15/06/2026
Royal Yorkshire Regiment History #6
The Victorian era was a time of empire, exploration, and constant movement for the British Army. The Yorkshire regiments were no exception, serving across the globe in postings that ranged from peaceful garrisons to fierce campaigns.
The West Yorkshire Regiment spent much of the century in India, earning the Royal Tiger badge for its long service there between 1807 and 1831. They fought at Bhurtpore (1826), served in Canada, endured the harsh winters of Nova Scotia, and later fought in the Crimea, including the siege of Sevastopol. They also served in the West Indies, Burma, Aden, and the Andaman Islands.
The East Yorkshire Regiment also travelled widely. They served in Canada, Ceylon, Gibraltar, Malta, and Nova Scotia, reflecting the global responsibilities of the Victorian Army. Their deployments were often long, sometimes lasting a decade or more, and required enormous adaptability.
These years also saw major reforms. The Cardwell and Childers reforms reorganised the Army, created county depots, and in 1881 gave the regiments their modern titles:
The Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire) Regiment
The East Yorkshire Regiment
By the end of the Victorian era, both regiments were deeply rooted in Yorkshire yet unmistakably global in experience.
📸: silver table centrepiece made for the 2nd Batallion 14th Regiment of Foot in 1876
