Gloucestershire Regiment

Gloucestershire Regiment
Unit name	Gloucestershire Regiment
Caption	Cap badge of the Gloucestershire Regiment
Dates	1881–1994
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	United Kingdom
Type	Line infantry
Role	Infantry
Size	Regiment
Garrison	Gloucester
Nickname	The Glorious Glosters, The Slashers
Motto	Firm
March	Quick: The Kinnegad Slashers
Battles	Second Boer War, World War I, World War II, Korean War
Notable commanders	Sir William Penn Symons

Gloucestershire Regiment. The Gloucestershire Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, formed in 1881 and with a continuous history dating back to the 1690s. It served with distinction in numerous conflicts across the British Empire and in both world wars, earning a formidable reputation, particularly for its stand at the Battle of the Imjin River during the Korean War. The regiment was amalgamated into the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment in 1994, before further mergers ultimately led to its absorption into The Rifles.

History

The lineage of the Gloucestershire Regiment traces its origins to earlier units raised in the West Country, including the 28th (North Gloucestershire) Regiment of Foot and the 61st (South Gloucestershire) Regiment of Foot. These antecedent regiments saw extensive service across the globe, from the War of the Spanish Succession to the Napoleonic Wars and the Crimean War. The regiment's history is deeply intertwined with the military and social fabric of Gloucestershire, drawing its recruits primarily from the county and its surrounding areas.

Formation and early service

The regiment was created on 1 July 1881 under the Cardwell Reforms, which restructured the British infantry into a system of county regiments. The 28th and 61st Regiments of Foot became, respectively, the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the new Gloucestershire Regiment, with its depot established at Horfield Barracks in Bristol. In the late 19th century, battalions served in various imperial garrisons, including British India, Gibraltar, and South Africa. The regiment fought in the Second Boer War, with actions at the Battle of Colenso and the Relief of Ladysmith.

World War I

During World War I, the regiment expanded to 18 battalions, which served on multiple fronts. The 1st Battalion fought in the British Expeditionary Force, seeing action at the Battle of Mons and the First Battle of Ypres. The 2nd Battalion served in the Gallipoli Campaign and later in Mesopotamia. Other battalions, such as the 10th, were heavily engaged in the trench warfare of the Western Front, participating in the Battle of the Somme and the Battle of Passchendaele. The regiment suffered significant casualties throughout the conflict.

World War II

In World War II, battalions of the regiment served in several major theatres. The 1st Battalion was part of the British Indian Army in the Burma Campaign, fighting at the Battle of Kohima. The 2nd Battalion served with the British Eighth Army in the North African Campaign and the Italian Campaign, including the Battle of Monte Cassino. The 5th Battalion, a Territorial Army unit, was captured at Saint-Valery-en-Caux during the Battle of France in 1940. The regiment also contributed to the Normandy landings and the subsequent advance into Nazi Germany.

Post-war and amalgamation

The regiment's post-war service included deployments to Palestine, Malaya, and Cyprus. Its most famous post-1945 action was during the Korean War, where the 1st Battalion's heroic defence at the Battle of the Imjin River in 1951 earned a US Presidential Unit Citation. As part of wider defence cuts, the regiment was amalgamated with the Royal Berkshire Regiment and the Wiltshire Regiment to form the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment in 1994. This unit was later merged into The Light Infantry and finally The Rifles.

Battle honours

The regiment was awarded a total of 117 battle honours, reflecting its long and varied service. Key honours from the pre-1881 period include Ramillies, Minden, and Waterloo. Twentieth-century honours include Ypres 1914 '17 '18, Somme 1916 '18, Gallipoli 1915–16, Kohima, Imjin, and Korea 1950–51. The selection emblazoned on the regimental colours represented pivotal engagements from the War of the Spanish Succession through to the Korean War.

Traditions and insignia

The regiment was unique in the British Army for wearing a back badge on the rear of its headdress, a privilege granted to the 28th Foot for its actions at the Battle of Alexandria in 1801. Its nickname, "The Glorious Glosters", was cemented after the Battle of the Imjin River. Another historic nickname, "The Slashers", originated from an incident in 18th-century North America. The regimental march was "The Kinnegad Slashers", and its motto was the single word "Firm". The cap badge featured a sphinx superscribed "Egypt", commemorating the service of the 28th Foot.

Category:Infantry regiments of the British Army Category:Military units and formations established in 1881 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1994