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Three infantry regiments to merge Three infantry regiments to merge
(10 minutes later)
Three regiments are due to merge as part of the British Army's infantry restructuring plans.Three regiments are due to merge as part of the British Army's infantry restructuring plans.
The 22nd (Cheshire) Regiment, the Staffordshire Regiment and the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters will combine as the Mercian Regiment.The 22nd (Cheshire) Regiment, the Staffordshire Regiment and the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters will combine as the Mercian Regiment.
A "re-badging" ceremony at Tamworth Castle in Staffordshire, attended by the Prince of Wales, will see the new unit formally established.A "re-badging" ceremony at Tamworth Castle in Staffordshire, attended by the Prince of Wales, will see the new unit formally established.
The new regiment's headquarters will be at Whittington Barracks, Staffordshire.The new regiment's headquarters will be at Whittington Barracks, Staffordshire.
Prince Charles, Colonel-in-Chief of the Cheshires, will replace his cap badge at the same time as the parading soldiers.Prince Charles, Colonel-in-Chief of the Cheshires, will replace his cap badge at the same time as the parading soldiers.
The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters will perform a similar ceremony in Lashkar Gar, Afghanistan, where they are currently serving.The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters will perform a similar ceremony in Lashkar Gar, Afghanistan, where they are currently serving.
Change rolesChange roles
The old units will become 1st Battalion (Cheshires), the Mercian Regiment; 2nd Battalion (Worcesters and Foresters), the Mercian Regiment; and 3rd Battalion (Staffords), the Mercian Regiment.The old units will become 1st Battalion (Cheshires), the Mercian Regiment; 2nd Battalion (Worcesters and Foresters), the Mercian Regiment; and 3rd Battalion (Staffords), the Mercian Regiment.
The Territorial Army's West Midlands Regiment will become 4th Battalion, the Mercian Regiment.The Territorial Army's West Midlands Regiment will become 4th Battalion, the Mercian Regiment.
The merger is part of the Future Infantry Structure, announced by the Ministry of Defence in December 2004.The merger is part of the Future Infantry Structure, announced by the Ministry of Defence in December 2004.
It decided that the Arms Plot system - where regiments moved from one posting to another at regular intervals - was to end.
Instead, infantry battalions will have fixed garrisons within the UK.
They will also take on permanent status as either light, armoured or mechanised units instead of regularly changing roles.