West Midlands Regiment
| West Midlands Regiment 4th Battalion, Mercian Regiment | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1999 – present |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Role | Line Infantry |
| Size | One Battalion |
The West Midlands Regiment was a short-lived British Territorial Army regiment from 1999 until it was re-designated as 4th Battalion, Mercian Regiment, in 2007.
History
[edit]The regiment was formed in 1999 by the amalgamation of three territorial infantry battalions: 5th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers; 5th Battalion, The Light Infantry; and 3rd Battalion, Staffordshire Regiment.[1]
The regiment was composed of a headquarters company and five rifle companies, continuing to use the insignia of the regular regiments to which they were affiliated. Its initial structure was as follows:[2][3]
- HQ Company, at Wolverhampton
- A (Fusilier) Company, at Sheldon and Coventry
(from HQ and B Companies, 5th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers) - B (Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment) Company, at Kidderminster and Worcester
(from A Company, 5th Battalion, The Light Infantry) - C (Staffords) Company, at Burton upon Trent
(from C Company, 3rd Battalion, Staffordshire Regiment) - D (Staffords) Company, at Stoke-on-Trent
(from B Company, 3rd Battalion, Staffordshire Regiment) - E (Light Infantry) Company, at Shrewsbury and Hereford
(from HQ and C Companies, 5th Battalion, Light Infantry)
Structure prior to re-designation
[edit]Not long prior to re-designation of a battalion of the Mercian Regiment, the regiment absorbed the companies from other regiments that were within the new regiment's recruiting area, in order to ease the re-designation process. After this, its structure was as follows:[3]
- HQ Company, at Wolverhampton
- A (Cheshire) Company, at Warrington and Stockport
(from B (Cheshire) Regiment, King's and Cheshire Regiment) - B Company, at Crewe and Stoke-on-Trent
(from D (Cheshire) Company, King's and Cheshire Regiment) - C (Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment) Company, at Mansfield
(from C (Stafford) Company, West Midlands Regiment; and D (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire (Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment)) Company, East of England Regiment) - D (Staffordshire) Company, at Wolverhampton, Kidderminster, and Burton upon Trent
(from D (Stafford) Company; and Platoon of B (Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment) Company) - F (Fusilier) Company, at Birmingham
(from A (Fusilier) Company) - L Company (Light Infantry), at Shrewsbury
(from E (Light Infantry) Company, less Hereford Platoon to B (Shropshire Yeomanry) Squadron, Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry)
4th Battalion, Mercian Regiment
[edit]On 1 September 2007, the regiment was re-designated as the 4th Battalion of the Mercian Regiment.[4] It now serves as the reserve infantry battalion for Cheshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire, West Midlands, Derbyshire, and Nottinghamshire.
Current Structure
[edit]Its current structure is as follows:
- Headquarters Company, at Wolseley House, Wolverhampton[5][6]
- Rifle Platoon, at Dancox House, Worcester[7]
- Javelin Platoon, at Kidderminster[8]
- Band of the Mercian Regiment
- B Company, at Ubique Barracks, Widnes[9]
- Rifle Platoon, in Ellesmere Port[10]
- Mortar Platoon, in Stockport[11]
- C Company, at Nottingham[12]
- Assault Pioneer Platoon, at Mansfield[13]
- D (Staffords) Company, at Stoke-on-Trent[14]
- Machine Gun Platoon, at Burton upon Trent[15]
References
[edit]- ^ "The West Midlands Regiment: Regimental history". Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on 10 August 2006. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
- ^ "The West Midlands Regiment". Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on 10 August 2006. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
- ^ a b "The West Midlands Regiment / 4th Battalion, The Mercian Regiment". Archived from the original on 3 March 2007. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
- ^ "Presentation of New Colours To The Mercian Regiment". Visions Unlimited. Archived from the original on 25 May 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
- ^ "Wolseley House - Fallings Park". Retrieved 11 December 2020.
- ^ "Saragarhi Day 2021 commemorated in Wolverhampton". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
- ^ "Dancox House ARC". Retrieved 11 December 2020.
- ^ "Army Reserve Centre - Kidderminster - Birmingham Road". Retrieved 11 December 2020.
- ^ "Army Reserve Centre, Peelhouse Lane, Widnes WA8 6TH". Army Careers. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
- ^ "Army Reserve Centre, Stanney Lane, Ellesmere Port CH65 9AH". Army Careers. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
- ^ "Army Reserve Centre, Greek Street, Stockport SK3 8AB". Army Careers. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
- ^ "Army Reserve Centre - Nottingham - 221 Hucknall Lane". Retrieved 11 December 2020.
- ^ "Army Reserve Centre - Mansfield - Bath Street". Retrieved 11 December 2020.
- ^ "Army Reserve Centre - Stoke on Trent - Bucknall New Road". Retrieved 11 December 2020.
- ^ "Army Reserve Centre - Burton on Trent - Hawkins Lane". Retrieved 11 December 2020.