Regiments

The West Riding of Yorkshire (West Yorkshire since 1974) is associated with a number of regiments in the British Army. The main ones are listed below:

The West Yorkshire Regiment

The West Yorkshire Regiment was one of 10 new infantry regiments raised in 1654 and was named the West Yorkshire Regiment in 1658. On 25th April 1958 the West Yorkshire Regiment was amalgamated with the East Yorkshire Regiment to form the Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire, which was then amalgamated with two other regiments in 2006/7 to form part of the current Yorkshire Regiment.

The Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment

This regiment was raised in 1702 as Huntingdon's Regiment but in 1782 its name was changed to the 33rd (or 1st Yorkshire West Riding) Regiment. In 1793 Arthur Wellesley (later Duke of Wellington), joined the regiment and became its commander until 1803. After his death in 1853 the regiment was given the name of the Duke of Wellington's Regiment in his honour.

King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry

The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (often abbreviated to KOYLI) was raised on 7th January 1756. In 1968 KOYLI was amalgamated with the Somerset and Cornwall Light Infantry, the King's Shropshire Light Infantry and the Durham Light Infantry to form the Light Infantry Regiment. Then in 2006/7 they in turn were amalgamated with the Devon & Dorset Light Infantry, The Royal Gloucestershire, the Berkshire Wiltshire Light Infantry and the Royal Green Jackets to form The Rifles.

The York and Lancaster Regiment

The York and Lancaster Regiment was formed in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 64th and 85th Regiments of Foot. In 1947 the 2nd Battalion (the 85th) was disbanded but then actually amalgamated with the 1st Battalion (the 64th) in 1948. The Regiment then became part of the Yorkshire Brigade in 1958 and was later disbanded entirely in 1968.

The Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment)

The Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment) was formed on 25th April 1958 from the West Yorkshire Regiment and the East Yorkshire Regiment. It was then amalgamated with other regiments in 2006/7 to become part of the Yorkshire Regiment.

The Yorkshire Regiment

The Yorkshire Regiment (14th/15th, 19th and 33rd/76th) was formed on 6th June 2006 from the Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire (14th/15th Foot), The Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment) (19th Foot) and the Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding) (33rd/76th Foot).