Bermuda Regiment WO2, with General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG).
The Bermuda Regiment is the home defence unit of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda. It is a single territorialinfantry battalion that was formed by the amalgamation in 1965 of two units, the all white Bermuda Volunteer Rifle Corps (BVRC) and the all black Bermuda Militia Artillery (BMA). Those two voluntary units had been raised at the end of the 19th Century in order to allow the Regular Army component of the garrison to be reduced. The regular units withdrawn were required for the build-up of what would become the British Expeditionary Force. In 1953, when the coastal artillery batteries were taken out of use, the BMA, while still wearing the Royal Artillery cap badge, converted to the infantry role. This left the Colony wastefully maintaining two separate infantry units. When the royal dockyard was closed in 1958, the military garrison, which had existed primarily to protect the Royal Navy base, was closed down, and the two Bermudian territorials ceased to have any military role under Imperial defence planning. Although the Colonial government had only formed the two units at the behest of, and under pressure from, the British government, it chose to maintain them at its own expense.
As Bermuda is a British overseas territory, and therefore has its defence guaranteed by the United Kingdom, the Bermuda Regiment is still under the control of the Governor of the island. However, pay and financing is the responsibility of the Ministry of Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety, and the force is largely independent of outside authorities.
The amalgamation took place on 1st September, 1965. Its stand of colours was presented by Princess Margaret. Princess Margaret presented a second stand of colours to replace the first in 1990, to mark the Bermuda Regiment's 25th anniversary.
The Regiment's original strength was about 400, including all ranks. Following discipline problems during an exercise in the West Indies, a report on the unit was commissioned from Maj-General Glyn Gilbert, the highest-ranking Bermudian in the British Army. Maj-Gen. Gilbert also took into account the difficulties the Regiment had experienced in meeting its obligations when embodied during the civil unrest of 1977. He made a number of recommendations, including the increase of the Regiment's strength to a full battalion of about 750, with three rifle companies and a support company.
Today, following a steady reduction in the number of 18 year old males eligible for conscription, each year, the Regiment has a strength of approximately 530, with a full time administrative component of 30. After a review in the late 1990's, the Bermuda Regiment had its establishment reduced to its present format:
A Company: Second and third year soldiers.
Training Company: First year soldiers.
Support Company: Boat Troop, Regimental Police, Signals, Guns/Assault Pioneers, Medics and Motor Transport section.
Quartermasters Company: Logistics and stores.
One of the units amalgamated into the Bermuda Regiment, the BMA, was nominally an artillery unit, although it had converted to the infantry role in 1953. Other than a ceremonial Gun Troop, equipped with two 25-pdr. field guns, the Bermuda Regiment is wholly an infantry unit.
On its formation, the Regiment's Honorary Colonel was HRH Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, who became Colonel-in-Chief in 1984. After her death in 2002, the position was assumed by HRH The Duchess of Gloucester. The Regiment's Commanding Officer is Lieutenant Colonel Edward Lamb, though in 2006 it was announced that Major William White would be assuming this position as of May 27th of that year. Typically, the CO serves for a two-year tenure, though in some cases, such as that of Lamb, it has been extended by the Governor.
The majority of the Regiment is made up of conscripts, making it unique among all of the land forces still under the British Crown. Conscription is based on a random lottery of men over the age of 18, with exemptions granted to Police and Prison officers, members of the British regular forces (or whom have served for two years therein), church ministers, prisoners or those who have been judged to be of "unsound mind". Temporary deferment is granted for students (attending either the Bermuda College or schools abroad, full-time), for the length of their studies, and individuals currently medically unfit but likely to become fit again. The practice (of conscription) is frequently condemned, particularly for its sexism and its similarity to slavery, by both Bermudians and by aware foreigners, and is occasionally noted in the British Parliament. It does receive a fair amount of support from the community, however, and is hailed for forcing interaction between distinct social and racial groups. Moral issues aside, however, this does leave the force dependent on the qualities of senior officers, whereas related armies – the British Army, in particular, upon which the Regiment is modelled – emphasise the initiative of junior members.
Towards the end of 2005, the Regiment received further criticism from the UK, this time in the form of an inspection by the Ministry of Defence. The review noted that equipment was substandard (half of the vehicles and signal equipment were noted to be "out of action") and that "command and control" was poor, though it also noted high morale and firearms proficiency.
Operations
PNCO Cadre train in Internal Security (IS) role.
Bermuda Regiment soldiers aboard a motor boat, off the North Shore of Bermuda, 1996.
The primary role of the Regiment has recently become disaster relief. Other roles include ceremonial duties, and supporting the Bermuda police department in internal security issues (both in the forms of riot-control and anti-terrorism). In 2001, following the events of 11th September, the Bermuda Regiment was embodied, taking over responsibility for the security of the Bermuda International Airport (Bermuda has always been a point of importance in trans-Atlantic aviation, and a large number or aircraft diverted to the Island when the US airspace was closed), and other potential targets. In 2004 and 2005 the Regiment deployed to the Cayman Islands and Grenada to assist in post Hurricane Ivan restoration efforts.
The Regiment also performs a wide variety of community service operations, such as graffiti clean-up[link] and assisting residents movement out of condemned buildings and into new homes[link]. It is also involved in many cultural events on the island, especially in parades.
In late 2001, the Bermuda Regiment was presented with a Corps Warrant dated 21st February, 2000, by the British Army. The Warrant allowed the Regiment closer ties with the British Army, enabling it to participate in United Nations missions and making members eligible for decorations such as the Queen's Jubilee Medal. Some also speculated that the Regiment could receive financial support from the British. However, to date little has come of this. The only other overseas force to be included on the Warrant was Royal Gibraltar Regiment.
As one of the units amalgamated into the Regiment, the BMA, was an artillery unit, members of the Regiment are entitled to join The Royal Artillery Association (RAA), which has a branch located on the grounds of the former St. George's Garrison (which had been predominantly a Royal Garrison Artillery establishment).
