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Joining the 60th Rifles!
In order to join the 60th Rifles simply fill in the form below and post it in a reply to this thread.
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The 60th American regiment of Foot,from formation to Toulouse.
The 60th Regiment of Foot,originally the 62nd, was raised in the American colonies in 1756 as the 62nd (Royal American) Regiment of Foot to combat the French and their native allies. Following the disaster of the Braddock expedition royal and parliamentary approval for the funds to raise a new regiment were given just prior to Christmas of 1755,hence the regiments traditional birthday of Christmas day.According to a regimental history compiled in 1879 by a captain of the by then Kings Royal Rifle Corps, it was in December 1755 when Parliament approved for the sum of £81,000 to be used in order to raise four battalions,each a thousand men strong to serve in North America. Unusually the Parliament of Great Britain additionally granted His majesty King George additional powers “An Act to enable His Majesty to grant commissions to a certain number of foreign Protestants, who have served abroad as officers or engineers, to act and rank as officers or engineers in America only, under certain restrictions and regulations.” The Earl of Loudoun, commander in chief of all American forces, was appointed colonel-in-chief of the regiment. Additionally a further fifty officer commissions were granted to Swiss and Germans,though none would ever be able to rise above Lieutenant-Colonel.
Charge of the 60th at Bushy run | According to a modern history of the regiment, the initial idea for this unique regiment was proposed by Jacques Provost,a Swiss adventurer and soldier and a close friend of the Duke of Cumberland. Supposedly Prevost recognised, following the Braddock disaster, the need to have a force of men who understood how to fight in the wild,men who truly understood forest warfare. The regiment was apparently intended to combine the characteristics of a colonial corps and those of a foreign legion. Men used to fighting in forests from Germany and Switzerland, Men from America who knew and understood the terrain and finally British veterans who had fought against the French before. Another supposedly crucial aspect is that every man within this regiment had to be a protestant as they were fighting a predominantly French-Catholic force. |
In the end the regiment was raised on Governor's island, New York with a total of four thousand one hundred and sixty enlisted men as well as one hundred and one officers and two hundred and forty Non Commissioned Officers. It was not until February of 1757 when the regiment was finally renumbered the 60th regiment of foot after the surrender of the 50th and 51st at Fort Oswego, both regiments were subsequently removed from the British army roll. It was in the Canada campaign that the regiment truly distinguished itself, fighting at both Lousiberg (175  and Quebec (1759) where they amongst other regiments finally wrestled control of Canada from the French. It was at Quebec that Wolfe gave the regiment it's motto Celer Et Audax,Swift and Bold.However the 60th did suffer grievously at Quebec, on the 31st of July a mixed attack by the 60th and the grenadiers resulted in around five hundred casualties between the grenadiers and the 60th. The result of this disastrous attack on Montcalm's riverside fortifications meant the 60th did not gain the privilege of fighting in the main battle line but rather formed a rearguard with the 3rd Grenadiers against any incursions by Bougainville. The 60th and 3rd between them however did incur 215 men lost after a brief engagement with Bougainnville's column. These battles however had been fought in the traditional European style, it was not until the Pontiac's rebellion of 63' when the uniqueness of the regiment would truly come into fruition. Initially the regiment lost several outlying garrisons but at Bushy run eventually proved it's mastery of forest warfare when a detachment of the regiment ambushed native attackers. But although the 60th did typically wear the standard British uniform, it was said on occasions that they switched their bayonets for hatchets and their uniforms cut down for ease of movement in the woods. In 1797 a 5th Battalion of the 60th was raised under Baron Francis de Rottenburg, whose treatise on Riflemen and Light Infantry formed the basis of Moore’s later training. This was the first British unit to be dressed in the green jacket and armed with the rifle in place of the smoothbore musket and it represented the first organized British attempt at developing specialized light infantry for the European battlefield. Sir Johm Moore, the hero of Corunna, was in the 60th before he set up Shorncliff where he established the training regime that produced Britain's finest light infantry regiments. | 
60th campaign dress 1755 |
**Napoleonic Wars**
Peace was concluded with France in 1802, and the usual drastic education in England's Army and Fleet followed. But Bonaparte kept France mobilized, and made his plans to subjugate the world. War soon broke out again. The threatened invasion of England was settled in 1805 by the victory of Trafalgar, and the French armies marched east; while Napoleon closed all European ports to English trade. In 1807 he dispatched an army of 80,000 men to Spain to place his brother Joseph on the throne. Spain and Portugal appealed to England for help, and it was decided to send an army to Portugal under Sir Arthur Wellesley to drive the French out of Spain in co-operation with the Spanish armies. The British troops landed in 1808, which marked the commencement of the Peninsular War.
Among the troops under Sir Arthur Wellesley which landed in 5th Bn. Portugal were the 5th Battalion 60th and 2nd Battalion 95th Rifles,' raised in 1801. Our 5th Battalion gained thirteen battle honours for the Regiment in the Peninsula. It was at first under the command of Major W. G. Davy,' who had succeeded de Rottenburg.
Soon after this force landed a general order was issued by Sir Arthur Wellesley which explains how the 5th Battalion came to be attached by companies to infantry brigades and therefore to be present at nearly all the major engagements of this war. The order was dated 6th May, 1809, and was as follows
"The Commander of the Forces recommends the companies' of the 5th Battalion of the 60th Regiment to the particular care and attention of the General Officers commanding the brigades of infantry to which they are attached; they will find them to be most useful, active and brave troops in the field and that they will add essentially to the strength of the brigade."
Another order (of 4th May) directed that attached Riflemen were to be formed together on the left of the brigade. But "when opposing the enemy they would of course be on the front, flanks or rear according to circumstances.
***
In April, 1809, Sir Arthur Wellesley again arrived in Portugal and assumed command. There were 250,000 French troops in the Peninsula. He at once advanced against Soult, who had invaded the northern provinces, forced the passages of the River Douro and, driving the French out of Portugal, advanced upon Madrid at the end of June. He soon found himself faced with an army of 50,000 French under King Joseph and Marshal Victor, and took up a position at Talavera. His force consisted of 57,000 men, but 34,000 of these were Spaniards and the brunt of the ensuing battle fell on the 23,000 British. The French attack was repelled with heavy loss. In his subsequent despatches Sir Arthur spoke warmly of our Regiment, which on one occasion had saved him from being taken prisoner. "Upon this occasion," he states in his despatch, "the steadiness and discipline of the 5th Battalion 60th Regiment were conspicuous." At Talavera, the 5th Battalion lost 7 officers and 44 other ranks. Major Davy proceeded home and Major W. Woodgate took command. Lieutenant-Colonel W. Williams' took command in 1810: he had seen much active service and had been wounded at Corunna. Operations came to a standstill until the following year. | 
The 60th at Barrossa |
The French having been largely reinforced, Wellesley retired into Portugal, which was invaded in 1810 by the enemy under Marshal Massena. The British General, now created Lord Wellington, inflicted on the French a sanguinary check at Busaco, where the 60th, under Colonel Williams, again distinguished themselves. The five companies of the 60th engaged lost 5 officers (the C.O. being wounded twice) and 24 other ranks. The enemy was too strong to be permanently stopped, and Wellington retired to the previously prepared lines of Torres Vedras, covering Lisbon.
Thence, in 1811, he again advanced and drove the French from Portugal. But Massena advanced with 57,000 men and a desperate two-day battle ensued at Fuentes d'Onor. Here Colonel Williams was distinguished by his defence of the village of that name: he had three companies of the 60th under his command. He was dangerously wounded and Major Woodgate took command of the 5th Battalion.
A few days later a detachment of the Anglo-Portuguese Army (including four companies of the 60th), under Marshal Beresford, which was covering the Spanish fortress, Badajos, repulsed a most determined attack on Albuhera. Captain John Galiffe, of the 60th, and one Rifleman were present both at Fuentes d'Onor and Albuhera.
In October some Rifle companies were present at the surprise of the French at Arroyo dos Molinos, where Captain Blassiere distinguished himself by penetrating into the town on the previous night.
In October some Rifle companies were present at the surprise of the French at Arroyo dos Molinos, where Captain Blassiere distinguished himself by penetrating into the town on the previous night.
***
The 1812 campaign began with the siege and capture by assault of the two fortresses which guarded the Spanish frontier. Companies of the 5th Battalion played their part as covering troops to divisions.At Ciudad Rodrigo one company distinguished itself at the capture of the convent of Santa Cruz. At Badajos four companies lost 6 officers and 44 other ranks, mainly in the final assault.
Sending Hill to destroy the bridge of Almaraz, and advancing into Spain, Wellington on 22nd July defeated Marmont at the decisive Battle of Salamanca, when the 5th Battalion lost 3 officers and 33 other ranks. Lieutenant-Colonel Williams was wounded.
The English General thereupon marched towards Madrid and entered the capital in triumph on 12th August. But the French were so strongly reinforced that the British troops were obliged to retire for the winter to Portugal.
In May, 1813, the army finally quitted Portugal, and again advancing drove the French northwards. On 21st June Wellington gained a splendid victory over King Joseph at Vittoria, capturing 150 guns and all their transport.
In this battle Colonel Fitzgerald commanded a battalion made up of three companies of the 5th Battalion and light companies of other regiments. They had very heavy fighting, attack and counter-attack, on the right of the battle front. Three headquarter companies under Major Galiffe led the final attack on Arinez, cleared the village and broke the French centre.
Driven from Spain, the French army rallied on the frontier on the River Bidassoa, where Soult assumed command, having been dispatched by Napoleon to supersede his brother, King Joseph, and Marshal Jourdan.
He immediately attacked the English, but was defeated with great slaughter at the Battle of the Pyrenees, which lasted eight days, from 24th July to 2nd August. The 5th Battalion was at this time commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel John F. Fitzgerald.
Wellington, then advancing into France, forced the passage of the Bidassoa on 7th October and carried the strongly fortified lines of the French upon the Nivelle River, after a battle which he considered the finest action of his career. The campaign ended in a further victory on the Nive after a battle lasting five days.
After Napoleon's defeat at Leipzig in October, 1813, the Allies had driven the French armies back into France. In the south, after the Nive battle, operations ceased. Wellington, with 40,000 men, including Portuguese and Spaniards, faced Soult with 35,000. He also had 28,000 investing Bayonne. Early in February he resumed the offensive. A company of the 60th led the advance of the Guards Brigade at the passage of the Adour.
Soult withdrew slowly on Orthez, where he took up a strong position from which he was driven, after heavy fighting, on 27th February. The French fell back fighting on Toulouse.
This battle was the last great victory of the Peninsular War. The French were thrown back into the city, which they evacuated two days later. Meanwhile, on the 10th, a determined sortie from Bayonne had been defeated. on 12th April news was received of Napoleon's abdication. Hostilities ceased on 18th April.
The 5th Battalion companies attached to divisions with Wellington had only 9 officers and 250 rifles remaining after this campaign of six weeks: the company at Bayonne had lost all its officers and was reduced to a strength of 40 other ranks.
Sending Hill to destroy the bridge of Almaraz, and advancing into Spain, Wellington on 22nd July defeated Marmont at the decisive Battle of Salamanca, when the 5th Battalion lost 3 officers and 33 other ranks. Lieutenant-Colonel Williams was wounded.
The English General thereupon marched towards Madrid and entered the capital in triumph on 12th August. But the French were so strongly reinforced that the British troops were obliged to retire for the winter to Portugal.
In May, 1813, the army finally quitted Portugal, and again advancing drove the French northwards. On 21st June Wellington gained a splendid victory over King Joseph at Vittoria, capturing 150 guns and all their transport.
In this battle Colonel Fitzgerald commanded a battalion made up of three companies of the 5th Battalion and light companies of other regiments. They had very heavy fighting, attack and counter-attack, on the right of the battle front. Three headquarter companies under Major Galiffe led the final attack on Arinez, cleared the village and broke the French centre.
Driven from Spain, the French army rallied on the frontier on the River Bidassoa, where Soult assumed command, having been dispatched by Napoleon to supersede his brother, King Joseph, and Marshal Jourdan.
He immediately attacked the English, but was defeated with great slaughter at the Battle of the Pyrenees, which lasted eight days, from 24th July to 2nd August. The 5th Battalion was at this time commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel John F. Fitzgerald.
Wellington, then advancing into France, forced the passage of the Bidassoa on 7th October and carried the strongly fortified lines of the French upon the Nivelle River, after a battle which he considered the finest action of his career. The campaign ended in a further victory on the Nive after a battle lasting five days.
After Napoleon's defeat at Leipzig in October, 1813, the Allies had driven the French armies back into France. In the south, after the Nive battle, operations ceased. Wellington, with 40,000 men, including Portuguese and Spaniards, faced Soult with 35,000. He also had 28,000 investing Bayonne. Early in February he resumed the offensive. A company of the 60th led the advance of the Guards Brigade at the passage of the Adour.
Soult withdrew slowly on Orthez, where he took up a strong position from which he was driven, after heavy fighting, on 27th February. The French fell back fighting on Toulouse.
This battle was the last great victory of the Peninsular War. The French were thrown back into the city, which they evacuated two days later. Meanwhile, on the 10th, a determined sortie from Bayonne had been defeated. on 12th April news was received of Napoleon's abdication. Hostilities ceased on 18th April.
The 5th Battalion companies attached to divisions with Wellington had only 9 officers and 250 rifles remaining after this campaign of six weeks: the company at Bayonne had lost all its officers and was reduced to a strength of 40 other ranks.
Following the Peninsular war the first,fourth,fifth,sixth,seventh and eighth battalions were all disbanded,however by this point all of the battalions had become Rifles battalions and the regiment itself was designated the 60th Rifles.
Thanks to the 3ci Uhlans for allowing us to use their table and the 91st Argyllshire (and Gwyrdh) for allowing us to share their template and Spunned for use of his fine graphics!
Additional thanks to Jezza,who put this whole thread together.
