FOR more than 300 years the Hampshire Tigers have been the pride of the county whose soldiers have served with valour in many wars and campaigns across the centuries.

Today The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment continues this tradition, serving under the Colours that carry the Battle Honours embodying the bravery of soldiers that have remained loyal, not just to successive monarchs and the nation, but to the many communities that make up their home in Hampshire.

This week, in a series of special features, the Daily Echo is highlighting the work and achievements of the men and women in one of the most decorated regiments in the British Army.

The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment was formed in 1992 by an amalgamation of The Queen’s Regiment and The Royal Hampshire Regiment and is the proud inheritor of a history extending back to the very earliest beginnings of the British Army.

It is the most decorated of all British Army regiments, with 57 Victoria Crosses including the VC awarded to Lance Corporal Johnson Beharry in 2004 for his gallantry in Iraq.

Today, Hampshire Heritage traces the Tigers’ history which dates back to the year 1702 when Great Britain declared war on France and as a result several new regiments came into existence.

One of these was the 37th Regiment of Foot, which was raised in Ireland, and within a short time of its formation these soldiers were destined to play an important part in victories led by the Duke Marlborough.

In the years that followed the 37th were a prominent part of British forces at the battles of Ramilles, Oudenarde, and Malplaquet.

In 1756 the Seven Years’War broke out and orders were issued to form a second battalion of the 37th. After two years this extra formation became the 75th which was disbanded just a few years later.

At the Battle of Minden the 37th, the Hampshire men – known as Stewart’s Regiment – were in the first line of attack.

The soldiers showed extraordinary courage and their actions were hailed as an example of the highest ideal bravery and determination in the stress of battle.

The British picked the roses which grew abundantly on the battlefield, and tucked them in their head-dress.

In commemoration of this action, the Royal Hampshire’s wore roses on August 1 each year, the anniversary of Minden.

On August 31, 1782 they received the follow command: “His Majesty having been pleased to order that the 37th Regiment of Foot should take the county name of the 37th North Hampshire Regiment, and be looked on as attached to that division of the county.’’ Throughout the 1800s the regiment served in many far flung corners of the world including Canada, Ireland, Malta, Ionian Islands, Jamaica, India, Burma and Egypt.

The date of July 1, 1881 is one of the most significant in the regimental history as it was on this day the 37th North Hampshire Regiment and 67th South Hampshire Regiment, formed in 1759, were united under the title of 1st and 2nd Battalions, The Hampshire Regiment.

The 67th had also served with distinction at Barrosa, the Peninsula campaign, China, A f g h a n i s t a n , where their descendants are now serving, and South Africa.

During the First World War a total of 36 Hampshire battalions were sent into active service on the battlefields of France and Belgium, Gallipoli, Persia and Palestine.

During the Second World War, the Hampshires fought in almost every theatre in which British troops were engaged. The regiment fielded six battalions and lost more than 2,000 men and officers in fierce fighting stretching from Dunkirk to North Africa, via Malta, Sicily, Italy, Normandy, Holland, and the end of the war in Germany.

In more recent times the Royal Hampshire Regiment served many peacekeeping tours of duty in Northern Ireland, undertaken a number of postings to Cyprus, Germany, the Falkland Islands as well as in the front line in Iraq and Afghanistan.