THE ROYAL GREEN JACKETS
In 1948 the Rifle Brigade merged with the King’s Royal Rifle Corps to form The Green Jackets Brigade both regiments still kept their respective names until further amalgamations followed with the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in1958.
The Ox & Bucks would become the 1st Green Jackets (43rd & 52nd), the KRRC would become the 2nd Green Jackets (The Kings Royal rifle Corps) and the RB would become the 3rd Green Jackets (The Rifle Brigade(Prince Consort's Own)). All with a new cap badge of the Green Jacket Brigade.
On the 1st January 1966 these three Regiments became the three battalions of the Royal Green Jackets.
Once again the regiment was forged on operations with 1RGJ and 2RGJ being in Borneo. Then the operational pace for all 3 battalions would increase for the foreseeable future with Operation Banner in Northern Ireland starting on the 14th August 1969 until 31st July 2007.
The 'Black Mafia' - Originated from several sources, In the 1980's the regiment had a disproportional amount of officers who were Major General and above including the Chief of the Defence Staff; 2 Field Marshals, 2 Generals, 2 Lieutenant Generals & 6 Major Generals, that is why it was often said the Green Jackets run the army. The regiment was different, they wore Black buttons, they marched at 140 paces to the minute and their drill was different from the rest of the Army, they used Swords not Bayonets., their ethos and their forward thinking way, the 'thinking Rifleman'. they were different, hence the 'Black Mafia'.
1st Battalion The Royal Green Jackets , 'Armoured Farmers'
2nd Battalion The Royal Green Jackets, 'Handbags'
2nd Battalion The Royal Green Jackets, 'Cowboys'
Amalgamation of the the Battalions - In 1992, 1RGJ was disbanded and 2RGJ and 3RGJ renumbered 1RGJ and 2RGJ respectively.
The Future