The Desert Rats
7th Infantry Brigade and HQ East - ‘The Desert Rats’ is one of the Army’s Adaptable Force Brigades comprising of Regular and Reserve units. The Brigade is the Army regional point of contact for the 12 counties of the East Midlands and the East of England, from the Humber to the Thames.
The Brigade's Role
To provide forces that conduct a broad range of tasks, including:
- Combat operations - particularly enduring stabilisation.
- Standing commitments - for example Cyprus, Falkland Islands or state ceremonial and public duties.
- Defence engagement - supporting conflict prevention through a planned approach to engagement overseas. This includes developing the military capacity of partner nations.
- Delivery of ‘firm base’ activities - includes contributing to UK resilience and civil engagement (with employers and the communities in which we live).
- Recruiting, training and administration of Army units within the Brigade area.
Brigade Units
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1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards
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The Royal Yeomanry (Reserve)
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1st Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment (The Vikings)
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2nd Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment (The Poachers)
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3rd Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment (The Steelbacks) (Reserve)
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4th Battalion, The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Reserve)
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1st Battalion, The Rifles
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6th Battalion, The Rifles (Reserve)
Headquarters and Unit Locations
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Kendrew Barracks, Cottesmore, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 7BL
Headquarters and 2nd Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment
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1st, The Queen's Dragoon Guards
Robertson Barracks Swanton Morley, Norfolk.
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The Royal Yeomanry
Tigers Road, Leicester
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1st Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment
Woolwich, London
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3rd Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment (Reserve)
Bury St Edmunds
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4th Battalion, The Princes of Wales Royal Regiment (Reserve)
Batts Hill, Redhill
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1st Battalion, The Rifles
Beachley Barracks, Chepstow, Wales.
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6th Battalion, The Rifles (Reserve)
Wyvern Barracks, Exeter, Devon.