Yorkshire Light Infantry
| King's Own Light Infantry (South Yorkshire Regiment) King's Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry) King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (51st and 105th) |
|
|---|---|
The 'French' Horn and White Rose of the KOYLI
|
|
| Active | 1881–1968 |
| Country |
 United Kingdom
|
| Branch |
 British Army
|
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | Light infantry |
| Part of | Light Infantry Brigade (1948–68) |
| Garrison/HQ | Pontefract Barracks, Pontefract, West Yorkshire |
| Nickname(s) | 'The Koylis' |
| Patron | George IV (who conferred the 'Royal' title in 1821) |
| Motto(s) | Cede Nullis (Yield to none) |
| Colors | Dark Green, Royal Blue and Off-White |
| March | Quick: "Jockey to the Fair", Double: "The Keel Row", Slow: "Minden March" |
| Anniversaries | Minden Day (1 August) |
| Engagements | The Seven Years' War, The Peninsular War, Waterloo, The Boer War, World War I, World War II |
| Commanders | |
| Ceremonial chief | Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother (1924–68) |
| Colonel of the Regiment |
Maj-Gen. C J Deedes OBE MC (1966–68) |
| Notable commanders |
Sir John Moore (1790–95) |
The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI) was a light infantry regiment of the British Army. It officially existed from 1881 to 1968, but its predecessors go back to 1755. In 1968 the regiment was amalgamated with the Somerset and Cornwall Light Infantry, the King's Shropshire Light Infantry and the Durham Light Infantry to form The Light Infantry which in turn was merged with the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment, the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment and the Royal Green Jackets to become The Rifles in 2007.
The 53rd Regiment of Foot was raised in Leeds in 1755 and renumbered the 51st in January 1757. In 1782, in common with other regiments of the line, the 51st was given a "county" designation, becoming the 51st (2nd Yorkshire, West Riding) Regiment of Foot. The title of Light Infantry was given in honour of its former commander General Sir John Moore in 1809, and in 1821 the regiment was given royal status when King's Own was added to its title, becoming the 51st (2nd Yorkshire, West Riding, The King's Own Light Infantry) Regiment.
The 2nd Madras European Light Infantry was raised by the East India Company in 1839. In 1861 East India Company forces were absorbed into the British Army, and the regiment became the 105th (Madras Light Infantry) Regiment. The 105th Regiment moved to Pontefract Barracks to co-locate with the 51st Regiment in 1879.
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