A slice of military history indelibly linked to Huddersfield and Halifax has ended.
A special ceremony was held to mark the restructuring of the Yorkshire Regiment.
And that mean the historic 3rd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment (Duke of Wellington’s) – which traditionally recruits from Huddersfield and Halifax – is to be scrapped.
The Duke of Wellington’s name has been dropped as under Government cuts, the Regiment lost one of its three battalions.
Over the years, hundreds of Huddersfield men and women have joined the Dukes and fought in conflicts around the world.
The regimental headquarters is in Halifax.
And, of course, under the 3 Yorks banner the unit has been fighting on several tours of Afghanistan with deadly consequences.
Five young Huddersfield soldiers from the regiment have lost their lives in the war.
Those who gave their lives were: Lance Cpl Graham Shaw, Cpl Jake Hartley, Pte Daniel Wilford, Pte Anton Frampton and Pte Tom Wroe.
The ceremony at the Battlesbury Barracks in Warminster, Wiltshire, yesterday was to hold an Exchange of Colours parade.
Past and present members of the regiment and their families were there to see the 3rd Battalion renumber to become the 1st Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment (1 Yorks).
1 Yorks will be based at Warminster on the edge of Salisbury Plain and will continue training with the Warrior armoured vehicles.
The regiment’s 2nd Battalion is currently based in Cyprus and is due to return to Yorkshire in 2015.
The troops are training as a light infantry role in future conflicts.
The ceremony was attended by the Duke of York, the regiment’s Colonel-in-Chief.
Also present was Brigadier His Grace the Duke of Wellington.
