ONE of the oldest regiments of the British Army, which has recruited in Craven since the 18th century, celebrates its 300th anniversary this year.

To mark the event the Duke of Wellington's regiment is to parade from Settle through Skipton to the regimental headquarters in Halifax.

The regiment has traditionally drawn soldiers from the western boundaries of the old West Riding, stretching from Sedbergh and Settle in the North, through Skipton, Barnoldswick and Keighley to Halifax and Huddersfield.

The connection between the regiment and Craven has been closest through the Territorial Army, which recruited from Skipton, Craven and Ribble Valley with its headquarters in Otley Street, Skipton.

Volunteer soldiers were called for in May 1859. After the Crimean War, the regular army was spread thinly across the globe and there were fears Britain would not be able to defend itself if there was an invasion.

Recruitment concentrated on the industrial areas of the country and units were established in several places in the West Riding, including North Craven and Skipton.

These were initially independent corps and were trained as light infantry or riflemen to act as skirmishers on the flanks of the regular army. Within a short time these numerous corps were grouped together to form administrative battalions, and nine corps of rifle volunteers were formed, including the one at Skipton, the Second Administrative Battalion. Administrative battalions are made up of numerous corps, when there is insufficient numbers to form a single battalion.

In 1883 this became the 3rd Volunteer Battalion of the Duke of Wellington's Regiment, and the name was changed to the 6th Territorial Force Battalion in 1908, based in Skipton. They met in the Drill Hall in Otley Street, premises now occupied by Bowman Riley architects.

The battalion was actively engaged during the First World War and altogether the regiment lost 8,000 soldiers during the Great War.

During the Second World War the sixth battalion was evacuated from Dunkirk and took part in the Normandy landings and the long campaign from France through Holland to Germany.

Since the wars the Territorial Army has reduced in numbers significantly and in 1967 the headquarters in Skipton was closed down. It moved to Keighley and then Halifax, with a TA base retained in Keighley.

The regiment also has a strong army cadet force totalling 16 detachments throughout the regimental area, as well as three combined cadet forces, one of which is based at Giggleswick School.

The regiment celebrates its anniversary with a changing of the colours, the first time all four colours have been changed at one time, in Osnabruck, Germany on June 18 - 22.

Celebrations in this area are twofold. Between May 25 and June 9 the regiment will be marching the length of the recruiting area, starting in Settle market square in the morning of May 25. From there the regiment will march to Skipton, with a display planned in Aireville Park. The following day the regiment will march to Silsden and from then on to Sheffield.

On June 22 the regiment will be back in the town to celebrate the honour of having the freedom of Skipton. Demonstrations and displays are planned for the town centre. The regiment were also given the freedom of the district by Craven District Council earlier this month.