Active 1959–2007 Branch British Army Role Armoured Infantry | Country United Kingdom Type Infantry Size One Battalion | |
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The Staffordshire Regiment (Prince of Wales') (or simply "Staffords" for short) was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Prince of Wales' Division. The regiment was formed in 1959 by the amalgamation of the South Staffordshire Regiment and the North Staffordshire Regiment (Prince of Wales'), and in 2007 was amalgamated with the Cheshire Regiment and the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment to become the 3rd Battalion, Mercian Regiment.
Contents
- Formation
- Northern Ireland
- Gulf War
- Iraq War
- Amalgamation
- Battle honours
- Regimental Colonels
- Alliances
- Regimental museum
- References
In 2014, the 3rd Battalion, Mercian Regiment was merged with the 1st and 2nd battalions, to create the 1st and 2nd battalions, Mercian Regiment (Cheshires, Worcesters and Sherwood Foresters, and Staffords).
The mascot of the Staffordshire Regiment was a Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Each successive mascot holding the name Watchman. The current serving mascot is called Sgt Watchman V, who carries out his duties as part of the Staffordshire Regimental Association.
Formation
The regiment was formed on 31 January 1959 by the amalgamation of the South Staffordshire Regiment and North Staffordshire Regiment (Prince of Wales').
In 1962 the regiment undertook a six-month exercise in Kenya, followed by a year in Colchester and then a return to Kenya for a further two years. On the tour the regiment had to deal with a mutiny by the Ugandan Army. Returning home the regiment was the last unit of the British Army to serve in East Africa.
A home tour in Dover followed in 1964. Then came a two-year posting to Berlin in 1968 followed by a tour in Sharjah in the Persian Gulf where the regiment again recorded a 'last unit' distinction being the last unit to serve in Sharjah.
Northern Ireland
The regiment undertook a tour in Northern Ireland during the Troubles in 1972 before moving to Quebec Barracks in Osnabrück in 1973. Further tours in Northern Ireland were undertaken in 1974 and 1976. The regiment moved to Hyderabad Barracks in Colchester Garrison later in 1976 before undertaking another tour in Northern Ireland in 1979.
The regiment moved to Gibraltar in 1981 and to Roman Barracks at Colchester in 1983 before undertaking another tour in Northern Ireland in 1984. It then moved to Fallingbostel in 1986.
Gulf War
In October 1990 The Staffordshire Regiment was deployed to Saudi Arabia as part of 7th Armoured Brigade (referred to as the 'Desert Rats'). The deployment was in response to the dictator Saddam Hussein's invasion of the sovereign territory of Kuwait, claiming it to rightfully belong to Iraq. The regiment moved to Dale Barracks in Chester in 1991, to Abercorn Barracks in Ballykinler in 1994 and Clive Barracks in Shropshire in 1996.
Iraq War
The regiment moved to Mooltan Barracks in Tidworth Camp in 2000. Following a deployment to Kosovo in 2002 and a first deployment to Iraq on Operation Telic 6 in 2005. The regiment also undertook a second deployment to Iraq during Operation Telic 9 in 2006 where they lead the raid on the Al Jamiat police station.
Amalgamation
As part of the reorganisation of the infantry announced in 2004, it was announced that the Staffordshire Regiment would merge with the Cheshire Regiment and the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment into a new three-battalion regiment to be called the Mercian Regiment. On 1 September 2007 the Staffordshire Regiment became the 3rd Battalion, Mercian Regiment.
Battle honours
The battle honours are as follows:
Regimental Colonels
Colonels of the Regiment were:
Alliances
Regimental museum
The Staffordshire Regiment Museum is located next to Whittington Barracks. The exhibits focus on the history of the regiment and its forebears, and include photographs, uniforms, weapons, medals, artifacts, memorabilia and regimental regalia. Outdoors is a replica trench from World War I, and several armoured fighting vehicles.