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The
South Lancashire Regiment was formed in 1881 as a result of the
Cardwell reforms of the British Army.
With its
Regimental Depot at Peninsula Barracks, Warrington, the Regiment
initially consisted of two battalions, with the 1st formed from
the former 40th Regiment of Foot, and the 2nd from the former 82nd.
The Regiment
recruited primarily from that area of South Lancashire which is centred
on the townships of Warrington and St Helens.
During World War I
the Regiment expanded to a total strength of 21 battalions. They served
on the Western Front, at Gallipoli, and in Macedonia, Egypt, Mesopotamia
(modern-day Iraq) and India. In all, they were awarded a total of
64 Battle Honours. The Regiment suffered a total of 5450 casualties.
Four members of the Regiment were awarded the Victoria Cross.
The Regiment was
again expanded in World War II, to a total of 9 battalions. They served
in North West Europe, Madagascar, India and Burma. On D-Day, 6
June 1944, the 1st Battalion was in the first wave to land on Sword
Beach, Normandy, at the start of the invasion of Europe.
On 1st July 1958
the Regiment amalgamated with the East 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.
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