36th (Herefordshire) Regiment of Foot - Amalgamation

Amalgamation

Under the Cardwell Reforms, a "localisation scheme" for infantry regiments was introduced. This divided the United Kingdom into "brigade districts". Within each district a single depot was to be established to accommodate two regular battalions and also the local militia regiments. In April 1873 it was announced that the 22nd Brigade District was to consist of the counties of Herefordshire and Worcestershire, with a single depot for the 29th (Worcestershire) Regiment of Foot, the 36th Foot and the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Militia. The 29th and 36th Foot were to be paired, with one regiment on active service while the other was on home duties, with the two swapping roles every few years. A depot was built at Norton, near Worcester.

The reforms were carried a stage further by Hugh Childers, Secretary of State for War. On 1 July 1881 the 29th and 36th Regiments of Foot became the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the Worcestershire Regiment, with the militia regiments becoming the 3rd and 4th Battalions. The amalgamated regiment inherited the traditions and battle honours of the 29th and 36th Foot.

In 1970 the Worcestershire Regiment was itself amalgamated with the Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment) to form the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment. In another amalgamation in 2007, the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment became part of a new large regiment, the Mercian Regiment.