| Mercian Regiment (Cheshire, Worcesters and Foresters, and Staffords) | |
|---|---|
 Cap badge of the regiment | |
| Active | 1 September 2007 – present |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Type | Line Infantry |
| Role | 1st Battalion –Armoured Infantry 4th Battalion –Army Reserve – Armoured Infantry |
| Size | Two battalions 1,155 personnel[1] 1st Battalion – 732[1] 4th Battalion – 423[1] |
| Part of | Queen's Division |
| Garrison/HQ | RHQ -Lichfield 1st Battalion -Bulford 4th Battalion -Wolverhampton |
| Nickname | The Heart of England's Infantry |
| Motto | "Stand Firm Strike Hard" |
| March | Wha Wadna Fecht for Charlie/Under the Double Eagle (Quick)[2] Stand Firm and Strike Hard (Slow) |
| Mascot | Ram (Corporal Derby XXXIII)[3] |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Colonel-in-Chief | William, Prince of Wales |
| Colonel of the Regiment | Lieutenant General SirIan Cave |
| Insignia | |
| Tactical Recognition Flash |  |
| Arm Badge | Stafford Knot and Glider From Staffordshire Regiment |
| Abbreviation | MERCIANMERC |
TheMercian Regiment (Cheshire, Worcesters and Foresters, and Staffords) is aninfantryregiment of theBritish Army, which is recruited from five of the counties that formed the ancient kingdom ofMercia. Known as 'The Heart of England's Infantry', it was formed on 1 September 2007 by the amalgamation of three existing regiments. The Regiment has had fifteen operational deployments since its formation.[4]
The regiment's formation was announced on 16 December 2004 by the thenSecretary of DefenceGeoff Hoon andGeneral Sir Mike Jackson as part of the restructuring of theBritish Army Infantry - it consisted of three regular battalions, plus a territorial battalion, and was created through the merger of three single battalion regiments.[5]
The antecedent regiments were, The 1st Battalion,Cheshire Regiment, The 1st Battalion,Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment and the 1st Battalion,Staffordshire Regiment. The reserveWest Midlands Regiment, with elements of theKing's and Cheshire Regiment and theEast of England Regiment formed the 4th Battalion, Mercian Regiment.[6]
The regiment originally had threeregular army battalions and oneArmy Reserve battalion, though the 3rd Battalion was disbanded, as part of therestructuring of the British Army,[7] in July 2014.[8] It had been part of the7th Armoured Brigade based inBad Fallingbostel, Germany.[9] The regiment further restructured in September 2022 when the 2nd Battalion merged with the 1st Battalion.[10] This happened as a result of the Integrated Review.[11]
The regiment was deployed to Afghanistan (Herrick 6, Herrick 10, Herrick 12, Herrick 14, Herrick 15, Herrick 17 and Herrick 19) and to Iraq (Telic 11).[12]
In 2017, the regiment moved to theKing's Division.[13]
The regimental headquarters is situated atDMS Whittington inLichfield, with outstations inChester andNottingham.[14]
The 1st Battalion has deployed on five operational tours since its formation in 2007, one to Iraq, two to Afghanistan, one to Ukraine, and one to Estonia. It is anarmoured infantry battalion, part of the12th Armoured Brigade Combat Team[15] based atBulford Camp, England.[16][17][18]
The4th Battalion is the regiment'sArmy Reserve Armoured Infantry battalion. The battalion, whose HQ is based inWolverhampton andKidderminster, England, has 2 rifle companies, a support company and a HQ company.[19]
The regiment's cap badge is a double headed Mercian Eagle withSaxon crown. This has been chosen because it forms a link to the regiment's recruiting area, which encompass a number of divergent counties that do not have modern traditional links, only under the ancient Kingdom of Mercia (unlike the other new regiments from Scotland, Wales and Yorkshire). It was originally intended to use the oldMercian Brigade badge worn by the Cheshire Regiment, Staffordshire Regiment, Worcestershire Regiment and Sherwood Foresters from 1958 to 1968, rather than create an amalgamated badge that would require elements from all of the antecedents. In 2005, this badge was rejected by the Army Dress Committee on the grounds that it had been the badge of aterritorial unit, TheMercian Volunteers, which was junior to the amalgamating regiments.[20] Accordingly, a slightly modified design featuring two colours of metal was adopted.[21]
In 2012, following the announcement that the 3rd Battalion (ex-Staffordshire Regiment) was to be disbanded, a proposal was submitted to the Army to have the name of the Mercian Regiment changed to reflect its entire lineage and maintain the Staffords name.[22] In July 2014, this proposal was approved, and the regiment was renamed as The Mercian Regiment (Cheshire, Worcesters and Foresters, and Staffords).[23]
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"Derby", aSwaledale ram, is the regimental mascot, a tradition inherited from the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment. The 30th iteration of the Mascot was known as Lance Corporal Derby XXX, before he died on 27 November 2015.[24] His successor, known as Private Derby XXXI, was announced on 20 February 2016[25] but he died on 1 September 2017.[26]
In December 2017, Private Derby XXXII was presented to the Regiment[27] by theDuke and Duchess of Devonshire at Chatsworth House.[28] Private Derby was received by Brigadier Williams, OBE, Colonel of the Regiment.[29]
Private Derby led the Tamworth Carnival in 2019.[30] According to his handlers this was the longest March Private Derby has done to date.[31]
In July 2024, Derby XXXII was promoted to the rank of Corporal for the first time in the history of his lineage. The promotion took place following the annual pilgrimage to the regimental memorial at Crich on 7 July 2024.[32]
On 31 July 2024, the Regiment announced "Corporal Derby XXXII, the Ram Major, had retired from his duties" and would be retiring to theChatsworth Estate. Derby XXXIII was announced as his replacement.[33]
The regiment also maintains loose links through its Regimental Headquarters with the former mascot of the Staffordshire Regiment,Watchman, who now carries out his duties as part of the Staffordshire Regiment Association.[34]
Various "Golden Threads", representing the traditions of predecessor units, are incorporated in the Mercian Regiment's uniform:
The Band of the Mercian Regiment is the regimentalmilitary band of the Mercian Regiment. Based inWolverhampton, the Band is composed of volunteer musicians that include many from civilian careers. The band undertakes a variety of performances, international, national, and local parades/festivals and concerts. In recent years, the band has visited countries such asCyprus, participated in events like the Buxton Military Tattoo and in 2014, became the first and only reserve band based outside of London to performs during the changing of theQueen's Guard at bothBuckingham Palace andSt James's Palace. It also has taken part in theHousehold Division'sBeating Retreat onHorse Guards Parade. One of its more notable directors was Captain Anthony Hodgetts, who after rising through the ranks ofBritish Army Bands, served twelve years as Director of Music of theRoyal Army of Oman.[37]
On 1 June 2019, the Mercian Regiment Band led the Tamworth carnival though the town. According to the musicians, this was the longest march the band had done to date.[38]
On 10 October 2019, Mercian Band Bugler Msn Wykes performed the Last Post and Rouse at theNational Memorial Arboretum.[39] He then performed the Last Post and Rouse at the War memorial in St Editha's Church Tamworth,Tamworth being the historical capital ofMercia.[40]
The Mercian Regiment supports four museums that hold collections of the Mercian Regiment and its antecedent regiments:
All of the previous alliances of the three individual regiments were carried over into the Mercian Regiment.
Antigua and Barbuda -Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force.Allied regiment.
Australia - 8/7thThe Royal Victoria Regiment.Allied regiment.
Canada – 4th Battalion,Royal 22e Régiment.Allied regiment. Canada -The Grey and Simcoe Foresters.Allied regiment. Canada - TheCape Breton Highlanders.Allied regiment.
Jamaica -The Jamaica Regiment.Allied regiment.
Pakistan - 13th Battalion,The Punjab Regiment.Allied regiment. Pakistan -7th Battalion,The Baloch Regiment.Allied regiment.
India -5th Battalion (Napiers),Rajputana Rifles.Affiliated regiment. India -14th Prince of Wales's Own Scinde HorseAffiliated regiment. India -Madras Engineer Group.Affiliated regiment. United Kingdom -N Battery (The Eagle Troop).Affiliated regiment.
Royal Navy -HMSAlbion.Other affiliation.
England - TheWorshipful Company of Bowyers.Other affiliation.
France -Régiment de marche du Tchad.Bond of friendship.The regiment has received theFreedom of several locations throughout its history; these include:[44]
1 September 2007:Dudley Metropolitan Borough.1 September 2007:Lichfield.1 September 2007:Stafford.1 September 2007:Stockport. Originally granted to theCheshire Regiment on16 October 1969.1 September 2007:Wolverhampton.1 September 2007:Worcester. Originally granted to theWorcestershire Regiment on15 April 1950.12 September 2007:Derby.14 September 2007:Tamworth.4 October 2007:Erewash. Originally granted to theWorcestershire Regiment in1951, then to theWorcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment in1970.15 October 2007:Nottingham. Originally granted to theSherwood Foresters Regiment on22 October 1945, then to theWorcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment on28 February 1970.12 December 2007:Chesterfield. Originally granted to theSherwood Foresters Regiment in1946, then to theWorcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment in1970.18 December 2007:High Peak.18 December 2007:Mansfield.20 February 2008:Newark.12 March 2008:Bassetlaw.12 March 2008:Kidderminster. Originally granted to theWorcestershire Regiment in1952, then to theWorcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment in1989.14 March 2008:Dudley.26 March 2008:Chester.4 September 2008:Macclesfield.5 November 2008:Crewe and Nantwich.2008:Ellesmere Port & Neston.16 February 2009:Newcastle-under-Lyme.17 February 2009:Walsall.18 February 2009:Sandwell.19 February 2009:Burton-on-Trent.21 February 2009:Stoke-on-Trent.25 March 2009:Congleton.18 May 2009:Redditch.26 November 2009:Derbyshire Dales.2009:Wirral. Originally granted to theCheshire Regiment in1996.26 January 2010:Amber Valley.22 September 2010:Gedling.14 October 2010:Cheshire East.20 October 2010:Reading.11 November 2010:South Derbyshire.2010:Southwell.20 January 2011:Bromsgrove.29 March 2011:Wychavon.7 November 2012:Cannock Chase.21 May 2013:Tameside.2014:Sandbach.17 February 2015:Crewe.[45]Unknown:Halton Originally granted to theCheshire Regiment on13 July 1989.| Preceded by | Infantry Order of Precedence | Succeeded by |
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