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6th (Somerset and Cornwall) Battalion, The Light Infantry

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6th Battalion, The Light Infantry
6th (Somerset and Cornwall) Battalion, The Light Infantry
6th Battalion, The (Somerset and Cornwall) Light Infantry
6 LI
Light Infantry Emblem
Active 1 April 1971—1 July 1999 Error: Error: Need valid year month day This is not a valid number. Please refer to the documentation at {{number table sorting}} for correct input. years, Error: Expression error: Unexpected < operator. This is not a valid number. Please refer to the documentation at {{number table sorting}} for correct input. days
Country Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Flag of the British Army British Army
Type Light Infantry
Size Battalion
Part of 43rd (Wessex) Brigade
Battalion HQ Bath, Somerset

The 6th (Somerset and Cornwall) Battalion, The Light Infantry was a part-time light infantry battalion of the British Army's famed Light Infantry Regiment. Originally formed from cadres in Somerset and Cornwall, the battalion would eventually be disbanded in 1999 following the reorganisation of the Territorial Army.

Formation[]

On 1 April 1971, the Territorial Army was ordered to expand, mostly through the reformed of many of the TAVR III cadres formed in 1967. One of the new units to be formed was the 6th Battalion, The Light Infantry, which joined the recently redesignated 5th Btn, as the two sole TA units of The Light Infantry.[1][2][3]

The battalion's structure on formation was as follows:[1][2][3]

  • Battalion Headquarters, in Bath
  • Headquarters Company, in Bath (from cadre of the Somerset Yeomanry and Light Infantry)[4]
  • A (Somerset Yeomanry Light Infantry) Company, in Bath with a detachment in Midsomer Norton (from cadre of the Somerset Yeomanry and Light Infantry)[4][5]
  • B (Somerset Yeomanry and Light Infantry) Company, in Yeovil with a detachment in Taunton (from cadre of the Somerset Yeomanry and Light Infantry)[4][5]
  • C (Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry) Company, in Camborne with a detachment in Falmouth (from cadre of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (Territorial))[6][7]
  • D (Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry) Company, in Penzance (from cadre of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (Territorial))[6][7]

Service[]

In 1975, all of the remaining cadres in the British Army were disbanded, and as a result a new D (Hereford) Company was formed in Ross-on-Wye, while C Coy absorbed the old D (Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry) Coy. On 1 February 1981, a new D (Cornwall) Company was formed in Truro and Bodmin from redesignation of A (Cornwall) Coy of the 5th Btn. And, on 31 March 1981 the existing D (Hereford) Coy was transferred to the 5th Btn with the same title of location.[1][2][3][8][9][10]

In 1984, as part of the 1981 Defence White Paper, the 'Home Service Force' was formed, which maintained a company in every TA battalion/regiment by 1992. This new force was tasked with defending important locations and would be made up of mostly retired TA or Regular Army personnel. Therefore, in 1984 E (Home Service Force) Company was formed in Bath – becoming the Somerset HSF, and F (Home Service Force) Company was formed in Truro – becoming the Cornwall HSF.[2][3]

On 9 November 1988, the four TA battalions of The Light Infantry (5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th) were all given battalion titles, to solidify their link with their regions and background lineages. Therefore, on 9 November 1988, the battalion was retitled as the 6th (Somerset and Cornwall) Battalion, The Light Infantry. By 1989, the battalion was part of the 43rd (Wessex) Brigade, and was tasked with guarding the Western Ports if mobilised for war against the Warsaw Pact.[2][3]

In 1989, the battalion's structure was as follows:[2][3]

  • Battalion Headquarters, in Bath
  • Headquarters Company, in Bath
  • A (Somerset Yeomanry Light Infantry) Company, in Bath with a detachment in Midsomer Norton
  • B (Somerset Yeomanry and Light Infantry) Company, in Yeovil with a detachment in Taunton
  • C (Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry) Company, in Camborne with a detachment in Falmouth
  • D (Cornwall) Company, in Truro with a detachment in Bodmin
  • E (Somerset Home Service Force) Company, in Bath
  • F (Cornwall Home Service Force) Company, in Truro

Nineties[]

In 1992, as part of the Options for Change reform announced following the Dissolution of the Soviet Union, the battalion was reduced to a three company order of battle, thereby bringing it in-line with the Regular's infantry battalions. As part of the reorganisation of the battalion, A (Somerset Yeomanry Light Infantry) Coy was disbanded, and the Home Service Force companies also disbanded following the end of the Home Service Force. Along with the changes, B (Somerset Yeomanry and Light Infantry) Coy moved to Taunton and maintained a platoon in Yeovil, while C (Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry) Coy was moved to Falmouth while retaining a platoon in Camborne.[2][3]

In 1993, the TA battalions of the Light Infantry were renamed as that each battalion had a title as if they were their own units. Therefore, on 26 February 1993, the battalion became the 6th Battalion, The (Somerset and Cornwall) Light Infantry.[2][3]

After the reorganisations of the battalion, the structure was as follows:[2][3]

  • Battalion Headquarters, in Bath
  • Headquarters Company, in Bath
  • B (Somerset Yeomanry and Light Infantry) Company, in Taunton with a platoon in Yeovil
  • C (Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry) Company, in Falmouth with a platoon in Camborne
  • D (Cornwall) Company, in Truro with a platoon in Bodmin

In 1996, the battalion headquarters were moved to Bishop's Hull, Taunton, while the General Purpose Machine-Gun Platoon was formed in Camborne and the Reconnaissance Platoon in Bath.[2][3]

Disbandment[]

In 1998, the TA was again reduced, this time with an emphasis on the reduction of the infantry and expansion of the armoured (yeomanry) and royal artillery (air defence elements). Therefore, on 1 July 1999 the battalion was disbanded as a result of the 1998 Strategic Defence Review, and formed the following elements in the new Rifle Volunteers Regiment.[2][3]

As part of the review, new 'Territorial Regiments' were formed, all of which were one battalion in strength and had home defence roles. As part of the new regiment, HQ Coy and B (Somerset Yeomanry Light Infantry) Coys were amalgamated to form B (Somerset Light Infantry) Coy, and C (Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry) Coy and D (Cornwall) Coy were amalgamated to form D (Cornwall Light Infantry) Coy.[2][3]

Honorary Colonels[]

Honorary Colonels[3]

Deputy Honorary Colonels[3]

  • 1 April 1971—31 March 1972: Colonel Peter Carstair Buchanan[Note 3] — for the Cornwall units[11]
  • 1 April 1971—31 March 1972: Colonel William Quincey Roberts[Note 1] — for the Somerset units[11]
  • 31 March 1972—21 November 1976: xx
  • 21 November 1976—22 November 1979: Lieutenant Colonel (Honorary Colonel) G. M. Thorneycroaft
  • 22 November 1979—22 November 1987: Lieutenant Colonel George Torquil Gage Williams
  • 22 November 1987—1 July 1999: Colonel Ronald William Potts

Footnotes[]

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 From the Somerset Yeomanry and Light Infantry.
  2. ↑ Lord Lieutenant of Somerset
  3. ↑ From the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (Territorials)

Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Frederick, p. 340.
  2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 Drenth, p. 101–102.
  3. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 "6th Battalion, The Light Infantry [UK"]. 2007-12-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20071218045133/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/volmil-england/vinf-so/67LI-6.htm. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "British Army units from 1945 on - Somerset Light Infantry". http://british-army-units1945on.co.uk/territorial-army-infantry/somerset-light-infantry-2.html. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Frederick, p. 353.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Frederick, p. 334.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "British Army units from 1945 on - Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry". http://british-army-units1945on.co.uk/territorial-army-infantry/duke-of-cornwall-s-light-infantry-2.html. 
  8. ↑ Frederick, p. 339.
  9. ↑ "British Army units from 1945 on - Light Infantry". http://british-army-units1945on.co.uk/territorial-army-infantry/light-infantry-2.html. 
  10. ↑ "British Army units from 1945 on - Light Infantry and Mercian Volunteers". http://british-army-units1945on.co.uk/territorial-army-infantry/light-infantry-and-mercian-volunteers.html. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Supplement to the London Gazette, 14th December 1971". 14 December 1971. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/45543/supplement/13666. 

References[]

  • Wienand Drenth, The Territorial Army 1967–2000, 2000, Einhoven, Kingdom of the Netherlands.
  • Frederick, J. B. M. (1984). Lineage book of British land forces 1660-1978 : biographical outlines of cavalry, yeomanry, armour, artillery, infantry, marines and air force land troops of regular and reserve forces (Volume I). Wakefield, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Microform Academic. ISBN 978-1-85117-007-4. OCLC 18072764.
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