Dates: 1572 - 1961

The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment) had a history dating back to 1572 and was one of the oldest regiments in the British Army being the 3rd Regiment of Foot. Its regimental museum is the Buffs Regimental Museum at Canterbury.

The origins of the regiment lay in Thomas Morgan’s Company of Foot, The London Trained Bands which was in existence from 1572 to 1648. In 1665 it was known as the 4th (The Holland Maritime) Regiment and by 1668 as the 4th (The Holland) Regiment. In 1688-1689 it was "4th The Lord High Admiral’s Regiment" until 1751 it was named as other regiments after the Colonel Commanding being the 3rd (Howard’s) Regiment of Foot from 1737-1743 at which point it became the 3rd Regiment of Foot, "Howard’s Buffs".

1751-1782 3rd (Kent) Regiment of Foot, "The Buffs"
1782-1881 3rd (East Kent) Regiment of Foot ("The Buffs")
1881-1935 The Buffs, (East Kent Regiment)
1935-1961 The Buffs, (Royal East Kent Regiment)

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