|
The
East Lancashire Regiment was formed in 1881 as part of the
Cardwell reforms of the British Army.
The Regiment was
formed initially with two battalions, the 1st Battalion being created
from the former 30th Regiment of Foot, and the 2nd from the former 59th.
The first Regimental Depot was in Burnley, but moved to Fulwood
Barracks, Preston in 1898.
The Regiment
recruited primarily from the new industrial towns of East Lancashire,
including Burnley, Blackburn, Nelson, Colne and Accrington.
During World War I
the Regiment expanded to a strength of 17 battalions which between them
served on the Western Front, at Gallipoli, and in Macedonia, Egypt, and
Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq). In all, they earned a total of 120 Battle
Honours. The Regiment suffered a total of 7,000 casualties. Four
members of the Regiment were awarded the Victoria Cross.
In World War II
the Regiment expanded again, to a strength of 7 battalions. They served
in North West Europe, Madagascar, India, Burma and Malaya, earning a
total of 20 Battle Honours. Captain Marcus Ervine Andrews won the
Victoria Cross at Dunkirk in 1940.
On 1st July 1958
the Regiment amalgamated with the South Lancashire Regiment to form The
Lancashire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Volunteers), which in 1970, in
turn amalgamated with The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment to form The
Queen's Lancashire Regiment.
|
|
