F R DANNATT
Lieutenant General
Colonel Commandant
FUTURE INFANTRY STRUCTURE – THE KING’S DIVISION

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1. Introduction
2. The Future of the Infantry
3. Implications for the King's Division
4. Divisional Organisation
5. Roles and Locations
6. Conclusion
1. Introduction. The Army Board has decided, and the Secretary of State for Defence has announced in the House of Commons, that the six famous, historic and successful Infantry Regiments of The King’s Division will merge into two new Regiments, one either side of the Pennines. The change is part of the wider Future Army Structure project which has the purpose of better preparing the Army to carry out the kind of expeditionary operations demanded by today’s strategic security environment. An important aspect of FAS is the internal reallocation of some Army manpower to provide greater robustness to communications, engineer, intelligence and logistic parts of the Army which are key to the mounting of successful expeditionary operations.
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2. Future Infantry Structure. The reduced requirement for infantry battalions to do duty in Northern Ireland and a decision to end the expensive and time consuming practice of re-roling battalions has led to the judgement by the Army Board that infantry tasks can be carried out in the future with a reduced number of battalions. The new structure of large multi-battalion Regiments that either stay in one role and location indefinitely, or move within the Light role periodically, will raise training and operational standards, provide variety of role and location for those who wish it – or need it for career development reasons – and offer family stability for those who make that a priority.
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3. Implications for The King’s Division. In late 2005 the three Regiments which recruit West of The Pennines – The King’s Own Royal Border Regiment, The King’s Regiment and The Queen’s Lancashire Regiment will merge to The King’s, Lancashire and Border Regiment initially of three regular and one or two TA battalions. By the end of 2007 the three regular battalions will reduce to two battalions.
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Also in late 2005 the three Regiments which recruit East of The Pennines, The Prince of Wales’ Own Regiment of Yorkshire, The Green Howards and The Duke of Wellington’s Regiment will merge to form The Yorkshire Regiment (14th/15th, 19th, 33rd/76th Foot) of three regular battalions and one TA battalion.

1, 2, 3 and 4 LANCS and 1, 2, 3 and 4 YORKS will continue to play a vital role in the Field Army Order of Battle carrying on the fine traditions of 1 KORBR, 1 KINGS, 1 PWO, 1 GH, 1 QLR and 1 DWR, while adapting to the needs of the future.

Final decisions on the number of TA units and sub-units have yet to be taken, but the intention is that the regular and TA battalions within both Regiments will have a close and mutually supporting relationship. For the Yorkshire Regiment, battalion subtitles may be used, ie, 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment (Duke of Wellington’s).
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4. Divisional Organisation. The six (then five) regular battalions of the two new Regiments will be actively managed as a five battalion grouping by an enhanced Divisional Staff in conjunction with APC Glasgow and the two new Regimental Headquarters.

Two new RHQs will be set up (locations to be decided) to manage the affairs of the regular and TA battalions of the new Regiments while existing RHQs will continue to manage the affairs of the former Regiments at least until 2008.

A full study into the manning and organisation of RHQs will be carried out by Director Infantry shortly. However, to exemplify the over-arching Divisional structure, and the potential for cross posting within it, all battalions of the Division will, in future, wear the brown beret currently worn by most. It will become increasingly usual for individuals to serve in any battalion of either Regiment.
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5. Roles and Locations. Within the spirit of the new structure the Division will fill a variety of roles, in a variety of locations. By the end of 2007 the then five regular battalions of the Division will adjust to adopt the following roles and locations:

• LANCS
o One battalion in the mechanised infantry role in Belfast Barracks, Osnabruck, Germany.
o One battalion in the light role in Weeton Camp, Blackpool, UK.

• YORKS
o One battalion in the armoured infantry role in Tidworth/Warminster, UK.
o One battalion in the light role in Somme Barracks, Catterick, UK
o One battalion in the light role in Alexander Barracks, Dhekelia, Cyprus.

Note that the three battalions in the light roles will still move location from time to time in order not to leave any battalion in Cyprus for more than three years.
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6. Conclusion. While much detail has still to be sorted out we now know the headlines for the future. I acknowledge there is disappointment for some – perhaps given the loss of all our former names, disappointment for all – but building well manned and highly effective infantry battalions for future operations is key, while retaining the golden thread to the past.

I know I can count on the unanimous support of all in The King’s Division to get the new arrangements off on the soundest possible footing and I look forward to working with you as we begin to write a new chapter in our illustrious histories. We owe it to today’s soldiers – and to those of yesterday and tomorrow – to make our new Regiments the success that the people of Cumbria, Lancashire, Liverpool, Manchester and Yorkshire deserve and expect.
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