22nd Regiment of Foot 22nd (Cheshire) Regiment of Foot Cheshire Regiment | |
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![]() Cap badge of the Cheshire Regiment | |
Active | 1689–2007 |
Allegiance | ![]()
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Branch | ![]() |
Type | Infantry |
Role | Line infantry |
Size | One battalion |
Part of | Prince of Wales' Division |
Garrison/HQ | Chester Castle (1873–1939) Dale Barracks, Upton-by-Chester (1939–2007) |
Nickname(s) | The Old Two-twos The Young Buffs The Peep of Day Boys The Lightning Conductors The Red Knights The Specimens Twos |
Colors | Cerise and Buff |
March | Quick – Wha Wadna Fecht for Charlie Slow – The 22nd Regiment 1772 |
Engagements | See honours list |
Commanders | |
Last Colonel-in-Chief | The Prince of Wales |
Colonel of the Regiment | Brigadier A.R.D. Sharpe |
Insignia | |
Tactical Recognition Flash | ![]() |
The Cheshire Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Prince of Wales' Division. The 22nd Regiment of Foot was raised by the Henry Howard, 7th Duke of Norfolk in 1689 and was able to boast an independent existence of over 300 years. The regiment was expanded in 1881 as part of the Childers Reforms by the linking of the 22nd (Cheshire) Regiment of Foot and the militia and rifle volunteers of Cheshire. The title 22nd (Cheshire) Regiment continued to be used within the regiment.
On 1 September 2007, the Cheshire Regiment was merged with the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment (29th/45th Foot) and the Staffordshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's) to form a new large regiment, the Mercian Regiment, becoming the 1st Battalion, Mercian Regiment.