Minden Day Date in the current year: August 1, 2024

The Seven Years’ War was a global conflict fought between 1756 and 1763 that spanned over five continents and involved every European great power of the time. The Battle of Minden was a decisive engagement during the war, in which an Anglo-German army defeated a French-Saxon army. The battle took place on August 1, 1759.

Seven British regiments, including the Royal Artillery, fought at Minden. Their descendants are still referred to as “the Minden regiments”. Two batteries from the Royal Regiment of Artillery carry the Minden battle honor. Besides, the Minden regiments celebrate the anniversary of the battle as Minden Day.

On August 1, soldiers from the Minden regiments traditionally wear roses in their headdress. This recalls that some soldiers wore wild roses at the battle that they had picked in German gardens as they advanced to battle. The color of roses varies depending on the unit, but most of the units wear red roses.

Since 1975, August 1 has also been celebrated as Yorkshire Day, partly to honor the participation of the 51st Regiment of Foot (King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry) in the battle of Minden. The Light Infantry units traditionally wear white roses instead of red.