Shropshire Brochure Final(5) - Flipbook - Page 6
SHROPSHIRE'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 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.
Peninsula War (1808-14) - The 53rd fought with distinction
throughout the Peninsular War. Landing in Portugal in 1809, the
Regiment would see action in many key engagements, winning
battle honours for Talavera, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees,
Nivelle and Toulouse.
Anzio (1944) - The 1/KSLI was placed under the command
of the US Army for the Battle of Anzio. The Battalion initially
managed to advance further inland than any other unit. They
formed a vital part of the defensive perimeter around the
beach landings and later took part in the capture of Rome.
Italy (1943-45) - 1 KSLI took part in the first step of the
invasions of Sicily and the Italian mainland when they helped
to capture the island of Pantelleria – halfway between Tunis
and Sicily in June 1943. After Anzio they would fight a series
of battles in the mountains to breach the Gothic Line - Monte
Senario, Monte Ceco and Monte Grande.
Korea (1950-53) - At the outbreak of the Korean War the 1/KSLI were
stationed in Hong Kong. The Battalion arrived in the Korean Peninsula in
1951 and took up a defensive position along the Imjin River. They played a
prominent part in the Battle of Kowang-san.
Abridged timeline of historical names and amalgamations S
1755
1759
55th (later 53rd)
Regiment of Foot (53rd)
King's Volunteers
(later 85th Regiment
of Foot) (85th)
1782
53rd (Shropshire)
Regiment of Foot (53rd)
