The Royal Anglian Regiment
Freedom of the Borough
Corby, Northamptonshire
Monday 21st July 2014
On Thursday 3rd May 2012, at a Full Council meeting of Corby Borough
Council, councillors agreed the following motion:“At Corby on the Third Day of May in the year Two Thousand and
Twelve the Borough Council did and do confer Honorary Freedom of the
Borough of Corby Northamptonshire in accordance with Section 249 of
the Local Government Act 1972 upon The Royal Anglian Regiment and
their heirs and successors in perpetuity that they may march through the
Borough on all ceremonial occasions with bayonets fixed, drums
beating, colours flying and bands playing in recognition of their courage
displayed in battle and their association with the Borough of Corby”
Corby Borough Council is delighted on behalf of its citizens to welcome
representatives of the Royal Anglian Regiment to the borough.
Photograph by kind permission of Mr Bernard Hales
Monday 21st July 2014 – Timetable
11:15
VIP Guests to be escorted to viewing area lead by Councillor
Tom Beattie, Councillor David Sims & Councillor Chris
Stanbra.
11:25
Dais Party to be lead by Corby Borough Council Mace
Bearer.
Dais Party to consist of Mr David Laing, Lord Lieutenant of Northamptonshire
Councillor Anthony Dady, Mayor of Corby Borough
Brigadier A J C Wild MBE, The Royal Anglian Regiment
Mrs Anne Burnett, The High Sheriff of Northamptonshire
11:30
Display by the Corps of Drums
11:45
Parade departs West Glebe Pavilion under the command of
Lieutenant Colonel N Johnson
12:00
Parade reaches James Ashworth VC Square
General Salute to the Lord Lieutenant. Salute or remove
headdress where appropriate.
Dais Party to be invited to inspect the parade.
The Mayor of Corby Borough & Brigadier Wild MBE to
inspect No.1 Guard. The Lord Lieutenant & the High Sheriff
to inspect No.2 Guard.
Speech by Councillor Dady, Mayor of Corby Borough on
behalf of Corby Borough Council.
Speech by Brigadier A J C Wild MBE on behalf of the Royal
Anglian Regiment.
Prayer by Mayor’s Chaplain and prayer by Regimental Padre.
General Salute to the Lord Lieutenant. Salute or remove
headdress where appropriate.
Parade to leave Square.
Mace Bearer to lead Dais Party into the Cube followed by VIP
guests.
Display by the Corps of Drums.
Civic Reception in the Core hosted by Councillor Dady,
Mayor of Corby Borough.
The Royal Anglian Regimental History
The Royal Anglian Regiment is the Regiment of the nine counties of
East Anglia and the East Midlands. It was formed in 1964 from the
Regiments of the East Anglian Brigade, which themselves had been
formed through a series of amalgamations of the former County
Regiments between 1958-60.
Amalgamations at this time had been:
The Royal Norfolk Regiment with The Suffolk Regiment (the latter
including The Cambridgeshire Regiment)
The Royal Lincolnshire Regiment with The Northamptonshire Regiment
The Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment with The Essex Regiment
The East Anglian Brigade comprised the 1st, 2nd and 3rd East Anglian
Regiments and, later, The Royal Leicestershire Regiment. On 1st
September 1964 the four Regiments of The East Anglian Brigade
became the four Battalions of The Royal Anglian Regiment, the first
Large Regiment of Infantry to be formed in the British Army. At the
same time the Territorial Battalions of the Former Regiments were
affiliated to the Regiment. These were:
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4th Battalion The Royal Norfolk Regiment (TA)
The Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Regiment (TA)
4th/6th Battalion The Royal Lincolnshire Regiment (TA)
1st Battalion The Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment (TA)
4th/5th Battalion The Essex Regiment (TA)
4th/5th Battalion The Royal Leicestershire Regiment (TA)
These Territorial Army Battalions later formed The Royal Anglian
Regiment’s 5th Battalion in 1967 and the 6th and 7th Battalions in 1971.
The four Regular and three Territorial Battalions, were reduced to two
Regular Battalions, the 1st and 2nd, and two Territorial Army Battalions,
the 6th and 7th in 1996.
The 6th and 7th were merged to form the East of England Regiment in
1999.
In 2006 it became the 3rd Battalion.
The Royal Anglian Regiment is a line infantry Regiment. The 1st
Battalion (Vikings) is currently in the mechanised infantry role, the 2nd
Battalion (Poachers) in the light role and the 3rd Battalion (Steelbacks) is
a Territorial Army Battalion.
Corby Borough Council wishes to thank the following for their assistance in the
organisation of today’s event –
Major William O’Driscoll (Retd), The Royal Anglian Regiment
Mrs Margaret Legg, The Royal Anglian Regiment
DDW Catering
Stage-Right Productions
The Core
Tresham College
East Carlton Park Walking Group
Friends of Thoroughsale & Hazelwood
Corby Lions
Corby Rotary Club
Mr Bernard Hales
Corby Community Arts
Northamptonshire County Council
422 (Corby) Squadron Royal Air Force Air Cadets
Staff/stewards of Corby Borough Council