ARMY chiefs made a little bit of military history as they prepared to enter a new era in their regiments' long histories.

The three Yorkshire regiments - The Green Howards, based in Richmond, Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire, based in York, and the Duke of Wellington's, based in Halifax - will be joining forces later this year.

They will become the three-battalion Yorkshire Regiment following a forces' review carried out last year.

As a prelude to their merger they have held a joint dinner for the first time.

The event was held at the regimental HQ of The Green Howards and was hosted by the Colonel of the Regiment, Brigadier John Powell.

Among the guests were the Colonel of the Prince of Wales's Own, Major General Alastair Duncan, and General Sir Evelyn Webb-Carter, Colonel of the Duke of Wellington's Regiment.

The dinner was also attended by General Sir Richard Dannatt, the Colonel Commandant of the King's Division and Commander in Chief Land designate, Major General Nick Houghton, Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Operations) and Brigadier Richard Dennis, Commander of 15 (NE) Brigade.

Brig Powell said: "There has never been a dinner for all three of the Yorkshire regiments before, and The Green Howards were very pleased to be able to host it.

"We have already established a very good working relationship as the result of our successful campaign to ensure that we become a single regiment for Yorkshire, maintaining our traditions and ethos as three battalions.

"Now we are looking forward to shaping the new regiment to be even better than the sum of the three former regiments."