Royal Green Jackets

Royal Green Jackets
source
Unit name	Royal Green Jackets
Caption	Cap badge of the Royal Green Jackets
Dates	1966–2007
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	British Army
Type	Infantry
Role	Light infantry
Garrison	Winchester
Motto	Celer et Audax
March	"The Road to the Isles"

Royal Green Jackets The Royal Green Jackets were a light infantry regiment of the British Army formed in 1966 and disbanded in 2007. The regiment traced lineage to the 18th and 19th century rifle regiments with connections to the Napoleonic Wars, the Crimean War, colonial campaigns, the World Wars, and post‑war operations. It served in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas, and its traditions influenced the formation of The Rifles in 2007.

History

The regiment was created by the amalgamation of the 1st Green Jackets (43rd and 52nd), 2nd Green Jackets, The King's Royal Rifle Corps, and 3rd Green Jackets (Prince of Wales's) in 1966. Its antecedents included the King's Royal Rifle Corps, Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own), and formations raised during the Napoleonic Wars, including actions at the Peninsular War and the Battle of Waterloo. In the Victorian era its predecessor battalions served in the Crimean War, the Indian Rebellion of 1857, and the Second Boer War. During the First World War and the Second World War antecedent units fought on the Western Front, in the Gallipoli Campaign, in the North African Campaign, and in Italy. Post‑1945 deployments included the Suez Crisis, the Malayan Emergency, the Aden Emergency, operations in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, and peacekeeping in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Cold War stationing brought postings to West Germany as part of the British Army of the Rhine and to garrisons in Hong Kong. The regiment also provided cadres for operations in Falklands War and contributed to rotations in Iraq and Afghanistan during the early 21st century under British government taskings.

Organization and Structure

At formation the regiment comprised three battalions: 1 RJG, 2 RJG and 3 RJG, later re‑numbered and reorganized into light infantry battalions aligned with brigade structures. Battalions were paired with Brigade of Gurkhas units for training exchanges and worked within formations such as 1st (United Kingdom) Division, 3rd (United Kingdom) Division, and 16 Air Assault Brigade. The regiment maintained a depot at Winchester and squadrons and companies were posted to barracks including Alanbrooke Barracks, Blenheim Barracks, and Colchester Garrison. Commanding officers included senior figures who had served in British Expeditionary Force formations, and regimental organization integrated converted machine‑gun companies, reconnaissance elements, and support arms cooperating with the Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers, and Royal Logistic Corps. Territorial and reserve affiliations extended to units within the Territorial Army, later the Army Reserve, and partnerships with the University Officers' Training Corps.

Uniform and Insignia

The regiment preserved the distinctive rifle green jacket and black buttons evolved from the Rifle Brigade and King's Royal Rifle Corps. Head dress included the black cap and the distinctive rifleman’s forage cap, while beret colors and tactical insignia aligned with light infantry conventions used by units such as the Parachute Regiment and the SAS in joint exercises. Cap badges combined symbolism from antecedent corps and displayed motifs similar to devices used by the Royal Engineers and the Royal Armoured Corps. Battle dress and combat kit followed standards from the Ministry of Defence procurement, with camouflage patterns parallel to those used by the Royal Marines and the Household Division for ceremonial duties. Regimental colours were represented in accoutrements and stable belts reflecting links to the City of London and county affiliations with Sussex, Hampshire, and Surrey.

Battle Honours and Deployments

Battle honours carried by the regiment encompassed engagements from the Peninsular War through to actions in the Second World War such as El Alamein and the Italian Campaign. Colonial and imperial campaigns represented included honours from the Opium Wars, the Anglo‑Afghan Wars, and the Zulu War. Twentieth‑century honours cited service in the Somme, Ypres, Passchendaele, and later theatres including North Africa, Tunisia, and Burma Campaign (World War II). Post‑war deployments featured operations in Suez, counter‑insurgency in Malaya, internal security in Cyprus Emergency, emergency operations in Aden, and sustained tours in Northern Ireland during operations like Operation Banner. In the 1990s and 2000s elements were deployed on UNPROFOR peacekeeping in Bosnia, under NATO commitments in Kosovo, and in stability operations during Operation Telic and Operation Herrick.

Traditions and Regimental Culture

The regiment maintained light infantry customs such as rapid tactical manoeuvre training, marksmanship emphasis, skirmisher esprit de corps, and the use of bugle calls derived from traditions of the Rifle Brigade and the King's Royal Rifle Corps. Regimental music and marches included pieces associated with the Coldstream Guards and folk military tunes like "The Road to the Isles". Annual ceremonies linked to the Remembrance Sunday parade in London and regimental commemorations at memorials for battles such as Waterloo and Inkerman. Associations with veterans’ organisations like the Royal British Legion and regimental museums in locations such as Winchester Military Museum preserved collections alongside exhibits on figures who served in predecessor units including officers connected to the Duke of Wellington and campaigners associated with the Crimean War.

Amalgamation and Legacy

In 2007 the Royal Green Jackets were amalgamated into The Rifles, a large regiment formed by merging several infantry units including the Cheshire Regiment, Devonshire and Dorset Regiment, Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment, and Light Infantry. The regimental traditions, battle honours, and insignia influenced The Rifles' heritage, and memorials remained at former depots and museums such as the National Army Museum. Former battalion associations continued veterans’ activities, and the ethos of light infantry tactics persisted in modern British Army doctrine embodied by formations like 16 Air Assault Brigade and units deployed under NATO command.

Category:Infantry regiments of the British Army Category:Military units and formations established in 1966 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 2007