Prince of Wales's Division
| Prince of Wales's Division | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1968–2014 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Type | Administrative Command |
ThePrince of Wales's Divisionwas aBritish Armycommand, training and administrative apparatus designated for all land force units in the West ofEnglandandWales.It merged with theScottish Division,to form theScottish, Welsh and Irish Division;at the same time theMercian Regimentjoined with theKing's Division.[1]
History
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The Prince of Wales's Division was formed in 1968 with the union of theMercian Brigade,Welsh BrigadeandWessex Brigade.The depot was established atWhittington BarracksinStaffordshire.[2]
Under the restructuring announced in 2004, the Prince of Wales's Division lost the remainingWestcountryinfantry regiments and was reorganised into two large regiments:[3]
- Royal Welsh- formed on 1 March 2006 by amalgamation of the 1st Battalion,Royal Welch Fusiliers,1st Battalion,Royal Regiment of Wales (24th/41st Foot)and theRoyal Welsh Regiment.
- Mercian Regiment- formed on 1 September 2007 by amalgamation of the 1st Battalion,22nd (Cheshire) Regiment,1st Battalion,Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment (29th/45th Foot),1st Battalion,Staffordshire Regiment (The Prince of Wales's)and theWest Midlands Regiment.In 2014 theRoyal Irish Regimentjoined the division. The Division comprised the following infantry battalions:[4]
- Regular Army Units
- 1st (Cheshire) Battalion,The Mercian Regiment
- 2nd (Worcestershire and Sherwood) Battalion,The Mercian Regiment
- 1st (Royal Welsh Fusiliers) Battalion, theRoyal Welsh
- 1st Battalion, theRoyal Irish Regiment
- Army Reserve Units
- 4th Battalion, the Mercian Regiment
- 3rd Battalion, the Royal Welsh
- 2nd Battalion, the Royal Irish Regiment
The Division maintained a regular army band,The Band of The Prince of Wales Divisionthrough the amalgamation of the two former divisional bands, theClive Bandand theLucknow Band.[5]
Under theArmy 2020reorganisation, the 3rd Battalion,Mercian Regiment(Staffords) and the 2nd Battalion,Royal Welsh(Royal Regiment of Wales) will both be disbanded, while theRoyal Irish Regiment (27th (Inniskilling), 83rd, 87th and Ulster Defence Regiment)will be transferred to the administration of the Prince of Wales' Division.[6]
In December 2016, the government announced changes to the administrative structure of the infantry as part of the continuing reorganization of the Army under"Army 2020".This saw the Mercian Regiment being moved to theKing's Division,with theRoyal Regiment of Scotland(which encompassed the entirety of theScottish Division) transferred to a single administrative formation with the Royal Welsh and the Royal Irish Regiment. This new administrative formation became known as theScottish, Welsh and Irish Division.[7]
Past Units
[edit]Past units include:[8]
- 1st Battalion,The 22nd (Cheshire) Regiment- (1688-2007)
- 1st Battalion,The Royal Welch Fusiliers- (1689-2006)
- 1st Battalion,The South Wales Borderers- (1689-1969)
- 1st Battalion,The Gloucestershire Regiment- (1881-1994)
- 1st Battalion,The Worcestershire Regiment- (1881-1970)
- 1st Battalion,The Royal Hampshire Regiment- (1881-1992)
- 1st Battalion,The Welch Regiment- (1881-1969)
- 1st Battalion,The Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment)- (1881-1970)
- 1st Battalion,The Devonshire and Dorset Regiment- (1958-2005)
- 1st Battalion,The Duke of Edinburgh's Royal Regiment (Berkshire and Wiltshire)- (1959-1994)
- 1st Battalion,The Staffordshire Regiment (The Prince of Wales's)- (1959-2007)
- 1st Battalion,The Royal Regiment of Wales (24th/41st Foot)- (1969-2006)
- 1st Battalion,The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment (29th/45th Foot)- (1970-2007)
- 1st Battalion,The Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment- (1994-2005)
- 2nd Battalion,The Royal Welsh- (2006-2014)
- 3rd Battalion,The Mercian Regiment- (2007-2014)
References
[edit]- ^"Strategic Defence and Security Review - Army:Written statement - HCWS367 - UK Parliament".Parliament.uk. 4 December 2014.Retrieved16 December2016.
- ^"The 22nd (Cheshire) Regiment".Retrieved5 May2014.
- ^"Future Structure of the Army".Ministry of Defence. 16 December 2004.Retrieved5 May2014.
- ^Heyman, p. 89
- ^"The Band of The Prince of Wales's Division".Retrieved5 May2014.
- ^"Army 2020 announcement".British Army. 5 July 2012.Retrieved5 July2012.
- ^"Strategic Defence and Security Review - Army: Written statement - HCWS367".Hansard.Retrieved16 December2016.
- ^Whitaker's Almanack 1969
Sources
[edit]- Heyman, Charles (2012).The British Army: A Pocket Guide, 2012-2013.Pen & Sword.ISBN9781848841079.