The History of the Rifle Brigade (the Prince Consort's Own) Formerly the 95th

Nor is this statement by any means a perfect record of what the Battalion suffered from this deadly climate. After their return to England, and even after their arrival at Gibraltar, many officers and men suffered from the effects of their African campaign, and some men died.

On the 23rd the ‘Himalaya’ sailed for England at six in the morning.

On March 4 she arrived at St. Vincent, where she remained till the 7th. On the 16th the green clothing was taken into wear again, and on the next day the ‘Himalaya’ arrived at Gibraltar. Here the Battalion was welcomed by Major-General Somerset, an old Rifleman, who came off to see them, and during their stay showed them every attention. They left Gibraltar on the 20th. These stoppages had been made, and the rate of speed diminished purposely, in order not to bring the men from so hot a climate into the coldest portion of an English spring.

However, the ‘Himalaya’ reached Spithead about half-past two in the morning of the 26th. She came into harbour in the forenoon; the crews of the various ships manned the yards and cheered, their bands playing ‘Ninety-five.’ The Battalion landed at the Dock-yard Wharf about half-past one, many officers of the 1st Battalion (then stationed in the Gosport Forts) and some old Riflemen being assembled to greet them. They marched thence through streets decorated with flags, and every disposable expression of welcome, to the Governor’s Green,’ where they were welcomed by Lieutenant-General Lord Templetown, Commanding at Portsmouth, the Mayor, and others. Thence they marched to the station, where a repast had been provided for them. They left by special train for Winchester, where an ovation awaited them. A welcome from the Mayor and Corporation at the railway station; streets decorated with every flag, flower, and allusive ornament that could be put into requisition; and escorts of County Yeomanry and City Volunteers.

On the 28th the Battalion was inspected by His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, who expressed himself much satisfied with the appearance of the Battalion. After they had marched past and formed square, His Royal Highness addressed some kind words to them; congratulating them on their conduct in the field and on their endurance on the march to and from Coomassie, adding that from what he then saw of their appearance, he considered that they were even now fit to go anywhere.

On the 30th the Battalion proceeded to Windsor, where the troops which had been employed in the Ashantee expedition were reviewed by Her Majesty the Queen. The Prince of Wales (Colonel-in-Chief) and His Royal Highness Prince Arthur met the Battalion at the Windsor Station, and in a few kindly words the Colonel-in-Chief welcomed the Battalion home. His Royal Highness marched past at the head of the Battalion. Sir Archibald Alison also addressed the Riflemen, and complimented them on the soldierlike qualities they had shown in the field while under his orders. The Battalion returned to Winchester that night at nine by rail.

Sir Archibald Alison issued the following order on resigning command of the Brigade. After stating that he had amply complimented the 42nd Regiment in an order on board the ‘Sarmatian’ on his return voyage, he proceeds: ‘Before now taking leave of the other regiments of the Brigade, he desires to express to Lieutenant-Colonel Mostyn, commanding 23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers, and to Lieutenant-Colonel Warren, commanding 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade, his appreciation of the gallantly displayed by their regiments in the field, and his perfect satisfaction with the excellent conduct which characterised them in camp and on the line of march. No words of his could convey more to these regiments than that, in his opinion, they fully sustained at Amoaful and Ordahsu, and throughout the campaign, the historical reputation with which they entered it. In resigning his connection with the Brigade, the Brigadier-General desires to express his warm acknowledgment of the consistent support he has received from all ranks.’

An order was also received from His Royal Highness the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief, conveying Her Majesty’s approval of the conduct of her troops engaged on the Gold Coast.

On May 16 Sergeant Armstrong and Private Taylor received the Medal for distinguished conduct in the field from the hands of the Queen at Windsor; the former for having with some unarmed natives repelled an attack, and having himself killed two Ashantees on February 2, in the advance from Amoaful; and Taylor for his gallant conduct at Ordahsu, which I have already mentioned.

On May 19 the Battalion, consisting of 20 officers and 493 of other ranks, left Winchester at half-past five in the morning, by rail for Aldershot, and took part, with the 1st and 3rd Battalions, in a review before the Czar of Russia. They returned to Winchester the same evening, arriving at ten o’clock.

On October 24 the Battalion was armed with the Martini-Henry rifle.

They received orders to prepare for embarkation for Gibraltar, and two companies were selected to form the Depôt.

On November 7 Captain Dugdale’s company embarked on board Her Majesty’s Troop-ship ‘Tamar’ for Gibraltar. And on the 16th and 17th the remaining companies of the Battalion embarked at Portsmouth on board Her Majesty’s Troop-ship ‘Simoom,’ and sailed for Gibraltar, where they arrived on the 24th, and on disembarkation were encamped at the North front until the 28th, when they moved to Buena Vista barracks, and were there quartered.

The total strength on disembarkation was 18 officers, 40 sergeants, 40 corporals, 17 buglers, and 585 private Riflemen.

The 3rd Battalion moved from Winchester and Portsmouth by rail-road on March 13, and occupied quarters in the Permanent barracks with the 1st Battalion. They took part in the summer drills held this year in June and July, and were encamped at Woolmer forest from the 20th to the 29th of the latter month. During the June drills the Battalion, with the 1st Battalion, one of the 60th, and a Militia battalion, formed a brigade commanded by Lord Alexander Russell.

The 4th Battalion remained at Umballa during this year, with the exception that, in consequence of an outbreak of fever at Umballa, they were moved out under canvas to camp at Jundlee, and afterwards nearer Umballa, from November 18 to December 12.

On February 24 and 25 they had been inspected by Major-General Percy Hill, and on August 8 by Lord Napier of Magdala, Commander-in-Chief in India.

The 1st Battalion continued at Winchester during the year 1875, moving to Aldershot for the summer manœuvres.

The 2nd Battalion remained at Gibraltar during the whole of the year.

Lieutenant-Colonel Nixon, commanding the 3rd Battalion, died near Aldershot on March 31, 1875. He had served in the Regiment twenty-eight years, and had accompanied the 2nd Battalion to the Crimea and India, and I have recorded his services and gallantry at Cawnpore and Lucknow, and with the Camel Corps, and the approval of those in command which they elicited. He was deservedly and universally esteemed by his brother officers, and his sudden premature death excited sincere regret. His funeral on April 5, at Hale Church, near Aldershot, was attended not only by the officers of the 1st Battalion, who also sent their band from Winchester, but by many old Riflemen. He was succeeded in the command of the Battalion by Lieutenant-Colonel Maclean, who was promoted from Senior Major.

This Battalion, after taking part in the summer drill and manœuvres near Aldershot in the months of June and July, including a review and march-past for the Sultan of Zanzibar before his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, left Aldershot on July 27 for Chatham, where it occupied St. Mary’s barracks, detaching (in November) one company to Upnor Castle.

The 4th Battalion left Umballa on March 3 for Delhi, where it arrived on the 13th, and formed part of the Governor-General, Lord Northbrook’s, camp, during the durbar held there. It returned to Umballa on the 30th.

On the approach of the visit of the Prince of Wales to India, the 4th Battalion again marched from Umballa on November 26, and arrived at Delhi on December 8, in order to take part in the manœuvres to take place there during the Prince’s stay. While His Royal Highness the Colonel-in-Chief was at Delhi, the Battalion furnished a personal guard of honour of 100 men; and on his visit to Agra a similar guard of honour accompanied him. After the review and march-past on January 12, 1876, the Prince gave a dinner to the men of both his regiments, the 10th Hussars and the 4th Battalion, on the 16th, and dined at the mess of the Battalion on the 13th.

The 1st Battalion left Winchester by rail-road on June 6, 1876, and embarking at Portsmouth on board the ‘Simoom’ Troop-ship, started on the same day for Dublin, where they arrived on the 9th, and occupy the Royal barracks, having a present strength of

The 2nd Battalion remain at Gibraltar, their strength being

The 3rd Battalion left Chatham by rail-road on July 26, and proceeded to Shorncliffe camp, where they occupy quarters. Their strength on July 28, when inspected by Colonel the Hon. F. Thesiger, commanding that camp (who had served in the Regiment), being:—

On the conclusion of the manœuvres and the departure of the Prince of Wales from Delhi, the 4th Battalion returned on January 27 to Umballa, where they continue to be stationed; their strength being on the 1st October

On October 7, 1876, His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught, who had served upwards of four years in the 1st Battalion as Lieutenant and as Captain, and had left it in April 1874, took command of that Battalion at the Royal barracks, Dublin, as Lieutenant-Colonel.

On October 31 it was notified that Her Majesty had been graciously pleased to permit the word ‘Ashantee’ to be borne on the plates of the pouch-belts.

I have thus inadequately recorded the services of the Regiment, which as the Rifle Corps, as the 95th, and as the Rifle Brigade, has, in the seventy-five years of its existence, served in the field in Spain, Portugal, France, Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Germany, and Russia; in South and Western Africa; in North and South America; and in Asia. In these services it has been engaged in 22 General Actions, 30 Lesser Combats, 11 Sieges or Assaults of fortified places, and in skirmishes and affairs of posts too many to enumerate. In them it has won the commendation of all those commanders under whom it has served. Nor have its discipline and conduct in quarters in more peaceful times less elicited the approbation of Generals who have commanded the stations it has occupied. And if I have not always recorded this, it is because I have been unwilling to load my pages with what no Rifleman can doubt, and what can scarcely interest any other reader.

Of the tone and prestige of its officers I need not speak. One honourable fact I must record: No officer of this Regiment has ever been brought to a Court-Martial.

Whatever future services it may be called to, whatever changes regiments or the army may undergo, I am confident that as long as the number 95 or the name Rifle Brigade exist in English Military History, the same love of the green jacket and the same esprit-de-corps which have animated its past, and animate its present, will still animate its future members—officers, non-commissioned officers, and private Riflemen.