Royal Green Jackets Cap Badge
2nd Battalion - Bulford
The Green Jackets
The Green Mafia
Latin: "Swift and Bold"
Double Past - The Road to The Isles
| Royal Green Jackets | |
|---|---|
Royal Green Jackets Cap Badge |
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| Active | 1 January 1966 - 1 February 2007 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | British Army |
| Type | Rifles |
| Role | Light Infantry |
| Size | 2 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 | |
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:
There were also two Territorial Army battalions made up as follows
In 1992 1st RGJ was disbanded and 2/RGJ and 3/RGJ renumbered 1/RGJ and 2/RGJ respectively.
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.
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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 Maltese Cross cap badge of the RGJ was adopted as the belt badge of The Rifles and will carry the battle honours. 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
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.
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.[1]
Australia - Melbourne University Regiment
Canada - The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own) (RCAC) 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