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The Rifles

Battalions 1 RIFLES 2 RIFLES 3 RIFLES 4 RIFLES 5 RIFLES 6 RIFLES TA 7 RIFLES TA

The Rifles have different uniforms and march faster than the rest of the army. The uniform is Rifle green with black buttons and accoutrements, and with elements of red, recognizing the heritage of the line regiments. The Rifles march at 140 paces per minute, much faster than that of the rest of the Infantry who march at 120. A private soldier in The Rifles is known as a rifleman and sergeant is spelt serjeant.

The Rifles is the largest infantry regiment in the British Army, consisting of five regular and two territorial battalions, plus a number of subunits in other TA battalions. With five regular and two TA battalions, The Rifles, have the widest range of roles of any infantry regiment and, uniquely, including a battalion in the Commando role with 3 Commando Brigade. Other battalions offer armoured infantry in Warrior AFVs, light role for jungle and mountain operations and mechanized in Bulldog AFVs. Territorial elements of the regiment are spread through the South West and Home Counties of England together with a presence in the Midlands and County Durham.

1 RIFLES joined 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines in April 2008. Since then, in addition to working with the Commando Brigade on operations, many Riflemen have completed the legendary, arduous All Arms Commando Course with a number of them winning 3 Commando Medals, awarded for the student on each Commando Course whose performance and attitude best embodies the Commando ethos. The battalion has a proud record in Army Cup rugby, and has enviable results from recent Army shooting competitions; not least a member of the battalion won the Queen's Medal - for the Regular Army's top shot - at Bisley in 2007.

The formation of The Rifles took place against a background of change and uncertainty in the international security environment, as well as in the Army. This situation was an opportunity to form a Regiment designed to excel on the operations of the 21st Century, rather as Sir John Moore did in forming the Light Division at the beginning of the 19th Century.

At the center of The Rifles' philosophy is an understanding of the partnership, collective identity and unity of purpose that are all implied in the term Rifleman - as it is applied to all ranks. Usage and understanding of the term has three aspects - an expression of collective identity based on individual qualities which delivers a common approach to the conduct of operations.

All who serve in The Rifles are Riflemen, regardless of rank. The term Rifleman is an expression of common and united identity, embodying a close bond of comradeship rooted in respect, trust and pride, and forged through shared experience and hardship. It invokes a spirit of equality, within the hierarchy of command, which recognises that good ideas can, and will, come from everyone. The Regiment is a brotherhood of Riflemen that delivers the unity of purpose and mutual understanding that makes mission command a natural and effortless method of operating. The Rifles always aim to set the highest professional standards and through our actions we aspire to be known for our excellence, but also for our strong sense of decency and our all-embracing sense of comradeship. The Rifles are forward looking and promote freedom of expression, aiming to contribute significantly to the development of military thought. The Rifles encourage informality and a relaxed, good-humoured rapport amongst all ranks.

Riflemen are expected to demonstrate individual characteristics and professional qualities that set the standard for infantry soldiers. The Rifles carries forward the professional excellence, fighting spirit and discipline of our forming regiments. The Rifles place very high value on the unique contribution of the individual. In character we value: self-discipline and courage; decency, integrity and loyalty; quickness of mind, word and deed; suitable ambition, determination and robustness.

Officers command. They must take the lead in every sphere, educating, coaching and inspiring their Riflemen. We need officers who have the potential to excel in command and lead Riflemen on operations. So, we seek to draw upon only the best. They must be able to lead by example in order to release the independent spirit, action and potential of Riflemen. This requires intelligence, insight and a capacity for lateral thought. It demands strength of character. It also calls for a natural gift for communication, style, and a sense of humour and fun. Officers must understand above all, that their Riflemen come first.

The Regiment's Warrant Officers and Serjeants support and advise their officers and hold much of the Regiment's experience. They are master tacticians and guardians of standards, experienced and technically expert in so much that obtains at the tactical levels of war and operations. They contribute significantly to the development of junior officers. They too lead by example and nurture Riflemen junior to them. On operations they will assume command when the situation so demands. Their personal example should be inspiring, and they underpin discipline 'intelligently, respectfully and firmly;' but always seeking to promote self discipline over rigidly imposed forms of blind discipline.

Success on operations will come at the point of contact and delivery; this falls mainly to the Corporals and Riflemen. Riflemen work to deliver a decisive and overwhelming effect, usually under the direction and leadership of their commanders. But there may be occasions when they find themselves alone. Under such circumstances they are expected to work things out for themselves, use initiative. So each Rifleman thinks for himself in the interests of the whole. He can speak up, to add his thoughts at the right moment. This demands good judgement and absolute self-discipline; it demands the very highest standards of professionalism.

The Rifles infantry regiment trace their values and heritage back to the Peninsular War. "The Light Brigade " was the name given to the first British Brigade of Light Infantry, consisting of the 43rd Light Infantry, 52nd Light Infantry, and the 95th Rifles, which were trained together as a war-brigade at Shorncliffe Camp in the years 1803-1805 by General Sir John Moore, the Hero of Corunna.

The Baker rifle, a short weapon with a flat-bladed sword-bayonet known as a " sword ", very like the present so-called "bayonet", only longer. Hence the Rifleman's command, "Fix swords!" The three battalions of the 95th were (with the exception of the 5th battalion of the 60th Regiment) the only corps in the British army armed with rifles at the period of the Peninsular War, all others carrying long smooth-bore muskets, known as "Brown Bess", with long three-sided bayonets. The Baker rifle fired with precision up to 300 yards, whereas "Brown Bess" could not be depended upon to hit a mark at one-third that range.

Napoleon, having overrun Spain with some 250,000 men, swept away and defeated all the Spanish armies, and occupied Madrid, had set his hosts in motion to reoccupy Portugal and complete the subjugation of Andalusia. At this critical moment in the history of Spain, Sir John Moore, who had landed in the Peninsula with a small British army only about 30,000 strong, conceived the bold project of marching on Salamanca, and thus threatening Napoleon's "line of communications" with France—whence he drew all his supplies and ammunition. The effect was almost magical. Napoleon was compelled instantly to stay the march of his immense armies, whilst at the head of over 80,000 of his finest troops he hurled himself on the intrepid Moore. The latter, thus assailed by overwhelming numbers, was forced to order a retreat on his base at Corunna, a movement which he conducted successfully, despite the terrible privations of a rapid march in mid-winter through a desolate and mountainous country, with insufficient transport and inadequate staff arrangements. Thrice he turned to bay and thrice did he severely handle his pursuers.

Finally, at Corunna, after embarking his sick and wounded, he fought the memorable battle of that name, and inflicted on the French such heavy losses that his army was enabled to re-embark and sail for England with but little further molestation. The gallant Moore himself was mortally wounded, and died the same night. The effects of the Corunna campaign were to paralyse all the Emperor's plans for nigh three months, during which time the Spaniards rallied and regained confidence, and the war took a wholly different turn, although it was only after five years' constant fighting that the French invaders were finally driven out of the country.

These regiments subsequently saw much service together in various quarters of the globe; they were engaged in the Expedition to Denmark in 1807, the Campaign in Portugal in 1808 under Sir Arthur Wellesley, including the Battle of Vimeiro, and the famous Corunna Campaign under Sir John Moore.

In July, 1809, The Light Brigade, consisting of the same regiments corps, was re-formed under the gallant BrigadierGeneral Robert Craufurd (afterwards slain at their head at the storming of Ciudad Rodrigo in 1812), at Vallada, in Portugal, and it was in the same month that it made the forced march, famous in all history as "the March of the Light Division", of some fifty miles in twenty-four hours to the battle-field of Talavera. In June, 1810, when at Almeida, in Spain, "The Light Brigade " was expanded into "The Light Division" by the addition of Ross's "Chestnut Troop" of Horse Artillery, the 14th Light Dragoons, the ist King's German Hussars, and two regiments of Portuguese Cacadores. It was as "The Light Division ", throughout the long and bloody struggle in the Peninsula, and up to the Battle of Toulouse, fought in April, 1814, that the regiments of the old "Light Brigade" maintained their proud position.