The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
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Template:The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers is an infantry regiment of the British Army.
It was formed on April 23, 1968, as part of the reforms of the army that saw the creation of the first 'large infantry regiments', by the amalgamation of the four English Fusilier Regiments.
- The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers
- The Royal Warwickshire Fusiliers
- The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
- The Lancashire Fusiliers
As a fusilier regiment, the RRF wears a hackle, which in this case is the hackle of the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, red over white. This distinction was originally a white plume which the then Fifth (Northumberland) Regiment of Foot had taken from the head dress of fallen French troops at St. Lucia in December 1778. In 1829 King George the IV ordered the white plume to be worn by all infantry regiments, and in order not to take away from the Fifth Northumberland's battle honour, their plume was distinguished by being made red over white. This came from the legend that the men of the 5th Fusiliers dipped the white plumes in the blood of the French at St. Lucia.
Formation
On the 23rd April 1968 the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers was formed from the four English Fusilier Regiments. Each of these Regiments were steeped in History and Traditions which have been retained by the Regiment today.
On formation, the Regiment consisted of four Regular battalions, one Volunteer battalion covering the four Regimental areas and the Depot.
Due to a series of Government Defence Reviews, ' Options for Change' and the recent 'Strategic Defence Review' the Regiment now comprises of two Regular battalions and a number of Territorial Army Companies located in the four Regimental Areas.
The Regular battalions are:
- 1st Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
- 2nd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
As one of the existing large infantry regiments, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers is unaffected by the reforms of the infantry that were announced in December 2004. The regiment will receive a TA battalion through the amalgamation of the various RRF companies of the West Midlands Regiment and Tyne-Tees Regiment.
See also
External Links
- The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (http://www.army.mod.uk/fusiliers/battalions/index.htm)
- First Battalion (http://www.army.mod.uk/fusiliers/battalions/1st_battalion/)
- Second Battalion (http://www.army.mod.uk/fusiliers/battalions/2nd_battalion/index.htm)