Green Jackets Brigade
Encyclopedia
The Green Jackets Brigade was an administrative formation of the British Army
from 1948 to 1968. The Brigade administered the English
rifle regiments. The designation "Green Jackets" was derived from their rifle green tunics indicating their status as rifles.
After the Second World War the British Army had fourteen infantry depots, each bearing a letter. Infantry Depot O at Winchester
was the headquarters for the two rifle regiments and the Middlesex Regiment
. In 1948, the depots adopted names and this depot became the Green Jackets Brigade. At the same time the Middlesex Regiment was transferred to the Home Counties Brigade
, with the remaining regiments each being reduced to a single battalion.
The Brigade combined the depots of:
Under the Defence Review
announced in July, 1957, the infantry of the line was reorganised, and on April 1, 1958, the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
was transferred from the Light Infantry Brigade
, and was renamed as the 1st Green Jackets. The remaining two regiments were also renamed as the 2nd and 3rd Green Jackets on November 7, so that the Brigade contained three battalions:
On January 1, 1966, the three regiments were amalgamated into a single three battalion "large regiment" called the Royal Green Jackets
. In 1968, the Green Jackets Brigade was merged with the Light Infantry Brigade to form the Light Division
.
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
from 1948 to 1968. The Brigade administered the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
rifle regiments. The designation "Green Jackets" was derived from their rifle green tunics indicating their status as rifles.
After the Second World War the British Army had fourteen infantry depots, each bearing a letter. Infantry Depot O at Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
was the headquarters for the two rifle regiments and the Middlesex Regiment
Middlesex Regiment
The Middlesex Regiment was a regiment of the British Army. It was formed in 1881 as part of the Childers Reforms when the 57th and 77th Regiments of Foot were amalgamated with the county's militia and rifle volunteer units.On 31 December 1966 The Middlesex Regiment was amalgamated with three...
. In 1948, the depots adopted names and this depot became the Green Jackets Brigade. At the same time the Middlesex Regiment was transferred to the Home Counties Brigade
Home Counties Brigade
The Home Counties Brigade was an administrative formation of the British Army from 1948 to 1968. The Brigade administered the regular infantry battalions of the Home Counties of south east England....
, with the remaining regiments each being reduced to a single battalion.
The Brigade combined the depots of:
- The King's Royal Rifle CorpsKing's Royal Rifle CorpsThe King's Royal Rifle Corps was a British Army infantry regiment, originally raised in colonial North America as the Royal Americans, and recruited from American colonists. Later ranked as the 60th Regiment of Foot, the regiment served for more than 200 years throughout the British Empire...
- The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)
Under the Defence Review
1957 Defence White Paper
The 1957 White Paper on Defence was a British white paper setting forth the perceived future of the British military. It had profound effects on all aspects of the defence industry but probably the most affected was the British aircraft industry...
announced in July, 1957, the infantry of the line was reorganised, and on April 1, 1958, the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the British Army.The regiment was formed as a consequence of Childers reforms, a continuation of the Cardwell reforms, by the amalgamation of the 43rd Regiment of Foot and the 52nd Regiment of Foot , forming the 1st...
was transferred from the Light Infantry Brigade
Light Infantry Brigade
The Light Infantry Brigade was an administrative formation of the British Army from 1948 to 1968. The Brigade administered the regular English light infantry regiments....
, and was renamed as the 1st Green Jackets. The remaining two regiments were also renamed as the 2nd and 3rd Green Jackets on November 7, so that the Brigade contained three battalions:
- 1st Green Jackets (43rd & 52nd)
- 2nd Green Jackets, The King's Royal Rifle Corps
- 3rd Green Jackets, The Rifle Brigade
On January 1, 1966, the three regiments were amalgamated into a single three battalion "large regiment" called the Royal Green Jackets
Royal Green Jackets
The Royal Green Jackets was an infantry regiment of the British Army, one of two "large regiments" within the Light Division .-History:...
. In 1968, the Green Jackets Brigade was merged with the Light Infantry Brigade to form the Light Division
Light Division
The Light Division was a light infantry Division of the British Army formed in the early 19th Century. It can trace its origins to the Light Companies which had been formed to move at speed over inhospitable terrain and protect the main forces by skirmishing tactics...
.