3rd East Anglian Regiment
Encyclopedia
The 3rd East Anglian Regiment (16th/44th Foot) was an infantry regiment of the British Army
. It was formed on 2 June 1958 by the amalgamation of the 1st Battalion, The Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment and the 1st Battalion, The Essex Regiment.
From its inception, the 3rd East Anglians were based in Dortmund
, West Germany, the home of the Essex Regiment prior to amalgamation. In 1959, the regiment was posted to Malaya
shortly before the state of emergency
there was declared over. The regiment served with 28 Commonwealth Brigade until 1962, when it was posted to Northern Ireland
.
The regiment's brief existence came to an end when it amalgamated with three other battalions of the East Anglian Brigade
on 1 September 1964, to form the 'large' Royal Anglian Regiment
. The 3rd East Anglian Regiment became the 3rd Battalion (16th/44th Foot), which was disbanded in 1992.
, combining elements of the insignia of the two merging units. The Garter had formed part of the badge adopted by the then Bedfordshire Regiment in 1898, while the Napoleonic eagle was the collar badge of the Essex Regiment from 1947. The eagle of the French 62nd Regiment was captured by one of the regiment's predecessors at the Battle of Salamanca
in 1812.
The eagle and garter badge appeared in the centre of the colours presented to the 1st battalion on 30 May 1959.
A common cap badge and buttons were worn by all regular battalions of the East Anglian Brigade
from 1958. The 3rd East Anglian Regiment's uniform was distinguished by eagle and garter collar badges and by the wearing of a lanyard of pompadour purple. The purple lanyard had been worn by the Essex Regiment, having originally been the facing colour of the 56th Regiment of Foot. The regiment also had a distinctive stable belt
, black with purple stripes edged in amber, a combination of those of the two constituents.
The collar badges and lanyard of the 3rd East Anglians continued to be worn by the 3rd battalion of the Royal Anglian Regiment after the 1964 amalgamation. Since 1992, when the battalion was disbanded, all parts of the Royal Anglians wear a gold eagle on a purple backing as an arm badge.
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
. It was formed on 2 June 1958 by the amalgamation of the 1st Battalion, The Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment and the 1st Battalion, The Essex Regiment.
From its inception, the 3rd East Anglians were based in Dortmund
Dortmund
Dortmund is a city in Germany. It is located in the Bundesland of North Rhine-Westphalia, in the Ruhr area. Its population of 585,045 makes it the 7th largest city in Germany and the 34th largest in the European Union....
, West Germany, the home of the Essex Regiment prior to amalgamation. In 1959, the regiment was posted to Malaya
Federation of Malaya
The Federation of Malaya is the name given to a federation of 11 states that existed from 31 January 1948 until 16 September 1963. The Federation became independent on 31 August 1957...
shortly before the state of emergency
Malayan Emergency
The Malayan Emergency was a guerrilla war fought between Commonwealth armed forces and the Malayan National Liberation Army , the military arm of the Malayan Communist Party, from 1948 to 1960....
there was declared over. The regiment served with 28 Commonwealth Brigade until 1962, when it was posted to Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
.
The regiment's brief existence came to an end when it amalgamated with three other battalions of the East Anglian Brigade
East Anglian Brigade
The East Anglian Brigade was an administrative formation of the British Army from 1948 to 1968. The Brigade administered the regular infantry regiments of eastern England....
on 1 September 1964, to form the 'large' Royal Anglian Regiment
Royal Anglian Regiment
The Royal Anglian Regiment is an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Queen's Division.The regiment was formed on 1 September 1964 as the first of the new large infantry regiments, through the amalgamation of the four regiments of the East Anglian Brigade.* 1st Battalion from the...
. The 3rd East Anglian Regiment became the 3rd Battalion (16th/44th Foot), which was disbanded in 1992.
Badges and dress distinctions
The regiment's badge consisted of a Napoleonic eagle enclosed within the GarterOrder of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
, combining elements of the insignia of the two merging units. The Garter had formed part of the badge adopted by the then Bedfordshire Regiment in 1898, while the Napoleonic eagle was the collar badge of the Essex Regiment from 1947. The eagle of the French 62nd Regiment was captured by one of the regiment's predecessors at the Battle of Salamanca
Battle of Salamanca
The Battle of Salamanca saw Anglo-Portuguese and Spanish armies under the Duke of Wellington defeat Marshal Auguste Marmont's French forces among the hills around Arapiles south of Salamanca, Spain on July 22, 1812 during the Peninsular War....
in 1812.
The eagle and garter badge appeared in the centre of the colours presented to the 1st battalion on 30 May 1959.
A common cap badge and buttons were worn by all regular battalions of the East Anglian Brigade
East Anglian Brigade
The East Anglian Brigade was an administrative formation of the British Army from 1948 to 1968. The Brigade administered the regular infantry regiments of eastern England....
from 1958. The 3rd East Anglian Regiment's uniform was distinguished by eagle and garter collar badges and by the wearing of a lanyard of pompadour purple. The purple lanyard had been worn by the Essex Regiment, having originally been the facing colour of the 56th Regiment of Foot. The regiment also had a distinctive stable belt
Stable belt
A stable belt is an item of uniform used in the armed forces of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries. Stable belts or similar derivatives are also worn by the armed forced of other nations such as Denmark....
, black with purple stripes edged in amber, a combination of those of the two constituents.
The collar badges and lanyard of the 3rd East Anglians continued to be worn by the 3rd battalion of the Royal Anglian Regiment after the 1964 amalgamation. Since 1992, when the battalion was disbanded, all parts of the Royal Anglians wear a gold eagle on a purple backing as an arm badge.
Other information
- Colonel-in-Chief: HM Queen Elizabeth, The Queen MotherElizabeth Bowes-LyonElizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon was the queen consort of King George VI from 1936 until her husband's death in 1952, after which she was known as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, to avoid confusion with her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II...
- Alliances:
- 11th/44th Infantry Battalion (The City of Perth Regiment) -- Australia (1958–1964)
- The Essex and Kent ScottishThe Essex and Kent ScottishThe Essex and Kent Scottish is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces.The regiment was formed in 1954 by the amalgamation of The Essex Scottish Regiment and The Kent Regiment....
-- Canada (1958–1964) - The First City Regiment -- South Africa (1958–1961)