Old regimental colours laid up in Wolverhampton ceremony

And yesterday, the old West Midlands Regimental Colours were laid up in the first prestigious ceremony of its kind to be held in Wolverhampton.

Servicemen from the 4th Battalion, The Mercian Regiment (4Mercian), marched into St Peter's Collegiate Church carrying the flag that has served them so well, later marching out with their new Colours, which were presented by Prince Charles last year following an earlier reorganisation of the army.

Captain Austin Miller, 4Mercian, said it was a significant moment in the city's military history. He explained: "This is the first time a ceremony of this type has been conducted in Wolverhampton. The city has never been the home of any regiment or battalion before."

The ceremony was attended by the Deputy Lord Lieutenant, Major Sylvia Parkin MBE TD JP DL, acting as the Queen's representative, Wolverhampton Mayor Councillor Milkinder Jaspal and the mayors of Burton upon Trent and Stoke on Trent, plus the Colonel of The Mercian Regiment Brigadier, Andrew Williams OBE.

The old Colours were taken in by a military Colour party in full uniform, marching to a fan fare, which was then followed by a church service.

The West Midlands Regiment (WMR) was formed on April 5, 1999, as part of a wider reorganisation of the Territorial Army (TA). It was created by the amalgamation of four TA infantry battalions: the 5th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (5 RRF); the 4th Battalion, The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment (4 WFR); the 3rd Battalion, The Staffordshire Regiment (3 STAFFORDS); and the 5th Battalion, The Light Infantry (5 LI).

During its eight years, the WMR deployed formed composite companies for operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as providing large numbers of volunteers for operations in Northern Ireland, the Balkans, Cyprus, Iraq and Afghanistan.

In 2007, as part of a wider reorganisation of both the regular and the Territorial Army, the WMR united with the Cheshire Regiment companies of the King's and Cheshire Regiment and the WFR Company of the East of England Regiment to form 4Mercian, based in Wolverhampton.

The WMR's Colours remained the Colours of 4Mercian until the newly-formed regiment was presented with new Colours by the Prince of Wales in Worcester on June 6, 2013.

Wolverhampton Mayor Councillor Milkinder Jaspal said: "The work these people do is just amazing," said Councillor Jaspal.

"They put their lives on the line for us and the commitment they show for this country is wonderful.

"It was a pleasure and an honour to be at the ceremony in Wolverhampton.