Bristol Brochure Final(8) - Flipbook - Page 6
BRISTOL'S PART IN
RIFLES HISTORY
Most infantry regiments carry
their battle honours on Colours
(ceremonial flags). RIFLES
Battalions do not have Colours,
but all Riflemen carry 34
representative battle honours
(of 913 awarded) on their belt
badge. Some honours were
Vittorio Veneto (1918) - 1/4th Glosters transferred to the Italian
Front in December 1917. They took part in a raid the night before
the Battle of Vittorio Veneto, capturing 229 Austrian prisoners,
before re-organising to fight in the main battle.
for great battles of national
significance, like Waterloo,
the Somme, El Alamein and
Normandy. Others are unique to
The Rifles, such as Marabout and
Pegasus Bridge. One scroll on
the belt badge is left blank for a
battle honour yet to be won.
South Africa (1899-1902) - North Somerset Yeomanry from
Bristol deployed in early 1900, operating with the 7th Battalion
of Imperial Yeomanry. 1st (City of Bristol) Volunteer Battalion
sent detachments to join their comrades in 1 & 2/Glosters.
Volunteers also supported 2/Somersets following their actions
during the Relief of Ladysmith.
Peninsula War (1808-14) - The 1st Battalion 61st
(South Gloucestershire) of Foot landed in Portugal
in 1809. They then saw action throughout the War,
notably at Salamanca, and won 7 battle honours. Due
to heavy casualties they received reinforcements from
the newly raised 2/61st.
Ypres (1917) - In the Passchendaele offensive
four battalions of the Somersets won several
honours. 1/4th (City of Bristol) also fought at Third
Ypres, notably at Langemarck, Polygon Wood,
Broodseinde and Poelcappelle. 2/4th (City of
Bristol) arrived as reinforcements during the battle.
The Menin Gate and St George’s Church Ypres help
mark the nation’s commitment.
Martinique (1809) - In 1809 the 1st Battalion 13th
(Somerset) of Foot, landed and fought the French
in the successful capture of Martinique. They redeployed to Canada in 1813, reinforced by English
Militia.
Somme (1916) - Regular, volunteer and conscript
infanteers from Bristol, served throughout the
Somme Offensive, mainly with the Gloucestershire
Regiment and Somerset Light Infantry. 1/4th (City
of Bristol) went into action on the second day. At
Bazentin Ridge they won their objectives but later
suffered heavily at Pozieres.
Normandy (1944) - 2/Glosters took part in the Normandy
landings, coming ashore unopposed on Gold Beach as part
of the second wave. Two days later they fought at Villers
Bocage where they faced Tiger 1 tanks. 4 & 7/Somersets
were operational as a part of 43rd Wessex Division by 24th
June. Battle honours included Hill 112, at great cost, as well
as Mont Pincon and crossings over the Seine.
Abridged timeline of historical names and amalgamations of Bristol regiments from 1859 to the formation in 2007
1859
City of Bristol
Rifles
1883
1st (City of Bristol) Volunteer Battalion,
Gloucestershire Regiment
1908
4th (City of Bristol) Volunteer
Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment
1914
2/4th (City of Bristol)
Battalion
1915
2/4th (City of Bristol)
Battalion
2007
The Rifles
(RIFLES)
