Army regiment to be honoured with freedom of the borough

Article date: 4th March 2023

The prestigious honour will be bestowed on the Regiment, which is the home to St Helens Borough Army recruits, at a future full council meeting after the move to recognise the Regiment's important role as a protector of the country and the work it does still to support veterans across our borough.

Councillor Seve Gomez-Aspron, Deputy Leader of St Helens Borough Council, who has proposed the Freedom of the Borough alongside Councillor Lynn Clarke, said: "Today's Regiment was formed on 1st July 2006 from the merger of three historic North West Regiments.

"Between them they won 60 Victoria Crosses and a George Cross. Thirteen of its 303 battle honours are unique, and it is the only regiment of any army at any time in history to carry battle honours from every inhabited continent on its Colours.

"The East Lancashire Regiment, and the South Lancashire Regiment (Prince of Wales Volunteers) and The Kings Regiment are all antecedent Regiments which covered and recruited from our constituent towns and villages for centuries and both exist as far back as the late 17th Century. 

"It's fitting to commemorate their brave fighting spirit as the Lions of England, and our own residents' contribution to that over the centuries."

Councillor Lynn Clarke, Armed Forces Champion at St Helens Borough Council, added: "I'm delighted that the council will be honouring the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment with the 'Freedom of the Borough'. This is the highest honour we can bestow, and it reflects our deep gratitude for the service and sacrifice made by those serving in the Regiment, past and present. Our borough has long held links with the Regiment and this honour will reinforce those links and show all our Armed Forces and veterans how highly we value the contribution they continue to make."

The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment is one of four recipients of the Freedom of the Borough announced at the Borough of Culture launch event alongside Saints star James Roby, World Darts Champion Michael Smith and Marie Rimmer CBE, MP for St Helens South and Whiston.