Last Orders

Saturday 27th January saw the final march of the Devon & Dorset Light Infantry Regiment as it laid down its colours to rest at the Regimental Cathedral in Exeter. As part of the sweeping army reforms announced back in 2004, traditional single battalion regiments are being disbanded and merged to form multi-battalion super-regiments, with the Devonshire & Dorset merging with The Light Infantry, The Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Light Infantry, and The Royal Green Jackets to form a larger light division called The Rifles.
In a ceremony rich with both symbolism and patriotism, troops both veteran and cadet paraded through the city streets before presenting the colours to the Lord Bishop of Exeter Michael Langrish. The history of the regiment goes back to 1958 where the two regiments of Devon and Dorset were first amalgamated in Germany, and The Dorsets themselves were first founded in Ireland in 1892. Regimental Secretary Lieutenant-Colonel Geoff Nicholls stated that the men and women of the regiment “recognise the considerable advantages of belonging to a larger regiment and move forward into the future with confidence”. He also hoped that the people of Devon and Dorset will “soon refer to The Rifles as their regiment and follow their exploits with pride”.

by Joe Robinson