In a military career spanning 22 years, Speirs has Other deployments included Gibraltar for 2nd Battalion (1975), West Berlin for 3rd Battalion (1975-77) and Hong Kong for 1st Battalion (1978). robert speirs royal green jackets The reorganisation into The Rifles took effect on 1 February 2007 with the 1st Battalion Royal Green Jackets becoming the 2nd Battalion, The Rifles and the 2nd Battalion Royal Green Jackets becoming 4th Battalion, The Rifles. Editors note: Tomorrow marks the US observance of Veterans Day. Her Late Majesty was Colonel in Chief of the Regiment from 1966 to 2007. please send them to me at Seamus.lyons@rgjassociation.info. Hello we are the Royal Green Jackets. Moore was killed in the final battle but his army was able to embark and return to England. It was renumbered the 52nd a year later. With Easy Company wrongly positioned and staying put as sitting ducks behind a haystack during the attack on Foy, Speirs was ordered to relieve Lt. Norman Dike, who had bungled the operation. Speirs again warned the sergeant, who now levelled his rifle at Speirs. been lauded as a hero, embroiled in controversy and celebrated Therefore the RGJ marches at 140 paces per minute whereas other regiments march at just 120. With the sword fitted to the rifle, the overall weapon was the same length as a musket with bayonet attached. [citation needed], In 1962, Speirs was a member of the US Mission to the Royal Lao Army,[2]:301 where he served as a training officer in Mobile Training Team (MTT) for Operation White Star which was then managed by the Military Assistance Advisory Group in Laos (MAAG Laos). Best Things To Do in Grand Est, France | France Bucket List Deeply saddened by the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II - 8th September 2022. 1st Battalion Dorset and Devonshire Light Infantry, and 1st Battalion Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Light Infantry into 1st Battalion The Rifles. He retired from HM Forces 1st May 1975. Todays final installment covers the life of Ron Speirs. 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. Marcus Brothertons most recent book is A COMPANY OF HEROES, where he interviewed relatives of deceased E Co veterans. Welcome to the Royal Green Jackets and Former Regiments Photographic History pages. DiMarzio, who was lying in a prone position next to a sergeant, stated he remembered the sergeant being drunk. How should Speirs be remembered? The Men of Easy Company Series Part I: Warren Skip Muck Part II: Robert Rader Part III: Ron Speirs, __________________________________________________________________________________. June 30, 2022 . Welcome to Forces Reunited the place where you can find information and friends from Royal Green Jackets. 4 Around this time, Robert met Martha McNeil. He handed out cigarettes nonchalantly to twenty German prisoners then mowed them down with his submachine gun. The In his letter Speirs states he is 71 years old. The Royal Green Jackets. He became the U.S. The new 1st Battalion was in Cyprus from 1993 to 1996. Documentary about 1st Battalion Royal Green Jackets. The regiment was classed as a 'rifle' regiment, having its lineage in the regiments of foot that were equipped with the first Baker rifles. [6], Their motto was Celer et Audax (Latin: "Swift and Bold"). 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. Finally, in 1958, the battalion joined the new Green Jacket Brigade with the title of the 2nd Green Jackets (The Kings Royal Rifle Corps). 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. (Note: all scanned photo's should have a minimum resolution of 300 dpi. Hello we are the Royal Green Jackets. The enemy opened fire and he dove into the water after taking a German bullet in his butt. [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. 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. Throughout the war, Speirs was seen doing his duty, no matter the cost. And if soor if notwhat can we learn from a man like Speirs? La Laiterie's concert list along with photos, videos, and setlists of their past concerts & performances. He stated that a replacement sergeant disobeyed a direct order while in a combat situation, thereby risking the lives of the other soldiers in the company. The troubles in Northern Ireland saw battalions frequently stationed in Ulster or sent there on short emergency tours of duty to support the police against terrorism. The ship docked at Boston Harbour on Christmas morning, 1924.10. in both print and TV. In spite of the difficult situation, Speirs managed. In 1755 another 54th Regiment was raised and based at Coventry. Please be aware that because of the nature of the Internet it may not be possible to download good quality printable copies of the pictures displayed. 1st Lt. Donald McPherson of the 95thwas severely wounded during the storming of Badajoz, 6th April 1812. Lieutenant Colonel Robert Speirs (1945 - d.) - Genealogy Lieutenant Colonel Robert Speirs Back to Speirs surname View Complete Profile view all Immediate Family Robert's mother mother By US Army - US Army http://www.band-of-brothers.nl/artikel/vet_vet_speirs.htm, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8571418 They became the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions of a new regiment, The Royal Green Jackets. Return dated 25 May 1812. "Massachusetts, Boston Passenger Lists, 18911943," database with images, FamilySearch (, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:23XG-W15, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ronald_Speirs&oldid=1151899605, United States Army personnel of World War II, United States Army personnel of the Korean War, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from May 2022, Articles with unsourced statements from May 2017, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2012, Articles with unsourced statements from March 2017, Articles with unsourced statements from March 2016, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 26 April 2023, at 22:59. 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. The Royal Green Jackets Association Photographic Site Deeply saddened by the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II - 8th September 2022. The rifle battalions fought in this formation at the opening battles of bidos and Rolia but. 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. Therefore, Ambrose would have had no reason to write to Speirs in 1981. We play a variety of different games with a diverse community. Includes Address (3) Phone (9) Email (22) See Results. 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. This collection has been placed on the Internet for the benefit of all members of the Regiment. Arthur has been described as a typical Rifle Brigade Quartermaster, incredibly efficient, loyal and, his understanding of loyalty meant it had to be to . Close order drill was taught by two regular army officers. Members of Royal Green Jackets | Forces Reunited Other items were begged or purchased from various other sources. The story of the Royal Green Jackets and their 41 year history is told in pictures, words and displays. [3]:272, Winters assessed Speirs as being one of the finest combat officers in the battalion. 2709564. The Royal Green Jackets Book of Remembrance 1966-2007 While on reconnaissance in Holland, Speirs paddled across the Neder Rhine alone at night. 16 Jun June 16, 2022. robert speirs royal green jackets. Royal Green Jackets | War Imperial War Museums These two Riflemen units formed the vanguard when the army moved. ADIDAS FRANCE Company Profile | STRASBOURG, GRAND EST, France When the Armistice, which ended WW1, was signed on the 11th November, 1918, Britains great ship-building industry began to wind down. Lieutenant Colonel Robert Speirs (1945 - d.) - Genealogy 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. Bethea put it into perspective. Discover more about The Royal Green Jackets by visiting The Royal Green Jackets (Rifles) Museum in Winchester. They encouraged the students to attend Citizens Military Training Camp (CMTC) during the summer vacation. He wrote to Winters in the early 1990s: My son Robert, born in England during the war, is now an infantry major with the Royal Green Jackets Regiment. However, it also deployed to Bosnia (1996), Sierra Leone (2001-02), Iraq (2003-04 and 2006-07) and Kosovo (2005). 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. Parliament agreed and provided for the raising of the 60th Royal American Regiment of four battalions of American colonists. The Royal Green Jackets were light infantry, trained to move fast. Don't miss Troyes' Gothic Cathedral, considered one of the most beautiful churches in all of Europe. By . Poor Donald! His three beautiful children are my pride and joy." Speirs made the military his career. [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. [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. Single. Unlock this free profile to update company info and see who's viewing your profile. On 23 March 1951, he participated in Operation Tomahawk in which he made a combat parachute jump into Munsan-ni with nearly 3,500 other troopers in his unit (187th Regimental Combat Team). We specialize in: We are not pirates or slavers we will actively cooperate with law enforcement first and foremost. 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. 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. George Robert Humphrey WO 2 Served from 1964 - 1987 Served in Royal Green Jackets Tony Price L/CPL Served from 1981 - 1989 Served in Royal Green Jackets Keith Taylor Served from 1962 - 1974 Served in Royal Green Jackets Patrick Walker CORPORAL Served from 1961 - 1966 Served in Royal Green Jackets Peter Deane To find out more about how we collect, store and use your personal information, read our Privacy Policy. 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. Hearing that their support was urgently needed in Spain, they set out on a forced march of 250 miles to join Wellington's army at Talavera. [citation needed]. 3 His engineering career began as a young man when he became an apprentice engineer fitter in the Glasgow area. Below are just some of our members who have served at Royal Green Jackets. Great Britain was often at war with France during the 18thcentury, both on the Continent and throughout the colonies. The information proved of great value to his unit. The Art of Manliness would like to thank Mr. Brotherton for this great series and all veterans for their service to our country. That is much. Royal Green Jackets on Patrol in Belfast | North(ern) Ireland | The After the capture of Ciudad Rodrigo, Lieutenant Gurwood of the 52nd received the French Governor's sword in surrender. In 1958, he became the American governor of the Spandau Prison in Berlin, where prominent Nazis such as Rudolf Hess were imprisoned. Robert Speirs, Ronald's father, was born in Greenock, Scotland in 1882. robert speirs royal green jackets. Letter to Stephen Ambrose written by Ronald Speirs dated 29/01/81*, Massachusetts passenger and crew list 1820 1963, UK Incoming passenger and crew list 1878 1960, Letter to Richard Winters written by Ronald Speirs dated 27/05/92, Letter to Richard Winters written by Ronald Speirs dated 07/05/99, Staement written by Ronald Speirs dated 21/06/91, Letter to Richard Winters written by Ronald Speirs dated 07/05/92, Letter to Richard Winters written by Ronad Speirs dated 27/05/92, Letter ro Richard Winters written by Ronald Speirs dated 08/05/99. Related To Patricia Speirs, Michelle Speirs, Ronald Speirs, Kristin Speirs, August Speirs. 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. God Save The King. Speirs parachuted into Normandy on 6 June 1944 (or D-Day) and quickly met with fellow troops after landing. Registered Co. No. The original2nd and 3rd Battalions were renumbered as 1st and 2nd Battalion respectively. Obituary - THIS BOARD IS NOW FOR HISTORICAL PURPOSES ONLY. CLICK ON RGJ View the profiles of people named Robert Speirs. [2]:209 Having completed this, he then ran back through the German-occupied town. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . He was a man who followed orders absolutely, Bethea said. The sergeant refused and began to reach for his rifle. Facebook gives people the power to. 4th (V) Battalion, Royal Green Jackets formed from the remnants of the Rangers (KRRC), London Rifle Brigade, Tower Hamlets Rifles. A recruit at the Royal Green Jackets depot, Winchester, 1971. Thought the presentation & interpretation made the subject accessible". These three British Infantry regiments share a history and tradition as pioneers and innovators. When the future Duke of Wellington landed in Portugal in 1808, the5/60th was the first unit ashore at Mondego Bay. The RGJ's lowest rank (after 'recruit') is Rifleman (Rfn), rather than Private (Pte), as in other regiments. On 20 May 1944, Speirs married Margaret Griffiths, whom he had met while stationed in Wiltshire, England. While returning to his own lines, he was wounded by fire from an enemy machine gun. Although Speirs had enough points to go home after the end of the European Campaign, he chose to remain with Easy Company. Its first Colonel, Coote Manningham, helped shape the Light Infantry of the Army. The Men of Easy Company-Part III: Ron Speirs 2019, Friends of the British Cemetery. The Royal Green Jackets (RGJ) was an infantry regiment of the British Army, one of two "large regiments" within the Light Division (the other being The Light Infantry). It was brigaded with the 95th. [3], In 1992, 1/RGJ was disbanded and 2/RGJ and 3/RGJ renumbered 1/RGJ and 2/RGJ respectively. It continued in British Army service until 2007, when it was amalgamated with three other units to form The Rifles. Speirs told the man that he was too drunk to perform his duties and that he should remove himself to the rear. [1], On 24 November 2005, the Ministry of Defence announced that the regiment would be amalgamated with The Light Infantry, the Devonshire and Dorset Light Infantry and the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Light Infantry to form a single large regiment to be called The Rifles. His stepson Marv Bethea considers Speirs strongest trait not to be bloodthirstiness, but conscientiousness. On 1 FEBRUARY 2007 the following Battalions were redesignated The Rifles: The Royal Green Jackets (RGJ) was an infantry regiment of the British Army, one of two "large regiments" within the Light Division (the other being The Light Infantry ). An order to hold position was given and relayed down the line which the sergeant refused to obey, wanting to rush forward and engage the Germans. The Maltese Cross cap badge of the RGJ was adopted as the belt badge of The Rifles and carries the battle honours. Within six months the Corps had proved its worth and ceased to be experimental. According to DiMarzio, Speirs, commanding 2nd platoon, Dog Company was given orders to halt their attack on Ste. Royal Green Jackets recruiting poster, 1974. The Royal Green Jackets Association Photographic Site Robert Speirs Profiles | Facebook As they were used as shock troops and marksmen, they had to get to the front of the battle as fast as possible. This letter indicates to me how much he cared for each of his men individually. Bert Henshaw joined the Green Jackets in 1965 and throughout his 22 year career could almost always be seen with a camera in his hand. [citation needed]. [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 short 41 year history of the Royal Green Jackets began and ended with battalions on operational duty, in 1966 in Borneo, in 2007 in Iraq. After transferring from the Light Infantry Brigade tothe Green Jackets Brigade in 1958, it merged with two other regiments to form The Royal Green Jackets in 1966. 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. Robert now began planning for the family to join him. Get the latest business insights from Dun & Bradstreet. This regiment was formed in 1756 and was one of the first in the British Army to be equipped with rifles. The National Army Museum works with a network of Regimental and Corps Museums across the UK to help preserve and share the history and traditions of the Army and its soldiers. The regiment carried no colours. Lieutenant Speirs immediately reported the incident to his commanding officer, Captain Jerre S Gross. It was gazetted under the new title of The Rifle Corps. He was reassigned as commanding officer of Easy Company and remained in that position for the rest of the war. The results of his obsession to record and collect all aspects of regimental life on film has resulted in the amassing of more than twenty thousand pictures of Green Jackets in all situations covering a period of close to 150 years of regimental activities. The Royal Green Jackets (RGJ) was an infantry regiment of the British Army, one of two "large regiments" within the Light Division (the other being The Light Infantry ). They were the first to fire a more accurate rifle than a musket and to react more quickly to bugle calls for the open order tactics that replaced rigid squares. 2nd Battalion The Royal Green Jackets into 4th Battalion The Rifles. Many regiments were disbanded in 1748, but the 54th,garrisoned at Minorca, was just renumbered and became the 43rd. They were married in 1908 5and lived in Dalmuir, just outside Glasgow. Guth referred to the original and wrote: Your letter helped me endure the loneliness of not being with my old friends.. Undoubtedly Speirs thought, Somebodys got to do this awful deed, and Im in charge., Regarding Speirs killing his own sergeant, a letter Winters wrote to historian Stephen Ambrose in 1993 clarifies the situation. 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. Kincaid, Random Shots, pp. By the end of the 18th century European armies often included infantry specialised in the roles of skirmishing and reconnaissance. He was awarded the Silver Star for his actions during the war, in particular in October 1944 in the aftermath of Operation Market Garden, with the medal's citation reading: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Ronald C. Speirs (ASN: 0-439465), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. The battalion's successors continue to be part of the British Army as part of The Rifles, Royal Corps of Signals (until 2005), and the Army Air Corps. Robert Speirs (82 matches): Phone Number, Email, Address - Spokeo By this time, Robert was a journeyman engineer. The 2nd Battalion led Wellington`s army into Paris in 1815. The British Army was expanded and reduced to suit the needs of the moment. Infantry battalions began to include a light company of men chosen for tasks needing rapid reactions. His English mother died some years ago. in 1958, the battalion joined the new Green Jacket Brigade with the title 1st Green Jackets (The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry). The name of the regiment changed first to The Duke of Yorks Own Rifle Corps and, in 1830, to The Kings Royal Rifle Corps (KRRC), though it remained known as the 60th Rifles. As a rifle company commander,[citation needed] he was part of his battalion's mission to secure the drop zone; forty to fifty enemies were killed and wounded by the battalion. Please use a different web browser. Prior to the Normandy invasion, Speirs met an English widow. Moore has been described as 'the very best trainer of troops that England has ever possessed'. [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]. [2]:287 Speirs denied this claim. On 8th July 1755 a column of British redcoats under General Braddock were ambushed by the French. Guth wrote to Speirs a final time on June 11, 2006, exactly 61 years after Speirs first letter. Speirs men would follow him anywhere. The incident took place under heavy fighting when the soldiers were extremely exhausted. Swift and Bold. His actions were in accordance with the highest standards of military service. No matter what needed to be done., For instance, no eyewitnesses have ever stepped forward to confirm the rumor of Speirs shooting prisoners on D-Day, but Bethea doesnt doubt its plausibility. Record Details for Robert Speirs Donalds final departure from this life shewed him a worthy specimen of his country, and his methodical arrangements, while they prove what I have stated, may, at the same time, serve as a model for Joe Hume himself, when he comes to cast up his last earthly accounts. However, evidence suggests Ronald Speirs inadvertently wrote the incorrect year and the letter was in fact, written in 1991. Speirs volunteered for the paratroopers after the United States entered World War II. Robert W Speirs Plumbing Co | ID | Read Reviews + Get a Bid | BuildZoom He retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1964. His English mother died some years ago. Our condolences to the Royal Family at this sad time. This website looks at the real man behind You cant bring prisoners with you in that kind of battle. Want to start taking action on the content you read on AoM? Ronald spent his child and early adulthood in Boston, though records show during the summer break, when Ronald was between 8th and 9th grades, he and his parents sailed back back to the UK on the MV Georgic, part of the Cunard White Star line, from Boston.12 The journey took them through New York and Galway in Ireland before docking in Liverpool on 25th June, 1934.13 They returned to Boston two months later.14, Ronald attended the Boston English High School, graduating in 1938.15 He later wrote, my first experience with the military was in high school.