The Light Infantry - Definition and Overview

The Light Infantry is an infantry regiment of the British Army. It was formed on 10 July 1968 by the amalgamation of the four remaining light infantry regiments of the Light Brigade:

• Somerset and Cornwall Light Infantry
• King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
• King's Shropshire Light Infantry
• Durham Light Infantry

The Light Infantry is descended from the original light troops that formed what were known as 'light companies' of line infantry regiments and later regiments in their own right. These soldiers were trained to act independently on the battlefield, within the framework of the battle, as skirmishers. In this respect, the Light Infantry shares many characteristics with the old rifle regiments and their descendant, the Royal Green Jackets, with which the Light Infantry forms the administrative Light Division. The Light Infantry though is not a rifle regiment, and so in the majority of its traditions is more like an ordinary infantry regiment. Its uniform and insignia, however, has much in common with the rifle regiments: dark green full dress uniforms, berets and stable belts and black rank insignia, buttons, belts and officers' shoes.

Regular Army

The four original regular battalions (one formed from each constituent regiment) have now been reduced to two (1st and 2nd Battalions, The Light Infantry).

• The 1st Battalion (formerly Somerset and Cornwall Light Infantry) was disbanded on 25 February 1993.
• The 2nd Battalion (formerly King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry) was renumbered the 1st Battalion on 25 February 1993.
• The 3rd Battalion (formerly King's Shropshire Light Infantry) was renumbered the 2nd Battalion on 25 February 1993.
• The 4th Battalion (formerly Durham Light Infantry) was disbanded on 31 March 1969.

In 2004, it was announced that the Gloucestershire element of the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment would amalgamate with the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment, and merge with the Light Infantry to form a new battalion. Because the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment is higher in the Order of Precedence than the Light Infantry, the new battalion will be numbered as the 1st Battalion, Light Infantry, with the other two renumbered accordingly as the 2nd and 3rd.

Territorial Army

• The Light Infantry Volunteers was formed in the Territorial Army on 1 April 1967 from the territorial battalions of the four predecessor regiments. On 1 August 1972 it was redesignated the 5th Battalion, The Light Infantry. It lost its Cornish company and its last Durham company in 1981, and in 1987 it lost its Yorkshire companies and began recruiting only in Shropshire and Herefordshire. On 1 July 1999 it amalgamated to form two companies of the new West Midlands Regiment.
• The 6th Battalion was formed in Somerset and Cornwall on 1 April 1971. On 1 July 1999 it amalgamated to form two companies of the new Rifle Volunteers.
• The 7th Battalion was formed in Durham and Yorkshire on 1 April 1975. It began recruiting from Durham only in 1981. On 1 July 1999 it amalgamated to form one company of the new Tyne-Tees Regiment.
• The 8th Battalion was formed in Yorkshire on 1 January 1987. On 3 August 1996 it was converted to a reconnaissance unit as the King's Own Yorkshire Yeomanry. On 1 July 1999 it amalgamated to form one company of the new East and West Riding Regiment.