COLONEL OF THE REGIMENT

Today’s turnaround in operational tours and intensity of operations places extraordinary demands on both regular and territorial Fusiliers – and their families. Yet the positive spirit and strong morale clearly prevail over adversity – and that surely is at the heart of Regimental spirit. The rest of us are left wondering how we can help and support from a distance. It is with this in mind that I am so honoured to have been appointed by Her Majesty as Colonel of the Regiment to take up the mantle of leading the wider Regimental family. The letter of appointment states, “During this period of change for the Army, the Army Board recognises the need to foster the regimental system to ensure that it remains robust and secure to face whatever the future holds”: From that I extract my mission.

One of the positive aspects of the last reorganisation was that the Army completed moves to large regiments on which they stuttered and prevaricated so many times in the past. Ironically this now leaves us as one of the smaller regiments so what are the implications of that? In the first instance we have many more years of experience in thinking beyond single battalion structures. Some of the new regiments are really grasping the opportunities of size while others give the impression of being stuck in a sham marriage. We are committed to cross battalion management and must work positively with the Queen’s Division to manage the new world of minimum arms plotting. We must seize the new opportunities while preserving the best of our heritage.

I should like to see us complete the loose ends of 1968 by managing our funds, associations and area legacy organisations behind the one unifying spirit of being England’s Fusiliers. We have so much to be proud of in the operational experience and achievements of the last 39 years – second to none in the British Army. No uniform could hold all the campaign medals won across the Regiment if they were pinned on one representative Fusilier! Our proud history is inspirational with 238 Battle Honours to date but we have to stay ahead by being canny, modern and flexible in our approach.

What of the future? We have to move with new structures, systems and approaches to ensure serving, retired and prospective Fusiliers have the best possible support and know they belong to one Regiment. Regular, Territorial, Reservist, Retired, Cadets and Association - we are all Fusiliers - and a family I am honoured to lead into the next chapter of our history. 

Brigadier Minter T J OBE DL 

The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers - 5th of Foot

The Royal Warwickshire Fusiliers - 6th of Foot

The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) - 7th of Foot

The Lancashire Fusiliers - XXth of Foot

The 1st Battalion are based in Fallingbostel, Germany. During 2002 they trained in Poland and in Canada before deploying in February as the Lead Armoured Battlegroup to Kuwait. As part of the 7th Armoured Brigade, the 1st Fusiliers Battlegroup combining with two Squadrons of the Queen's Royal Lancers, fought with distinction to liberate Iraq's second city of Basrah. As a result of their actions the Regiment has been honoured to receive the battle honours "Iraq 2003" and "Al Basrah". Since then they have been back to Basrah on Op TELIC 7 for 6 months and returned in May 2006 to Celle and moved to Fallingbostel during July 2007.

The 2nd Battalion left Belfast at the end of 2005 and moved to Cyprus with their families for 2 years. (For more details press the Battalion's tab on the left side of the screen). 

There are Territorial Army Fusiliers in Newcastle and Ashington in Northumberland, in Birmingham, in London and in Bury, Lancashire.  

Affiliated Combined Cadet Forces: Bablake School, Bury Grammar School, Haberdashers' Aske's, Harrow, King Edward's School Birmingham, Royal Grammar School Newcastle, Mill Hill School, Rugby School, St Dunstan's College, Solihull School, Trinity School, Warwick School and Whitgift School.