King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry

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The King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (51st and 105th)
The 'French' Horn and White Rose of the KOYLI
Active	1881-1968
Country	Great Britain
Size	1-2 Bns in peacetime, 13 Bns in WWI, 9 Bns in WWII
Part of	Light Infantry Brigade (1948-68)
Garrison/HQ	Pontefract, West Yorkshire
Nickname	'The Koylis'
Patron	George IV (who conferred the 'Royal' title in 1821)
Motto	Cede Nullis (Yield to none)
Colors	Dark Green, Royal Blue and Off-White
March	Quick: "Jockey to the Fair", Double: "The Keel Row", Slow: "Minden March"
Anniversaries	Minden Day (1 August)
Battles/wars	The Seven Years' War, The Peninsular War, Waterloo, The Boer War, WWI, WWII
Commanders
Ceremonial chief	Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother (1924-68)
Colonel of the Regiment	Maj-Gen. C J Deedes OBE MC (1966-68)
Notable commanders	Sir John Moore (1790-95)

The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry was a regiment of the British Army. It officially existed from 1881 to 1968, but its predecessors go back to 1755, and its traditions and history are (and will be) kept alive by the Light Infantry Regiment, and the proposed Rifles.

1 Lineage
2 History
3 Cap Badge
4 Famous Members
5 Major Battle Honours
6 External links

[edit] Lineage

The 51st

The 53rd Regiment of Foot was raised in the Leeds in 1755 and renumbered the 51st in January 1757. The title of 'Light Infantry' was given in honour of its former commander General Sir John Moore in 1809. In 1821 the regiment was given Royal status and so ‘King's Own’ was added to its title.

The 105th

The 2nd Madras European Light Infantry was raised by the British East India Company in 1839. In 1861 East India Company forces were absorbed into the British Army, and the regiment became the '105th Foot (Madras Light Infantry)'. In 1878 the 105th joined the KOLI in having a depot in Pontefract.

The KOYLI

In 1881 after the Cardwell and Childers reforms, regimental numbers were abolished. The '51st King's Own Light Infantry' became the 1st Battalion, 'King's Own Light Infantry (South Yorkshire Regiment)' and the 105th became its 2nd Battalion. In 1897 the title was changed to the 'King's Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry)'.

The KOYLI was raised to thirteen battalions during the Great War, and nine during World War II, including not only infantry but anti-aircraft and armoured units as well.

In 1948, 1 KOYLI was disbanded and 2 KOYLI was renamed 1 KOYLI. The regiment was now called the 'King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry', without brackets. In 1968, 1 KOYLI became the Second battalion of The Light Infantry (2LI). In 2007 the LI will merge with the Royal Green Jackets to form a new regiment, The Rifles. The former 1 KOYLI battalion (now 1LI) will become '5 RIFLES'.

[edit] History

The 51st first saw action during the Seven Years' War, gaining a reputation at Minden, its first battle honour. The regiment embarked for the Peninsula in 1807, serving with distinction. The regiment served on the extreme right at Waterloo, and was engaged at Hougoumont Farm.

Both the 51st and 105th saw extensive service all over the Empire throughout the nineteenth century. The Second battalion (105th) fought well in the South African War.

Both battalions served on the Western Front in WWI, as well as 3 Territorial and eight volunteer service battalions.

In WWII the regiment's nine battalions represented the new age of warfare. 5 and 8 KOYLI were anti-aircraft units, 7 KOLYI were armoured, and 9 KOYLI (formerly the Queens Own Yorkshire Dragoons) was motorised. The Second battalion served in Europe and the Mediterranean, the First fought as a rearguard in the retreat through Burma. The 1/4 battalion participated in the Battle of Normandy in 1944 and subsequently in the Netherlands.

Reduced to one battalion, the KOYLI took part in peace-keeping and counter-insurgency operations post war. The battalion moved to Berlin in 1967, where it joined the Light Infantry Regiment.

[edit] Cap Badge

The badge of the KOYLI is unique amongst English light infantry regiments as the horn is of the 'French' type (with a twist). The origins of this are obscure. It appears to have been adopted after Waterloo, however prior to this the 105th had an 'English' style Bugle horn with a loop. In its centre is the White Rose of York, linking to the regiment's home in Yorkshire. Unusual amongst British Army regiments, the badge lacks a crown.

[edit] Famous Members

Ensign (later General Sir) John Moore

Commissioned into the 51st in 1777, Moore went on to command the battalion in 1790. A forward thinking tactician, he was the father of the British light infantry, and is a significant figure to all light infantry and rifle regiments.

Ensign Joseph Dyas

Dyas twice volunteered to take part in the storming party of the San Christobal fort at Badajoz in 1811. For this brave action he is still toasted by the officers of the KOYLI and LI.