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Description
The Royal Green Jackets (43rd, 52nd, 60th, RB) All Ranks Cap Badge
This Sale is for the Cap Badge as formerly worn by 'All ranks' of The Royal Green Jackets (43rd, 52nd, 60th, RB).
Unissued Cap Badge in burnished silver finish white metal, approx. 45mm high, complete with it's mounted lugs, brass split pin and made by Firmin & Sons Ltd (London).
NSN: 8455-99-130-3752
DESC: ROYAL GREEN JACKETS ALL RANKS
This is a rather nice badge, which will appeal to many collector's.
Guaranteed new in mint condition.
Certain to be an highly collectable badge as this fine Regiment disappeared forever when The Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Light Infantry merged with The Devonshire and Dorset Light Infantry, The Light Infantry and The Royal Green Jackets to form The Rifles on the 1st February 2007.
The four forming Regiments joined together to create a modern and forward-looking Regiment that is the biggest Infantry Regiment in The British Army. The Rifles is the direct descendant of the Rifle Regiments and Light Infantry Light Companies brought to television screens in the series Sharpe’s Rifles, starring Sean Bean.
Brief Regimental History
The Royal Green Jackets (RGJ) was an Infantry Regiment of the British Army, one of two "Large Regiments" within the Light Division (the other being The Light Infantry). It was formed in 1966 by the amalgamation of the three separate Regiments of the Green Jackets Brigade:
- 1st Green Jackets (43rd and 52nd)
- 2nd Green Jackets, The King's Royal Rifle Corps
- 3rd Green Jackets, The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own).
There were also two Territorial Army Battalions made up as follows:
- 4th(v)Bn Royal Green Jackets - formed from the remnants of the Rangers (KRRC), London Rifle Brigade, Tower Hamlets Rifles, Queens Westminsters, Queen Victoria's Rifles and Civil Service Rifles.
- 5th(v)Bn the Royal Green Jackets - formed from the 4th Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (TA) and the Buckinghamshire Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.
The regiment's greatest loss of life came on 20 July 1982 when seven RGJ Bandsmen were killed by a Provisional Irish Republician Army bomb which exploded during a public concert featuring the music from Oliver! to 120 people at the bandstand in Regents Park.
In 1992 1st RGJ was disbanded and 2/RGJ and 3/RGJ renumbered 1/RGJ and 2/RGJ respectively.
After the 1992 re-organisation, the units were mostly based overseas in Dhekelia, Cyprus and Paderborn, Germany as well as in northern Ireland, and saw action in Bosnia and Kosovo during the Yugoslav Wars. Both battalions returned to the United Kingdom by 2002 and in 2003 the 1st Battalion served on Operation Telic 2 in Iraq.
Amalgamations of 2005
As part of the 2004 restructuring of the infantry, the RGJ was scheduled to be largely unaffected - though the Regiment had already been reduced to two Regular Battalions in 1992. The Regiment would have received a new Territorial Army Battalion through the grouping together of the various RGJ companies of the Royal Rifle Volunteers and the London Regiment.
However, on 24 November 2005 it was announced that after discussions between The Light Infantry and the RGJ, the two would be merged together with the Devonshire and Dorset Light Infantry and Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Light Infantry by the end of 2007 to form a single large regiment to be called The Rifles. The new Regiment was to contain five Regular Battalions and two TA Battalions. The amalgamation was completed in 2007.
- The 1st Battalion Royal Green Jackets became 2nd Battalion, The Rifles
- The 2nd Battalion Royal Green Jackets became 4th Battalion, The Rifles
- the surviving Territorial Army companies of 4 & 5 RGJ, along with a company of the RGBW became 7th Battalion, The Rifles
The Maltese Cross Cap Badge of the RGJ was adopted as the Belt Badge of The Rifles and will carry the Battle Bonours. The Rifles is a Rifle Regiment and as such will not carry Colours, also the title "Rifleman" will be used for Private soldiers, as it was with the Royal Green Jackets.
The Royal Green Jackets has two Combined Cadet Force units, which are part of the prestigious London Oratory School CCF, and Winchester College CCF.
Traditions
Their motto was Celer et Audax (Latin: "Swift and Bold"). As they were used as shock troops and marksmen, they had to get to the front line of battle as fast as was possible; as a result the RGJ marches at 140 paces per minute whereas other Regiments march at just 120. Until recently no other Regiment has devoted so much time to becoming highly proficient with the Rifle, even though it has been part of standard Army issue for 140 years; as a consequence, the RGJ's lowest rank (after 'recruit') is Rifleman (Rfn), rather than Private (Pte), as in other Regiments.
The Regiment was classed as a 'Rifle' Regiment, having its lineage in the Regiments of Foot that were equipped with the first Baker Rifles. Traditionally, Rifle Regiments wore rifle green tunics, an early form of camouflage, instead of the red jackets worn by Line Infantry, hence the Regimental name. Also, the Regiment carried no Colours, as traditionally Rifle Regiments, being skirmishers and sharpshooters, had no need to identify where their fellows were on the battlefield. So, the Battle Honours of the Royal Green Jackets were worn on the Regiment's Cap Badge. Infantry in the Regiment wore a beret with the Badge behind the left eye towards the side of the head, traditionally to show that they don't need to hide behind their Colours to show how good the Regiment is. Green Jackets were issued with short swords instead of bayonets as the Baker Rifles of the past were shorter than the traditional musket, fitting the sword to the rifle made the overall weapon length the same as a musket with bayonet attached. The RGJ still refer to their bayonets as 'swords'. The Royal Green Jackets have been awarded more Victoria Crosses than any other unit, with a total of 56.
Battle Honours
The Royal Green Jackets as a Regiment did not win any Battle Honours in their 41 years history however they have inherited a large number of Battle Honours from their predecessor Regiments, the Ox and Bucks LI, the Kings Royal Rifle Corps and the Rifle Brigade. These are listed below by date order.
- Louisburg, Quebec 1759, Martinique 1762, Havannah, North America 1763-64, Mysore, Hindoostan, Martinique 1794, Copenhagen, Montevideo, RoLica, Vimiero, Corunna, Martinique 1809, Talavera, Busaco, Barrosa, Fuentes d'Onor, Albuhera, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vitoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, Orthez, Toulouse, Peninsula, Waterloo, South Africa 1846-47, Mooltan, Goojerat, Punjab, South Africa 1851-53, Alma, lnkerman, Sevastopol, Delhi 1857, Lucknow, Taku Forts, Pekin 1860, New Zealand, Ashantee 1873-74, Au Masjid, South Africa 1879, Ahmed Khel, Kandahar 1880, Afghanistan 1878-80, Tel-ei-Kebir, Egypt 1882-84, Buma 1885-87, Chitral, Khartoum, Defence of Ladysmith, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Relief of Ladysmith, South Africa 1899-1902.
- The Great War: Mons, Le Cateau, Retreat from Mons, Marne 1914, Aisne 1914, 18, Armentières 1914, Ypres 1914, 15, 17, 18, Langemarck 1914, 17, Gheluvelt, Nonne Boschen, Givenchy 1914, Neuve Chapelle, Gravenstafel, St. Julien, Frezenberg, Heliewaarde, Aubers, Festubert 1915, Hooge 1915, Loos, Mount Sorrel, Somme 1916, 18, Albert 1916, 18, Bazentin, Delville Wood, Pozières, Guillemont, Flers-Courcelette, Morval, Le Transloy, Ancre Heights, Ancre 1916, 18, Bapaume 1917, 18, Arras 1917, 18, Vimy 1917, Scarpe 1917, 18, Arleux, Messines 1917, 18, Pilckem, Menin Road, Polygon Wood, Broodseinde, Poelcappelle, Passchendaele, Cambrai 1917, 18, St. Quentin, Rosières, Avre, Villers-Bretonneux, Lys, Hazebrouck, Bailleul, Kemmel, Bethune, Drocourt Quéant, Hindenburg Line, Havrincourt, Epehy, Canal du Nord, St. Quentin Canal, Beaurevoir, Kortrijk, Selle, Valenciennes, Sambre, France and Flanders 1914-18, Piave, Vittorio Veneto, Italy 1917-18, Doiran 1917, 18, Macedonia 1915-18, Kut al Amara 1915, Ctesiphon, Defence of Kut al Amara, Tigris 1916, Khan Baghdadi, Mesopotamia 1914-18.
- Archangel 1919
- The Second World War: Defence of Escaut, Calais 1940, Cassel, Ypres-Comines Canal, Normandy Landing, Pegasus Bridge, Villers Bocage, Odon, Caen, Esquay, Bourguebus Ridge, Mont Pincon, Le Perier Ridge, Falaise, Antwerp, Hechtel, Nederrijn, Lower Maas, Roer, Ourthe, Rhineland, Reichswald, Kleve, Goch, Hochwald, Rhine, Ibbenbueren, Dreirwalde, Leese, Aller, North-West Europe 1940, 44-45, Egyptian Frontier 1940, Sidi Barrani, Beda Fomm, Mersa el Brega, Agedabia, Derna Aerodrome, Tobruk 1941, Sidi Rezegh 1941, Chor es Sufan, Saunnu, Gazala, Bir Hacheim, Knightsbridge, Defence of Alamein Line, Ruweisat, Fuka Airfield, Alam el Halfa, El Alamein, Capture of Haifaya Pass, Nofilia, Tebaga Gap, Enfidaville, Medjez el Bab, Kasserine, Thala, Fondouk, Fondouk Pass, El Kourzia, Djebel Kournine, Agroub el Megas, Tunis, Hamman Lif, North Africa 1940-43, Sangro, Salerno, Santa Lucia, Salerno Hills, Cardito, Teano, Monte Camino, Garigliano Crossing, Damiano, Anzio, Cassino II, Liri Valley, Melfa Crossing, Monte Rotondo, Capture of Perugia, Monte Malbe, Arezzo, Advance to Florence, Gothic Line, Coriano, Gemmano Ridge, Lamone Crossing, Orsara, Tossignano, Argenta Gap, Fossa Cembalina, Italy 1943-45, Veve, Greece 1941, 44,45, Crete, Middle East 1941, Arakan Beaches, Tamandu, Burma 1943-44.
Uniform
All Green Jackets would have historically been made of wool with a lining of linen to give shape to the garment. The modern scarlet wool is also supplied by "Abimelech Hainsworth" and is much lighter than the traditional material, which was intended for hard wear on active service. Their boots were made of fake thick animal hyde, this was then lined in a thin layer of wool. They had a small pouch on the side of their hip, this contained the ammunition for their Rifles.
International controversy
In September 1994, in Cyprus, a young Danish tour guide called Louise Jensen was dragged from her boyfriend by three members of the 1st Battalion Royal Green Jackets, raped and murdered. Allan Ford, Justin Fowler and Geoff Pernell were convicted less than two years later amid much bitterness among the Cypriots and the World's media.
Notable members
- "Andy McNab" - Author and ex SAS soldier.
- Air Vice-Marshal John Ponsonby - Served in both the Army and the RAF, later becoming Air Officer Commanding No 22 Group RAF.
- General Sir David Ramsbotham, Baron Ramsbotham - Chief Inspector of Prisons.
- Field Marshal Edwin Bramall, Baron Bramall KG, GCB, OBE, MC, DL, JP.
- Frank Gardner (BBC journalist).
- Richard Henry Ronald Benyon MRICS MP.
- Lieutenant General Nicholas Patrick "Nick" Carter, CBE, DSO is a senior British Army Officer.
- Major-General Nicholas Jeremy Cottam CB OBE.
- Tobias Martin Ellwood MP.
- Colonel Robin Evelegh was a British Army Officer and Author †
- Lieutenant General Sir John Paul Foley KCB OBE MC DL former Director SAS.
- General Sir James Malcolm Glover, KCB, DL was a former Commander in Chief, UK Land Forces †
- Sir Andrew Green, KCMG is a former British diplomat.
- General Sir Roland Kelvin Guy GCB CBE DSO was a senior British Army Officer who was Adjutant-General to the Forces †
- Nicholas Guy Halsey TD, DL, FRICS is heir to the Halsey Baronetcy, He served as a Major in the Royal Green Jackets and is the son of Lieutenant Colonel Guy Marsden Halsey, TD.
- Brigadier Michael Neale Harbottle, OBE was a senior British Army Officer who was Chief of Staff of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus from 1966 to 1968 †
- Lieutenant General Sir David George House, GCB, KCVO, CBE, MC was a British Army Officer who was General Officer Commanding in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, and later held the office of Black Rod †
- General Sir Charles Edward Webb Jones, KCB, CVO, CBE was a senior Officer in the British Army. He served as Quartermaster-General and as Britain's military representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). He retired from the Army in 1995 to become Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod (or simply Black Rod) in the British Parliament's House of Lords, serving in that office until 2001 †
- General Sir Frank Edward Kitson GBE, KCB, MC & Bar, DL retired British Army Officer and Writer. He rose to be Commander-in-Chief UK Land Forces from 1982 to 1985 and was Aide-de-Camp General to the Queen from 1983 to 1985.
- Anthony William Vivian Loyd English journalist, noted war correspondent.
- Colonel Sir Robert Andrew St George Martin KCVO OBE LLD JP was a British Army Officer who was Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire from 1965 to 1989 †
- General Sir Joseph David Frederick Mostyn KCB CBE was a British soldier and one-time Adjutant-General to the Forces †
- General Sir Nicholas Ralph "Nick" Parker KCB CBE is a former British Army Officer who served as Commander Land Forces (formerly Commander-in-Chief, Land Forces) until December 2012.
- General Sir Robert Alan Pascoe KCB MBE is a former Adjutant-General to the Forces.
- Sir Geoffrey Edwin Pattie former British Conservative politician and MP and Captain in the RGJ.
- Major Timothy Nigel Peake a former British Army Air Corps Officer and a current European Space Agency Astronaut.
- Major General Andrew Robert Douglas Pringle, CB, CBE (born 1946) a retired British Army Officer and currently president of KBR's International Government and Defence business.
- Sir Francis Neville Richards, KCMG, CVO, DL was Her Majesty's Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Gibraltar from 2003 to 2006.
- Major General Gregory Stephen 'Greg' Smith, CB, QVRM, TD, DL is a British businessman. He is a retired Officer of the Territorial Army who was the senior reservist of the British Armed Forces. He served as Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Reserves and Cadets) from 2010 to 2013.
- Colonel Henry John Sweeney MC, known as Tod Sweeney, was a Platoon Commander in the coup de main operation by Gliderborne Troops on D Day, 6 June 1944 †
- Hugh Trenchard, 3rd Viscount Trenchard DL served in the 4th Battalion, The Royal Green Jackets from 1972 to 1980, reaching the rank of Captain.
- Lieutenant-General Sir Christopher Brooke Quentin Wallace KBE, DL retired British Army General and current trustee of the Imperial War Museum.
- Colonel David Wood MBE was the last surviving Officer of the coup de main operation by Gliderborne Troops on D Day, 6 June 1944 †
- John Henry "Brummie" Stokes MBE BEM a former British Army SAS soldier and mountaineer known for his successful summit of Everest in 1976.
Alliances
Australia - Melbourne University Regiment
Canada - The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own)- Canada - Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
- Canada - The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada (1966–2007)
- Canada - The Brockville Rifles
- Canada - The Royal Winnipeg Rifles
- Canada - The Royal Regina Rifles
New Zealand - 1st Battalion, The Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment- New Zealand - The Hauraki Regiment
South Africa - The Durban Light Infantry- South Africa - The Kaffrarian Rifles
Pakistan - 2nd Battalion, The Frontier Force Regiment (Guides)
Sri Lanka - Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment
Ghana - 1st Battalion, The Ghana Regiment
Royal Navy - HMS Somerset
| Royal Green Jackets | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1 Jan 1966 - 1 Feb 2007 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Type | Rifles |
| Role | Light Infantry |
| Size | 4 Battalions |
| Part of | Light Division |
| Garrison/HQ | 1st Battalion - Weeton 2nd Battalion - Bulford |
| Nickname | The Black Mafia The Green Jackets The Green Mafia |
| Motto | Celer et Audax Latin: "Swift and Bold" |
| March | Quick - Huntsman's Chorus/Italian Song Double Past - The Road to The Isles |
| Anniversaries | Waterloo (18 June) |
| Commanders | |
| Colonel-in-Chief | HM Queen Elizabeth II |
| Colonel Commandant | Lieutenant General N. R. Parker |
| Insignia | |
| Tactical Recognition Flash |
. |
MILITARY - BRITISH ARMY
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