Country United Kingdom Size Regiment | Branch British Army | |
Active 7 November 1958–1 January 1966 | ||
The 1st Green Jackets (43rd and 52nd) was an infantry regiment of the British Army that existed from 1958 to 1966. The regiment served in the Cyprus Emergency, Brunei Revolt, Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation and West Berlin. The regiment formed part of the Green Jackets Brigade and in 1963 was redesignated as a rifle regiment.
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History
The regiment was formed following Duncan Sandys' 1957 Defence White Paper when the 1st Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 43rd and 52nd became the 1st Green Jackets (43rd and 52nd) on 7 November 1958. The occasion was commemorated by a parade in Cyprus where the regiment's band played the marches of its antecedent regiments. The 1st Green Jackets (43rd and 52nd) formed part of the Green Jackets Brigade and wore the Brigade's Cap badge: an Infantry bugle in the centre over a Maltese cross, a crown at the top above a scroll reading Peninsula and the badge was surrounded by a wreath. Each Green Jacket regiment retained one item of their uniform which had its origins in their antecedent regiment; 1st Green Jackets kept the gorget button on officers and Warrant officers uniforms. The 1st Green Jackets (43rd) and (52nd) depot was at Peninsula Barracks, Winchester, Hampshire. Bushfield Camp, near Winchester, was used as a temporary depot from 1961 to April 1964.
Cyprus
The 1st Green Jackets (43rd and 52nd), commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Martin, took part in operations against EOKA terrorists during the Cyprus Emergency. The regiment was based at Buckingham Camp at Polemidhia, near Limassol and was deployed mainly in the Limassol area. Major Peter Gerahty was second-in-command of the regiment in Cyprus. The 1st Green Jackets (43rd and 52nd) returned to the UK on HMT Dunera in May 1959.
United Kingdom
The regiment was originally based at Tidworth Camp but moved to Battlesbury Barracks in Warminster and then Knook Camp, near Warminster, in 1959. The regiment, led by Lieutenant Colonel Michael Harbottle, was an infantry demonstration battalion from 1959 to 1962. Major, later Colonel John Tillett was second-in-command of the regiment at Warminster. In accordance with the tradition of rifle regiments not carrying colours; in 1962 in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, the 1st Green Jackets (43rd and 52nd) marched the 43rd and 52nd colours for the last time. On that occasion the regiment provided a Guard of Honour for Queen Elizabeth II which was commanded by Captain Edward Jones.
Far East
In April 1962, the 1st Green Jackets (43rd and 52nd) sailed from Southampton to Penang on the troopship SS Nevasa. The regiment was the first unit to be posted to the Far East without any National Servicemen, following the end of conscription in 1961. In December 1962, the 1st Green Jackets (43rd and 52nd) led by Lieutenant Colonel Tod Sweeney was deployed to Brunei on the island of Borneo after an Indonesian-backed uprising occurred. General Sir Walter Walker (British Army officer) was Director of Borneo Operations from 1962 to 1965. Major David Wood was second-in-command of the regiment during the Brunei Revolt. Major David Mostyn, Captain Robin Evelegh and Lieutenant Robin Letts who later served with 22 SAS, was awarded the Military Cross: Borneo 1965 and later transferred to the Australian Army, joined the Australian SAS and served in the Vietnam War, also took part in operations against the North Kalimantan National Army (TNKU). Lieutenant Colonel Tod Sweeney tasked Captain John Stevenson the battalion's transport officer and NCOs with collecting troops from Jalan Gajah and other parts of the island; many troops were out of the barracks as it was a Sunday. The regiment moved from Penang on 9 December 1962 within 6 hours notice. First driving through the night to Kuala Lumpur which they reached early the following day; the regiment then continued to Singapore and arrived there by nightfall. They were then told to drive straight to the docks where they boarded the cruiser HMS Tiger and received orders for the regiment's deployment. The regiment took part in an opposed landing at Miri, Sarawak, south of the border with Brunei and in the capture of Bekanu, 30 miles south of Miri. The regiment returned to Minden Barracks, Penang, in April 1963. The regiment was redesignated as a rifle regiment in June 1963 to conform to the rest of the Green Jackets Brigade. The 1st Green Jackets (43rd and 52nd) second operational tour in the Far East was from August 1963 to mid December 1963 and troops having sailed on HMS Albion were deployed via Labuan to Brunei and Sarawak.
In January 1964, the 1st Green Jackets (43rd and 52nd) became the spearhead battalion to support the Borneo Territories and Lieutenant Colonel David House took over command of the regiment. The adjutant of the regiment was Captain Edward Jones. In May 1964, the regiment was deployed for its final operational tour in the Borneo territories and was based mainly in the Kuching District of Sarawak. The regiment worked closely with the RAF who used Whirlwind and Belvedere helicopters and was deployed over 40 miles along the border with Indonesia and the regiment defended against many enemy attacks. In July 1964, the Colonel Commandant, General Sir Gerald Lathbury visited the regiment at Semengo Camp, Kuching and at the regiment's forward operating bases. The regiment returned to Penang at the end of October 1964. The 1st Green Jackets (43rd and 52nd) was the only British Army unit to complete three operational tours in the area and was deployed throughout the North Borneo and Sarawak territories. In December 1964 the regiment left Penang for the UK.
West Berlin
The regiment deployed to West Berlin in March 1965 during the Cold War with the Soviet Union. The regiment was stationed at Montgomery barracks in the district of Kladow; the Berlin Wall bordered the perimeter of the barracks. On 27 May 1965, during the first visit made by a British Monarch to Germany since 1913 Queen Elizabeth II inspected the 1st Green Jackets (43rd and 52nd), as part of the Berlin Infantry Brigade. In West Berlin, the regiment's tasks included taking its turn in guard duties at Spandau Prison; where leading Nazi war criminals were imprisoned following the Nuremberg Trials. In September 1965 Lieutenant Colonel Oliver Pratt took over command of the regiment and he was to be the last Commanding Officer of the 1st Green Jackets (43rd and 52nd) and the first Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion The Royal Green Jackets.
On 1 January 1966, whilst in West Berlin, the regiment amalgamated with the two other regiments of the Green Jackets Brigade to form the three battalion Royal Green Jackets, the 1st Green Jackets (43rd and 52nd) becoming the 1st Battalion The Royal Green Jackets.
On 25 July 1992 the battalion was disbanded at Osnabruck. The 2nd Battalion, Royal Green Jackets based at Omagh was renamed the 1st Battalion and the 3rd Battalion based at Dover was renamed the 2nd Battalion. On 1 February 2007, the 1st Battalion The Royal Green Jackets became the 2nd Battalion, The Rifles.