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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name                     = Staffordshire Regiment (The Prince of Wales's)
| image                         = The Staffordshire Regiment Capbadge.jpg
| image_size                    = 
| caption                       = Cap badge
| dates                         = 1959&ndash;2007
| country                       = {{flag|United Kingdom}}
| allegiance                    = 
| branch                        = {{army|United Kingdom}}
| type                          = Infantry
| role                          = [[Mechanized infantry|Armoured Infantry]]
| size                          = One [[Battalion]]
| command_structure             = [[Prince of Wales's Division]]
| garrison                      = 
| nickname                      = The Staffords
| motto                         = 
| colors                        = Black & Gold
| march                         = Quick – ''The Staffordshire Regiment''<br />Slow – ''[[God Bless the Prince of Wales]]''
| mascot                        = Staffordshire Bull Terrier, each successive mascot called Watchman
| battles                       = 
| anniversaries                 = [[Anzio]] (22 January), [[Ypres]] (31 July), [[Arnhem]] (17 September), [[Battle of Ferozeshah|Ferozeshah]] (21 December)
| disbanded                     = 2007
| notable_commanders            = 
| identification_symbol         = [[File:STAFFORD TRF.PNG|100px]]
| identification_symbol_label   = Tactical Recognition Flash
| identification_symbol_2       = Glider<br /><small>From South Staffordshire Regiment</small>
| identification_symbol_2_label = Arm Badge
| current_commander             = 
| ceremonial_chief              = [[Prince Andrew, Duke of York|The Duke of York]]
| ceremonial_chief_label        = Colonel in Chief
| colonel_of_the_regiment       = Brigadier James Kenneth Tanner OBE
}}
The '''Staffordshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's)''' (or simply "Staffords" for short) was an [[infantry]] [[regiment]] of the [[British Army]], part of the [[Prince of Wales's Division]]. The regiment was formed in 1959 by the amalgamation of the [[South Staffordshire Regiment]] and the [[North Staffordshire Regiment|North Staffordshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's)]], and in 2007 was amalgamated with the [[Cheshire Regiment]] and the [[Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment]] to become the 3rd Battalion, [[Mercian Regiment]].

In 2014, the 3rd Battalion, Mercian Regiment was merged with the 1st and 2nd battalions, to create the 1st and 2nd battalions, Mercian Regiment (Cheshires, Worcesters and Sherwood Foresters, and Staffords).

The mascot of the Staffordshire Regiment was a Staffordshire Bull Terrier; each successive mascot took the name [[Watchman (mascot)|Watchman]]. The current serving mascot is known as Private Watchman VI and he carries out his duties as part of the Staffordshire Regimental Association.

==History==

===Formation===
The regiment was formed on 31 January 1959 by the amalgamation of the [[South Staffordshire Regiment]] and [[North Staffordshire Regiment|North Staffordshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's)]].<ref name=bau>{{cite web|url=http://british-army-units1945on.co.uk/infantry/staffordshire-regiment.html|title=Staffordshire Regiment|publisher=British Army units 1945 on|accessdate=24 May 2014}}</ref>

In November 1960 the regiment undertook a six-month exercise in [[Kenya]], followed by a year in [[Colchester]] and then a return to Kenya for a further two years. On the tour the regiment had to deal with a mutiny by the [[Uganda People's Defence Force#History|Ugandan Army]]. Returning home, the regiment was the last unit of the British Army to serve in East Africa.<ref name=bau/>

A home tour in [[Dover]] followed in 1964. Then came a two-year posting to Berlin in 1968 followed by a tour in [[Sharjah (emirate)|Sharjah]] in the [[Trucial States]] where the regiment again recorded a 'last unit' distinction being the last unit to serve in Sharjah.<ref name=bau/>

===Northern Ireland===
The regiment undertook a tour in [[Northern Ireland]] during [[the Troubles]] in 1972 before moving to Quebec Barracks in [[Osnabrück]] in 1973. Further tours in Northern Ireland were undertaken in 1974 and 1976. The regiment moved to Hyderabad Barracks in [[Colchester Garrison]] later in 1976 before undertaking another tour in Northern Ireland in 1979.<ref name=bau/>

The regiment moved to [[Gibraltar]] in 1981 and to Roman Barracks at Colchester in 1983 before undertaking another tour in Northern Ireland in 1984. It then moved to [[Bad Fallingbostel|Fallingbostel]] in 1986.<ref name=bau/>

===Gulf War===
[[File:British gulf war.jpg|thumb|upright|Troops from C Company, 1st Battalion, engaged in a [[live fire exercise|live firing exercise]] during [[Operation Granby]], 6 January 1991.]] 
In October 1990 The Staffordshire Regiment was deployed to [[Saudi Arabia]] as part of [[7th Armoured Brigade (United Kingdom)|7th Armoured Brigade]] (referred to as the 'Desert Rats'). The deployment was in response to the dictator [[Saddam Hussein]]'s invasion of the sovereign territory of [[Kuwait]], claiming it to rightfully belong to [[Iraq]].<ref name=bau/>

The regiment moved to Dale Barracks in [[Chester]] in 1991, to [[Abercorn Barracks]] in [[Ballykinler]] in 1994 and [[Clive Barracks]] in [[Shropshire]] in 1996. From their base in Shropshire, the 1st Battalion deployed to Hong Kong in 1996, shortly before it was handed back to China, and also to Northern Ireland for short periods and a six-month roulement tour to Belfast in 1997.<ref name=bau/>

===Iraq War===
The regiment moved to Mooltan Barracks in [[Tidworth Camp]] in 2000. Following a deployment to [[Kosovo]] in 2002 and a first deployment to Iraq on [[Operation Telic|Operation Telic 6]] in 2005. The regiment also undertook a second deployment to Iraq during Operation Telic 9 in 2006 where they led the raid on the Al Jamiat police station.<ref name=bau/>

===Amalgamation===
As part of the [[Delivering Security in a Changing World|reorganisation]] of the infantry announced in 2004, it was announced that the Staffordshire Regiment would merge with the [[Cheshire Regiment]] and the [[Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment]] into a new four-battalion regiment to be called the [[Mercian Regiment]]. On 1 September 2007 the Staffordshire Regiment became the 3rd Battalion, Mercian Regiment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4102013.stm|title=In detail: army restructuring plans|publisher=BBC|date=16 December 2004|accessdate=24 May 2014}}</ref>

== Structure ==
The Staffordshire Regiment was organised into the following sub-organisations and units:<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2007-12-18|title=The Staffordshire Regiment (The Prince of Wales's) [UK]|url=http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/inf/038Staffs.htm|access-date=2021-04-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071218044923/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/inf/038Staffs.htm|archive-date=2007-12-18}}</ref>

* Regimental Headquarters, Staffordshire Regiment, at [[Whittington Barracks]], [[Lichfield]]<ref name=":0" />
* 1st Battalion (Regular)
* Band of the Staffordshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's), disbanded in 1994 to form Clive Band of the Prince of Wales's Division<ref>{{Cite web|date=2007-12-28|title=Corps of Army Music [UK]|url=http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/corps/music.htm|access-date=2021-04-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071228105032/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/corps/music.htm|archive-date=2007-12-28}}</ref>
* '''TAVR'''
** 5th Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment (disbanded in 1967)<ref>{{Cite web|date=2007-11-28|title=5th Battalion, The South Staffordshire Regiment [UK]|url=http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/volmil-england/vinf-mi/st-S5.htm|access-date=2021-04-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071128004337/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/volmil-england/vinf-mi/st-S5.htm|archive-date=2007-11-28}}</ref>
** [[5th Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment]] (amalgamated with 6th Bn in 1961)<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=2007-11-28|title=5th Battalion, The North Staffordshire Regiment [UK]|url=http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/volmil-england/vinf-mi/st-N5.htm|access-date=2021-04-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071128004832/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/volmil-england/vinf-mi/st-N5.htm|archive-date=2007-11-28}}</ref>
** 6th Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment (amalgamated with 5th Bn in 1961)<ref>{{Cite web|date=2007-11-28|title=6th Battalion, The North Staffordshire Regiment [UK]|url=http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/volmil-england/vinf-mi/st-N6.htm|access-date=2021-04-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071128005026/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/volmil-england/vinf-mi/st-N6.htm|archive-date=2007-11-28}}</ref>
** 5th/6th Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment (formed in 1961, disbanded in 1967)<ref name=":1" />
** 5th/6th (Territorial) Battalion, Staffordshire Regiment (formed in 1967, reduced to cadre in 1969, disbanded in 1975)
* '''TA'''
** [[3rd (Volunteer) Battalion, Staffordshire Regiment]] (formed in 1988, disbanded in 1999)<ref>{{Cite web|date=2007-12-18|title=3rd Battalion, The Staffordshire Regiment [UK]|url=http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/volmil-england/vinf-mi/st-3.htm|access-date=2021-04-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071218045052/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/volmil-england/vinf-mi/st-3.htm|archive-date=2007-12-18}}</ref>

==Regimental museum==
The [[Staffordshire Regiment Museum]] is based at [[Whittington Barracks]] near [[Lichfield]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.staffordshireregimentmuseum.com/ |title=No frills but plenty of guts|publisher=The Staffordshire Regiment Museum|accessdate= 22 October 2011}}</ref>

==Battle honours==
[[File:Staffordshire Regiment - Tombes de deux soldats.jpg|thumb|center|250px|{{center|Tombes de deux soldats du Staffordshire Regiment dans le cimetière de ''Mory Abbey Military Cemetery''.}}]]
The regiment's [[Battle honours of the British and Imperial Armies|battle honours]] are as follows:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staffordshireregimentmuseum.com/battle-honours.html|title=Battle honours|publisher=Staffordshire Regiment Museum|accessdate=24 May 2014}}</ref>
*''Pre-World War I'': [[Invasion of Guadeloupe (1759)|Guadeloupe 1759]], [[Battle of Martinique (1794)|Martinique 1794]], [[Mahdist War|Hafir]], [[Anglo-Zulu War|South Africa 1878-79]], [[Egypt 1882]], [[Battle of Kirbekan|Kirbekan]], [[Nile 1884–85]], [[South Africa 1900–02]]
*''World War I'':
** ''France and Flanders'': [[Battle of Mons]], Retreat from [[Mons, Belgium|Mons]], [[First Battle of the Marne|Marne 1914]], [[First Battle of the Aisne|Aisne 1914]]–[[Second Battle of the Aisne|18]], [[Battle of Armentières|Armentières 1914]], [[First Battle of Ypres|Ypres 1914]]-17, [[Battle of Langemarck (1914)|Langemarck 1914]], [[Battle of Gheluvelt|Gheluvelt]], [[Battle of Nonne Bosschen|Nonne Bosschen]], [[Battle of Neuve Chapelle|Neuve Chapelle]], [[Battle of Aubers Ridge|Aubers]], [[Battle of Festubert|Festubert 1915]] [[Battle of Loos|Loos]], [[Battle of the Somme|Somme]] 1916-18, [[Battle of Albert (1916)|Albert 1916]]-[[Battle of Albert (1918)|18]], [[Battle of Bazentin|Bazentin]], [[Battle of Delville Wood|Delville Wood]], [[Battle of Pozières]], [[Battle of Guillemont]], [[Battle of Flers–Courcelette|Flers-Courcelette]], [[Battle of Morval|Morval]], [[Battle of Thiepval|Thiepval]], [[Battle of the Ancre Heights|Ancre Heights]], [[Battle of the Ancre|Ancre 1916]], [[First Battle of Bapaume|Bapaume 1917]]-[[Second Battle of Bapaume|18]], [[Battle of Arras (1917)|Arras 1917]], [[First Battle of the Scarpe|Scarpe 1917]], [[Battle of Arleux|Arleux]], [[Battle of Bullecourt|Bullecourt]], [[Battle of Hill 70]], [[Battle of Messines (1917)|1917]]-18, [[Battle of Ypres]] 1917-18, [[Battle of Pilckem]], [[Battle of Langemarck (1917)|Langemarck 1917]], [[Battle of Menin Road]], [[Battle of Polygon Wood]], [[Battle of Broodseinde]], [[Battle of Poelcappelle|Poelcapelle]], [[Battle of Passchendaele|Passchendaele]], [[Battle of Cambrai (1917)|Cambrai 1917]]-[[Battle of Cambrai (1918)|18]], [[Battle of St. Quentin (March 1918)|St. Quentin]], [[Second Battle of Bapaume|Bapaume]] 1918, [[Battle of Rosières|Rosières]], [[Battle of the Avre|Avre]], [[Battle of the Lys (1918)|Lys]], [[Battle of Bailleul|Bailleul]], [[Battle of Kemmel|Kemmel]], [[Battle of the Scherpenberg|Scherpenberg]], [[Battle of Drocourt-Quéant|Drocourt-Quéant]], [[Hindenburg Line]], [[Battle of Havrincourt|Havrincourt]], [[Battle of the Canal du Nord|Canal du Nord]], [[Battle of St. Quentin Canal|St. Quentin Canal]], [[Battle of Beaurevoir|Beaurevoir]], [[Kortrijk]], [[Battle of the Selle|Selle]], [[Battle of Valenciennes (1918)|Valenciennes]], [[Battle of the Sambre (1918)|Sambre]], France and [[Flanders]] 1914-18
** ''Gallipoli'': [[Suvla]], Landing at [[Suvla]], [[Battle of Scimitar Hill|Scimitar Hill]], [[Battle of Sari Bair|Sari Bair]], [[Gallipoli Campaign|Gallipoli 1915–16]]
** ''Mesopotamia'': Egypt 1916, [[Tigris 1916]], [[Kut al Amara 1917]], [[Bagdhad]], [[Mesopotamia 1916–18]]
** ''Italy'': [[Battle of the Piave River|Piave]], [[Battle of Vittorio Veneto|Vittorio Veneto]] 1918
** ''North West Frontier India'': [[Baku]], [[Persia 1918]], North West Frontier India 1915
*''Inter-War'': [[Afghanistan 1919]]
*''World War II'':
** ''North West Europe'': [[Dyle (river)|Dyle]], Defence of the [[Scheldt]], [[Battle of the Ypres-Comines Canal]], [[Battle of Caen|Caen]], Battle of Orne, [[Second Battle of the Odon|Noyers]], Mont Picton, [[Brieux]] Bridgehead, [[Falaise pocket|Falaise]], [[Operation Market Garden|Arnhem 1944]], [[North-West Europe 1940]] [[North West Europe 1944|-1944]]
** ''North Africa'': [[Battle of Sidi Barrani]], Djebel Kesskiss, [[Majaz al Bab|Medjez Plain]], Gueriat el Atch Ridge, Gab Gab Gap, [[North Africa 1943]]
** ''Italy'': Landing in [[Sicily]], [[Sicily 1943]], [[Battle of Anzio]], Carroceto, Rome, Advance to [[Tiber]], [[Gothic Line]], Battle of [[Marradi]], Italy 1943 and [[Italy 1944–45]],
** ''Burma'': [[Chindits]] 1944, [[Burma 1943–44]]
*''Post-World War II'': [[Gulf 1991]], [[Wadi al Batin]]

==Regimental Colonels==
Colonels of the Regiment were:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/inf/038Staffs.htm |title=The Staffordshire Regiment (The Prince of Wales's) |publisher=regiments.org |accessdate=9 January 2017 |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070303145232/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/inf/038Staffs.htm |archivedate=3 March 2007 }}</ref>
*1959–1961: Col. (Hon. Maj-Gen.) [[Alec Wilfred Lee]], CB, MC (previously Colonel of the [[South Staffordshire Regiment]])
*1961–1966: Brig. [[Gerald Thubron|Gerald Ernest Thubron]], DSO, OBE
*1966–1971: Brig. John Conway Commings, CBE
*1971–1977: Brig. Robert Louis Hargroves, CBE
*1977–1985: Col. Jeremy Charles Angelo Swynnerton, OBE
*1985–1990: Lt-Gen. Sir [[Derek Boorman]], KCB
*1990–1995: Maj-Gen. [[Ian Freer (British Army officer)|Ian Lennox Freer]], CB, CBE
*1995–2002: Col. Timothy Richard Cottis, MBE
*2002–2005: Brig. Simon James Knapper, CBE, MC
*2005–2007: Col. James Kenneth Tanner, OBE
*''2007 Regiment amalgamated into the [[Mercian Regiment]]''

==Alliances==
*{{flagu|Canada}} – [[Royal 22nd Regiment|4<sup>e</sup> Bataillon, Royal 22<sup>e</sup> Régiment (Châteauguay)]]
*{{flagu|Australia}} – [[Royal Victoria Regiment|The Royal Victoria Regiment]]
*{{ATG}} – [[Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force|The Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force]]
*{{JAM}} – [[The Jamaica Regiment]]
*{{PAK}} – [[126th Baluchistan Infantry|7th Battalion]], [[Baloch Regiment|The Baloch Regiment]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.history.army.mil/photos/gulf_war/GW-Allies1.htm Gulf War Photographs of the Staffordshire Regiment] at the [[United States Army Center of Military History]]
* [https://www.thestaffordshireregimentmuseum.com/ The Staffordshire Regiment Museum]

{{Mercian Regiment}}

[[Category:Staffordshire Regiment| ]]
[[Category:Military units and formations in Staffordshire]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1959]]
[[Category:Mercian Regiment]]
[[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 2007]]