Duke of Lancaster's Regiment explained

Unit Name:The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment
(King's, Lancashire and Border)
Dates:1 July 2006 – present
Country: United Kingdom
Type:Line Infantry
Role:1st Battalion – Infantry
4th Battalion – Army Reserve
Size:Two battalions
Command Structure:Queen's Division
Garrison:RHQ – Preston
1st Battalion – Cyprus
4th Battalion – Preston
Nickname:Lions of England
Motto:"Nec Aspera Terrent" "Difficulties be Damned"[1]
March:Quick – John Peel
Slow – The Red Rose
Battles:
Anniversaries:Ladysmith (28 February),
St George's Day (23 April),
Waterloo (18 June),
Arroyo (28 October)
Identification Symbol Label:Tactical Recognition Flash
Identification Symbol 2:Glider
From King's Own Royal Border Regiment
Identification Symbol 2 Label:Arm Badge
Identification Symbol 3:LANCS
Identification Symbol 3 Label:Abbreviation
Ceremonial Chief:The King
Ceremonial Chief Label:Colonel-in-Chief
Colonel Of The Regiment:Brigadier Robert J. Singleton

The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (King's, Lancashire and Border) (LANCS) is an infantry regiment of the line within the British Army, part of the King's Division. Headquartered in Preston, it recruits throughout the North West of England. The title of Duke of Lancaster merged with the Crown on the accession of Henry V in 1413 and remains dormant, subject to any future revival. Customarily, however, the Sovereign (whether male or female) is referred to as the Duke of Lancaster within Lancashire and in relation to the Duchy of Lancaster, and is the regiment's Colonel in Chief. The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment is the county regiment for Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and the Isle of Man, and as such, recruits mainly from these areas.[2]

History

Early history

The regiment's formation was announced on 16 December 2004 by Geoff Hoon and General Sir Mike Jackson as part of the restructuring of the infantry, when it was initially to be known as the King's Lancashire and Border Regiment. The regiment was given its new name in November 2005. Initially formed of three regular army battalions, it was eventually reduced to two regular battalions, plus an Army Reserve battalion. The regiment was formed through the merger of three single battalion regiments:[3]

The regiment was formed on 1 July 2006. Initially, on formation, the regiment contained three regular battalions, with each battalion simply being renamed:

In March 2007, the 3rd Battalion was disbanded, with its personnel dispersed to the other two, leaving the final roll of two regular battalions and one Reserve battalion.[4]

In December 2021, the regiment's 2nd Battalion re-subordinated to the Ranger Regiment, as its 3rd Battalion.[5]

Deployments

The regiment's 4th (Territorial) Battalion has served in Iraq, Cyprus and Afghanistan.[6]

In recent years, deployments have included Denmark, Italy, Nigeria, South Sudan, Kenya, Lithuania, the Baltics, Poland, the Balkans and Georgia.[7]

Sports

In May 2023, 4LANCS won the 2022-2023 Army Football Reserve Challenge Cup against 6SCOTS in a 2–1 victory at Aldershot. LANCS’ captain Cpl Kiel Brennan was awarded the Player of the Match.[8]

Also in May, personnel from 1 LANCS took part in the IRONMAN70.3 Venice-Jesolo Triathlon. All 5 Triathletes from the 1 LANCS Triathlon club completed the 1.9 km Swim, 90 km Bike & 21 km Run course.[9]

Regimental Structure

The regiment is split into a 1st and 4th Battalion, with the Regimental Headquarters located in Fulwood Barracks, Preston.[10] The 1st Battalion is a light role infantry battalion based in Chester.[11] The 4th Battalion is the regiment's reserve battalion and has its headquarters in Preston, with sub-units dispersed throughout its recruiting areas of Merseyside, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Cumbria. Both battalions form part of the new 4th Light Brigade Combat Team, in the 1st (UK) Division.[12]

Regimental museum

There are five regimental museum collections based around the antecedent regiments:

Battle honours

Infantry regiments are permitted to display 43 battle honours from the two world wars on the Queen's Colour and 46 honours from other conflicts on the Regimental Colour. Upon amalgamation, the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment had to choose from the total list of honours of its three antecedents which honours would be displayed on its new Colours. The chosen honours were:[19]

Queen's Colour
Regimental Colour

In addition to the displayed honours, the Regimental Colour will also display four emblems from the antecedents regiments:

In addition, the Regimental Colour also features a Sphinx to distinguish the battle honour "Egypt" and a Dragon for the honour "China".

Golden threads

The regiment has brought forward a number of Golden Threads from its antecedents, as displays of its history and heritage:

Kingsman

Alongside a few other regiments in the British Army that use traditional names other than Private for the lowest rank, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment uses the rank Kingsman (Kgn) instead of Private, a tradition inherited from the King's Regiment (itself having inherited the tradition from the King's Regiment (Liverpool)). Its use has been officially sanctioned since 1951, but it was informally used before this for over one hundred years.

Regimental Colonels

Regimental Colonels were as follows:

Controversies

Sexual assault

In 2021 a colour sergeant from 4th Battalion, the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment was fined and dismissed for lifting the skirt of a Kenyan woman, whom he knew, in a shopping mall in Nanyuki while intoxicated.[23]

A British Army spokesperson described the colour sergeant's conduct as disgraceful and said;

“This was appalling behaviour from the senior non-commissioned officer.” [24]

Murder of Agnes Wanjiru

See main article: Murder of Agnes Wanjiru. In 2012, a Kenyan mother and alleged prostitute called Agnes Wanjiru was allegedly murdered by soldiers of the Duke of Lancaster Regiment, with the murder reportedly covered up by British Army officials. The Sunday Times said a fellow soldier had gone to the “proper people” immediately after hearing a squaddie confess to the killing, but said he was told to “shut up” when he reported it and no action was taken. Ms Wanjiru's body was not discovered until two months later, after the regiment had returned to the UK.[25] [26]

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace denied that the British military had covered-up Wanjiru's murder, but admitted guilt to and expressed concern over the Army hierarchy turning a "blind eye" to the use of prostitutes by personnel, especially within “countries in poverty”.[27] [28]

In 2021, screenshots of a private Facebook group chat allegedly run by soldiers of the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment were published across British newspapers. The screenshots reportedly showed the regiment's soldiers joking and laughing at memes mocking the murder of Agnes Wanjiru.[29] The leaking of the secret chats apparently mocking the murder sparked a reinvestigation into the case by Kenyan police.[30]

In 2022, UK armed forces introduced a ban on the use of sex workers abroad for the first time. Personnel found to have engaged in what the Ministry of Defence describes as “transactional sex” face the prospect of dismissal – and they could also be prosecuted if in countries where prostitution is illegal.[31]

Lineage

1880[32] 1921 Name changes 2003 Delivering Security in a Changing World
4th (King's Own Royal) Regiment of FootThe King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment)The King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster)The King's Own Royal Border RegimentThe Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (King's, Lancashire and Border)
34th (Cumberland) Regiment of FootThe Border Regiment
55th (Westmorland) Regiment of Foot
8th (The King's) Regiment of FootThe King's (Liverpool Regiment)King's Regiment (Liverpool and Manchester)
63rd (West Suffolk) Regiment of FootThe Manchester Regiment
96th Regiment of Foot
30th (Cambridgeshire) Regiment of FootThe East Lancashire RegimentThe Lancashire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Volunteers)The Queen's Lancashire Regiment
59th (2nd Nottinghamshire) Regiment of Foot
40th (2nd Somersetshire) Regiment of FootThe Prince of Wales's Volunteers (South Lancashire Regiment)
renamed in 1938:
The South Lancashire Regiment (The Prince of Wales's Volunteers)
82nd (Prince of Wales's Volunteers) Regiment of Foot
47th (Lancashire) Regiment of FootThe Loyal North Lancashire RegimentThe Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire)
81st (Loyal Lincoln Volunteers) Regiment of Foot

Alliances

Alliances formed by the regiment are as follows:[33]

Freedoms

The regiment have received the Freedom of several locations throughout its history; these include:

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Duke of Lancaster's Regiment. Ministry of Defence. 25 July 2017.
  2. Web site: Duke of Lancaster's Regiment. www.army.mod.uk. en-GB. 2018-12-20.
  3. News: In detail: army restructuring plans. BBC. 16 December 2004. 24 May 2014.
  4. Web site: Actions, movements and quarters. King's Own Royal Regiment Museum. 26 April 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140226013541/http://www.kingsownmuseum.plus.com/moves05.htm. 26 February 2014.
  5. Message by the Colonel of the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment regarding Remembrance Day for 2021 and upcoming Regimental Changes. Regimental Headquarters, Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment. London, United Kingdom. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  6. Web site: The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (King's, Lancashire and Border) | National Army Museum. www.nam.ac.uk.
  7. Web site: Duke of Lancaster's Regiment | The British Army.
  8. Web site: Army Reserve Cup Final 2023 - Army FA .
  9. Web site: 1 LANCS Triathletes - The Duke Of Lancaster's Regimental Association .
  10. Web site: The Regimental Handbook of the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment. 10. 24 March 2021.
  11. Web site: 1 Lancs. Ministry of Defence. 30 April 2016.
  12. Web site: 4th Light Brigade Combat Team | The British Army.
  13. Web site: King's Own Royal Regiment Museum. 21 April 2021.
  14. Web site: King's Regiment collection. 21 April 2021.
  15. Web site: Contact Us - Liverpool Scottish Museum Archive. 21 April 2021.
  16. Web site: Lancashire Infantry Museum. 21 April 2021.
  17. Web site: Cumbria's Museum of Military Life. 21 April 2021.
  18. Web site: Museum of the Manchester Regiment. 21 April 2021.
  19. Web site: Regimental Handbook. Duke of Lancaster's Regiment. 26 April 2014.
  20. Web site: Regimental characteristics . 4 . . 1 April 2014 . Duke of Lancaster's Regiment . 31 July 2017 . 6 January 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170106141541/http://liverpoolkingsregimentassociation.org.uk/newsletter/reg_april_2014_no2.pdf . dead .
  21. Web site: CBE for former Keswick student. Cumberland and Westmorland Herald. 4 June 2018.
  22. Web site: New brigadier for Duke of Lancaster's Regiment. Clitheroe Advertiser. 25 December 2013. 4 June 2018.
  23. Web site: 4 November 2021 . British Soldier Punished for Lifting Kenyan Woman's Skirt in Nanyuki .
  24. Web site: British Army to pay woman whose skirt was lifted by soldier. The Star.
  25. News: Hancock . Sam . 24 October 2021 . Army bosses accused of cover-up after soldier 'killed sex worker and hid body in septic tank' . The Independent . 2 November 2021.
  26. News: Grierson . Jamie . 14 November 2021 . Military chief pledges UK cooperation with Kenya in Wanjiru case . The Guardian . 16 November 2021.
  27. News: Willems . Michiel . 14 November 2021 . Defence Secretary Ben Wallace denies murder of Kenyan woman by British soldier was covered up . City A. M. . 16 November 2021.
  28. News: Kimutai . Cyprian . 14 November 2021 . UK Defence Secretary concerned by British soldiers in Kenya visiting brothels . Pulse Live . 16 November 2021.
  29. News: 1 November 2021 . Squaddies 'made vile jokes about murder of mum' after body was found in septic tank . The Mirror . 2 November 2021.
  30. News: Hlatshwayo . Mukelwa . Coles . Amy . 3 November 2021 . Agnes Wanjiru: Armed forces minister pledges to 'leave no stone unturned' as Kenyan police reopen murder investigation . Sky News . 5 November 2021.
  31. Web site: UK armed forces introduce ban on use of sex workers abroad. Dan. Sabbagh. 19 July 2022. The Guardian.
  32. News: The London Gazette. Page 3300-3301. Childers Reform. 27 October 2016. 24992. Government of the United Kingdom. 1 July 1881.
  33. Web site: Allied and Affiliated. The Duke Of Lancaster's Regimental Association.
  34. Web site: Duke of Lancaster's Regiment parade through Colne . Spencer . Andrew . 14 May 2015 . Pendle Today . 18 July 2021 .
  35. Web site: Jon . Macpherson . Duke of Lancaster's Regiment to march through Haslingden . Rossendale Free Press . 2016-07-13 . 2019-02-12.
  36. Web site: Skentelbery . Gary . Another chance to show support for troops at freedom parade . Warrington-worldwide.co.uk . 2018-09-27 . 2019-02-12.
  37. Web site: Freedom of the Borough 2017 . Chorley.gov.uk . 2017-07-22 . 2019-02-12 . 22 October 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171022032903/http://chorley.gov.uk/events/Pages/Freedom-of-the-Borough-2017.aspx . dead .
  38. Web site: Honorary Freemen of the Borough . Tameside.gov.uk . 2019-02-12.
  39. Web site: Duke of Lancaster's Regiment awarded Freedom of Knowsley. https://web.archive.org/web/20120831150559/http://www.knowsley.gov.uk/residents/news-and-media-releases/news/duke-of-lancaster%e2%80%99s-regiment.aspx. dead. 31 August 2012. 12 February 2019.
  40. Web site: Troops get freedom of the city . Manchester Evening News . 17 April 2010 . 2019-02-12.
  41. News: Duke of Lancaster's Regiment's freedom of Ribble Valley . BBC News . 10 March 2011 . 2019-02-12.
  42. Web site: Freedom of the Borough of West Lancashire . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/0CYvON0uNro. 2021-12-12 . live. YouTube . 2011-10-25 . 2019-02-12.
  43. News: Whitehaven pays tribute to soldiers at town parade . BBC News . 20 May 2013 . 2019-02-12.
  44. Web site: Duke of Lancaster's Regiment to be awarded Freedom of Maryport | Border - ITV News . Itv.com . 2015-05-19 . 2019-02-12.
  45. Web site: Regiment set to march through Bootle. www.champnews.com.
  46. Web site: Honorary Freedom of the Borough . UK . Sefton.gov.uk . 2019-02-12.
  47. Web site: Carlisle soldier to march in Appleby 'freedom of the town' parade . Cumbria Crack. 12 July 2017.
  48. Web site: Duke of Lancaster's Regiment given freedom of Appleby - BBC News . Bbc.com . 2017-07-19 . 2019-02-12.
  49. Web site: Duke of Lancaster's Regiment given freedom of Blackpool | Latest News . Visit Blackpool . 2017-07-14 . 2019-02-12.
  50. Web site: Niall . Griffiths . Army regiment to receive the 'freedom of Wigan' for its service to the country . Wigan Today . 2019-12-04 . 2019-12-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191202173436/https://www.wigantoday.net/news/people/army-regiment-to-receive-the-freedom-of-wigan-for-its-service-to-the-country-1-10132294 . dead .
  51. Web site: Huge support as Duke of Lancaster's Regiment enjoys 'Freedom of Borough' march through Poulton. 24 May 2022. Blackpool Gazette.

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