The battalion's origins lay in the enthusiasm for joining local Rifle Volunteer Corps (RVCs) engendered by an invasion scare in 1859.

Lettered companies were created to form the following organisation: In 1893 the battalion received the designation ‘’’Duke of Connaught’s Own’’’.

The 1/6th (Duke of Connaught's Own) Battalion landed in India in November 1914: it remained there until transfer to Mesopotamia in 1917.

In 1938 battalion was converted into the 59th (Duke of Connaught's Hampshire) Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery (TA) .

[4] The 6th were commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Donald Ray on D-Day, however he was killed the following month from wounds received in action near Caen.

As a result, a 2nd Line duplicate unit was raised as 69th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery (TA) with headquarters at Gosport.