East Midlands Regiment

East Midlands Regiment
Unit name	East Midlands Regiment
Caption	Cap badge of the East Midlands Regiment
Dates	1999–2007
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	British Army
Role	Infantry
Size	Battalion
Garrison	Derby, Nottingham, Lincoln
Nickname	EMR
Motto	Stand Easy
Colors	Brass

East Midlands Regiment The East Midlands Regiment was a Territorial Army infantry battalion of the British Army formed in 1999 and amalgamated into the Royal Anglian Regiment in 2007. It drew personnel from county-based units around Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland and maintained links with historic regiments such as Sherwood Foresters, Royal Lincolnshire Regiment, Leicestershire Regiment, Northamptonshire Regiment and Derbyshire and Derbyshire Yeomanry. The battalion provided trained reservists for operations alongside units like 3 Commando Brigade, 1st Armoured Division, 2nd Division and contributed to campaigns including the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), Iraq War, and peacekeeping under NATO and United Nations mandates.

History

The unit originated during post-Cold War restructuring signalled by the Strategic Defence Review (1998) which also affected formations such as Prince of Wales's Division, King's Division, Queen's Division, and regiments like The Light Infantry and Royal Anglian Regiment. Drawing lineage from county regiments amalgamated after the Cardwell Reforms and Childers Reforms, the battalion embodied traditions from antecedents involved in the Crimean War, Second Boer War, First World War, and Second World War campaigns including Gallipoli, Somme, El Alamein and Normandy landings. During the 2000s the regiment adapted to the Future Army Structure changes that also reconfigured formations such as 1st (UK) Armoured Division and influenced reserve integration with units like 3rd Battalion, The Rifles.

Formation and Structure

Formed by amalgamating companies from predecessors such as the 3rd Battalion, Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment and county-based volunteer elements, the battalion mirrored organizational patterns used by regiments including Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, and The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment. Headquarters elements sat alongside companies in urban centres like Nottingham, Derby, Lincoln, Leicester, Northampton and Rutland. Command relationships placed the battalion under regional commands similar to 4th Division (United Kingdom), and cooperated with units such as Royal Engineers, Royal Logistic Corps, Royal Military Police and Army Air Corps detachments during exercises like Exercise Saif Sareea and Exercise Joint Warrior.

Deployments and Operations

Reservists from the regiment mobilised for operational tours supporting Operation Telic in Iraq and Operation Herrick in Afghanistan, and contributed personnel to NATO operations in the Balkans alongside formations like KFOR and IFOR. Individual members deployed on UN missions such as UNPROFOR veterans returning to reserve service and supported domestic resilience during crises alongside Ministry of Defence planning cells and civil agencies including Civil Contingencies Secretariat teams. The battalion participated in multinational exercises with allies from United States Armed Forces, Canadian Army, Australian Army, French Army and German Bundeswehr, and trained for counterinsurgency and peace enforcement tasks similar to deployments by Light Dragoons and Royal Gurkha Rifles.

Traditions and Insignia

Colours and insignia reflected antecedent badges like the Sherwood Foresters cap badge, Royal Lincolnshire Regiment cap badge and devices of the Leicestershire Regiment. Regimental customs included commemorations at memorials such as the Menin Gate, National Memorial Arboretum, and county war memorials in Derby Cathedral, Lincoln Cathedral and Wollaton Hall. Pipes and drums and regimental bands drew repertoire from ceremonial fixtures associated with Trooping the Colour, Remembrance Sunday and county parades alongside units like Royal British Legion contingents. Honorary colonels and patrons often included local dignitaries and retired officers who had served with Somerset Light Infantry, King's Own Royal Border Regiment and other historic formations.

Organisation and Units

The battalion comprised multiple companies designated by county titles mirroring structures used by units such as 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment and 5th Battalion, The Rifles. Companies were based in locations including Derby, Nottingham, Lincoln, Leicester and Northampton, and worked closely with Territorial Army elements from Royal Army Medical Corps, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Adjutant General's Corps and Intelligence Corps. Cadet linkage involved organisations such as the Army Cadet Force, Combined Cadet Force, Sea Cadets and Air Training Corps to sustain recruitment pipelines. The battalion maintained a chain of command and staff appointments comparable to those in infantry battalions of the Regular Army.

Training and Recruitment

Training standards aligned with doctrines published by institutions like the British Army Training Unit Kenya, Small Arms School Corps, Infantry Battle School, and exercise regimes used by Salisbury Plain Training Area units. Recruits underwent courses similar to the Basic Training (UK) syllabus and were prepared for operational deployment with modules from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and specialist courses in signals, reconnaissance and medical support. Recruitment drew on county communities, universities such as University of Nottingham and University of Leicester, and partnerships with employers mirroring schemes used by Career Transition Partnership and employer engagement programmes in Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Association areas.

Disbandment and Legacy

In 2007 the battalion was subsumed into the Royal Anglian Regiment under restructuring consistent with the Future Reserves 2020 direction and Army reorganisations that affected regiments like The Rifles and Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment. Lineage and traditions were perpetuated within successor units and commemorated at museums such as the Sherwood Foresters Museum, Museum of Army Flying, Royal Anglian Regiment Museum and county regimental museums in Derby Museum and Art Gallery and Lincolnshire Museum. Former members have since joined veterans' organisations including the Royal British Legion, Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Association and taken part in anniversaries for battles like Waterloo, Amiens, Arras and campaigns honoured on regimental memorials.

Category:Infantry regiments of the British Army Category:Military units and formations established in 1999 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 2007