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106-718: In the late 1930s the British King's African Rifles (KAR) in East Africa were expanded. Beyond the existing infantry units, a large number of ancillary units and subunits were established in 1939. Playfair et al write that on the outbreak of war with Italy [10 June 1940], Major-General Douglas Dickinson , Inspector-General of the African Colonial Forces, was appointed General Officer Commanding East Africa Force. It comprised "..two East African brigades [former Northern and Southern Brigades, mostly made up of

212-774: A British amphibious landing at Ferrol , Spain, where the Rifles helped to dislodge the Spanish defenders on the heights. Despite this, the expedition was defeated and withdrew on 26 August 1800. In April 1801, one company of the Experimental Corps of Riflemen, under the command of Captain Sidney Beckwith, took part in the British victory at the Battle of Copenhagen , as marksmen aboard Royal Navy ships that were under

318-816: A Northern Frontier District Division were planned, but, instead, the 11th African Division and the 12th African Division was formed. The two divisions included East African, Ghanaian , Nigerian , and South African troops. The Ghanaian and Nigerian troops came from the Royal West African Frontier Force . Under the terms of a war contingency plan, a brigade each was provided from the Gold Coast (now Ghana) and from Nigeria for service in Kenya. A Nigerian brigade, together with two East African brigades (the KAR brigades) and some South Africans, formed

424-487: A Spanish force that had crossed from Buenos Aires; the Rifles held off the force until it could be repulsed, with the 95th gaining much praise from Auchmuty for their part in the defeat of the Spanish force. The 95th subsequently saw action in June at San Pedro where they, the 40th and light companies, fought against the Spanish force that had crossed from Buenos Aires and defeated them. Lieutenant-General John Whitelocke ,

530-544: A church and were surrendered soon after Whitelocke surrendered his force. After Whitelocke negotiated the withdrawal of British forces, the men were released and they returned home later that year. The 95th would go on to fight for near the entirety of the Peninsular War in Spain. In the aftermath of the disastrous expedition, Popham and Whitelocke were court-martialed, with Popham reprimanded and Whitelocke dismissed from

636-620: A common intelligence system across East Africa until October 1964 when it was withdrawn and moved to Aden . East Africa Command was disbanded, seemingly on 11 December 1963, the day before Kenyan independence , and replaced by British Land Forces Kenya the next day. Keesing's Contemporary Archives wrote that continued unrest in the north-east region of Kenya in late 1963 prompted President Kenyatta to ..call an urgent Cabinet meeting, also attended by Major-General Ian Freeland (G.O.C., British Land Forces, Kenya) and Mr. Richard Catling (Inspector-General of Police), at Gatundu on Dec. 25, 1963. After

742-754: A fire broke out in a car containing 2,000 pounds (910 kg) of ammunition. Despite the extreme danger, O'Hea took charge of extinguishing the fire and saved many lives. The regiment also took part in the Battle of Ali Masjid in November 1878 during the Second Anglo-Afghan War , the Mahsud Waziri expedition in 1881, the Third Anglo-Burmese War in 1885, the Fourth Anglo-Ashanti War in 1895 and

848-566: A major role in operations during the Mau Mau rebellion in Kenya (1952–1960). In 1952, the 7th (Kenya) Battalion was reformed; it was renumbered as the 11th (Kenya) Battalion in 1956. 2nd/3rd Battalion, a reserve unit, was raised during the military phase of the emergency in Kenya and was under consideration for disbandment by 1957. A company of the regiment perpetrated the Chuka massacre in June 1953. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd battalions saw service in

954-558: A role in the First Battle of El Alamein before, the following month, becoming a part of the 7th Motor Brigade , part of the 1st Armoured Division. It later transferred to the independent 9th Armoured Brigade and finally to the 61st Lorried Infantry Brigade and was engaged throughout the Italian Campaign from May 1944 onwards, commanded throughout by Lieutenant Colonel Douglas Darling . The 8th Battalion, Rifle Brigade

1060-728: A similar incident. .. As a result, [Major General Ian Freeland ] had considerably more resources at his disposal to prevent and contain potential problems in the Kenyan soldiery. Once Lieutenant Colonel Mans gave [HQ East Africa Command] a careful account of how trouble had broken out in the Tanganyika Rifles, Freeland ordered the Kenyan Special Branch to step up its surveillance of key army units. This did not prevent trouble breaking out on 24 January 1964 within 11 Kenya Rifles at Lanet Barracks near Nakuru . The uprising

1166-774: A strength of two battalions, 1st Buffs being joined by 1st Battalion, The Devonshire Regiment , it arrived in April 1953 and was soon deployed in the Rift Valley , commanded by Brigadier J.W. Tweedie. After over a year of operations, the Buffs and Devons were withdrawn and relieved in December 1954 and January 1955, respectively. Reliefs were 1st Battalion King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and 1st Battalion The Rifle Brigade . 39th Infantry Brigade left Kenya in 1956 for Northern Ireland . On arrival in Kenya 49 Brigade took under command

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1272-560: A variety of other Combat service support units were handed over to the new Kenya Army during the process of independence for Kenya in December 1963 and January 1964. 24th Infantry Brigade was involved in the British response to indigenous army mutinies which sprang up in Zanzibar , Tanzania , in the Uganda Army and Kenya itself from January 1964. The Zanzibar Revolution broke out on 12 January 1964. A week later, two battalions of

1378-594: Is off the eastern coast of Africa, a detachment of the King's African Rifles was present until 1960. It was gradually replaced by the newly formed Special Mobile Force (SMF) and Police Riot Unit (PRU). Only the Kenya Rifles and the Malawi Rifles still exist. The regiment's battalions were not awarded colours until 1924, as colours were not traditionally carried by rifle regiments. The colours had many of

1484-922: The 11th Brigade in the 4th Division in August 1914 for service on the Western Front . The battalion saw action at the First Battle of the Marne in September 1914, the First Battle of the Aisne in September 1914 and the Battle of Messines in October 1914 as well as the Second Battle of Ypres in April 1915, the Battle of the Somme in Autumn 1916 and the Battle of Arras in April 1917 before taking part in

1590-517: The 26th Armoured Brigade of the 6th Armoured Division. The battalion, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Adrian Gore , saw service with the division in Tunisia in late 1942 and 1943 before, in May 1944, transferring to the 61st Lorried Infantry Brigade , commanded by Gore, now a brigadier, serving with the 2nd and 7th Battalions in the Italian Campaign. The battalion was disbanded in late March 1945, most of

1696-686: The 41st Brigade in the 14th (Light) Division in May 1915 for service on the Western Front. The 8th Battalion took part in the Second Battle of Ypres , which had begun on 22 April 1915 and the action at Hooge in July 1915 where they saw the first use of flamethrowers by the Germans . Second Lieutenant Sidney Woodroffe , of the 8th Battalion, was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions in this battle. The battalions also saw action in

1802-443: The 43rd and 52nd Regiments of Foot, under the tutelage of Manningham and Sir John Moore ; the latter, like the 95th, would gain fame during the Peninsular War . In 1805, a 2nd Battalion was raised at Canterbury , Kent, and later in the year the 1st/95th deployed to Germany as part of a British expedition, under the command of Lord Cathcart , designed to liberate Hanover from occupation by France . The 95th subsequently formed

1908-634: 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 in place of the traditional red coat . It also differed in being armed with the Baker rifle in place of smooth-bore muskets, the first regular infantry corps in the British Army to be so armed. The Rifle Brigade performed distinguished service in both

2014-637: The Battle of Alma , where one of the battalions led the advance across the Alma River in September 1854. The regiment also saw action at the Battle of Inkerman in November 1854 and at the Siege of Sevastopol in winter 1854. Eight members of the regiment were awarded Victoria Crosses during the Crimean War. The regiment was deployed again as part of the Indian Rebellion and saw action at

2120-406: The Battle of Cambrai in December 1917. The 12th (Service) Battalion landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer as part of the 60th Brigade in the 20th (Light) Division in July 1915 for service on the Western Front and took part in most of the same battles as the 10th and 11th battalions. The 12th battalion also took part in the action at Pietre, part of a subsidiary attack on the 25th of September 1915 during

2226-523: The Battle of Corunna on 16 January 1809. The majority of the 1st battalion was rested and refitted in the UK, though a few small detachments of the 95th were stranded behind which then formed up with other detachments as part of a defence force (1st Battalion of detachments ) in Portugal. The 1st returned to the peninsula a few months later in May 1809 and in July was force marched in an attempt to arrive with

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2332-538: The Battle of Guillemont in September 1916 as well as the Battle of Flers–Courcelette in September 1916, the Battle of Morval in September 1916 and the Battle of Le Transloy in October 1916 before taking part in the advance to the Hindenburg Line , the Battle of Langemarck in August 1917, the Battle of the Menin Road Ridge in September 1917, the Battle of Polygon Wood in September 1917 and

2438-518: The Battle of Messines in June 1917, the Battle of Passchendaele in October 1917 and the Battle of Cambrai in November 1917 before taking part in the Second Battle of the Somme in August 1918, the Battle of Cambrai in October 1918 and the Final Advance in Picardy . The 4th Battalion landed at Le Havre as part of the 80th Brigade in the 27th Division in December 1914 for service on

2544-511: The Battle of Neuve Chapelle in March 1915, the Battle of Aubers Ridge in May 1915 and the Battle of the Somme in Autumn 1916 as well as the advance to the Hindenburg Line , the Battle of Pilckem Ridge in August 1917 and the Battle of Passchendaele in Autumn 1917 before taking part in the Battle of St Quentin in March 1918, the Battle of Rosieres in March 1918, the Third Battle of

2650-548: The Battle of Nivelle in November 1813. The three battalions had been dispersed to various locations with the abdication of Napoleon and the total French defeat in 1814. The majority of the regiment's companies were sent back to England for rest and refitting while several companies had been retained in north-east France at Leuze, Aisne under General Thomas Graham . Five companies of the 3rd battalion were in North America , having been sent in late 1814 to participate in

2756-563: The Battle of Passchendaele in Autumn 1917, the Battle of the Lys in April 1918, the Advance in Flanders, the Second Battle of the Somme in August 1918, the battles of the Hindenburg Line and the Final Advance in Picardy . The 2nd Battalion landed at Le Havre as part of the 25th Brigade in the 8th Division in November 1914 for service on the Western Front. The battalion saw action at

2862-544: The Battle of Polygon Wood in September 1917 and the Second Battle of Passchendaele in November 1917 before taking part in the Battle of St Quentin in March 1918 and the Second Battle of Bapaume in August 1918. In October 1922 the 2nd Battalion was deployed to Turkey as part of the response to the Chanak Crisis , which had followed Turkish efforts to push the Greek armies out of Turkey and restore Turkish rule in

2968-511: The Battle of Waterloo on 18 June 1815. At the end of the Napoleonic Wars, the size of the British Army was reduced; in line with precedent the more recently formed regiments were disbanded first. The unique skills of the 95th were considered too valuable to lose so the 95th, having seen distinguished service in the Napoleonic Wars , was taken out of line of the British Army and became the "Rifle Brigade" on 23 February 1816 (the number

3074-586: The Battle of the Somme in Summer 1916 and the advance to the Hindenburg Line as well as the Battle of Arras in April 1917, the Battle of Passchendaele in Autumn 1917 and the Battle of Cambrai in November 1917 before taking part in the Battle of the Lys in April 1918, the Third Battle of the Aisne in May 1918, the Second Battle of the Somme in August 1918, the Battles of the Hindenburg Line and

3180-612: The British Army . During the 1960s, as part of the decolonisation of Africa , more African officers were commissioned into the regiment before it was gradually disbanded. KAR battalions would go on to form the core of newly established armed forces throughout East Africa . Until independence, the parade uniform of the KAR comprised khaki drill , with tall fezzes and cummerbunds . The latter items were normally red, although there were some battalion distinctions with Nyasaland units, for example, wearing black fezzes. Prior to 1914,

3286-603: The British Military Mission to Ethiopia . A team from 68 Supply Depot, East Africa Army Service Corps, Mombasa, won the Middle East Land Forces East Africa Command and Mombasa Area Challenge Shields Messing and Cookery Competition in 1949. Between 1947 and 1950 Mackinnon Road was the site of a large British engineering and Ordnance Depot designed to hold 200,000 tons of military stores. The British had anticipated

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3392-714: The East African Campaign (World War II) was underway. Dickinson's force drew troops from Kenya, Tanganyika, Nyasaland ( British Central Africa ), Northern Rhodesia , and Southern Rhodesia , and reinforcements began to arrive from South Africa and the Royal West African Frontier Force in West Africa. With some of the West African reinforcements, two weak divisions were created on 19 July. The 1st (African) Division , with

3498-905: The East African Mounted Rifles , the East African Regiment , the Uganda Volunteer Rifles and the Zanzibar Volunteer Defence Force . The regiment fought in the East African Campaign against the German commander Paul Erich von Lettow-Vorbeck and his forces in German East Africa. Transport and support into the interior were provided by over 400,000 porters of the Carrier Corps . By the end of

3604-608: The First and Second World Wars . Post war, in 1958 the regiment formed part of the Green Jackets Brigade as 3rd Green Jackets and was amalgamated with the 1st Green Jackets (43rd and 52nd) and the 2nd Green Jackets (King's Royal Rifle Corps) to form the Royal Green Jackets on 1 January 1966. In 1800, an "Experimental Corps of Riflemen", was raised by Colonel Coote Manningham and Lieutenant-Colonel

3710-791: The Fourth Battle of Monte Cassino , the Gothic Line and the Spring 1945 offensive in Italy , which brought an end to the war in Italy in early May 1945. The 7th Battalion was formed by re-naming the 1st Battalion the London Rifle Brigade in January 1941. The battalion became part of the 23rd Armoured Brigade , then serving under the 8th Armoured Division , and was sent with the division to Egypt in July 1942 where it played

3816-412: The Hindenburg Line as well as the Battle of Arras in April 1917, the Battle of Langemark in August 1917 and the Battle of Passchendaele in October 1917 before taking part in the Battle of St Quentin in March 1918 and the Battle of the Avre in April 1918. The 9th (Service) Battalion landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer as part of the 42nd Brigade in the 14th (Light) Division in May 1915 for service on

3922-404: The Mahdist War in 1898. The 1st and 2nd Battalions were both deployed to South Africa in 1899, at the outbreak of the Second Boer War (1899–1902). The 1st Battalion saw action at the Battle of Colenso in December 1899 and Battle of Vaal Krantz in February 1900. The 2nd Battalion took part in the Siege of Ladysmith in late 1899 and early 1900. Both battalions stayed in South Africa until

4028-421: The Malayan Emergency in 1956. The 1st Battalion was renamed the 3rd Green Jackets, The Rifle Brigade in 1958 and was amalgamated with the 1st Green Jackets (43rd and 52nd) and the King's Royal Rifle Corps to form the Royal Green Jackets on 1 January 1966. The regimental collection is held by the Royal Green Jackets (Rifles) Museum which is based at Peninsula Barracks in Winchester . The regiment

4134-399: The Malayan Emergency , where they were heavily involved in fighting Communist rebels, suffering 23 dead. The regiment was retitled the East African Land Forces in 1957. The last Colonel-in-Chief of the KAR was Queen Elizabeth II . When the various territories from which the KAR was recruited became independent, the regiment began to break up: The extent to which KAR traditions influence

4240-400: The Second Battle of Ypres which had begun in April 1915 and an action near La Brique in Belgium where Corporal Alfred George Drake , also of the 8th Battalion, was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on 23 November 1915. The battalions then took part in the Battle of Delville Wood in September 1916, the Battle of Flers–Courcelette in September 1916 and the advance to

4346-440: The Siege of Lucknow in autumn 1857. It was granted the title "The Prince Consort's Own Rifle Brigade" in honour of its colonel-in-chief on 17 January 1862. In 1866, Private Timothy O'Hea of the 1st Battalion, was awarded the Victoria Cross for an act of bravery in peacetime, while his unit was stationed in the Province of Canada . On 9 June 1866, at Danville, Canada East , on the main railway between Montreal and Quebec City,

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4452-520: The Tanganyika Rifles mutinied on 19-20 January 1964. When the Tanganyikan soldiers rose, 2nd Battalion Scots Guards, part of 24th Infantry Brigade, was in Aden for training. Back in Kenya three units of 24th Infantry Brigade were on varying degrees of alert: 1st Battalion, the Staffordshire Regiment at Kahawa with a company afloat aboard the frigate HMS  Rhyl standing by near Zanzibar; 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery at Alanbrooke Barracks at Gilgil and 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders , though

4558-450: The " Snipe " action during the Second Battle of El Alamein in October 1942, when the four 6-pounders of the battalion, supported by a 6-pounder Anti-Tank battery of the Royal Artillery , knocked out over 50 German and Italian tanks in a lengthy battle. Lieutenant Colonel Victor Buller Turner , commanding the battalion, received the Victoria Cross for his actions fighting with the guns. Commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Pearson ,

4664-431: The 11th African Division. The 12th African Division was similarly formed, but with the Ghanaian brigade instead of the Nigerian brigade. In 1941, during the East African Campaign, Sergeant Nigel Gray Leakey of the 1/6th Battalion was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC). The 11th African Division was disbanded in November 1941 and the 12th African Division was disbanded in April 1943. In 1943, the 11th (East Africa) Division

4770-406: The 1st Battalion's four 6-pounders were credited with destroying many tanks from the 21st Panzer Division at the Battle of Alam el Halfa on 31 August 1942. The 1st Battalion subsequently took part in the Second Battle of El Alamein and the Tunisian Campaign until May 1943 when the war in North Africa ended with the surrender of almost 250,000 German and Italian soldiers. The battalion, with

4876-407: The 1st East African Infantry Brigade and the 2nd East African Infantry Brigade . The first brigade was responsible for coastal defence and the second for the defence of the interior. (See 1st SA Infantry Division ). By the end of July 1940, two additional East African brigades were formed, the 3rd East African Infantry Brigade and the 6th East African Infantry Brigade. Initially a Coastal Division and

4982-399: The 1st and 2nd Central African Battalions: On formation, there was no regular staff system in connection with these six battalions beyond the usual regimental staff and an Inspector-General who made two annual tours and reported to the Foreign Office . The 5th and 6th battalions were disbanded by 1910 as a cost-saving measure by the Colonial Office and out of white-settler concern over

5088-442: The 2nd, 3rd and 4th battalions were expanded into two battalions each through recruiting in their home areas. It was not until General Hoskins (formerly the Inspector General of the KAR) was appointed to command British East African forces in 1917 that genuine expansion began. The 1st Battalion was doubled, and the 6th (Tanganyika Territory) Battalion was raised from Schutztruppe of the former German East Africa and then it too

5194-479: The 2nd/95th was part of the immediate forces sent in the Portuguese expedition initially commanded by Sir Arthur Wellesley and covered the landings at Mondego Bay (Figueira da Foz). On 15 August they had the distinction of firing the first shots of the Peninsular War during a skirmish at Óbidos against the French, but also unfortunately suffered the first British officer fatality of the war, a Lieutenant Ralph Bunbury . The 95th, as part of 6th Brigade which included

5300-485: The 3rd regiment and the KAR Signals Company were also raised. Thus, in late 1918, the KAR consisted of 22 battalions as follows: Part of the KAR's expansion involved bringing up unit strengths to the same size as British and Indian Army Imperial Service units , while also increasing the numbers of white officers and NCOs. The increase in cadres was difficult due to the shortage of Swahili -speaking whites, as many white settlers had already formed segregated units such as

5406-425: The Aisne in May 1918, the Battle of the Scarpe in August 1918 and the Final Advance in Artois . The 3rd Battalion landed at Saint-Nazaire as part of the 17th Brigade in the 6th Division in September 1914 for service on the Western Front. The battalion saw action at the Battle of Delville Wood in July 1916, the Battle of Guillemont in September 1916 and the Battle of Vimy Ridge in April 1917 as well as

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5512-441: The Allied occupied territories of Turkey, primarily in Constantinople . The 1st Battalion, Rifle Brigade was in England on the outbreak of the Second World War , originally part of the 1st Support Group , part of the 1st Armoured Division . In late April 1940, however, the battalion transferred to the newly created 30th Infantry Brigade and landed in France the following month within the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) but

5618-432: The Army. The remaining companies of the 95th were involved in the expedition to Denmark that year. They took part in the Battle of Copenhagen in 1807 as part of Arthur Wellesley's brigade. The expedition, commanded by Lord Cathcart , was intended to capture the Danish Fleet to prevent it falling into the hands of France. The expedition proved to be a thorough success with the Danish Fleet being captured at which point

5724-416: The British air and ground force that defeated the Dervish movement in 1920. The KAR began the First World War with 21 small companies in three battalions (each with up to eight companies following the British pre-1913 half-company establishment ): the 1st Nyasaland (half of the battalion was located in the northeast Nyasaland ), 3rd East Africa (with one company on Zanzibar ) and the 4th Uganda, both of

5830-453: The British withdrew. In 1808 the 1st/95th took part in an expedition to another Scandinavian country, Sweden , an expedition that was commanded by Sir John Moore and designed to help Sweden during their war with Russia . However, once they had reached Gothenburg in May, the troops remained aboard the anchored ships for two months due to a misunderstanding between the British and Swedish governments and returned to Britain. In August 1808

5936-426: The Final Advance in Picardy . The 16th (Service) Battalion (St Pancras) landed at Le Havre as part of the 117th Brigade in the 39th Division in March 1916 for service on the Western Front. The battalion saw action at the Battle of the Somme in Autumn 1916, the Battle of Pilckem Ridge in August 1917 and the Battle of Langemarck in August 1917 as well as the Battle of the Menin Road Ridge in September 1917,

6042-449: The Gordons' advance party had already returned to Edinburgh . 2nd Scots Guards was quickly returned to Kahawa. After the Uganda Army mutiny on 23 January 1964, 1st Battalion, Staffordshire Regiment, with an attached company of the Scots Guards, was quickly dispatched to Jinja . Timothy Parsons wrote, ...military authorities in Kenya took [the 1964 mutinies in Tanganyika and Uganda] very seriously and quickly developed plans to deal with

6148-420: The Great War, the KAR comprised 1,193 British officers, 1,497 British NCOs and 30,658 Africans (33,348 total) in 22 battalions, including two made up of former German askaris, as noted above. In Armies in East Africa 1914–18 , Peter Abbot notes that the KAR units recruited from former prisoners of war were used as garrison troops by the British, to avoid any conflict of loyalties . However, one of these battalions

6254-448: The Hon. William Stewart , drawn from officers and other ranks from drafts of a variety of British regiments. The Corps differed in several regards from the line infantry of the British Army and most significantly were armed with the formidable Baker rifle . The rifle was remarkably accurate in an era when it was generally considered impractical for individual soldiers to aim at specific targets. Riflemen wore dark green jackets rather than

6360-449: The Italians in Italian East Africa during the East African Campaign , against the Vichy French in Madagascar during the Battle of Madagascar , and against the Japanese in Burma during the Burma Campaign . The Somaliland battalions defended the colony against the Italian invasion of August 1940, but were forced to retreat and evacuate after defeat in the Battle of Tug Argan from 11 to 15 August. KAR units were deployed as part of

6466-406: The KAR], an East African reconnaissance regiment and a light battery, and the 22nd Mountain Battery R.A. from India. The task given to him by General Wavell [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East] was to defend Kenya and without compromising that defence to contain as many Italians as possible on his front." Skirmishes with the Italians began on the northern border of Kenya Colony at Moyale by June 1940;

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6572-515: The Nigerian and 1st East African Brigade Groups [Kenya/Uganda KAR], took over the coastal and Tana sector of the defences. The 2nd (African) Division made up of the Gold Coast and 2nd East African [Tanganyika KAR] Brigade Groups, became responsible for the northern border of Kenya Colony facing Ethiopia. East African Force was upgraded in status to a Command in September 1941 under General Sir William Platt , covering North East Africa, East Africa and British Central Africa. Until 1944 it directed

6678-411: The Western Front and took part in most of the same battles as the 7th and 8th battalions. The 10th (Service) Battalion and 11th (Service) Battalion landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer as part of the 59th Brigade in the 20th (Light) Division in July 1915 for service on the Western Front. The battalions saw action at the Battle of Mont Sorrel in June 1916, the Battle of Delville Wood in September 1916 and

6784-423: The Western Front but moved to Salonika in November 1915. The 18th (London) Battalion, 19th (Western) Battalion, 20th (Northern) Battalion, 21st (Midland) Battalion, 22nd (Wessex & Welsh) Battalion, 23rd (North Western) Battalion and 24th (Home Counties) Battalion were all post overseas on garrison duties in 1916. The 7th (Service) Battalion and 8th (Service) Battalion landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer as part of

6890-476: The White-raised territorial Kenya Regiment . Units in Kenya from 1952-56 included the Battle School, Tracker School, Kenya Regiment Training Centre and Heavy Battery. Police organisations listed included the Kenya Police , Kenya Police Reserve , Kenya Police Reserve Air Wing, Auxiliary Forces, Dobie Force (disbanded) and General Service Units . KAR battalions listed included 3 KAR (Kenya), 4 KAR (Uganda), 5 KAR (Kenya), 6 and 26 KAR (Tanganiyka, though later 26 KAR

6996-414: The advance guard on the way to Bremen . In February 1806, the 95th formed the rearguard for the withdrawal to Cuxhaven and subsequently returned home to the UK. In October 1806, five companies of the 1st/95th and three companies of the 2nd/95th departed for Spanish-controlled South America, Spain then being allied with France. It was part of a second invasion force that was designed as reinforcements for

7102-437: The battalion, alongside the 1st Battalion, continued to play a prominent role in the final stages of the Tunisian Campaign. In September 1943 the battalion transferred to the 7th Armoured Brigade in the 10th Armoured Division , remaining with that formation in North Africa until May 1944, when it transferred to the 61st Lorried Infantry Brigade in the 6th Armoured Division for service in the Italian Campaign, seeing action in

7208-433: The battle of Loos where it advanced along in support of the Indian Corps. The battalion made good ground but retired when the units on both its flanks were forced back and it lost many many killed, wounded and missing during this withdrawal. The 13th (Service) Battalion landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer as part of the 111th Brigade in the 37th Division in July 1915 for service on the Western Front. The battalion saw action at

7314-419: The bright red coats of the British line infantry regiments of that time, close-fitting pantaloons rather than breeches, black facings and black belts rather than white and a green plume on their "stovepipe shakoes ". Four months after its formation, the Rifle Corps was judged ready for its first operation. On 25 August 1800, three companies, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel William Stewart, spearheaded

7420-477: The companies were, in reality, large platoons of 70 to 80 men. In 1915 the KAR was expanded by having the three battalions reorganised into standard four-company battalions, which were then brought up to full strength at 1,045 men each. It was not until early 1916 that the 2nd Nyasaland and 5th Kenya battalions [1916–1963] were re-raised, this being due to do with white sensitivities in Kenya about arming and training large numbers of black African troops. Later in 1916

7526-551: The country. Anti- "Shifta" (anti-pro-independence Northern Frontier District Somali partisans) operations continued, but now under Kenya Army control. In Major General William Dimoline 's papers at King's College London there is a typescript report from Brigadier M J D'A. Blackman on the closing down of British Land Forces Kenya, circa May 1965. Commanders-in-Chief included: GOC East Africa Force GOC East Africa Command GOC British Land Forces Kenya King%27s African Rifles The King's African Rifles ( KAR )

7632-532: The deficiencies filled up in a very short time, but more than a thousand volunteers presented themselves beyond the numbers required. It was therefore resolved by the Authorities to add a 3rd Battalion to the regiment. The third battalion joined the Peninsular Army in 1810. Thereafter the three battalions of the 95th fought in numerous major battles and skirmishes during the Peninsular War as part of

7738-485: The elite Light Division, including the Battle of Bussaco in September 1810 and the sieges of Ciudad Rodrigo in January 1812 and Badajoz and March 1812 as well as the Battle of Vitoria in June 1813. At the Battle of San Marcial in August 1813 a company of the 95th Rifles under the command of Captain Daniel Cadoux held off an entire French division at Vera before withdrawing. The regiment also took part in

7844-627: The end of the war. 367 officers and men of the 1st battalion left Cape Town on the SS Orissa , which arrived at Southampton in late October 1902, when the battalion was stationed at Portsmouth . 990 officers and men of the 2nd battalion left Port Natal on the SS Malta in September 1902 for a new posting in Egypt. The 4th Battalion was also stationed in South Africa at some point during

7950-580: The existence of a large indigenous armed force. During the early 1900s the King's African Rifles took part in the Somaliland campaign against Mohammed Abdullah Hassan (known to the British as the 'Mad Mullah') and the Dervishes . Lt-Col. Alexander Cobbe of 1st (Central Africa) Battalion KAR, was awarded the Victoria Cross for his action at Erego, on 6 October 1902. The KAR were part of

8056-660: The final stages of the War of 1812 . With the return of Napoleon from exile , all of the companies in England crossed the channel and landed in Belgium in May 1815, joining with those already present, so that the entire regiment, bar the five companies still in America, became part of Wellington's Anglo-Dutch army. The first battalion went on to fight at the Battle of Quatre Bras on 16 June 1815, while all three battalions would fight at

8162-527: The first invasion against Buenos Aires , launched earlier in 1806 by Sir Home Popham without the Government's knowledge. The 2nd/95th, as part of Brigadier-General Sir Samuel Auchmuty 's force, took part in the siege and subsequent storming of Montevideo , in what is now Uruguay , and which saw Montevideo captured on 3 February 1807, after clearing the surrounding area of Spanish troops in January. The 95th subsequently saw action at Colonia against

8268-404: The latter included the 4th platoon of Sudanese with the 4th platoon of 4th battalion being led by Sudanese officers. Additionally, the companies were scattered over British East Africa. Full strength of the KAR in 1914 was 70 British officers, three British NCOs, and 2,325 Africans. There were no organic heavy weapons (each company had one machine gun), including artillery or organised reserves and

8374-648: The loss of military bases in Egypt due to a rise in nationalism there and needed to stockpile the stores that had been located in the Suez Canal Zone . The plan was abandoned and the base became a detention camp for Mau Mau suspects until 1955. Soon after the arrival of the Lancashire Fusiliers (and Sir Evelyn Baring at the same time), the command was reorganized, losing responsibility for some units. The newly created Central African Federation

8480-536: The main force for the Battle of Talavera but despite covering a notable distance they arrived on 29 July 1809, just after the battle. After the depletion suffered at Corunna, the two battalions of the 95th based at Hythe in Kent were made up to a strength of 1,000 men each. However, so many volunteers came forward to join the regiment that permission was granted to raise a third battalion in 1809. The regiment had already become so famous and popular, that not only were

8586-566: The meeting the Government proclaimed a state of emergency throughout the Region and set up a five-mile-deep prohibited zone along the Kenya-Somalia border, excluding the settlements of Mandera and El Wak. The 70th (East African) Brigade became the basis for the independent Kenya Army. Three King's African Rifles battalions, three attached training companies, a brigade headquarters, 1 Signal Squadron, 91 General Transport Company, workshops, and

8692-408: The modern national armies of the former East African colonies varies from country to country. In Tanzania, a mutiny in 1964 led to a conscious decision to move away from the British military model. In Kenya, on the other hand, the title of Kenya Rifles survives and the various campaigns in which the KAR distinguished itself in both World Wars are still commemorated. On the island of Mauritius which

8798-545: The newly arrived overall commander, subsequently launched an ill-advised and mismanaged assault on Buenos Aires in which the companies of both battalions of the 95th were involved as part of the Light Brigade, commanded by Robert Craufurd . During the assault on Buenos Aires on 5 July, the 95th and the rest of the British force suffered heavy casualties in bitter fighting to capture the city. The Light Brigade had suffered casualties so heavily that they had to take refuge in

8904-547: The outbreak of war the 2nd Battalion, commanded since July 1938 by Lieutenant Colonel Edward Williams , was stationed in Palestine as part of the 14th Infantry Brigade of the 8th Infantry Division . The battalion, then commanded by Lieutenant Colonel James Renton , later fought with distinction as part of the 7th Motor Brigade in the 1st Armoured Division in the Western Desert Campaign , especially in

9010-496: The overall command of Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson . During the battle, the Rifle Corps suffered one lieutenant killed, its first officer to fall, and two other ranks killed and six wounded, some of whom died later. In 1802, the Rifle Corps was brought into the line of the British Army as the 95th Regiment of Foot. In 1803, the 95th moved to Shorncliffe Army Camp , Kent , where it underwent light infantry training, along with

9116-525: The personnel being sent to the 2nd Battalion. From spring 1946 a number of surplus Rifle Brigade subalterns were transferred to No. 1 T-Force , a British Army unit which was active in the Ruhr . Their role was to carry out reparations work, evacuating military and industrial equipment needed to rebuild British industry. The 1st Battalion went on to serve in the Mau Mau Uprising in Kenya in 1954 and

9222-474: The rationale that the heavy military boots of the period were unsuitable for African recruits who had not previously worn footwear. Fezzes bore an Arabic or Roman number with the wartime-raised battalions wearing theirs on geometric-shaped patches of cloth. During the Great War , all the dark blue items were replaced with khaki equivalents and a short pillbox hat with a khaki cover was worn on campaign. After

9328-491: The regiment throughout its early years. In 1898, good conduct stripes were also introduced, carrying an extra shilling (from originally 5 shillings a month) for those who had not been sentenced for imprisonment, confined to barracks for seven days, to a fine of more than five shillings, or corporal punishment. In addition, they also wore brown leather equipment similar to the 1888 Slade–Wallace British equivalent, but locally produced. Askaris wore sandals or were barefoot, on

9434-464: The regiment's battle honours emblazoned on it. The old colours were replaced in the 1950s. Rifle Brigade 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

9540-400: The regiment's field service uniforms consisted of a dark blue jersey and puttees , khaki shorts and a khaki fez cover with integral foldable cloth peak and neck flap, the designs according to Sealed Patterns procured from India. To note, although this was official regulation, a caption from 1898 describes the equipment and uniforms as being 'anything procurable' and equipment shortages plagued

9646-771: The rest of the 7th Armoured Division, took part in the Allied invasion of Italy , and the early stages of the Italian Campaign , in September 1943, returning to England in January 1944 and took part in the invasion of Normandy in June 1944, going on to fight throughout the North West Europe Campaign until Victory in Europe Day in May 1945, ending the war in Hamburg , Germany , and commanded throughout by Lieutenant Colonel A. G. V. Paley . On

9752-532: The rifle armed 5th/60th Foot , took part in the Battle of Roliça , the first pitched battle of the war, on 17 August 1808. Rifleman Thomas Plunket of the 1st Battalion, 95th Rifles, shot the French General Auguste François-Marie de Colbert-Chabanais at a range of up to 800 yards (730 m) at the Battle of Cacabelos on 3 January 1809. The 1st battalion was part of John Moore's campaign which ended with evacuation after

9858-834: The war, and 900 men returned home on the SS Ortona in January 1903. The 5th, Militia Battalion, was embodied in 1900, and served in South Africa until 700 men of the battalion returned home on the SS Avondale Castle in September 1902. In 1908, the Volunteers and Militia were reorganised nationally, with the former becoming the Territorial Force and the latter the Special Reserve ; the regiment now had three Reserve but no Territorial battalions. The 1st Battalion landed at Le Havre as part of

9964-541: The war, the khaki shirt was replaced by a collarless blue-grey angora shirt called a "greyback". Officers and senior NCOs wore slouch hats with coloured hackles . Six battalions were formed in 1902 by the amalgamation of the Central Africa Regiment (CAR), East Africa Rifles (EAR) and Uganda Rifles , with one or two battalions located in each of Nyasaland , Kenya , Uganda and British Somaliland : The 1st and 2nd Battalions were also known as

10070-498: Was a British Colonial Auxiliary Forces regiment raised from Britain's East African colonies in 1902. It primarily carried out internal security duties within these colonies along with military service elsewhere during the world wars and other conflicts, such as the Malayan Emergency and the Mau Mau uprising . The regiment's enlisted soldiers were drawn from the native Africans, while most officers were seconded from

10176-530: Was assuming responsibility for KAR units in Northern Rhodesian and Nyasaland . The command established its own intelligence network during the Mau Mau Uprising in 1952. During the repression of the Mau Mau the command controlled the 39th Infantry Brigade , 49th Infantry Brigade and the 70th (East African) Infantry Brigade . In February 1953, 39 Brigade was warned to be ready to go to Kenya. At

10282-539: Was composed of two brigade-strength units organised as a "Northern Brigade" and a "Southern Brigade." The combined strength of both units amounted to 94 officers, 60 non-commissioned officers, and 2,821 African other ranks. After the outbreak of war, these units provided the trained nucleus for the rapid expansion of the KAR. By March 1940, the strength of the KAR had reached 883 officers, 1,374 non-commissioned officers, and 20,026 African other ranks. The KAR fought in several campaigns during World War II . It fought against

10388-660: Was doubled. The 7th was formed from the Zanzibar Armed Constabulary and the Mafia Constabulary. Later in 1917 many other duplicate battalions were created as the first four battalions (now called regiments in the British tradition) each raised a 3rd battalion and a 4th or Training Battalion. The 4th Regiment raised an additional two battalions, the 5th, and 6th through recruiting in Uganda. The KAR Mounted Infantry Unit (on camels), originally part of

10494-1009: Was formed and it fought in Burma . Two independent infantry brigades were sent from East Africa to India for service in Burma. The 22 (East Africa) Infantry Brigade served in the Arakan in XV Indian Corps, while the 28th (East Africa) Infantry Brigade was in IV Corps, playing a crucial role in the crossing of the Irrawaddy River. By the end of the war, the regiment had raised forty-three battalions (including two in British Somaliland), nine independent garrison companies, an armoured car regiment, an artillery unit, as well as engineer, signal and transport sections. The regiment played

10600-513: Was formed in early January 1941 by the redesignation of the 2nd Battalion, London Rifle Brigade, spent most of its existence in the United Kingdom and took part in the invasion of Normandy in June 1944, as part of the 29th Armoured Brigade in the 11th Armoured Division , and saw action in the North West Europe Campaign . The 9th Battalion was created in late May 1941 by re-naming the 1st Battalion, Tower Hamlets Rifles . The battalion

10706-536: Was involved in the pursuit of a force under Hauptman Wintgens from February to October 1917. KAR casualties in the First World War were 5,117 killed and wounded with another 3,039 dying from diseases. During the interwar period , the KAR was slowly demobilised to a peacetime establishment of six battalions, at which strength the regiment remained until the Second World War. In 1938, the regiment

10812-603: Was lost at the defence of Calais , where the brigade slowed the German advance and enabled the Dunkirk evacuation to proceed. The battalion was reformed in the United Kingdom and became part of the 2nd Armoured Brigade of the 1st Armoured Division and took part in many battles in the North African Campaign before transferring to the 22nd Armoured Brigade of the 7th Armoured Division in June 1942. Now commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Stephens ,

10918-617: Was only two companies strong), and 7 & 23 KARs (Kenya). Significant brutality and torture were used by the security forces. There were a total of eleven British infantry battalions (including the 1st Battalion, the Lancashire Fusiliers and 1 RHR), 39 Corps Engineer Regiment RE , 73 Indian Field Engineer Squadron RE, Road building Section RE, Royal Army Veterinary Corps Tracker Dogs, RAMC Unit Hospital Nairobi, Nyeri, Nanyuki, together with No. 1340 Flight RAF ( North American Harvards ). The 24th Infantry Brigade maintained

11024-446: Was part of the 2nd Support Group of the 2nd Armoured Division and then the 200th Guards Brigade until June 1942. The 9th later served with the 4th Armoured Brigade in the 7th Armoured Division and took part in the Battle of Gazala in May 1942 during the North African Campaign before being disbanded in August 1942. The 10th Battalion was formed in 1941 by re-naming the 2nd Battalion, Tower Hamlets Rifles and transferred to

11130-569: Was quickly repressed and courts-martial ordered; 11 Kenya Rifles was eventually disbanded. The Gordon Highlanders appears to have finished their return home to Edinburgh in January 1964. 3 Regiment Royal Horse Artillery left Gilgil in September 1964. Headquarters 24th Infantry Brigade left for Aden in October 1964. The last British unit to depart Kenya was 1st Battalion, Staffordshire Regiment , on 10 December 1964. British Land Forces Kenya ceased to exist on 12 December 1964, and all British Army forces, apart from "a small administrative rear element" left

11236-591: Was reassigned eight years later to the newly formed county regiment of the 95th (Derbyshire) Regiment of Foot ). The Duke of Wellington became Colonel-in-Chief of the regiment in 1820 and served until his death. In 1852 HRH Prince Albert, the Prince Consort took over the role of colonel-in-chief. When the Crimean War broke out in 1853 the Rifle Brigade sent two battalions which fought at

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