The Army's last county regiment marks 20th anniversary of controversial merger
The British Army's sole remaining county regiment has marked the 20th anniversary of its formation with a series of parades and services across Yorkshire.
The Yorkshire Regiment, as it was originally called, was formed on 6 June 2006 by amalgamating three regular single-battalion regiments – The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire, The Green Howards and The Duke of Wellington's Regiment.
While the 2nd Battalion marked the anniversary in the UK, the regiment's 1st Battalion paused its involvement in a key Nato exercise in Germany to acknowledge the important milestone.
Time to move on
Back in 2006, the amalgamation of the three regiments that created the Yorkshire Regiment formed part of a wider reorganisation of the British Army's infantry battalions.
It was, at the time, considered a controversial move, as the reorganisation saw the loss of some of the most historic regiments in the Army, including The Black Watch and The Royal Welch Fusiliers.
Speaking ahead of a service of thanksgiving marking the regiment's 20th anniversary in York, Colonel Nigel Rhodes, regimental secretary, acknowledged the anguish some felt 20 years ago.
"It was interesting. We were an amalgamation of three very proud Yorkshire regiments and there was a bit of friction there," he said. "They were proud regiments who didn't want to merge.
"But I think we've moved on. We carry, and not lightly, the heritage from those regiments and that's what inspires the next generation of Royal Yorkshire Regiment soldiers to make their own history."
Two decades of service
The regiment's activities marking its anniversary have included freedom parades in locations like Richmond and Beverley, and culminated in a parade in York, watched by hundreds of tourists to the historic city.
One local York lad, Lance Corporal Ben Griffin, said being back in his hometown was a moment of pride, and his family were with him to mark the occasion.
"It's a really proud moment. It's not often we get to be all dressed up in our twos [No. 2 service dress], so it's really important for everyone."
LCpl Griffin added: "When you go through basic training, I was lucky to have a Yorks screw [section commander], so we were quite drilled on regimental history, how it all came together, where those regiments came from and how we came to be as we are now."
The event also included a service in the cathedral of York Minster, during which the names of those killed or lost while serving in the regiment since 2006 were read out and remembered.
Outside, another local soldier, Lance Corporal Matthew Perkins, said the battalion was proud of the service the unit had carried out in the two decades since it was formed.
"The regiment has been to Afghanistan and to Telic [UK military involvement in Iraq] as The Yorkshire Regiment, so we've definitely created a new history for it. That's adding to the older regiments' history really."
Also formed in 2006 were other "super" regiments, including The Royal Regiment of Scotland, The Royal Welsh, The Rifles, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment and The Mercian Regiment.
All the units are marking their 20th anniversaries across a number of parades throughout 2026.
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