Editing King's Royal Rifle Corps (section)

==History==

===French and Indian War===
The King's Royal Rifle Corps was raised in the American colonies in 1756 as the '''62nd (Royal American) Regiment''' to defend the colonies against attack by the French and their indigenous allies. After [[Braddock Expedition|Braddock's defeat]] in 1755, royal approval for a new regiment, as well as funds, were granted by parliament just before Christmas 1755 – hence the regiment's traditional birthday of Christmas Day. However, parliamentary delays meant that it was 4 March 1756 before a special act of parliament created four [[battalion]]s of 1,000 men each to include foreigners for service in the Americas.{{sfn|Cusick|2014| p= 44}}

[[File:Johnson saving Dieskau.jpg|thumb|right|[[Benjamin West]]'s depiction of [[Sir William Johnson, 1st Baronet|Sir William Johnson]] sparing [[Jean Erdman, Baron Dieskau|Lord Dieskau]]'s life after the [[Battle of Lake George]]. (Reportedly, the uniforms of soldiers in the background right are of the Royal Americans)]]
[[File:60th Royal American Regiment.jpg|thumb|upright|Soldier of the 60th Royal American Regiment in 1758]]
[[File:Thomas McKee.jpg|thumb|upright|Often identified as a portrait of his father Alexander, this is probably Thomas McKee because the uniform is that of an officer of the 60th Regiment of Foot of the 1790s.<ref>Nelson, p. 159</ref>]]

{{anchor|Commissions to Foreign Protestants Act 1756}}
{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title           = Commissions to Foreign Protestants Act 1756
| type                  = Act
| parliament            = Parliament of the United Kingdom
| long_title            = An Act to enable His Majesty to grant Commissions to a certain Number of Foreign Protestants, who have served Abroad as Officers or Engineers, to act and rank as Officers or Engineers in America only, under certain Restrictions and Qualifications.
| year                  = 1756
| citation              = [[29 Geo. 2]]. c. 5
| introduced_commons    = 
| introduced_lords      = 
| territorial_extent    = 
| royal_assent          = 9 March 1756
| commencement          = 
| expiry_date           = 
| repeal_date           = 15 July 1867
| amends                = 
| replaces              = 
| amendments            = 
| repealing_legislation = [[Statute Law Revision Act 1867]]
| related_legislation   = 
| status                = Repealed
| legislation_history   = 
| theyworkforyou        = 
| millbankhansard       = 
| original_text         = 
| revised_text          = 
| use_new_UK-LEG        = 
| UK-LEG_title          = 
| collapsed             = yes
}}
A regimental history compiled in 1879 states that, in November 1755, Parliament voted the sum of £81,000 for the purpose of raising a regiment of four battalions, each one thousand strong, for service in [[British North America]]. To provide experienced personnel, Parliament passed the '''Commissions to Foreign Protestants Act 1756''' ([[29 Geo. 2]]. c. 5)<ref name="Acts1766">{{cite book|title=The Statutes at Large from the Magna Charta, to the End of the Eleventh Parliament of Great Britain|chapter-url=https://archive.org/stream/statutesatlarge57britgoog#page/n376 |chapter=An Act to enable his Majesty to grant commissions to a certain number of foreign Protestants, who have served abroad as officers or engineers, to act and rank as officers or engineers in America only under certain restrictions and regulations|page=376|publisher=J. Bentham|year=1766}}</ref> [[John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun|The Earl of Loudoun]], who as [[commander-in-chief]] of the Forces in North America, was appointed [[colonel-in-chief]] of the regiment. About fifty officers' commissions were given to Germans and Swiss, and none were allowed to rise above the rank of lieutenant-colonel.{{sfn|Wallace|1879| p=1}}

According to a modern history of the regiment, the idea for creating this unique force was proposed by Jacques Prevost, a Swiss soldier and adventurer who was a friend of the [[Prince William, Duke of Cumberland|Duke of Cumberland]] (the Duke was the King's third son and also [[Commander-in-Chief of the Forces]]). Prevost recognised the need for soldiers who understood forest warfare, unlike the regulars who were brought to America in 1755 by General [[Edward Braddock]].<ref>{{cite journal|last=Williams|first=Edward G.|title=The Prevosts of the Royal Americans|page=7|publisher=Western Pennsylvania Historical Magazine|year=1973|url=https://journals.psu.edu/wph/article/download/3199/58417|volume=56|issue=1|access-date=12 June 2016|archive-date=5 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161105070006/https://journals.psu.edu/wph/article/download/3199/58417|url-status=live}}</ref>

The regiment was intended to combine the characteristics of a [[colonial troops|colonial corps]] with those of a [[foreign volunteers|foreign legion]]. Swiss and German forest fighting experts, American colonists and British volunteers from other British regiments were recruited. These men were Protestants, an important consideration for fighting against the predominantly Catholic French. The officers were also recruited from Europe – not from the American colonies – and consisted of English, Scots, Irish, Dutch, Swiss and Germans. It was the first time foreign officers were commissioned as British Army officers. In total, the regiment consisted of 101 officers, 240 non-commissioned officers and 4,160 enlisted men. The battalions were raised on [[Governors Island]], New York. The regiment was renumbered the '''60th (Royal American) Regiment''' in February 1757 when the [[Shirley's Regiment|50th (Shirley's)]] and [[Pepperrell's Regiment|51st (Pepperrell's)]] foot regiments were removed from the British Army roll after their surrender at [[Fort Oswego]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Siege and Capture of Havana in 1762 |first= Robert |last=Brown|publisher= Maryland Historical Magazine|date= March 1909|volume=4 | page= 324| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ubs1AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA324}}</ref>

Among the distinguished foreign officers given commissions in the 60th (Royal Americans) was [[Henry Bouquet]], a Swiss citizen, whose forward-looking ideas on tactics, training and man-management (including the unofficial introduction of the rifle and more practical clothing suited to bush-fighting) would come to be accepted as standard in the British Army many years in the future. Bouquet was commanding officer of the 1st battalion, and with his fellow battalion commanders, worked to form units that were better suited to warfare in the forests and lakes of northeast America.<ref name="Chartrand">{{cite web|url=http://www.militaryheritage.com/60thregt.htm|title=History and Uniform of the 60th (Royal American) Regiment of Foot, 1755–1760|publisher=Military Heritage|access-date=11 June 2016|archive-date=24 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160524104852/http://www.militaryheritage.com/60thregt.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{anchor|American Protestant Soldier Naturalization Act 1762}}
{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title           = American Protestant Soldier Naturalization Act 1762
| type                  = Act
| parliament            = Parliament of Great Britain
| long_title            = An Act for naturalizing such Foreign Protestants as have served, or shall serve, for the Time therein mentioned, as Officers, or Soldiers, in His Majesty's Royal American Regiment, or as Engineers in America.
| year                  = 1762
| citation              = [[2 Geo. 3]]. c. 25
| introduced_commons    = 
| introduced_lords      = 
| territorial_extent    = 
| royal_assent          = 2 June 1762
| commencement          = 
| expiry_date           = 
| repeal_date           = 15 July 1867
| amends                = 
| replaces              = 
| amendments            = 
| repealing_legislation = [[Statute Law Revision Act 1867]]
| related_legislation   = 
| status                = Repealed
| legislation_history   = 
| theyworkforyou        = 
| millbankhansard       = 
| original_text         = 
| revised_text          = 
| use_new_UK-LEG        = 
| UK-LEG_title          = 
| collapsed             = yes
}}
Elements of the new regiment fought at [[Siege of Louisbourg (1758)|Louisbourg]] in June 1758, the [[Cape Sable Campaign]] in September 1758 and [[Battle of the Plains of Abraham|Quebec]] in September 1759, and finally the [[Montreal Campaign]] from July to September 1760 which finally wrested Canada from France. At [[Quebec City|Quebec]] General [[James Wolfe]] is said to have granted the 60th the motto {{lang|la|Celer et Audax}} (Swift and Bold). To reward and maintain their service and loyalty, Parliament passed the '''American Protestant Soldier Naturalization Act 1762''' ([[2 Geo. 3]]. c. 25), which offered British naturalization to those officers, engineers and soldiers who had or would serve for two years, with certain conditions and on the model of the [[Plantation Act 1740]].<ref name="Acts1766" />{{rp|197}}

These earlier engagements were conventional battles on the European model, but fighting during [[Pontiac's War]] in 1763 was of a very different character. The frontier war threatened the British control of North America. The new regiment at first lost several outlying garrisons such as [[Fort Michilimackinac]], later a detachment fought under Bouquet's leadership at the victory of [[Battle of Bushy Run|Bushy Run]] in August 1763.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bushyrunbattlefield.com/history/battle-of-bushy-run/|title=Battle of Bushy Run|publisher=Bushy Run Battlefield|access-date=11 June 2016|archive-date=22 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160622034441/http://bushyrunbattlefield.com/history/battle-of-bushy-run/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The 60th was uniformed and equipped in a similar manner to other British regiments with red coats and cocked hats or grenadier caps,<ref name="Chartrand"/> but on campaign, swords were replaced with hatchets, and coats and hats cut down for ease of movement in the woods.<ref name="Chartrand"/>

===American War of Independence===
Two additional battalions of the regiment (the 3rd and 4th battalions) were raised in England in 1775, principally of men recruited from England and Hanover in 1775 for service in the [[American War of Independence]]. After assembly in the [[Isle of Wight]], both battalions were sent in 1776 to Florida where they were joined by detachments from 1st and 2nd Battalions.{{sfn|Wallace|2005|pp=16–18}} These battalions were deployed to [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] and were involved in skirmishes at Sudbury in January 1779, the [[Battle of Brier Creek]] in March 1779, the [[Siege of Savannah]] in October 1779 where elements from the 4th Battalion captured the colour of the [[2nd South Carolina Regiment]], and at [[Augusta, Georgia|Augusta]] in September 1780.{{sfn|Wallace|2005|pp=16–18}} The 3rd battalion later took part in the [[Gulf Coast campaign|British defense of the Gulf Coast]]. Elements of the battalion fought at the [[Battle at The Village]] and the [[Siege of Pensacola]]. The 3rd and 4th battalions were disbanded in June 1783.{{sfn|Wallace|2005|pp=16–18}}

===Napoleonic Wars{{anchor|Augmentation of 60th Regiment Act 1797}}===
{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title           = Augmentation of 60th Regiment Act 1797
| type                  = Act
| parliament            = Parliament of Great Britain
| long_title            = An act to amend an act made in the twenty-ninth year of the reign of his late majesty King George the Second, intituled, "An act to enable his Majesty to grant commissions to a certain number of foreign protestants, who have served abroad as officers or engineers, to act and rank as officers or engineers in America only, under certain restrictions and qualifications."
| year                  = 1797
| citation              = [[38 Geo. 3]]. c. 13
| introduced_commons    = 
| introduced_lords      = 
| territorial_extent    = 
| royal_assent          = 30 December 1797
| commencement          = 
| expiry_date           = 
| repeal_date           =6 August 1861 
| amends                = [[Commissions to Foreign Protestants Act 1756]]
| replaces              = 
| amendments            = 
| repealing_legislation = [[Statute Law Revision Act 1871]]
| related_legislation   = 
| status                = Repealed
| legislation_history   = 
| theyworkforyou        = 
| millbankhansard       = 
| original_text         = https://books.google.com/books?id=7wjKeKNK9qUC&pg=PA533
| revised_text          = 
| use_new_UK-LEG        = 
| UK-LEG_title          = 
| collapsed             = yes
}}
During the [[Napoleonic Wars]], the regiment saw action in the [[Peninsular War]]. The first four battalions had been raised as regular line battalions, but in 1797 a 5th battalion had been raised on [[Barbados]], with additional companies formed on the [[Isle of Wight]], and equipped entirely with rifles. The troops of the 5th battalion were so effective that [[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington|Sir Arthur Wellesley]] recommended their use to the divisional commanders describing them as the "most useful, active and brave troops in the field".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://krrcassociation.com/index.php/history/12-1758-1914/17-the-peninsula-war|title=The Regiment in the Peninsula|publisher=King's Royal Rifle Corps|access-date=17 February 2019|archive-date=17 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190217201056/http://krrcassociation.com/index.php/history/12-1758-1914/17-the-peninsula-war|url-status=live}}</ref>

A 7th battalion was raised specifically for service in the American [[War of 1812]].<ref name="Raynor">{{cite web|title=Raising of the 7th Battalion of the 60th Regiment for North America|first=Keith|last=Raynor|url=http://www.warof1812.ca/60th.htm|publisher=War of 1812|access-date=11 June 2016|archive-date=19 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160519021041/http://www.warof1812.ca/60th.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Anglo-Egyptian War and Second Boer War===
[[File:King's Royal Rifle Corps by Harry Payne.JPG|upright|thumb|King's Royal Rifle Corps c. 1895–1914 by [[Harry Payne (artist)|Harry Payne]] (1858–1927)]]
[[File:7th Kings Royal Rifles Barnet.jpg|thumb|right|The [[7th (Royal 2nd Middlesex Militia) Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps|7th (Royal 2nd Middlesex Militia) Battalion, KRRC]], marching from their Depot in [[Chipping Barnet|Barnet]] in 1900. This battalion became [[6th (Extra Reserve) Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps|6th (Extra Reserve) Bn, KRRC]], in the [[Special Reserve]] in 1908.]]
After the Napoleonic Wars, the regiment received a new title: first, in 1815, its name was changed to '''The Duke of York's Own Rifle Corps''' and then, in 1830, to the '''King's Royal Rifle Corps''' (KRRC). In 1858, the [[Peninsula Barracks|Rifle Depot]] at [[Winchester]] was made their headquarters. The regiment served in the [[Anglo-Egyptian War]] in 1882. During the rest of the 1800s, the unit also was active in China, Canada ([[Wolseley expedition]]), Afghanistan, India, [[Myanmar|Burma]] and South Africa. The regiment was deployed during the [[Second Boer War]] from the outset playing a key role in the first battle at [[Battle of Talana Hill|Talana Hill]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://angloboerwar.com/?option=com_content&view=article&id=566|title=King's Royal Rifle Corps|publisher=Anglo-Boer War|access-date=11 June 2016|archive-date=11 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811064728/http://angloboerwar.com/?option=com_content&view=article&id=566|url-status=live}}</ref> Two officers from the regiment were awarded the [[Victoria Cross]]; Lieutenant [[Frederick Roberts (British Army officer, born 1872)|Frederick Roberts]]<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=27157|page=506|date=26 January 1900}}</ref> and Lieutenant [[Llewelyn Alberic Emilius Price-Davies]].<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=27381|page=8409|date=29 November 1901}}</ref> Private [[Frederick Corbett]] also received the Victoria Cross for his action at [[Battle of Kafr-el-Dawwar|Kafr Dowar]], [[Egypt]], on 5 August 1882; his VC was later rescinded when he was convicted of embezzlement, theft, and being absent without leave.<ref name=Stewart>{{cite web|first=Iain|last=Stewart|url=http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/bbcorbet.htm|title=Frederick Corbett|publisher=Victoria Cross Trust|date=21 April 2004|access-date=11 June 2016|archive-date=5 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305185351/http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/bbcorbet.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

Following the end of the war in South Africa, the 1st battalion was transferred to [[Malta]], where it arrived in October 1902.<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Naval & Military intelligence|date=13 October 1902 |page=7 |issue=36897}}</ref>

In 1908, the Volunteers and Militia were reorganised nationally, with the former becoming the [[Territorial Force]] and the latter the [[Special Reserve (militia)|Special Reserve]];<ref>{{cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1908/mar/31/territorial-and-reserve-forces-act-1907|title=Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907|work=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]]|date=31 March 1908|access-date=20 June 2017|archive-date=12 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170812022930/http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1908/mar/31/territorial-and-reserve-forces-act-1907|url-status=live}}</ref> the regiment now had two Reserve but no Territorial battalions.<ref>These were the 5th Battalion (Special Reserve) and the 6th Battalion (Special Reserve)</ref><ref name=regiments>{{cite web|url=http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/inf/060KRRC.htm|title=King's Royal Rifle Corps|publisher=Regiments.org|access-date=27 September 2017|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051225085904/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/inf/060KRRC.htm|archive-date=25 December 2005}}</ref>

===First World War===
[[File:WilliamHenryLaverty.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Memorial to William Henry Laverty, King's Royal Rifles, killed during the First World War. [[St Swithun-upon-Kingsgate Church]], Winchester]]
[[File:King’s Royal Rifle Corps Memorial, Winchester.jpg|thumb|King's Royal Rifle Corps Memorial in [[Winchester]]]]

====Regular Army====
The 1st Battalion landed at [[Rouen]] as part of the [[6th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|6th Brigade]] in the [[2nd Infantry Division (United Kingdom)|2nd Division]] in August 1914 for service on the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]].<ref name=trail>{{cite web|url=http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-british-infantry-regiments-of-1914-1918/kings-royal-rifle-corps/|title=King's Royal Rifle Corps|publisher=The Long, Long Trail|access-date=19 July 2019|archive-date=19 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719060819/http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-british-infantry-regiments-of-1914-1918/kings-royal-rifle-corps/|url-status=live}}</ref> It saw action at the [[Battle of Mons]] in August 1914, the [[First Battle of the Marne]] and the [[First Battle of the Aisne]] in September 1914 and [[First Battle of Ypres]] in October 1914. It fought at the [[Battle of Festubert]] in May 1915, the [[Battle of Loos]] in September 1915 and the [[Battle of the Somme]] in Autumn 1916 before taking part in the advance to the [[Hindenburg Line]], the [[Battle of Cambrai (1917)|Battle of Arras]] in November 1917, the [[Battle of Cambrai (1917)|Battle of Cambrai]] in November 1917, the [[Second Battle of the Somme (1918)|Second Battle of the Somme]] in Autumn 1918 and the [[Battle of the Selle]] in October 1918.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/battalion.php?pid=6475|title=1st Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps|publisher=Wartime Memories Project|access-date=14 June 2016|archive-date=19 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319235447/http://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/battalion.php?pid=6475|url-status=live}}</ref>

The 2nd Battalion landed at [[Le Havre]] as part of the [[2nd Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|2nd Brigade]] in the [[History of the British 1st Division during the World Wars|1st Division]] in August 1914 for service on the Western Front<ref name=trail/> and saw action at the [[Battle of Aubers Ridge]] in May 1915.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/battalion.php?pid=4719|title=2nd Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps|publisher=Wartime Memories Project|access-date=14 June 2016|archive-date=19 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319235643/http://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/battalion.php?pid=4719|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:The Official Visits To the Western Front, 1914-1918 Q8991.jpg|thumb|left|[[Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn|Prince Arthur, the Duke of Connaught]], inspecting men of the 2nd Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps at Le Buissiere, near Bruay, 1 July 1918.]]

The 3rd Battalion landed at Le Havre as part of the [[80th Brigade (United Kingdom)|80th Brigade]] in the [[27th Division (United Kingdom)|27th Division]] in December 1914 for service on the Western Front<ref name=trail/> and saw action at the [[Second Battle of Ypres]] in April 1915.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/battalion.php?pid=6476|title=3rd Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps|publisher=Wartime Memories Project|access-date=14 June 2016|archive-date=19 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319235704/http://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/battalion.php?pid=6476|url-status=live}}</ref>

The 4th Battalion landed at Le Havre as part of the 80th Brigade in the 27th Division in December 1914 for service on the Western Front and saw action at the Second Battle of Ypres in April 1915<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/battalion.php?pid=6477|title=4th Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps|publisher=Wartime Memories Project|access-date=14 June 2016|archive-date=19 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319235712/http://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/battalion.php?pid=6477|url-status=live}}</ref> but moved to [[Thessaloniki|Salonika]] in November 1915 before returning to France in June 1918.<ref name=trail/>

====Territorial force====
The regiment did not have any territorial force battalions.<ref name=trail/>

====New armies====
The 7th (Service) Battalion landed at [[Boulogne-sur-Mer]] as part of the [[41st Brigade (United Kingdom)|41st Brigade]] in the [[14th (Light) Division]] in August 1914 for service on the Western Front<ref name=trail/> and saw action the [[Second Battle of Ypres]] in May 1915, the [[Battle of Delville Wood]] in July 1916 and the [[Battle of Flers–Courcelette]] in September 1916 as well as the advance to the [[Hindenburg Line]], the [[Battle of Arras (1917)|Battle of Arras]] in April 1917, the [[Battle of Langemarck (1917)|Battle of Langemark]] in August 1917, the [[First Battle of Passchendaele]] in October 1917 and the [[Second Battle of Passchendaele]] in November 1917 before taking part in the [[Operation Michael|Battle of St Quentin]] in March 1918 and the [[Battle of the Avre]] in April 1918.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/battalion.php?pid=6480|title=7th Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps|publisher=Wartime Memories Project|access-date=14 June 2016|archive-date=19 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319235750/http://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/battalion.php?pid=6480|url-status=live}}</ref>

The 8th (Service) Battalion landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer as part of the 41st Brigade in the 14th (Light) Division in May 1915 for service on the Western Front<ref name=trail/> and saw action most of the same battles as the 7th Battalion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/battalion.php?pid=6481|title=8th Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps|publisher=Wartime Memories Project|access-date=14 June 2016|archive-date=19 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319235804/http://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/battalion.php?pid=6481|url-status=live}}</ref> The 9th (Service) Battalion landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer as part of the [[42nd Infantry Brigade and Headquarters North West|42nd Brigade]] in the 14th (Light) Division in May 1915 for service on the Western Front<ref name=trail/> and saw action most of the same battles as the 7th and 8th battalions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/battalion.php?pid=6482|title=9th Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps|publisher=Wartime Memories Project|access-date=14 June 2016|archive-date=19 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319235811/http://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/battalion.php?pid=6482|url-status=live}}</ref>

The 10th (Service) Battalion and 11th (Service) Battalion landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer as part of the [[59th Brigade (United Kingdom)|59th Brigade]] in the [[20th (Light) Division]] in July 1915 for service on the Western Front<ref name=trail/> and saw action at the [[Battle of Mont Sorrel]] in June 1916, the [[Battle of Delville Wood]] in July 1916 and 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 (1917)|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 the [[Battle of Cambrai (1917)|Battle of Cambrai]] in November 1917.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/battalion.php?pid=6483|title=10th Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps|publisher=Wartime Memories Project|access-date=14 June 2016|archive-date=19 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319235818/http://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/battalion.php?pid=6483|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/battalion.php?pid=6484|title=11th Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps|publisher=Wartime Memories Project|access-date=14 June 2016|archive-date=19 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319235841/http://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/battalion.php?pid=6484|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:KRRC memorial, Wimbledon Common.jpg|thumb|right]]
[[File:KRRC memorial, Wimbledon Common (rear).jpg|thumb|right|The memorial on [[Wimbledon Common]] to the 19th, 22nd and 23rd Reserve Battalions of the King's Royal Rifle Corps who trained there in 1916–18 as part of [[26th Reserve Brigade]].]]
The 12th (Service) Battalion landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer as part of the [[60th Brigade (United Kingdom)|60th Brigade]] in the 20th (Light) Division in July 1915 for service on the Western Front<ref name=trail/> and saw action most of the same battles as the 10th and 11th Battalions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/battalion.php?pid=6485|title=12th Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps|publisher=Wartime Memories Project|access-date=14 June 2016|archive-date=19 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319235848/http://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/battalion.php?pid=6485|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[13th (Service) Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps|13th (Service) Battalion]] landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer as part of the [[111th Brigade (United Kingdom)|111th Brigade]] in the [[37th Division (United Kingdom)|37th Division]] in July 1915 for service on the Western Front<ref name=trail/> and saw action at the [[Battle of Morval]] in September 1916, the advance to the [[Hindenburg Line]] and the [[Battle of Arras (1917)|Battle of Arras]] in April 1917 as well as the [[Battle of Passchendaele]] in Autumn 1917, the [[Battle of Cambrai (1917)|Battle of Cambrai]] in November 1917 and the [[Hundred Days Offensive]] in Autumn 1918 before taking part in the Battles of the Hindenburg Line and the Final Advance in [[Picardy]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/battalion.php?pid=6486|title=13th Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps|publisher=Wartime Memories Project|access-date=14 June 2016|archive-date=19 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319235930/http://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/battalion.php?pid=6486|url-status=live}}</ref>

The 16th (Service) Battalion (Church Lads' Brigade) landed at Le Havre as part of the [[100th Brigade (United Kingdom)|100th Brigade]] in the [[33rd Division (United Kingdom)|33rd Division]] in November 1915 for service on the Western Front.<ref name=trail/>

The [[17th (Service) Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps (British Empire League)|17th (Service) Battalion (British Empire League)]] landed at Le Havre as part of the [[117th Brigade (United Kingdom)|117th Brigade]] in the [[39th Division (United Kingdom)|39th Division]] in March 1916 for service on the Western Front.<ref name=trail/>

The [[18th (Service) Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps (Arts and Crafts)|18th (Service) Battalion (Arts & Crafts)]] landed at Le Havre as part of the [[122nd Brigade (United Kingdom)|122nd Brigade]] in the [[41st Division (United Kingdom)|41st Division]] on 3 May 1916 for service on the Western Front.<ref name=trail/>

The [[20th (Service) Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps (British Empire League Pioneers)|20th (Service) Battalion (British Empire League Pioneers)]] landed at Le Havre as pioneer battalion for the [[3rd Division (United Kingdom)|3rd Division]] in March 1916 for service on the Western Front.<ref name=trail/>

The [[21st (Service) Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps (Yeoman Rifles)|21st (Service) Battalion (Yeoman Rifles)]] landed in France as part of the [[124th Brigade (United Kingdom)|124th Brigade]] in the [[41st Division (United Kingdom)|41st Division]] in May 1916 for service on the Western Front but moved to Italy in November 1917 before returning to France in March 1918.<ref name=trail/>

Seven members of the regiment received the Victoria Cross.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.northeastmedals.co.uk/british_regiment/kings_royal_rifle_corps_victoria_cross_60th_foot.htm|title=King's Royal Rifle Corps|publisher=North East Medals|access-date=11 June 2016|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304110648/http://www.northeastmedals.co.uk/british_regiment/kings_royal_rifle_corps_victoria_cross_60th_foot.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Inter-war years===
After 1918, the unit returned to garrison duties in India, [[Mandatory Palestine|Palestine]] and Ireland. In 1922, the regiment was reduced from four to two battalions with the third and fourth being disbanded. In 1926, the Regiment was reorganised as one of the first [[Mechanized infantry|mechanised infantry]] regiments.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rgjmuseum.co.uk/pages_photo/photo_0010.asp|title=Machine gun company 2nd Battalion The King's Royal Rifle Corps June 1928|publisher=Royal Green Jackets Museum|access-date=13 June 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808022957/http://www.rgjmuseum.co.uk/pages_photo/photo_0010.asp|archive-date=8 August 2014}}</ref>

===Second World War===
[[File:The British Army in Italy 1945 NA21882.jpg|thumb|left|[[ML 3-inch mortar|3-inch mortars]] of the 1st Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps set up beside a farm building, Italy, 27 January 1945.]]

The 1st Battalion, KRRC, commanded initially by [[Lieutenant colonel (United Kingdom)|Lieutenant Colonel]] [[William Gott]], was deployed to North Africa upon war's outbreak and saw action as part of the pivot group within the [[7th Armoured Division (United Kingdom)|7th Armoured Division]] at the [[Battle of Sidi Rezegh]] in November 1941, the [[First Battle of El Alamein]] in July 1942 and the [[Second Battle of El Alamein]] in October 1942 during the [[Western Desert Campaign]]. [[Rifleman]] [[John Beeley]] was awarded a posthumous [[Victoria Cross]] for his actions during [[Operation Crusader]] in North Africa in late 1941.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=35530 |date=17 April 1942|page=1741 |supp=y}}</ref> The battalion, now part of the [[2nd Armoured Brigade (United Kingdom)|2nd Armoured Brigade]] of the [[1st Armoured Division (United Kingdom)|1st Armoured Division]], was then engaged in action throughout the final stages of the [[Tunisian Campaign]]. The battalion, now commanded by Lieutenant Colonel [[Alexander Williams (British Army officer)|Edward Williams]], served in the [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|Italian Campaign]] then with the independent [[9th Armoured Brigade (United Kingdom)|9th Armoured Brigade]] and finally the [[6th Armoured Division (United Kingdom)|6th Armoured Division]]'s [[61st Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|61st Infantry Brigade]].<ref name=rats>{{cite web|url=http://www.desertrats.org.uk/orginfantry.htm#2KRRC|title=King's Royal Rifle Corps (60th)|publisher=Desert Rats|access-date=15 June 2016|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304175508/http://desertrats.org.uk/orginfantry.htm#2KRRC|url-status=live}}</ref>

The 2nd Battalion, KRRC, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel [[Thomas Needham Furnival Wilson|Thomas Wilson]], was part of the [[British Expeditionary Force (World War II)|British Expeditionary Force]] (BEF) that landed in France in May 1940. The battalion, which was part of the [[30th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|30th Infantry Brigade]], 1st Armoured Division, and now commanded by Lieutenant Colonel [[Euan Miller]], was lost in the [[Siege of Calais (1940)|defence of Calais]], where the brigade slowed the German advance and enabled the [[Dunkirk evacuation]] to proceed. The battalion was reformed in the summer of 1940 under the command of Lieutenant Colonel [[George Erskine]] and transferred to the [[22nd Armoured Brigade (United Kingdom)|22nd Armoured Brigade]] of the 1st Armoured Division. The reformed battalion took part in the [[Battle of Gazala]] in May 1942 and the [[Second Battle of El Alamein]] in October 1942 during the [[North African Campaign]], forming part of the division's [[18th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)#Second World War|7th Motor Brigade]] during the latter engagement and transferring to [[4th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters North East#Second World War|4th Armoured Brigade]] in January 1943.<ref name=rats /> Now under Lieutenant Colonel W. Heathcote-Amory, the battalion continued serving with 4th Armoured Brigade in the [[Normandy landings]] in June 1944 and the subsequent [[Western Front (World War II)|campaign in North-West Europe]], finally leaving 1st Division six days after [[VE Day]]. Two officers of note served with the battalion in its final campaign of the war, [[Roland Gibbs]] and [[Edwin Bramall]].<ref name=rats/>

The 1st Battalion of the [[Queen Victoria's Rifles]] (QFR) was a [[Army Reserve (United Kingdom)|Territorial Army]] (TA) unit which had been closely associated with the KRRC. The battalion, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel J. A. M. Elison-Mccartney, was initially part of the TA [[56th (London) Infantry Division|1st London Division]], serving as the division's motorcycle battalion. However, like the 2nd Battalion, it was also lost in the defence of Calais in May 1940.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rgjmuseum.co.uk/pages_photo/photo_0007.asp|title=Queen Victoria's Rifles training as a motor cycle recce battalion|publisher=Royal Green Jackets Museum|access-date=16 June 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304080630/http://www.rgjmuseum.co.uk/pages_photo/photo_0007.asp|archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref> The battalion was later reformed in the United Kingdom and, in December 1940, transferred to the [[27th Armoured Brigade]], part of the newly formed [[9th Armoured Division (United Kingdom)|9th Armoured Division]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ordersofbattle.com/Units/UnitSubordinates?UniX=3273|title=9th Armoured Division subordinates|publisher=Orders of Battle|access-date=21 March 2018|archive-date=6 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201106191921/http://www.ordersofbattle.com/Units/UnitSubordinates?UniX=3273|url-status=live}}</ref>

The 9th Battalion ([[The Rangers (British regiment)|The Rangers]]) was deployed to the [[Mediterranean and Middle East theatre of World War II|Mediterranean theatre]] as part of the [[1st Armoured Brigade (United Kingdom)|1st Armoured Brigade]] in the 7th Armoured Division. It saw action in the [[Battle of Greece|Greek campaign]] in April 1941 before being disbanded in August 1942.<ref name=rats/>

===Royal Green Jackets and The Rifles===
In 1958 for administrative purposes, the KRRC was brigaded with the [[Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry]] and the [[Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)|Rifle Brigade]] to form the [[Green Jackets Brigade]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aU1-AwAAQBAJ&pg=PA156|title=A History of British Infantry: For Love of Regiment|volume =2, 1915–1994|first=Charles |last=Messenger|date=16 March 1994|page=156|publisher=Pen and Sword |isbn=9780850524222}}</ref> In 1958, the regiment was re-titled the '''2nd Green Jackets, the King's Royal Rifle Corps''', while the two other regiments of the Green Jackets Brigade were re-titled the [[1st Green Jackets (43rd and 52nd)]] and 3rd Green Jackets, the Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own) respectively. In 1966, the three regiments were amalgamated to form the three battalions of the [[Royal Green Jackets]].<ref name=bau>{{cite web |url=http://british-army-units1945on.co.uk/infantry/royal-green-jackets.html |title=Royal Green Jackets |publisher=British Army units from 1945 on |access-date=24 May 2014 |archive-date=31 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140331153941/http://british-army-units1945on.co.uk/infantry/royal-green-jackets.html |url-status=live }}</ref>