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{{Short description|Infantry regiment of the British Army}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name                     = Mercian Regiment (Cheshire, Worcesters and<br> Foresters, and Staffords)
| image                         = Mercian Cap Badge.png
| image_size                    = 150px
| caption                       = [[Cap badge]] of the regiment
| dates                         = 1 September 2007 – present
| country                       = {{flag|United Kingdom}}
| branch                        = {{army|United Kingdom}}
| type                          = Line Infantry
| command_structure             = [[Queen's Division]]
| role                          = 1st Battalion – [[Mechanized infantry|Armoured Infantry]]<br />[[4th Battalion, Mercian Regiment|4th Battalion]] – [[Army Reserve (United Kingdom)|Army Reserve]] – Armoured Infantry
| size                          = Two battalions <br/>1,155 personnel<ref name=personnel>{{cite web|url=https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2018-11-22/194616|title=Army – Question for Ministry of Defence|page=1|access-date=14 December 2020}}</ref><br/> 1st Battalion – 732<ref name=personnel/><br />[[4th Battalion, Mercian Regiment|4th Battalion]] – 423<ref name=personnel/>
| garrison                      = RHQ - [[DMS Whittington|Lichfield]]<br />1st Battalion - [[Bulford Camp|Bulford]]<br />[[4th Battalion, Mercian Regiment|4th Battalion]] - [[Wolverhampton]]
| ceremonial_chief              = [[William, Prince of Wales]]
| ceremonial_chief_label        = Colonel-in-Chief
| colonel_of_the_regiment       = Lieutenant General Sir [[Ian Cave]]
| nickname                      = ''The Heart of England's Infantry''
| motto                         = ''"Stand Firm Strike Hard"''
| identification_symbol         = [[File:Mercian TRF.svg|76px]]
| identification_symbol_label   = Tactical Recognition Flash
| identification_symbol_2       = Stafford Knot and Glider<br /><small>From Staffordshire Regiment</small>
| identification_symbol_2_label = Arm Badge
| identification_symbol_3       = MERCIAN
MERC
| identification_symbol_3_label = Abbreviation
| march                         = ''Wha Wadna Fecht for Charlie/Under the Double Eagle'' (Quick)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.safemusic.co.uk/12809/regimental-quick-march-the-mercian-regiment/|title=Regimental Quick March - The Mercian Regiment|website=www.safemusic.co.uk}}</ref><br>''Stand Firm and Strike Hard'' (Slow)
| mascot                        = [[Sheep|Ram]] (''Private Derby XXXIII'') <ref>{{cite web|access-date=11 July 2024|publisher=The Mercian Regimental Charity|title=Regimental Mascot|url=https://mercianregiment.co.uk/the-regimental-mascot}}</ref>
| battles                       = * [[Operation Telic]]
* [[Operation Herrick]]
}}
The '''Mercian Regiment''' ('''Cheshire, Worcesters and Foresters, and Staffords''') is an [[infantry]] [[regiment]] of the [[British Army]], which is recruited from five of the counties that formed the ancient kingdom of [[Mercia]]. Known as 'The Heart of England's Infantry', it was formed on 1 September 2007 by the amalgamation of three existing regiments. The Regiment has had fifteen operational deployments since its formation.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=5 September 2022|publisher=The Mercian Regimental Charity|title=The Mercian Regiment|url=https://mercianregiment.co.uk/about-us}}</ref>

==History==
The regiment's formation was announced on 16 December 2004 by the then [[Secretary of Defence]] [[Geoff Hoon]] and [[Mike Jackson (British Army officer)|General Sir Mike Jackson]] as part of the restructuring of the [[British Army Infantry]] - it consisted of three regular battalions, plus a territorial battalion, and was created through the merger of three single battalion regiments.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4102013.stm|title=In detail: army restructuring plans|publisher=BBC|date=16 December 2004|access-date=24 May 2014}}</ref>

The antecedent regiments were, The 1st Battalion, [[Cheshire Regiment]], The 1st Battalion, [[Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters|Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment]] and the 1st Battalion, [[Staffordshire Regiment]]. The reserve [[West Midlands Regiment]], with elements of the [[King's and Cheshire Regiment]] and the [[East of England Regiment]] formed the 4th Battalion, Mercian Regiment.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=30 April 2016|publisher=Ministry of Defence|title=Mercian Regiment|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/infantry/regiments/23998.aspx}}</ref>

The regiment originally had 3 [[regular army]] battalions and one [[Army Reserve (United Kingdom)|Army Reserve]] battalion, though the 3rd Battalion was disbanded, as part of the [[Future of the British Army (Army 2020)|restructuring of the British Army]],<ref name="news.sky.com">{{cite web|url=http://news.sky.com/story/956309/army-loses-17-major-units-in-defence-cuts|title=Army Loses 17 Major Units In Defence Cuts|publisher=Sky News|access-date=5 April 2014}}</ref> in July 2014.<ref>{{cite news|access-date=6 November 2014|title=Mercian Regiment: Final marches for disbanded battalion|work=BBC News |date=24 June 2014 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-27988491}}</ref> It had been part of the [[7th Armoured Brigade (United Kingdom)|7th Armoured Brigade]] based in [[Bad Fallingbostel]], Germany.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=19 November 2011 |publisher=Ministry of Defence |title=3 Mercian disbanded |url=http://www.army.mod.uk/infantry/regiments/6449.aspx |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100211225421/http://www.army.mod.uk/infantry/regiments/6449.aspx |archive-date=11 February 2010 }}</ref> The regiment further restructured in September 2022 when the 2nd Battalion merged with the 1st Battalion.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=5 September 2022|publisher=The Mercian Regimental Charity|title=Mercian Regiment|url=https://mercianregiment.co.uk/about-us}}</ref> This happened as a result of the Integrated Review.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=5 September 2022|publisher=GOV.UK|title=Defence Secretary oral statement on the Defence Command Paper|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/defence-secretary-oral-statement-on-the-defence-command-paper}}</ref>

The regiment was deployed to Afghanistan (Herrick 6, Herrick 10, Herrick 12, Herrick 14, Herrick 15, Herrick 17 and Herrick 19) and to Iraq (Telic 11).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://british-army-units1945on.co.uk/infantry/mercian-regiment.html|title=Mercian Regiment|publisher=British Army units 1945 on|access-date=18 August 2016}}</ref>

In 2017 the regiment moved to the [[King's Division]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bowyers.com/downloads/mercianNewsletterAugust2017.pdf|title=The Mercian Regiment Newsletter August 2017|publisher=Bowyers|access-date=23 February 2018}}</ref>

==Structure==
===Regimental Headquarters===
The regimental headquarters is situated at [[DMS Whittington]] in [[Lichfield]], with outstations in [[Chester]] and [[Nottingham]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mercianregiment.co.uk/regimental-headquarters|title=Regimental Headquarters|accessdate=24 February 2021}}</ref>

===1st Battalion===
The 1st Battalion has deployed on five operational tours since its formation in 2007, one to Iraq, two to Afghanistan, one to Ukraine, and one to Estonia. It is an [[Mechanized infantry|armoured infantry]] battalion, part of the [[12th Armoured Brigade Combat Team (United Kingdom)|12th Armoured Brigade Combat Team]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=British Army Website|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/formations-divisions-brigades/3rd-united-kingdom-division/20th-armoured-brigade-combat-team/}}</ref> based at [[Bulford Camp]], England.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=30 April 2016|publisher=Ministry of Defence|title=1 Mercian|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/infantry/regiments/25988.aspx}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|access-date=30 April 2016|publisher=Ministry of Defence|title=4th Mechanised Brigade|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/structure/29027.aspx}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/documents/general/Army2020_Report_v2.pdf |title=Army 2020| page=7|access-date=30 April 2016}}</ref>

===4th Battalion===
The [[4th Battalion, Mercian Regiment|4th Battalion]] is the regiment's [[Army Reserve (United Kingdom)|Army Reserve]] Armoured Infantry battalion. The battalion, whose HQ is based in [[Wolverhampton]] and [[Kidderminster]], England, has 2 rifle companies, a support and an HQ company.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=5 September 2022|publisher=The Mercian Regimental Charity|title=4 Mercian|url=https://mercianregiment.co.uk/4-mercian}}</ref>

==Regimental Distinctions==
The regiment's cap badge is a double headed Mercian Eagle with [[Anglo-Saxons|Saxon]] crown. This has been chosen because it forms a link to the regiment's recruiting area, which encompass a number of divergent counties that do not have modern traditional links, only under the ancient Kingdom of Mercia (unlike the other new regiments from Scotland, Wales and Yorkshire). It was originally intended to use the old [[Mercian Brigade]] badge worn by the Cheshire Regiment, Staffordshire Regiment, Worcestershire Regiment and Sherwood Foresters from 1958 to 1968, rather than create an amalgamated badge that would require elements from all of the antecedents. In 2005, this badge was rejected by the Army Dress Committee on the grounds that it had been the badge of a [[Territorial Army (United Kingdom)|territorial]] unit, The [[Mercian Volunteers]], which was junior to the amalgamating regiments.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/|archive-url=https://swap.stanford.edu/20081217070228/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 December 2008|title=News|date=15 March 2016|via=www.telegraph.co.uk}}</ref> Accordingly, a slightly modified design featuring two colours of metal was adopted.<ref>{{cite web|title=Regimental Customs and Traditions |url=http://www.army.mod.uk/documents/general/MERCIAN_Customs.doc |publisher=The Mercian Regiment |year=2009 |access-date=2009-04-30 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120817120012/http://www.army.mod.uk/documents/general/MERCIAN_Customs.doc |archive-date=17 August 2012 }}</ref>

In 2012, following the announcement that the 3rd Battalion (ex-Staffordshire Regiment) was to be disbanded, a proposal was submitted to the Army to have the name of the Mercian Regiment changed to reflect its entire lineage and maintain the Staffords name.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-20279968 |title=MoD to look at Staffords endorsement |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=10 November 2012 |website=BBC News |publisher=BBC |access-date=20 July 2016 }}</ref> In July 2014, this proposal was approved, and the regiment was renamed as The Mercian Regiment (Cheshire, Worcesters and Foresters, and Staffords).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/new-regiment-links-area/story-21520734-detail/story.html |title=New regiment will now keep its links to the area |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=3 July 2014 |website=Burton Mail |access-date=20 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160720110851/http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/new-regiment-links-area/story-21520734-detail/story.html |archive-date=20 July 2016}}</ref>

===Mascot===
[[File:Private Derby takes a march down the mall. (36361519526).jpg|thumb|right|Private Derby XXX, a Swaledale ram and mascot for the Mercian Regiment]]
[[File:Church Street Ashbourne - geograph.org.uk - 1759189.jpg|275px|thumb|Mercian Regiment in [[Ashbourne, Derbyshire]] on 18 March 2010]]

"Derby", a [[Swaledale (sheep)|Swaledale]] ram, is the regimental mascot, a tradition inherited from the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment.  The 30th iteration of the Mascot was known as Lance Corporal Derby XXX, before he died on 27 November 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/Derby-XXX-8211-British-Army-ram-promoted-Lance/story-28299193-detail/story.html|title=Derby XXX – a British Army ram promoted to Lance Corporal as regimental mascot – dies|publisher=Western Morning News|date=4 December 2015|access-date=4 December 2015}}</ref>  His successor, known as Private Derby XXXI, was announced on 20 February 2016<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-35615349|title= Mercian Regiment announces new Private Derby XXXI|publisher=BBC|date=20 February 2016|access-date=30 April 2016}}</ref> but he died on 1 September 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/local-news/ram-mascot-mercian-regiment-private-417235|title=Ram mascot of Mercian regiment, Private Derby XXXI, dies after illness|date=3 September 2013|newspaper=Nottingham Post|access-date=2 May 2018}}</ref>

In December 2017 Private Derby XXXII was presented to the Regiment<ref>{{citation|title=Video of Private Derby being presented to Regiment|publisher=JAMedia-UK|date=2019-05-12|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZENS75TYzWs |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/ZENS75TYzWs| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|access-date=2019-07-24}}{{cbignore}}</ref> by the [[Peregrine Cavendish, 12th Duke of Devonshire|Duke and Duchess of Devonshire]] at Chatsworth House.<ref>{{citation|title=Video interview with Duke and Duchess of Devonshire at Chatsworth|publisher=JAMedia-UK|date=2019-05-27|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVQqxVCg1TM |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/sVQqxVCg1TM| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|access-date=2019-07-24}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Private Derby was received by Brigadier Williams, OBE, Colonel of the Regiment.<ref>{{citation|title=Brigadier Williams OBE, Mercian Regiment discussing Private Derby|publisher=JAMedia-UK|date=2019-05-27|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tvakj7O8qUk |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/Tvakj7O8qUk| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|access-date=2019-07-24}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Private Derby led the Tamworth Carnival in 2019.<ref>Video of Private Derby leading Tamworth Carnival 2019 {{Citation|last=JAMedia-UK|title=Mercians Take Salute Tamworth 2019|date=2019-06-02|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQnyc4dd7-U |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/dQnyc4dd7-U| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|access-date=2019-07-24}}{{cbignore}}</ref> According to his handlers this was the longest March Private Derby has done to date.<ref>{{Citation|title=Interview with Private Derby's handlers|publisher=JAMedia-UK|date=2019-06-02|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7mE9wIZs0U |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/_7mE9wIZs0U| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|access-date=2019-07-24}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In July 2024 Derby XXXII was promoted to the rank of Corporal for the first time in the history of his lineage. The promotion took place following the annual pilgrimage to the regimental memorial at Crich on 7 July 2024.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=11 July 2024|publisher=The Mercian Regimental Charity|title=Regimental Mascot|url=https://mercianregiment.co.uk/the-regimental-mascot}}</ref>

The regiment also maintains loose links through its Regimental Headquarters with the former mascot of the Staffordshire Regiment, [[Watchman (mascot)|Watchman]], who now carries out his duties as part of the Staffordshire Regiment Association.<ref>{{cite web|title=Stand Firm Strike Hard - 2 MERCIAN|url=http://www.stand-firm-strike-hard.org.uk/index.php/2-mercian|website=www.stand-firm-strike-hard.org.uk|access-date=2020-05-22}}</ref>

===Dress===
Various "Golden Threads", representing the traditions of predecessor units, are incorporated in the Mercian Regiment's uniform:
*Arm badge: a gold wire [[Stafford knot]] and glider badge with a backing of "Brown Holland" material on a black felt patch from the Staffordshire Regiment<ref name="dress">{{cite web |url=http://www.army.mod.uk/documents/general/Mercian_Dress_Regulations_June_14.pdf |title= Dress Regulations for the Mercian Regiment |publisher= Ministry of Defence |date=June 2014 |access-date = 30 April 2016}}</ref>	
*Collar badge: oak leaves and acorn from the Cheshire Regiment combined with the motto ''Firm'' from the Worcestershire Regiment<ref name="dress"/>	
*[[Facing colour]]: buff, from the Cheshire Regiment. To be worn on full dress uniform, mess dress and as piping on No.1 dress shoulder straps.<ref name="dress"/>	
*Sword frog on the [[Sam Browne Belt]] comes from the Worcestershire Regiment<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stand-firm-strike-hard.org.uk/index.php/customs|title=Regimental customs and traditions|publisher=The Museum of the Mercian Regiment|access-date=30 April 2016|archive-date=6 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806123417/http://www.stand-firm-strike-hard.org.uk/index.php/customs|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*Officer's rank badges will be coloured bronze/gun metal, from the [[North Staffordshire Regiment]]<ref name="dress"/>	
*Warrant officers' and NCO's rank badges: Black backing from Staffordshire Regiment.<ref name="dress"/>	
*Cap badge backing: A square [[Lincoln green]] cloth backing worn behind the cap badge on the beret, from the Sherwood Foresters<ref name="dress"/>	
*Lanyards: Originally, each battalion wore a distinctively coloured lanyard on No.2 dress: red cerise for the 1st battalion, Lincoln green for the 2nd, black for the 3rd and Mercian blue for the 4th. A regimental pattern with twists of cerise, buff and green was worn by those who were extra-regimentally employed: this multi-coloured lanyard is now worn by all in the regiment.<ref name="dress"/>	
*[[Tactical Recognition Flash]]es: The regiment's TRF is a 3 vertical striped diamond with cerise on the left, buff in the middle and Lincoln green on the right. Each Battalion also has their own, the 1st and 2nd Battalions use their antecedent regiment's flashes, buff and cerise for the 1st and cerise and Lincoln green for the 2nd. The 3rd battalion has a black diamond with the Stafford knot and the 4th Battalion has a blue diamond with the Mercian Eagle on it.<ref name="dress"/>
*Regimental Side Hat: black with buff inner crease and green piping and peak. The cap badge is in silver and gold wire embroidery.<ref name="dress"/>
*Pullover: Buff, worn by officers and WOs, from the Cheshire Regiment.<ref name="dress"/>
*Stable Belt: Buff, from the Cheshire Regiment, with a bronze locket bearing the cap badge in brass.<ref name="dress"/>

===Band===
The Band of the Mercian Regiment is the regimental [[military band]] of the Mercian Regiment. Based in [[Wolverhampton]], the Band is composed of volunteer musicians that include many from civilian careers. The band undertakes a variety of performances international, national, and local parades/festivals and concerts. In recent years, the band has visited countries such as [[Cyprus]], participated in events like the Buxton Military Tattoo and in 2014, became the first and only reserve band based outside of London to performs during the changing of the [[Queen's Guard]] at both [[Buckingham Palace]] and [[St James's Palace]]. It also has taken part in the [[Household Division]]'s [[Beating Retreat]] on [[Horse Guards Parade]]. One of its more notable directors was Captain Anthony Hodgetts, who after rising through the ranks of [[British Army Bands]], served twelve years as Director of Music of the [[Royal Army of Oman]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.buxtontattoo.org.uk/merc.html |title=Buxton Military Tattoo - The Band of The Mercian Regiment |publisher=Buxtontattoo.org.uk |date=2007-09-01 |access-date=2020-04-09}}</ref>

On the 1 June 2019, the Mercian Regiment Band led the Tamworth carnival though the town. According to the musicians this was the longest march the band had done to date.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIdtKBj8SR4&feature=youtu.be  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/CIdtKBj8SR4| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=2019 Tamworth Carnival: The Band of The Mercian Regiment lead the Carnival |publisher=jamedia.uk |date=2019-06-01 |access-date=2020-09-11}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

On the 10 October 2019, Mercian Band Bugler Msn Wykes performed the Last Post and Rouse at the [[National Memorial Arboretum]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiSVUXI3G5Y  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/ZiSVUXI3G5Y| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title= Msn. Wykes of The Band of The Mercian Regiment Playing Last Post and Rouse at the NMA |publisher=jamedia.uk |date=2019-10-10 |access-date=2020-09-11}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He then also performed the Last Post and Rouse at the War memorial in St Editha's Church Tamworth, [[Tamworth, Staffordshire|Tamworth]] being the historical capital of [[Mercia]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kjOEfO2pgE&feature=youtu.be  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/4kjOEfO2pgE| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title= Msn. Wykes of The Band of The Mercian Regiment Playing Last Post and Rouse atSt Editha's Church Tamworth |publisher=jamedia.uk |date=2019-10-10 |access-date=2020-09-11}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==Regimental Museums==
The Mercian Regiment supports four museums that hold collections of the Mercian Regiment and its antecedent regiments:
* The Museum of the Mercian Regiment (WFR Collection) in [[Nottingham Castle|Nottingham]].
* The Staffordshire Regiment Museum in [[Whittington, Staffordshire]].
* The Cheshire Military Museum in [[Chester Castle|Chester]].
* The Mercian Regiment Museum (Worcester) in [[Worcester, England|Worcester]].

==Regimental Colonels==
*2007–2008: Maj Gen. C. G. S. Hughes
*2008–2013: Brig. Andrew Sharpe<ref name="GOV">{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/mercian-regiment-receives-new-colours|title=Mercian Regiment receives new Colours |publisher=GOV.UK|access-date= 4 June 2018}}</ref>
*2013–2018: Brig. Andrew P. Williams<ref name="GOV" /> 
*2018–present: Lieutenant General [[Ian Cave]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/lasting-tribute-tamworth-soldiers-killed-14837108|title=Lasting tribute to Tamworth soldiers killed in Iraq|date=28 June 2018|publisher=Birmingham Mail|access-date=22 December 2018}}</ref>

==Lineage==
{| 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 [[1957 Defence White Paper|Defence White Paper]] !! 1966 [[1966 Defence White Paper|Defence White Paper]] !! 1990 [[Options for Change]] !! 2003 [[Delivering Security in a Changing World]]
|-
| [[22nd (Cheshire) Regiment of Foot]]
| colspan="5" style="text-align:center;"| [[The Cheshire Regiment]]
| rowspan="9" style="text-align:center;"| [[The Mercian Regiment]]
|-
| [[29th (Worcestershire) Regiment of Foot]]
| rowspan="2" colspan="3" style="text-align: center;" | [[The Worcestershire Regiment]]
| rowspan="4" colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | [[The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment]]
|-
| [[36th (Herefordshire) Regiment of Foot]]
|-
| [[45th (Nottinghamshire) (Sherwood Foresters) Regiment of Foot]]
| rowspan="2" colspan="3" style="text-align: center;" | [[The Sherwood Foresters (Derbyshire Regiment)]]<br />renamed in 1902:<br />[[The Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment)]]
|-
| [[95th (Derbyshire) Regiment of Foot]]
|-
| [[38th (1st Staffordshire) Regiment of Foot]]
| rowspan="2" colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | [[The South Staffordshire Regiment]]
| rowspan="4" colspan="3" style="text-align: center;" | [[The Staffordshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's)]]
|-
| [[80th (Staffordshire Volunteers) Regiment of Foot]]
|-
| [[64th (2nd Staffordshire) Regiment of Foot]]
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| [[The Prince of Wales's (North Staffordshire Regiment)]]
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| [[The North Staffordshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's)]]
|-
| [[98th (Prince of Wales's) Regiment of Foot]]
|}

==Alliances==
All of the previous alliances of the three individual regiments were carried over into the Mercian Regiment.
*{{ATG}} - [[Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force]]. '''Allied regiment'''.
*{{AUS}} - 8/7th [[Royal Victoria Regiment|The Royal Victoria Regiment]]. '''Allied regiment'''.
*{{CAN}} – 4th Battalion, [[Royal 22e Regiment|Royal 22<sup>e</sup> Régiment]]. '''Allied regiment'''.
*{{CAN}} - [[The Grey and Simcoe Foresters]]. '''Allied regiment'''.
*{{CAN}} - The [[Cape Breton Highlanders]]. '''Allied regiment'''.
*{{JAM}} - [[The Jamaica Regiment]]. '''Allied regiment'''.
*{{PAK}} - 13th Battalion, [[Punjab Regiment (Pakistan)|The Punjab Regiment]]. '''Allied regiment'''.
*{{PAK}} - [[126th Baluchistan Infantry|7th Battalion]], [[Baloch Regiment|The Baloch Regiment]]. '''Allied regiment'''.
*{{IND}} - [[125th Napier's Rifles|5th Battalion (Napiers)]], [[Rajputana Rifles]]. '''Affiliated regiment'''.
*{{IND}} - [[14th Prince of Wales's Own Scinde Horse]] '''Affiliated regiment'''.
*{{IND}} - [[Madras Engineer Group]]. '''Affiliated regiment'''.
*{{GBR}} - [[N Battery (The Eagle Troop) Royal Horse Artillery|N Battery (The Eagle Troop)]]. '''Affiliated regiment'''.
*{{navy|UK}} - [[HMS Albion (L14)|HMS ''Albion'']]. '''Other affiliation'''.
*{{ENG}} - The [[Worshipful Company of Bowyers]]. '''Other affiliation'''.
*{{FRA}} - [[Régiment de marche du Tchad]]. '''Bond of friendship'''.

==Freedoms==
The regiment has received the [[Freedom of the City|Freedom]] of several locations throughout its history; these include:<ref>{{cite web|access-date=5 September 2022|publisher=The Mercian Regimental Charity|title=Regimental Freedoms|url=https://mercianregiment.co.uk/regimental-freedoms}}</ref>

* {{flagicon|England}} '''1 September 2007''': [[Dudley|Dudley Metropolitan Borough]].
* {{flagicon|England}} '''1 September 2007''': [[Lichfield]].
* {{flagicon|England}} '''1 September 2007''': [[Stafford]].
* {{flagicon|England}} '''1 September 2007''': [[Stockport]]. Originally granted to the '''Cheshire Regiment''' on '''16 October 1969'''.
* {{flagicon|England}} '''1 September 2007''': [[Wolverhampton]].
* {{flagicon|England}} '''1 September 2007''': [[Worcester, England|Worcester]]. Originally granted to the '''Worcestershire Regiment''' on '''15 April 1950'''.
* {{flagicon|England}} '''12 September 2007''': [[Derby]].
* {{flagicon|England}} '''14 September 2007''': [[Tamworth, Staffordshire|Tamworth]].
* {{flagicon|England}} '''4 October 2007''': [[Borough of Erewash|Erewash]]. Originally granted to the '''Worcestershire Regiment''' in '''1951''', then to the '''Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment''' in '''1970'''.
* {{flagicon|England}} '''15 October 2007''': [[Nottingham]]. Originally granted to the '''Sherwood Foresters Regiment''' on '''22 October 1945''', then to the '''Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment''' on '''28 February 1970'''.
* {{flagicon|England}} '''12 December 2007''': [[Chesterfield, Derbyshire|Chesterfield]]. Originally granted to the '''Sherwood Foresters Regiment''' in '''1946''', then to the '''Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment''' in '''1970'''.
* {{flagicon|England}} '''18 December 2007''': [[High Peak, Derbyshire|High Peak]].
* {{flagicon|England}} '''18 December 2007''': [[Mansfield]].
* {{flagicon|England}} '''20 February 2008''': [[Newark-on-Trent|Newark]].
* {{flagicon|England}} '''12 March 2008''': [[Bassetlaw (UK Parliament constituency)|Bassetlaw]].
* {{flagicon|England}} '''12 March 2008''': [[Kidderminster]]. Originally granted to the '''Worcestershire Regiment''' in '''1952''', then to the '''Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment''' in '''1989'''.
* {{flagicon|England}} '''14 March 2008''': [[Dudley]].
* {{flagicon|England}} '''26 March 2008''': [[Chester]].
* {{flagicon|England}} '''4 September 2008''': [[Macclesfield]].
* {{flagicon|England}} '''5 November 2008''': [[Crewe and Nantwich]].
* {{flagicon|England}} '''2008''': [[Ellesmere Port & Neston]].
* {{flagicon|England}} '''16 February 2009''': [[Newcastle-under-Lyme]].
* {{flagicon|England}} '''17 February 2009''': [[Walsall]].
* {{flagicon|England}} '''18 February 2009''': [[Sandwell]].
* {{flagicon|England}} '''19 February 2009''': [[Burton-on-Trent]].
* {{flagicon|England}} '''21 February 2009''': [[Stoke-on-Trent]].
* {{flagicon|England}} '''25 March 2009''': [[Congleton]].
* {{flagicon|England}} '''18 May 2009''': [[Redditch]].
* {{flagicon|England}} '''26 November 2009''': [[Derbyshire Dales]].
* {{flagicon|England}} '''2009''': [[Metropolitan Borough of Wirral|Wirral]]. Originally granted to the '''Cheshire Regiment''' in '''1996'''.
* {{flagicon|England}} '''26 January 2010''': [[Amber Valley]].
* {{flagicon|England}} '''22 September 2010''': [[Gedling]].
* {{flagicon|England}} '''14 October 2010''': [[Cheshire East]].
* {{flagicon|England}} '''20 October 2010''': [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]].
* {{flagicon|England}} '''11 November 2010''': [[South Derbyshire]].
* {{flagicon|England}} '''2010''': [[Southwell, Nottinghamshire|Southwell]].
* {{flagicon|England}} '''20 January 2011''': [[Bromsgrove]].
* {{flagicon|England}} '''29 March 2011''': [[Wychavon]].
* {{flagicon|England}} '''7 November 2012''': [[Cannock Chase]].
* {{flagicon|England}} '''21 May 2013''': [[Tameside]].
* {{flagicon|England}} '''2014''': [[Sandbach]].
* {{flagicon|England}} '''17 February 2015''': [[Crewe]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Mercian Regiment Awarded Freedom of Crewe  |url=https://www.forces.net/feature/mercian-regiment-awarded-freedom-crewe |website=Forces News |date=18 February 2015 |access-date=21 February 2024 |language=en}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|England}} '''Unknown''': [[Borough of Halton|Halton]] Originally granted to the '''Cheshire Regiment''' on '''13 July 1989'''.

==Order of precedence==
{{S-start}}
{{order of precedence |
  before= [[Royal Yorkshire Regiment]] |
  title= [[British Army Order of Precedence|Infantry Order of Precedence]]|
  after= [[Royal Welsh]]
}}
{{S-end}}

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*[https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/infantry/mercian-regiment/ Official site]
*[https://mercianregiment.co.uk/ The Mercian Regimental Charity]
*[http://www.stand-firm-strike-hard.org.uk/ The Museum of the Mercian Regiment ]
*[http://www.staffordshireregimentmuseum.com/ Staffordshire Regiment Museum]
*[http://www.nottingham21.co.uk/misc_mercian_regiment_thumbnail.htm Nottingham Welcome Home Parade 4 December 2007]
{{Mercian Regiment}}
{{British Army Infantry Regiments}}
{{British Infantry}}

[[Category:Mercian Regiment| ]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 2007]]
[[Category:Military units and formations of the United Kingdom in the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)]]
[[Category:Mercia]]
[[Category:2007 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Staffordshire Regiment]]
[[Category:Cheshire Regiment]]
[[Category:Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment]]
[[Category:Military units and formations of the United Kingdom in the Iraq War]]