58
-
2nd Battalion (The Poachers)
Kendrew Barracks, Cottesmore, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 7BL
-
3rd Battalion HQ (The Steelbacks)
Blenheim Camp, Newmarket Rd, Bury Saint Edmunds IP33 3SW
-
1 Company HQ 3rd Battalion
Army Reserve Centre, 325 Aylsham Road, Norwich Norfolk, NR3 2AB. 01603 427 658
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1 Company Detachment 3rd Battalion
Army Reserve Centre, St Peters Street, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR32 2LT. 01603 427 658
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2 Company HQ 3rd Battalion
Army Reserve Centre, Ulverscroft Road, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE4 6BY. 0115 427 658
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2 Company Detachment 3rd Battalion
Army Reserve Centre, St Marks Road, Corby, Northamptonshire, NN18 8AN. 01536 203 190
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3 Company HQ 3rd Battalion
Army Reserve Centre, Springfield Lyons, Colchester Road, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 5TA. 01245 462 301
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3 Company Detachment 3rd Battalion
Army Reserve Centre, St Andrews Street, Hertford, Hertfordshire, SG14 1JA. 01245 462 301
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4 Company HQ 3rd Battalion
Army Reserve Centre, Westward Ho, Grimsby, Lincolnshire, DN34 5AE 01472 877 581
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5 Company Detachment 3rd Battalion
Army Reserve Centre, Blenheim Camp, Newmarket Road, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3SW
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HQ Company Detachment
Army Reserve Centre, London Road, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, PE2 9BY. 01733 358 775
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Regimental Headquarters
Blenheim Camp, Newmarket Rd, Bury Saint Edmunds IP33 3SW
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The Band of the Royal Anglian Regiment
Army Reserves Centre, London Rd, Peterborough PE2 9BY
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4 Company Detachment
Army Reserve Centre, Sobraon Barracks, Burton Road, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, LN1 3PY. Tel: 07970 333932
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5 Company HQ
Army Reserve Centre, Newmarket Road, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 3SW. Tel: 01284 718460
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5 Company Detachment
Army Reserve Centre, London Road, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, PE2 9BY. Tel: 01733 358775.
Introduction to The Royal Anglian Regiment
2nd Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment
Preparing to the lead the Taskgroup in Mali
Join us now
We are keen to hear from you. We are looking for people who are up to the challenge and want to make a difference on a full or part-time basis. Your skills and background could be perfect in our Battlalions.
The Army and our Regiment is a great place to find your next challenge, develop your leadership and discover the world through travel opportunities with Military Operations, Exercises and Adventure Training opportunties around the world.
Contact us
If you want to find out more about joining our Infantry Regiment as an Officer or Soldier in a full-time or part-time capacity get in touch.
Regimental Headquarters
Regimental Recruitment Team
01284 718 468
Blenheim Camp, Newmarket Rd, Bury Saint Edmunds IP33 3SW