The Berkshire Regiment was formed as part of the reforms carried out by Edward Cardwell and Hugh Childers, Secretaries of State for War in the late nineteenth century.
The first stage, under Cardwell in 1873, introduced a "localisation scheme".
This saw the United Kingdom divided into "Brigade Districts" consisting of a county or counties.
Each district was assigned two regular infantry battalions, one of which would be on foreign service while the other was on home service.
The home-based battalion was to provide drafts to the battalion on foreign duty as required.
County militia regiments were also to be linked with the regular battalions, with all sharing a single depot in the brigade district.
It was announced that a depot was to be built at Reading, Berkshire, which would serve a district comprising the County of Berkshire.
The two line battalions which were to be linked were the 49th and 66th Regiments of Foot, along with the Berkshire Militia.
On 1 July 1881, the reforms were completed under Childers, with the formation of The Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Berkshire Regiment), consisting of the following battalions:
1st Battalion (formerly the 49th (Princess Charlotte of Wales's) (Hertfordshire) Regiment of Foot).
The regiment had been raised in 1743, and had been granted the title "Princess Charlotte of Wales's" in 1816.

2nd Battalion (formerly the 66th (Berkshire) Regiment of Foot).
The regiment had been raised in 1758.

3rd (Militia) Battalion (formerly the Royal Berkshire Militia)
1st Volunteer Battalion (formerly the 1st Berkshire Rifle Volunteer Corps, formed in 1859).

In 1885, following its service at the Battle of Tofrek, the regiment was granted "Royal" status, to become The Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire Regiment).

On 19 March 1896 the regiment, under Major Massard, was called in by the Penzance Borough Police and Cornwall County Constabulary to help quell disorder during the Newlyn riots.
They arrived by train in Penzance at around 4pm and took temporary barracks in the town.
Two hours later their assistance was requested by the Superintendent in charge and they assisted police in occupying the pier at Newlyn long enough to see in the arrival of HMS Ferret.

The 1st Battalion was posted at Gibraltar from February 1900 to October 1902.
The 2nd Battalion was posted to South Africa in February 1898 and stayed there throughout the Second Boer War (1899–1902), leaving for Egypt in November 1902.

In 1908, the Volunteers and Militia were reorganised nationally, with the former becoming the Territorial Force and the latter the Special Reserve; the regiment now had one Reserve and one Territorial battalion.
The Berkshire Regiment was formed as part of the reforms carried out by Edward Cardwell and Hugh Childers, Secretaries of State for War in the late nineteenth century. The first stage, under Cardwell in 1873, introduced a "localisation scheme". This saw the United Kingdom divided into "Brigade Districts" consisting of a county or counties. Each district was assigned two regular infantry battalions, one of which would be on foreign service while the other was on home service. The home-based battalion was to provide drafts to the battalion on foreign duty as required. County militia regiments were also to be linked with the regular battalions, with all sharing a single depot in the brigade district. It was announced that a depot was to be built at Reading, Berkshire, which would serve a district comprising the County of Berkshire. The two line battalions which were to be linked were the 49th and 66th Regiments of Foot, along with the Berkshire Militia. On 1 July 1881, the reforms were completed under Childers, with the formation of The Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Berkshire Regiment), consisting of the following battalions:
1st Battalion (formerly the 49th (Princess Charlotte of Wales's) (Hertfordshire) Regiment of Foot). The regiment had been raised in 1743, and had been granted the title "Princess Charlotte of Wales's" in 1816.
2nd Battalion (formerly the 66th (Berkshire) Regiment of Foot). The regiment had been raised in 1758.
3rd (Militia) Battalion (formerly the Royal Berkshire Militia)
1st Volunteer Battalion (formerly the 1st Berkshire Rifle Volunteer Corps, formed in 1859).
In 1885, following its service at the Battle of Tofrek, the regiment was granted "Royal" status, to become The Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire Regiment).
On 19 March 1896 the regiment, under Major Massard, was called in by the Penzance Borough Police and Cornwall County Constabulary to help quell disorder during the Newlyn riots. They arrived by train in Penzance at around 4pm and took temporary barracks in the town. Two hours later their assistance was requested by the Superintendent in charge and they assisted police in occupying the pier at Newlyn long enough to see in the arrival of HMS Ferret.
The 1st Battalion was posted at Gibraltar from February 1900 to October 1902. The 2nd Battalion was posted to South Africa in February 1898 and stayed there throughout the Second Boer War (1899–1902), leaving for Egypt in November 1902.
In 1908, the Volunteers and Militia were reorganised nationally, with the former becoming the Territorial Force and the latter the Special Reserve; the regiment now had one Reserve and one Territorial battalion.
Royal Berkshire Regiment