World War II
During the Second World War the regiment was again increased in size, although not to as large an extent as in the 1914-1918 conflict. In all twelve battalions saw service: the 1st and 2nd regular Battalions, the 4th and 5th Territorial Army (TA) Battalions, the 6th and 7th Battalions (formed as duplicates of the 4th and 5th when the TA was doubled in size in 1939), the 8th and 9th formed for home defence or garrison duty, the 10th formed by the conversion of the East Riding of Yorkshire Yeomanry in 1940 and subsequently becoming the 12th (Yorkshire) Battalion The Parachute Regiment, the 11th 12th and 13th formed in 1940. In 1942 12th Battalion Green Howards converted to armour as 161st Regiment in the Royal Armoured Corps, but retained its Green Howards cap badge on the black beret of the RAC. It then converted in October 1943 to the recce role as 161st (Green Howards) Regiment in the Reconnaissance Corps. It never went into action as a regiment, but provided a replacement squadron to 43rd Reconnaissance Regiment, which had suffered heavy losses when its transport was sunk on the way to the Normandy Landings.
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