Regiment merger ceremony approaches (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Regiment merger ceremony approaches

IT'S all in the name for two Army regiments when they prepare to merge during a commemorative ceremony later this month.

The 1st Battalion The Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment (RGBW) and the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment will eventually form the 1st Battalion The Light Infantry.

And the next stage before they blend into one will be the adoption of new titles on July 22 as part of the Salamanca Day celebrations.

An Army spokesman said: "The first step is to adopt 'transitional' titles which will be retained until the two regiments join to become a battalion in the Light Division sometime in late 2006.

"Soldiers from both battalions will also start to wear the distinctive Light Infantry green berets and, for that period, will keep their own existing badges."

The two regiments will be known as the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Light Infantry and the Devonshire and Dorset Light Infantry from July 22.

The transitional titles will give the regiments an early opportunity to demonstrate to their regimental families and wider county communities the direction of their future in the Light Division.

In the lead up to Salamanca Day, the RGBW will visit its home counties from July 18 to 22 with a recruiting trailer and information stand.

The Corps of Drums will also perform in some towns and soldiers from the regiment will visit Cirencester on July 19.

The main Salamanca Day parade will take place at Hounslow Barracks. The spokesman added: "The purpose of the week is to inform the regimental family and counties of the transitional changes, and to ensure local people are aware that recruiting young men into their county regiment is continuing as strongly as ever."