| Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own) | |
|---|---|
 Cap badge of the Rifle Brigade | |
| Active | 1802–1816 as 95th Rifle Regiment, 1816–1966 as Rifle Brigade |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | Light infantry |
| Size | 4 battalions in peacetime (28 during the Great War) |
| Garrison/HQ | Peninsula Barracks,Winchester |
| Nickname(s) |
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| March | I'm Ninety-Five |
TheRifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own) was aninfantryrifle regiment of theBritish Army formed in January 1800 as the "Experimental Corps of Riflemen" to providesharpshooters,scouts, andskirmishers. They were soon renamed the "Rifle Corps". In January 1803, they became an established regular regiment and were titled the95th Regiment of Foot (Rifles). In 1816, at the end of theNapoleonic Wars, they were again renamed, this time as the "Rifle Brigade".
The unit was distinguished by its use of green uniforms in place of the traditionalred coat. It also differed in being armed with theBaker rifle in place of smooth-bore muskets.
The Rifle Brigade performed distinguished service in both theFirst andSecond World Wars. Post war, in 1958 the regiment formed part of the Green Jackets Brigade as 3rd Green Jackets and was amalgamated with the1st Green Jackets (43rd and 52nd) and the2nd Green Jackets (King's Royal Rifle Corps) to form theRoyal Green Jackets on 1 January 1966.
In 1800, an "Experimental Corps of Riflemen", was raised by ColonelCoote Manningham and Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon.William Stewart, drawn from officers and other ranks from drafts of a variety of British regiments. The Corps differed in several regards from the line infantry of the British Army and most significantly were armed with the formidableBaker rifle.[2] The rifle was remarkably accurate in an era when it was generally considered impractical for individual soldiers to aim at specific targets.[3] Riflemen wore dark green jackets rather than the bright red coats of the British line infantry regiments of that time, close-fitting pantaloons rather than breeches, blackfacings and black belts rather than white and a green plume on their "stovepipeshakoes".[4]
Four months after its formation, the Rifle Corps was judged ready for its first operation. On 25 August 1800, three companies, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel William Stewart, spearheaded a British amphibious landing atFerrol, Spain, where the Rifles helped to dislodge the Spanish defenders on the heights. Despite this, the expedition was defeated and withdrew on 26 August 1800.[2] In April 1801, one company of the Experimental Corps of Riflemen, under the command of Captain Sidney Beckwith, took part in the British victory at theBattle of Copenhagen, as marksmen aboard Royal Navy ships that were under the overall command of Vice-AdmiralHoratio Nelson. During the battle, the Rifle Corps suffered one lieutenant killed, its first officer to fall, and two other ranks killed and six wounded, some of whom died later.[5]
In 1802, the Rifle Corps was brought into the line of the British Army as the 95th Regiment of Foot.[6] In 1803, the 95th moved toShorncliffe Army Camp,Kent, where it underwent light infantry training, along with the43rd and52nd Regiments of Foot, under the tutelage of Manningham andSir John Moore; the latter, like the 95th, would gain fame during thePeninsular War.[7] In 1805, a 2nd Battalion was raised atCanterbury, Kent, and later in the year the 1st/95th deployed to Germany as part of a British expedition, under the command ofLord Cathcart, designed to liberateHanover from occupation byFrance.[8] The 95th subsequently formed the advance guard on the way toBremen. In February 1806, the 95th formed the rearguard for the withdrawal toCuxhaven and subsequently returned home to the UK.[8]
In October 1806, five companies of the 1st/95th and three companies of the 2nd/95th departed for Spanish-controlled South America, Spain then being allied with France. It was part of a second invasion force that was designed as reinforcements for the first invasion againstBuenos Aires, launched earlier in 1806 bySir Home Popham without the Government's knowledge.[8]
The 2nd/95th, as part of Brigadier-GeneralSir Samuel Auchmuty's force, took part in thesiege and subsequent storming ofMontevideo, in what is nowUruguay, and which saw Montevideo captured on 3 February 1807, after clearing the surrounding area of Spanish troops in January.[9] The 95th subsequently saw action atColonia against a Spanish force that had crossed from Buenos Aires; the Rifles held off the force until it could be repulsed, with the 95th gaining much praise from Auchmuty for their part in the defeat of the Spanish force. The 95th subsequently saw action in June atSan Pedro where they, the40th and light companies, fought against the Spanish force that had crossed from Buenos Aires and defeated them.[9]
Lieutenant-GeneralJohn Whitelocke, the newly arrived overall commander, subsequently launched an ill-advised and mismanaged assault on Buenos Aires in which the companies of both battalions of the 95th were involved as part of the Light Brigade, commanded byRobert Craufurd. During the assault on Buenos Aires on 5 July, the 95th and the rest of the British force suffered heavy casualties in bitter fighting to capture the city. The Light Brigade had suffered casualties so heavily that they had to take refuge in a church and were surrendered soon after Whitelocke surrendered his force. After Whitelocke negotiated the withdrawal of British forces, the men were released and they returned home later that year. The 95th would go on to fight for near the entirety of thePeninsular War in Spain. In the aftermath of the disastrous expedition, Popham and Whitelocke were court-martialed, with Popham reprimanded and Whitelocke dismissed from the Army.[9]
The remaining companies of the 95th were involved in the expedition toDenmark that year. They took part in theBattle of Copenhagen in 1807 as part ofArthur Wellesley's brigade. The expedition, commanded byLord Cathcart, was intended to capture the Danish Fleet to prevent it falling into the hands of France. The expedition proved to be a thorough success with the Danish Fleet being captured at which point the British withdrew.[8] In 1808 the 1st/95th took part in an expedition to anotherScandinavian country,Sweden, an expedition that was commanded by Sir John Moore and designed to help Sweden during their war withRussia.[8] However, once they had reachedGothenburg in May, the troops remained aboard the anchored ships for two months due to a misunderstanding between the British and Swedish governments and returned to Britain.[10]
In August 1808 the 2nd/95th was part of the immediate forces sent in the Portuguese expedition initially commanded by Sir Arthur Wellesley and covered the landings at Mondego Bay (Figueira da Foz).[8] On 15 August they had the distinction of firing the first shots of the Peninsular War during a skirmish atÓbidos against the French, but also unfortunately suffered the first British officer fatality of the war, a LieutenantRalph Bunbury.[11] The 95th, as part of6th Brigade which included the rifle armed5th/60th Foot, took part in theBattle of Roliça, the first pitched battle of the war, on 17 August 1808.[8] RiflemanThomas Plunket of the 1st Battalion, 95th Rifles, shot the French GeneralAuguste François-Marie de Colbert-Chabanais at a range of up to 800 yards (730 m) at theBattle of Cacabelos on 3 January 1809.[12]
The 1st battalion was part of John Moore's campaign which ended with evacuation after theBattle of Corunna on 16 January 1809.[8] The majority of the 1st battalion was rested and refitted in the UK, though a few small detachments of the 95th were stranded behind which then formed up with other detachments as part of a defence force (1stBattalion of detachments) in Portugal.[13] The 1st returned to the peninsula a few months later in May 1809 and in July was force marched in an attempt to arrive with the main force for theBattle of Talavera but despite covering a notable distance they arrived on 29 July 1809, just after the battle.[14]
After the depletion suffered at Corunna, the two battalions of the 95th based atHythe in Kent were made up to a strength of 1,000 men each. However, so many volunteers came forward to join the regiment that permission was granted to raise a third battalion in 1809.[15]
The regiment had already become so famous and popular, that not only were the deficiencies filled up in a very short time, but more than a thousand volunteers presented themselves beyond the numbers required. It was therefore resolved by the Authorities to add a 3rd Battalion to the regiment.
— Sir William Cope[16]
The third battalion joined the Peninsular Army in 1810. Thereafter the three battalions of the 95th fought in numerous major battles and skirmishes during thePeninsular War as part of the elite Light Division, including theBattle of Bussaco in September 1810 and thesieges ofCiudad Rodrigo in January 1812 andBadajoz and March 1812 as well as theBattle of Vitoria in June 1813.[8] At theBattle of San Marcial in August 1813 a company of the 95th Rifles under the command of Captain Daniel Cadoux held off an entire French division at Vera before withdrawing.[17] The regiment also took part in theBattle of Nivelle in November 1813.[8]
The three battalions had been dispersed to various locations with the abdication of Napoleon and the total French defeat in 1814. The majority of the regiment's companies were sent back to England for rest and refitting while several companies had been retained in north-east France atLeuze, Aisne under GeneralThomas Graham.[8] Five companies of the 3rd battalion were inNorth America, having been sent in late 1814 to participate in the final stages of theWar of 1812.[8] With thereturn of Napoleon from exile, all of the companies in England crossed the channel and landed in Belgium in May 1815, joining with those already present, so that the entire regiment, bar the five companies still in America, became part of Wellington's Anglo-Dutch army. The first battalion went on to fight at theBattle of Quatre Bras on 16 June 1815, while all three battalions would fight at theBattle of Waterloo on 18 June 1815.[8]
At the end of the Napoleonic Wars, the size of the British Army was reduced; in line with precedent the more recently formed regiments were disbanded first. The unique skills of the 95th were considered too valuable to lose so the 95th, having seen distinguished service in theNapoleonic Wars, was taken out of line of the British Army and became the "Rifle Brigade" on 23 February 1816 (the number was reassigned eight years later to the newly formed county regiment of the95th (Derbyshire) Regiment of Foot).[18] TheDuke of Wellington becameColonel-in-Chief of the regiment in 1820 and served until his death.[6]
In 1852HRH Prince Albert, the Prince Consort took over the role of colonel-in-chief.[6] When theCrimean War broke out in 1853 the Rifle Brigade sent two battalions which fought at theBattle of Alma, where one of the battalions led the advance across theAlma River in September 1854. The regiment also saw action at theBattle of Inkerman in November 1854 and at theSiege of Sevastopol in winter 1854. Eight members of the regiment were awardedVictoria Crosses during the Crimean War.[19] The regiment was deployed again as part of theIndian Rebellion and saw action at theSiege of Lucknow in autumn 1857.[20] It was granted the title "The Prince Consort's Own Rifle Brigade" in honour of its colonel-in-chief on 17 January 1862.[21]
In 1866, PrivateTimothy O'Hea of the 1st Battalion, was awarded the Victoria Cross for an act of bravery in peacetime, while his unit was stationed in theProvince of Canada. On 9 June 1866, atDanville, Canada East, on the main railway between Montreal and Quebec City, a fire broke out in a car containing 2,000 pounds (910 kg) of ammunition. Despite the extreme danger, O'Hea took charge of extinguishing the fire and saved many lives.[22]
The regiment also took part in theBattle of Ali Masjid in November 1878 during theSecond Anglo-Afghan War, theMahsud Waziri expedition in 1881, theThird Anglo-Burmese War in 1885, theFourth Anglo-Ashanti War in 1895 and theMahdist War in 1898.[23]
The 1st and 2nd Battalions were both deployed to South Africa in 1899, at the outbreak of theSecond Boer War (1899–1902). The 1st Battalion saw action at theBattle of Colenso in December 1899 andBattle of Vaal Krantz in February 1900. The 2nd Battalion took part in theSiege of Ladysmith in late 1899 and early 1900.[24] Both battalions stayed in South Africa until the end of the war. 367 officers and men of the 1st battalion leftCape Town on the SSOrissa, which arrived atSouthampton in late October 1902, when the battalion was stationed atPortsmouth.[25] 990 officers and men of the 2nd battalion leftPort Natal on the SSMalta in September 1902 for a new posting in Egypt.[26] The 4th Battalion was also stationed in South Africa at some point during the war, and 900 men returned home on the SSOrtona in January 1903.[27] The 5th,Militia Battalion, was embodied in 1900, and served in South Africa until 700 men of the battalion returned home on the SSAvondale Castle in September 1902.[28]
In 1908, the Volunteers and Militia were reorganised nationally, with the former becoming theTerritorial Force and the latter theSpecial Reserve;[29] the regiment now had three Reserve but no Territorial battalions.[30][6]
The 1st Battalion landed atLe Havre as part of the11th Brigade in the4th Division in August 1914 for service on theWestern Front.[31] The battalion saw action at theFirst Battle of the Marne in September 1914, theFirst Battle of the Aisne in September 1914 and theBattle of Messines in October 1914 as well as theSecond Battle of Ypres in April 1915, theBattle of the Somme in Autumn 1916 and theBattle of Arras in April 1917 before taking part in theBattle of Passchendaele in Autumn 1917, theBattle of the Lys in April 1918, the Advance in Flanders, theSecond Battle of the Somme in August 1918, the battles of theHindenburg Line and the Final Advance inPicardy.[32]
The 2nd Battalion landed at Le Havre as part of the25th Brigade in the8th Division in November 1914 for service on the Western Front.[31] The battalion saw action at theBattle of Neuve Chapelle in March 1915, theBattle of Aubers Ridge in May 1915 and theBattle of the Somme in Autumn 1916 as well as the advance to theHindenburg Line, theBattle of Pilckem Ridge in August 1917 and theBattle of Passchendaele in Autumn 1917 before taking part in theBattle of St Quentin in March 1918, theBattle of Rosieres in March 1918, theThird Battle of the Aisne in May 1918, theBattle of the Scarpe in August 1918 and the Final Advance inArtois.[33]
The 3rd Battalion landed atSaint-Nazaire as part of the17th Brigade in the6th Division in September 1914 for service on the Western Front.[31] The battalion saw action at theBattle of Delville Wood in July 1916, theBattle of Guillemont in September 1916 and theBattle of Vimy Ridge in April 1917 as well as theBattle of Messines in June 1917, theBattle of Passchendaele in October 1917 and theBattle of Cambrai in November 1917 before taking part in theSecond Battle of the Somme in August 1918, theBattle of Cambrai in October 1918 and the Final Advance inPicardy.[34]
The 4th Battalion landed at Le Havre as part of the80th Brigade in the27th Division in December 1914 for service on the Western Front but moved toSalonika in November 1915.[31]
The 18th (London) Battalion, 19th (Western) Battalion, 20th (Northern) Battalion, 21st (Midland) Battalion, 22nd (Wessex & Welsh) Battalion, 23rd (North Western) Battalion and 24th (Home Counties) Battalion were all post overseas on garrison duties in 1916.[31]
The 7th (Service) Battalion and 8th (Service) Battalion landed atBoulogne-sur-Mer as part of the41st Brigade in the14th (Light) Division in May 1915 for service on the Western Front.[31] The 8th Battalion took part in theSecond Battle of Ypres, which had begun on 22 April 1915 and the action atHooge in July 1915 where they saw the first use offlamethrowers by theGermans.[35] Second LieutenantSidney Woodroffe, of the 8th Battalion, was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions in this battle.[36] The battalions also saw action in theSecond Battle of Ypres which had begun in April 1915 and an action near La Brique inBelgium where CorporalAlfred George Drake, also of the 8th Battalion, was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on 23 November 1915.[37] The battalions then took part in theBattle of Delville Wood in September 1916, theBattle of Flers–Courcelette in September 1916 and the advance to theHindenburg Line as well as theBattle of Arras in April 1917, theBattle of Langemark in August 1917 and theBattle of Passchendaele in October 1917 before taking part in theBattle of St Quentin in March 1918 and theBattle of the Avre in April 1918.[38][39]
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[31] and took part in most of the same battles as the 7th and 8th battalions.[40]
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.[31] The battalions saw action at theBattle of Mont Sorrel in June 1916, theBattle of Delville Wood in September 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 December 1917.[41][42]
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[31] and took part in most of the same battles as the 10th and 11th battalions. The 12th battalion also took part in the action at Pietre, part of a subsidiary attack on the 25th of September 1915 during the battle of Loos where it advanced along in support of the Indian Corps. The battalion made good ground but retired when the units on both its flanks were forced back and it lost many many killed, wounded and missing during this withdrawal.[43]
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.[31] The battalion saw action at theBattle of the Somme in Summer 1916 and the advance to theHindenburg Line as well as theBattle of Arras in April 1917, theBattle of Passchendaele in Autumn 1917 and theBattle of Cambrai in November 1917 before taking part in theBattle of the Lys in April 1918, theThird Battle of the Aisne in May 1918, theSecond Battle of the Somme in August 1918, the Battles of the Hindenburg Line and the Final Advance inPicardy.[44]
The16th (Service) Battalion (St Pancras) landed at Le Havre as part of the117th Brigade in the39th Division in March 1916 for service on the Western Front.[31] The battalion saw action at theBattle of the Somme in Autumn 1916, theBattle of Pilckem Ridge in August 1917 and theBattle of Langemarck in August 1917 as well as theBattle of the Menin Road Ridge in September 1917, theBattle of Polygon Wood in September 1917 and theSecond Battle of Passchendaele in November 1917 before taking part in theBattle of St Quentin in March 1918 and theSecond Battle of Bapaume in August 1918.[45]
In October 1922 the 2nd Battalion was deployed toTurkey as part of the response to theChanak Crisis, which had followed Turkish efforts to push the Greek armies out of Turkey and restore Turkish rule in the Allied occupied territories of Turkey, primarily inConstantinople.[46]
The 1st Battalion, Rifle Brigade was in England on the outbreak of theSecond World War, originally part of the1st Support Group, part of the1st Armoured Division.[47] In late April 1940, however, the battalion transferred to the newly created30th Infantry Brigade and landed in France the following month within theBritish Expeditionary Force (BEF) but was lost at thedefence of Calais, where the brigade slowed the German advance and enabled theDunkirk evacuation to proceed.[47] The battalion was reformed in the United Kingdom and became part of the2nd Armoured Brigade of the 1st Armoured Division and took part in many battles in theNorth African Campaign before transferring to the22nd Armoured Brigade of the7th Armoured Division in June 1942.[47]
Now commanded byLieutenant ColonelFrederick Stephens, the 1st Battalion's four6-pounders were credited with destroying many tanks from the21st Panzer Division at theBattle of Alam el Halfa on 31 August 1942.[48] The 1st Battalion subsequently took part in theSecond Battle of El Alamein and theTunisian Campaign until May 1943 when the war in North Africa ended with the surrender of almost 250,000 German and Italian soldiers.[47] The battalion, with the rest of the 7th Armoured Division, took part in theAllied invasion of Italy, and the early stages of theItalian Campaign, in September 1943, returning to England in January 1944 and took part in theinvasion of Normandy in June 1944, going on to fight throughout theNorth West Europe Campaign untilVictory in Europe Day in May 1945, ending the war inHamburg,Germany, and commanded throughout by Lieutenant ColonelA. G. V. Paley.[47]
On the outbreak of war the 2nd Battalion, commanded since July 1938 by Lieutenant ColonelEdward Williams, was stationed inPalestine as part of the14th Infantry Brigade of the8th Infantry Division.[47] The battalion, then commanded by Lieutenant ColonelJames Renton, later fought with distinction as part of the7th Motor Brigade in the 1st Armoured Division in theWestern Desert Campaign, especially in the "Snipe" action during theSecond Battle of El Alamein in October 1942, when the four 6-pounders of the battalion, supported by a 6-pounder Anti-Tank battery of theRoyal Artillery, knocked out over 50 German and Italian tanks in a lengthy battle.[49][50] Lieutenant ColonelVictor Buller Turner, commanding the battalion, received theVictoria Cross for his actions fighting with the guns.[51]
Commanded by Lieutenant ColonelThomas Pearson, the battalion, alongside the 1st Battalion, continued to play a prominent role in the final stages of the Tunisian Campaign. In September 1943 the battalion transferred to the7th Armoured Brigade in the10th Armoured Division, remaining with that formation in North Africa until May 1944, when it transferred to the61st Lorried Infantry Brigade in the6th Armoured Division for service in the Italian Campaign, seeing action in theFourth Battle of Monte Cassino, theGothic Line and theSpring 1945 offensive in Italy, which brought an end to the war in Italy in early May 1945.[47]
The 7th Battalion was formed by re-naming the 1st Battalion theLondon Rifle Brigade in January 1941.[52] The battalion became part of the23rd Armoured Brigade, then serving under the8th Armoured Division, and was sent with the division to Egypt in July 1942 where it played a role in theFirst Battle of El Alamein before, the following month, becoming a part of the7th Motor Brigade, part of the 1st Armoured Division. It later transferred to the independent9th Armoured Brigade and finally to the 61st Lorried Infantry Brigade and was engaged throughout the Italian Campaign from May 1944 onwards, commanded throughout by Lieutenant ColonelDouglas Darling.[53]
The 8th Battalion, Rifle Brigade was formed in early January 1941 by the redesignation of the 2nd Battalion, London Rifle Brigade, spent most of its existence in the United Kingdom and took part in the invasion of Normandy in June 1944, as part of the29th Armoured Brigade in the11th Armoured Division,[54] and saw action in theNorth West Europe Campaign.[55]
The 9th Battalion was created in late May 1941 by re-naming the1st Battalion, Tower Hamlets Rifles.[56] The battalion was part of the2nd Support Group of the2nd Armoured Division and then the200th Guards Brigade until June 1942.[47] The 9th later served with the4th Armoured Brigade in the7th Armoured Division and took part in theBattle of Gazala in May 1942 during theNorth African Campaign before being disbanded in August 1942.[47]
The 10th Battalion was formed in 1941 by re-naming the2nd Battalion, Tower Hamlets Rifles and transferred to the26th Armoured Brigade of the 6th Armoured Division. The battalion, commanded by Lieutenant ColonelAdrian Gore, saw service with the division in Tunisia in late 1942 and 1943 before, in May 1944, transferring to the61st Lorried Infantry Brigade, commanded by Gore, now a brigadier, serving with the 2nd and 7th Battalions in the Italian Campaign. The battalion was disbanded in late March 1945, most of the personnel being sent to the 2nd Battalion.[56]
From spring 1946 a number of surplus Rifle Brigade subalterns were transferred to No. 1T-Force, a British Army unit which was active in theRuhr. Their role was to carry out reparations work, evacuating military and industrial equipment needed to rebuild British industry. The 1st Battalion went on to serve in theMau Mau Uprising in Kenya in 1954 and theMalayan Emergency in 1956.[57]
The 1st Battalion was renamed the 3rd Green Jackets, The Rifle Brigade in 1958 and was amalgamated with the1st Green Jackets (43rd and 52nd) and theKing's Royal Rifle Corps to form theRoyal Green Jackets on 1 January 1966.[6]
The regimental collection is held by theRoyal Green Jackets (Rifles) Museum which is based atPeninsula Barracks inWinchester.[58]
The regiment was awarded the followingbattle honours:[6]
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