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History of The Rifles

Pride of Regiment and love for the Regiment’s history and tradition is the sacred Ark of the Covenant on which the British soldier depends in battle and on which Britain, through him, has again and again survived and won through to victory.

—Sir Arthur Bryant

The Rifles was formed on the 1st of February 2007 in the crucible of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. It was forged from four of the finest Infantry Regiments in the British Army: The Devonshire & Dorset Light Infantry, The Light Infantry, The Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire & Wiltshire Light Infantry, and The Royal Green Jackets. These founding Regiments give The Rifles an extraordinary lineage dating back to 1685 and an unbreakable heritage across several of England’s counties.

The Rifleman’s Museum explores the heritage of Riflemen by following The Rifles’ lineage through The Royal Green Jackets, its antecedent regiments and their histories, all the way back to the 18th century.

Which regiments feature in the Museum?

RIFLES Forming Regiments

The Royal Green Jackets

The short 41 year history of the Royal Green Jackets began and ended with battalions on operational duty, in 1966 in Borneo, in 2007 in Iraq. In the intervening years Green Jacket Riflemen served around the world; in mechanised formations in Germany facing the Warsaw Pact during the Cold War; as part of the garrisons stationed in Berlin, Cyprus, Hong Kong and Gibraltar; on peace keeping duties with the United Nations and in the United Kingdom formations designated as ‘Rapid Deployment’ forces.

The ‘troubles’ in Northern Ireland saw battalions frequently stationed in Ulster or sent there on short emergency tours of duty to support the police against terrorism.

 

Coming soon: Key battle honours & traditions
Coming soon: Customs & Traditions

To find out more about The Royal Green Jackets, visit The Rifleman’s Museum.

The Devonshire & Dorset Light Infantry

The Devonshire and Dorset Regiment, often referred to as the “Devon and Dorsets,” was formed in 1958 following the amalgamation of the Devonshire Regiment and the Dorset Regiment. This union, initiated by the 1957 Defence Review, marked a significant reduction in British Army infantry battalions.

The regiment’s motto, Semper Fidelis (“Always Faithful”), reflected its steadfast dedication throughout its history. The 1st Battalion served with distinction across Cyprus, British Guiana, Libya, Northern Ireland, Germany, Malta, Belize, the Falklands, Bosnia, and more, adapting as mechanised and armoured infantry.

In 1987, the regiment raised the 4th Battalion (1st Rifle Volunteers) with companies spanning Devon and Dorset. By 2005, it transitioned into the Devon and Dorset Light Infantry, joining the Light Division. Its final active deployment was to Iraq in 2006.

Coming soon: Key Battle Honours
Coming soon: Customs & Traditions

 

To find out more about the Devonshire & Dorset Light Infantry, you can visit The Keep Military Museum, Dorchester. Visit the Museum website to find out more and plan your visit.

The Light Infantry

The Light Infantry was formed on 1 July 1968 as part of a major reorganisation of the British Army, merging four historic regiments: the Somerset and Cornwall Light Infantry, the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, and the Durham Light Infantry. These regiments shared a rich heritage rooted in the tradition of light infantry, characterised by swift, flexible soldiers trained for rapid movement and skirmishing. Throughout its history, the Light Infantry was actively involved in significant military operations and peacekeeping missions worldwide, including extensive service in Northern Ireland during The Troubles, deployments to Germany as part of the British Army of the Rhine during the Cold War, and peacekeeping efforts in Bosnia and Kosovo during the 1990s. In the 21st century, the regiment contributed to combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan during the War on Terror.

 

Coming soon: Key Battle Honours
Coming soon: Customs & Traditions

The Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire & Wiltshire Light Infantry

Formed in 1994 by merging The Gloucestershire Regiment and The Duke of Edinburgh’s Royal Regiment (Berkshire and Wiltshire), this regiment quickly proved its mettle with a deployment to Bosnia under United Nations forces that same year. By 1995, it was stationed in Cyprus with the UN for two years, during which a company also garrisoned the Falkland Islands. The regiment’s first posting to Northern Ireland came in 1997, followed by deployments to Kosovo with NATO in 1999 and another tour in Northern Ireland in 2000. Between 2002 and 2005, the regiment took on ceremonial duties in London, including the prestigious role of Queen’s Guard. In 2004, it returned briefly to Kosovo to help quell civil unrest and sent a company to the Falklands once again, showcasing its adaptability and dedication across a wide range of challenging missions.

 

Coming soon: Key Battle Honours
Coming soon: Customs & Traditions

The Rifles War Tales

The War Tales of The Rifles introduces and summarises the key events and some of the key people in the Regiment’s history. It is intended for all Riflemen. Our Regimental spirit and our unique culture – so important to our operational performance – is rooted in our history. To be authentic Riflemen, we have to conduct ourselves in accordance with our culture – but we can only do that if we know our story. This is it.

The Rifles Family Tree

The full family tree of The Rifles also includes the rich history of the three other Forming Regiments, each with their own antecedent regiments. You can download the full family tree here: Annex A is The Rifles Family Tree and Annex B is a Timeline Map of all the different theatres of war that The Rifles have been involved in.

Regimental Anniversaries

The Rifles have various anniversaries that are commemorated throughout the year, including their Regimental Day. Find out why these days are so special.

The Rifles Museum Network

If you want to find out more about rifle regiments that are not covered in The Rifleman’s Museum, The Rifles Museum Network includes all the museums which explore the history of many of these regiments and their antecedents.