Foreword

GOVERNANCE

The Colonel in Chief

The Colonel in Chief of the Regiment is supreme in all matters relating to the Regiment. Approaches to the Colonel in Chief on any subject may be made through the Colonel of the Regiment.

The correct form of address for the Colonel in Chief is ‘Your Royal Highness’ on first meeting followed subsequently by ‘Colonel’.

Deputy Colonel in Chief

On Formation, The Regiment was kindly granted permission by Her Majesty The Queen to retain Brigadier His Grace The Duke of Wellington KG LVO OBE MC BA DL as Deputy Colonel in Chief. When he died on 31st December 2014, just 6 months before the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, the appointment lapsed.

The Colonel of the Regiment

The Colonel of the Regiment is appointed from serving or retired officers of the rank of Colonel or above. If he is a retired officer, he should be permanently resident in the United Kingdom. Selection of the Colonel of the Regiment is based on the wishes of the Colonel in Chief and senior officers of the Regiment, serving and retired, and subject to the willingness of the nominee to accept the appointment. The Colonel’s tenure of appointment is initially for five years. He may serve a maximum of two terms in office and not beyond the age of 65.

The Colonel of the Regiment is the head of the Regimental family and it is his duty to enhance the welfare and good name of the Regiment.

He will endeavour to safeguard the long-term health of the Regiment by promoting Regimental spirit, maintaining Regimental traditions and representing Regimental interests at the highest level.

He is ex officio Chairman of the Yorkshire Regiment Board, Chairman of the Regimental Trustees and President of the Regimental Association.

Approaches may be made to the Colonel of the Regiment by any serving member of the Regiment through their Commanding Officer, or by retired members through Regimental Headquarters. The correct form of address for the Colonel of the Regiment, within the Regiment and irrespective of his rank in the Army, is ‘Colonel’.

Deputy Colonel of the Regiment

Due to the size of the Regiment and the Regimental areas and the number of local links and representational commitments to be sustained, the Colonel will be assisted by a Deputy Colonel who is appointed by the Colonel. It is an unofficial appointment, but he is an ex officio member of the Regimental Board and is a Regimental Trustee.

The Honorary Colonel Army Reserve

For the same reasons as the Deputy Colonel, The Honorary Colonel Army Reserve has no executive powers, but like the constitutional monarch he has ‘the right to be consulted, the right to encourage, the right to warn’. He will foster esprit de corps and promote the interests of the Reserve Battalion of the Regiment, and in particular he should: Ɋ Represent Regimental interests, especially among the civil community in the Battalion recruiting area, attending significant civic and social events when appropriate. Ɋ Advise and assist the Commanding Officer in officer recruiting. He should meet and approve the appointment of those who wish to be commissioned into the Reserve Battalion. Ɋ Army Regulations detail the terms of service for an Honorary

Colonel including the tenure, which is to be for 5 years, renewable on application, up to the age of 65 years.

The appointment is an official one, governed by MS Hons at the MoD. He is an ex officio member of the Regimental Board and is a Regimental Trustee.

Deputy Honorary Colonels

Deputy Honorary Colonels may be appointed from time to time but are not an official appointment. They would normally be nominated by the Honorary Colonel for approval by the Regimental Board. They hold no executive power but are in a position to offer advice and act as local representatives for the Regiment within their areas of influence. They also exist to promote the interests of the Army Reserve Battalion of the Regiment. There is no limit on their number helping to cover the large Regimental area, and occasionally representing the Regiment.

The term of office for any Deputy Honorary Colonel is for five years, extendable on application, and not beyond the age of 65.

The Regimental Board

The Regimental Board consists of the following: Colonel of the Regiment Deputy Colonel of the Regiment Honorary Colonel Army Reserve Commanding Officers Lieutenant Colonel King’s Division Chairman, The Yorkshire Regiment Association Assistant Regimental Secretary (Recruiting) Regimental Secretary and Any other person who may from time to time be appointed by the Colonel of the Regiment.

The Board will normally meet twice a year in May and December under the chairmanship of the Colonel of the Regiment. The Board will consider any matters relating to the Regiment. The Regimental Secretary acts as Secretary to the Board.

The Regimental Trustees

The Regimental Trustees comprise four ex officio Trustees: Colonel of the Regiment Deputy Colonel of the Regiment

Honorary Colonel Army Reserve Regimental Secretary and up to six nominated Trustees.

The Trustees will normally meet twice a year in May and December under the chairmanship of the Colonel of the Regiment. The Trustees will consider all matters of finance and heritage relating to the Regiment. The Regimental Secretary acts as Secretary to the Trustees. There should be a quorum when at least one third of the number of Trustees for the time being, or four Trustees, whichever is the greater, are present at a meeting.

Regimental Executive Committee

A Regimental Executive Committee is a formal Committee established from time to time by the Regimental Board. Its Chairman and membership will be nominated by the Colonel of The Regiment. It will normally be chaired by a Colonel/Brigadier and consist of at least the Commanding Officers and Regimental Secretary. It would meet as often as determined by the Board.

The Commanding Officers

The authority of the Commanding Officer is paramount within the battalion. Commanding Officers are ex officio members of the Regimental Board. They are responsible to the Trustees for Regimental silver and property held by their battalion.

THE REGIMENTAL HEADQUARTERS

Locations

The main Regimental Headquarters (RHQ) is located at 3 Tower Street, York YO1 9SB. There are also two Area Headquarters, whose primary role is to provide further support across the Regimental area: AHQ (North) Trinity Church Square, Market Place, Richmond, DL10 4QN AHQ (South) Army Reserve Centre, St Paul’s Street, Huddersfield HD1 3DR

Roles and Responsibilities of RHQ

The aim of the RHQ is: To promote a strong Regimental ethos and to support all elements of the Regimental family in order to enhance the effectiveness of The Yorkshire Regiment in peace and war, and in particular to promote recruiting, retention and community engagement.

Core activities will be focused on: Ɋ Provision of support to the Regiment in its recruiting area in order to deliver fully manned Regular and Reserve battalions. Ɋ Promotion of Regimental esprit de corps and high morale based on a strong, consistent and easily understood Regimental image and ethos projected throughout the Regiment, its recruiting area and the wider Army. Ɋ Provision of appropriate welfare and financial support to all parts of our Regimental family.

The RHQ will assist the Colonel of The Regiment and act as the focal point within the Regimental area for the management and co-ordination of Regimental affairs. Specific functions include:

Ɋ Regimental liaison with the Colonel in Chief. Ɋ Secretariat to the Colonel of The Regiment and his Deputies. Ɋ Safeguarding the interests of The Regiment and representing the views of the Colonel to the chain of command. Ɋ Secretariat to the Regimental Board and Trustees, and the Regimental

Association. Ɋ Promulgation of Regimental policy, including the Colonel’s Directives. Ɋ Promotion of Regimental spirit and cohesion. Ɋ Management of Regimental funds, investments, chattels and property as directed by the Trustees. Ɋ Officer recruiting (in conjunction with Commanding Officers). Ɋ Co-ordination of Regimental support for soldier recruiting (in conjunction with the Commanding Officer of the 4th Battalion). Ɋ Regimental publications, publicity and information, including

Regimental Journal, Newsletter and Website. Ɋ Regimental liaison with: – County, civic and ecclesiastical in the Regimental area, in particular with those cities and boroughs of which the Regiment enjoys the Freedom. – Schools, colleges and universities. – Cadets. Ɋ Allied Ships and Regiments. Ɋ Benevolence and Welfare. Ɋ Regimental support to Ministry of Defence Casualty Procedures. Ɋ Assistance with Resettlement. Ɋ Management of the Regimental Association. Ɋ Regimental reunions, commemorative events, and battlefield pilgrimages. Ɋ Regimental dress: Regulations, procurement of non-public items, and liaison with accredited tailors. Ɋ Officers’ Dinner Club and Presentation Fund. Ɋ Support and co-ordination of Regimental Museums and Archives (in conjunction with the respective Trustees). Ɋ Regimental Chattels and control of items on loan. Ɋ Historical research and Regimental history, including publications and battlefield tours/studies. Ɋ Regimental Chapels and Memorials (in conjunction with local

Trustees where appropriate). Ɋ Representing the Colonel of The Regiment at events as required. Ɋ Regimental Shop, including supply of non-issue items of Regimental dress and accoutrements.

Regimental Secretary

The Regimental Secretary is the principal staff officer to the Colonel of The Regiment and is responsible for the day-to-day direction and co-ordination of the work of RHQ. When promulgating Regimental policy, he acts on behalf of the Colonel.

He is responsible for liaison with the Colonel in Chief and the Honorary Colonel Army Reserve, and for day-to-day interface with battalions, Regional Brigade HQ, the Reserve Forces and Cadets Association, County Cadet HQs, Combat Directorate and the Ministry of Defence.

He is Secretary to the Regimental Board and the Trustees. He is Editorin-Chief of the Regimental Journal and website, directs the RHQ’s public information effort, and will chair the Regimental Executive Committee unless a more senior person is appointed.

He will co-ordinate the Regiment’s Community Engagement operations and, when required, represent the Colonel of the Regiment at functions which the latter or his Deputy are unable to attend, and will at all times seek to promote the Regiment’s good name, influence and interests in the Regimental recruiting areas and within the Army.

Roles and Responsibilities of RHQ Main

Those functions listed above that can mostly efficiently be run on a centralised basis will be concentrated at RHQ Main. This includes, in addition to regimental policy matters, such functions as financial management, officer recruiting, benevolence and welfare, control of chattels, regimental communications, and co-ordination of Association and Regimental events.

Roles and Responsibilities of Area HQs

The Area HQs will cover all those functions that are most efficiently and