| 62nd (Royal American) Regiment 60th (Royal American) Regiment Duke of York's Own Rifle Corps King's Royal Rifle Corps | |
|---|---|
 Cap badge of the King's Royal Rifle Corps | |
| Active | 1756–1966 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Type | Rifles |
| Role | Light infantry |
| Size | 4 Battalions in peacetime (28 during the Great War) |
| Garrison/HQ | Peninsula Barracks,Winchester |
| Nicknames | 60th Rifles Royal Americans The Jaggers[1] |
| Mottos | Celer et Audax (Swift and Bold) |
| March | Lützow's Wild Hunt[2] |
| Anniversaries | Christmas Day (Formation) |
| Engagements | French and Indian War American Revolutionary War Napoleonic Wars Anglo-Egyptian War Second Boer War First World War Second World War |
TheKing's Royal Rifle Corps was aninfantryrifle regiment of theBritish Army that was originally raised inBritish North America as theRoyal American Regiment during the phase of theSeven Years' War in North America known in the United States as 'The French and Indian War.' Subsequently numbered the 60th Regiment of Foot, the regiment served for more than 200 years throughout theBritish Empire. In 1958, the regiment joined theOxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and theRifle Brigade in theGreen Jackets Brigade and in 1966 the three regiments were formally amalgamated to become theRoyal Green Jackets. The KRRC became the 2nd Battalion,Royal Green Jackets. On the disbandment of the 1st Battalion, Royal Green Jackets in 1992, the RGJ's KRRC battalion was redesignated as the 1st Battalion, Royal Green Jackets, eventually becoming 2nd Battalion,The Rifles in 2007.
The King's Royal Rifle Corps was raised in the American colonies in 1756 as the62nd (Royal American) Regiment to defend the colonies against attack by the French and their indigenous allies. AfterBraddock's defeat in 1755, royal approval for a new regiment, as well as funds, were granted by parliament just before Christmas 1755 – hence the regiment's traditional birthday of Christmas Day. However, parliamentary delays meant that it was 4 March 1756 before a special act of parliament created fourbattalions of 1,000 men each to include foreigners for service in the Americas.[3]
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| Commissions to Foreign Protestants Act 1756 | |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |
.svg) | |
| Long title | An Act to enable His Majesty to grant Commissions to a certain Number of Foreign Protestants, who have served Abroad as Officers or Engineers, to act and rank as Officers or Engineers in America only, under certain Restrictions and Qualifications. |
| Citation | 29 Geo. 2. c. 5 |
| Territorial extent | Great Britain |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 9 March 1756 |
| Commencement | 13 November 1755[a] |
| Repealed | 15 July 1867 |
| Other legislation | |
| Amended by | Augmentation of 60th Regiment Act 1797 |
| Repealed by | Statute Law Revision Act 1867 |
| Relates to | |
Status: Repealed | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
A regimental history compiled in 1879 states that, in November 1755, Parliament voted the sum of £81,000 for the purpose of raising a regiment of four battalions, each one thousand strong, for service inBritish North America. To provide experienced personnel, Parliament passed theCommissions to Foreign Protestants Act 1756 (29 Geo. 2. c. 5)[4]The Earl of Loudoun, who ascommander-in-chief of the Forces in North America, was appointedcolonel-in-chief of the regiment. About fifty officers' commissions were given to Germans and Swiss, and none were allowed to rise above the rank of lieutenant-colonel.[5]
According to a modern history of the regiment, the idea for creating this unique force was proposed by Jacques Prevost, a Swiss soldier and adventurer who was a friend of theDuke of Cumberland (the Duke was the King's third son and alsoCommander-in-Chief of the Forces). Prevost recognised the need for soldiers who understood forest warfare, unlike the regulars who were brought to America in 1755 by GeneralEdward Braddock.[6]
The regiment was intended to combine the characteristics of acolonial corps with those of aforeign legion. Swiss and German forest fighting experts, American colonists and volunteers from other British Army regiments were recruited. These men were Protestants, an important consideration for fighting against the predominantly Catholic French. The officers were also recruited from Europe – not from the American colonies – and consisted of English, Scots, Irish, Dutch, Swiss and Germans. It was the first time foreign officers were commissioned as British Army officers. In total, the regiment consisted of 101 officers, 240 non-commissioned officers and 4,160 enlisted men. The battalions were raised onGovernors Island, New York. The regiment was renumbered the60th (Royal American) Regiment in February 1757 when the50th (Shirley's) and51st (Pepperrell's) foot regiments were removed from the British Army roll after their surrender atFort Oswego.[7]
Among the distinguished foreign officers given commissions in the 60th (Royal Americans) wasHenry Bouquet, a Swiss citizen, whose forward-looking ideas on tactics, training and man-management (including the unofficial introduction of the rifle and more practical clothing suited to bush-fighting) would come to be accepted as standard in the British Army many years in the future. Bouquet was commanding officer of the 1st battalion, and with his fellow battalion commanders, worked to form units that were better suited to warfare in the forests and lakes of northeast America.[8]
| American Protestant Soldier Naturalization Act 1762 | |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |
| |
| Long title | An Act for naturalizing such Foreign Protestants as have served, or shall serve, for the Time therein mentioned, as Officers, or Soldiers, in His Majesty's Royal American Regiment, or as Engineers in America. |
| Citation | 2 Geo. 3. c. 25 |
| Territorial extent | Great Britain |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 2 June 1762 |
| Commencement | 3 November 1761[a] |
| Repealed | 15 July 1867 |
| Other legislation | |
| Repealed by | Statute Law Revision Act 1867 |
| Relates to | |
Status: Repealed | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
Elements of the new regiment fought atLouisbourg in June 1758, theCape Sable Campaign in September 1758 andQuebec in September 1759, and finally theMontreal Campaign from July to September 1760 which finally wrested Canada from France. AtQuebec GeneralJames Wolfe is said to have granted the 60th the mottoCeler et Audax (Swift and Bold). To reward and maintain their service and loyalty, Parliament passed theAmerican Protestant Soldier Naturalization Act 1762 (2 Geo. 3. c. 25), which offered British naturalization to those officers, engineers and soldiers who had or would serve for two years, with certain conditions and on the model of thePlantation Act 1740.[4]: 197
These earlier engagements were conventional battles on the European model, but fighting duringPontiac's War in 1763 was of a very different character. The frontier war threatened the British control of North America. The new regiment at first lost several outlying garrisons such asFort Michilimackinac, later a detachment fought under Bouquet's leadership at the victory ofBushy Run in August 1763.[9]
The 60th was uniformed and equipped in a similar manner to other British regiments with red coats and cocked hats or grenadier caps,[8] but on campaign, swords were replaced with hatchets, and coats and hats cut down for ease of movement in the woods.[8]
Two additional battalions of the regiment (the 3rd and 4th battalions) were raised in England in 1775, principally of men recruited from England and Hanover in 1775 for service in theAmerican War of Independence. After assembly in theIsle of Wight, both battalions were sent in 1776 to Florida where they were joined by detachments from 1st and 2nd Battalions.[10] These battalions were deployed toGeorgia and were involved in skirmishes at Sudbury in January 1779, theBattle of Brier Creek in March 1779, theSiege of Savannah in October 1779 where elements from the 4th Battalion captured the colour of the2nd South Carolina Regiment, and atAugusta in September 1780.[10] The 3rd battalion later took part in theBritish defense of the Gulf Coast. Elements of the battalion fought at theBattle at The Village and theSiege of Pensacola. The 3rd and 4th battalions were disbanded in June 1783.[10]
| Augmentation of 60th Regiment Act 1797 | |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |
| |
| Long title | An act to amend an act made in the twenty-ninth year of the reign of his late majesty King George the Second, intituled, "An act to enable his Majesty to grant commissions to a certain number of foreign protestants, who have served abroad as officers or engineers, to act and rank as officers or engineers in America only, under certain restrictions and qualifications." |
| Citation | 38 Geo. 3. c. 13 |
| Territorial extent | Great Britain |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 30 December 1797 |
| Commencement | 2 November 1797[a] |
| Repealed | 6 August 1861 |
| Other legislation | |
| Amends | Commissions to Foreign Protestants Act 1756 |
| Repealed by | Statute Law Revision Act 1871 |
Status: Repealed | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
During theNapoleonic Wars, the regiment saw action in thePeninsular War. The first four battalions had been raised as regular line battalions, but in 1797 a 5th battalion had been raised onBarbados, with additional companies formed on theIsle of Wight, and equipped entirely with rifles. The troops of the 5th battalion were so effective thatSir Arthur Wellesley recommended their use to the divisional commanders describing them as the "most useful, active and brave troops in the field".[11]
A 7th battalion was raised specifically for service in the AmericanWar of 1812.[12]
After the Napoleonic Wars, the regiment received a new title: first, in 1815, its name was changed toThe Duke of York's Own Rifle Corps and then, in 1830, to theKing's Royal Rifle Corps (KRRC). In 1858, theRifle Depot atWinchester was made their headquarters. The regiment served in theAnglo-Egyptian War in 1882. During the rest of the 1800s, the unit also was active in China, Canada (Wolseley expedition), Afghanistan, India,Burma and South Africa. The regiment was deployed during theSecond Boer War from the outset playing a key role in the first battle atTalana Hill.[13] Two officers from the regiment were awarded theVictoria Cross; LieutenantFrederick Roberts[14] and LieutenantLlewelyn Alberic Emilius Price-Davies.[15] PrivateFrederick Corbett also received the Victoria Cross for his action atKafr Dowar,Egypt, on 5 August 1882; his VC was later rescinded when he was convicted of embezzlement, theft, and being absent without leave.[16]
Following the end of the war in South Africa, the 1st battalion was transferred toMalta, where it arrived in October 1902.[17]
In 1908, the Volunteers and Militia were reorganised nationally, with the former becoming theTerritorial Force and the latter theSpecial Reserve;[18] the regiment now had two Reserve but no Territorial battalions.[19][20]
The 1st Battalion landed atRouen as part of the6th Brigade in the2nd Division in August 1914 for service on theWestern Front.[21] It saw action at theBattle of Mons in August 1914, theFirst Battle of the Marne and theFirst Battle of the Aisne in September 1914 andFirst Battle of Ypres in October 1914. It fought at theBattle of Festubert in May 1915, theBattle of Loos in September 1915 and theBattle of the Somme in Autumn 1916 before taking part in the advance to theHindenburg Line, theBattle of Arras in November 1917, theBattle of Cambrai in November 1917, theSecond Battle of the Somme in Autumn 1918 and theBattle of the Selle in October 1918.[22]
The 2nd Battalion landed atLe Havre as part of the2nd Brigade in the1st Division in August 1914 for service on the Western Front[21] and saw action at theBattle of Aubers Ridge in May 1915.[23]
The 3rd Battalion landed at Le Havre as part of the80th Brigade in the27th Division in December 1914 for service on the Western Front[21] and saw action at theSecond Battle of Ypres in April 1915.[24]
The 4th Battalion landed at Le Havre as part of the 80th Brigade in the 27th Division in December 1914 for service on the Western Front and saw action at the Second Battle of Ypres in April 1915[25] but moved toSalonika in November 1915 before returning to France in June 1918.[21]
The regiment did not have any territorial force battalions.[21]
The 7th (Service) Battalion landed atBoulogne-sur-Mer as part of the41st Brigade in the14th (Light) Division in August 1914 for service on the Western Front[21] and saw action in theSecond Battle of Ypres in May 1915, theBattle of Delville Wood in July 1916 and theBattle of Flers–Courcelette in September 1916 as well as the advance to theHindenburg Line, theBattle of Arras in April 1917, theBattle of Langemark in August 1917, theFirst Battle of Passchendaele in October 1917 and theSecond Battle of Passchendaele in November 1917 before taking part in theBattle of St Quentin in March 1918 and theBattle of the Avre in April 1918.[26]
The 8th (Service) Battalion landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer as part of the 41st Brigade in the 14th (Light) Division in May 1915 for service on the Western Front[21] and saw action in most of the same battles as the 7th Battalion.[27] The 9th (Service) Battalion landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer as part of the42nd Brigade in the 14th (Light) Division in May 1915 for service on the Western Front[21] and saw action in most of the same battles as the 7th and 8th battalions.[28]
The 10th (Service) Battalion and 11th (Service) Battalion landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer as part of the59th Brigade in the20th (Light) Division in July 1915 for service on the Western Front[21] and saw action at theBattle of Mont Sorrel in June 1916, theBattle of Delville Wood in July 1916 and theBattle of Guillemont in September 1916 as well as theBattle of Flers–Courcelette in September 1916, theBattle of Morval in September 1916 and theBattle of Le Transloy in October 1916 before taking part in the advance to theHindenburg Line, theBattle of Langemarck in August 1917, theBattle of the Menin Road Ridge in September 1917, theBattle of Polygon Wood in September 1917 and theBattle of Cambrai in November 1917.[29][30]
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The 12th (Service) Battalion landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer as part of the60th Brigade in the 20th (Light) Division in July 1915 for service on the Western Front[21] and saw action in most of the same battles as the 10th and 11th Battalions.[31]
The13th (Service) Battalion landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer as part of the111th Brigade in the37th Division in July 1915 for service on the Western Front[21] and saw action at theBattle of Morval in September 1916, the advance to theHindenburg Line and theBattle of Arras in April 1917 as well as theBattle of Passchendaele in Autumn 1917, theBattle of Cambrai in November 1917 and theHundred Days Offensive in Autumn 1918 before taking part in the Battles of the Hindenburg Line and the Final Advance inPicardy.[32]
The 16th (Service) Battalion (Church Lads' Brigade) landed at Le Havre as part of the100th Brigade in the33rd Division in November 1915 for service on the Western Front.[21]
The17th (Service) Battalion (British Empire League) landed at Le Havre as part of the117th Brigade in the39th Division in March 1916 for service on the Western Front.[21]
The18th (Service) Battalion (Arts & Crafts) landed at Le Havre as part of the122nd Brigade in the41st Division on 3 May 1916 for service on the Western Front.[21]
The20th (Service) Battalion (British Empire League Pioneers) landed at Le Havre as pioneer battalion for the3rd Division in March 1916 for service on the Western Front.[21]
The21st (Service) Battalion (Yeoman Rifles) landed in France as part of the124th Brigade in the41st Division in May 1916 for service on the Western Front but moved to Italy in November 1917 before returning to France in March 1918.[21]
Seven members of the regiment received theVictoria Cross.[33]
After 1918, the unit returned to garrison duties in India,Palestine and Ireland. In 1922, the regiment was reduced from four to two battalions with the third and fourth being disbanded. In 1926, the Regiment was reorganised as one of the firstmechanised infantry regiments.[34]
The 1st Battalion, KRRC, commanded initially byLieutenant ColonelWilliam Gott, was deployed to North Africa upon war's outbreak and saw action as part of the pivot group within the7th Armoured Division at theBattle of Sidi Rezegh in November 1941, theFirst Battle of El Alamein in July 1942 and theSecond Battle of El Alamein in October 1942 during theWestern Desert Campaign.RiflemanJohn Beeley was awarded a posthumousVictoria Cross for his actions duringOperation Crusader in North Africa in late 1941.[35] The battalion, now part of the2nd Armoured Brigade of the1st Armoured Division, was then engaged in action throughout the final stages of theTunisian Campaign. The battalion, now commanded by Lieutenant ColonelEdward Williams, served in theItalian Campaign then with the independent9th Armoured Brigade and finally the6th Armoured Division's61st Infantry Brigade.[36]
The 2nd Battalion, KRRC, commanded by Lieutenant ColonelThomas Wilson, was part of theBritish Expeditionary Force (BEF) that landed in France in May 1940. The battalion, which was part of the30th Infantry Brigade, 1st Armoured Division, and now commanded by Lieutenant ColonelEuan Miller, was lost in thedefence of Calais, where the brigade slowed the German advance and enabled theDunkirk evacuation to proceed. The battalion was reformed in the summer of 1940 under the command of Lieutenant ColonelGeorge Erskine and transferred to the22nd Armoured Brigade of the 1st Armoured Division. The reformed battalion took part in theBattle of Gazala in May 1942 and theSecond Battle of El Alamein in October 1942 during theNorth African Campaign, forming part of the division's7th Motor Brigade during the latter engagement and transferring to4th Armoured Brigade in January 1943.[36] Now under Lieutenant Colonel W. Heathcote-Amory, the battalion continued serving with 4th Armoured Brigade in theNormandy landings in June 1944 and the subsequentcampaign in North-West Europe, finally leaving 1st Division six days afterVE Day. Two officers of note served with the battalion in its final campaign of the war,Roland Gibbs andEdwin Bramall.[36]
The 1st Battalion of theQueen Victoria's Rifles (QFR) was aTerritorial Army (TA) unit which had been closely associated with the KRRC. The battalion, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel J. A. M. Elison-Mccartney, was initially part of the TA1st London Division, serving as the division's motorcycle battalion. However, like the 2nd Battalion, it was also lost in the defence of Calais in May 1940.[37] The battalion was later reformed in the United Kingdom and, in December 1940, transferred to the27th Armoured Brigade, part of the newly formed9th Armoured Division.[38]
The 9th Battalion (The Rangers) was deployed to theMediterranean theatre as part of the1st Armoured Brigade in the 7th Armoured Division. It saw action in theGreek campaign in April 1941 before being disbanded in August 1942.[36]
In 1958 for administrative purposes, the KRRC was brigaded with theOxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and theRifle Brigade to form theGreen Jackets Brigade.[39] In 1958, the regiment was re-titled the2nd Green Jackets, the King's Royal Rifle Corps, while the two other regiments of the Green Jackets Brigade were re-titled the1st Green Jackets (43rd and 52nd) and 3rd Green Jackets, the Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own) respectively. In 1966, the three regiments were amalgamated to form the three battalions of theRoyal Green Jackets.[40]
The regimental collection is held by theRoyal Green Jackets (Rifles) Museum which is based atPeninsula Barracks inWinchester.[41]
The territorial battalions were as follows:
In the Second World War, the following territorial battalions were formally made part of the KRRC:
There were two cadet battalions: 1st Cadet Battalion, The King's Royal Rifle Corps and Queen Victoria's Rifles Cadet Corps (re-titled the 2nd Cadet Battalion, The King's Royal Rifle Corps in 1945). Over the years, the formation of the cadet battalions was changed regularly, due to the changes to do with rules and the commanding officer.[42] The 1st Cadet Battalion owes its foundation to the Reverend Freeman Wills, who was commissioned into the Volunteer Army in the rank of captain on 26 July 1890. He was also Vicar of St Agatha's just behind Sun Street,Finsbury Square. On receiving his commission he decided to form a cadet company within the 1st Cadet Battalion, theRoyal West Surrey Regiment. The company quickly expanded to become the 2nd Cadet Battalion, the Royal West Surrey Regiment, at which point he moved the battalion headquarters to No. 2 Finsbury Square (and in 1904 to 24 Sun Street, which he had specially built for the purpose). In 1894 he applied toPrince George, Duke of Cambridge, Colonel-in-Chief, to affiliate to the regiment, with the title of 1st Cadet Battalion, the King's Royal Rifle Corps. Consent was granted on 8 November 1894, and the battalion has remained a part of the regiment ever since.[42]
In the days of their foundation, cadet battalions were privately organised and funded. On becoming a part of the King's Royal Rifle Corps, subscriptions began to flow in and, after the commanding officer had spent nearly £1,000, the battalion was placed on a financial basis that many volunteer corps would have envied. There were to be many ups and down in later years, especially when recognition of the Cadet Force was withdrawn between the two world wars, but fortunately the enthusiasm and commitment of those involved consistently triumphed over the parsimony of governments.[42]
In 1900, when volunteers were urgently needed for the Second Boer War, the commanding officer, Colonel Freeman Croft-Wills, persuaded the War Office to accept a company of the older cadets, principally N.C.O.s (non-commissioned officers), the company being enrolled in the City Imperial Volunteers. Around 100 cadets thus served in South Africa with this unit, whilst other cadets and ex-cadets served in the Royal Army Medical Corps, and other units. Four were killed in action, one serving with the 1st Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps at the Battle of Dundee, and the others with units of the C.I.V.s. Their comrades erected brass plaques in their memory in the Drill Hall at Sun Street. These are now displayed in the Cadet Company Office here at Davies Street.[42]
In recognition of this service,King Edward VII granted the battalion the honour of wearing on its accoutrements the battle honour "South Africa 1900–1902" (Army Order 151 of 1905). The announcement of this privilege was made to the battalion byKing George V, then Prince of Wales, when, accompanied byQueen Mary, he distributed the prizes at theGuildhall in the City of London. The 1st Cadet Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps are the only cadet unit in the United Kingdom to have been granted such an honour and are permitted to wear the miniature 60th cap badge with the single battle honour, and call their cadets "riflemen".[42]
The 2nd Cadet Battalion, the King's Royal Rifle Corps was formed in 1942 when aHome Guard instruction was issued ordering each Home Guard battalion to raise a cadet unit. Lieutenant-Colonel R.L. Clark of Queen Victoria's Rifles was given the task, and on 15 May 1942 the Queen Victoria's Rifles Cadet Corps was born. Over the next three years the unit expanded to five companies, which in April 1945 led to it being re-titled the 2nd Cadet Battalion, The King's Royal Rifle Corps. In 1951 the 1st and 2nd Cadet Battalion were amalgamated. This resulted in the disposal of the headquarters of the 1st Cadet Battalion at Sun Street. In 1954, the battalion office of the 'new' 1st Cadet Battalion was established at 56 Davies Street, where it remains to this day.[42][43]
Today, the KRRC 1st Cadet Battalion still exists, with the following units making up the battalion:[44]
All these ACF units are currently in the Middlesex and Northwest London Sector Army Cadet Force.
Alliances include:[20]
Canada –The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada (1956–1966) Canada -The Victoria Rifles of Canada (Until 1965) Canada -The Royal Rifles of Canada (Until 1965) Canada -The Dufferin Rifles of Canada (Until 1936) Canada -The Dufferin and Haldimand Rifles of Canada (1936-1946) Canada -56th Field Regiment (Dufferin and Haldimand Rifles), RCA (1946-1966) Canada -The Halifax Rifles (Until 1965) Canada -The King's Own Rifles of Canada (Until 1946) Canada -The Saskatchewan Dragoons (1946-1966) Canada -The Regina Rifle Regiment (Until 1966)
Australia –Sydney University Regiment[45]
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