View source for Cheshire Regiment

{{Short description|Former British Army regiment}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name                     = 22nd Regiment of Foot<br />22nd (Cheshire) Regiment of Foot<br />Cheshire Regiment
| image                         = Cheshire Regiment Cap Badge.jpg
| caption                       = Cap badge of the Cheshire Regiment
| dates                         = 1689–2007
| country                       = 
| allegiance                    = {{flag|Kingdom of England}} (to 1707)<br />
{{flag|Kingdom of Great Britain}} (1707–1800)<br />
{{flag|United Kingdom}} (1801–2007)
| branch                        = {{army|United Kingdom}}
| type                          = [[Infantry]]
| role                          = [[Line infantry]]
| size                          = One battalion
| command_structure             = [[Prince of Wales' Division]]
| current_commander             = 
| garrison                      = [[Chester Castle]] (1873–1939)<br />[[Dale Barracks]], [[Upton-by-Chester]] (1939–2007)
| ceremonial_chief              = [[Charles III|The Prince of Wales]]
| ceremonial_chief_label        = Last Colonel-in-Chief
| colonel_of_the_regiment       = Brigadier A.R.D. Sharpe
| nickname                      = ''The Old Two-twos<br />The Young Buffs<br />The Peep of Day Boys<br />The Lightning Conductors<br />The Red Knights<br />The Specimens<br />Twos''
| motto                         = 
| colors                        = Cerise and Buff
| march                         = Quick – ''Wha Wadna Fecht for Charlie''<br />Slow – ''The 22nd Regiment 1772''
| identification_symbol         = [[Image:Cheshire Regiment TRF.svg|76px]]
| identification_symbol_label   = Tactical Recognition Flash
| mascot                        = 
| battles                       = See honours list
| notable_commanders            = 
| anniversaries                 = 
}}
The '''Cheshire Regiment''' was a [[line infantry]] [[regiment]] of the [[British Army]], part of the [[Prince of Wales' Division]]. The '''22nd Regiment of Foot''' was raised by the [[Henry Howard, 7th Duke of Norfolk]] in 1689 and was able to boast an independent existence of over 300 years. The regiment was expanded in 1881 as part of the [[Childers Reforms]] by the linking of the '''22nd (Cheshire) Regiment of Foot''' and the [[Militia (United Kingdom)|militia]] and [[Volunteer Force (Great Britain)|rifle volunteers]] of [[Cheshire]]. The title 22nd (Cheshire) Regiment continued to be used within the regiment.

On 1 September 2007, the Cheshire Regiment was merged with the [[Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment|Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment (29th/45th Foot)]] and the [[Staffordshire Regiment|Staffordshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's)]] to form a new [[large regiment]], the [[Mercian Regiment]], becoming the 1st Battalion, Mercian Regiment.

==History==

===Early wars===
[[File:7th Duke of Norfolk.jpg|thumb|left|[[Henry Howard, 7th Duke of Norfolk]], founder of the regiment]]
[[File:Soldier of 22nd regiment 1742.jpg|thumb|Soldier of 22nd regiment, 1742]]
Following the 1688 [[Glorious Revolution]] and the exile of [[James II of England|James II]], [[Henry Howard, 7th Duke of Norfolk|Henry Howard, Duke of Norfolk]], raised a regiment at [[Chester Racecourse|Chester]] on behalf of the new regime.<ref>Cannon, p. 1</ref>

The experience of the 1638-1652 [[Wars of the Three Kingdoms]] meant many considered standing armies a danger to individual liberties and a threat to society itself.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Childs|first1=John|title=The British Army of William III, 1689-1702|date=1987|publisher=Manchester University Press|isbn=0719025524|page=184|edition=1990}}</ref> Until the mid-18th century, regiments were considered the property of their [[Colonel#Colonel of the regiment|Colonel]], changed names when transferred and were disbanded as soon as possible.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Chandler David |first1=Beckett Ian |title=The Oxford History Of The British Army |date=1996 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=0-19-280311-5 |page=52 |edition=2002}}</ref>

In September 1689, [[Henry Belasyse (died 1717)|Sir Henry Belasyse]] became Colonel and as '''Belasyse's Regiment of Foot''', the unit went to Ireland as part of an Anglo-Dutch force commanded by [[Frederick Schomberg, 1st Duke of Schomberg|Frederick Schomberg]]. When inspected at [[Dundalk]] in October 1689, it was reported as having '...hardly any good officers and an entire absence of good order...but Belasyse expected to work reforms.'<ref>{{cite book |last1=Dalton |first1=Charles |title=English army lists and commission registers, 1661-1714 Volume III |date=1896 |publisher=Eyre & Spottiswood |location=London |page=110}}</ref>

During the 1689-1691 [[Williamite War in Ireland]], it fought at [[Battle of the Boyne|The Boyne]], [[Battle of Aughrim|Aughrim]], and the [[Siege of Limerick (1691)|Second Siege of Limerick]] that ended the war in August 1691.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Cannon |first1=Richard |title=Historical Record of the Twenty-Second, or the Cheshire Regiment of Foot |date=1849 |publisher=Andesite Press |isbn=1296561828 |pages=2–4 |edition=2015}}</ref> The regiment was transferred to [[Flanders]] in October, where it spent the rest of the [[Nine Years War]], fighting at the [[Battle of Landen]] in 1693 and during the 1695 Allied [[Siege of Namur (1695)|siege of Namur]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Childs|first1=John|title=The Nine Years' War and the British Army, 1688-1697: The Operations in the Low Countries|date=1991|publisher=Manchester University Press|isbn=0719089964|pages=276–277|edition=2013}}</ref>

After the 1697 [[Treaty of Ryswick]], the [[Tories (British political party)|Tory]] majority in [[Parliament of England|Parliament]] was determined to reduce costs and by 1699, the English military was less than 7,000 men.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Gregg|first1=Edward|title=Queen Anne (Revised) (The English Monarchs Series)|date=1980|publisher=Yale University Press|isbn=0300090242|page=126|edition=2001}}</ref> However, England, Ireland and Scotland were then separate entities with their own Parliaments and funding; Belasyse's Regiment of Foot avoided disbandment by being transferred onto the Irish military establishment.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hayton|first1= D.|last2= Cruickshanks|first2= E.  |last3=Handly|first3= S.|title=Belasyse, Sir Henry (c.1648-1717), of Potto, Yorks. and Brancepeth Castle, co. Durham |url=https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1690-1715/member/belasyse-sir-henry-1648-1717 |website=The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1690-1715 |access-date=30 September 2018}}</ref>

On the outbreak of the [[War of the Spanish Succession]] in 1701, the regiment was posted to [[Jamaica]]; this was a notoriously unhealthy location and Sir Henry Belasyse transferred his Colonelcy to [[William Selwyn (British Army officer)|William Selwyn]]. The regiment spent the next twelve years in the [[West Indies]]; soon after arrival in April 1702, Selwyn died and was replaced by [[Thomas Handasyd]], both as Colonel and Governor of Jamaica.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Cannon |first1=Richard |title=Historical Record of the Twenty-Second, or the Cheshire Regiment of Foot |date=1849 |publisher=Andesite Press |isbn=1296561828 |page=5 |edition=2015}}</ref> Thomas returned to England and was succeeded as Colonel by his son [[Roger Handasyd]] in 1712, a position he retained until 1730.<ref name=regiments/>

In 1726, the regiment was posted to [[Menorca]], where it remained for the next 22 years,<ref>Cannon, p. 6</ref> although a detachment was present at the [[Battle of Dettingen]] in June 1743, during the [[War of the Austrian Succession]].<ref name=museum>{{cite web|url=http://www.cheshiremilitarymuseum.co.uk/regimental-histories/the-22nd-(cheshire)-regiment.aspx|title=The 22nd (Cheshire) Regiment|publisher=Cheshire Military Museum|access-date=24 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161026215918/http://www.cheshiremilitarymuseum.co.uk/regimental-histories/the-22nd-(cheshire)-regiment.aspx|archive-date=26 October 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

By 1751, the regiment had become the '''22nd Regiment of Foot'''.<ref>Cannon, p. 7</ref> In 1758, it took part in the [[Siege of Louisbourg (1758)|Siege of Louisbourg]] in French Canada.<ref>Cannon, p. 8</ref> The regiment also took part in General [[James Wolfe|Wolfe]]'s victory over the French at the [[Battle of the Plains of Abraham]] in September 1759.<ref name=cannon9>Cannon, p. 9</ref> They then took part in the conclusive [[Montreal Campaign|three pronged attack against Montréal]] which capitulated in September 1760.<ref name=cannon9/>

The regiment received two battle honours for taking part in the capture of [[Invasion of Martinique (1762)|Martinique]] and the [[Battle of Havana (1762)|British expedition against Cuba]] during 1762.<ref>Cannon, p. 10</ref>

===American Revolutionary War===
The regiment was sent to [[North America]] for service in the [[American Revolutionary War]] in 1775.<ref name=cannon12>Cannon, p. 12</ref> Lieutenant Colonel [[James Abercrombie (British Army officer, born 1732)|James Abercrombie]], commanding the regiment, embarked in advance of the rest of the regiment at the request of General [[Thomas Gage]] and arrived in [[Boston, Massachusetts|Boston]] just before the [[Battle of Bunker Hill]], where he was killed in action.<ref name=cannon12/> The regiment later evacuated from Boston to [[Halifax, Nova Scotia|Halifax]] and then took part in the [[New York and New Jersey campaign]] of 1776. The Battalion Companies participated in the [[Battle of Rhode Island]] in August 1778<ref>Cannon, p. 14</ref> and then returned to New York City in 1779; the bulk of the regiment remained there until the end of the War.<ref name=cannon15>Cannon, p. 15</ref>

Although the County designation existed unofficially as early as 1772, the regiment was retitled the '''22nd (Cheshire) Regiment of Foot''' in 1782.<ref name=cannon15/>

===French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars===
The regiment deployed to the [[West Indies]] in September 1793, where it took part in expeditions against [[Martinique]], [[Saint Lucia]], [[Guadeloupe]], and [[Saint-Domingue]].<ref>Cannon, p. 17</ref> In January 1800 the regiment was posted to [[South Africa]],<ref>Cannon, p. 19</ref> before moving to India. There it suffered heavy losses during the assault on [[Bharatpur, Rajasthan|Bhurtpore]] in 1805.<ref>Cannon, p. 21</ref> In 1810, the regiment took part in the occupation of [[Mauritius]].<ref>Cannon, p. 23</ref>

===The Victorian era===
The regiment took part in the [[Battle of Meeanee]] in February 1843, the [[Battle of Hyderabad]] in March 1843 and the conquest of [[Sindh]] in summer 1843 during further Indian service.<ref>Cannon, p. 32</ref>

The regiment was not fundamentally affected by the [[Cardwell Reforms]] of the 1870s, which gave it a depot at [[Chester Castle]] 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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060210172841/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/depot/1873.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 February 2006|title=Training Depots 1873–1881|publisher=Regiments.org|access-date=16 October 2016}} The depot was the 18th Brigade Depot from 1873 to 1881, and the 22nd Regimental District depot thereafter</ref> Under the reforms the regiment became '''The Cheshire Regiment''' on 1 July 1881.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=24992|pages=3300–3301|date=1 July 1881}}</ref> The reforms added the following units: 1st Royal Cheshire Light Infantry Militia, [[2nd Royal Cheshire Militia]], 1st Cheshire Rifle Volunteer Corps, 2nd (Earl of Chester's) Cheshire RVC, 3rd Cheshire RVC, [[6th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment|4th Cheshire (Cheshire and Derbyshire) RVC]], and the 5th Cheshire RVC. Its recruiting area was confirmed as being the County of [[Cheshire]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eardley-bryan.com/cheshire-10.htm|title=The 22nd (Cheshire) Regiment| access-date=24 May 2014}}</ref>
[[File:Memorial to the Cheshire Regiment in Chester Cathedral.JPG|thumb|Memorial in [[Chester Cathedral]] to the men of the Cheshire Regiment who died in South Africa]]
Both battalions of the regiment served in Burma between 1887 and 1891, while the 2nd Battalion saw active service in [[South Africa]] from 1900 to 1902, during the [[Second Boer War]].<ref name=museum/> After the end of the war, 376 officers and men of the battalion returned home in October 1902, and were stationed at [[Aldershot Barracks|Aldershot]].<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=The Army in South Africa - Troops returning Home |date=8 October 1902 |page=8 |issue=36893}}</ref> The 3rd (Militia) battalion was also embodied for active duty in South Africa, with 450 men reported as returning home after the end of the war in September 1902.<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=The Army in South Africa - Troops returning Home |date=16 September 1902 |page=6 |issue=36874}}</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 four Territorial battalions.<ref>These were the 3rd Battalion (Special Reserve), with the 4th Battalion at [[Grange Road West drill hall|Grange Road West]] in [[Birkenhead]], the 5th Battalion at [[Volunteer Street drill hall, Chester|Volunteer Street]] in [[Chester]], the 6th Battalion at the [[Stockport Armoury]] and the 7th Battalion at [[Bridge Street drill hall|Bridge Street]] in [[Macclesfield]] (all Territorial Force).</ref><ref name=regiments/>

===First World War===
{{see also|List of Battalions of the Cheshire Regiment#First World War}}
[[File:Cheshire Regiment trench Somme 1916.jpg|thumb|A British trench near the [[Albert, Somme|Albert]]-[[Bapaume]] road at [[Ovillers-la-Boisselle]], July 1916 during the [[Battle of the Somme]]. The men are from A Company, 11th (Service) Battalion, Cheshire Regiment.]]
[[File:Don't be alarmed WWI postcard.jpg|thumb|Cheshire Regiment postcard from the First World War.]]

====Regular Army====
The 1st battalion landed at [[Le Havre]] as part of the [[15th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|15th Brigade]] in the [[5th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)|5th Division]] in August 1914 for service on the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]].<ref name=trail>{{cite web|url=http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-british-infantry-regiments-of-1914-1918/cheshire-regiment/|title=Cheshire Regiment|publisher=The Long, Long Trail|access-date=18 December 2016}}</ref> It took part in the [[Battle of Mons]] in August 1914, the [[First Battle of the Marne]] in September 1914, the [[First Battle of the Aisne]] also in September 1914, the [[Battle of La Bassée]] in October 1914, the [[Battle of Messines (1914)|Battle of Messines]] also in October 1914 and in the [[First Battle of Ypres]] also in October 1914. It also saw action at the [[Second Battle of Ypres]] in April 1915 and the [[Battle of Hill 60 (Western Front)|Battle of Hill 60]] also in April 1915. In 1917 they fought at the [[Battle of Arras (1917)|Battle of Arras]] in April 1917 and the [[Battle of Passchendaele]] in July 1917. It then took part in the [[Battle of the Lys (1918)|Battle of the Lys]] in April 1918 and the Battles of the [[Hindenburg Line]] and the Final Advance in [[Picardy]] later in the year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/battalion.php?pid=4612|title=1st Battalion, Cheshire Regiment|access-date=24 May 2014}}</ref>

The 2nd battalion, which was recalled from India in December 1914, landed at Le Havre as part of the [[84th Brigade (United Kingdom)|84th Brigade]] in the [[28th Division (United Kingdom)|28th Division]] in January 1915 for service on the Western Front; it moved to [[Egypt]] in October 1915 and then on to [[Thessaloniki|Salonika]].<ref name=trail/>

====Territorial Force====
The 1/4th Battalion landed in [[Gallipoli]] as part of the [[159th (Cheshire) Brigade|159th Brigade]] in the [[53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division|53rd (Welsh) Division]] in August 1915; after being evacuated to [[Egypt]] in December 1915 the battalion landed in France in May 1918 for service on the Western Front.<ref name=trail/> The 1/5th (Earl of Chester's) Battalion landed at Le Havre as part of the [[14th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|14th Brigade]] in the 5th Division in February 1915 for service on the Western Front.<ref name=trail/> The [[6th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment|1/6th Battalion]] landed in France as GHQ Troops and saw considerable action on the Western Front under a number of different formations.<ref name=trail/> The 1/7th Battalion landed in France as part of the [[15th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|15th Brigade]] in the 5th Division in November 1914 for service on the Western Front.<ref name=trail/> The Second Line (2/4th, 2/5th, [[6th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment|2/6th]] and 2/7th) and Third Line (Reserve) (3/4th, 3/5th, [[6th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment|3/6th]] and 3/7th) TF battalions did not go overseas, but remained as home defence and training units.<ref name=trail/>

====New Armies====
The 8th (Service) Battalion landed in Gallipoli as part of the [[40th Brigade (United Kingdom)|40th Brigade]] in the [[13th (Western) Division]] in June 1915; after evacuation to Egypt in January 1916 it moved to [[Mesopotamia]] in February 1916.<ref name=trail/> The 9th (Service) Battalion landed at [[Boulogne-sur-Mer]] as part of the [[58th Brigade (United Kingdom)|58th Brigade]] in the [[19th (Western) Division]] in July 1915 for service on the Western Front.<ref name=trail/> The 10th (Service) Battalion and the 11th (Service) Battalion landed in France as part of the [[75th Brigade (United Kingdom)|75th Brigade]] in the [[25th Division (United Kingdom)|25th Division]] in September 1915 for service on the Western Front.<ref name=trail/> The 12th (Service) Battalion landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer as part of the [[66th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|66th Brigade]] in the [[22nd Division (United Kingdom)|22nd Division]] in September 1915 for service on the Western Front but moved to Salonika in November 1915.<ref name=trail/> The 13th (Service) Battalion landed in France as part of the [[74th Brigade (United Kingdom)|74th Brigade]] in the 25th Division in September 1915 for service on the Western Front.<ref name=trail/> The 15th (Service) Battalion (1st Birkenhead) and the 16th (Service) Battalion (2nd Birkenhead) (both '[[Bantam (military)|Bantam battalions]]') landed at Le Havre as part of the [[105th Brigade (United Kingdom)|105th Brigade]] in the [[35th Division (United Kingdom)|35th Division]] in January 1916 for service on the Western Front.<ref name=trail/>

===Second World War===
{{see also|List of Battalions of the Cheshire Regiment#Second World War}}
[[File:Men of the 7th Cheshire Regiment, 5th Infantry Division's machine gun battalion, in a captured German communications trench during the offensive at Anzio, Italy, 22 May 1944. NA15298.jpg|thumb|right|Men of the 7th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment, [[5th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)|5th Infantry Division]]'s machine gun battalion, in a captured German communications trench during the [[Battle of Anzio|offensive at Anzio]], Italy, 22 May 1944.]]
[[File:The British Army in Normandy 1944 B5439.jpg|thumb|left|[[Vickers machine gun]] of 'B' Company of the 2nd Battalion, Cheshire Regiment, near Audrieu, France, 13 June 1944.]]

During the [[World War II|Second World War]], the 2nd Battalion of the Cheshires served in France in 1940 with the rest of the [[British Expeditionary Force (World War II)|British Expeditionary Force]] before fighting in the [[Battle of Dunkirk]] and subsequently being evacuated. The 1st Battalion fought in North Africa at [[Tobruk]] and subsequently took part in the crossing of the Rhine in March 1945. The 2nd Battalion took part in the [[Normandy landings|D-Day landings in 1944]], as part of the [[50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division]], while the 6th and 7th Battalions fought in the [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|Italian Campaign]].<ref name=museum/> The 6th Battalion served with the [[44th (Home Counties) Division|44th (Home Counties) Infantry Division]] in [[North African Campaign|North Africa]] before transferring to the [[56th (London) Infantry Division]]. The 5th Battalion remained within the United Kingdom for the duration of the war, providing machine gun support for the [[38th (Welsh) Infantry Division|38th Infantry (Reserve) Division]], the [[53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division]], and the [[80th Infantry (Reserve) Division (United Kingdom)|80th Infantry (Reserve) Division]].<ref>Joslen, pp. 65, 87, 103</ref>

===Post-war===
[[Image:Cheshire Regiment Memorial.JPG|thumb|left|250px|The First and Second World War memorial to the Cheshire Regiment, Chester Cathedral]]
After the War, the 1st and 2nd Battalions were amalgamated and became a depot battalion in 1948.<ref name=bau>{{cite web|url=http://british-army-units1945on.co.uk/infantry/cheshire-regiment.html|title=The Cheshire Regiment|publisher=British Army units 1945 on|access-date=24 May 2014}}</ref> The regiment was deployed to [[Cyprus]] and to [[Egypt]] in 1951 and to [[Federation of Malaya|Malaya]] in 1957.<ref name=bau/> It was posted to [[Abercorn Barracks]] in [[Ballykinler]] in 1960 and to Buller Barracks in [[Münster]] in 1962.<ref name=bau/> While in Munster the regiment was deployed to [[Cyprus]] under UN command for six months from October 1964 to April 1965.<ref name=bau/> The regiment moved to [[Netheravon]] in [[Wiltshire]] for six months in 1966 and then went to [[Warminster]] as Demonstration Battalion.<ref name=bau/> The regiment moved to [[Weeton Barracks]] in 1968; during the latter part of 1968 the regiment was deployed to Bahrain for nine months, and was then sent to [[Derry]] in [[Northern Ireland]] at the start of [[the Troubles]] in 1970.<ref name=bau/> In December 1970, the regiment was posted to Berlin for two years. The regiment returned to Weeton barracks in 1972 but undertook further tours in the Province throughout the 1970s.<ref name=bau/>

The regiment moved to Elizabeth Barracks in [[Minden]] in 1977.<ref name=bau/> In 1978, [[Michael Dauncey|Mike Dauncey]] was appointed [[Colonel Commandant]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.paradata.org.uk/people/michael-d-k-dauncey |title=Appointment of Mike Dauncey to Colonel Commandant|publisher=Paradata|access-date=24 May 2014}}</ref> and in 1979 the regiment moved to [[Tidworth Camp|Tidworth]].<ref name=bau/> The regiment became the resident regiment at [[Shackleton Barracks]] in [[Ballykelly, County Londonderry|Ballykelly]] in 1980 and in 1982; eight soldiers from the Cheshires were killed in the [[Droppin Well bombing]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/events/droppin_well|title=INLA kill 11 soldiers, six civilians at Droppin' Well|date=6 December 1982|publisher=BBC|access-date=24 May 2014}}</ref> The regiment then spent two years, from 1984 to 1986, in Hong Kong.<ref name=bau/> Between 1986 and 1988, the regiment was posted to [[Caterham Barracks]] as a [[public duties]] battalion and in 1988 it moved to [[Dale Barracks]] in [[Chester]].<ref name=bau/>

The regiment was posted to St Barbara's Barracks at [[Bad Fallingbostel|Fallingbostel]] in 1991. It became the first Armoured Infantry unit to deploy to Bosnia on Operation Grapple 1, as part of [[7th Armoured Brigade (United Kingdom)|7th Armoured Brigade]], on United Nations peace keeping duties to the former Yugoslavia in 1992. Then, after a period at [[RAF Oakington|Oakington Barracks]] between 1993 and 1996, it returned to Shackleton Barracks.<ref name=bau/> It went to [[Beachley Barracks]], near [[Chepstow]]<!--Chepstow is in Wales; despite what MOD websites say, the barracks is actually a few hundred yards away, in Gloucestershire, England!--> in 1998 and to Alexander Barracks in [[Dhekelia Cantonment|Dhekelia]] in 2000.<ref name=bau/> It returned to Kiwi Barracks at [[Bulford Camp]] in 2002 and was deployed to [[Iraq]] ([[Operation Telic|Operation Telic 4]]) in 2004 before being sent back to Abercorn Barracks in 2005.<ref name=bau/>

===Amalgamation===
The Cheshire Regiment was one of five line infantry regiments never to have been amalgamated in its history. It shared this claim with [[Royal Scots|The Royal Scots]], [[Green Howards|The Green Howards]], [[Royal Welch Fusiliers|The Royal Welch Fusiliers]] and [[King's Own Scottish Borderers|The King's Own Scottish Borderers]]. In 2004, as a part of the [[Delivering Security in a Changing World|reorganisation]] of the infantry, it was announced that the Cheshire Regiment would be amalgamated with the [[Staffordshire Regiment]] and the [[Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment]] to form the new [[Mercian Regiment]]. In August 2007, the regiment became the 1st Battalion, the Mercian Regiment.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4102013.stm|title=In detail: army restructuring plans|work=BBC News|date=16 December 2004|access-date=24 May 2014}}</ref>

==Regimental museum==
The [[Cheshire Military Museum]] is based at [[Chester Castle]].<ref>{{Citation| url = http://www.armymuseums.org.uk/museums/0000000024-Cheshire-Military-Museum.htm| title = Cheshire Military Museum| access-date = 18 February 2011| publisher = Army Museums Ogilby Trust| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110617114853/http://www.armymuseums.org.uk/museums/0000000024-Cheshire-Military-Museum.htm| archive-date = 2011-06-17| url-status = dead}}</ref>

==Alliances==
Alliances include:<ref name=regiments/>
*{{CAN}} – The [[Cape Breton Highlanders]]
*{{CAN}} – 2nd Battalion, The [[Nova Scotia Highlanders]] (Cape Breton)
*{{NZ}} –	22nd Battalion (The Richmond Regiment)
*{{IND}} – 5th Battalion (Napiers), [[Rajputana Rifles|The Rajputana Rifles]]

==Battle honours==
The regiment was awarded the following [[Battle honours of the British and Imperial Armies|battle honours]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eardley-bryan.com/cheshire-1.htm|title=The 22nd (Cheshire) Regiment|access-date=24 March 2014}}</ref>

* Louisburg, Martinique 1762, Havannah, Meeanee, Hyderabad, Scinde, South Africa 1900–02
*''The Great War (38 battalions)'': '''Mons''', Le Cateau, Retreat from Mons, Marne 1914, 18, Aisne 1914, 18, La Bassee 1914, Armentieres 1914, '''Ypres 1914 '15 '17 '18''', Nonne Bosschen, Gravenstafel, St. Julien, Frezenberg, Bellewaarde, Loos, '''Somme 1916 '18''', Albert 1916 '18, Bazentin, Delville Wood, Pozieres, Guillemont, Flers-Courcelette, Morval, Thiepval, Le Transloy, Ancre Heights, Ancre 1916, '''Arras 1917 '18''', Vimy 1917, Scarpe 1917 '18, Oppy, '''Messines 1917 '18''', Pilckem, Langemarck 1917, Menin Road, Polygon Wood, Broodseinde, Poelcappelle, Passchendaele, Cambrai 1917 '18, St Quentin, '''Bapaume 1918''', Rosieres, Lys, Estaires, Hazebrouck, Bailleul, Kemmel, Scherpenberg, Soissonais-Ourcq, Hindenburg Line, Canal du Nord, Courtrai, Selle, Valenciennes, Sambre, France and Flanders 1914–18, Italy 1917–18, Struma, '''Doiran 1917 '18''', Macedonia 1915–18, '''Suvla''', Sari Bair, Landing at Suvla, Scimitar Hill, Gallipoli 1915, Egypt 1915–17, '''Gaza''', El Mughar, Jerusalem, Jericho, Tell 'Asur, Palestine 1917–18, Tigris 1916, '''Kut al Amara 1917''', Bagdad, Mesopotamia 1916–18
*''The Second World War'': Dyle, Withdrawal to Escaut, '''[[Battle of St Omer-La Bassée|St Omer-La Bassée]]''', Wormhoudt, Cassel, Dunkirk 1940, '''Normandy Landing''', Mont Pincon, St. Pierre La Vielle, Gheel, Nederrijn, Aam, Aller, North-West Europe 1940, '44–45, Sidi Barrani, '''Capture of Tobruk''', Gazala, Mersa Matruh, Defence of Alamein Line, Deir el Shein, '''El Alamein''', '''Mareth''', Wadi Zeuss East, Wadi Zigzaou, Akarit, Wadi Akarit East, Enfidaville, North Africa 1940–43, Landing in Sicily, Primosole Bridge, Simeto Bridgehead, '''Sicily 1943''', Sangro, '''Salerno''', Santa Lucia, Battipaglia, Volturno Crossing, Monte Maro, Teano, Monte Camino, Garigliano Crossing, Minturno, Damiano, Anzio, '''Rome''', '''Gothic Line''', Coriano, Gemmano Ridge, Savignano, Senio Floodbank, Rimini Line, Ceriano Ridge, Valli di Comacchio, Italy 1943–45, '''Malta 1941–42'''
*''4th Battalion'': South Africa 1901–02
*''5th, 6th Battalions'': South Africa 1900–02

==Victoria Crosses==
Victoria Crosses awarded to men of the regiment were:
* Second Lieutenant [[Hugh Colvin]], [[First World War]] (20 September 1917)<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=30372|date=6 November 1917 |page=11568 |supp=y }}</ref>
* Private [[Thomas Alfred Jones]], First World War (25 September 1916)<ref>{{London Gazette|issue= 29802|date=26 October 1916|page=10395 |supp=y}}</ref>

==Colonels of the Regiment==
Colonels of the regiment were:<ref name=regiments>{{cite web|url=http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/inf/022Ches.htm |title=The Cheshire Regiment |publisher=regiments.org |access-date=11 July 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061231053245/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/inf/022Ches.htm |archive-date=31 December 2006 }}</ref>

*1689: Col. [[Henry Howard, 7th Duke of Norfolk]], KG
*1689–1701: Lt-Gen. Sir [[Henry Belasyse (died 1717)|Henry Bellasyse]]
*1701–1702: Maj-Gen. [[William Selwyn (British Army officer)|William Selwyn]]
*1702–1712: Maj-Gen. [[Thomas Handasyd]]e
*1712–1730: Lt-Gen. [[Roger Handasyd]]e
*1730–1734: Lt-Gen. [[William Barrell]]
*1734–1737: Gen. [[James St. Clair]]
*1737–1738: Maj-Gen. [[John Moyle (British Army officer)|John Moyle]]
*1738–1741: Brig-Gen. [[Thomas Paget (British Army officer)|Thomas Paget]]
*1741–1757: Maj-Gen. [[Richard O'Farrell (British Army officer)|Richard O'Farrell]]

===The 22nd Regiment of Foot===
*1757–1762: Maj-Gen. [[Edward Whitmore]]
*1762–1782: Gen. [[Thomas Gage]]

===The 22nd (Cheshire) Regiment===
*1782–1791: Lt-Gen. [[Charles O'Hara]]
*1791–1795: Gen. [[David Dundas (British Army officer)|David Dundas]], GCB
*1795–1798: Maj-Gen. [[William Crosbie (British Army officer)|Willam Crosbie]]
*1798–1806: Lt-Gen. [[John Graves Simcoe]]
*1806–1809: Gen. Sir [[James Henry Craig]], KB
*1809–1843: Gen. [[Edward Finch (MP)|Edward Finch]]
*1843–1853: Lt-Gen. Sir [[Charles James Napier]], GCB
*1853–1860: Lt-Gen. Sir [[William Francis Patrick Napier]], KCB
*1860–1872: Gen. Sir [[John Pennefather|John Lysaght Pennefather]], GCB
*1872–1873: Lt-Gen. George Thomas Conolly Napier, CB
*1873–1886: Gen. Sir [[Trevor Chute]], KCB

===The Cheshire Regiment===
*1886–1888: Gen. Frederick Darley George, CB
*1888–1894: Gen. Sir [[William McMurdo|William Montagu Scott McMurdo]], GCB
*1894–1909: Gen. [[David Anderson (British Army officer)|David Anderson]]
*1909–1911: Lt-Gen. Sir [[Charles Tucker (British Army officer)|Charles Tucker]], GCB, GCVO
*1911–1914: Maj-Gen. William Henry Ralston, CB
*1914–1928: Maj-Gen. Sir [[Edward Graham (British Army officer)|Edward Ritchie Coryton Graham]], KCB, KCMG
*1928–1930: Lt-Gen. Sir Warren [[Hastings Anderson]], KCB
*1930–1947: Col. Arthur Crookenden, CBE, DSO
*1947–1950: Brig. Geoffrey Parker Harding, CBE, DSO, MC
*1950–1955: Lt-Gen. [[Arthur Percival|Arthur Ernest Percival]], CB, DSO, OBE, MC, DL
*1955–1962: Maj-Gen. [[Thomas Brodie]], CB, CBE, DS0
*1962–1968: Gen. Sir [[Charles Henry Pepys Harington]], GCB, CBE, DSO, MC
*1968–1971: Lt-Gen. Sir [[Napier Crookenden]], KCB, DSO, OBE
*1971–1978: Maj-Gen. Peter Lawrence de Carteret Martin, CBE
*1978–1985: Brig. [[Michael Dauncey|Michael Donald Keen Dauncey]], DSO, DL
*1985–1992: Brig. William Keith Lloyd Prosser, CBE, MC
*1992–1999: Brig. Alfred James MacGregor Percival, OBE
*1999–2006: Maj-Gen. Keith Skempton, CBE
*2006–2007: Col. Andrew Richard Darwen Sharpe, OBE

== The Cheshires in literature ==
A night-encounter between new recruits to the Cheshires on their way to the Somme and a new Brigade of the [[Royal West Kent Regiment|West Kents]], going the same way, was the subject of a 1935 poem by [[F. L. Lucas]], {{'}}''Morituri'' - August 1915, on the road from Morlancourt', which ends:<ref>Lucas, F. L., ''Poems, 1935'' (Cambridge, 1935), p.91</ref>
:A whisper came – "The Cheshires". Unseen on our leaf-hung track,
:Their gay mirth mocked our caution, till the stillness flooded back
:And deep in the sodden woodland we crept to our bivouack.
:But still when grave heads are shaken and sombre seems the day,
:Beyond the years I hear it – faint, phantom, far away –
:That lilt of the Cheshires laughing, down through the dark to Bray.

==See also==
{{portal|Cheshire}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Sources==
* {{Joslen-OOB}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book|first=Richard|last=Cannon|author-link=Richard Cannon|title=Historical Record of the Twenty-Second, or the Cheshire Regiment of Foot|year=1849|location=London|publisher=Parker, Furnivall and Parker|isbn=9780665270949 |url=https://archive.org/details/cihm_27094}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Cheshire Regiment}}
*[http://www.army.mod.uk/infantry/regiments/6447.aspx 1st Battalion, The Mercian Regiment (Cheshire) Official Site]
*{{YouTube|LVzcusE9qd4|"Wha Wadna Fecht for Charlie - Quick March of the Cheshire Regiment"}}

{{Mercian Regiment}}
{{Regiments of Foot}}
{{British Infantry Regiments World War I}}

[[Category:Cheshire Regiment| ]]
[[Category:Battalions of the British Army]]
[[Category:1689 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1689]]
[[Category:Regiments of the British Army in World War II]]
[[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 in Cheshire]]
[[Category:Military units and formations in Chester]]
[[Category:Mercian Regiment]]
[[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 2007]]