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The King's Royal Rifle Corps |
 | | 1755
- 1966 |
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Titles |
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pre 1881 |
post 1881 |
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| 60th (The King's
Royal Rifle Corps) Regiment of Foot |
The King's Royal
Rifle Corps |
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Earliest recognised formation: |
1755, when raised in America as the 62nd (Royal American) Regiment of
Foot, recruiting from German settlers in Pennsylvania, Virginia and
Maryland. The regiment also recruited in Germany. Renumbered the 60th in
1757. |
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| Motto: |
Celer et Audax = Swift and Bold |
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Regimental Journal: |
The KRRC chronicle |
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| WWI: |
Battle Honours; 60 |
Victoria Crosses; 7 |
Died; 12840 |
| WWII: |
Battle Honours; 41 |
Victoria Crosses; 1 |
Died; ??? |
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| Amalgamated: |
1966, with the 1st Green Jackets,
(43rd and 52nd), and the
3rd Green Jackets (The Rifle Brigade), to form: The Royal Green Jackets. |
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| | | | The Regiment expanded to 8
Battalions for the Wars with France. |
Peninsula War 1808 -
1814 |
Military General Service Medal.
1793 - 1814 |
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clasp: |
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| number: |
4* |
13 |
14 |
5 |
14 |
15 |
13 | |
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clasp: |
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| number: |
14 | 10 |
5 | 18 |
15 | 17 |
29 |
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clasp: |
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Max clasps/Total Medals |
| number: |
14 | 1* |
8 | 17 |
12 | 18 |
15 / 72 |
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*detached officers, service elsewhere. |
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Roll |
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This large Regiment that had several battalions with qualifying
service, should have a proportionately larger number of medals
than the average Regiment. Unfortunately the opposite is the
case as many potential recipients returned to Germany or the
colonies after the Peninsular War, and particularly after the
excessive lapse of time, most of the survivors would never get
to hear of the claim process or issue of the Military General
Service Medal. |
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Battle Honours: Martinique 1809;
Rolica; Vimiera; Talavera; Busaco; Fuentes d'Onor; Albuhera;
Ciudad Rodrigo; Badajos; Salamanca; Vittoria; Pyrenees; Nivelle;
Nive; Orthes; Toulouse; Peninsula. |
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1816-19: 1st Battalion, and 4th to 8th Battalions disbanded, the 2nd
redesignated the 1st and the 3rd redesignated the 2nd. | | |
The Second Sikh War 1848 -1849.
1st Battalion | The Punjab Medal 1848-49 | | clasp: |
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| | number: |
998 |
912 | | | Battle Honours: Mooltan, Goojerat, Punjaub |
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8th Kaffir War 1841 - 1853 2nd Battalion (arrived September
1851) | South Africa Medal 1834-53 | | number: |
577 | | |
Quartermaster Luke Fitzgibbon also served in the 7th Kaffir War.
| | | Battle Honours: South Africa 1851-1852-1853. |
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3rd Battalion reformed 1855, and 4th Battalion reformed 1857. Four
battalions of regulars now until 1923 | | | |
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Second China War 1856-60
2nd Battalion |
Second China War Medal 1856-60 |
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| clasp: |
..none... |
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total medals | |
| number: |
? |
? |
? |
792 | |
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majority as two clasp medals |
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Battle Honour: Taku Forts;
Pekin 1860 |
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Fenian Raids Canada 1866-1870 1st and 4th Battalion | Canada General Service Medal 1866-70 | | clasp: |
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| | battalion: | 1st | 4th | 1st | 4th | 1st | 4th | | number: |
6 | 109 |
16 | 7 |
124 | 5 | | | | | |
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South Africa:
Kaffir and Zulu Wars 1877-79 3rd Battalion |
South Africa Medal 1877-79 |
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| clasp: |
...none.... |
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total |
| number: |
38 |
1 |
1 |
1028* |
1068* |
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includes 4 officers of the 60th with no battalion indicated. |
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VCs: 1; Buller
see the
KRRC VC page
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Battle Honour:
South Africa 1879 |
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Afghan War 1878-80
2nd Battalion | Afghanistan Medal 1878 -1880 | | clasp: | ...none... |
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| total | | | number: |
? | 1* |
??? | ??? |
??? | | | |
* Lieut Sir G.T. Campbell | | | General Roberts' March, Kabul to Kandahar 9-31 August 1880 | Kabul to Kandahar Star 1880 | | | | number: |
??? (large percentage qualified) | | | | Battle Honours:
Ahmad Khel, Kandahar 1880, Afghanistan 1878-80 |
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1881 60th Regiment of Foot now becomes The King's Royal Rifle Corps | | |
Revolt of Arabi Pasha and the 1st Sudan War 1882-4 3rd Battalion |
Egypt and Sudan Medal 1882-89 |
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| clasp: |
....none.... |
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| number: |
? | ?* |
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? |
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| clasp: |
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total medals |
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| number: |
? |
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? |
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*1 Officer and 3 men of the 2nd
Battalion serving with the Army Signalling Corps are also on the
roll for this medal and clasp |
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VCs: 1; Corbett
see the
KRRC VC page
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Recipients also entitled to a Khedive's Star "1882"
or "1884" |
Battle Honours: Tel-el-Kebir, Egypt 1882,
1884 |
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The Nile Expedition 1884-5
1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions provided detachments for service
with the Mounted Infantry Camel Corps |
Egypt and Sudan Medal 1882-89 |
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| Clasp: |
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| Battalion: |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
| Number: |
30 |
32 |
31 |
13 |
28 |
25 |
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Recipients
not already in receipt of a Khedive's Star also entitled to a Khedive's Star dated 1884-6 |
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Manipur Expedition and Operations against Burmese Insurgents 1889 - 1892
4th Battalion |
India General Service Medal 1854 - 95 |
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| clasp: |
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| number: |
443 |
? |
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Black Mountain Expedition,
Hazara 1891 & the North West Frontier 1891. 1st Battalion |
India General Service Medal 1854 |
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clasp: |
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number: |
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650 |
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Relief of Chitral 1895 1st Battalion |
India Medal 1895 |
| clasp: |
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| number: |
? |
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Battle Honour: Chitral |
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Anglo - Boer War 1899 - 1902. 1st Battalion (entire war), 2nd
Battalion (Oct 1899 - end of the war) 3rd Battalion ( Nov 1899 - end of war)
4th Battalion (Jan 1902 - end of war) and each of these battalions
contributed drafts to the 25th (Rifles) Mounted Infantry Battalion.
Volunteers from the militia also served. |
Queen's South Africa Medal 1899-1902, with or without the
King's South Africa Medal 1901 - 1902 (4th Btn. generally no KSA) |
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Common clasps: Cape Colony, Orange Free State,
Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902; also: |
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1st |
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| number: |
? |
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Casualties: |
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Officers |
NCOs and Men |
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KIA & DOW/ DOD |
Wounded |
Missing / POW |
KIA & DOW |
Death from disease |
Wounded |
Missing / POW |
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1st Battalion |
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11 / 1 |
11 |
1 |
65 |
101 |
234 |
41 |
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2nd Battalion |
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4 / - |
4 |
- |
29 |
119 |
78 |
21 |
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3rd Battalion |
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6 / 4 |
10 |
- |
61 |
96 |
216 |
38 |
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4th Battalion |
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3 / 1 |
6 |
- |
9 |
22 |
39 |
6 |
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VCs: 2; Roberts, Price-Davies
see the
KRRC VC page
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Battle Honours: Defence of Ladysmith, Relief of
Ladysmith, South Africa 1899-1902 |
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Somaliland Operations 1902-04
4th Battalion (3 Coys?) | Africa General Service 1899-1956 | | clasp: |
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? | ? | | | | | |
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The Great War 1914 - 1918
( 28 Battalions, of which 17 Battalions and a "Special Company" served overseas:- ) |
Generally awarded the
British War Medal &
Victory Medal, men overseas prior to 1/1/1916 also a
1914 or
1914-15 Star. |
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Battalion → |
1 |
2 |
3* |
4 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
date of first overseas service.
(first theatre red
x ) |
13/8
1914 |
13/8
1914 |
21/12
1914 |
21/12
1914 |
19/5
1915 |
?/5
1915 |
20/5
1915 |
21/7
1915 |
21/7
1915 |
22/7
1915 |
| France &
Flanders |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
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Gallipoli |
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Egypt & Palestine |
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Mesopotamia | |
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Macedonia |
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x
(Nov 1915) |
x
(Nov 1915) |
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Italy |
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Star
possible ? |
1914 or 1914-15 |
x |
x |
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or 1914-15 only |
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x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
| VCs at
a glance: |
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died
Extracted from : "Soldiers / Officers
Died in the Great War" (consider approximate - in addition the
regiment as a whole lost an additional 273 officers who
are recorded with 'battalion not shown' or with battalions
not shown here, or who we have not yet allocated a
battalion.) |
1358 |
1427 |
300 |
541 |
858 |
825 |
891 |
594 |
709 |
691 |
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*In India at the start, moved to the UK. |
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Regular |
Territorial Force |
New Armies |
Garrison. |
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Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19
1 officer and 26 men of the King's Royal Rifle Corps also qualified for this
medal. |
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VCs: 7; Butler, Dimmer, Shepherd, Cooper,
Gill, Mariner, Peachment (Butler att. Gold
Coast Regiment)
see the
KRRC VC page
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Battle Honours: Mons; Marne 1914; Ypres 1914,
1915, 1917, 1918; Somme 1916, 1918; Arras 1917, 1918; Messines 1917,
1918; Epéhy; Canal du Nord; Selle; Sambre.
Retreat from Mons; Aisne 1914; Langemarck 1914, 1917;
Gheluvelt; Nonne Bosschen; Givenchy 1914; Gravenstafel; St Julien;
Frezenberg; Bellewaarde; Aubers; Festubert 1915; Hooge 1915; Loos;
Albert 1916, 1918; Bazentin; Delville Wood; Pozières; Guillemont;
Flers-Courcelette; Morval; Le Transloy; Ancre Heights; Ancre 1916;
Scarpe 1917; Arleux; Pilckem; Menin Road; Polygon Wood; Broodseinde;
Poelcapelle; Passchendaele; Cambrai 1917, 1918; St Quentin; Rosières;
Avre; Lys; Bailleul; Kemmel; Béthune; Bapaume 1918; DrocourtQuéant;
Hindenburg Line; Havrincourt; St Quentin Canal; Beaurevoir; Courtrai;
France and Flanders 1914-18; Italy 191718; Macedonia 1916-18. |
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The Great War 1914 - 1918
& North Russia 1919 |
continued......... |
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Battalion → |
13 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
20 |
21 |
25* |
No 1**
Special
Company |
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Church Lads Brigade |
British Empire League |
Arts and Crafts |
British Empire League Pioneers |
Yeoman Rifles |
Pioneers |
date of first overseas service.
(first theatre red
x
) | 31/7
1915 | 17/11
1915 | 8/3
1916 | 3/5
1916 | 30/3
1916 | 4/5
1916 | 13/5
1918 | 17/4
1919 |
| France &
Flanders |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
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Gallipoli |
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Egypt & Palestine |
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Mesopotamia |
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Macedonia |
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Italy |
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x
(Nov 1917) |
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x
(Nov 1917) |
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North Russia |
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x |
Star
possible ? |
1914 or 1914-15 |
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or 1914-15 only |
x |
x |
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| VCs at a glance: |
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died
see above |
674 |
1009 |
630 |
801 |
276 |
450 |
9 |
? |
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* Formed in France as a Garrison Battalion ,
Became Pioneers on 16/6/1918 |
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** Formed at Winchester for Service in North Russia 6/4/1919 |
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1923: 3rd and 4th regular battalions disbanded. | | | |
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WW2 1939 - 1945 |
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Battalion → |
1st |
2nd |
9th |
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campaign ↓ |
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France and Belgium 1940.
(Dunkirk ) |
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x |
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North Africa & Middle East |
x |
x |
x |
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Burma |
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Sicily / Italy |
x |
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N.W. Europe |
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x |
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Notes. |
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Motor Btn, served various Brigades, North Africa and Italy: 7th Support Group,
2nd, 4th and 9th Armoured Brigades, 61st Infantry brigade (Italy)
and finished the war with 26th Armoured Brigade, (Italy) |
Motor Btn, 30th Infantry Brigade for France and Belgium 1940,
captured Calais. Reformed in the UK, Variously 4th Armoured Brigade,
1st Support Group and 7th Motor Brigade for North Africa (Served 7th
Motor Bde for El Alamein) back to 4th Armoured Brigade for Italy and
on to NW Europe, landing D-Day +1. ( Also under the command of 1st
Parachute Brigade for the period 10/5-18/7/45) |
1st and 2nd Armoured Brigades, Egypt/North Africa. (Greece with1st
Armoured Brigade) and 7th Motor Brigade 17/2/42-24/7/42. Battalion
disbanded to reinforce other units. |
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WW2 Stars common to the Battalion. (excluding
39-45 star
)
Key: A =
Africa, P =
Pacific, B =
Burma, I =
Italy, F&G =
France and Germany |
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A, I |
A, I, F&G |
A |
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VCs: 1; Beeley
see the
KRRC VC page |
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Most also entitled to the
1939-45 War Medal and many the
Defence Medal |
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Battle Honours: Calais 1940; Rhineland; North-West Europe
1940, 1944-5; Egyptian Frontier 1940; Sidi Rezegh 1941; Alem el
Haifa; El Alamein; North Africa 1940-3; Italy 1943-5; Greece 1941,
1944-5. Mont Pinçon; Falaise; Roer; Cleve; Goch; Hochwald;
Rhine; Dreirwalde; Aller; Sidi Barrani; Derna Aerodrome; Tobruk
1941; Gazala; Bir Hacheim; Knightsbridge; Defence of Alamein Line;
Ruweisat; Fuka Airfield; Capture of Halfaya Pass; Nofilia; Tebaga
Gap; Argoub el Megas; Tunis; Sangro; Arezzo; Coriano; Lamone
Crossing; Argenta Gap; Veve; Crete, Middle East 1941. |
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Jewish / Arab Unrest, Palestine 1945 - 48
2nd Battalion
(1946) | General Service Medal 1918 -62 | | clasp: |
| | number: | ? | | | | |
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1948: Regulars reduced to a single battalion (the 1st). 2nd Battalion
reformed 1950, disbanded for the last time 1957. | | 1958
now titled the "2nd Green Jackets (The King's Royal Rifle Corps)" | | | |
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© This website and its contents are copyright. Images are digitally
watermarked. © North East Medals, All Rights Reserved |
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Selected Links |
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The Regimental Museum. (Located in ) |
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Selected Bibliography; |
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| Author/ Ed.. Etc. |
Title |
Publisher |
| Lewis Butler, formerly
Capt. Major-Gen. Sir Steuart Hare. (vols 4 and 5) |
The Annals of The King's
Royal Rifle Corps.
5 Volumes (the 5th Volume covers the Great War) |
London: Smith, Elder
& Co ( and John Murray, for vols. 3-5)
1913 - 1932 |
| S. M. Milne and Major-Gen.
Astley Terry. |
Appendix to the above set
(Uniform, Armament and Equipment; colour plates etc.) |
London: Smith, Elder
& Co |
| Lieut.-Gen. Sir
Edward Hutton |
A Brief History of The
King's Royal Rifle Corps, 1755 to 1915. (and a second
edition to 1917) 84 pp. |
Winchester: Warren and Son
Ltd. |
| Compiled and edited by the
Historical Committee of the Celer et Audax Club. |
A Brief History of The
King's Royal Rifle Corps, 1755 to 1948 (3rd edition of the
above book) |
Aldershot : Gale & Polden
Ltd., 1948 |
| Editors: Major-Gen. Sir
Hereward Wake, Bt., Major W. P. Deedes. |
Swift and Bold. The Story
of The King's Royal Rifle Corps in the Second World War,
1939-1945. 416 pp |
Aldershot: Gale & Polden
Ltd., 1949 |
| Capt. T. N. F. Wilson. |
The Battle Honours of The
King's Royal Rifle Corps, 1755-1918. 72 pp. |
Winchester: Warren and Son
Ltd.,1927. |
| Nesbit Willoughby Wallace,
Capt. |
A Regimental Chronicle and
List of Officers of The 60th, or The King's Royal Rifle
Corps, formerly The 62nd, or The Royal American Regiment of
Foot. 312 pp. |
London: Harrison,
1879 |
| Major-Gen. Gibbes Rigaud. |
Celer et Audax. A Sketch
of the Services of the Fifth Battalion Sixtieth Regiment
(Rifles) during the twenty years of their existence.
291 pp. |
Oxford: E. Pickard Hall,
M.A., and J. H. Stacy, printers to the University. 1879 |
| Major-Gen. Gibbes Rigaud. |
Celer et Audax; its Origin
as the Motto of the King's Royal Rifle Corps., . 20 pp. |
Oxford: E. Pickard Hall,
M.A., and J. H. Stacy printers to the University, 1882 |
| ?? |
The King's Royal Rifle
Corps Chronicle, 1901-6? |
Winchester: Warren & Son,
The Wykeham Press 1903-1958, and London:
Jordan-Gaskell Ltd. et al 1959 onwards |
| Capt. A. S. Turberville. |
A Short History of the
20th Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps (B.E.L. Pioneers),
1915-1919. 143 pp. |
Hull: Goddard, Walker &
Brown Ltd., 1923 |
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Additional Bibliography for this
Page. |
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| Author/Compiler |
Title |
Publisher |
| Officers of the
Regiment. |
Unpublished rolls in
the care of the National Archives; WO 100/ etc. |
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Additional bibliography
same as Northumberland Fusiliers
page |
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