Dates: 1756 - 1966
The King’s Royal Rifle Corps was a British Army formation, originally raised in colonial America as the Royal Americans, and recruited from American colonists in 1756 as the 62nd (Royal American) Regiment to defend the thirteen colonies against infiltration by the French and their native American allies. After Braddock’s defeat in 1755, in March 1756 a special Act of Parliament created 4 battalions of 1,000 men to include foreigners for service in the Americas. Swiss and German forest fighting experts, American colonists and British volunteers from other British regiments were recruited. The battalions were raised on Governors Island, New York. The regiment was renumbered the 60th (Royal American) Regiment in 1757 when the 50th (Shirley’s) and 51st (Pepperrell’s) foot regiments were removed from the British Army roll after their surrender at Fort Oswego.
Among the distinguished foreign officers given commissions in the 60th (Royal Americans) was Henri Bouquet, a Swiss citizen, whose ideas on tactics, training and man-management (including the unofficial introduction of the rifle and ’battle-dress`) were only to become universal in the British Army after another 150 years. With his counterparts, Bouquet, the commanding officer of the 1st battalion, set about creating a unit that was uniquely suited to warfare in the forests and lakes that were the North American theatre of battle between Great Britain and France. The Royal Americans represent a deliberate attempt to produce a different and more able soldier who was encouraged to use his initiative, whilst retaining the discipline that was noticeably lacking in the irregular units of colonial Rangers that were being raised at the same time.
The new regiment fought at Louisbourg in 1758 and Quebec in 1759 in the campaign which finally wrested Canada from France; at Quebec it won from General James Wolfe the motto `Celer et Audax` (Swift and Bold). These were conventional battles on the European model, but the challenge of Pontiac’s Rebellion in 1763 was of a very different character and threatened the British control of North America. The new regiment at first lost several outlying garrisons but finally proved its mastery of forest warfare under Bouquet’s leadership at the decisive victory of Bushy Run.
They were uniformed and equipped in a similar manner to other British regiments with red coats and Grenadier hats , but on campaign swords were replaced with hatchets, and coats and hats would be cut down for ease of movement on the North American frontier.
Napoleonic Wars
During the Napoleonic Wars the unit played a part in the Peninsular War. The first four regular battalions had been raised as regular line battalions, but a 5th battalion was raised and equipped entirely with the Baker rifles, and wore green jackets with red facings. The mixing of rifle troops and muskets proved popular enough that eventually the line battalion’s light companies, were replaced with rifle companies. The line battalions found themselves in different theatres, including the West Indies. The rifle battalion was soon supplemented with a second, and found themselves in the Peninsula with Wellington’s army, serving along with the 95th Rifles, and the King’s German Legion rifle units. A 7th battalion was eventually raised as a rifle battalion specifically for service in the American War of 1812.
The unit’s name was not changed until after the Napoleonic Wars; first to The Duke of York’s Own Rifle Corps and then in 1830 to the King’s Royal Rifle Corps. In 1858 the Rifle Depot at Winchester was made their headquarters. During the rest of the 1800s the unit was active in China, Canada (Wolseley Expedition), Afghanistan, India, Burma and South Africa.
Boer War 1899-1902
Three of KRRC Battalions fought in the Boer War. They were involved in many actions including both the defence and relief of Ladysmith. At Talans Hill and Twin Peaks the `modern` infantry skirmishing tactics which the regiment had been practising for 100 years were met with brilliant success while the constant quest for mobility led to the 60th taking a leading role in the development of mounted infantry. It formed a complete Mounted Infantry battalion and one of its officers founded the Mounted Infantry School at Aldershot.
WW1 1914-1918
In 1914-15 the regiment expanded to twenty-two battalions, not counting those with training and reserve rolls at home. Fighting in the early months still favoured the traditional Rifleman`s skills of fire and movement and in 1914 at Hautesvesnes 1 KRRC used them to destroy a whole German battalion.
The later stages were not conducive to tactical innovation, but marksmanship developed in peacetime was an invaluable asset at a time of ascendancy of fire over manoeuvre. The vast majority of the regiment’s effort was devoted to the Western Front, where it gained eight VCs, 2128 other decorations and seventy- one Battle Honours.
WW2 1939-1945
The King's Royal Rifle Corps saw action in Europe, North Africa, Italy, Crete, Greece and the Middle East during the Second World War.
Forces Reunited Forum Posts involving Kings Royal Rifle Corps
" Since we seem to be getting into historical specifics let us get some things straight. South Gloucester Regiment ! I think the Gloucestshire Regiment was how they were known in Korea (the "Glorious"!) RGBW = Royal Berkshire plus Wiltshire plus Gloucestershire (retaining the Royal of Berkshire. ..."
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" I am trying to put together my elderley mothers family tree, and have been informed her Grand Parent Horace Ernest Russell served with the Kings Royal Rifle Corps, and even took his family over with him while he was stationed in Karachi and Lahore. (I am also led to believe he had his photo taken ..."
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"Kenya Regt 1953 - Private
Kings Royal Rifle Corps 1953 to 1955 - Rfn
Royal Signals 1961 to 1983 - WO2(FOS)
Royal Brunei Malay Regt 1973 t0 1975 - Insp (Police)"
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"hi to all of you who served with KINGS ROYAL RIFLE CORPS. i was in from 1957-1960. did my training in winchester, then was in tidworth, then out to Tripoli, was in D COMPANY, 14, PLATOON. came back to ballikinlar northern ireland in 1959. got demobed 1960. trying to trace a mate who served with me called dave blanchard, came from essex or london area. any info, love to here from you."
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"9th kings royal rifle corps"
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