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Originally Posted by leigh kitchen
The Oxf & Bucks LI became 1st Green Jackets as "balancing out". Unfortunately I can't remember why this "honour" fell to them (original unit converted to LI, special relationship with Sir John Moore?)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by grey_green_acorn
In 1958 the Green Jackets Brigade had only the KRRC and RB so 'received' the Ox & Bucks LI as it was found necessary to put that regiment (although the oldest LI regiment) into the Green Jackets Brigade to ensure adequate numbers.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by grey_green_acorn
Private soldiers were styled Rifleman.
"However, we shall retain our Colours, and are in the process of arranging to get the ten new Battle Honours placed on the Queen's Colour "
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Leigh and Tim,
Thank you for the excellent replies. It seems to me, the answer is simply that someone had to move from the LI to GJ brigade, and the powers that be selected the oldest or senior LI regiment (and the only true LI regiment as the five others opted for the title well after all the infantry regiments became infantry of the line) because of the historical connection from the Napoleonic wars. Reforming the Light Division, as it were.
Interesting that the 1st Green Jackets kept their Colours after redesignation. Maybe they didn't consider themselves a Rifle regiment per se, even though the privates became riflemen.
Perhaps there was the eternal hope that one day, all this change would be reversed, and the Ox and Bucks would emerge again.
Cheers,
Dan.