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1953 – 1994
1953 – 1970
After a tour of Gibraltar the 'Dukes' returned to the UK in 1956. The Suez crisis began in July of the same year and the Regiment left England with the intention of landing in Libya, but eventually landed in Cyprus.
The 1956 tour saw the Dukes operating in a largely anti-terrorist role, which they performed efficiently and with good results.
In September, 1957, the Battalion moved to Palace Barracks, Holywood, just outside Belfast, Northern Ireland, and then back to England in October, 1959, in order to join the new UK Strategic Reserve as part of 19 Infantry Brigade Group.
In July, 1960, as Spearhead battalion, the 'Dukes' were rushed to Kenya in response to a request from the Governor. The following year the Battalion were sent back to Kenya in order to provide cover for the British troops sent to Kuwait to offer protection from its ambitious neighbour – Iraq.
With the Cold War very real throughout this period, the 'Dukes' spent a lot of time in Western Germany as part of the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) and NATO. As the role of the infantry had to adapt to mechanised and armoured warfare on the North German Plain, subsequent ‘tours of duty’ lasted between 4 and 6 years, with the result that the Battalion was posted to Minden in the 1950’s. prior to Korea, and to Osnabruck from 1963 to 1968 as part of 12 Infantry Brigade Group, equipped with Humber FV1611 APC’s - the famous 'Pig'.
The mid to late 1960’s were largely spent on exercise in Germany, Norway and Denmark, interrupted by a UN tour (UNFICYP) of Cyprus in 1967. In June of the following year the 'Dukes' moved to Hong Kong until returning home for a spell of public duties in the palaces and castles of London in November 1970.
Meanwhile, in December 1969, National Service came to an end and the Battalion was forced to change accordingly.
1970 – 1994
In 1971 the Dukes were sent to Northern Ireland at the start of the troubles there. They then moved to Catterick 18 months later. The Battalion would spend a significant amount of time as both the resident and roulement (rotation) battalion in the years to come. In 1972 on a four-month tour in South Armagh the Battalion lost three men. March of the following year saw the 'Dukes' deploy on an 18-month residential tour to Ballykelly, County Londonderry.
In 1974, continuing the close links between his family and the Regiment, Brigadier his Grace The Duke of Wellington KG LVO OBE MC BA DL (the 8th Duke) was appointed Colonel in Chief by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. Thus the 'Dukes' became the only Regiment in the British Army to have a “Commoner” as their Commander in Chief.
The Battalion moved to Clifton Barracks, Minden in Germany as a part of 11th Armoured Brigade in the 1st (British) Corps, equipped with FV432 in the mechanised role. The Battalion was involved in major exercises such as Spearhead and Crusader in Western Germany. In 1980 the Battalion returned to Catterick and were soon on public duties in London, and spent four months on a tour in South Armagh.
Exeercises in Gibraltar, Canada and Belize were intermingled with sporadic tours of Northern Ireland, culminating, in January 1987, with a two-year tour of duty back at Palace Barracks, Holywood, Belfast.
As spearhead Battalion, in late 1990 and March 1991, the Dukes were tasked with assisting the outloading of stores from UK bases to the Gulf region for the First Gulf War.
The announcement of the Government’s “Options for Change” programme caused ructions within the entire British armed forces. The 'Dukes' were one of the few Regiments that remained untouched by these changes. Further alterations occurred the next year and it was announced that the 3rd/4th Battalion Yorkshire Volunteers would reform as the 3rd Battalion The Duke of Wellington’s Regiment (West Riding) (Yorkshire Volunteers) with their HQ in Sheffield.
From July 1991 until 1993, stationed at Bulford the 'Dukes' joined the Allied Command Mobile Force (Land) or AMLF (L). This meant the 'Dukes' were not only the sole British infantry unit in the AMLF, but they were required to be training in mountain and arctic warfare. The Battalion spent a great deal of time on exercises in Norway on NATO’s northern flank, in particular on Exercise ‘Hard Fall’ in 1993.
In February of that year, the Battalion moved within Bulford to re-roll as a mechanised battalion, equipped with “Saxon” wheeled armoured vehicles, as a part of 1st Mechanised Brigade.
The 'Dukes' were put on standby to cover the troubles that had arisen in the Balkan state of Bosnia and, in March 1993, the Battalion arrived in theatre. Deployed initially to Bugojno and then to Gorazde, the 'Dukes' made a significant contribution to the United Nations’ Mission, so much so they were subsequently granted 13 Operational awards including the first ever Conspicuous Gallantry Cross (CGC) to Cpl Wayne Mills for an action in May, 1994, near Gorazde, and a Distinguished Service Order (DSO) to Lt Col DM Santa-Olalla, the Commanding Officer during the tour. |
