A HISTORY of one of the region's proudest regiments has been brought up to date by the son of the original author.

The regimental history of the Green Howards was first published in 1992 by Colonel Geoffrey Powell MC and has now been extended by his son, Brigadier John Powell OBE.

Both father and son have served as Deputy Colonel of the Regiment and both attended the launch of the revamped book, The History of the Green Howards; Three Hundred Years of Service.

The Green Howards is one of only two English regiments never to have been amalgamated with others since its formation in 1688 and Brig Powell's new chapter takes the book from the late 1980s up to September 11, last year, when the military world turned from its more traditional role to the war on terrorism.

Brig Powell also writes about the Green Howards Territorials, now A and B Companies of the Tyne-Tees Regiment, and the 19 Army Cadet detachments in the North-East, who wear the Green Howards cap badge.

Mention is made, too, of the many former soldiers who are members of the 28 branches of the Green Howards Association around the country.

The first edition of Colonel Powell's original book - his second on the Green Howards - quickly sold out and was subsequently reprinted.

He served in the Second World War and was awarded the Military Cross for the action at Arnhem, where he served with the Parachute Regiment. He is also a distinguished military historian.

Regimental secretary Lieutenant Colonel Neil McIntosh said: "We are delighted that John Powell was able to bring the story to the present day with his splendid additions to his father's book."

* The History of the Green Howards; Three Hundred Years of Service by Geoffrey Powell and John Powell is published by Pen and Sword Books (ISBN 0-85052-857-7). Copies are available from the Green Howards Regimental Museum at £25.00 each or £20.00 for the Green Howards and Friends of the Green Howards Museum. Postage and packing is extra, at £4.25 per copy.