Her Late Majesty was Colonel in Chief of the Regiment from 1966 to 2007. 4 Around this time, Robert met Martha McNeil. The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (43rd & 52nd), The Kings Royal Rifle Corps (60th) and The Rifle Brigade (95th) were amalgamated in 1966 to form The Royal Green Jackets. Many years later, Ronald Speirs would write, my father was a Scotish Engineer who emigrated to the U.S. because of the lack of employment in the UK during the depression.8. If you have photographs of your time in the Regiment (or of Fathers/Grandfathers/Uncles etc.) However, evidence suggests Ronald Speirs inadvertently wrote the incorrect year and the letter was in fact, written in 1991. Donald feared for nothing either in this world or the next; he had been true to man and true to his God, and he looked his last hour in the face like a soldier and a Christian! Other ranks cap badge, The Royal Green Jackets, 1973. [1], The regiment's greatest loss of life came on 20 July 1982 when seven RGJ bandsmen were killed by a Provisional Irish Republican Army bomb which exploded during a public concert featuring the music from Oliver! It is unclear if Speirs had a life partner between his divorce in 1966 and final marriage which took place in 1987 when he was 67 years old. Governor of Spandau Prison in Berlin, which housed key Nazi war criminals. In 1803 the regiment, now named the 95th or Rifle Regiment, joined the 43rd and 52nd to form the Light Brigade under the command of Sir John Moore. 2nd Battalion The Light Infantry into 3rd Battalion The Rifles. 1st Battalion Dorset and Devonshire Light Infantry, and 1st Battalion Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Light Infantry into 1st Battalion The Rifles. In his letter Speirs states he is 71 years old. CMTC for the infantry was held at Great Diamond Island in Portland, Maine.16, After finishing high school, Ronald went on to study at Bentley College, graduating with a certificate in accounting17 which enabled him to find employment as a junior accountant.18, Ronald Speirs first marriage took place on 20th May 1944 to an English girl he met whilst stationed in Aldbourne, Wilshire, England.19 Speirs recalled, before the invasion, I was sent down to Winchester to set up a camp for an infantry division coming up from Africa. Throughout the rest of the Peninsula War the Light Brigade and later the Light Division was to contribute significantly to Wellington`s victories. Lieutenant Colonel Ronald Charles Speirs (20 April 1920 - 11 April 2007) was a United States Army officer who served in the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division during World War II. He retired from HM Forces 1st May 1975. 9. The rifle battalions fought in this formation at the opening battles of bidos and Rolia but. "My son Robert, born in England during the war, is now an infantry major with the Royal Green Jackets Regiment. [2]:83[3]:88[4]:69, Speirs' platoon spent the night of 6 June being shuffled in position with other platoons as the company was arranged for battle to begin early the next morning. The entire platoon also witnessed the event. His stepson Marv Bethea considers Speirs strongest trait not to be bloodthirstiness, but conscientiousness. aka Black Mafia.Recorded before my time with the Regiment but got to meet & Work with some. This site uses cookies. He developed Alzheimers-like symptoms and slowly faded, dying in 2007. And Jim Lahey can fuck off. Initially, Robert travelled to America alone. And Jim Lahey can fuck off. In. How should Speirs be remembered? 2709564. The enemy opened fire and he dove into the water after taking a German bullet in his butt. "First time @NAM_London today. He was the last commander of the legendary Easy Co, 506th PIR, 101st Airborne (the Band of Brothers), and led the company longer than well-known Lt. Dick Winters. The story of the Royal Green Jackets and their 41 year history is told in pictures, words and displays. Swift and Bold. On 1 FEBRUARY 2007 the following Battalions were redesignated The Rifles: Robert W Speirs Plumbing Co Contact Information Phone Number: (801) 776-3911 Edit Address: 2233 West 2175 South, ID Edit Do you work for this business? Visit Reims' Cathedral - Symbol of Royal Power (Champagne) Reims, the unofficial capital of the historical region of Champagne, is a beautiful city to visit, with an interesting history and medieval heritage. The two battalions of the 95th, grouped with the 5/60th in a brigade of Riflemen, fired the first shots of the campaign at bidos. He retired as a Lieutenant colonel. In contrast to his nearly super-human deeds of toughness, Speirs had a softer side. He finished the war in the European Theater as a captain. 2023 All Rights Reserved. They began in the eighteenth century . As a result, Robert saw many men leave to pursue opportunities abroad in America. 1st Lt. Donald McPherson of the 95thwas severely wounded during the storming of Badajoz, 6th April 1812. Four companies of the 60th fought at the Battle of Albuera 1811. In 1966, the three regiments of the Green Jackets Brigade - 1st Green Jackets (43rd and 52nd), 2nd Green Jackets, The King's Royal Rifle Corps and 3rd Green Jackets, The Rifle Brigade - were amalgamated. In a military career spanning 22 years, Speirs has The regiment carried no colours. The Royal Green Jackets was formed on 1 January 1966 by the amalgamation of the three separate regiments of the Green Jackets Brigade:[1], There were also two Territorial Army battalions made up as follows:[2], During the 1970s, 1980s and onwards up until the end of The Troubles, the battalions were deployed to various parts of Northern Ireland (Operation Banner). They were married in 1908 5 and lived in Dalmuir, just outside Glasgow. The Royal Green Jackets Association Photographic Site Deeply saddened by the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II - 8th September 2022. 1939-1945 Star This star was awarded for service in the Second World War between 3rd September 1939 and 2nd September 1945. Winters went on to say that Speirs not only confirmed the allegation, but wrote a letter to that effect.[5]. The 5th (Volunteer) Battalion, The Royal Green Jackets was an infantry unit of the Royal Green Jackets part of the Territorial Army which existed around 13 years before disbanding. Bethea put it into perspective. Cold war Rifleman in NBC protective gear. He took a double inventory of the latter, sending one to the regiment by post, and giving the other in charge of his servant - and paying the said worthy his wages up to the probable day of his death; he gave him a conditional order on the paymaster for whatever more might be his due should he survive beyond his time - and if ever man did, he certainly quitted this world with a clear conscience. Thanks for watching. 1977This production is for viewing purposes only and should not be reproduced without prior consent. Art DiMarzio says he then saw Speirs shoot the sergeant in self-defense. He retired in 1964 as a lieutenant colonel. This infantry regiment was formed in 1966. Todays final installment covers the life of Ron Speirs. They encouraged the students to attend Citizens Military Training Camp (CMTC) during the summer vacation. The Men of Easy Company Series Part I: Warren Skip Muck Part II: Robert Rader Part III: Ron Speirs, __________________________________________________________________________________. Speirs, then the commander of D Company, sprinted to Dike and blurted out, Im taking over. With Speirs now in charge, Easy Company surged into Foy and took the town. Lieutenant Speirs was the first to cross the Neder Rijn River in this vicinity, and in so doing he paved the way for other patrols to make similar reconnaissance's. Registered Co. No. [citation needed]. "Celer et Audax". Therefore the RGJ marches at 140 paces per minute whereas other regiments march at just 120. Yet he was a controversial leader. Thoroughly enjoyed it. History [ edit] The Royal Green Jackets was formed on 1 January 1966 by the amalgamation of the three separate regiments of the Green Jackets Brigade: [1] On 20 May 1944, Speirs married Margaret Griffiths, whom he had met while stationed in Wiltshire, England. London Gazette: Died of wounds, 7 May 1812. On 10 October 1944, in the vicinity of Rendijk, Holland, he was assigned the mission of leading a patrol to the bank of the Neder Rijn River to determine enemy activity across the river. [2]:209 Having completed this, he then ran back through the German-occupied town. Its first Colonel, Coote Manningham, helped shape the Light Infantry of the Army. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. [1] He attended military training in high school, which led to a commission as a 2nd lieutenant in the infantry of the United States Army. The RGJ is a mostly trade focused group. [2]:287 Speirs denied this claim. Captain Gross was killed in battle the next day, and the incident was never pursued. The 2nd and 3rd Battalions redesignated as 1st and 2nd Battalions. He assembled a small group of soldiers to assist during the Brecourt Manor Assault, where they captured the fourth 105mm howitzer. It was in this role that they fought the remaining battles of the Peninsular campaign, sixteen of whose names appear on the 60th's list of battle honours. It continued in British Army service until 2007, when it was amalgamated into The Rifles. The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (43rd & 52nd),The Kings Royal Rifle Corps (60th)andThe Rifle Brigade (95th)were amalgamated in 1966 to form The Royal Green Jackets. His insistence on absolute professionalism and mutual respect between officers and men was to create a formation whose contribution was crucial to Wellington's victories in the Peninsular War and whose traditions survive in The Royal Green Jackets today. Don't miss Troyes' Gothic Cathedral, considered one of the most beautiful churches in all of Europe. His three beautiful children are my pride and joy." Speirs made the military his career. 16 Jun June 16, 2022. robert speirs royal green jackets. They became the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions of a new regiment, The Royal Green Jackets. And if soor if notwhat can we learn from a man like Speirs? In 1992, 1st Battalion was disbanded. Robert now began planning for the family to join him. 2nd Battalion The Royal Green Jackets into 4th Battalion The Rifles. The 43rd(Monmouthshire Light Infantry) and the 52nd (Oxfordshire Light Infantry) fought at the Siege of Badajoz. Hello we are the Royal Green Jackets. Our condolences to the Royal Family at this sad time. Ronald Charles Speirs was born on 20th April, 1920 in the Scottish city of Edinburgh.1 He was the youngest of five children for parents Robert Craig Speirs, Jr and Martha Agnes (McNeil) Speirs, 2but his stay in Scotland was to be short. At the end of WWII he wrote one of his men, Forrest Guth, who had gone home early and was desperately missing the camaraderie of his outfit. In a 1992 letter written to Richard Winters, Speirs wrote that his first wife simply did not want to move to America with him and be away from her family in England. [7], Following Korea, Speirs attended a Russian language course in 1956 and was assigned as a liaison officer to the Red Army in Potsdam, East Germany. As skirmishers and sharpshooters, they did not need to identify their fellows on the battlefield. The Maltese Cross cap badge of the RGJ was adopted as the belt badge of The Rifles and carries the battle honours. The name Ron Speirs will always be associated with deeds done during WWII, he said. So when he found work in Boston with Hunt Spiller Co., a company known for their high carbon gun iron, it would mark the start of a steady and profitable engineering career in the USA. The three regiments that merged to form The Royal Green Jackets were: These regiments had a history of cooperation and comradeship dating back to the actions of the Light Division during the Peninsular War and had come together in 1958 to form The Green Jacket Brigade; the exploits and history of these Regiments are set out in the Royal Green Jackets (Rifles) Museum. Also, according 101st airborne historian Mark Bando, a former E Company veteran was a regular lunch partner with Professor Ambrose in the 1980s, when Ambrose was thinking about writing a 101st book. Other sources state that Ambrose visited a reunion of Easy Company veterans in 1988 and collected their stories, which formed the book Band of Brothers. This was the first British unit to be dressed in a green jacket and armed with a rifle in place of the smoothbore musket. He doted on his grandchildren, taking them to the park. Come-du-Mont, to hold position while regimental headquarters coordinated a rolling barrage shelling fifteen targets in the vicinity of St. Marie-du-Mont. Guth wrote to Speirs a final time on June 11, 2006, exactly 61 years after Speirs first letter. 4th (V) Battalion, Royal Green Jackets formed from the remnants of the Rangers (KRRC), London Rifle Brigade, Tower Hamlets Rifles. In 1948 the Rifle Brigade merged with the King's Royal Rifle Corps to form The Green Jackets Brigade both regiments still kept their respective names until further amalgamations followed with the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in1958. Celer et Audax. Speirs parachuted into Normandy on 6 June 1944 (or D-Day) and quickly met with fellow troops after landing. Other deployments included Gibraltar for 2nd Battalion (1975), West Berlin for 3rd Battalion (1975-77) and Hong Kong for 1st Battalion (1978). [1] The 1st Battalion The Royal Green Jackets' final operational tour was in Basra, in Iraq, on Operation Telic in 2006-07. In 1803, the 43rd and 52nd were chosen to form the first Corps of Light Infantry and joined with the 95th Rifles (later The Rifle Brigade) to constitute the Light Brigade under the command of Sir John Moore. [7], The regiment was classed as a 'rifle' regiment, having its lineage in the regiments of foot that were equipped with the first Baker rifles. That is much. Editors note: Tomorrow marks the US observance of Veterans Day. Program, Strengthen Your Tribe: A Report on the Atomic Athlete Vanguard, The Best Riddles for Kids (With Answers! Designed with the highest levels of protection, the unique JCB HMEE (High Mobility Engineer Excavator) is self-deployable, has a top speed of 90kph and is air-transportable by Hercules C-130. The 1st Battalion 95th returned to the Iberian Peninsula in the summer of 1809 and took part in the Light Brigade's famous forced march to Talavera. Finally, in 1958, the battalion joined the new Green Jacket Brigade with the title of the 2nd Green Jackets (The Kings Royal Rifle Corps). [1][4], After the 1992 reorganisation, the unit was mostly based overseas in Dhekelia (Cyprus) and Paderborn (Germany), as well as in Northern Ireland. In 1966, it merged with the two other regiments of the Green Jackets Brigade to form The Royal Green Jackets. In spite of his wound he brought back vital information and later received the Silver Star for his actions. The 1992 Stephen E. Ambrose book Band of Brothers claimed Speirs' English wife had left him and returned to her first husband whom she believed died during the war. In 1958, he became the American governor of the Spandau Prison in Berlin, where prominent Nazis such as Rudolf Hess were imprisoned. Kincaid, Random Shots, pp. Join Facebook to connect with Robert Speirs and others you may know. Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Light Infantry, The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own), Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, 1st Battalion, The Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, 7 RGJ Bandsmen killed by IRA in 1982 Regent's Park Bombing, "1982: IRA bombs cause carnage in London", "Hansard: Restructuring of the Army - Statement by Secretary of State for Defence on 23 July 1991", 51st (2nd Yorkshire West Riding) Regiment of Foot, 105th Regiment of Foot (Madras Light Infantry), 68th (Durham) Regiment of Foot (Light Infantry), 106th Regiment of Foot (Bombay Light Infantry), 28th (North Gloucestershire) Regiment of Foot, 61st (South Gloucestershire) Regiment of Foot, 49th (Princess Charlotte of Wales's) (Hertfordshire) Regiment of Foot, Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Royal_Green_Jackets&oldid=1142252901, Military units and formations disestablished in 2007, Military units and formations established in 1966, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. The regiment was classed as a 'rifle' regiment, having its lineage in the regiments of foot that were equipped with the first Baker rifles. Welcome to Forces Reunited the place where you can find information and friends from Royal Green Jackets. These three British Infantry regiments share a history and tradition as pioneers and innovators. After arriving in England, the division began training for the invasion of France. Robert G Speirs, 91. Thought the presentation & interpretation made the subject accessible". They were dressed in green and armed with the Baker rifle. The Royal Rifle Volunteers (minus The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment Company but with The Royal Green Jacket Companies of The London Regiment) into 7th Battalion (TA) The Rifles. The sergeant refused and began to reach for his rifle. The Cardwell reorganisation of the Army in 1881 recognised the historical links between the 43rd and 52nd and decreed that they should become the 1st and 2nd Battalions of The Oxfordshire Light Infantry. Find company research, competitor information, contact details & financial data for ADIDAS FRANCE of STRASBOURG, GRAND EST. Includes Address (3) Phone (9) Email (22) See Results. [citation needed]. Therefore, Ambrose would have had no reason to write to Speirs in 1981. In 2007, the regiment merged with The Devonshire and Dorset Light Infantry, The Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Light Infantry and The Light Infantry to form The Rifles. in both print and TV. They then joined their colleagues of the Light Brigade for Moore`s advance into Spain and provided the rearguard when the larger French army forced Moore to retreat to Corunna. Above all, they were riflemen and took pride in their reputation of being thinking, and fighting soldiers.Please don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe. [7], The cap badge was a Maltese Cross, which was drawn from the badges of the King's Royal Rifle Corps and The Rifle Brigade, with a combination of some of their battle honours on its arms.[7]. Keep up to date with our exhibitions and latest * Ronald Speirs wrote a letter to Stephen Ambrose which he dated 29/01/1981. robert speirs royal green jacketscan low magnesium kill you. The Rifle Volunteers into 6th Battalion (TA) The Rifles. It was here that PFC Art DiMarzio, who is also referenced in the book "Beyond Band of Brothers", was eyewitness to an event. Arthur has been described as a typical Rifle Brigade Quartermaster, incredibly efficient, loyal and, his understanding of loyalty meant it had to be to . Two years later, the regiment was brigaded together with The Light Infantry, another newly formed unit, under the administrative umbrella of the Light Division. His final assignment in the Army was as a plans officer in The Pentagon. This British Army light infantry regiment was formed in 2007. Traditionally, rifle regiments wore rifle green tunics, an early form of camouflage, instead of the red jackets worn by line infantry. 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He later became the American governor for Spandau Prison in Berlin. Throughout the war, Speirs was seen doing his duty, no matter the cost. Robert Speirs, Ronald's father, was born in Greenock, Scotland in 1882. Speirs told the man that he was too drunk to perform his duties and that he should remove himself to the rear. The incident took place under heavy fighting when the soldiers were extremely exhausted. (Note: all scanned photo's should have a minimum resolution of 300 dpi. However, it also deployed to Bosnia (1996), Sierra Leone (2001-02), Iraq (2003-04 and 2006-07) and Kosovo (2005). In 1757, the 43rd moved to North America as part of Wolfe's force that captured Quebec. [3]:262, In January 1945, when Easy Company's initial attack on the German-occupied town of Foy bogged down due to the commander 1st Lieutenant Norman Dike, battalion executive officer Captain Richard Winters ordered Speirs to relieve Dike of command. [2]:208 To countermand this order, Speirs himself ran through the town and German lines (as this platoon had no radio), linked up with the Item Company soldiers and relayed the order. According to DiMarzio, Speirs, commanding 2nd platoon, Dog Company was given orders to halt their attack on Ste.