Regimental Timeline

The Queen's Royal Surrey Regiment

1959-1966

 

1951

 

 

General

The Queen’s Royal Surrey Regiment

A great deal of trouble was taken by the Amalgamation Committee to ensure the success of the union of the two Infantry Regiments of Surrey in 1959. The Colonel of the new Regiment and his Regimental Secretary were both distinguished Queen's officers who had commanded Regular battalions of the Surreys. The Queen's and the Surrerys had much in common and were well known to each other. Regimental traditions and customs were carefully preserved, and serving and retired members of both Regiments cheerfully and loyally accepted the decision which brought their separate entities to an end. Thoughout the seven years of their existence, the Queen's Surreys were a happy and efficient regiment. Besides the Regular 1st Battalion, the 3rd and 4th Bns The Queen's Royal Surrey Regiment (TA) were formed and all established a reputation for military efficiency, enthusiasm and sporting prowess.

 

The Regimental Motto was:-

Pristinae Virtutis Memor - Mindful of Gallant Actions of the Past

14th October

Formation of The Queen's Royal Surrey Regiment.

 

Home Counties Brigade

14th October

Further strengthened and assumes responsibility for manning and postings.

 

1st Battalion

14th October

Formed at Bury-St-Edmunds by the amalgamation of 1st Bn The Queen’s Royal Regiment, and 1st Bn The East Surrey Regiment.

Depot

June

Queen’s and Surreys depots close and move to Canterbury.

14th October

Queen’s Surreys Depot formed at Wemyss Barracks, Canterbury.

Territorial Army

 

7th Queen’s

 

R and S Batteries 570 LAA Regiment amalgamated to form R (Queen’s) Battery.



1960
  The Queen’s Royal Surrey Regiment
 

1st Battalion

22nd April

Presented with new Colours by HRH the Duke of Edinburgh at Bury-St-Edmunds.

28th April

Regiment granted Freedom of Guildford then Freedom March through Town.

29th April

Regiment granted Freedom of Kingston-upon-Thames then Freedom March through Town.

16th May

Moves to Colchester. Joins 19 Infantry Brigade (3rd Infantry Division).

29th September

Laying up of the old Colours of 1st Bn The Queen’s Royal Regiment and 1st Bn The East Surrey Regiment in the Regimental Chapel, Guildford Cathedral.

7th November

Advance party moves to Aden, on the troopship Dunera.

Depot

1st April

Queen’s Surreys Depot closed and amalgamated into the Home Counties Brigade Depot.

T

he Colours of 1st Bn The Queen's Royal Surrey Regiment. The 3rd and 4th Battalions were identical except of course for the Roman numerals depicting the battalion and in the case of the 4th Battalion which had a Tank in the centre bottom of the Regimental Colour recognising their service as a Tank Regiment during the Second World War.


1961
  The Queen’s Royal Surrey Regiment
 

1st Battalion

4th January

Main body of Battalion sail for Aden on the troopship HMT Dunera on her last voyage as a troopship.

7th October

Tercentenary Banquet, the Criterion Restaurant, Piccadilly.

14th October

Parade and unveiling of the monument, Putney Heath.

 

 

 

Aden. One company detached at Mukeiras.

Tercentenary Celebrations

7th December

Tercentenary celebrations. Queen’s Colour trooped in front of HRH Princess Alexandra, of Kent.

Territorial Army

 

3rd Battalion

1st April

Formed by the amalgamation of 565 LAA Regiment (late 4th Queen’s), 5th Queen’s, and 6th Queen’s. Bn HQ and HQ Company at Guildford, A Company at Dorking and Reigate, B Company at Camberley and Woking, C Company at Croydon, D Company at Bermondsey and Sutton. Joins 131 Infantry Brigade (44 Home Counties Division/District).

 

4th Battalion

1st April

Formed by the amalgamation of 6th East Surreys and 23rd London Regiment. Bn HQ and HQ Company at Kingston, A Company at Clapham and Richmond, B Company at Clapham, C Company at Chertsey, Hersham and Cobham, D Company at Kingston, Sutton and Leatherhead. Joins 47 (London) Infantry Brigade (56th London Division/District).

 

R (Surrey) Battery 265 Regiment RA (late 7th Queen’s)

 

Formed by amalgamation of P and Q Batteries (1st Surrey Rifles), and R (Queen’s Battery), 570 LAA Regiment RA at Flodden Road, Camberwell.

12th November

Laying up of old 7th Queen’s Colours at St Mary’s, Newington.

 

1962
  The Queen’s Royal Surrey Regiment
 

1st Battalion

19th February

Arrives in Hong Kong on last troopship voyage of HMT Oxfordshire.

 

Detachments deployed for the Honour Guard in Korea.

Territorial Army

 

4th Battalion

 

Detachments at Sutton and Leatherhead closed.

HMT Oxfordshire

HMT Oxfordshire, Aden in background.

1963
  The Queen’s Royal Surrey Regiment
 

1st Battalion

 

Hong Kong.

30th November

Arrives in England and disperses on leave.

 

Queen’s Surreys Depot formed at Wemyss Barracks, Canterbury.

Territorial Army

 

3rd and 4th Battalions

 

Regiment granted Freedom of Reigate.

12th July

Presentation of new Colours by the Earl of Munster, Lord Lieutenant of Surrey, at Woking.

 

TAER men to 1st Bn in Hong Kong.

 

4th Battalion

3rd November

Laying up of old 6th Surreys Colours at Kingston.

Colours of 4th, 5th and 6th Battalions The Queen’s Royal Regiment

The Colours of 4th, 5th and 6th Battalions The Queen’s Royal Regiment (TA), the 6th Bn The East Surrey Regiment (TA) and the 23rd London Regiment (TA)
being marched off parade for the last time on 12th July 1963, Woking football ground.

1964

 

The Queen’s Royal Surrey Regiment

 

1st Battalion

17th January

Reassembles at Münster, West Germany. Joins 6 Infantry Brigade (2nd Division). APC Battalion.

Territorial Army

 

3rd Battalion

5th April

Laying up of old 4th Queen’s Colours at Croydon.

12th April

Laying up of old 6th Queen’s Colours at Bermondsey.

25th October

Laying up of old 5th Queen’s Colours at Guildford.

 

4th Battalion

 

Detachment at Richmond closed.

19th January

Laying up of old 23rd London Colours at Battersea.

 

1965

 

The Queen’s Royal Surrey Regiment

 

1st Battalion

 

Münster, West Germany.

June

The Queen reviews the Army in Germany at Sennelager.

Territorial Army

 

3rd and 4th Battalions

 

TAER men to 1st Bn in Germany.

AFV 432 APC which entered service with

AFV 432 APC which entered service with 1 Queen’s Surreys early in 1966.

 

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