King's Royal Rifle Corps

King's Royal Rifle Corps was a British Army infantry regiment, raised in America in 1755 as the 62nd Regiment of Foot. The regiment was formed by Richard Montgomery and William Alexander, and it saw action in the French and Indian War, including the Battle of Fort Duquesne and the Battle of Fort Ligonier. The regiment was later involved in the American Revolutionary War, fighting at the Battle of Bunker Hill and the Battle of Long Island. It also served during the Napoleonic Wars, including the Peninsular War and the Battle of Waterloo, under the command of the Duke of Wellington and alongside the Coldstream Guards and the Grenadier Guards.

● History

The regiment was raised in 1755 as the 62nd Regiment of Foot, and it was later redesignated as the 60th Regiment of Foot in 1757. The regiment saw action in the Seven Years' War, including the Battle of Fort Niagara and the Battle of Montreal, under the command of Jeffrey Amherst and alongside the Royal Scots and the Black Watch. The regiment was later involved in the American Revolutionary War, fighting at the Battle of Saratoga and the Battle of Yorktown, under the command of Charles Cornwallis and alongside the Light Infantry and the Rifle Brigade. It also served during the Napoleonic Wars, including the Battle of Talavera and the Battle of Salamanca, under the command of the Duke of Wellington and alongside the Scots Guards and the Irish Guards.

● Organisation

The regiment was part of the Light Division and was known for its Rifle tactics, which were developed by John Moore and John Francis Cradock. The regiment was also part of the Peninsular Army and served under the command of the Duke of Wellington and alongside the 95th Rifles and the 43rd Regiment of Foot. The regiment was later involved in the Crimean War, fighting at the Battle of Alma and the Battle of Inkerman, under the command of Lord Raglan and alongside the Grenadier Guards and the Coldstream Guards. It also served during the Boer Wars, including the Second Boer War and the Battle of Spion Kop, under the command of Redvers Buller and alongside the Royal Fusiliers and the King's Own Scottish Borderers.

● Battle_Honours

The regiment earned numerous Battle Honours during its history, including Dettingen, Minden, Salamanca, Vitoria, Toulouse, Peninsula, Waterloo, Alma, Inkerman, and Sevastopol. The regiment also earned honours for its service during the Boer Wars, including Relief of Ladysmith and Defence of Ladysmith. The regiment's battle honours also include Ypres 1914, Ypres 1915, Loos, Somme 1916, Somme 1918, and Amiens. The regiment served alongside the Australian Imperial Force and the Canadian Expeditionary Force during World War I, and it was involved in the Battle of the Somme and the Battle of Passchendaele.

● Uniform_and_Equipment

The regiment's uniform was distinctive, with a Rifle green tunic and Baker rifle equipment. The regiment's uniform was designed by John Moore and was influenced by the 95th Rifles and the 60th Regiment of Foot. The regiment's equipment included the Baker rifle, which was developed by Ezekiel Baker and was used during the Napoleonic Wars. The regiment also used the Lee-Enfield rifle during World War I, and it was equipped with the Vickers machine gun and the Lewis gun.

● Notable_Members

The regiment had several notable members, including John Moore, John Francis Cradock, and Bernard Montgomery. The regiment also included Winston Churchill, who served as a Lieutenant in the regiment during the Boer Wars. Other notable members include Rudyard Kipling, who served as a War correspondent during the Boer Wars, and Baden-Powell, who served as a Scout during the Boer Wars. The regiment also included Douglas Haig, who served as a General during World War I and was involved in the Battle of the Somme and the Battle of Passchendaele.

● Legacy

The regiment's legacy continues to be celebrated, with the Rifle Brigade and the Royal Green Jackets being formed from its traditions. The regiment's history is also commemorated at the National Army Museum and the Imperial War Museum. The regiment's battle honours are also remembered at the Cenotaph and the Menin Gate. The regiment's legacy also includes the Duke of Connaught's Own Rifles, which was a Canadian Army regiment that was formed from the traditions of the King's Royal Rifle Corps. The regiment's legacy continues to be celebrated by the Rifles and the Royal Regiment of Scotland, which are the modern-day successors to the King's Royal Rifle Corps.