The Rifles is an infantry regiment of the British Army. Formed in 2007, it consists of four Regular battalions and three Reserve battalions. Each Regular battalion was formerly an individual battalion of one of the two large regiments of the Light Division (with the exception of the 1st Battalion, which is an amalgamation of two individual regiments). Since formation, the regiment has been involved in the later stages of the Iraq War and in the War in Afghanistan.
| The Rifles | |
|---|---|
  Cap and Back badges of The Rifles | |
| Active | 2007 – present |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Type | Rifles |
| Role | 1st Battalion—Light Infantry 2nd Battalion—Light Infantry 3rd Battalion—Mechanised Infantry 5th Battalion—Armoured Infantry 6th Battalion—Light Infantry 7th Battalion—Armoured Infantry 8th Battalion–Light Infantry |
| Size | Seven battalions |
| Part of | Light Division |
| Garrison/HQ | RHQ—Winchester 1st Battalion—Dhekelia 2nd Battalion—Lisburn 3rd Battalion—Edinburgh 5th Battalion—Bulford 6th Battalion—Exeter 7th Battalion—Reading 8th Battalion–Bishop Auckland |
| Motto(s) | "Celer et Audax" (Latin) "Swift and Bold" |
| Colours | Rifle Green |
| March | Quick: "Mechanised Infantry" Double Fast: "Keel Row/Road to the Isles" Slow: "Old Salamanca" |
| Commanders | |
| Colonel in Chief | Queen Camilla |
| Colonel Commandant | Lieutenant-General Thomas Copinger-Symes[1] |
| Insignia | |
| Tactical Recognition Flash |  |
| Arm Badge |  Croix de Guerre From Devonshire and Dorset Light Infantry |
| Abbreviation | RIFLES |
History
editThe Rifles was created as a result of the Future Army Structure review. Under the original announcement, the Light Division would have remained essentially unchanged, with the exception of the Light Infantry gaining a new battalion through the amalgamation of two other regiments, and both gaining a reserve battalion from within the Territorial Army (TA) as it was then called. However, on 24 November 2005, the Ministry of Defence announced that the four regiments would amalgamate into a single five-battalion regiment. The regular battalions of The Rifles was formed on 1 February 2007 by the amalgamation of the four Light Infantry and Rifle Regiments of the Light Division as follows:[2]
- 1st Battalion The Rifles (formed from the 1st Battalion, Devonshire and Dorset Light Infantry and the 1st Battalion Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Light Infantry)
- 2nd Battalion The Rifles (formed from the 1st Battalion, Royal Green Jackets)
- 3rd Battalion The Rifles (formed from the 2nd Battalion, Light Infantry)
- 4th Battalion The Rifles (formed from the 2nd Battalion, Royal Green Jackets)
- 5th Battalion The Rifles (formed from the 1st Battalion, Light Infantry)
- 6th Battalion The Rifles (formed from the Rifle Volunteers)
- 7th Battalion The Rifles (formed from the Royal Rifle Volunteers minus the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment Company but with the surviving two Companies (F and G) from The London Regiment)
The Rifles was formed to serve as the county regiment of the following counties:[3][4]
The 2nd Battalion, the 3rd Battalion, and the 4th Battalion were all deployed in Basra in Iraq during some of the worst fighting of the Iraq War, including the withdrawal from Basra Palace in September 2007.[5]
The 1st Battalion undertook a tour in Afghanistan between October 2008 and April 2009, ground holding and mentoring the Afghan National Army in Helmand Province.[5]
The 5th Battalion was one of the last British Army units to leave Iraq in May 2009.[5]
The 4th Battalion provided reinforcement cover for the elections in Afghanistan and took part in Operation Panther's Claw in the Summer of 2009.[5] At the same time, the 2nd Battalion was deployed to Sangin and was relieved in due course by the 3rd Battalion.[5]
The 1st battalion returned to the Nahr i Siraj District of Afghanistan in April 2011, to then be relieved by the 2nd and 5th Battalions in October 2011.[6]
In March 2018, the 2nd Battalion returned home after a six-month operational deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Shader.[7]
The regiment's 4th battalion was re-subordinated to the Ranger Regiment on 1 December 2021.[8]
Organisation
editThe regiment has four regular and three reserve battalions, each configured for a specific infantry role:
- 1st Battalion, an amalgamation of the 1st Battalion, Devonshire and Dorset Regiment and the 1st Battalion, Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment. Initially configured in the light role as part of 3 Commando Brigade, it moved to 160th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Wales under Army 2020,[9] before being transferred to the 7th Light Mechanised Brigade Combat Team in 2019.[10] Personnel are based at Alexander Barracks, Cyprus. In 2027, the battalion will move to Caerwent Station.[11][12]
- 2nd Battalion, a redesignation of the 1st Battalion, Royal Green Jackets. Initially configured in the light role as part of 19 Light Brigade, it moved to 38th (Irish) Brigade under Army 2020, and is now part of the 51st (Scottish) Infantry Brigade. Personnel are based at Thiepval Barracks, Lisburn.[13][10]
- 3rd Battalion, a redesignation of the 2nd Battalion, The Light Infantry. Initially configured in the light role as part of 52nd Infantry Brigade, it moved to 51st Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Scotland under Army 2020, before later forming part of the 1st Armoured Infantry Brigade. Under Future Soldier reforms, 3 RIFLES will re-role to the 11th Security Force Assistance Brigade.[12] Personnel are based at Dreghorn Barracks, Edinburgh.[10][14]
- 5th Battalion – redesignation of the 1st Battalion, The Light Infantry. Configured in the armoured infantry role as part of 20th Armoured Brigade Combat Team, it will remain as a Warrior battalion (converting to Boxer) under Army 2020. Personnel are based at Bulford Camp.[15][12]
- 6th Battalion – redesignation of the Rifle Volunteers. It comes under 19th (Light) Brigade and is paired with 1 RIFLES. Headquarters is at Wyvern Barracks in Exeter with detachments in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Bristol, Gloucestershire and Herefordshire.[16][17]
- 7th Battalion – redesignation of the Royal Rifle Volunteers, minus the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment company, plus G Company of the London Regiment (the descendants of the 4th (V) Battalion the Royal Green Jackets). 7 RIFLES primarily covers the areas of London and the South East. It forms part of the 20th Armoured Brigade Combat Team and is paired with 5 RIFLES.[16][17]
- 8th Battalion – Formed on 1 November 2017. The battalion primarily covers the areas of County Durham, Yorkshire, Shropshire and Birmingham, with headquarters located in Bishop Auckland, County Durham. The Battalion is paired with 2 RIFLES.[18][19][20]
Colonels
editThe Queen is the Colonel-in-Chief of the Regiment, whilst each battalion has its own Royal Colonel:
List of Colonels-in-Chief
edit- 2007–2020: Philip, Duke of Edinburgh[21]
- 2020–present: Queen Camilla (formerly the Duchess of Cornwall)[21]
Royal Colonels
edit- 1st Battalion, The Rifles: Prince Edward, Duke of Kent (ex-Colonel-in-Chief, DDLI)
- 2nd Battalion, The Rifles: Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh
- 3rd Battalion, The Rifles: Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy (ex-Colonel-in-Chief, LI)
- 5th Battalion, The Rifles: Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh
- 6th Battalion, The Rifles: Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester
- 7th Battalion, The Rifles: Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester
- 8th Battalion, The Rifles: Vacant
Colonel Commandant
edit- 2019–2023: General Sir Patrick Sanders
- 2023–present: Lieutenant General Thomas Copinger-Symes[22]
Regimental bands
edit
The regular element of The Rifles maintains a single regular regimental band, the Band and Bugles of The Rifles. The band form one of 14 professional bands within the Royal Corps of Army Music. This was formed by renaming the Band and Bugles of the Light Division, which in itself was an amalgamation of four separate bands:[23]
- The Corunna Band of the Light Infantry
- The Salamanca Band of the Light Infantry
- The Peninsula Band of the Royal Green Jackets
- The Normandy Band of the Royal Green Jackets
In addition, the two Army Reserve Battalions maintain their own bands:
- The Salamanca Band of the Rifles – 6th Battalion (formerly the Band of the Rifle Volunteers)
- The Waterloo Band of the Rifles – 7th Battalion (formerly the Band of the Royal Rifle Volunteers)
Band and Bugles
editThe Band and Bugles of The Rifles is the most senior band in the regiment based in the Rifles.[24] The central Band of The Rifles are based at Sir John Moore Barracks in Winchester.[25] The band is notable in that buglers accompany the band in the front rank.[26][27] Since 2016, Major Jason Griffiths has served as the director of the band and bugles.[28]
Salamanca Band (6th Battalion)
editThe Salamanca Band is a 35-member band based at Exeter, being part of the 6th Reserve Battalion. The Devonshire and Dorset Regiment formed the former Band of the Rifle Volunteers.[29] It formed the backbone of the Salamanca Band. The band also has a detachment in Truro.[30] In the summer of 2017, the band went on a tour of the Caucasus, visiting Armenia,[31] Azerbaijan and Georgia, performing with the Band of the General Staff, the Band of the National Guard and the Band of the Ministry of Defence respectively for public performances. On the Georgia visit, the band performed Tbiliso, which is the unofficial anthem of the City of Tbilisi, was also performed during a concert on a bridge in the neighborhood of Metekhi.[32][33] In April 2016, the first musician to serve as an army vocalist came from The Salamanca Band.[34]
Waterloo Band (7th Battalion)
editThe Waterloo Band is a 35-member band based in Abingdon, being part of the 7th Reserve Battalion. The Waterloo Band has performed at events across the UK and the world such as the Basel Tattoo in 2014.[35]
The Sounding Retreat
editThe Sounding Retreat is a form of the Beating Retreat ceremony of the Household Division. The main difference between this ceremony and the regular Beating Retreat is that this is performed by the bugle bands of The Rifles, as well as the former of the bands of the Britain's Light Division. This traditional ceremony (which represents the sounding of Sunset or Retreat in the British Army) has been done on 31 May and 1 June on Horse Guards Parade as recently as 1993 and 2016. Besides the Bugle Band of the Rifles, the Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas also takes part in the ceremony.[36]
Golden threads
editAs a rifle regiment, a private soldier in The Rifles is known as a Rifleman and Serjeant is spelt in the archaic fashion; the regiment wears a Rifle green beret. A number of golden threads i.e. distinctive honours have been brought into the new regiment from each of its founder regiments:[37]
- Croix de Guerre – the French Croix de Guerre ribbon awarded to the Devonshire Regiment in the First World War, and subsequently worn by the Devonshire and Dorset Light Infantry, and also awarded to the King's Shropshire Light Infantry in 1918, is worn on both sleeves of No. 1 and No. 2 dress.
- Back Badge – the badge worn on the back of headdress reads Egypt. This was awarded as an honour to the 28th Foot and subsequently worn by the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Light Infantry. It is worn on the forage cap and side hat; and on the shako of the regimental band and bugles.
- Bugle Horn – the bugle horn badge of the Light Infantry, now surmounted by St. Edward's Crown, is the regiment's cap badge.
- Maltese Cross – the Maltese Cross of the Royal Green Jackets is worn as a buckle on the cross belt, and will contain the regiment's representative battle honours; currently one space is kept free for future honours. In accordance with the tradition of rifle regiments, the regiment does not carry colours.
- Black Buttons – the traditional black buttons of a rifle regiment are worn on all forms of dress with the exception of combat dress.
- Double past – the march played when the regiment moves at double time is an amalgam of Keel Row, the double past of the Light Infantry, and The Road to the Isles, the double past of the Royal Green Jackets.
- Marching Speed – The Rifles march at 140 paces to the minute compared to the Army standard of 120 paces, and retains the custom of the ‘double past’ on ceremonial parades and never slow march. This originates from historically conducting advance guard and flanking duties, which needed the Rifles to move around the battlefield faster than the rest of the Army. The length of a pace is reduced however to ensure the Rifles maintain the same marching speed as other units. [38]
Battle honours
editThe following battle honours are a representation of the total honours awarded to the regiments which formed The Rifles. These are inscribed on the regiment's belt badge:[39]
- Gibraltar, Copenhagen, Plassey, Dettingen, Minden, Quebec, Martinique, Marabout, Peninsula, Waterloo, Afghanistan, Jellalabad, Ferozeshah, Delhi, Lucknow, New Zealand, Pekin, South Africa, Inkerman
- Great War: Nonne Boschen, Ypres, Somme, Vittorio Veneto, Megiddo
- Second World War: Calais, First Battle of El Alamein, Second Battle of El Alamein, Kohima, Pegasus Bridge, Normandy, Italy 1943–45, Anzio
- Imjin, Korea, Iraq 2003
Regimental museum
editThe regiment's museum is The Rifles Museum at Peninsular Barracks in Winchester.[40]
Alliances
editThe regiment inherited its alliances from its predecessors, and these alliances are:[41][42][43][44]
Canada – Les Fusiliers de Sherbrooke- Canada – The Royal Canadian Regiment
- Canada – Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
- Canada – The Lincoln and Welland Regiment
- Canada – The Algonquin Regiment (Northern Pioneers)
- Canada – The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment)
- Canada – Le Régiment de Maisonneuve
- Canada – The North Saskatchewan Regiment
- Canada – The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own)
- Canada – The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada
- Canada – The Brockville Rifles
- Canada – The Royal Winnipeg Rifles
- Canada – The Royal Regina Rifles
Australia – 11th/28th Battalion, Royal Western Australia Regiment- Australia – Western Australia University Regiment
- Australia – Sydney University Regiment
- Australia – Melbourne University Regiment
- Australia – Royal New South Wales Regiment
New Zealand – Hauraki Regiment- New Zealand – 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment
- New Zealand – 2nd/4th Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment
- New Zealand – 3rd/6th Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment
- New Zealand – 5th/7th Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment
Kenya – Kenya Army Infantry- Kenya – 1st Battalion, Kenyan Rifles
- Kenya – 3rd Battalion, Kenyan Rifles
Malaysia – 6th Battalion, Royal Malay Regiment
Pakistan – 1st Battalion, Sindh Regiment- Pakistan – 2nd Battalion, Frontier Force Regiment
- Pakistan – 13th Battalion, Frontier Force Regiment
- Pakistan – 11th Battalion, Baloch Regiment
- Pakistan – 13th Battalion, Baloch Regiment
South Africa – Chief Langalibalele Rifles- South Africa – Rand Light Infantry
- South Africa – Durban Light Infantry
- South Africa – Buffalo Volunteer Rifles
Fiji – Fiji Infantry Regiment
Ghana – 1st Battalion, Ghana Regiment
Mauritius – Special Mobile Force
Bond of Friendship
Order of precedence
editLineage
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Strategic Command personnel participate in Coronation rehearsals through the night". Ministry of Defence. 4 May 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
- ^ "History of the Light Infantry". Archived from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
- ^ "6 RIFLES". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
- ^ "7 RIFLES". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
- ^ a b c d e "The Rifles forged in battle – An overview of the first three years". Care for Casualties. Archived from the original on 31 May 2014. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
- ^ "20th Armoured Brigade takes command of Task Force Helmand". Ministry of Defence. 10 October 2011. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
- ^ "Photos: Royal Reception as 2 Rifles Battalion return home from Iraq". Belfast Telegraph. 9 March 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
- ^ "4 RIFLES first to join Army's new Ranger Regiment next week". forces.net. 25 November 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- ^ "1 RIFLES". Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on 9 April 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
- ^ a b c Jonathan Day (22 July 2020). "Swift And Bold: All About The Rifles". Forces Network. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
- ^ "Riflemen bid fond farewell to South East Wales – for now | The British Army".
- ^ a b c "The Rifles | The British Army".
- ^ "Army basing announcement" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 August 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
- ^ "The Rifles | The British Army".
- ^ "Riflemen train for post-Afghanistan deployments". Ministry of Defence. 13 March 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
- ^ a b "Transforming the British Army: An Update" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. p. 9. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
- ^ a b "Reserve RIFLES | The British Army".
- ^ "Strategic Defence and Security Review – Army:Written statement – HCWS367 – UK Parliament". Parliament.uk. 4 December 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
- ^ "Regiments to change bases in major Army restructure". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 15 November 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
- ^ "Information on the Army 2020 refine exercise" (PDF). Gov.uk. 10 March 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ a b "Prince Philip Hands Over Rifles Colonel-In-Chief Role in a RARE Public Appearance". Forces News. 22 July 2020. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2020 – via YouTube.
- ^ "No. 64276". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 January 2024. p. 26495.
- ^ "The Band and Bugles of The Rifles". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
- ^ "Swift | Bands and Bugles". Theriflesnetwork.co.uk. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
- ^ "The Band and Bugles of The Rifles". Dlisouthshields.org.uk. Archived from the original on 19 February 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
- ^ "Buxton Military Tattoo – Band and Bugles of The Rifles". Buxtontattoo.org.uk. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
- ^ "The Band and Bugles of the Rifles – Portsmouth Music Hub". Portsmouthmusichub.org. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
- ^ "Buxton Military Tattoo – Director of Music". Buxtontattoo.org.uk. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
- ^ "The Devonshire and Dorset Regiment", Pen & Sword Books Ltd. Published 2007
- ^ "Trombonist Mike leads new recruits to Army Reserve Band |". Wessex-rfca.org.uk. 23 January 2017. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
- ^ Martikian, Naira (24 June 2017). "British and Armenian military bands perform together in Yerevan".
- ^ "Военные оркестры Грузии и Великобритании проведут концерт в Старом Тбилиси – Новости-Грузия". Newsgeorgia.ge. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
- ^ "Песня "Тбилисо" в исполнении военных оркестров Грузии и Великобритании – Рамблер/новости". news.rambler.ru. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
- ^ "Meet The First Reservist Recruited For Her Voice". Forces.net. 27 April 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
- ^ "South East RFCA > Reserves > Army Reserve > Reserve Band > Waterloo Band & Bugles of the Rifles". Serfca.org. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
- ^ "The Duke of Edinburgh takes the salute at Sounding Retreat | The Royal Family". Royal.uk. 2 June 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
- ^ "Golden Threads". Shropshire Regimental Museum. Archived from the original on 27 June 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
- ^ "The Rifles Museum - Origins and Traditions". The Rifles Museum. 11 November 2023.
- ^ "The Rifles Dress Guidance" (PDF). Rifles Regimental Badges. The Rifles. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 December 2015. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
- ^ "Military might on show to mark Armed Forces Day in Winchester". Daily Echo. 20 June 2017.
- ^ "The Devonshire and Dorset Regiment". Archived from the original on 25 February 2007. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
- ^ "The Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment". Archived from the original on 25 February 2007. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
- ^ "The Light Infantry". Archived from the original on 25 February 2007. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
- ^ "The Royal Green Jackets". Archived from the original on 23 February 2007. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
- ^ a b "Childers Reform". No. 24992. The London Gazette. 1 July 1881. pp. 3300–3301. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
Further reading
edit- Ben Barry A Cold War: Front-line Operations in Bosnia 1995–1996 ISBN 1-86227-449-5. An account of the end of the Bosnian Civil War by the CO of the 2nd Battalion the Light Infantry
- Les Howard Winter Warriors – Across Bosnia with the PBI ISBN 1-84624-077-8. A TA Royal Green Jacket on operations with the 2nd Bn the Light Infantry
- Swift and Bold: A Portrait of the Royal Green Jackets 1966–2007 ISBN 1-903942-69-1.
- Steven McLaughlin Squaddie: A Soldier's Story ISBN 1-84596-242-7. A Royal Green Jacket's account of modern-day basic training, battalion life & culture, and operational tours in Iraq and Northern Ireland.
External links
edit