Royal Regiment of Fusiliers

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
Cap badge of the regiment
Active23 April 1968 – present
Allegiance United Kingdom
Branch British Army
TypeLine Infantry
Role
SizeTwo battalions
Part ofQueen's Division
Garrison/HQ
  • RHQ – London
  • 1st Battalion – Tidworth
  • 5th Battalion –
    Newcastle upon Tyne
Nickname(s)
  • The Fighting Fifth
  • The Shiners
  • The Old and the Bold
  • Lord Wellington's Bodyguards
Motto(s)"
Albuhera Day (16 May)
  • Normandy Day (6 June)
  • Northern Ireland Day (15 June)
  • Minden Day (1 August)
  • Afghanistan Day (4 October)
    • Commanders
    Colonel-in-ChiefThe Duke of Kent
    Insignia
    Tactical Recognition Flash
    HackleRed over White
    From Royal Northumberland Fusiliers
    AbbreviationFUSILIERS

    The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (often referred to as the Royal Fusiliers or, simply, the Fusiliers) is an

    armoured infantry battalion based in Tidworth, Wiltshire, and the 5th Battalion, part of the Army Reserve, recruits in the traditional fusilier recruiting areas across England. The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers was largely unaffected by the infantry reforms that were announced in December 2004, but under the Army 2020
    reduction in the size of the Army, the 2nd Battalion was merged into the first in 2014.

    History

    The Fusiliers march in Rochdale

    The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers was formed on 23 April 1968 as part of the reforms of the British Army that saw the creation of 'large infantry regiments', by the amalgamation of the four English Fusilier regiments:[1]

    The 3rd Battalion of the regiment saw active service in Iraq during the Gulf War in 1991.[2] All battalions were also deployed to Northern Ireland on Operation Banner multiple times.[3]

    In 2003, the 1 Fusiliers battlegroup was at the forefront of the coalition invasion of Iraq, ultimately occupying the city of Basra.[4] Over the next decade, the regiment carried out multiple operational tours of Iraq.[3]

    First Fusiliers Mortar team during the 2003 Invasion of Iraq
    Helmand Province
    in 2006

    In 2006, elements of the 2nd Battalion were deployed to

    Nahri Saraj District in Helmand in 2013, where they took part in mounted and dismounted infantry operations.[7]

    The regiment received a reserve battalion, the 5th battalion, through the redesignation of the Tyne-Tees Regiment, on 1 April 2006.[8]

    In September 2014, the 2nd Battalion was amalgamated with the 1st Battalion under Army 2020, forming just one regular battalion - an armoured infantry battalion under 1st Armoured Infantry Brigade.[9]

    Structure

    Cold War

    During the Cold War, the regiment saw a massive expansion, expanding from three regular battalions to six battalions in just a few years. Below is a list of those units raised within the regiment during the era:[10]

    Regulars

    • Regimental Headquarters, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, at the Tower of London
    • 1st Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (Regular)
    • 2nd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (Regular)
    • 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (Regular) – disbanded following Options for Change in 1992
    • 4th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (Regular) – disbanded one year after formation, in 1969

    TAVR (all disbanded in 1967)

    • 4th/5th Battalion, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers
    • 4th/5th/6th Battalion, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, disbanded in 1971
    • 7th Battalion, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers
    • 7th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Fusiliers
    • The City of London Battalion, Royal Fusiliers
    • 5th (Bury) Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers

    Volunteers (from 1967)

    • The Fusilier Volunteers, redesignated as 5th (V) Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers in 1968, redesignated again in 1992 following Options for Change as 5th (Warwickshire) Battalion, disbanded in 1999
    • 6th (Volunteer) Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, redesignated in 1992 following Options for Change as 6th (Northumberland) Battalion[11]
    • 8th (Volunteer) Battalion, The Queen's Fusiliers (City of London), formed in 1988 as joint TA unit with
      The London Regiment
      in 1993 following Options for Change.

    Bands (with battalion assignment after, if needed)

    • Duke of Kent's Band of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers – amalgamated with St George's Band RRF to form Normandy Band of the Queen's Division following Options for Change in 1992[13]
    • Saint George's Band of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers – amalgamated with Duke of Kent's Band RRF to form Normandy Band of the Queen's Division following Options for Change in 1992[13]
    • Warwickshire Band of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (5 RRF)
    • Northumbria Band of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
      (6 RRF)

    1st Battalion

    The 1st Battalion is an armoured infantry battalion based in

    Baltic States and Canada.[14]

    The 1st Battalion also regularly works in support of the civil powers in the UK. In 2013, large elements of the battalion were deployed to Wraysbury and the surrounding area to support the flood relief efforts.[15]

    The battalion won the Army Boxing Championships in 2016, beating the 2nd Battalion of the

    Parachute Regiment in the final.[16]

    5th Battalion

    The 5th Battalion is a Reserve battalion with its headquarters in the northeast of England. As a battalion within the 3rd (United Kingdom) Division, the 5th Battalion specialises in armoured infantry operations and has deployed all over the world on operations and on exercise both as a formed unit and as individual augmentees to the 1st Battalion. The 5th Battalion is now paired with the 1st Battalion and continues to support them in operations and on exercise.[17]

    5th Battalion maintains subunits at the following locations:

    Hackle

    As a Fusilier regiment, the Fusiliers wear a

    King George IV ordered the white plume to be worn by all infantry regiments, and in order not to take away from the 5th (Northumberland) Regiment of Foot's peculiar distinction and reflecting the "gallantry of the exploits" it commemorated [18]' (according to legend the original plumes were stained red with the blood of their foes), their plume was differentiated by being made "half red and half white, the red uppermost, instead of the plain white feather worn by the rest of the army per the 1829 order, as a peculiar mark of honour."[19]

    Victoria Crosses

    The combined

    North Russia in 1919 - and the famous "Six VCs Before Breakfast" won at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915.[21]

    Mascot

    The regiment's traditional mascot is an Indian

    Royal Warwickshire Fusiliers.[22] However, Indian Blackbuck Antelopes are now protected under animal welfare rules and the Regiment has not been allowed one for several years. As a substitute, the Regiment uses an Otterhound called George, who holds the rank of Fusilier and attends all the major parades in which the Regiment is involved.[23]

    Roses

    To mark certain Regimental Days, the Fusiliers wear

    St Georges Day, they wear red and white roses. On Minden Day, they wear red and yellow roses. New Fusilier Officers also must eat a rose at their first Minden Dinner on joining the Regiment.[24]

    First Fusiliers in the Falklands

    Colours

    The

    St Edward’s Crown. Forty battle honours, 20 in respect of World War I and 20 in respect of World War II, are borne on scrolls in gold in three groups of six honours on each horizontal arm of St George’s Cross and one group of four honours on the lower vertical arm of the Cross. Honours are emblazoned in chronological order by theatres across the horizontal arm of the Cross and vertically on the lower arm of the Cross. The fringe is of crimson and gold alternate strands.[20] Honorary distinction badges of the four former regiments are borne in each canton of the Colour:[20]
    Fusiliers on exercise on Salisbury Plain

    Finally, thirty-eight battle honours, which were borne on the Regimental Colours of the four former regiments, are emblazoned on gold scrolls placed on the branches of a large laurel wreath outside the Union Wreath.[20]

    "The British Grenadiers"
    "The British Grenadiers", the official Regimental Quick March of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, performed by the United States Army Band Strings ensemble
    Problems playing this file? See media help.

    The

    Drummer’s Colour (or Wilhelmstahl Colour) is of gosling green silk edged with gold, embroidered with St George and the Dragon in the centre, with red scrolls edged with gold, above and below. The motto of the Northumberland Fusiliers ‘QUO FATA VOCANT’ is, on the upper scroll, and the word ‘NORTHUMBERLAND’ between V REGT, also in gold, on the lower scroll. A wreath of green laurel with red berries and the ‘slipped’ red and white rose surmounted by a crown in the four corners, makes up the design. This unusual third colour is traditionally carried by the youngest drummer on the annual St George's Day parade.[20]

    Band

    A volunteer regimental band is sported by the

    Corps of Drums, it consists of 30 servicemen who marching in the full dress uniform
    of the regiment and performs by permission of the Commanding Officer of Fifth Fusiliers. The
    black light show.[25]

    Until the Strategic Defence Review of 1998 the Regiment had two Territorial Army bands: the Northumberland Band of the 6th Battalion and the Warwickshire Band of the 5th Battalion. After the review, the Northumberland Band became the Northumbria Band of the Tyne-Tees Regiment while the Warwickshire Band was removed from the TA establishment and continued as a civilian band. In 2006, it was renamed to the Band of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. The Lancashire Association Band of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers is also a volunteer band of the regiment.[26]

    Previous active duty bands

    In April 1968, each of the four regular battalions inherited a battalion band. In November 1969, the 4th battalion band was merged into the other three bands. The regiment chose to form two full size bands in 1984; one being titled as "The Duke of Kent's Band" and the other as "The St George's" Band.[26]

    Lineage of the regiment

    1880[27] 1881 Childers Reforms[27] 1921 Name changes 1957 Defence White Paper 1966 Defence White Paper 1990 Options for Change 2003 Delivering Security in a Changing World
    5th (Northumberland) (Fusiliers) Regiment of Foot
    The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers
    The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
    6th (Royal First Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot
    The Royal Warwickshire Fusiliers
    7th (Royal Fusiliers) Regiment of Foot
    The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
    20th (East Devonshire) Regiment of Foot
    The Lancashire Fusiliers

    Battle honours

    The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers carries the combined battle honours of its four antecedent regiments, as well as two honours obtained during the years of the regiment's own existence. There are a total of 40 representative honours each emblazoned on the Queen's Colour and Regimental Colour.[28]

    • Combined
      The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers
    • Combined
      The Royal Warwickshire Fusiliers
    • Combined
      The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
    • Combined
      The Lancashire Fusiliers
    • Wadi al Batin, Gulf 1991,
    • Al Basrah, Iraq 2003

    Regimental Colonels

    Regimental Colonels have been:[29]

    • 1968–1974: Gen. Sir Kenneth Thomas Darling, GBE, KCB, DSO
    • 1974–1977: Lt-Gen. Sir George Harris Lea, KCB, DSO, MBE
    • 1977–1982: Lt-Gen. Sir Alexander James Wilson, KBE, MC
    • 1982–1986: Maj-Gen. David Milner Woodford, CBE
    • 1986–1996: Maj-Gen.
      Jeremy Calcott Reilly
      , DSO
    • 1996–2001: Brig. David Arnold Kellett Biggart, OBE
    • 2001–2007: Brig. Roy Maddox Wilde, CBE
    • 2007–2012: Brig. Trevor J. Minter OBE DL
    • 2012–2015: Brig. David J. Paterson, OBE
    • 2015–2020: Maj-Gen. Paul Anthony Edward Nanson, CBE[30]
    • 2020-: Maj-Gen. Jonathan Swift OBE

    Order of Seniority Within the Line of Battle

    Preceded by
    Infantry Order of Precedence
         		Succeeded by

    Alliances

    See also

    References

    1. ISBN 0-85591-000-3
      .
    2. ^ "Units in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm". Britain's small wars. Archived from the original on 28 April 2014. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
    3. ^ a b "Royal Regiment of Fusiliers". British Army units 1945 on. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
    4. ^ object/1060028256 "Royal Regiment of Fusiliers in Basra, 22-23 April 2003". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 26 April 2014. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
    5. ISBN 978-0593059036
      .
    6. ^ "Operation Veritas: British units deployed". Britain's small wars. Archived from the original on 17 April 2014. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
    7. ^ "Units to deploy as part of Herrick 18 announced". Ministry of Defence. 12 February 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
    8. ^ "Army engineers big change for Terriers". Evening Chronicle. 24 March 2006. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
    9. ^ "Transforming the British Army: An Update" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. p. 7. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
    10. ^ "The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers [UK]". 13 December 2007. Archived from the original on 13 December 2007. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
    11. ^ "6th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers [UK]". 18 December 2007. Archived from the original on 18 December 2007. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
    12. ^ Louis Vieuxbill. British Army of the Rhine 1989 (PDF). p. 14.
    13. ^ a b "Corps of Army Music [UK]". 28 December 2007. Archived from the original on 28 December 2007. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
    14. ^ "1st Battalion - Armoured Infantry". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
    15. ^ "UK weather: Residents in Berkshire say military response is 24 hours too late". The Independent. 11 February 2015. Retrieved 3 September 2016.[permanent dead link]
    16. ^ "Army Major Units Boxing Final 2016". Archived from the original on 13 September 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
    17. ^ "Fifth Fusiliers". Retrieved 3 September 2016.
    18. ^ Richard Cannon,'Historical record of the Fifth Regiment of Foot, or Northumberland Fusiliers' (1837) p. 91
    19. ^ "Royal Regiment of Fusiliers: Regimental history". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
    20. ^ a b c d e "Regimental Handbook" (PDF). Regiments Direct. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 September 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
    21. ^ "The six 'before breakfast' VCs reunited at last". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 20 October 2014. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
    22. ISBN 9780954862909
      .
    23. ^ "Meet Fusilier George". BFBS. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
    24. ^ "In The Highest Tradition: The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers". BBC. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
    25. ^ "Meet the Band - The Band & Corp of Drums of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers". Rrfbandlancs.org.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
    26. ^ a b The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers[permanent dead link]
    27. ^ a b The London Gazette, Page 3300-3301 (1 July 1881). "Childers Reform". No. 24992. Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 27 October 2016.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
    28. ^ The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Regimental Handbook (PDF). RRF. 2019. p. 44.
    29. ^ "The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers". regiments.org. Archived from the original on 6 January 2007. Retrieved 17 October 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
    30. ^ "No. 61372". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 October 2015. p. 18567.

    External links

    Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Royal_Regiment_of_Fusiliers&oldid=1217874432"