The Light Infantry

The Light Infantry

Cap badge of the Light Infantry
Active 10 July 1968-1 February 2007
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Branch  British Army
Type Line Infantry
Role Armoured Infantry (one battalion)
Light Role (one battalion)
Size Two battalions
Part of Light Division
Garrison/HQ 1st Battalion - Paderborn, Germany
2nd Battalion - Edinburgh
Motto Aucto Splendore Resurgo, Cede Nullis, Faithful
March Quick - Light Infantry
Double Past - Keel Row
Anniversaries Salamanca (22 July)
Commanders
Last Colonel-in-Chief HRH Princess Alexandra
Colonel of
the Regiment
Brigadier TJ Gregson MBE
Insignia
Tactical Recognition Flash

The Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Light Division.

History

The regiment was formed on 10 July 1968 as a large regiment by the amalgamation of the four remaining light infantry regiments of the Light Infantry Brigade:[1]

On 31 March 1969 the 4th Battalion The Light Infantry (formerly The Durham Light Infantry) was disbanded leaving three regular battalions.[1]

The regiment was active all through The Troubles in Northern Ireland with eight soldiers from the regiment killed in the Ballygawley bus bombing.[2]

The remaining battalions remained in service until 1993 when they merged to form two battalions renamed 1st and 2nd Battalions.[1]

Territorial Army

Amalgamation

On 24 November 2005 it was announced by the Ministry of Defence that, after discussions between the Light Infantry, the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment, the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment and the Royal Green Jackets, the four regiments would amalgamate to form a single, large regiment to be named The Rifles. The new regiment was formed on 1 February 2007 with The 1st Battalion, The Light Infantry becoming 5th Battalion, The Rifles and The 2nd Battalion, The Light Infantry becoming 3rd Battalion, The Rifles.[7]

Alliances

References

  1. 1 2 3 "The Light Infantry". British Army units 1945 on. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  2. "My account of the Ballygawley bus bombing". David Herdy. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  3. "The West Midlands Regiment: Regimental history". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  4. "The Light Infantry". British Army units 1945 on. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  5. "Tyne-Tees Regiment". Retrieved 22 May 2014.
  6. "The East and West Riding Regiment". Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  7. "History of the Light Infantry". Retrieved 26 April 2014.

External links

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