Royal Ulster Rifles reduce to one Battalion.

The parade to mark the merger of the Riflemen of the 2nd Battalion with the Riflemen of the 1st Battalion The Royal Ulster Rifles was held at Ballykinler* Camp, Northern Ireland on 1 May 1948. General Sir James Steele, Colonel of the Regiment, inspected the parade and took the salute. The 2nd Battalion was disbanded and thereafter the Battalion was described as the 1st Battalion The Royal Ulster Rifles (83rd and 86th).

The Battalions formed up opposite each other; the 1st Battalion's belts and anklets polished black in contrast to those of the 2nd Battalion that were blancoed khaki. On the word of command both Battalions, with weapons at the trail, advanced at the rifle step.

Passing shoulder to shoulder through the intervals in each other’s opened ranks, they halted to form one body of Riflemen. Thus was emphasised the individuality of the two units until the moment of amalgamation and, afterwards, their complete union.

(Above, General Sir James Steele, Colonel The Royal Ulster Rifles, inspects the 1st Battalion The Royal Ulster Rifles. An Ulsterman, he was often referred to by his informal name, General 'Jazz' Steele, and he in turn often employed a very diect, yet informal preface when emphasising a point with a young officer - 'Sonny boy'!)

*
Alternative former spelling 'Ballykinlar'.