[oc14]

The KOYY(LI) was formed from the 8th (Yorkshire) Battalion of the Light Infantry on 3rd August 1996 on a parade at Nostell Priory (south of Wakefield). The Regiment was the Formation Recconnaissance Regiment for 2 Div and was equipped with stripped down 110 Landrovers. On formation the location of the sub-units was:-

HQ Squadron George Street Wakefield with the Driving & Maintenance Wing based at Minden House Pontefract.
A Squadron based at Danum Road Doncaster
B Squadron based at Tanshelf in Pontefract
C Squadron based at Birstalll (near Batley) with a troop based at Wakefield.

The established strength of the regiment was less than 300 all ranks and this included attached personnel (AGC, RLC, RAMC and REME).

Attached regular personnel (PSI's, Training Major etc) wore their own cap badges and headdress with the exception the the CO and RSM who wore the KOYY(LI) cap badge on the Rifle Green Light Infantry beret.
The orginal PSIs were :- A Sqn 9th/12th Lancers, B Sqn QDG, C Sqn RTR, HQ Sqn RTR. The RSM was RTR and the 1st CO was Light Infantry (replaced by a King's Royal Hussar), the Adjutant Post remained badged Light Infantry the three training majors during the regiments existence were KRH, RTR and KRH respectively.

The regiment disbanded on 1st July 1999 after having existed for less than 3 years.

During it's short life the regiment wore the following insignia:-
brass gilt, silvered and enameled cap badge (as shown at the begining of this thread) - worn by all ranks (lugs North and South)
Collar badges, shoulder titles, buttons were never produced for the regiment - all ranks when required to wear No2/Service dress wore Light Infantry pattern insignia .
NCOs rank insignia was the LI pattern (green on maize backing)
All ranks wore olive green slip ons with the letters KOYY (in green in old english script), officers slip ons included rank insignia of the size worn by the LI
Slip ons were also produced in cream with green lettering and rank insignia for officers.
All ranks wore the2 Div crossed keys insignia on the upper left arm (on Combat Jackets only)

Approx 200 of the first batch of cap badges were converted to belt plate badges (orignial lugs were removed and replaced with a more squat, shorter style of lugs). The belt plate was a plain chrome buckle and was worn on a BLACK nylon belt (not a shiny black belt but a pattern similar to the green plastic "working belt" worn from the late 1970's until the late 90's)

The officers bullion cap badge was an approved pattern that was only ever worn by TWO officers (I Know , I was one of the officers).

As a matter of interest, the regiment had 30 full size HALLMARKED silver full size cap badges made with brooch fittings to the rear to be worn by the officer's wives at Ladies nights in the officers mess.

I was one of the committee that designed the cap badge and have one of the 10 hand cut samples made by Firmins.

Sufficient information ????

OC14