Royal Green Jackets

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Royal Green Jackets

The Royal Green Jackets (RGJ) was an infantry

Infantry

Infantry are soldiers who are primarily trained for the role of fighting on foot. A soldier in the infantry is known as an infantryman. Infantry units have more physically demanding training than other branches of armies, and place a greater emphasis on fitness, physical strength and aggression....
regiment

Regiment

A regiment is a military unit, composed of variable numbers of battalions, commanded by a Colonel. Depending on the nation, military branch, mission, and organization, a modern regiment resembles a brigade, in that both range in size from a few hundred to 5,000 soldiers ....
of the British Army

British Army

The British Army is the Army branch of the British Armed Forces. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdoms of Kingdom of England and Kingdom of Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707....
, one of two "large regiments"

Large regiment

A large regiment is a multi-battalion infantry formation of the British Army. First formed in the 1960s, large regiments are the result of the amalgamation of three or more existing single-battalion regiments, and perpetuate the traditions of each of the predecessor units....
within the Light Division

Light Division

The Light Division was a light infantry Division of the British Army formed in the early 19th Century. It can trace its origins to the Light Companies which had been formed to move at speed over inhospitable terrain and protect the main forces by skirmishing tactics....
(the other being The Light Infantry

The Light Infantry

The Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Light Division. It was formed on 10 July 1968 as a "large regiment" by the amalgamation of the four remaining light infantry regiments of the Light Infantry Brigade:...
). It was formed in 1966 by the amalgamation of the three separate regiments of the Green Jackets Brigade

Green Jackets Brigade

The Green Jackets Brigade was an administrative formation of the British Army from 1948 to 1968. The Brigade administered the England rifle regiment....
:

There were also two Territorial Army battalions made up as follows

In 1992 1st RGJ was disbanded and 2/RGJ and 3/RGJ renumbered 1/RGJ and 2/RGJ respectively.

Their motto was Celer et Audax (Latin
Latin

Latin is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. Through the Military history of the Roman Empire, Latin spread throughout the Mediterranean and a large part of Europe....
: "Swift and Bold").

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Encyclopedia

The Royal Green Jackets (RGJ) was an infantry
Infantry

Infantry are soldiers who are primarily trained for the role of fighting on foot. A soldier in the infantry is known as an infantryman. Infantry units have more physically demanding training than other branches of armies, and place a greater emphasis on fitness, physical strength and aggression....
regiment
Regiment

A regiment is a military unit, composed of variable numbers of battalions, commanded by a Colonel. Depending on the nation, military branch, mission, and organization, a modern regiment resembles a brigade, in that both range in size from a few hundred to 5,000 soldiers ....
of the British Army
British Army

The British Army is the Army branch of the British Armed Forces. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdoms of Kingdom of England and Kingdom of Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707....
, one of two "large regiments"
Large regiment

A large regiment is a multi-battalion infantry formation of the British Army. First formed in the 1960s, large regiments are the result of the amalgamation of three or more existing single-battalion regiments, and perpetuate the traditions of each of the predecessor units....
within the Light Division
Light Division

The Light Division was a light infantry Division of the British Army formed in the early 19th Century. It can trace its origins to the Light Companies which had been formed to move at speed over inhospitable terrain and protect the main forces by skirmishing tactics....
(the other being The Light Infantry
The Light Infantry

The Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Light Division. It was formed on 10 July 1968 as a "large regiment" by the amalgamation of the four remaining light infantry regiments of the Light Infantry Brigade:...
). It was formed in 1966 by the amalgamation of the three separate regiments of the Green Jackets Brigade
Green Jackets Brigade

The Green Jackets Brigade was an administrative formation of the British Army from 1948 to 1968. The Brigade administered the England rifle regiment....
:
1st Green Jackets (43rd and 52nd)
Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry

The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the British Army.The regiment was formed as a consequence of Childers reforms of the armed forces, a continuation of the Cardwell reforms, by the amalgamation of the 43rd Regiment of Foot and the 52nd Regiment of Foot, forming the 1st and 2nd Battalions, The...
2nd Green Jackets, The King's Royal Rifle Corps
King's Royal Rifle Corps

The King's Royal Rifle Corps was a British Army infantry formation, originally raised in colonial North America as the Royal Americans, and recruited from American colonists....
3rd Green Jackets, The Rifle Brigade

There were also two Territorial Army battalions made up as follows

4th(v)Bn Royal Green Jackets - formed from the remnants of the Rangers (KRRC), London Rifle Brigade, Tower Hamlets Rifles, Queens Westminsters, Queen Victoria's Rifles and Civil Service Rifles.

5th(v)Bn the Royal Green Jackets - formed from the 4th Bn the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (TA) and the Buckinghamshire Battalion of the Ox & Bucks Light Infantry

In 1992 1st RGJ was disbanded and 2/RGJ and 3/RGJ renumbered 1/RGJ and 2/RGJ respectively.

Their motto was Celer et Audax (Latin
Latin

Latin is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. Through the Military history of the Roman Empire, Latin spread throughout the Mediterranean and a large part of Europe....
: "Swift and Bold"). As they were used as shock troops and marksmen, they had to get to the front line of battle as fast as was possible; as a result the RGJ marches at 140 paces per minute whereas other regiments march at just 120. Until recently no other regiment has devoted so much time to becoming highly proficient with the rifle, even though it has been part of standard army issue for 140 years; as a consequence, the RGJ's lowest rank (after 'recruit') is Rifleman
Rifleman

Rifleman is a private soldier in a rifle unit of infantry....
(Rfn), rather than Private
Private (rank)

A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank . The term dates from the Middle Ages, where privates were known as "private soldiers" who were either hired, conscripted, or feudalism into service by a nobleman forming an army....
(Pte), as in other regiments.

The regiment was classed as a 'rifle' regiment, having its lineage in the regiments of foot that were equipped with the first Baker rifle
Baker rifle

The Baker rifle was a flintlock rifle used by the Rifle regiments of the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars. It was the first standard-issue, British-made rifle accepted by the British armed forces....
s. Traditionally, rifle regiments wore rifle green tunics, an early form of camouflage
Camouflage

Camouflage is a method of cryptic or concealing coloration that allows an otherwise visible organism or object to remain invisibility through deception....
, instead of the red jackets worn by line infantry, hence the regimental name. Also, the regiment carried no colours, as traditionally rifle regiments, being skirmishers and sharpshooters, had no need to identify where their fellows were on the battlefield. So, the battle honours of the Royal Green Jackets were worn on the regiment's cap badge
Cap badge

A cap badge, also known as head badge or hat badge, is a badge worn on uniform headgear and distinguishes the wearer's nationality and/or organisation....
. Infantry in the regiment wore a beret
Beret

A beret is a soft round cap, usually of wool felt, with a flat crown, which is worn by both men and women and traditionally associated with France....
with the badge behind the left eye towards the side of the head, traditionally to show that they don't need to hide behind their colours to show how good the regiment is. Green Jackets were issued with short swords instead of bayonets as the Baker rifle
Baker rifle

The Baker rifle was a flintlock rifle used by the Rifle regiments of the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars. It was the first standard-issue, British-made rifle accepted by the British armed forces....
s of the past were shorter than the traditional musket
Musket

A musket is a Muzzle -loaded, smoothbore long gun, which is intended to be fired from the shoulder.Usually, the musket is thought to be the weapon that replaced the arquebus, and was in turn replaced by the rifle....
, fitting the sword to the rifle made the overall weapon length the same as a musket with bayonet attached. The RGJ still refer to their bayonets as 'swords'. The Royal Green Jackets have been awarded more Victoria Crosses than any other unit, with a total of 56.

Amalgamations of 2005
As part of the 2004 restructuring of the infantry
Delivering Security in a Changing World

The 2003 Defence white paper, entitled Delivering Security in a Changing World set out the future structure of the Military of the United Kingdom, and was preceded by the 1998 Strategic Defence Review and the 2002 SDR New Chapter, which responded to the immediate challenges to security in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks....
, the RGJ was scheduled to be largely unaffected - though the regiment had already been reduced to two Regular battalions in 1992. The regiment would have received a new Territorial Army
Territorial Army

The Territorial Army is the volunteer Military reserve force of the British Army, the army of the United Kingdom, and composed mostly of part-time soldiers paid at a similar rate, while engaged on military activities, as their Regular equivalents....
battalion through the grouping together of the various RGJ companies of the Royal Rifle Volunteers and the London Regiment
London Regiment

The London Regiment is a Territorial Army regiment in the British Army. It was first formed in 1908 in order to regiment the various Volunteer Force battalions in the newly formed County of London, each battalion having a distinctive uniform....
.

However, on 24 November 2005 it was announced that after discussions between The Light Infantry
The Light Infantry

The Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Light Division. It was formed on 10 July 1968 as a "large regiment" by the amalgamation of the four remaining light infantry regiments of the Light Infantry Brigade:...
and the RGJ, the two would be merged together with the Devonshire and Dorset Light Infantry and Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Light Infantry by the end of 2007 to form a single large regiment
Large regiment

A large regiment is a multi-battalion infantry formation of the British Army. First formed in the 1960s, large regiments are the result of the amalgamation of three or more existing single-battalion regiments, and perpetuate the traditions of each of the predecessor units....
to be called The Rifles
The Rifles

The Rifles is a regiment of the British Army. It consists of five regular and two territorial battalions, plus a number of companies in other TA battalions, making the regiment the largest in the infantry....
. The new regiment was to contain five Regular Battalions and two TA Battalions. The amalgamation was completed in 2007.

The 1st Battalion Royal Green Jackets became 2nd Battalion, The Rifles
The 2nd Battalion Royal Green Jackets became 4th Battalion, The Rifles
the surviving Territorial Army companies of 4 & 5 RGJ, along with a company of the RGBW became 7th Battalion, The Rifles

The Maltese Cross
Maltese cross

The Maltese cross or Amalfi cross is identified as the symbol of an order of Christian warriors known as the Knights Hospitaller or Knights of Malta....
cap badge of the RGJ was adopted as the belt badge of The Rifles and will carry the battle honours. The Rifles is a Rifle Regiment and as such will not carry colours, also the title "Rifleman" will be used for Private soldiers, as it was with the Royal Green Jackets.

The Royal Green Jackets has two Combined Cadet Force units, which are part of the prestigious London Oratory School
London Oratory School

The London Oratory School is a Roman Catholic Church, Voluntary aided school, Comprehensive school secondary school in Fulham, London. The Headmaster is David McFadden....
CCF, and Winchester College
Winchester College

Winchester College is a famous boys' independent school, set in the city of Winchester, Hampshire in Hampshire, England, once the ancient capital....
CCF

Battle Honours

Louisburg, Quebec 1759, Martinique 1762, Havannah, North America 1763-64, Mysore, Hindoostan, Martinique 1794, Copenhagen, Montevideo, RoLica, Vimiero, Corunna, Martinique 1809, Talavera, Busaco, Barrosa, Fuentes d'Onor, Albuhera, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vitoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, Orthez, Toulouse, Peninsula, Waterloo, South Africa 1846-47, Mooltan, Goojerat, Punjab, South Africa 1851-53, Alma, lnkerman, Sevastopol, Delhi 1857, Lucknow, Taku Forts, Pekin 1860, New Zealand, Ashantee 1873-74, Au Masjid, South Africa 1879, Ahmed Khel, Kandahar 1880, Afghanistan 1878-80, Tel-ei-Kebir, Egypt 1882-84, Burma 1885-87, Chitral, Khartoum, Defence of Ladysmith, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Relief of Ladysmith
Relief of Ladysmith

The Relief of Ladysmith, also known as The Battle of Tugela Heights, consisted of a series of military actions lasting from February 14 through February 27, 1900 in which General Sir Redvers Buller's British army forced Louis Botha's Boer army to lift the Siege of Ladysmith during the Second Boer War....
, South Africa 1899-1902.
The Great War: Mons, Le Cateau, Retreat from Mons, Marne 1914, Aisne 1914, 18, Armentières 1914, Ypres 1914, 15, 17, 18, Langemarck 1914, 17, Gheluvelt, Nonne Boschen, Givenchy 1914, Neuve Chapelle, Gravenstafel, St. Julien, Frezenberg, Heliewaarde, Aubers, Festubert 1915, Hooge 1915, Loos, Mount Sorrel, Somme 1916, 18, Albert 1916, 18, Bazentin, Delville Wood
Delville Wood

Delville Wood is a small forest adjacent to the village of Longueval in the Somme d?partement in France of northern France at . The wood was the scene of an intense battle between British Empire and Germany forces during the 1916 Battle of the Somme ....
, Pozières, Guillemont, Flers-Courcelette, Morval, Le Transloy, Ancre Heights, Ancre 1916, 18, Bapaume 1917, 18, Arras 1917, 18, Vimy 1917, Scarpe 1917, 18, Arleux, Messines 1917, 18, Pilckem, Menin Road, Polygon Wood, Broodseinde, Poelcappelle, Passchendaele, Cambrai 1917, 18, St. Quentin, Rosières, Avre, Villers-Bretonneux, Lys
Lys

Lys may refer to any of the following:Places*The Lys River or Leie, a river in France and Belgium*Lys , a stream of Aosta Valley in Italy*Lys, Pyr?n?es-Atlantiques, a commune in the Pyr?n?es-Atlantiques department in France...
, Hazebrouck
Hazebrouck

Hazebrouck is a Communes of France in the Nord Departments of France in northern France. Hazebrouck in Flanders was a small market town before it became an important railway junction in the 1860s....
, Bailleul, Kemmel, Bethune, Drocourt Quéant, Hindenburg Line, Havrincourt, Epehy, Canal du Nord, St. Quentin Canal, Beaurevoir, Kortrijk, Selle, Valenciennes, Sambre, France and Flanders 1914-18, Piave, Vittorio Veneto, Italy 1917-18, Doiran 1917, 18, Macedonia 1915-18, Kut al Amara 1915, Ctesiphon, Defence of Kut al Amara, Tigris 1916, Khan Baghdadi, Mesopotamia 1914-18.
Archangel 1919
The Second World War: Defence of Escaut, Calais 1940, Cassel, Ypres-Comines Canal, Normandy Landing, Pegasus Bridge
Pegasus Bridge

Pegasus Bridge is a bascule bridge over the Canal de Caen ? la Mer, near Ouistreham, France. The bridge, also known as the B?nouville, Calvados Bridge after the neighbouring village, was a major objective of Operation Tonga....
, Villers Bocage, Odon
Odon

Odon may refer to:People* Odon of Greater Poland, duke of Greater Poland* Odon de Pins, Grand Master of the Knights HospitallerPlaces...
, Caen, Esquay, Bourguebus Ridge, Mont Pincon, Le Perier Ridge, Falaise, Antwerp, Hechtel, Nederrijn, Lower Maas, Roer, Ourthe, Rhineland, Reichswald, Kleve, Goch, Hochwald, Rhine, Ibbenbueren, Dreirwalde, Leese, Aller, North-West Europe 1940, 44-45, Egyptian Frontier 1940, Sidi Barrani, Beda Fomm, Mersa el Brega, Agedabia, Derna Aerodrome, Tobruk 1941, Sidi Rezegh 1941, Chor es Sufan, Saunnu, Gazala, Bir Hacheim, Knightsbridge, Defence of Alamein Line, Ruweisat, Fuka Airfield, Alam el Halfa, El Alamein
El Alamein

El Alamein is a town in northern Egypt on the Mediterranean Sea coast in Matruh Governorate. It is west of Alexandria and northwest of Cairo....
, Capture of Haifaya Pass, Nofilia, Tebaga Gap, Enfidaville, Medjez el Bab, Kasserine
Battle of the Kasserine Pass

The Battle of Kasserine Pass took place in World War II during the Tunisia Campaign. It was, in fact, a series of battles fought around Kasserine Pass, a two-mile wide gap in the Grand Dorsal chain of the Atlas Mountains in west central Tunisia....
, Thala, Fondouk, Fondouk Pass, El Kourzia, Djebel Kournine, Agroub el Megas, Tunis, Hamman Lif, North Africa 1940-43, Sangro, Salerno, Santa Lucia, Salerno Hills, Cardito, Teano, Monte Camino, Garigliano Crossing, Damiano, Anzio, Cassino
Cassino

Cassino is a comune in the Provinces of Italy of Province of Frosinone, Italy, at the southern end of the region of Lazio.Cassino is located at the foot of Monte Cairo near the confluence of the Rapido River and Liri rivers....
II, Liri Valley, Melfa Crossing, Monte Rotondo, Capture of Perugia, Monte Malbe, Arezzo, Advance to Florence, Gothic Line
Gothic Line

The Gothic Line, also known as Linea Gotica, formed Field Marshal Albert Kesselring's last major line of defence in the final stages of World War II along the summits of the Apennine Mountains during the fighting retreat of Nazi Germany's forces in Italy against the Allied Armies in Italy commanded by General Sir Harold Alexander,...
, Coriano, Gemmano Ridge, Lamone Crossing, Orsara, Tossignano, Argenta Gap, Fossa Cembalina, Italy 1943-45, Veve, Greece 1941, 44,45, Crete, Middle East 1941, Arakan Beaches, Tamandu, Burma 1943-44.

Uniform
All Green jackets would have historically been made of wool with a lining of linen to give shape to the garment. The modern scarlet wool is also supplied by "Abimelech Hainsworth" and is much lighter than the traditional material, which was intended for hard wear on active service. Their boots were made of fake thick animal hyde, this was then lined in a thin layer of wool. They had a small pouch on the side of their hip, this contained the ammunition for their Rifles.

International controversy

In September 1994, in Cyprus, a young Danish tour guide called Louise Jensen
Louise Jensen

Louise Jensen was a tour guide from Denmark who was abducted by British Armed Forces Allan Ford, Justin Fowler, and Geoffrey Pernell while working in Cyprus....
was dragged from her boyfriend by three members of the 1st Battalion Royal Green Jackets
Royal Green Jackets

The Royal Green Jackets was an infantry regiment of the British Army, one of two large regiment within the Light Division . It was formed in 1966 by the amalgamation of the three separate regiments of the Green Jackets Brigade:...
, raped and murdered. Allan Ford, Justin Fowler and Geoff Pernell were convicted less than two years later amid much bitterness among the Cypriots and the World's media.

Alliances
- Sydney University Regiment
Sydney University Regiment

Sydney University Regiment is a Reserve regiment in the Australian Army Reserve. It's current role is the the training of Reserve Officers for the Army Reserve....
- The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own) (RCAC)
The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own) (RCAC)

The British Columbia Regiment is a Primary Reserve armoured reconnaissance regiment of the Canadian Forces which is part of 39 Canadian Brigade Group of Land Force Western Area....
- Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry

Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry is an infantry regiment in the Canadian Forces , belonging to 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group ....
- The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada
The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada

The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada are a militia regiment within the Canadian Forces, based in Toronto, Ontario. The regiment is part of Land Force Central Area's 32 Canadian Brigade Group....
(1966-2007)
- The Brockville Rifles
The Brockville Rifles

The Brockville Rifles is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces. It is fifteenth in the order of precedence.The motto of the regiment is Semper Paratus meaning 'Always Ready'....
- The Royal Winnipeg Rifles
The Royal Winnipeg Rifles

The Royal Winnipeg Rifles are a Primary Reserve one-battalion infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces. Nicknamed the "Little Black Devils", they are based at Minto Armouries in Winnipeg, Manitoba....
- The Royal Regina Rifles
The Royal Regina Rifles

The Royal Regina Rifles is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces. Prior to 1982 the regiment was known as The Regina Rifle Regiment....
- 1st Battalion, The Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment
Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment

The Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment is the main combat unit in the regular New Zealand Army. It was formed January 9 1947 as the New Zealand Regiment with a single infantry battalion as part of the newly created infantry corps....
- The Hauraki Regiment
Hauraki Regiment

The Hauraki Regiment is a Territorial Force unit of the New Zealand Army. The regiment is unique among the TF units in that it has never been amalgamated, and thus can trace its history directly back to its formation in 1898....
- The Durban Light Infantry
Durban Light Infantry

The Durban Light Infantry Regiment is a Mechanised infantry regiment of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a United Kingdom Territorial Army unit or United States Army Reserve Unit unit....
- The Kaffrarian Rifles
Kaffrarian Rifles

The Kaffrarian Rifles is an infantry regiment of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a United Kingdom Territorial Army or United States Army National Guard unit....
- 2nd Battalion, The Frontier Force Regiment (Guides)
Frontier Force Regiment

The Frontier Force Regiment is one of six Infantry regiments in the Pakistan Army. At present, the regiment consists of 52 battalions and has its regimental depot at Abbottabad in the North-West Frontier Province....
- Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment
Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment

The Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment is the first Light Infantry in the Sri Lanka Army and the second oldest infantry regiment in the army. It is made up of seven regular battalions, five volunteer battalions and a head quarter battalion....
- 1st Battalion, The Ghana Regiment
Ghana Regiment

The Ghana Regiment is an infantry regiment that forms the main fighting element of the Military of Ghana.The regiment was formed in 1879 as the Gold Coast Constabulary, from personnel of the Hausa Constabulary of Southern Nigeria, to perform internal security and police duties in the British colony of the Gold Coast ....
- HMS Somerset
HMS Somerset (F82)

HMS Somerset is a Type 23 frigate frigate of the Royal Navy.HMS Somerset is the eleventh of the class to join the fleet since 1989. She was built by Yarrow Shipbuilders Ltd on the river Clyde, in Scotland and was launched in June 1994 by Lady Elspeth Layard, wife of then 2nd Sea Lord Admiral and Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Comman...

See also

Pegasus Bridge
Pegasus Bridge

Pegasus Bridge is a bascule bridge over the Canal de Caen ? la Mer, near Ouistreham, France. The bridge, also known as the B?nouville, Calvados Bridge after the neighbouring village, was a major objective of Operation Tonga....
Bermuda Volunteer Rifle Corps
Bermuda Volunteer Rifle Corps

File:Bermuda Volunteer Rifle Corps Badges.jpgThe Bermuda Volunteer Rifle Corps was created in 1894 as an all-White people racial segregation reserve for the British Army Regular Army infantry component of the Bermuda Garrison....