Barbados 

MILITARY HISTORY

BARBADOS MILITARY HISTORY

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1902

The Barbados Volunteer Force came into existence.

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1904

June | Barbados Volunteer Force’s first Ceremonial Parade with the troop from Leicester for the King’s birthday.

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1905

English Leicester Regiment left Barbados.

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1906

January | West Indian Regiment left Barbados for service abroad

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1907

Barbados Volunteer Force provided aid in St Lucia.

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1911

Two officers and eight sergeants attended King George’s Coronation.

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1927

Last West Indian Regiment disbanded in Jamaica.

 

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1937

Barbados Volunteer Force was called to assist with civil unrest in Barbados

 

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1948

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1953

February | The Regiment was presented with the Queen’s Colours and Regimental Colours by the Princess Royal.

 

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1955

18th February | Her Royal Highness, Princess Royal (Princess Alice of Athlone) was gazetted as Honorary Colonel of the Barbados Regiment.

 

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1957

February | First Trooping of the Colours.

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1959

16th April | Trooping of the Queen’s Colour.

 

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1961

1st January | Barbados Regiment was reorganized.

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1962

3rd May | Colonel of Regiment Parade
2nd June | Queen’s Birthday Parade
27th October – 3rd November | Diamond Jubilee Celebrations of the Barbados Regiment

 

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1963

March | First Barbadian appointed Adjutant of the Barbados Regiment; Major Leonard C Banfield.

 

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1966

29th November |Major Banfield courageously climbed a flagpole to free a stuck halyard, after the fire and police could not ascend.
30th November | First parade as an Independent Country, Garrison Savannah.

 

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1979

The Barbados Defence Force (BDF) was established August 15, 1979, and has responsibility for the territorial defence and internal security of the island. The headquarters for the Barbados Defence Force is located at St. Ann’s Fort base at The Garrison, Saint Michael. 

 

 

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1983

Barbados Regiment called to assist with the Greneda Intervention.  Brigadier Rudyard Lewis led the assisting troops.

 

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1984

July | Decompression Chamber was commissioned into service. It was the only one in the English speaking Caribbean at the time.

 

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1988

THE BDF aided in relief for Hurricane Gilbert relief aid to Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, St Kitts and St Lucia

 

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1995

THE BDF aided in relief for Hurricane Luis relief aide to Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, St Kitts and St Lucia