DIGEST OF PRINCIPAL DECISIONS AS AT 23 JAN 06
Name. As above, the staff abbreviation being ‘LANCS’ and the shortened form in common parlance being ‘Duke of Lancaster’s’.
Battalions. The Regiment will form on 1 Jul 06 with three Regular battalions, reducing to two by Mar 07.
1st Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment (1 LANCS), ex-1 QLR, a mechanised battalion based initially in Osnabruck with 4 Brigade but moving to Catterick in the same role in about 2008.
2nd Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment (2 LANCS), ex-1 KINGS, a light role battalion moving from Catterick to Cyprus (Episkopi) in 2008.
3rd Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (3 LANCS), ex-1 KORBR, based at North Luffenham until March 07, by which time the officers and men will have dispersed to the 1st and 2nd Battalions
On the TA side, The Lancastrian and Cumbrian Volunteers will absorb the King’s companies of The King’s and Cheshire Regiment to become:
4th Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment (4 LANCS), which will also include The Regimental Band of The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment.
Colonel-in-Chief. We are hopeful that the Queen, Duke of Lancaster, will continue as our Colonel-in-Chief, but await the Palace’s decision.
Colonel. The Colonel designate is a distinguished serving senior officer with experience of all three of our regiments. The announcement of his appointment is expected soon.
Deputy Colonels. The span of the new Regimental area is such that the new Colonel will be assisted by three Deputy Colonels, the first being selected by the three present Colonels. The announcement of our nomination is expected soon.
RHQ. Most functions will be centralised at Fulwood Barracks, Preston, in our present RHQ, but in order to maintain footprint there will be small Area HQs in Carlisle, Liverpool and Manchester.
Badge: The Red Rose of Lancaster charged with the Queen’s Crown and encircled with a gold laurel wreath, with motto ‘Nec Aspera Terrent’ on scroll below the rose. The central device is our current Regimental badge. The motto is from KINGS, but was previously worn by the elite Grenadier companies of all our regiments. It is loosely translated as ‘Difficulties be Damned’.
Regimental Colours. Our proposal (submitted to MOD last Jul but not yet actioned) will carry forward all our Regimental distinctions and most of the Honours carried on our present Colours – though with a total of 303 Battle Honours between us (including 203 from QLR), we have had to be very selective. The result, if agreed, will look quite similar to our present Colours.
Regimental Flag. Regimental Crest on a Royal Blue ground, with Battalion number, if appropriate, top left in yellow Roman numerals.
Signage. As flag, with yellow lettering.
Kingsman. Our private soldiers will be known by the distinctive title of ‘Kingsman’.
Dress & Embellishments: Include:
Cap Badge: As crest. The badge is matt gold with polished highlights, the Rose in red enamel. On the beret it is backed with a red diamond.
Collar Badges: The Lion of England, in silver (as KORBR, but larger).
Buttons: Domed gold button mounted with a silver Fleur-de-Lys (as KINGS, but improved, mounted quality for all ranks). NB. This emblem is also East Lancashire (‘Lilywhite’ 59th) and Loyals heritage.
Facing Colour (as on Regimental Colour & Drummers’ Full Dress). Royal blue (as QLR).
Piping (OR No. 1 Dress). Scarlet.
Stable Belt: Maroon (as QLR).
Tactical Recognition Flash (on combat dress): A yellow glider on a dark green ground with a maroon surround (5 x 3 cm).
Glider Flash (on No 1 Dress, SD, Mess Dress,etc). Yellow glider (gold wire for officers) on appropriate cloth background (as KORBR).
Lanyard: Maroon (as QLR).
Slip-on Rank Slides: Maroon embroidered on olive drab material with rank insignia and title ‘Duke of Lancaster’s’ in two lines (very similar to QLR).
Metal Shoulder Titles. ‘Duke of Lancaster’s’ in two lines on gold bar.
Officers’ Gold Lace. A black line will continue to be worn on epaulettes and mess waistcoat.
No. 1 Dress Hat: Royals (no change).
Side Hat: Maroon with green crown (KINGS’ pattern).
Beret: Khaki brown, with a scarlet diamond cap badge backing.
Mess Dress: No change for QLR except for badges and buttons as above. All will adopt our waistcoat. (Subject to agreement by the Army Dress Committee).
Barrack Dress Shirt Sleeve Order: Officers will wear KINGS-style blue-grey shirt.
Officers’ Jersey: Dark green (as KINGS).
Officers’ Cane: Black with round silver head embossed with regimental crest (as QLR).
Parade Belt Buckle (ORs): The Sphinx superscribed Egypt charged with the Queen’s Crown, with a Rose below, all within a laurel wreath. Clasp inscribed ‘Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment’.
Ceremonial Dress (Drummers, Pioneers, etc): Not finalised in detail, but we have agreed in principle to conform (fairly) closely to the correct pre-1914 dress, including Royal blue facings and home service helmets (foreign service white helmets in Cyprus).
Charities. With effect 1 Jul 06 our existing Charities will be combined with those of KORBR and KINGS in a new scheme, The Regimental Charity of The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment (we will write to you shortly about changes to standing orders).
Museums. No change to locations or Trustee bodies. The Queen’s Lancashire Museum and Archives remain at Fulwood. Our Regimental Council Chamber becomes that of the new Regiment.
Regimental Marches. The existing KORBR march complete has been adopted as the Quick March; ‘The Red Rose’ will be the Slow March. Other Regimental marches will be played on appropriate occasions.
Regimental Chapels. Carlisle and Manchester Cathedrals, Fulwood Chapel. The existing pattern of services in our other Chapels will continue.
Regimental Collect, Grace and Hymn. All agreed and blessed by the Chaplain General. Our Regimental Hymn, ‘For Those in Peril on the Sea’, is carried forward.
Regimental Days. The principal Regimental Days will be Waterloo, Ladysmith and St George’s Day. There will be a second tier of ‘Regimental Celebrations’: Fontenoy, Guadeloupe, Somme, Quebec, Arroyo and Inkerman. The customs associated with all these days will be in the Regimental Handbook.
Regimental Journal. ‘The Kingsman’.
Regimental History. Regimental Secretary Queen’s Lancashires’ has prepared a ‘short history’ covering all the antecedents of The Duke of Lancaster’s. Go here to view on the new Regiment's website.
Regimental Customs. The principle we have adopted is to be inclusive and to take the best, the unique and most distinctive from all predecessor Regiments. This will be reflected in the new Handbook, which Regimental Secretary Queen’s Lancashires is drafting. | 
