King's Royal Rifle Corps

King's Royal Rifle Corps
Rickfive · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Unit name	King's Royal Rifle Corps
Caption	Cap badge of the King's Royal Rifle Corps
Dates	1755–1966
Country	Kingdom of Great Britain (1755–1800), United Kingdom (1801–1966)
Branch	British Army
Type	Infantry
Role	Rifle regiment
Size	Up to 25 Battalions
Garrison	Winchester
Motto	Celer et Audax (Swift and Bold)
Colors	Rifle Green
March	Quick: I'm Ninety-Five
Battles	French and Indian War, American Revolutionary War, Napoleonic Wars, Crimean War, Second Boer War, World War I, World War II
Identification symbol	Bugle horn
Identification symbol label	Tactical recognition flash

King's Royal Rifle Corps. The King's Royal Rifle Corps was a renowned rifle regiment of the British Army, originally raised in the American colonies in 1755 as the 62nd (Royal American) Regiment of Foot. Renowned for its innovative tactics and distinctive rifle green uniform, the regiment served with distinction across the British Empire and in major global conflicts for over two centuries. Its legacy of marksmanship and light infantry skills was continued through its amalgamation into the Royal Green Jackets in 1966.

History

The regiment's long history is defined by its evolution from a colonial force into a premier light infantry unit, influencing British military doctrine. Its service spanned the expansion of the British Empire, from the forests of North America to the plains of India and the battlefields of Europe. The corps maintained a unique identity separate from the line infantry of the British Army, characterized by its emphasis on skirmishing, initiative, and rapid movement.

Formation and early service

The unit was raised in 1755 by the British government to defend the Thirteen Colonies during the French and Indian War, drawing many of its initial officers from Europe including Switzerland and Germany. Redesignated the 60th (Royal American) Regiment of Foot in 1757, it pioneered light infantry tactics in the North American wilderness, fighting at engagements like the Battle of Carillon. During the American Revolutionary War, it fought for the Crown in numerous actions, including the Battle of Long Island and the Siege of Yorktown.

World War I

During the First World War, the regiment expanded to 28 battalions, serving on the Western Front and in other theatres like Mesopotamia and Palestine. As part of the Rifle Brigade and London Regiment, its battalions were heavily engaged in major offensives including the Battle of the Somme, the Battle of Passchendaele, and the Hundred Days Offensive. The corps suffered severe casualties, with members such as Geoffrey Unsworth and John Fox-Russell earning the Victoria Cross for exceptional valour.

World War II

In the Second World War, the King's Royal Rifle Corps fought in multiple campaigns across the globe. Battalions served with the British Expeditionary Force in the Battle of France and the subsequent Dunkirk evacuation. The regiment later saw extensive action in the North African Campaign, the Italian Campaign, and the North-West Europe Campaign following the Normandy landings. Its soldiers participated in pivotal battles such as the Second Battle of El Alamein and the Battle of Monte Cassino.

Post-war and amalgamation

Following the war, the regiment was reduced in size and undertook garrison duties in locations such as West Germany and Cyprus during the Cyprus Emergency. It also saw service during the Malayan Emergency and the Mau Mau Uprising in Kenya. As part of wider reforms to the British Army, the King's Royal Rifle Corps amalgamated with the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and the Rifle Brigade to form the Royal Green Jackets in 1966, ending its independent existence.

Battle honours

The regiment was awarded a vast array of battle honours reflecting its global service. From its early history, it earned honours for Louisbourg and Havana. Nineteenth-century honours included Peninsular battles like Talavera and Fuentes de Oñoro, and actions in India such as Delhi and Lucknow. Its 20th-century honours encompass major conflicts from the Second Boer War to both world wars, including Ypres, Somme, Arras, El Alamein, and Normandy.

Uniform and traditions

The corps was immediately recognizable by its dark rifle green uniform, a stark contrast to the scarlet of the line infantry, adopted for camouflage. Its headdress was the distinctive rifleman's shako and later the broderick cap. Traditions included a fast marching pace of 140 steps per minute to the tune I'm Ninety-Five, the use of the bugle horn instead of drums for communications, and the motto Celer et Audax. Its cap badge featured a stringed bugle surmounted by a crown.

Category:Infantry regiments of the British Army Category:Military units and formations established in 1755 Category:Rifle regiments of the British Army