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7th Battalion, The Rifles

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The 7th Battalion, The Rifles (7 RIFLES) is an Army Reserve battalion of the British Army originally formed from elements of the Royal Rifle Volunteers, and Royal Green Jacket badged Sub-Units of The London Regiment following the Future Army Structure programme, and remains an integral part of the regiment.

7th Battalion, The Rifles (formerly the Royal Rifle Volunteers)
Cap and Back badges of The Rifles
Active1999–Present
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
TypeArmoured Infantry
Size320 personnel (2024)[1]
Part of20th Armoured Infantry Brigade
Battalion HQIverna Gardens drill hall, Kensington
Nickname(s)7 RIFLES
ColoursRifle Green
EquipmentWarrior IFV
EngagementsKFOR
SFOR
Operation Palliser
Operation Telic
Operation Banner
Operation Herrick
Operation Tosca
Website7 RIFLES
Insignia
Royal Rifle Volunteers TRF
Rifles TRF
Rifles Arm Badge
Croix de Guerre
From Devonshire and Dorset Light Infantry

Royal Rifle Volunteers

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Formation

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In 1999, the Territorial Army (TA) was reorganised, in what became part of the Strategic Defence Review, with an emphasis on the reduction of the infantry and expansion of the armoured (yeomanry) and royal artillery (air defence elements). On 1 July 1999, the Royal Rifle Volunteers (RRV) was formed through the amalgamation of the following battalions: 6th/7th (Volunteer) Battalion, Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (part), 2nd (Volunteer) Battalion, Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment (part), and 5th (Volunteer) Battalion, Royal Green Jackets. The new regiment becoming the TA infantry regiment for the South Central area.[2][3][4]

The new regiment's structure on formation was as follows:[2][5]

  • Regimental Headquarters, at Brock Barracks, Reading
  • A (Royal Green Jackets) Company, in Oxford – from amalgamation of HQ & A Coys, 5th (V) Bn, Royal Green Jackets
    • Anti-Tank Platoon, in High Wycombe (later moved to Oxford and replaced by a Rifle Platoon)
    • Waterloo Band and Bugles, at Slade Park Barracks, Headington[6] – inherited from 5 RGJ
  • (B) Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire, and Wiltshire Company, at Brock Barracks, Reading – from HQ & C Coys, 2nd (V) Bn, Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire, and Wiltshire Regiment
  • C (Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment) Company, in Portsmouth – from C Coy, 6th/7th (V) Bn, Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment
  • E (Royal Green Jackets) Company, in Milton Keynes – from E Coy, 5th (V) Bn, Royal Green Jackets

The new regiment was placed under command of the 145th (South) Brigade, which in 2000, was redesignation as the 145th (Home Counties) Brigade. The regiment was, and would remain the only infantry unit in the brigade, sitting alongside its University Officer Training Corps counterparts.[7][8]

Future Army Structure

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On 1 April 2000 9 (PBIWR) Platoon was redesignated as 9 (Isle of Wight) Platoon, losing its connection with Princess Beatrice's Isle of Wight Rifles.[2]

In 2003, the Future Army Structure programme was announced, which would see the infantry of the army reorganised into new "Large Regiments". On 22 July 2005, the RGBW Company was redesignated as B (RGBW) Company and consolidated in Reading, and on 1 April 2006, the battalion was reorganised in preparation for its integration into the Rifles[9] into the following:[2]

  • Battalion Headquarters, at Brock Barracks, Reading
  • Headquarters Company, at Brock Barracks, Reading – from amalgamation of HQ & B Coy
    • Waterloo Band and Bugles, at Slade Park Barracks, Headington[6] – inherited by 5 RGR
  • A (Royal Green Jackets) Company, at Edward Brooks Barracks, Abingdon-on-Thames[10]
  • E (Royal Green Jackets) Company, at John Howard Barracks, Blakelands[10]
  • F (Royal Green Jackets) Company, at Davies Street drill hall, Mayfair, London (transferred from the London Regiment)[3]
  • G (Royal Green Jackets) Company, in West Ham, London (from the London Regiment)[3]

In addition the above structure changes, C (PWRR) Coy was transferred to the 3rd (Volunteer) Battalion, Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment.[2][3]

Deployments

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In February 2003, a company of RRV were deployed to Afghanistan under OP Fingal. It was the 1st large scale mobilisation of reserves since the 2nd World War. They were later joined by a regular company from 1 Royal Anglian.

In March 2004, a composite platoon was formed with personnel from across the regiment and deployed to Iraq on Operation Telic VI. In November the platoon joined the 20th Armoured Brigade and deployed in Basra. In May 2005, it returned to the United Kingdom and was demobilised shortly thereafter.[2][12][13]

In February 2005, Roebuck Company was formed and mobilised with personnel from across the regiment. On the 18 May 2005, the company arrived in Iraq and assumed it role on 27 March 2005 of providing force protection for HQ MND (SE), initially under Command of the Rear Ops BG and later under Force Protection Wing , Basra Air Station. On 26 November 2005 the company was relieved and returned to the UK, initially returning to Bodney Camp, Norfolk, until demobilisation. Elements of the regiment also served in Northern Ireland (Operation Banner), Bosnia and Herzegovina (SFOR), Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija (KFOR), and Sierra Leone (Operation Palliser).[2][13][14]

On 26 January 2006, Secretary of State for Defence John Reid announced members of the regiment would deploy alongside HQ Allied Rapid Reaction Corps to provide force protection at, what would later become, Camp Bastion. 30 Soldiers of the regiment then formed Salamanca Platoon, which deployed with Task Force Helmand from April to September 2006.[15]

7th Battalion, The Rifles

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Formation

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On 1 February 2007,[13] regimental headquarters was reduced to a battalion headquarters and renamed as the 7th Battalion, The Rifles (7 RIFLES).[9][16][17] Following the regiment's integration into The Rifles, the Waterloo Band became the Waterloo Band of the Rifles.[2] After its redesignation, the regiment remained under 145th Bde and remained as a light infantry battalion.[18][19][10]

Army 2020

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In 2013, a restructuring the Army was announced, Army 2020, which would help the army become more deployable and quicker-reacting. Part of this reform was the redesignation of Support Command, with its subordinate divisions disbanding and most brigades being disbanded. 145th Bde merged with 11th Light Brigade in Lisburn, and 2nd (South East) Brigade at Folkestone to form the 11th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters South East at Aldershot Garrison forming the new regional HQ.[20][21] Under this reform the 7 RIFLES joined 38th (Irish) Brigade and was paired with 2 RIFLES based in Lisburn, Northern Ireland.[21][22]

Under this reorganisation, the battalion itself was reorganised with the following changes occurring: High Wycombe Platoon, A Coy disbanded, and the company consolidated in Abingdon-on-Thames. E Coy converted and redesignated as No. 678 (The Rifles) Squadron, Army Air Corps[23] with Marlow Platoon becoming Marlow Troop, 871 Postal & Courier Squadron RLC.[24] F & G Companies remained unchanged. In addition, all company subtitles were removed.[25]

Army 2020 Refine

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In 2015, a further supplement was published to the previous Army 2020 plan, entitled "Army 2020", which saw the battalion expand, change role, and move formation. As part of this refine, the battalion was moved under the 20th Armoured Infantry Brigade, equipped with Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicles (thereby becoming 'Armoured Infantry'), de-linked with 2 RIFLES from the formation of 8 RIFLES in 2018, and paired with 5 RIFLES.[13][26][27]

Under the reforms, A Coy formed two new platoons in Aylesbury and High Wycombe, a new B Coy formed in Swindon and Bulford, a new C Company formed in Reading ( taking responsibility for the Assault Pioneer Platoon from HQ Coy) and F Company was moved to the London Regiment, G Company added outstations in Mile End and Kensington, HQ Coy remained in Reading.

The battalion's new, and current, structure is as follows as of April 2021:[13][28]

Future Soldier

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In 2021 a further British Army Wide restructure was announced, "Future Soldier".

  • With this C Coy was subsumed back into HQ Coy, at Brock Barracks in Reading, Sub-unit renamed R(HQ) Coy. This merger was enacted on 09 May 2023.
  • R(HQ) Coy renamed as HQ Coy in July 2023.

Waterloo Band and Bugles

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Until 2009 the band was based at Slade Park Barracks, Oxford,[31] but moved to Edward Brooks Barracks in Abingdon-on-Thames[41] under Headquarters Company.[13][31][32]

Colonels

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Royal Colonel[2]

Honorary Colonels[2]

From 1999, Honorary Colonels of the companies are also 'Deputy Honorary Colonels' of the regiment.

Deputy Honorary Colonels[2]

  • (1) 1 July 1999–????: Brigadier J. N. B. Mogg
  • (2) 1 July 1999 – 1 September 2006: Colonel R. P. Bateman, TD
  • (2) 1 September 2006–: xxxx
  • (3) 1 July 1999–????: Brigadier R. M. Koe
  • (4) 1 July 1999 – 1 January 2003: Colonel T. B. Dutton, OBE
  • (4) 1 January 2003–????: Colonel S. J. Oxlade, MBE

Footnotes

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  1. ^ "Historical size of The Rifles Reserve" (PDF). Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "The Royal Rifle Volunteers [UK]". 17 December 2007. Archived from the original on 17 December 2007. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d "About Us". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 11 June 2006. Retrieved 12 April 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  4. ^ "The History of RGJ Territorial Units". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 11 June 2006. Retrieved 12 April 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  5. ^ Heyman 2003, p. 214.
  6. ^ a b "The Waterloo Band and Bugles". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 11 June 2006. Retrieved 12 April 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  7. ^ Heyman 2003, p. 44.
  8. ^ Tanner, p. 26.
  9. ^ a b "Future Army Structure". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 11 June 2006. Retrieved 12 April 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  10. ^ a b c The British Army, land-mediacomms-webcontent@land mod uk (5 November 2008). "The British Army - 7 RIFLES". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 6 November 2008. Retrieved 12 April 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  11. ^ "Welcome to TA Day". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 1 February 2005. Retrieved 12 April 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  12. ^ "Iraq". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 11 June 2006. Retrieved 12 April 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  13. ^ a b c d e f g "7 RIFLES". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  14. ^ "Royal Rifle Volunteers (RRV)". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 11 June 2006. Retrieved 12 April 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  15. ^ "Training & Operations". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 11 June 2006. Retrieved 12 April 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  16. ^ RIFLES History (first video), retrieved 12 April 2021
  17. ^ Heyman 2007, p. 64.
  18. ^ "145 (South) Brigade". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 7 January 2008. Retrieved 12 April 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  19. ^ "7 RIFLES". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 5 November 2008. Retrieved 12 April 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  20. ^ "Regular Army Basing Matrix by Formation and Unit" (PDF). Army Families Federation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 August 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  21. ^ a b "Regular Army Basing Plan Sorted by Unit" (PDF). United Kingdom Parliamentary Publications. 5 March 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  22. ^ Ministry, of Defence (July 2013). "Transforming the British Army an Update" (PDF). Parliamentary Publishments. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 March 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  23. ^ "South East RFCA > Reserves > Army Reserve > Army Air Corps > 678 (RIFLES) Squadron AAC, 6 Regt AAC". www.serfca.org. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  24. ^ a b "Army Reserve Centre, Youens House, Old Horns Lane, High Wycombe SL7 3DU". Army Careers. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  25. ^ "Summary of Army 2020 Reserve Structure and Basing Changes" (PDF). British Army. p. 24. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  26. ^ "South East RFCA > Reserves > Army Reserve > Infantry > 7th Battalion The Rifles". www.serfca.org. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  27. ^ "Information on the Army 2020 refine exercise" (PDF). Parliament Publishing Services. 10 March 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 June 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  28. ^ "Information regarding locations of Army Reserve units" (PDF). What do they know?. 6 July 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 July 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  29. ^ "Army Reserve Centre, 14 Iverna Gardens, Kensington, London W8 6TN". Army Careers. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  30. ^ a b "Brock Barracks, Oxford Road, Reading RG30 1HW". Army Careers. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  31. ^ a b c "South East RFCA > Reserves > Army Reserve > Reserve Band > Waterloo Band & Bugles of the Rifles". www.serfca.org. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  32. ^ a b c "Edward Brooks Barracks, Cholswell Road, Shippon, Abingdon OX13 6HW". Army Careers. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  33. ^ "Reserve RIFLES". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  34. ^ "7 RIFLES RSM March Blog: Is it spring yet????". Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  35. ^ "Army Reserve Centre, Viney House, Oxford Road, Aylesbury HP19 8RN". Army Careers. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  36. ^ "On tour with Army Reservist Riflemen Ben Eden 7RIFLES". 12 February 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  37. ^ "Army Reserve Centre, Church Place, Swindon SN1 5EH". Army Careers. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  38. ^ "Training Wing, Building 32, Ward Barracks, Bulford SP4 9NA". Army Careers. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  39. ^ "Army Reserve Centre, The Cedars Portway, West Ham, London E15 3QN". Army Careers. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  40. ^ "Army Reserve Centre, 405 Mile End Road, Mile End, London E3 4PB". Army Careers. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  41. ^ "7 RIFLES The Waterloo Band and Bugles of The Rifles". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 12 April 2021.

References

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