Catterick 1969-1971
June 1969 found the Battalion reformed in Alma Barracks Catterick, Yorkshire from where it despatched its Companies world wide.
Three Company Groups each of over 180 All Ranks were to go to British Honduras, in Central America, each spending six months there. In addition 'A' Company went off to Malaysia on an exercise, 'B' and 'C' Companies with supporting elements did short tours in Northern Ireland, and, in September 1970, the Battalion less 'C' Company Group, flew out to Canada on another exercise.
During the Battalions time in Catterick they were there joined by a number of soldiers from the South Wales Borderers and Welsh Regiment who had only just amalgamated. Most of them went to 'B' Company to make up its strength for its imminent British Honduras commitment. The Companies soon settled into a routine of constant change and movement, with 'B' Company leading the way to the sunny Caribbean.A' Company followed suit by disappearing to Malaysia on Exercise SANJAK. 'C' Company fully expecting to
Finally the whole Battalion was despatched to Northern Ireland in May 1971 for six weeks.
THE CATTERICK TIMELINE | |
| Event | Date/Time |
| Bn Reassemble Alma Bks Catterick | June 1969 |
| Band/Drums Beat retreat Devises | 19th/20th June 1969 |
| 2 plts B Coy to Otterburn | August 1969 |
| A & Sp Coys to Strensall | 14th July -5th August 1969 |
| C & Sp Coys to Warcop | 15th July - 31st August 1969 |
| Band & Drums to Garden Party Buckingham Palace | 17th July 1969 |
| Band & Drums to Sandhurst for Sovereigns parade | 24th July 1969 |
| Maiwand day Catterick | 25th July 1969 |
| B Coy to British Honduras | August 1969 |
| A Coy to Malaysia 'Ex SANJAK' | 18th Aug 69 for six weeks |
| C Coy & Drums to Londonderry | 25th August 1969 |
| A Coy return from Malaysia | 30th September 1969 |
| A Coy to Cardiff for remembrance parade | 9th November 1969 |
| C Coy return from Ulster | 12th December 1969 |
| Ferozeshah Parade (Low Key) | 21st December 1969 |
| A Coy to British Honduras | January 1970 |
| B Coy return from British Honduras | 27th January 1970 |
| Fitness for role inspection | 19th -20th March 1970 |
| Bn to Stanford | 2 -16th April 1970 |
| Freedom of Abingdon | 19th May 1970 |
| B Coy KAPE Tour | 20 - 24th May 1970 |
| Open Day Alma Barracks | 13th June 1970 |
| Freedom of Windsor | 27th June 1970 |
| B Coy to Belfast | 29th June 1970 |
| C Coy to British Honduras | July 1970 |
| Bn team competes in Cambrian March (Came 1st) | 25 - 26th July 1970 |
| B Coy KAPE Tour | 3 - 8th August 1970 |
| Bn to Canada (Less C Coy) for Ex Pond Jump, West | September 1970 |
| Band & Drums to Calgary | 30th September 1970 |
| Ferozeshah Parade (Low Key) | 21st December 1970 |
| C Coy return from British Honduras | 21st February 1971 |
| Visit from HMS Vernon | 19th March 1971 |
| Cyprus Walkabout team came 1st | 1-2nd April 1971 |
| Spearhead Bn | 23rd March 1971 |
| Bn to Londonderry | 21st April 1971 |
| Operation 'Likely Lad' | 28th April 1971 |
| Operation 'Dragon Vly' | 4th May 1971 |
| Operation 'May Bug' | 11th May 1971 |
| Operation 'High Hopes' | 14th May 1971 |
| Operation 'Top Hat' | 18th May 1971 |
| Operation 'Final Fling' | 24th May 1971 |
| Return to Catterick | 28th May 1971 |
| Bands 5 yearly inspection | 3rd June 1971 |
| Battalion to Berlin | June - July 1971 |
Lt Col T. A. GIBSON M.B.E
Lieutenant Colonel D. T. CRABTREE
WO1(RSM) WILLIAMS
WO1 (RSM) G.J. PINCHEN
Sgt W S Morris January 1969 – September 1970
CSgt/W02 P J Ferris R Hamps September 1970 – January 1973
| Lieutenant | Mawle R G | 11 October 1971 | Dhofa | Read Obituary |
