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{{Short description|Infantry regiment of the British Army}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name                     = The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
| image                         = Royal Fusiliers Regiment.svg
| image_size                    = 150px
| caption                       = [[Cap badge]] of the regiment
| dates                         = 23 April 1968 – present
| allegiance                    = {{flag|United Kingdom}}
| branch                        = {{army|United Kingdom}}
| type                          = [[Line infantry|Line Infantry]]
| command_structure             = [[Queen's Division]]
| role                          = {{bulleted list|1st Battalion<br />[[Mechanized infantry|(Armoured Infantry)]]|5th Battalion<br />(Armoured Infantry & [[Army Reserve (United Kingdom)|Army Reserve)]]}}
| size                          = Two [[battalion]]s
| current_commander             =
| garrison                      = * RHQ – [[Tower of London|London]]
* 1st Battalion – [[Tidworth Camp|Tidworth]]
* 5th Battalion – [[Newcastle upon Tyne, England|Newcastle upon Tyne]]
| ceremonial_chief              = [[Prince Edward, Duke of Kent]]
| ceremonial_chief_label        = Colonel-in-Chief
| nickname                      =
| motto                         = ''"[[Honi soit qui mal y pense]]"'' ({{small|French}})<br />''"Evil be to him who evil thinks"''
| identification_symbol         = [[File:RRF TRF.svg|100px]]
| identification_symbol_label   = [[Tactical recognition flash|Tactical Recognition Flash]]
| identification_symbol_3       = Red over White<br /><small>From Royal Northumberland Fusiliers</small>
| identification_symbol_3_label = Hackle
| identification_symbol_4       = FUSILIERS
| identification_symbol_4_label = Abbreviation
| march                         = {{bulleted list|Quick – ''[[The British Grenadiers]]''|Slow – ''[[Rule Britannia]]''}}
| mascot                        = Traditional – [[Blackbuck|Black Buck]] – Bobby<br />Substitute – [[Otterhound]] – George
| battles                       =
| notable_commanders            =
| anniversaries                 = {{bulleted list|Middle East Day (28 February)|[[St. George's Day]] (23 April)|[[Gallipoli Campaign|Gallipoli Day]] (25 April)|[[Battle of Albuhera|Albuhera Day]] (16 May)|[[Normandy landings|Normandy Day]] (6 June)|Northern Ireland Day (15 June)|[[Battle of Minden|Minden Day]] (1 August)|Afghanistan Day (4 October)}}
}}

'''The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers''' (often referred to as, "The Fusiliers") is an [[infantry]] [[regiment]] of the [[British Army]], part of the [[Queen's Division]]. Currently, the regiment has two [[battalion]]s: the 1st Battalion, part of the Regular Army, is an [[Mechanized Infantry|armoured infantry]] battalion based in [[Tidworth Camp|Tidworth]], [[Wiltshire]], and the 5th Battalion, part of the [[Army Reserve (United Kingdom)|Army Reserve]], recruits in the traditional fusilier recruiting areas across [[England]]. The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers was largely unaffected by the infantry reforms that were announced in December 2004, but under the [[Army 2020]] reduction in the size of the Army, the 2nd Battalion was merged into the first in 2014.

==History==
[[File:Royal Regiment of Fusiliers march in Rochdale.jpg|The Fusiliers march in [[Rochdale]]|thumb|225px]]

The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers was formed on 23 April 1968 as part of the reforms of the British Army that saw the creation of '[[large regiment|large infantry regiments]]', by the amalgamation of the four English [[Fusilier]] regiments:<ref>{{cite book |title=A Register of the Regiments and Corps of the British Army |last=Swinson |first=Arthur |year=1972 |publisher=The Archive Press |location=[[London]] |isbn=0-85591-000-3 }}</ref>

*[[Royal Northumberland Fusiliers]]
* [[Royal Warwickshire Regiment|Royal Warwickshire Fusiliers]]
* [[Royal Fusiliers|Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)]]
* [[Lancashire Fusiliers]]

The 3rd Battalion of the regiment saw active service in [[Iraq]] during the [[Gulf War]] in 1991.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://britains-smallwars.com/gulf/gulfunits.htm|publisher=Britain's small wars|title=Units in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm|access-date=26 April 2014|archive-date=28 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140428131615/http://britains-smallwars.com/gulf/gulfunits.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> All battalions were also deployed to [[Northern Ireland]] on [[Operation Banner]] multiple times.<ref name=bau>{{cite web|url=http://british-army-units1945on.co.uk/infantry/royal-regiment-of-fusiliers.html|title=Royal Regiment of Fusiliers|publisher=British Army units 1945 on|access-date=30 April 2016}}</ref>

In 2003, the 1 Fusiliers battlegroup was at the forefront of the coalition [[Iraq War|invasion of Iraq]], ultimately occupying the city of [[Basra]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/ object/1060028256|title=Royal Regiment of Fusiliers in Basra, 22-23 April 2003|publisher=Imperial War Museum|access-date=26 April 2014}}</ref> Over the next decade, the regiment carried out multiple operational tours of [[Iraq]].<ref name=bau/>

[[File:1 RRF engage Iraqi Army positions with their 81mm Mortars. Iraq. 26-03-2003 MOD 45142764.jpg|thumb|First Fusiliers [[Mortar (weapon)|Mortar]] team during the 2003 Invasion of Iraq]]

[[File:Chinook Lands with Royalm Marines Onboard in Afghanistan MOD 45149638.jpg|thumb|right|Second Fusiliers awaiting pick-up in [[Helmand|Helmand Province]] in 2006]]

In 2006, elements of the 2nd Battalion were deployed to [[Afghanistan]] to support the [[International Security Assistance Force]]. Deployed to the town of [[Nawzad, Afghanistan|Now Zad]] in [[Helmand Province]], they rapidly found themselves fighting off a sustained [[Taliban]] attack that lasted for 107 days - the longest siege of British troops since [[World War II]].<ref>{{cite book|author=James Ferguson|title=A Million Bullets - The True Story of the War in Afghanistan|year=2008|publisher=Bantam Press|isbn=978-0593059036}}</ref> Over the following years, elements of the regiment deployed on several occasions to Afghanistan and saw heavy fighting.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://britains-smallwars.com/Terror/units.html|title=Operation Veritas: British units deployed|publisher=Britain's small wars|access-date=26 April 2014|archive-date=17 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140417215433/http://britains-smallwars.com/Terror/units.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Most recently, the entire 1st Battalion deployed to [[Nahri Saraj District]] in Helmand in 2013, where they took part in mounted and dismounted infantry operations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/units-to-deploy-as-part-of-herrick-18-announced|title= Units to deploy as part of Herrick 18 announced|date=12 February 2013|publisher=Ministry of Defence| access-date=2 August 2015}}</ref>

The regiment received a reserve battalion, the 5th battalion, through the redesignation of the [[Tyne-Tees Regiment]], on 1 April 2006.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Army+engineers+big+change+for+Terriers.-a0143607164|title=Army engineers big change for Terriers|date=24 March 2006|newspaper=Evening Chronicle|access-date=26 April 2014}}</ref>

In September 2014, the 2nd Battalion was amalgamated with the 1st Battalion under [[Army 2020]], forming just one regular battalion - an armoured infantry battalion under [[1st Armoured Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|1st Armoured Infantry Brigade]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/documents/general/Army2020_Report_v2.pdf |title=Transforming the British Army: An Update| page=7|publisher=Ministry of Defence|access-date=30 April 2016}}</ref>

==Structure==
===Cold War===
During the [[Cold War]], the regiment saw a massive expansion, expanding from three regular battalions to six battalions in just a few years.  Below is a list of those units raised within the regiment during the era:<ref>{{Cite web|date=2007-12-13|title=The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers [UK]|url=http://regiments.org/regiments/uk/inf/005RRF.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071213124751/http://regiments.org/regiments/uk/inf/005RRF.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2007-12-13|access-date=2021-03-25}}</ref>

'''Regulars'''

* Regimental Headquarters, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, at the [[Tower of London]]
* 1st Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (Regular)
* 2nd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (Regular)
* 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (Regular) – disbanded following [[Options for Change]] in 1992
* 4th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (Regular) – disbanded one year after formation, in 1969

'''TAVR''' (all disbanded in 1967)

* 4th/5th Battalion, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers
* 4th/5th/6th Battalion, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, disbanded in 1971
* 7th Battalion, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers
* 7th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Fusiliers
* The City of London Battalion, Royal Fusiliers
* 5th (Bury) Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers

'''Volunteers''' (from 1967)

* The Fusilier Volunteers, redesignated as 5th (V) Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers in 1968, redesignated again in 1992 following Options for Change as 5th (Warwickshire) Battalion, disbanded in 1999
* 6th (Volunteer) Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, redesignated in 1992 following Options for Change as 6th (Northumberland) Battalion<ref>{{Cite web|date=2007-12-18|title=6th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers [UK]|url=http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/volmil-england/vinf-no/67RRF-6.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071218013542/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/volmil-england/vinf-no/67RRF-6.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2007-12-18|access-date=2021-03-25}}</ref>
* 8th (Volunteer) Battalion, The Queen's Fusiliers (City of London), formed in 1988 as joint TA unit with [[Queen's Regiment]], headquarters at the [[St John's Hill Drill Hall|TA Centre at St. John's Hill]], Clapham Junction. On [[Transition To War]], would have provided guards & security for [[50 Missile Regiment Royal Artillery]], equipped with the nuclear-tipped Lance.<ref>{{Cite book|author=Louis Vieuxbill|url=https://www.orbat85.nl/documents/BAOR-July-1989.pdf|title=British Army of the Rhine 1989|page=14}}</ref> Redesignated as [[London Regiment (1993)|The London Regiment]] in 1993 following Options for Change.

'''Bands''' (with battalion assignment after, if needed)

* Duke of Kent's Band of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers – amalgamated with St George's Band RRF to form [[Normandy Band of the Queen's Division]] following Options for Change in 1992<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=2007-12-28|title=Corps of Army Music [UK]|url=http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/corps/music.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071228105032/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/corps/music.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2007-12-28|access-date=2021-03-31}}</ref>
* Saint George's Band of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers – amalgamated with Duke of Kent's Band RRF to form Normandy Band of the Queen's Division following Options for Change in 1992<ref name=":1" />
* Warwickshire Band of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (5 RRF)
* [[Northumbria Band of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers]] (6 RRF)

===1st Battalion===
The 1st Battalion is an armoured infantry battalion based in [[Tidworth Camp]], [[Wiltshire]]. Equipped with the [[Warrior tracked armoured vehicle|Warrior IFV]], the battalion is part of the army's [[3rd Division (United Kingdom)|3rd Division]] and is held at high readiness as part of the army's armoured war-fighting reserve. In 2016, the battalion was the army's Lead Armoured Battlegroup and was held at extremely high readiness in case it was required to deploy anywhere in the world at short notice. The battalion is highly experienced with multiple deployments in the last two decades to [[Bosnian War|Bosnia]], [[The Troubles|Northern Ireland]], [[Iraq War|Iraq]] and [[Operation Herrick|Afghanistan]]. Many soldiers from the 2nd Battalion joined the 1st Battalion on the merger, increasing the operational experience within the ranks. More recently, the 1st Battalion deployed around the world on exercise in places as diverse as [[Brunei]], [[Kenya]], the [[Baltic States]] and [[Canada]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/infantry/regiments/30247.aspx|title=1st Battalion - Armoured Infantry|publisher=Ministry of Defence|access-date=3 September 2016}}</ref>

The 1st Battalion also regularly works in support of the civil powers in the UK. In 2013, large elements of the battalion were deployed to [[Wraysbury]] and the surrounding area to support the [[2013–14 United Kingdom winter floods|flood relief]] efforts.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/uk-weather-residents-in-berkshire-say-military-response-is-24-hours-too-late-9122241.htmlx|title=UK weather: Residents in Berkshire say military response is 24 hours too late|date=11 February 2015|newspaper=The Independent|access-date=3 September 2016}}{{Dead link|date=September 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

The battalion won the Army Boxing Championships in 2016, beating the 2nd Battalion of the [[The Parachute Regiment (United Kingdom)|Parachute Regiment]] in the final.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bfbs.com/radio/articles/11507|title=Army Major Units Boxing Final 2016|access-date=3 September 2016|archive-date=13 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160913185410/http://www.bfbs.com/radio/articles/11507|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===5th Battalion===
The 5th Battalion is a [[Army Reserve (United Kingdom)|Reserve]] battalion with its headquarters in the northeast of [[England]]. As a battalion within the [[3rd (United Kingdom) Division]], the 5th Battalion specialises in [[Mechanized infantry|armoured infantry]] operations and has deployed all over the world on operations and on exercise both as a formed unit and as individual augmentees to the 1st Battalion. The 5th Battalion is now paired with the 1st Battalion and continues to support them in operations and on exercise.<ref name=fifth>{{cite web|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/infantry/regiments/30248.aspx|title=Fifth Fusiliers|access-date=3 September 2016}}</ref>

5th Battalion maintains subunits at the following locations:
* RHQ - [[Newcastle upon Tyne]]
* HQ Company - [[Anzio House, Newcastle]]
* A Company - [[Birmingham]]
* C (London) Company - [[Balham]] and [[Blackheath, London|Blackheath]]
* W (Gallipoli) Company - [[Bolton, Greater Manchester|Bolton]] and [[Bury, Greater Manchester|Bury]]
* X Company - [[Newcastle upon Tyne]] and [[Hexham]]
* Z Company - [[Alnwick]] and [[Cramlington]]
* [[FGM-148 Javelin|Anti-Tank Platoon]] - [[Blackheath, London|Blackheath]]
* [[Reconnaissance|Recce Platoon]] - [[Alnwick]]

==Hackle==
As a Fusilier regiment, the Fusiliers wear a [[hackle]] – the red-over-white hackle of the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers. This distinction was originally a white plume which, according to regimental tradition, men of the [[5th Regiment of Foot]] had taken from the headdress of fallen French troops at St. Lucia in December 1778. In 1829, [[George IV of the United Kingdom|King George IV]] ordered the white plume to be worn by all infantry regiments, and in order not to take away from the 5th (Northumberland) Regiment of Foot's peculiar distinction and reflecting the  "gallantry of the exploits" it commemorated <ref> Richard Cannon,'Historical record of the Fifth Regiment of Foot, or Northumberland Fusiliers' (1837) p. 91</ref>' (according to legend the original plumes were stained red with the blood of their foes), their plume was differentiated by being made "half red and half white, the red uppermost, instead of the plain white feather worn by the rest of the army per the 1829 order, as a peculiar mark of honour."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/infantry/regiments/30250.aspx|title=Royal Regiment of Fusiliers: Regimental history|publisher=Ministry of Defence|access-date=26 April 2014}}</ref>

==Victoria Crosses==
The combined [[Victoria Cross]]es of the Fusiliers and its ancestor regiments total fifty five.<ref name=handbook>{{cite web|url=http://www.regimentsdirect.co.uk/fusiliers/Content/BRS/Fusiliers%20Regimental%20Handbook.pdf|title=Regimental Handbook|publisher=Regiments Direct|access-date=3 September 2016|archive-date=11 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911192318/http://www.regimentsdirect.co.uk/fusiliers/Content/BRS/Fusiliers%20Regimental%20Handbook.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> Of particular note are the first and last Victoria Crosses of the [[First World War]] - won by [[Maurice Dease|Lt Dease]] and [[Sydney Godley|Pte Godley]] at [[Battle of Mons|Mons]] in 1914 and [[Samuel Pearse|Sgt Pearse]] in [[North Russia Intervention|North Russia]] in 1919 - and the famous "Six VCs Before Breakfast" won at [[Landing at Cape Helles|Gallipoli]] on 25 April 1915.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/world-war-one/11171941/The-six-before-breakfast-VCs-reunited-at-last.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020030858/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/world-war-one/11171941/The-six-before-breakfast-VCs-reunited-at-last.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 October 2014|title=The six 'before breakfast' VCs reunited at last|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=4 Sep 2016}}</ref>

==Mascot==
The regiment's traditional mascot is an Indian [[Blackbuck|Blackbuck Antelope]] called Bobby, inherited from the [[Royal Warwickshire Fusiliers]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Ollington|first=Robin|title=Bobby of the Fusiliers: The Story of Our Famous Regimental Mascot and Its Service and Adventures with Us for Over Two Hundred Years|isbn=9780954862909|year=2004|publisher=Royal Regiment of Fusiliers}}</ref> However, Indian Blackbuck Antelopes are now protected under animal welfare rules and the Regiment has not been allowed one for several years. As a substitute, the Regiment uses an [[Otterhound]] called George, who holds the rank of Fusilier and attends all the major parades in which the Regiment is involved.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.armedforcesday.org.uk/meet-george-a-military-dog-in-training/|title=Meet Fusilier George|publisher=BFBS|access-date=5 Sep 2016}}</ref>

==Roses==
To mark certain Regimental Days, the Fusiliers wear [[roses]] in their headdress and bedeck the Battalion Colours with garlands. The tradition comes from their victory at the [[Battle of Minden]], where, according to legend, soldiers marched at dawn to battle through rose fields and so went into action with the roses adorning their headdress. On [[St Georges Day]], they wear red and white roses. On [[Minden Day]], they wear red and yellow roses. New Fusilier Officers also must eat a rose at their first Minden Dinner on joining the Regiment.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00jvdxh|title=In The Highest Tradition: The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers|publisher=BBC|access-date=4 Sep 2016}}</ref>

[[File:Soldier with 1RRF During Exercise Southern Warrior MOD 45156953.jpg|thumb|right|First Fusiliers in the [[Falkland Islands|Falklands]]]]

==Colours==
The [[Charles III|King's]] Colour of each battalion of the regiment is identical except for the battalion numeral. The field of this Colour is blue which is the same as the facing colour of the Regiment. The Regimental title is in gold in a crimson circle within a Union Wreath of roses, thistles and shamrocks. The Regimental title is in gold in a crimson circle within a Union Wreath of roses, thistles and shamrocks. [[St George]] within the [[Order of the Garter|Garter]], which is the centre badge, is on a crimson ground within the circle. The whole is ensigned with [[St Edward’s Crown]]. Forty battle honours, 20 in respect of [[World War I]] and 20 in respect of [[World War II]], are borne on scrolls in gold in three groups of six honours on each horizontal arm of St George’s Cross and one group of four honours on the lower vertical arm of the Cross. Honours are emblazoned in chronological order by theatres across the horizontal arm of the Cross and vertically on the lower arm of the Cross. The fringe is of crimson and gold alternate strands.<ref name=handbook/> Honorary distinction badges of the four former regiments are borne in each canton of the Colour:<ref name=handbook/>
* The [[Royal Northumberland Fusiliers]] - The [[Tudor Rose|United red and white rose]] slipped ensigned with the [[Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom|Royal Crest]], in the upper canton nearer the pike.
* [[Royal Warwickshire Fusiliers]] - On a mount vert an [[Antelope]] statant argent, attired, tufted, ducally gorged and rope reflexed over the back, in the upper canton further from the pike.
[[File:Soldiers with 1st Royal Regiment of Fusiliers MOD 45156526.jpg|Fusiliers on exercise in the [[Salisbury Plain Training Area]]|thumb|225px]]
* [[Royal Fusiliers]] - On a mount vert the [[White Horse of Hanover]], in the lower canton nearer the pike.
* [[Lancashire Fusiliers]] - The red rose of [[Lancaster, Lancashire|Lancaster]] with two petals uppermost, in the lower canton further from the pike and [[The Sphinx]], superscribed on a scroll ‘[[Egypt]]’, immediately below the tie of the large laurel wreath bearing the Battle Honour scrolls.
Finally, thirty-eight battle honours, which were borne on the Regimental Colours of the four former regiments, are emblazoned on gold scrolls placed on the branches of a large laurel wreath outside the Union Wreath.<ref name=handbook/>
{{listen
|filename=British Grenadiers.ogg
|title="The British Grenadiers"
|description="The British Grenadiers", the official Regimental Quick March of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, performed by the [[United States Army Band]] Strings ensemble
|pos=right
}}
The [[Corps of Drums#United Kingdom|Drummer’s Colour]] (or [[Battle of Wilhelmsthal|Wilhelmstahl]] Colour) is of gosling green silk edged with gold, embroidered with St George and the Dragon in the centre, with red scrolls edged with gold, above and below. The motto of the Northumberland Fusiliers ‘QUO FATA VOCANT’ ('Wherever fate calls us') is, on the upper scroll, and the word ‘NORTHUMBERLAND’ between V REGT, also in gold, on the lower scroll. A wreath of green laurel with red berries and the ‘slipped’ red and white rose surmounted by a crown in the four corners, makes up the design. This unusual third colour is traditionally carried by the youngest drummer on the annual St George's Day parade.<ref name=handbook/>

==Band==
A volunteer regimental band is sported by the [[5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers|5th Battalion]], based at the St George's Army Reserve Centre. Officially known as the Band and [[Corps of Drums]], it consists of 30 servicemen who marching in the [[full dress uniform]] of the regiment and performs by permission of the Commanding Officer of Fifth
Fusiliers. The [[corps of drums]] have a role in the band, leading parades and performing their [[black light]] show.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rrfbandlancs.org.uk/about-us/meet-the-band/ |title=Meet the Band - The Band & Corp of Drums of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers |publisher=Rrfbandlancs.org.uk |access-date=2020-04-10}}</ref>

Until the [[Strategic Defence Review (1998)|Strategic Defence Review]] of 1998 the Regiment had two Territorial Army bands: the Northumberland Band of the 6th Battalion and the Warwickshire Band of the 5th Battalion. After the review, the Northumberland Band became the Northumbria Band of the Tyne-Tees Regiment while the Warwickshire Band was removed from the TA establishment and continued as a civilian band. In 2006, it was renamed to the Band of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. The Lancashire
Association Band of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers is also a volunteer band of the regiment.<ref name=":0">[https://thefusiliers.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Fusiliers-Regimental-Handbook-2019.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjn-d2Rit7oAhVEWq0KHf7NB3c4ChAWMAl6BAgCEAE&usg=AOvVaw0F1VKE8H2GP485T8N69zoR The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers]{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

===Previous active duty bands===
In April 1968, each of the four regular battalions inherited a battalion band. In November 1969, the 4th battalion band was merged into the other three bands. The regiment chose to form two full size bands in 1984; one being titled as "The Duke of Kent's Band" and the other as "The St George's" Band.<ref name=":0" />

==Lineage of the regiment==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! 1880<ref name="London Gazette">{{cite news|last1=The London Gazette|first1=Page 3300-3301|title=Childers Reform|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/24992/page/3300|access-date=27 October 2016|issue=24992|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|date=1 July 1881}}</ref> !! 1881 [[Childers Reforms]]<ref name="London Gazette"/> !! 1921 Name changes !! [[1957 Defence White Paper]] !! [[1966 Defence White Paper]] !! 1990 [[Options for Change]] !! 2003 [[Delivering Security in a Changing World]]
|-
| [[5th (Northumberland) (Fusiliers) Regiment of Foot]]
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;"| [[The Northumberland Fusiliers]]<br />renamed in 1935:<br />[[The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers]]
| rowspan="4" colspan="3" style="text-align: center;" | [[The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers]]
|-
| [[6th (Royal First Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot]]
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;"| [[The Royal Warwickshire Regiment]]<br />renamed in 1963:<br />[[The Royal Warwickshire Fusiliers]]
|-
| [[7th (Royal Fusiliers) Regiment of Foot]]
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;"| [[The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)]]
|-
| [[20th (East Devonshire) Regiment of Foot]]
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;"| [[The Lancashire Fusiliers]]
|}

==Battle honours==
The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers carries the combined [[battle honour]]s of its four antecedent regiments, as well as two honours obtained during the years of the regiment's own existence. There are a total of 40 representative honours each emblazoned on the Queen's Colour and Regimental Colour.<ref>{{cite book |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Regimental Handbook |url=https://thefusiliers.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Fusiliers-Regimental-Handbook-2019.pdf |publisher=RRF |page=44 |date=2019 }}</ref>

*Combined [[Battle honour|Battle Honours]] of [[The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers]]
*Combined [[Battle honour|Battle Honours]] of [[The Royal Warwickshire Fusiliers]]
*Combined [[Battle honour|Battle Honours]] of [[The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)]]
*Combined [[Battle honour|Battle Honours]] of [[The Lancashire Fusiliers]]
*Wadi al Batin, [[Gulf War|Gulf 1991]],
*[[Battle of Basra (2003)|Al Basrah]], [[2003 invasion of Iraq|Iraq 2003]]

==Regimental colonels==
Regimental Colonels have been:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/inf/005RRF.htm|title=The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers|publisher=regiments.org|access-date=17 October 2016|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070106152949/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/inf/005RRF.htm|archive-date=6 January 2007}}</ref>
*1968–1974: Gen. Sir [[Kenneth Darling]]
*1974–1977: Lt-Gen. Sir [[George Lea]]
*1977–1982: Lt-Gen. Sir [[James Wilson (British Army officer)|Alexander James Wilson]]
*1982–1986: Maj-Gen. David Milner Woodford
*1986–1996: Maj-Gen. [[Jeremy Calcott Reilly]]
*1996–2001: Brig. David Arnold Kellett Biggart
*2001–2007: Brig. Roy Maddox Wilde
*2007–2012: Brig. Trevor J. Minter
*2012–2015: Brig. David J. Paterson
*2015–2020: Maj-Gen. [[Paul Nanson]]<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=61372 |supp=y|page=18567|date=8 October 2015}}</ref>
*2020-: Maj-Gen. [[Jonathan Swift (British Army officer)|Jonathan Swift]]

==Order of seniority within the line of battle==
{{S-start}}
{{order of precedence|
  before= [[Duke of Lancaster's Regiment]]|
  title= [[British Army infantry order of precedence|Infantry order of precedence]]|
  after= [[Royal Anglian Regiment]]
}}
{{S-end}}

==Alliances==
*{{RN}} - [[HMS Diamond (D34)|HMS ''Diamond'']]
*{{RN}} - [[HMS Northumberland (F238)|HMS ''Northumberland'']]
*[[File:Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg|30px]] [[Royal Air Force|RAF]] - [[No. 13 Squadron RAF]]
*{{CAN}} - [[The Royal Canadian Regiment]]
*{{CAN}} - [[The Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment)]]
*{{CAN}} - [[31 Combat Engineer Regiment (The Elgins)]]
*{{CAN}} - [[The Royal Westminster Regiment]]
*{{CAN}} - [[Les Fusiliers du St-Laurent|Les Fusiliers du S<sup>t</sup>-Laurent]]
*{{AUS}} - [[Royal Victoria Regiment|The Royal Victoria Regiment]]
*{{NZL}} - [[Hauraki Regiment|The Hauraki Regiment]]
*[[Worshipful Company of Mercers|The Worshipful Company of Mercers]]
*[[Worshipful Company of Cordwainers|The Worshipful Company of Cordwainers]]
*[[Worshipful Company of Fletchers|The Worshipful Company of Fletchers]]

==See also==
*[[Royal Highland Fusiliers|The Royal Highland Fusiliers]]
*[[The Royal Welch Fusiliers]]
*[[The King's Own Fusiliers]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline|Royal Regiment of Fusiliers}}
*[https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/infantry/royal-regiment-of-fusiliers/ The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160614085537/http://regimentsdirect.co.uk/fusiliers/ Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Regimental Shop]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160911192318/http://www.regimentsdirect.co.uk/fusiliers/Content/BRS/Fusiliers%20Regimental%20Handbook.pdf The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Regimental Handbook]
*[http://www.fusiliers-association.co.uk Fusiliers Association] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231105553/http://www.fusiliers-association.co.uk/ |date=31 December 2017 }}
*[http://fifthfoot.org/ Fifth Foot reenactment group]
{{Royal Regiment of Fusiliers}}
{{British Army Infantry Regiments}}
{{British Infantry}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Royal Regiment Of Fusiliers}}
[[Category:Royal Regiment of Fusiliers| ]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1968]]
[[Category:Military units and formations of the United Kingdom in the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)]]
[[Category:1968 establishments in the United Kingdom]]