THE KINGS ROYAL RIFLE CORPS

 

​1755 – 62nd (Royal American) Regiment of Foot

1756 – Renumbered 60th (Royal American) Regiment of Foot

1824 – 60th (The Duke of York’s Own Rifle Corps)

1830 – 60th (The King’s Royal Rifle Corps)

1881 – The King’s Royal Rifle Corps

1958 – 2nd Green Jackets, The King’s Royal Rifle Corps

FORMATION

The Regiment was formed during 1755-56 in North America initially as the 62nd and then as the 60th Royal American Regiment to defend the 13 colonies against the French and their Native allies.  The Regiment formation was in direct response to ‘Braddock's Defeat’ in 1755 when a British military expedition failed to capture the French Fort Duquesne during the French and Indian War.  Royal approval for a new regiment, as well as funds, were granted by parliament just before Christmas 1755 – hence the regiment's traditional birthday of Christmas Day. However, parliamentary delays meant that it was 4 March 1756 before a special act of parliament created four battalions of 1,000 men each to include foreigners, colonists and volunteers from other British Regiments for service with the purpose of adopting an ‘Indian system’ of forest warfare with lighter equipment, more mobile and open formations.  This was because the European method of mass volleys launched in unison proved to be ineffectual when fighting in the dense woodland of North America.  In order to provide experienced personnel, Parliament passed the Commissions to Foreign Protestants Act 1756. General John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun who as the commander in chief of the Forces in North America, was appointed colonel-in-chief of the regiment. About fifty officers' commissions were given to Germans and Swiss experts in forest warfare although none were allowed to rise above the rank of lieutenant-colonel.

The 1st Battalion was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Henri Bouquet a Swiss citizen, whose ideas on tactics, training and man-management including the unofficial introduction of the rifle, a more practical lightly equipped and camouflaged soldier  suited to bush-fighting. He focused upon certain attributes such as independent action and swift initiative enforced with firm discipline.  The Royal American Regiment played a distinguished part in establishing British power in North America during the French and Indian War.

Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Haldimand, also Swiss commanded the 2nd Battalion who adapted his European experiences in war to the American wilderness.

During the Regiments early years saw The 1st and 4th battalions of the 60th accompanied General Abercromby's advance up Lake Champlain in 1758 with the assault on the Ticonderoga position 1759.

In 1758, the 2nd and 3rd battalions were assigned to the forces of General Amherst for operations in eastern Canada. Both battalions were present at the capture of Louisbourg, and moved on to Quebec with Wolfe the following year. The performance of the 60th at Montmorency Falls on 31 July 1753 won the regimental motto Celer et Audax (Swift and Bold) from General Wolfe.

The 2nd and 3rd battalions fought at the battle of the Plains of Abraham on 13 September 1759. The following year elements of all four battalions participated in the final advance to Montreal.

From the date of its raising in 1755, at least one battalion of the 60th (Royal American) Regiment of Foot served in North America until 1824, when the name was discontinued and the unit was redesignated The 60th (The Duke of York's Own Rifle Corps and Light Infantry) Regiment. This title was changed to The 60th (Duke of York's Own Rifle Corps) and, in 1830, the regiment was renamed The 60th (The King's Royal Rifle Corps).

In 1844, the 60th returned to Canada, and garrisoned the Quebec and Montreal area until 1847. The 1st and 4th Battalions were sent to Canada during the threatened Fenian invasions; the 4th arrived in 1866, and the 1st in 1867. The 1st Battalion accompanied Sir Garnet Wolseley's expedition to Fort Carry to crush the First Riel Rebellion in 1870.

In November 1871, the 1st Battalion marched from the Quebec Citadel to a waiting transport, with its departure, the only British troops remaining in Canada were those manning the naval bases at Halifax and Esquimalt, which remained British garrison stations until early in the twentieth century.

The Regiment became an invaluable part of any campaign therefore were present at most actions of the British Empire including;

 

American Revolutionary War

The Peninsula War 1808-1814

The Indian Mutiny 1857–1859

The Zulu War 1879

The American Civil War 1861–1865

Afghanistan

Manipur & Burma 1878–1898

South Africa 1899–1902

The Great War 1914-1918

The Second World War 1939-1945

 

 

 

Royal Green Jackets Regimental Association South East Kent Branch

Members Login

THE KINGS ROYAL RIFLE CORPS

 

​1755 – 62nd (Royal American) Regiment of Foot

1756 – Renumbered 60th (Royal American) Regiment of Foot

1824 – 60th (The Duke of York’s Own Rifle Corps)

1830 – 60th (The King’s Royal Rifle Corps)

1881 – The King’s Royal Rifle Corps

1958 – 2nd Green Jackets, The King’s Royal Rifle Corps

FORMATION

The Regiment was formed during 1755-56 in North America initially as the 62nd and then as the 60th Royal American Regiment to defend the 13 colonies against the French and their Native allies.  The Regiment formation was in direct response to ‘Braddock's Defeat’ in 1755 when a British military expedition failed to capture the French Fort Duquesne during the French and Indian War.  Royal approval for a new regiment, as well as funds, were granted by parliament just before Christmas 1755 – hence the regiment's traditional birthday of Christmas Day. However, parliamentary delays meant that it was 4 March 1756 before a special act of parliament created four battalions of 1,000 men each to include foreigners, colonists and volunteers from other British Regiments for service with the purpose of adopting an ‘Indian system’ of forest warfare with lighter equipment, more mobile and open formations.  This was because the European method of mass volleys launched in unison proved to be ineffectual when fighting in the dense woodland of North America.  In order to provide experienced personnel, Parliament passed the Commissions to Foreign Protestants Act 1756. General John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun who as the commander in chief of the Forces in North America, was appointed colonel-in-chief of the regiment. About fifty officers' commissions were given to Germans and Swiss experts in forest warfare although none were allowed to rise above the rank of lieutenant-colonel.

The 1st Battalion was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Henri Bouquet a Swiss citizen, whose ideas on tactics, training and man-management including the unofficial introduction of the rifle, a more practical lightly equipped and camouflaged soldier  suited to bush-fighting. He focused upon certain attributes such as independent action and swift initiative enforced with firm discipline.  The Royal American Regiment played a distinguished part in establishing British power in North America during the French and Indian War.

Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Haldimand, also Swiss commanded the 2nd Battalion who adapted his European experiences in war to the American wilderness.

During the Regiments early years saw The 1st and 4th battalions of the 60th accompanied General Abercromby's advance up Lake Champlain in 1758 with the assault on the Ticonderoga position 1759.

In 1758, the 2nd and 3rd battalions were assigned to the forces of General Amherst for operations in eastern Canada. Both battalions were present at the capture of Louisbourg, and moved on to Quebec with Wolfe the following year. The performance of the 60th at Montmorency Falls on 31 July 1753 won the regimental motto Celer et Audax (Swift and Bold) from General Wolfe.

The 2nd and 3rd battalions fought at the battle of the Plains of Abraham on 13 September 1759. The following year elements of all four battalions participated in the final advance to Montreal.

From the date of its raising in 1755, at least one battalion of the 60th (Royal American) Regiment of Foot served in North America until 1824, when the name was discontinued and the unit was redesignated The 60th (The Duke of York's Own Rifle Corps and Light Infantry) Regiment. This title was changed to The 60th (Duke of York's Own Rifle Corps) and, in 1830, the regiment was renamed The 60th (The King's Royal Rifle Corps).

In 1844, the 60th returned to Canada, and garrisoned the Quebec and Montreal area until 1847. The 1st and 4th Battalions were sent to Canada during the threatened Fenian invasions; the 4th arrived in 1866, and the 1st in 1867. The 1st Battalion accompanied Sir Garnet Wolseley's expedition to Fort Carry to crush the First Riel Rebellion in 1870.

In November 1871, the 1st Battalion marched from the Quebec Citadel to a waiting transport, with its departure, the only British troops remaining in Canada were those manning the naval bases at Halifax and Esquimalt, which remained British garrison stations until early in the twentieth century.

The Regiment became an invaluable part of any campaign therefore were present at most actions of the British Empire including;

 

American Revolutionary War

The Peninsula War 1808-1814

The Indian Mutiny 1857–1859

The Zulu War 1879

The American Civil War 1861–1865

Afghanistan

Manipur & Burma 1878–1898

South Africa 1899–1902

The Great War 1914-1918

The Second World War 1939-1945

 

 

THE KINGS ROYAL RIFLE CORPS

 

​1755 – 62nd (Royal American) Regiment of Foot

1756 – Renumbered 60th (Royal American) Regiment of Foot

1824 – 60th (The Duke of York’s Own Rifle Corps)

1830 – 60th (The King’s Royal Rifle Corps)

1881 – The King’s Royal Rifle Corps

1958 – 2nd Green Jackets, The King’s Royal Rifle Corps

FORMATION

The Regiment was formed during 1755-56 in North America initially as the 62nd and then as the 60th Royal American Regiment to defend the 13 colonies against the French and their Native allies.  The Regiment formation was in direct response to ‘Braddock's Defeat’ in 1755 when a British military expedition failed to capture the French Fort Duquesne during the French and Indian War.  Royal approval for a new regiment, as well as funds, were granted by parliament just before Christmas 1755 – hence the regiment's traditional birthday of Christmas Day. However, parliamentary delays meant that it was 4 March 1756 before a special act of parliament created four battalions of 1,000 men each to include foreigners, colonists and volunteers from other British Regiments for service with the purpose of adopting an ‘Indian system’ of forest warfare with lighter equipment, more mobile and open formations.  This was because the European method of mass volleys launched in unison proved to be ineffectual when fighting in the dense woodland of North America.  In order to provide experienced personnel, Parliament passed the Commissions to Foreign Protestants Act 1756. General John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun who as the commander in chief of the Forces in North America, was appointed colonel-in-chief of the regiment. About fifty officers' commissions were given to Germans and Swiss experts in forest warfare although none were allowed to rise above the rank of lieutenant-colonel.

The 1st Battalion was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Henri Bouquet a Swiss citizen, whose ideas on tactics, training and man-management including the unofficial introduction of the rifle, a more practical lightly equipped and camouflaged soldier  suited to bush-fighting. He focused upon certain attributes such as independent action and swift initiative enforced with firm discipline.  The Royal American Regiment played a distinguished part in establishing British power in North America during the French and Indian War.

Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Haldimand, also Swiss commanded the 2nd Battalion who adapted his European experiences in war to the American wilderness.

During the Regiments early years saw The 1st and 4th battalions of the 60th accompanied General Abercromby's advance up Lake Champlain in 1758 with the assault on the Ticonderoga position 1759.

In 1758, the 2nd and 3rd battalions were assigned to the forces of General Amherst for operations in eastern Canada. Both battalions were present at the capture of Louisbourg, and moved on to Quebec with Wolfe the following year. The performance of the 60th at Montmorency Falls on 31 July 1753 won the regimental motto Celer et Audax (Swift and Bold) from General Wolfe.

The 2nd and 3rd battalions fought at the battle of the Plains of Abraham on 13 September 1759. The following year elements of all four battalions participated in the final advance to Montreal.

From the date of its raising in 1755, at least one battalion of the 60th (Royal American) Regiment of Foot served in North America until 1824, when the name was discontinued and the unit was redesignated The 60th (The Duke of York's Own Rifle Corps and Light Infantry) Regiment. This title was changed to The 60th (Duke of York's Own Rifle Corps) and, in 1830, the regiment was renamed The 60th (The King's Royal Rifle Corps).

In 1844, the 60th returned to Canada, and garrisoned the Quebec and Montreal area until 1847. The 1st and 4th Battalions were sent to Canada during the threatened Fenian invasions; the 4th arrived in 1866, and the 1st in 1867. The 1st Battalion accompanied Sir Garnet Wolseley's expedition to Fort Carry to crush the First Riel Rebellion in 1870.

In November 1871, the 1st Battalion marched from the Quebec Citadel to a waiting transport, with its departure, the only British troops remaining in Canada were those manning the naval bases at Halifax and Esquimalt, which remained British garrison stations until early in the twentieth century.

The Regiment became an invaluable part of any campaign therefore were present at most actions of the British Empire including;

 

American Revolutionary War

The Peninsula War 1808-1814

The Indian Mutiny 1857–1859

The Zulu War 1879

The American Civil War 1861–1865

Afghanistan

Manipur & Burma 1878–1898

South Africa 1899–1902

The Great War 1914-1918

The Second World War 1939-1945