The Light Infantry

The Light Infantry
Cap badge of the Light Infantry
Active	10 July 1968-1 February 2007
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Branch	British Army
Type	Line Infantry
Role	Armoured Infantry (one battalion) Light Role (one battalion)
Size	Two battalions
Part of	Light Division
Garrison/HQ	1st Battalion - Paderborn, Germany 2nd Battalion - Edinburgh
Motto(s)	Aucto Splendore Resurgo, Cede Nullis, Faithful
March	Quick - Light Infantry Double Past - Keel Row
Anniversaries	Salamanca (22 July)
Commanders
Last Colonel-in-Chief	HRH Princess Alexandra
Colonel of the Regiment	Brigadier TJ Gregson MBE
Insignia
Tactical Recognition Flash

The Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Light Division.

The regiment was formed on 10 July 1968 as a large regiment by the amalgamation of the four remaining light infantry regiments of the Light Infantry Brigade:

On 31 March 1969 the 4th Battalion The Light Infantry (formerly The Durham Light Infantry) was disbanded leaving three regular battalions.

The regiment was active all through The Troubles in Northern Ireland with eight soldiers from the regiment killed in the Ballygawley bus bombing.

The remaining battalions remained in service until 1993 when they merged to form two battalions renamed 1st and 2nd Battalions.

In December 2004, it was announced that, as part of the planned Army restructuring published in Delivering Security in a Changing World, the Light Infantry would gain a new battalion through amalgamating with the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment and the Gloucestershire elements of the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment. However, on 24 November 2005 it was further announced by the Ministry of Defence that, after discussions between the Light Infantry, the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment, the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment and the Royal Green Jackets, the four regiments would amalgamate to form a single, large regiment to be named The Rifles. The new regiment was formed on 1 February 2007 with 1st Battalion, The Light Infantry becoming 5th Battalion, The Rifles and 2nd Battalion, The Light Infantry becoming 3rd Battalion, The Rifles.