Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire

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The Prince of Wales's own Regiment of Yorkshire
Active	1958 - 2006
Country	Great Britain
Branch	Army
Type	Line Infantry
Size	One battalion
Part of	King Division
March	Quick - Ca Ira and Yorkshire Lass
Mascot	Imphal and quebec - Ferrets

The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the King's Division. It was created in 1958 by the amalgamation of The West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) (14th Foot) and The East Yorkshire Regiment (Duke of York's Own) (15th Foot). On 6 June 2006 the regiment was amalgamated to form The Yorkshire Regiment as the 1st Battalion along with The Duke of Wellington's Regiment and The Green Howards.

[edit] History

The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire was formed on 25th April 1958 by the amalgamation of the West Yorkshire Regiment (The Prince Of Wales's Own) and the East Yorkshire Regiment (The Duke of York's Own). In 1958 The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire has taken part in two important campaigns. First there were three tours of Aden and then in 1969 1 PWO was the first battalion to be deployed onto the streets of Northern Ireland at the start of the troubles. 1973-1978s 1PWO was stationed in West Germany at Celle as part of the 7th Armoured Brigade, Equipped with FV 432. From 1978 - 1983 the Battalion served as AMF(L) N and exercised extensively in Norway where companies were fully ski-borne. In May 1983 the battalion started a two year tour as part of the Berlin Infantry Brigade, where in 1984 it was presented with new colours. In April 1985 the Battalion moved again to Abercorn Barracks, Ballykilner, Northern Ireland and was heavily committed in maintaining law and order, particularly in the terrorist plagued countryside of South Armagh. In May 1987 1 PWO moved to Catterick, North Yorkshire, to join 24 Infantry brigade equipped with Saxon APC This was the Battalions first tour in Yorkshire since amalgamation. The Battalion Re-roled in 1988 to become 24 Airmobile brigade and be able to deploy 42 Milan ATGM. In August 1990 the Battalion moved to Osnabruck in West Germany to take up a Mechanised Infantry role as part of 12 Armoured Brigade. During the First Gulf war, or Operation Granby later known as Desert storm the battalion deployed formed units that include a Milan Section and a Mortar Section to 1st Battalion The Staffordshire Regiment, many men deployed on an individual basis reinforcing units. Up to one third of the battalion was deployed to the gulf. During Winter 1991 the battalion was back in Northern Ireland, As the west Belfast roulement battalion and had as successful tour. On return the battalion re-equipped the warrior AFV with visits to the delights of Soltau training area. As a result of the 1992 Strategic Defence Review the then goverment of John Major decided to bring TA and regular army units closer together, thus as a result The 2nd Battalion The Yorkshire Volunteers became 3 PWO. The 3rd Battalion was based at york. 3 PWO lasted for 7 years until defence cuts reduce the size of the TA by up to a third. 1993 Saw 1 PWO deployed to Bosina as part of UNPFOR with companies in Gorni Vakuf and Vitez. 1 PWO picked up the unofficial nickname of "Gun Bat" due to the robustness of the battalions actions. 1994 saw 1 PWO training in British Army Training Unit Suffield Canada and a move to Warminster to take up duties as Infantry Demonstration Battalion. 1997 saw the Battalion stationed in Chester with deployments to Ulster, West Africa, support to Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food during the foot and mouth outbreak, Exercises took troops to Kenya, Jamaica, Italy and Oman. 2001-2003 saw 1 PWO to Ormagh in Ulster then returning to Catterick in 2003 as an Air Assault Battalion, Deployment Bosnia, As part of SFOR, then a training exerzise to Belize in 2005. 48 years of service to the country the saw amalgamation with its sister battalions of The Duke of Wellington's Regiment and The Green Howards to form The Yorkshire regiment. The Regiment conducted three tours in Aden, two in Bosnia, six in Northern Ireland, one in Sierra Leone.