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The Mercian Regiment (Cheshire, Worcesters and Foresters, and Staffords)
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The Mercian Regiment and their mascot celebrate Formation Day at Dale Barracks, Chester, 2015
Origins
The Mercian Regiment was formed in 2007 from The Cheshire Regiment, The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment and The Staffordshire Regiment. These became its 1st, 2nd and 3rd battalions respectively.
Three Territorial Army regiments were also merged to form the new regiment’s 4th Battalion, operating in a light infantry role.
The regiment is named after Mercia, the Anglo-Saxon kingdom which covered the English Midlands from the 6th to 10th centuries. It bears the Mercian double-headed crowned eagle as its emblem.
Other ranks' cap badge, The Mercian Regiment, 2010
A sniper from 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment, 2009
Deployments
The 1st Battalion operates as an armoured infantry unit. Since the regiment's formation, it has served with 4th Mechanised Brigade in Iraq (2003-11) in 2007 and in Helmand, Afghanistan (2001-14) in 2008.
The 2nd Battalion, a light infantry force, also deployed to Helmand in 2007 and then to Northern Ireland in 2008. After another Afghan tour in 2008, it moved to Chester in England, where it is currently based.
In 2014, the 3rd Battalion was merged into the two remaining regular battalions as part of the Army 2020 reforms. Apart from a 2009 Afghan deployment, it had spent most of the previous seven years based in Germany operating as armoured infantry.
Medals of Corporal Mark Ward, The Mercian Regiment, 2003-11
Combat helmet worn by Corporal Mark Ward in Afghanistan, c2010
Regimental museums
The National Army Museum works with a network of Regimental and Corps Museums across the UK to help preserve and share the history and traditions of the Army and its soldiers.
Discover more about The Mercian Regiment by visiting the Museum of the Mercian Regiment at Nottingham Castle.
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