London Brochure Final(4) - Flipbook - Page 7
Peninsula War (1808-14) - The 60th and 95th Rifles fought throughout the Peninsula
War. The Duke of Wellington described the 60th as "most useful, active and brave troops
in the field" and would go on to become the Colonel-in-Chief of the 95th (by then known
as the Rifle Brigade) from 1820 until 1852.
Lucknow (1857) - 2 & 3/RB took part in the Relief of Lucknow, which had withstood
a siege for 140 days. Three men from the Regiment, Captain Henry Wilmot, Corporal
William Nash and Rifleman David Hawkes, won the Victoria Cross at Lucknow.
Quebec (1759) - The 60th fought in the General Wolfe’s campaign to conquer
Canada. During the campaign, Wolfe witnessed the 60th advance quickly on a
river crossing and fight their way across. He was so impressed that he declared
that they were ‘Celer et Audax’ – Swift and Bold.
Calais (1940) - During the Battle of France, a small British force, which
included 2 & 7/KRRC and 1/RB, was deployed to Calais. Facing two armoured
divisions, the Riflemen fought for every inch of ground until, running low on
ammunition, food and water, they were forced to surrender. Their actions
bought vital time for the Dunkirk evacuations.
South Africa (1846-47, 1851-53, 1879, 1899-1902) - 1/RB fought
in the Seventh Xhosa War and, a few years later, 2/KRRC and 1/RB
took part in the Eighth Xhosa War. 1, 2 & 3/KRRC were engaged
in the Zulu War. 1, 2, 3 & 4/KRRC, 1 & 2/RB and 10 battalions of the
London Regiment fought in the Second Boer War.
El Alamein (1942) - 1, 2 & 11/KRRC, 2 & 9/RB and 1, 2 & 5/LR
fought at the Battle of El Alamein. During the battle, Lt Col
Victor Turner, 2/RB, won a Victoria Cross. Turner’s Battalion
fought off a German counterattack consisting of 90 tanks.
Ypres (1914,’15,’17, ‘18) - 1 & 2/KRRC fought in the First Battle of
Ypres. 3 & 4/KRRC, 1 & 4/RB and 5, 9 & 12/LR took part in the
Second Battle of Ypres, where LSjt Douglas Belcher won the
London Regiment’s first Victoria Cross. 9 Bns of the KRRC, 13
Bns of the RB, and 12 Bns of the LR saw fighting in the Third
Battle of Ypres.
Normandy (1944) - 2, 11 & 12/KRRC, 1 & 8/RB and 5/LR fought in
Normandy. The KRRC played a key role in the capture of Caen and the
closing of the Falaise Pocket. The RB took part in Operation Goodwood,
during which the 8/RB badly mauled the 1st SS Panzer Division.
of London regiments from 1757 to the formation in 2007
1958
2nd Green Jackets
1958
3rd Green Jackets
1966
The Royal Green
Jackets (RGJ)
2007
The Rifles
(RIFLES)
