The Green Howards Regimental History

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Green Howards

The Green Howards Battalions

Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment (19th Foot) The North York Militia, The North York Local Militia & North York Rifle Volunteers

For most of its history the Green Howards has provided a single regular battalion, - the 1st Battalion. However, there have been periods in the Regiment's history when a second battalion was raised, and since 1907 there have been two Territorial battalions (the 4th and 5th Battalions). There have also been additional battalions formed by the inclusion of Militia units. During the two World Wars the Regiment raised many battalions.

Each battalion is normally of a strength of between 600 - 1,000 men.

This page summarises the battalions that have been part of the Regiment since the Regiment itself was first raised in 1688.

	Battalions	1	2
November 1688	Colonel Luttrell's Regiment of Foot raised
March 1689	Colonel Thomas Erle's Regiment raised
July 1690	Colonel Erle took over command of Luttrell's Regiment, on the death of Colonel Luttrell. Luttrell's Regiment was now the FIRST BATTALION Erle's Regiment, and Erle's original regiment became the SECOND BATTALION Erle's Regiment.
March 1698	Erle's Second Battalion disbanded.
April 1713	The Regiment was granted precedence as the 19th Foot, though this title was not used until several years later.
1738	The Honourable Charles Howard became Colonel of the 19th Foot, and the regiment became known as Colonel Howard's Regiment.
1744	Major General Howard's Regiment became known as the Green Howards to distinguish them from another "Howard's Regiment" (the 3rd Foot, belonging to Lieut General Thomas Howard).
July 1751	The title 19th Foot became official
August 1756	2nd Battalion 19th Foot raised at Morpeth, Northumberland
1758	The 2nd Battalion 19th Foot became the 66th Regiment of Foot
1782	On returning from the American War of Independence, the Regiment was officially affiliated with the County of Yorkshire, and became known as the 19th Foot or 1st Yorkshire North Riding Regiment.
1758 - 1858	1st Battalion 19th Foot service included North America, Canada, West Indies, Ceylon, the Crimea and British India.
March 1858	2nd Battalion, 19th Regiment of Foot reformed in Exeter.
1871	The 19th Foot became a 4 battalion regiment by the inclusion of two militia units.
August 1875	HRH Alexandra, Princess of Wales, presented Colours to the 1st Battalion and the title of the Regiment became "The Princess of Wales's Own (Yorkshire Regiment)".
1914 - 1918	The regiment contributed 24 Battalions, in which some 65,000 men served during the First World War. The Regiment was known as the "Yorkshire Regiment" during the war.
1920	The name of the Regiment became "The Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment), shortened to "The Green Howards".
1939-1945	The Green Howards contributed 12 Battalions for service during the Second World War.
December 1948	The 2nd Battalion disbanded.
April 1952	The 2nd Battalion reformed in April 1952.
April 1956	After service in Suez and Cyprus, the 2nd Battalion placed in "suspended animation".
1956 - present	The Green Howards served by a single regular battalion, - the 1st Battalion.
6 June 2006	The Green Howards are to be merged with the Prince of Wales Own Regiment of Yorkshire, and the Duke of Wellington's Regiment, to form The Yorkshire Regiment. The Regiment will thereafter be known as the 2nd Battalion, the Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards).