Royal Yorkshire Regiment
The Royal Yorkshire Regiment 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 Army 2020 defence review. The regiment's 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.
Formation
The regiment's formation was announced on 16 December 2004 by Geoff Hoon and General Sir Mike Jackson as part of the restructuring of the infantry. It was formed from the merger of three regular battalions, plus a reserve battalion:- 1st Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment
- 2nd Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment
- 3rd Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment
- 4th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment, all formerly titled and known as The Yorkshire Volunteers.
The regiment was officially formed on 6 June 2006. The reserve "Territorial Army" battalion re-badged in TA Centres on the same day, but later paraded publicly to re-badge on 10 June 2006 in the Museum Gardens, York. That same afternoon, representatives of the affiliated Army Cadet Forces and Combined Cadet Forces detachments re-badged in Imphal Barracks, York.
The Duke of York was appointed as Colonel-in-Chief and the 8th Duke of Wellington as Deputy Colonel-in-Chief, by Queen Elizabeth II.
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 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.
As part of the Army 2020 reorganisation, in July 2012 an announcement was made that the Yorkshire Regiment would be reduced to two regular battalions, with the 2nd Battalion disbanded and its soldiers dispersed to the remainder of the regiment on completion of their Cyprus tour in the autumn of 2013.
However, on 25 January 2013 the Colonel of the Regiment, Major General Graham Binns, announced instead a change in the order of battle: the 2nd Battalion was merged into the 1st and 3rd Battalions; the 1st Battalion was then renumbered as the 2nd Battalion and the 3rd Battalion was renumbered as the 1st Battalion. He also announced that they would dispense with the antecedent regiments' historical titles.
On 13 January 2022, the Duke of York returned his military affiliation with the regiment to the Queen.
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".
History
Iraq 2006–2007
The deployment of 1 YORKS Battle Group to Basra, Iraq in November 2006 was the first major operational deployment for the Yorkshire Regiment. A Company, under command of Major Richard Hall were based initially in Basra Palace with responsibility from Abu Al Kasib to the whole Al-Faw Peninsula, before moving to Shaibah Logistics Base and being charged with handing over security responsibilities of the base to the Iraqi Army. B Company, under command of Major Dan Bradbury, were based in Shiaba Logistics Base and had responsibility for Az Zubayr, whilst C Company were detached to 2nd Battalion, Duke of Lancaster's Regiment in the COB. During Op Telic 9 Private Luke Simpson of A Company, from Howden, East Riding of Yorkshire, was killed, becoming the regiment's first operational fatality. Two members of the 1st Battalion, Major Ian Crowley of C Company, of Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire and Captain Ibrar Ali of A Company, were awarded the Military Cross.Afghanistan 2007–2008
The 2nd Battalion of the regiment were deployed to the Helmand Province of Afghanistan in September, 2007 in an 'Operational Mentoring and Liaison' role with the Afghan National Army. Whilst there they took part in the Battle of Musa Qala during which Sgt Lee Johnson was killed shortly after 10am on 8 December 2007, in the lead up to the operation to retake the town from the Taliban forces, after his Vector armoured vehicle ran over a landmine. Sgt Johnson had previously received a MID for assisting his company commander, Major Jake Little, in extracting soldiers who were surrounded by Taliban fighters. Major Little was later awarded a Military Cross for his "inspirational leadership" to extract his men. Acting Sergeant John Cockburn was also awarded a Military Cross for his actions in the same tour of duty.The 2nd Battalion returned to their barracks in Weeton, Lancashire during April, 2008 and were presented with their service medals at a parade there on 30 April 2008 by Major General Andrew Farquhar, Honorary Colonel of the Battalion, along with Brigadier Andrew Mackay, of 52 Infantry Brigade, and Brigadier Mike Griffiths, of 42 Brigade.
Kosovo 2008–2009
B Company Group of 1st Battalion deployed for six-months on Op OCULUS as the last UK Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance Task Force. They presided over the immediate aftermath of the Kosovo's declaration of independence.Iraq 2008–2009
In November 2008, elements of the 1st Battalion redeployed to Iraq on Op Telic 13. In May 2009, 'A Company' of the 1st Battalion handed over their Iraq British military HQ protection duties, in Baghdad, to Alma Company of the 3rd Battalion. Alma Company were subsequently amongst the last British soldiers to leave Iraq at the end of July 2009.Afghanistan 2009–2010
Over 130 members of the 3rd Battalion deployed in July 2009 as Battle Casualty Replacements to various other British regiments in Helmand Province. Burma Company of the 3rd Battalion deployed to Afghanistan in August 2009 and were then followed by members of Corunna Company. 18-year-old Pte Jonathon Young, of Burma Company, was killed by an Improvised explosive device in Sangin, on Thursday 20 August, three weeks after arriving in Afghanistan. A serjeant, from the 2nd Battalion The Rifles, 29-year-old Serjeant Paul McAleese, was killed when he went to the assistance of Pte Young.On 1 February 2010, 22-year-old Corporal Liam Riley, of Sheffield, and 27-year-old Lance Corporal Graham Shaw, of Golcar in Huddersfield were killed by separate IED's, Malgir, near Gereshk in Helmand Province, whilst on base security foot patrols. Both soldiers, from Corunna Company of the 3rd Battalion, were attached to the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, as Battle Casualty Replacements. Prince Harry had trained with Cpl Riley at Suffield in Canada and paid tribute to him in a news release.
The 2nd Battalion, plus 60 members of the 4th Battalion, deployed with 11th Light Brigade in September 2009 for a seven-month posting in Op Herrick XI as the OMLT Battle Group. 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. In addition, Sergeant John Swithenbank and Corporal John Hardman received the Queen's Gallantry Medal.
On 23 June 2010, 26-year-old Lance Corporal David Ramsden of Otley, who was serving with the 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment, was killed. The NCO from 1st Battalion was serving as part of the Police Advisory Team which was tasked to respond to an incident at a checkpoint near Gereshk in Helmand Province, when the Ridgeback armoured vehicle he was travelling in rolled into a waterway. He was killed alongside colleagues Colour Sergeant Martyn Simon Horton, Private Douglas Niall Halliday and Private Alex Isaac.
Afghanistan 2011–2012
In October 2011, 500 members of the 1st Battalion were deployed to Helmand province in Afghanistan for a six-month tour in support of the 20th Armoured Brigade, their first deployment to Afghanistan as a complete battalion. The battalion was split up for the deployment, with A Company working with 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, B and C Companies with the Danish Army, and the Brigade Headquarters providing staff for Headquarters Task Force Helmand. 1 YORKS soldiers formed the Brigade Reconnaissance Force with members of 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards. Soldiers from 1st Battalion were reported to have been involved in 'high tempo' patrol operations alongside the Afghanistan police force. B Company serving as part of the Danish Battle Group in the Nahr-e Saraj area of operations, patrolled aggressively into several contested areas. On 1 December 2011 the Battalion was involved in a dawn raid on a suspected IED factory. On 1 January 2012 Private John King was killed in an explosion while on a foot patrol in Nahr-e Saraj, on 27 January Lance Corporal Gajbahadur Gurung of the Royal Gurkha Rifles was killed while serving with 1 YORKS in the Nahr-e Saraj district.On 6 March 2012, six members of Corunna company, 3rd Battalion were killed in the Lashkar Gah Durai region after their Warrior Armoured vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device.
On 29 April 2012, the 3 YORKS Battle Group took over responsibility of Nahr-e Saraj, Helmand province from the 5th Battalion, the Rifles. On the 3 June 2012 Private Gregg Thomas Stone of Burma Company, 3 YORKS was killed in Nahr-e Saraj during an operation to apprehend a group of insurgents who had abducted a member of the Afghan Police. On 15 September 2012, Sergeant Gareth Thursby and Private Thomas Wroe of the 3rd Battalion were killed in Nahr-e Saraj by a rogue Afghan police officer.