Editing Green Howards

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2016}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name=The Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment; 19th Regiment of Foot)
|image=XIX-cap-badge.jpg
|image_size=180px
|caption=Green Howards [[cap badge]]
|dates=20 November 1688&nbsp;– 6 June 2006
|country={{flag|Kingdom of England}} (1688–1707)<br>{{flag|Kingdom of Great Britain}} (1707–1800)<br>{{flag|United Kingdom}} (1801–2006)
|branch={{army|United Kingdom}}
|type=[[Line infantry]]
|role=[[Light infantry]]
|size=One battalion
|garrison=[[Richmond Barracks, North Yorkshire|Richmond Barracks]], [[North Yorkshire]]
|ceremonial_chief=[[Harald V of Norway|King Harald V of Norway]]
|ceremonial_chief_label=Last Colonel in Chief
|colonel_of_the_regiment=[[Field marshal (United Kingdom)|Field Marshal]] [[Peter Inge, Baron Inge|Peter Inge]] [[Order of the Garter|KG]], [[Order of the Bath|GCB]], [[Privy Council of the United Kingdom|PC]], [[Deputy Lieutenant|DL]]
|colonel_of_the_regiment_label=Last Colonel
|nickname=
|motto=
|colors= Green Facings
|march=Quick&nbsp;– ''The Bonnie English Rose'' <br /> Slow&nbsp;– ''Maria Theresa''
|mascot=
|battles=
|notable_commanders=
|anniversaries=[[Battle of Alma|Alma]] (20 September)
|identification_symbol=[[File:Green Howards TRF.svg|100px]]
|identification_symbol_label=Tactical Recognition Flash
|}}
The '''Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment)''', frequently known as the '''Yorkshire Regiment''' until the 1920s,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=28121 |supp=y|page=2157|date=20 March 1908}}</ref> was a [[line infantry]] [[regiment]] of the [[British Army]], in the [[King's Division]]. Raised in 1688, it served under various titles until it was amalgamated with the [[Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire]] and the [[Duke of Wellington's Regiment|Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding)]], all Yorkshire-based regiments in the King's Division, to form the [[Royal Yorkshire Regiment|Yorkshire Regiment (14th/15th, 19th and 33rd/76th Foot)]] on 6 June 2006.

==History==
===Formation to end 18th century===
[[File:Soldier of 19th regiment 1742.jpg|thumb|right|170px|Soldier of the 19th Regiment, 1742]]
The regiment was formed during the 1688 [[Glorious Revolution]] from independent companies raised in [[Somerset]] by [[Colonel (United Kingdom)#Colonel of the Regiment|Colonel]] [[Francis Luttrell (1659–1690)|Francis Luttrell]], to support [[William III of England|William III]].<ref>Cannon, p. 2</ref><ref>Scott, p. 360.</ref> In 1690, it supplied detachments for [[Williamite War in Ireland|Ireland]] and [[Jamaica]], incurring heavy losses from disease, including Luttrell who was replaced by [[Thomas Erle]]. Transferred to [[Flanders]] in early 1692 during the [[Nine Years' War]], it was present at the battles of [[Battle of Steenkerque|Steenkerque]] and [[Battle of Landen|Landen]], as well as the [[Siege of Namur (1695)|Siege of Namur]].<ref>Cannon, pp. 3-5</ref> after the 1697 [[Peace of Ryswick]], it escaped disbandment by being made part of the Irish garrison, where it remained until the [[War of the Spanish Succession]] began in 1702.<ref name="19th Foot; the Yorkshire Regiment">{{cite web |title=19th Foot; the Yorkshire Regiment |url=https://www.britishempire.co.uk/forces/yorkshireregiment.htm |website=British Empire |access-date=20 April 2019}}</ref>

In 1703, it was part of an expeditionary force in the [[West Indies]] and [[Newfoundland]], losing many men to disease before returning to Ireland in 1704. Back in Flanders in 1710, it took part in the sieges of [[Douai]] and [[Siege of Bouchain (1711)|Bouchain]] and [[Peace of Utrecht|when the war ended in 1713]], it resumed garrison duties in Ireland. With the exception of the [[Capture of Vigo|1719 Vigo expedition]], it did not see action again until 1744.<ref name="19th Foot; the Yorkshire Regiment"/>

When the [[War of the Austrian Succession]] began in 1740, the regiment was based in [[Edinburgh]]; by 1744, many of its men were Scots and recruiting officers warned to exclude 'Jacobites and Irish Papists.'<ref>{{cite book |last1=Powell |first1=Geoffrey |title=The History of the Green Howards |date=2016 |publisher=Pen & Sword |isbn=978-1473857971 |page=45}}</ref> The unit was then commanded by [[Charles Howard (British Army officer)|Charles Howard]] and thus known as 'Howard's Regiment'; when it joined the army in Flanders, this clashed with another regiment also commanded by a Howard. To avoid confusion, they were referred to by the colour of their [[facings]], one becoming 'Green Howards' and the other, '[[Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment)|Buff Howards]]'.<ref>Powell, p.46</ref>

The Green Howards fought at the [[Battle of Fontenoy]] in May 1745, with a short period in England during the [[Jacobite rising of 1745|1745 Jacobite Rising]]. It took part in the [[Battle of Rocoux]] and the [[Battle of Lauffeld]] before the 1748 [[Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748)|Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle]] ended the war, after which it became part of the garrison of [[Gibraltar]].<ref>Powell, pp.47-48</ref> While there, the 1751 army reforms retitled it the '''19th Regiment of Foot'''.<ref name=regiments>{{cite web|title=The Green Howards|url=http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/inf/019Green.htm|work=Regiments.Org|access-date=28 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024090000/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/inf/019Green.htm|archive-date=24 October 2007}}</ref> It returned to Britain in 1752 and spent most of the next decade on garrison duty in Scotland and Northern England.<ref>Powell, p.49</ref>

During the 1756 to 1763 [[Seven Years' War]], it took part in the [[capture of Belle Île]] in April 1761, where it suffered over 200 casualties. Officer recruitment was challenging as the cost of purchasing a commission in the 19th Foot was very high. This led to severe shortages in middling and senior ranks, with a total of 15 officer positions vacant during the assault on Belle Île including five captains and the regimental major.<ref>Rodger, p.253</ref> When peace was declared the regiment was reassigned to garrison duty in Gibraltar and Scotland. Its next active service was not until 1781 when it took part in a disastrous southern campaign in the closing stages of the [[American Revolutionary War]].<ref>Powell, pp.55-56</ref> In 1782,  all foot regiments without a special designation were given a county title "to cultivate a connection with the County which might at all times be useful towards recruiting"<ref>Royal Warrant dated 31 August 1782</ref> and so the regiment was redesignated the '''19th (1st North Riding of Yorkshire) Regiment'''.<ref name=regiments/>

With the end of the American War, the regiment was stationed in Jamaica, a notoriously unhealthy posting where it was common for units to lose 100% of their strength every two years.<ref>Powell, p.56</ref> It remained there until 1791, when it returned to Britain; in 1796, it was posted to India, the also saw action at the [[Siege of Seringapatam (1799)|Siege of Seringapatam]] in April 1799 during the [[Fourth Anglo-Mysore War]].<ref name="Cannon, p. 19">Cannon, p. 19</ref>

===The Two Howards===
The regiment was known as the Green Howards from 1744. At that time, regiments were known by the name of their colonel. The 19th regiment's colonel was Hon. [[Charles Howard (British Army officer)|Sir Charles Howard]]. However, at the same time, the 3rd Regiment of Foot had been commanded by its colonel [[Thomas Howard (British Army officer, born 1684)|Thomas Howard]], since 1737. To tell them apart (since they both would have been known as 'Howard's Regiment of Foot'), the colours of their uniform facings were used to distinguish them. In this way, one became 'Howard's Buffs' (eventually simply [[Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment)|The Buffs]]), while the other became the Green Howards. Although the Green Howards were referred to unofficially as such from then on, it was not until 1921 that the regiment was officially retitled as the Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment).<ref>Army Order 509/1920, in effect 1 January 1921</ref> Under the [[Childers Reforms]], all non-royal English infantry regiments were to wear white facings from 1881. In 1899, the regiment was able to reverse this decision with the restoration of the grass green facings formerly worn by the 19th Foot.<ref>Eric Hamilton, Bulletin of the Military History Society, Special Issue No.1, 1968</ref>

===Kandyan Wars===
In April 1801 the regiment was deployed to [[Sri Lanka|Ceylon]] for service in the [[Kandyan Wars]].<ref name="Cannon, p. 19"/> The regiment lost six officers and 172 other ranks in a massacre there in June 1803 and then remained on the island to enforce British rule.<ref>Cannon, p. 21</ref> The regiment did not return to England until May 1820.<ref>Cannon, p. 26</ref>

===The Victorian era===
[[File:1st Battalion, 19th (1st Yorkshire North Riding – Princess of Wales's Own) Regiment of Foot Warrant & Non-Commissioned Officers in Bermuda ca 1879-1880.jpg|thumb|1st Battalion Warrant Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers in the [[Bermuda Garrison|garrison]] of the [[Imperial fortress]] of [[Bermuda]], circa 1879-1880]]
The regiment saw action at the [[Battle of Alma]] in September 1854 and at the [[Siege of Sevastopol (1854–55)|Siege of Sevastopol]] in winter 1854 during the [[Crimean War]] and then saw action again during the [[Indian Rebellion of 1857|Indian Rebellion]].<ref name=nam>{{cite web|url=http://www.nam.ac.uk/research/famous-units/green-howards-alexandra-princess-wales-own-yorkshire-regiment|title=Green Howards (Alexandra Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment)|publisher=National Army Museum|access-date=28 October 2016|archive-date=30 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161030082108/http://www.nam.ac.uk/research/famous-units/green-howards-alexandra-princess-wales-own-yorkshire-regiment|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1875, [[Alexandra of Denmark|Princess Alexandra, Princess of Wales]] presented new colours to the 1st Battalion at [[Sheffield]], and consented to the regiment bearing her name, thus becoming the 19th (1st Yorkshire North Riding&nbsp;– Princess of Wales's Own) Regiment of Foot.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.greenhowards.org.uk/html-files/norwegianlink.htm |title=The Norwegian Link |publisher=Friends of the Green Howards |access-date=12 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050308195659/http://www.greenhowards.org.uk/html-files/norwegianlink.htm |archive-date=8 March 2005 }}</ref> The regiment adopted a [[cap badge]] consisting of the Princess's cypher "A" combined with the [[Flag of Denmark|Dannebrog]] or Danish cross and topped by her coronet. The Princess became Queen Alexandra in 1901, and was the regiment's Colonel-in-Chief from 1914 until her death in 1925.<ref name=evolution>{{cite web|url=http://greenhowards.org.uk.gridhosted.co.uk/about-us/green-howards-regiment/evolution-of-a-name/|title=Evolution of a Name|publisher=Green Howards Museum|access-date=20 May 2014|archive-date=21 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140521031755/http://greenhowards.org.uk.gridhosted.co.uk/about-us/green-howards-regiment/evolution-of-a-name/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Childers Reforms===
The regiment was not fundamentally affected by the [[Cardwell Reforms]] of the 1870s, which gave it a depot at [[Richmond Barracks, North Yorkshire|Richmond Barracks]] in [[North Yorkshire]] from 1873, or by the [[Childers reforms]] of 1881 – as it already possessed two battalions, there was no need for it to amalgamate with another regiment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/depot/1873.htm |title=Training Depots 1873–1881 |publisher=Regiments.org |access-date=16 October 2016 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060210172841/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/depot/1873.htm |archive-date=10 February 2006 |df=dmy-all }} The depot was the 4th Brigade Depot from 1873 to 1881, and the 19th Regimental District depot thereafter</ref> Under the reforms the regiment amalgamated with the [[militia]] battalions and [[Volunteer Force (Great Britain)|rifle volunteers]] in its designated regimental district and became '''The Princess of Wales's Own (Yorkshire Regiment)''' on 1 July 1881.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=24992|pages=3300–3301|date=1 July 1881}}</ref>

The 1st battalion was stationed at [[Nova Scotia]] from 1884, moved to the Mediterranean in 1888 where it was stationed at [[Malta]] but also saw action in Egypt, then moved to [[Jersey]] in 1895 followed by Ireland in 1898. After a brief spell in [[Gibraltar]] in 1899, the battalion was posted to South Africa as reinforcement for the [[Second Boer War]], where it was involved in the [[Relief of Kimberley]] and the battles of [[Battle of Diamond Hill|Diamond Hill]] (June 1900) and [[Battle of Belfast|Belfast]] (August 1900). The battalion returned to the United Kingdom in September 1902.<ref name=Hart>Hart′s Army list, 1903</ref>

The 2nd battalion was in Ireland from 1881 to 1886, when it returned to garrison back home in England. From early 1890 the battalion was stationed in [[British Raj|British India]], where it took part in military campaigns on the [[Military history of the North-West Frontier|North-West Frontier]].<ref name=Hart /> The battalion had various postings, including at [[Sitapur]] and [[Benares]] until late 1902 when it was posted to [[Cawnpore]].<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Naval & Military intelligence - The Army in India|date=11 October 1902 |page=12 |issue=36896}}</ref>

A 3rd ([[Militia (United Kingdom)|Militia]]) Battalion, formed from the 5th West York Militia in 1881 was a reserve battalion. It was embodied in December 1899, and 700 men embarked on the SS ''Assaye'' in February 1900 for service in [[South Africa]] during the [[Second Boer War]].<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=The War - Embarcation of Troops|date=1 March 1900 |page=7 |issue=36078}}</ref> Many of the officers and men returned home in May 1902 on the SS ''Sicilia''.<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=The War - Troops returning home|date=28 April 1902 |page=8 |issue=36753}}</ref>

The 4th (Militia) Battalion, formed from the [[North York Rifle Militia|North York Rifles]] in 1881 was also a reserve battalion. It was embodied for service on 5 May 1900, disembodied on 2 July 1901, and re-embodied again for service during Second Boer War in South Africa. 555 officers and men returned to Southampton by the SS ''Tagus'' in October 1902, following the end of the war, and was disbanded at the Richmond barracks.<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=The Army in South Africa - Troops returning home|date=12 September 1902 |page=5 |issue=36871}}</ref>

In July 1902, the regiment was redesignated as '''Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own (Yorkshire Regiment)'''.<ref name=evolution/><ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Naval & Military intelligence |date=7 July 1902 |page=6 |issue=36813}}</ref>

In 1908, the Volunteers and Militia were reorganised nationally, with the former becoming the [[Territorial Force]] and the latter the [[Special Reserve (militia)|Special Reserve]];<ref>{{cite web|url= https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1908/mar/31/territorial-and-reserve-forces-act-1907|title=Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907|work=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]]|date=31 March 1908|access-date=20 June 2017}}</ref> the regiment now had one Reserve and two Territorial battalions.<ref>These were the 3rd Battalion (Special Reserve), with the 4th Battalion at South Parade in [[Northallerton]] (since demolished) and the 5th Battalion at North Street in Scarborough (since demolished) (both Territorial Force). The 4th Battalion moved to [[Thirsk Road drill hall, Northallerton|Thirsk Road]] in Northallerton in 1911.</ref><ref name=regiments/>

===First World War===

====Regular Army====
The 1st Battalion remained in [[India]] as part of the [[2nd (Sialkot) Cavalry Brigade]] in the [[2nd (Rawalpindi) Division]] throughout the war and then took part in the [[Third Anglo-Afghan War]] in 1919.<ref name=trail>{{cite web|last=Baker|first=Chris|title=The Yorkshire Regiment|url=http://www.1914-1918.net/yorks.htm|work=The Long, Long Trail. The British Army in the Great War|access-date=28 July 2012}}</ref>

The 2nd Battalion landed at [[Zeebrugge]] as part of the [[21st Brigade (United Kingdom)|21st Brigade]] in the [[7th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)|7th Division]] in October 1914 for service on the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]].<ref name=trail/> The 2nd Battalion held the Menin crossroads for 16 days during the [[First Battle of Ypres]] in October 1914 sustaining heavy casualties.<ref name=beckett>Beckett, p. 136</ref>

====Territorial Force====
The 1/4th and 1/5th Battalions landed at [[Boulogne-sur-Mer]] as part of the [[150th (York and Durham) Brigade|York and Durham Brigade]] in the [[50th (Northumbrian) Division|Northumbrian Division]] in April 1915 for service on the Western Front.<ref name=trail/> Both battalions saw action at the [[Second Battle of Ypres]] in April 1915.<ref name=beckett/>

====New Armies====
The 6th (Service) Battalion landed at [[Suvla Bay]] in [[Gallipoli]] as part of the [[32nd Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|32nd Brigade]] in the [[11th (Northern) Division]] in August 1915; the battalion was evacuated to Egypt in January 1916 and then moved to France in July 1916 for service on the Western Front.<ref name=trail/>

The 7th (Service) Battalion landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer as part of the [[50th Brigade (United Kingdom)|50th Brigade]] in the [[17th (Northern) Division]] in July 1915 for service on the Western Front.<ref name=trail/> The 8th (Service) Battalion landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer as part of the [[69th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|69th Brigade]] in the [[23rd (Northumbrian) Division|23rd Division]] in August 1915 also for service on the Western Front.<ref name=trail/> The 9th (Service) Battalion landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer as part of the [[69th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|69th Brigade]] in the [[23rd (Northumbrian) Division|23rd Division]] in August 1915 also for service on the Western Front but moved to Italy in November 1917 and then returned to France in September 1918.<ref name=trail/> The 10th (Service) Battalion landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer as part of the [[62nd Brigade (United Kingdom)|62nd Brigade]] in the [[21st Division (United Kingdom)|21st Division]] in September 1915 also for service on the Western Front.<ref name=trail/> The 12th (Service) Battalion, formed as the "Middlesbrough [[Pals battalion|Pals]]" by the [[Middlesbrough|Mayor and Town of Middlesbrough]], landed at [[Le Havre]] as pioneer battalion to the [[40th Division (United Kingdom)|40th Division]] in June 1916 also for service on the Western Front.<ref name=trail/> The 13th (Service) Battalion landed at Le Havre as part of the [[121st Brigade (United Kingdom)|121st Brigade]] in the [[40th Division (United Kingdom)|40th Division]] in June 1916 also for service on the Western Front but, after returning to the United Kingdom in June 1918, moved to [[Murmansk]] in November 1918.<ref name=trail/>

===Interbellum===
During the [[Interbellum]], the 2nd Battalion was posted from 1925 to 1927 to the Imperial fortress colony of Bermuda.<ref>Powell, p. 176</ref>

===Second World War===
[[File:Men of 'D' Company, 1st Battalion, The Green Howards occupy a captured German communications trench during the offensive at Anzio, Italy, 22 May 1944. NA15297.jpg|thumb|right|Men of D Company of the 1st Battalion, Green Howards occupy a captured German communications trench during the [[Battle of Anzio|breakout at Anzio]], Italy, 22 May 1944.]]

During the [[World War II|Second World War]], the regiment was again increased in size, although not to as large an extent as in the 1914–1918 conflict. In all, twelve battalions saw service:
* 1st Battalion, with [[15th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|15th Infantry Brigade]] of the [[5th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)|5th Infantry Division]], seeing action in Sicily and Italy.<ref>Joslen, pp. 253-254</ref>
* 2nd Battalion, initially stationed in India, it fought in Burma as part of the [[26th Indian Infantry Division]] and the [[82nd (West Africa) Division]].<ref>Joslen p. 534</ref>
* 4th and 5th [[Army Reserve (United Kingdom)|Territorial Army]] Battalions, both serving with the [[150th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|150th Infantry Brigade]] of the [[50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division]], saw service in France and North Africa where they were captured during the [[Battle of Gazala]].<ref>Joslen, p. 334</ref>
* 6th and 7th Battalions (both formed as 2nd Line duplicates of the 4th and 5th, when the Territorial Army was doubled in size in 1939), served with [[69th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|69th Brigade]], originally with the [[23rd (Northumbrian) Division]] but later the 50th Division, saw service in France, North Africa, Sicily and North West Europe.<ref>Joslen pp. 299</ref>
* 8th Battalion was formed for [[Home Service Battalions|home defence]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wartimememoriesproject.com/ww2/allied/battalion.php?pid=6332|title=8th (North Riding) Battalion Green Howards|publisher=Wartime Memories Project|access-date=5 May 2019}}</ref> Originally raised in August–September 1939, in the Middlesbrough area, from the Home Guard and those unfit to serve overseas. The 8th and 13th were amalgamated in June 1941, in September 1943 it was classed as a Garrison Battalion, renamed as the 30th Battalion and went to Italy, and French North Africa (Algiers and Tunisia). It was disbanded after six years service.<ref>{{cite book|title=Story of the Green Howards|last= Synge|first= Captain W. A. T.|year=1952}}</ref>
* 9th Battalion was formed for garrison duty (and later converted into the [[108th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery]], serving with the [[52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division]] from March 1942)<ref>Joslen, p. 85</ref>
* 10th Battalion was formed by the conversion of the [[East Riding of Yorkshire Yeomanry|2nd East Riding Yeomanry]] (a war-time duplicate of this yeomanry unit) in 1940 and subsequently becoming the [[12th (Yorkshire) Parachute Battalion]] attached to the [[5th Parachute Brigade (United Kingdom)|5th Parachute Brigade]] and part of the [[6th Airborne Division (United Kingdom)|6th Airborne Division]].<ref name=Mills12Para>{{cite web|url=http://regiments.org/regiments/uk/vols-tavr/specfor/para12.htm |title=12th (Yorkshire) Battalion, The Parachute Regiment at regiments.org by T.F.Mills |access-date=2014-04-22 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070715140005/http://regiments.org/regiments/uk/vols-tavr/specfor/para12.htm |archive-date=15 July 2007 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
* The 11th, 12th and 13th Battalions were all formed in 1940.<ref name=regiments/><ref name=campaigns>{{cite web|title=The Green Howards Campaigns and Wars|url=http://greenhowards.org.uk.gridhosted.co.uk/about-us/green-howards-regiment/campaigns-and-wars/|publisher=Green Howards Museum|access-date=28 July 2012|archive-date=20 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520220123/http://greenhowards.org.uk.gridhosted.co.uk/about-us/green-howards-regiment/campaigns-and-wars/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:The British Army in Normandy 1944 B8680.jpg|thumb|left|Men of the Green Howards mopping up German resistance near Tracy Bocage, Normandy, France, 4 August 1944. A knocked out half-track is visible on the left.]]

In 1942, the 12th Battalion was converted to armour as the [[Reconnaissance Corps#Units|161st Regiment Royal Armoured Corps]], but retained its Green Howards cap badge on the black beret of the Royal Armoured Corps as did all other infantry units converted in the same way.<ref>Forty, p. 51</ref> In October 1943 it was then converted again, this time to the reconnaissance role, as 161st (Green Howards) Regiment in the Reconnaissance Corps. It never went into action as a regiment, but provided a replacement squadron to the [[43rd (Wessex) Reconnaissance Regiment]], which had suffered heavy losses when its transport was sunk on the way to France to fight in the [[Battle for Caen|Battle of Normandy]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.recce.adsl24.co.uk/regts/161st.htm |title=161st (Green Howards) Reconnaissance Regiment |access-date=5 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140521032005/http://www.recce.adsl24.co.uk/regts/161st.htm |archive-date=21 May 2014 }}</ref>

===Post War===
From 1949 to 1952, the regiment took part in the [[Malayan Emergency]]. Over the next 30 years it served in [[Afghanistan]], [[Suez]], [[Cyprus]], [[Hong Kong]], [[Libya]], [[Belize]], [[Berlin]] and [[Northern Ireland]].<ref name=campaigns/> While serving with the [[Special Air Service|SAS]], a former officer of the regiment, [[Gavin Hamilton (British Army officer)|Gavin Hamilton]], was killed in action during the [[Falklands War]] in 1982.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/3832175.Soldiers_remember_Falklands_hero/|title=Soldiers remember Falklands hero|work=The Northern Echo|date=9 November 2008|access-date=12 March 2016}}</ref> It also saw action during the [[Gulf War|First Gulf War]] in 1991 and during the [[Bosnian War]] from 1996 to 1997.<ref name=campaigns/>

===Amalgamation===
[[File:Green howards memorial.JPG|thumb|right|Green Howards Memorial, [[Crépon]]]]
In March 2006 at a farewell dinner at [[Dunster Castle]] in [[Somerset]], the regiment paid farewell to [[Harald V of Norway|HM King Harald V]], its retiring [[Colonel-in-chief]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/green-howards-mark-end-of-link-1-2608201|title=Green Howards mark end of link|work=Yorkshire Post|date=16 March 2006|access-date=12 March 2016}}</ref> Until the regiment's rebadging, the Green Howards was one of five remaining line infantry regiments that had not been amalgamated in their entire history, a claim shared with [[Royal Scots|The Royal Scots]], [[Cheshire Regiment|The 22nd (Cheshire) Regiment]], [[Royal Welch Fusiliers|The Royal Welch Fusiliers]] and [[King's Own Scottish Borderers|The King's Own Scottish Borderers]]. However, on 6 June 2006 the regiment amalgamated with the [[Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire]] and the [[Duke of Wellington's Regiment|Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding)]], all Yorkshire-based regiments in the [[King's Division]], to form the [[Yorkshire Regiment|Yorkshire Regiment (14th/15th, 19th and 33rd/76th Foot)]].<ref name=regiments/> The official rebadging took place on 6 June 2006, whilst elements of the regiment were stationed in [[Bosnia and Herzegovina|Bosnia]] and [[Kosovo]].<ref name=campaigns/>

A and B (Green Howards) companies of the [[Tyne-Tees Regiment]], based in Scarborough and Middlesbrough respectively, merged with the Prince of Wales's Own Regiment and Duke of Wellington's Regiment companies of the [[East and West Riding Regiment]] to form the 4th Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yorkshirevolunteers.org.uk/history.htm|title=A short history of the Yorkshire Volunteers|publisher=Yorkshire Volunteers|access-date=12 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724003431/http://yorkshirevolunteers.org.uk/history.htm|archive-date=24 July 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> Following further mergers, in 2012, the 2nd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards) was removed from the [[order of battle]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/infantry/regiments/26215.aspx#|title= Yorkshire Regiment regimental history|publisher=Ministry of Defence|access-date=12 March 2016}}</ref>

==Traditions==
Each year, all [[company (military unit)|companies]] in the battalion took part in a competition, consisting of sports and military skills tests, to win the right to be named 'King Harald's Company', after the regiment's [[Colonel-in-Chief]]. The winning company was given a special flag bearing the King's personal cypher, the Company Sergeant Major was presented with a special pace stick, and all members of the company were permitted to wear a special red badge on the arm of their uniform.<ref>Powell, p. 265</ref>

==Regimental Museum==
The [[Green Howards Regimental Museum]] is located in the old Trinity Church in the centre of the market place in [[Richmond, North Yorkshire]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://greenhowards.org.uk/|title=Green Howards Regimental Museum|publisher=Green Howards|access-date=12 March 2016}}</ref>

==Battle honours==
The regiment's battle honours were as follows:<ref name=regiments/>
* ''Early Wars'': [[Battle of Malplaquet|Malplaquet]], [[Capture of Belle Île|Belleisle]], [[Battle of Alma|Alma]], [[Battle of Inkerman|Inkerman]], [[Siege of Sevastopol (1854–55)|Sevastopol]], [[Tirah Campaign|Tirah]], [[Siege of Kimberley|Relief of Kimberley]], [[Battle of Paardeberg|Paardeberg]], [[South Africa 1899–1902]]
* ''The Great War'': [[Ypres 1914]], [[Ypres 1915|1915]], [[Ypres 1917|1917]], Langemarck 1914, [[Langemarck 1917|1917]], [[Gheluvelt]], [[Battle of Neuve Chapelle|Neuve Chapelle]], [[Battle of St. Julien|St Julien]], Frezenburg, Bellewaarde, [[Battle of Aubers Ridge|Aubers Ridge]], [[Festubert 1915]], [[Battle of Loos|Loos]], [[Somme 1916]]-1918, [[Albert 1916]], [[Bazentin]], Coziers, [[Battle of Flers-Courcelette|Flers-Courcelet]], [[Morval, Pas-de-Calais|Morval]], [[Thiepval]], [[Le Transloy]], [[Ancre Heights]], [[Ancre 1916]], [[Arras 1917]], [[Arras 1918|1918]], [[Scarpe 1917]]-[[Scarpe 1918|1918]], [[Battle of Messines (1917)|Messines 1917]]-1918, Pilckem, [[Menin Road]], [[Polygon Wood]], [[Battle of Broodseinde|Broodseinde]], [[Battle of Poelcappelle|Poelcappelle]], [[Battle of Passchendaele|Passchendaele]], [[Cambrai 1917]]-[[Cambrai 1918|18]], [[First Battle of the Somme (1918)|St Quentin]], [[Hindenburg Line]], [[Canal du Nord]], [[Beaurevoir]], [[Selle (Somme tributary)|Selle]], [[Valenciennes]], [[Sambre]], [[France and Flanders 1914–18]], [[Battle of the Piave River|Piave]], [[Battle of Vittorio Veneto|Vittorio Veneto]], [[Italy 1917–18]], [[Suvla]], [[Landing at Suvla]], [[Scimitar Hill]], [[Gallipoli 1915]], Egypt 1916, [[Archangel 1918]], [[Afghanistan 1919]].
* ''The Second War'': [[Otta, Norway|Otta]], [[Norway 1940]], [[Defence of Arras]], [[Dunkirk 1940]], [[Normandy Landing]], [[Tilly sur Seulles]], St Pierre La Vielle, [[Gheel]], [[Nederrijn]], North West Europe 1940, 1944–45, [[Gazala]], [[Defence of Alamein Line]], [[El Alamein]], [[Mareth]], [[Battle of Wadi Akarit|Akarit]], [[North Africa 1942–43]], [[Landing in Sicily]], [[Lentini]], [[Sicily 1943]], [[Minturno]], [[Anzio]], Italy 1943–44, Arakan Beaches, Burma 1945

==Victoria Cross recipients==
Soldiers of the Green Howards awarded the [[Victoria Cross]] (VC)
* Sergeant [[Alfred Atkinson]], VC (18 February 1900)
* Corporal [[William Anderson (VC)|William Anderson]], VC (12 March 1915)
* Second Lieutenant [[Ernest Frederick Beal]], VC (22 March 1918)
* Second Lieutenant [[Donald Simpson Bell]], VC (5 July 1916)
* Corporal [[William Clamp]], VC (9 October 1917)
* Private [[Tom Dresser]], VC (12 May 1917)
* Private [[Samuel Evans (VC)|Samuel Evans]], VC (13 April 1855)
* Captain [[David Philip Hirsch]], VC (9 April 1917)
* WOII [[Stanley Elton Hollis]], VC (6 June 1944)
* Private [[John Lyons (VC)|John Lyons]], VC (10 June 1855)
* Sergeant [[William McNally]], VC MM and Bar (27 October&nbsp;– 29 October 1918)
* Lieutenant Colonel [[Derek Anthony Seagrim]], VC (20 March&nbsp;– 21 March 1943)
* Major [[Stewart Walter Loudoun-Shand]], VC (1 July 1916)
* Private [[William Henry Short|William Short]], VC (6 August 1916)
* Lieutenant [[William Basil Weston]], VC (3 March 1945)
* Captain [[Archie Cecil Thomas White]], VC MC (27 September&nbsp;– 1 October 1916)

==Colonels-in-Chief==
* 1942–1957: Admiral HM [[Haakon VII of Norway|King Haakon VII of Norway]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|KG|GCB|GCVO|GCStJ}}<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=35555 |page=2067| supp=y|date=8 May 1942}}</ref>
* 195?–1991: Admiral of the Fleet HM [[Olav V of Norway|King Olav V of Norway]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|KG|KT|GCB|GCVO}}
* 1992–2006: General HM [[Harald V of Norway|King Harald V of Norway]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|KG|4=GCVO}}<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=52834 |date=14 February 1992 |page=2582 |supp=y |nolink=yes}}</ref>

==Colonels==
Colonels of the regiment included:<ref name=regiments/>

===Named after Colonel===
e.g. Luttrell's, Erle's etc.
* 1688–1691: Col. Francis Luttrell
* 1691–1712: Gen. [[Thomas Erle]]
* 1712: Brig-Gen. George Freke
* 1712–1715: Lt-Gen. [[Richard Sutton (British Army officer)|Richard Sutton]] [also Sutton's Foot]
* 1715–1729: Col. George Grove
* 1729–1738: Lt-Gen. [[Richard Sutton (British Army officer)|Richard Sutton]] [reappointed]
* 1738–1748: Gen. Hon. Sir [[Charles Howard (British Army officer)|Charles Howard]], KB
* 1748–1751: Lt-Gen. [[Lord George Beauclerk]]

===19th Regiment of Foot (1751)===
* 1751–1768: Lt-Gen. [[Lord George Beauclerk]]
* 1768–1782: Gen. [[David Graeme (British Army officer)|David Graeme]]

===19th (The 1st Yorkshire North Riding) Regiment of Foot - (1782)===
* 1782–1797: Gen. [[David Graeme (British Army officer)|David Graeme]]
* 1797–1810: F.M. [[Samuel Hulse]]
* 1810–1811: Gen. [[Hew Whitefoord Dalrymple|Sir Hew Dalrymple, 1st Baronet]]
* 1811–1843: Gen. [[Tomkyns Hilgrove Turner|Sir Hilgrove Turner]] GCH
* 1843–1849: Gen. Sir [[Warren Peacocke|Warren Marmaduke Peacocke]], KCH
* 1849–1854: Lt-Gen. Charles Turner
* 1854–1861: F.M. [[William Rowan|Sir William Rowan]], GCB
* 1861–1886: Gen. Sir [[Abraham Josias Cloëté]], KCB, KH

===The Princess of Wales's Own (Yorkshire Regiment) - (1881)===
* 1886–1896: Gen. Sir [[Robert Onesiphorus Bright]], GCB
* 1896–1902: Lt-Gen. [[Edward Chippindall]], CB

===Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own (Yorkshire Regiment) - (1902)===
* 1902–1906: Maj-Gen. William Spencer Cooper<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=27482|date=14 October 1902|page=6494}}</ref>
* 1906–1914: Lt-Gen. [[William Franklyn (British Army officer)|Sir William Edmund Franklyn]], KCB
* 1914–1939: Gen. Sir [[Edward Bulfin|Edward Stanislaus Bulfin]], KCB, CVO

===The Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment) - (1921)===
* 1939–1949: Gen. [[Harold Franklyn|Sir Harold Edmund Franklyn]], KCB, DSO
* 1949–1959: Maj-Gen. [[Alfred Robinson (British Army officer)|Alfred Eryk Robinson]], CB, DSO
* 1959–1965: Brig. George Wilfred Eden, CBE
* 1965–1975: Maj-Gen. [[Desmond Gordon|Desmond Spencer Gordon]], CB, CBE, DSO, JP
* 1975–1982: Brig. John Britton Oldfield, OBE, DL
* 1982–1994: F.M. The Rt. Hon. [[Peter Inge, Baron Inge|Peter Anthony Inge, The Baron Inge]], KG, GCB
* 1994–2003: Gen. [[Richard Dannatt|Sir Francis Richard Dannatt]], KCB, CBE, MC
* 2003–2006: Brig. John Stewart Wadsworth Powell, OBE

==Alliances==
'''Present''':
* [[File:Flag of Canada.svg|20px|Canada]] [[The Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment) (RCAC)]]
* [[File:Flag of Canada.svg|20px|Canada]] [[The Rocky Mountain Rangers]]

'''Past''':
* [[File:Flag of Canada.svg|20px|Canada]] [[York Rangers|The York Rangers]]

'''Bond of Friendship''':
* [[HMS Richmond (F239)|HMS ''Richmond'']]

'''Unofficial''':
* [[File:Flag of Norway.svg|20px|Norway]] [[Hans Majestet Kongens Garde]]

==Uniforms==
The precise date on which the regiment adopted the green facings from which it derived its name is uncertain, with yellow known to have been the colour of the lapels in 1709. However the official ''Cloathing Book'' of 1742 shows full green facings being worn on the standard [[red coat (military uniform)|red coats]] of the era. Thereafter the actual shade of the regimental colour changed at various times from yellow-green to a dull green. White facings were worn from 1881 until 1899 when green was restored. The remaining features of the Green Howard's uniform followed the normal British infantry progression from red coat to scarlet tunic to khaki [[service dress]] and [[battle dress]].<ref>W.Y. Carman, page 49, "Richard Simkin's Uniforms of the British Army", {{ISBN|0-86350-031-5}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[:Category:Green Howards officers]]
* [[Yorkshire Regiment]]
* [[Tyne-Tees Regiment]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
* {{cite book|last=Beckett|first=Ian|title=Discovering English County Regiments|publisher=Shire Publications|year=2003|isbn=978-0747805069}}
* {{cite book|last=Cannon|first=Richard|title=Historical record of the Nineteenth or First Yorkshire North Riding Regiment of Foot containing an account of the formation of the regiment in 1688 and of its subsequent services to 1848|series=CIHM/ICMH Microfiche series <nowiki>=</nowiki> CIHM/ICMH collection de microfiches; no. 48383 |publisher=Parker, Furnivall and Parker|year=1848|isbn=9780665483837 |url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=aeu.ark:/13960/t2h718t96;view=1up;seq=30}}
* {{cite book|last=Forty|first=George|title=British Army Handbook 1939–1945|publisher=Stroud: Sutton Publishing|year=1998|isbn=978-0753703328}}
* Lt-Col H.F. Joslen, ''Orders of Battle, United Kingdom and Colonial Formations and Units in the Second World War, 1939–1945'', London: HM Stationery Office, 1960/London: London Stamp Exchange, 1990, ISBN 0-948130-03-2/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2003, ISBN 1-843424-74-6.
* {{cite book|last=Powell|first=Geoffrey|title=The History of the Green Howards|publisher= Pen & Sword Military|year=2015|isbn=978-1473857964}}
* {{cite book|last=Rodger|first=N. A. M.|title=The Wooden World: An Anatomy of the Georgian Navy|year=1986|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|isbn=0870219871}}
* [https://dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk/handle/1826/7303 Christopher L. Scott, ''The military effectiveness of the West Country Militia at the time of the Monmouth Rebellion'', Cranfield University PhD thesis 2011.]

==External links==
* [http://www.greenhowards.org.uk/ The Friends of the Green Howards website]
* [http://www.army.mod.uk/infantry/regiments/23987.aspx The Yorkshire Regiment MOD website]
{{Yorkshire Regiment}}
{{Regiments of Foot}}
{{British Infantry Regiments World War I}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Green Howards}}
[[Category:Green Howards| ]]
[[Category:1688 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Battalions of the British Army]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1688]]
[[Category:Regiments of Yorkshire]]
[[Category:Military units and formations in the North Riding of Yorkshire]]
[[Category:Military units and formations in Richmond, North Yorkshire]]
[[Category:Regiments of the British Army in World War II]]
[[Category:Regiments of the British Army in the Crimean War]]
[[Category:Regiments of the British Army in World War I]]
[[Category:Regiments of the British Army in the American Revolutionary War]]
[[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 2006]]
[[Category:Military units and formations in Burma in World War II|R]]