West Midlands Regiment

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}} {{Use British English|date=March 2017}} {{Infobox military unit |unit_name=West Midlands Regiment 4th Battalion, Mercian Regiment |image= |caption= |dates=1999 – present |country= |allegiance={{flag|United Kingdom}} |branch={{army|United Kingdom}} |type= |role=Line Infantry |size= One Battalion |current_commander= |current_commander_label= |garrison= |ceremonial_chief= |ceremonial_chief_label= |colonel_of_the_regiment= |colonel_of_the_regiment_label= |nickname= |motto= |patron= |colors_label= |colors= |march= |mascot= |battles= |command_structure= |notable_commanders= |anniversaries= }} The '''West Midlands Regiment''' was a short-lived British Territorial Army regiment from 1999 until it was re-designated as '''4th Battalion, Mercian Regiment''', in 2007.

==History== The regiment was formed in 1999 by the amalgamation of three territorial infantry battalions: 5th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers; 5th Battalion, The Light Infantry; and 3rd Battalion, Staffordshire Regiment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://army.mod.uk/wmregt/regimental_history.htm|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20060810143604/http://army.mod.uk/wmregt/regimental_history.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 August 2006|title=The West Midlands Regiment: Regimental history|publisher=Ministry of Defence|accessdate=24 May 2014}}</ref>

The regiment was composed of a headquarters company and five rifle companies, continuing to use the insignia of the regular regiments to which they were affiliated. Its initial structure was as follows:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://army.mod.uk/wmregt/|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20060810143604/army.mod.uk/wmregt/|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 August 2006|title=The West Midlands Regiment|publisher=Ministry of Defence|accessdate=24 May 2014}}</ref><ref name="reg">{{cite web|url=http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/volmil-england/vinf-mi/99WMids.htm|title=The West Midlands Regiment / 4th Battalion, The Mercian Regiment|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070303165236/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/volmil-england/vinf-mi/99WMids.htm|archive-date=3 March 2007|accessdate=11 December 2020}}</ref> *HQ Company, at Wolverhampton *A (Fusilier) Company, at Sheldon and Coventry ''(from HQ and B Companies, 5th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers)'' *B (Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment) Company, at Kidderminster and Worcester ''(from A Company, 5th Battalion, The Light Infantry)'' *C (Staffords) Company, at Burton upon Trent ''(from C Company, 3rd Battalion, Staffordshire Regiment)'' *D (Staffords) Company, at Stoke-on-Trent ''(from B Company, 3rd Battalion, Staffordshire Regiment)'' *E (Light Infantry) Company, at Shrewsbury and Hereford ''(from HQ and C Companies, 5th Battalion, Light Infantry)''

===Structure prior to re-designation=== Not long prior to re-designation of a battalion of the Mercian Regiment, the regiment absorbed the companies from other regiments that were within the new regiment's recruiting area, in order to ease the re-designation process. After this, its structure was as follows:<ref name="reg"/> *HQ Company, at Wolverhampton *A (Cheshire) Company, at Warrington and Stockport ''(from B (Cheshire) Regiment, King's and Cheshire Regiment)'' *B Company, at Crewe and Stoke-on-Trent ''(from D (Cheshire) Company, King's and Cheshire Regiment)'' *C (Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment) Company, at Mansfield ''(from C (Stafford) Company, West Midlands Regiment; and D (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire (Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment)) Company, East of England Regiment)'' *D (Staffordshire) Company, at Wolverhampton, Kidderminster, and Burton upon Trent ''(from D (Stafford) Company; and Platoon of B (Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment) Company)'' *F (Fusilier) Company, at Birmingham ''(from A (Fusilier) Company)'' *L Company (Light Infantry), at Shrewsbury ''(from E (Light Infantry) Company, less Hereford Platoon to B (Shropshire Yeomanry) Squadron, Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry)''

==4th Battalion, Mercian Regiment== On 1 September 2007, the regiment was re-designated as the 4th Battalion of the Mercian Regiment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visionsunlimited.co.uk/mercian|title=Presentation of New Colours To The Mercian Regiment|publisher=Visions Unlimited|accessdate=24 May 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525232655/http://www.visionsunlimited.co.uk/mercian|archivedate=25 May 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref> It now serves as the reserve infantry battalion for Cheshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire, West Midlands, Derbyshire, and Nottinghamshire.

===Current Structure=== Its current structure is as follows: *Headquarters Company, at Wolseley House, Wolverhampton<ref>{{cite web|url=https://apply.army.mod.uk/what-we-offer/army-reserve-centres/midlands/wolverhampton-fallings-park|title=Wolseley House - Fallings Park|accessdate=11 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Saragarhi Day 2021 commemorated in Wolverhampton|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/news-and-events/news/2021/09/saragarhi-day-2021-commemoration/|access-date=2021-09-12|website=www.army.mod.uk|language=en-GB}}</ref> **Rifle Platoon, at Dancox House, Worcester<ref>{{cite web|url=https://apply.army.mod.uk/what-we-offer/army-reserve-centres/midlands/worcester-pheasant-street|title=Dancox House ARC|accessdate=11 December 2020}}</ref> **Javelin Platoon, at Kidderminster<ref>{{cite web|url=https://apply.army.mod.uk/what-we-offer/army-reserve-centres/midlands/kidderminster-birmingham-road|title=Army Reserve Centre - Kidderminster - Birmingham Road|accessdate=11 December 2020}}</ref> **Band of the Mercian Regiment *B Company, at Ubique Barracks, Widnes<ref>{{Cite web|title=Army Reserve Centre, Peelhouse Lane, Widnes WA8 6TH|url=https://apply.army.mod.uk/what-we-offer/army-reserve-centres/north-west/widnes-peelhouse-lane|access-date=9 April 2021|website=Army Careers}}</ref> **Rifle Platoon, in Ellesmere Port<ref>{{Cite web|title=Army Reserve Centre, Stanney Lane, Ellesmere Port CH65 9AH|url=https://apply.army.mod.uk/what-we-offer/army-reserve-centres/north-west/ellesmere-port-stanney-lane|access-date=9 April 2021|website=Army Careers}}</ref> **Mortar Platoon, in Stockport<ref>{{Cite web|title=Army Reserve Centre, Greek Street, Stockport SK3 8AB|url=https://apply.army.mod.uk/what-we-offer/army-reserve-centres/north-west/stockport-greek-street|access-date=9 April 2021|website=Army Careers}}</ref> *C Company, at Nottingham<ref>{{cite web|url=https://apply.army.mod.uk/what-we-offer/army-reserve-centres/midlands/nottingham-221-hucknall-lane|title=Army Reserve Centre - Nottingham - 221 Hucknall Lane|accessdate=11 December 2020}}</ref> **Assault Pioneer Platoon, at Mansfield<ref>{{cite web|url=https://apply.army.mod.uk/what-we-offer/army-reserve-centres/midlands/mansfield-bath-street|title=Army Reserve Centre - Mansfield - Bath Street|accessdate=11 December 2020}}</ref> *D (Staffords) Company, at Stoke-on-Trent<ref>{{cite web|url=https://apply.army.mod.uk/what-we-offer/army-reserve-centres/midlands/stoke-on-trent-bucknall-new-road|title=Army Reserve Centre - Stoke on Trent - Bucknall New Road|accessdate=11 December 2020}}</ref> **Machine Gun Platoon, at Burton upon Trent<ref>{{cite web|url=https://apply.army.mod.uk/what-we-offer/army-reserve-centres/midlands/burton-on-trent-hawkins-lane|title=Army Reserve Centre - Burton on Trent - Hawkins Lane|accessdate=11 December 2020}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:Wolverhampton Category:Infantry regiments of the British Army Category:Military units and formations established in 1998 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 2007 Category:Mercian Regiment