Dates: 1685 -

The Somerset Light Infantry was an infantry regiment in the British Army. It was formed in 1685 as the Earl of Huntingdon’s 13th Regiment of Foot. In 1782, the county name became included in the title. After the Childers Reforms of 1881, the regiment became Prince Albert’s Somerset Light Infantry.

The regiment saw action during the First and Second World Wars, India and Malaya.

In 1959, the regiment amalgamated to become the Somerset and Cornwall Light Infantry. It is now known as the Light Infantry, after being renamed again in 1988.

Forces Reunited Forum Posts involving Somerset Light Infantry

" The 7th (Light Infantry) Parachute Battalion was formed from the 10th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry in 1942. 7th Bn.(C.O.  Lt.Col.R.G.Pine-Coffin) were part of 6th Airborne Div. not 1st A.B.Div.who were at Arnhem. Perhaps you have it wrongly identified as 4th Bn.I know of no other S.L.I.troops who were in Airborne role, either Para or Glider troops. I hope this info. is of some help. "

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" Can anyone out there help me. I’m trying to find out how to collect a medal i think it’s a service medal.My dad did his national service in the fifties but died soon after, from a disease he caught in Malaya where he was stationed with 1st Bn. The Somerset Light Infantry (P.A)I have ..."

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"I was sitting outside a restaraunt in Neesoon Singapore 1955 and met my old school mate who had only stopped for a day in Singapore on his way home from Hong Kong to England also met two other friends from the next village in England who were in the Somerset Light Infantry at Neesoon transit camp and they were also on there way back to England,small world?? "

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" I am trying to trace information about the army service of a dear friend who died in 2003. His name was Brian Cleeve. Having been commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in May 1940 (Somerset Light Infantry), Brian volunteered for the King’s African Rifles and was posted to Kenya. He arrived ..."

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" Just to get it right.   The Somerset Light Infantry did not amalgamate with the Duke of Cornwall Regiment in 1969 but they did amalagamate with the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry in late 1959.                                                     "

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