Hats off to regiments
More than 300 years of history came to an end today as the Staffordshire and Worcestershire regiments disappeared to become part of a new Midlands super regiment.
Prince Charles oversaw the official ceremony on a day of mixed emotions for soldiers from the Black Country, Worcestershire and Staffordshire.
Soldiers from the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters, known affectionately as The Woofers, the Staffordshire Regiment and the 22nd Cheshire Regiment have come together to form the Mercian Regiment.
They were formally amalgamated in a ceremony at Tamworth Castle today as part of the biggest military shake-up the region has ever experienced.
Soldiers were decorated for their courage in Iraq and Afghanistan by Prince Charles, the new regiment's Colonel-in-Chief, during the formal ceremony before taking to the streets in front of thousands of people to celebrate the event.
Although the Woofers are currently fighting in Helmand province in Afghanistan and could not take part in the ceremony they pre-recorded their own ceremony which was played on a big screen at the main event.
At 11.45am they replaced their old caps with new ones to mark the moment they became the 2nd Battalion of the Mercians.
Prince Charles saluted West Midlands soldiers as the new regiment was formed.
He said: "This solemn and historic occasion will mark the start of another chapter of all these regiments in the service they give to the Crown.
"It is with great pride that I am able to join you today as the Colonel-in-Chief of this new regiment. I have no doubt that the Mercian Regiment will stand firm and strike hard just as its predecessors did in all four corners of the world.
"Whatever changes this regiment undergoes in the future its roots are still deep in the Midlands.
"Whatever the future holds I am more than confident you will rise to meet the challenges. There is a sense of sadness today but more than anything else a great sense of pride."
Major Bob Prophet, of the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters, said: "It is a very proud day for our regiment, who are in Afghanistan on operation and our thoughts are with them every step of the way. There is sadness but this change will make us better, more flexible and ready to cope with the challenges that the future poses."
