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Regiments / 95th (Rifles) Regiment of Foot - EU
« on: May 08, 2022, 09:46:09 pm »|History| The Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own) was an infantry rifle regiment of the British Army. Formed in January 1800 as the "Experimental Corps of Riflemen" to provide sharpshooters, scouts and skirmishers, they were soon renamed the "Rifle Corps". In January 1803 they became an established regular regiment and were titled the 95th Regiment of Foot (Rifles). In 1816, at the end of the Napoleonic Wars, they were again renamed, this time as the "Rifle Brigade". The unit was distinguished by its use of green uniforms as standard in place of the traditional red coat, as well as being armed with the first British-made rifle accepted by the British Army, in place of smooth-bore muskets — the first regular infantry corps in the British Army to be so. Lieutenant Colonel Sir John Moore had an idea to use soldiers picked from other regiments (and volunteers) who showed initiative on the battlefield and in camp. They needed to be able to think for themselves (unlike their red coat counterparts) and were also chosen for being better shots. In the year 1800 the 95th Rifles were formed dressed in the ‘Green Jackets, Black Belts’ unlike the ‘Red Jackets and White Belts’ of their Line Infantry counterparts, were seen as somewhat an oddity by other units. Instead of being called private soldiers, every man – from the colonel in charge of the entire battalion to the newest recruit – called themselves ‘Riflemen.’ |
Motto : "Celer et Audax" (Swift and Bold).
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