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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, as a result the Regiment left England with the intention of landing in Libya, but eventually landed in Cyprus.
The 1956 operation 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 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 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 high majority 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, subsequent ‘tour of duty’ lasted between 4 and 6 years. As a result the Battalion were posted to Minden in the 1950’s and 1970’s and Osnabruck from 1963 to 1968 as part of 12 Infantry Brigade Group, equipped with Humber FV1611 APC’s.
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. June of the following year saw the Dukes in Hong Kong on internal security duties until returning home for a spell of public duties in the palaces and castles of London in November 1970.
Back in the UK 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 the following year saw the Dukes deploy on a 12-month residential tour to Ballykelly in the Province once again, this time there were 2 fatalities and 15 casualties during a very tough time.
In 1974, continuing the close links between his family and the Dukes, Brigadier His Grace The Duke of Wellington KG LVO OBE MC BA DL (the 8th Duke) was appointed Colonel in Chief by her Majesty the 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 returned to Clifton Barracks, Minden in Germany as a part of 11th Armoured Brigade in the 1st (British) Corps. Subsequent roulement tours in 1977 and 1979 saw a very busy period for the Dukes come to an end.
In February 1980 the Battalion returned to Germany and resumed their mechanised role taking part in Exercise Crusader in Western Germany. In 1981 the Battalion returned to public duties in London, and spent four months on tour in South Armagh.
Spells 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.
As spearhead Battalion in late 1990 and March 1991 the Dukes were tasked with assisting the outload 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 amongst 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 required training in mountain and arctic warfare. The Battalion in due course spent a great deal of time on NATO’s northern flank, exercising in Norway, in particular on Exercise ‘Hard Fall’ in 1993.
In February of that year, the Battalion moved within Bulford to re-roll as a mechanised “Saxon” battalion as a part of 1st Mechanised Brigade.
The Dukes were put on stand by 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 action in May 1994 near Gorazde, and a Distinguished Service Order (DSO) to Lt Col DM Santa-Olalla, then Commanding Officer. |
