Royal Yorkshire Regiment: Difference between revisions

| command_structure = [[King'sUnion Division]]

| role = 1st Battalion – [[Mechanized infantry|Light Mechanised Infantry]]<br />2nd Battalion – [[Light infantry|Light Role]]<br />[[4th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment|4th Battalion]] – [[Army Reserve(United Kingdom)|Army Reserve -– Light Infantry]]

| identification_symbol_3 = <small>R YORKS</small>

| battles = *{{Tree [[Operation Telic]]list}}

* [[OperationRussian Civil HerrickWar]]

The '''Royal Yorkshire Regiment (14th/15th, 19th and 33rd/76th Foot)''' (abbreviated <small>R YORKS</small>) is an [[infantry]] [[regiment]] of the [[British Army]], created by the amalgamation of three historic regiments in 2006. It lost one battalion as part of the [[Future of the British Army (Army 2020)|Army 2020]] defence review.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.sky.com/story/956309/army-loses-17-major-units-in-defence-cuts|title=Army Loses 17 Major Units In Defence Cuts|date=5 July 2012|publisher=Sky News|access-date=26 April 2014}}</ref> The regiment's [[Infantry of the British Army#Recruitment|recruitment area]] covers the [[ceremonial counties]] of the [[East Riding of Yorkshire]], [[North Yorkshire]], [[South Yorkshire]] and [[West Yorkshire]]; areas near [[Barnsley]] are recruitment area for [[the Rifles]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/infantry/regiments/24560.aspx |title=Yorkshire Regiment – Recruiting|publisher=Ministry of Defence|access-date=30 April 2016}}</ref>

The regiment's formation was announced on 16 December 2004 by [[Geoff Hoon]] and [[Mike Jackson (British Army officer)|General Sir Mike Jackson]] as part of the restructuring of the [[British Army Infantry|infantry]]. It was formed from the merger of three regular battalions, plus a reserve battalion:<ref>{{cite webnews|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4102013.stm|title=In detail: army restructuring plans|publisherwork=BBC News|date=16 December 2004|access-date=24 May 2014}}</ref>

The four battalions of the regiment were presented with new Queens and Regimental Colours at a parade in Imphal Barracks, York, to replace the antecedent regiments' former colours, on 18 June 2010. The 'honorary' set of colours carried by the 3rd Battalion (Duke of Wellington's) was paraded by the battalion. The new colours of all four battalions were later paraded through the streets of York from [[Cliffords Tower]] to [[York Minster]].<ref>{{cite webnews|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10348202|title=Duke presents Yorkshire Regiment with new colours|date=18 June 2016|publisherwork=BBC News|access-date=30 April 2016}}</ref>

On 6 April 2023, The Yorkshire Regiment was granted Royal status with immediate effect by King [[Charles III]], changing the regiment's name to the "Royal Yorkshire Regiment".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/YORKS_REGT/status/1644063120447492116?cxt=HHwWqMC-qdGs8dAtAAAA|title=The Regiment is deeply humbled by His Majesty’sMajesty's bestowal of a ‘Royal’'Royal' title|publisher=Twitter|access-date=6 April 2023}}</ref>

The 2nd Battalion (Green Howards), plus 60 members of the 4th Battalion, deployed with [[11th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|11th Light Brigade]] in September 2009 for a seven-month posting in [[Operation Herrick order of battle|Op Herrick XI]] as the [[OMLT]] Battle Group.<ref>{{cite webnews|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8300300.stm |title=New brigade take over in Helmand|publisherwork=BBC News|date=10 October 2009|access-date=30 April 2016}}</ref> Their actions featured in a series of [[Newsnight]] programmes shown both during the deployment and after their return, which focused on OMLT 2 in [[Sangin]] under Major Rob Palfrey. Two members of the Battalion were awarded the Military Cross, Lieutenant Colin Lunn of [[Doncaster]], and Acting Corporal Andrew Wardle of [[Hetton-le-Hole]] in [[Sunderland, Tyne and Wear|Sunderland]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thestar.co.uk/what-s-on/out-and-about/brave-soldier-receives-the-country-s-highest-military-medal-1-2971143|title=Brave soldier receives the country's highest military medal|date=10 December 2010|work=The Star|access-date=30 April 2016}}</ref> In addition, Sergeant John Swithenbank and Corporal John Hardman received the [[Queen's Gallantry Medal]].<ref>{{cite webnews|url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/8731310.Prince___s_praise_for_hero_soldier_who_saved_child/?ref=arc|title=Prince's praise for hero soldier who saved child|publisherwork=The Northern Echo|date=10 December 2010|access-date=30 April 2016}}</ref>

In February 2013, 16 soldiers serving with the [[reconnaissance]] platoon of 1st Battalion (Prince of Wales Own), staged a mutiny whilst on a training exercise in [[Kenya]]. Led by Corporal Anthony Brown, they staged a sit down strike in front of 1,000 people. Each soldier refused to stand up when individually commanded to do so. As they went through their drills, a ringleader shouted 'sit down' and the dissenters dropped to ground. Commanders ordered each man in turn to stand up but were ignored. The soldiers had clashed with their newly appointed commanding officers whom they accused of excessive drinking, complaining they were "being led by muppets".<ref name=bbcprotest>{{cite news|title=Yorkshire Regiment soldiers jailed for sit-in protest|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-25313387|publisherwork=BBC News|access-date=13 December 2013|date=10 December 2013}}</ref> At [[Court-martial|courts martial]], in December 2013, the soldiers pleaded guilty to disobeying a lawful command. Cpl Brown was sentenced to 60 days imprisonment and a dishonourable discharge. The prosecutor, Col. Clive Whitwham, said: 'There was a feeling they were not being appreciated, that they were not being well managed. 'The platoon was said to have worked well in Afghanistan. There was said to have been a perception that they had got a little too big for their boots.'

The 3rd Battalion (Duke of Wellington's) laid up its Regulation Colours on 20 July 2013, at [[Halifax Minster]], following a series of 'Freedom Parades' during the preceding week.<ref>{{cite webnews|url=http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/news/halifax-freedom-parade-for-dukes-1-5846542|title=Halifax Freedom Parade for Dukes|publisherwork=Halifax Courier|date=14 July 2013|access-date=30 April 2016}}</ref> On 25 July there was a parade at the 3rd Battalion barracks, in Warminster, the Colonel in Chief, the Duke of York, exchanged the Colours between the Battalions.<ref>{{cite webnews|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-23456568|title=Ceremony marks Yorkshire Regiment battalion merger|date=25 July 2013|publisherwork=BBC News|access-date=30 April 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/10570663.3-yorks-parade-in-warminster-to-mark-regiment-change/|title=3 Yorks parade in Warminster to mark regiment change|website=Wiltshire Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.itv.com/news/calendar/story/2013-07-25/regiment-disbands/|title=Regiment disbands|website=ITV News}}</ref>

The 1st Battalion (abbreviated 1 {{sc|YorksR YORKS}}), is based at [[Catterick Garrison]]. The battalion is a light mechanised infantry battalion deployed as part of [[7th Light Mechanised Brigade Combat Team]].<ref name="1&2 Yorks">{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/infantry/yorkshire-regiment/1-2-yorks/|title= 1&2 Yorks|publisher=British Army|access-date=20 February 2019}}</ref>

The 2nd Battalion (2 {{sc|YorksR YORKS}}), is based in [[Dale Barracks|Dale Barracks, Chester]]. The battalion is the British Army’s 'Experimentation Battalion', involved with trialing future light infantry equipment and tactics under the [[Waterloo Lines|Land Warfare Centre]].<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|title=New Experimentation Unit to Supercharge Army Transformation|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/news-and-events/news/2021/03/experimentation-battlegroup/|access-date=2021-04-01|website=www.army.mod.uk|language=en-GB}}</ref>

The [[4th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment|4th Battalion]] (4 {{sc|YorksR YORKS}}), is the [[Army Reserve(United Kingdom)|Army Reserve]] battalion of the Royal Yorkshire Regiment. The battalion headquarters is in Worsley Barracks, York and forms part of [[4th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters North East]]. The battalion operates from Army Reserve Centres across the regimental footprint with companies dispersed in [[Barnsley]], [[Beverley]], [[Huddersfield]], [[Kingston upon Hull|Hull]], [[Leeds]], [[Middlesbrough]], [[Sheffield]] and York.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/infantry/yorkshire-regiment/4-yorks/|title=4th Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment|publisher=British Army|access-date=20 February 2019}}</ref>

The York Army Museum (for the [[Royal Dragoon Guards]], [[Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire]] and the Royal Yorkshire Regiment) is based at the [[Tower Street drill hall, York|Tower Street drill hall]] in [[York]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hlf.org.uk/about-us/media-centre/press-releases/york-army-museum-wins-heritage-lottery-fund-support|title=The York Army Museum wins Heritage Lottery Fund support|date=9 December 2012|access-date=16 December 2017}}</ref>

On [[St George's Day]] 23 April 2008, Paul and Phil Lee, the owners of the [[Cropton Brewery]] & New Inn, released a new beer called '''Yorkshire Warrior'''. The beer, which is only available in eight North Yorkshire pubs, was produced to celebrate the proud achievements of the regiment and to commemorate the sacrifices the soldiers and families of the regiment have endured.<ref>{{cite webnews |title=Support brews for Army benevolent fund |url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/2214289.0/|work=The Northern Echo |publisher=thenorthernecho.co.uk |date=22 April 2008 |access-date=28 July 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Brewery launches beer in aid of Yorkshire regiment|url=http://www.maltonmercury.co.uk/news/Brewery-launches-beer-in-aid.4007216.jp|archive-date=29 April 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080429003429/http://www.maltonmercury.co.uk/news/Brewery-launches-beer-in-aid.4007216.jp|work=Malton Mercury|publisher=maltonmercury.co.uk|date=23 April 2008|url-status=dead|access-date=28 July 2009}}</ref>

[[File:Colour Party 3Bn Yorkshire Regiment (Duke of Wellington's) At Rotherham Town Hall (RLH-800x600).jpg|thumb|left|Colours and Guard of the 3rd Bn Yorkshire Regiment (Duke of Wellington's)]] [[File:Mayor of Rotherham, Cllr Shaukat Ali & Col Simon Newton (RLH-800x600).JPG|thumb|The Mayor of Rotherham, Cllr Shaukat Ali and Col Simon Newton, Royal Yorkshire Regiment]]

[[Freedom of the City|Freedoms]] awarded to the Royal Yorkshire Regiment (including those carried through from the antecedent regiments) include the following:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://army.mod.uk/infantry/regiments/10159.aspx |title=Freedom cities, boroughs and towns |publisher=Ministry of Defence |access-date=30 April 2016 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090309063404/http://army.mod.uk/infantry/regiments/10159.aspx |archive-date=9 March 2009 }}</ref>

On 3 August 2009, [[Rotherham]], South Yorkshire became the first town to bestow the 'Freedom of the Borough' on the Yorkshire Regiment. This gives the regiment the right to march through the town with 'flags flying, bands playing and bayonets fixed'. At a ceremony outside the Town Hall the regiment paraded two guards of soldiers who had recently returned from Iraq, and the [[Colours, standards and guidons|colours]] of the 3rd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment (Duke of Wellington's), led by the Kings Division Band, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Vallings, the Battalion [[commanding officer]]. The Mayor of Rotherham, Councillor Shaukat Ali, on behalf of the Borough, presented the Freedom Scroll to Colonel Simon Newton, who accepted the honour for the Regiment.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jVSqceInVY |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/5jVSqceInVY| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=Freedom of Rotherham Parade -– Yorkshire Regiment|website=[[YouTube]] |date=3 August 2009|access-date=30 April 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

The regiment was awarded the Freedom of [[Warminster]], Wiltshire on its return from Afghanistan following their homecoming parade on 30 November 2012.<ref>{{cite webnews|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-20548123|title=Yorkshire Regiment welcomed home from Afghanistan|date=30 November 2012|publisherwork= BBC News|access-date=30 April 2016}}</ref>

:[[Siege of Bharatpur|Siege of Bhurtpore]] 1825-261825–26 (Bharatpur)

! 1880<ref name="London Gazette">{{cite news|last1=The London Gazette|first1pages=Page 3300-33013300–3301|title=Childers Reform|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/24992/page/3300|access-date=27 October 2016|issue=24992|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|date=1 July 1881}}</ref>!! 1881 [[Childers Reforms]]<ref name="London Gazette"/> !! 1921 Name changes !! 1957 [[1957 Defence White Paper|Defence White Paper]] !! 1966 [[1966 Defence White Paper|Defence White Paper]] !! 1990 [[Options for Change]] !! 2003 [[Delivering Security in a Changing World]]

== External links ==

{{Commons category|Yorkshire Regiment}}

* [http://www.yorkshireregiment.com Yorkshire Regiment Association website]

{{Royal Yorkshire Regiment}}