robert speirs royal green jackets

There is an interactive touch screen that allows the visitor to see a selection of images from the Royal Green Jackets archives; we are always delighted if visitors can add to the information we hold on each image. 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. Thanks for watching. 1977This production is for viewing purposes only and should not be reproduced without prior consent. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd battalions were also based in West Germany, Osnabrck (1RGJ), Minden (2RGJ) and Celle (3RGJ). 1939-1945 Star This star was awarded for service in the Second World War between 3rd September 1939 and 2nd September 1945. As they were used as shock troops and marksmen, they had to get to the front line of battle as fast as was possible; as a result the RGJ marched at 140 paces per minute (at a 30" pace) whereas other regiments march at just 120. 2nd Battalion The Royal Green Jackets into 4th Battalion The Rifles. Resides in Levittown, NY. [8] For his service from 1961 to 1964 he was awarded the Legion of Merit, with the citation reading: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, 20 July 1942, takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry) Ronald C. Speirs, United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States from October 1961 to March 1964.[6]. Although Speirs had enough points to go home after the end of the European Campaign, he chose to remain with Easy Company. That is much. Robert Speirs Vice President, Operations at Bob Evans Columbus, OH Bob Evans, +5 more SCSU Robert Speirs Director / Principal Ecologist at Capital Ecology Pty Ltd Gungahlin Capital Ecology Pty. His stepson Marv Bethea considers Speirs strongest trait not to be bloodthirstiness, but conscientiousness. 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. The enemy opened fire and he dove into the water after taking a German bullet in his butt. We only recommend products we genuinely like, and purchases made through our links support our mission and the free content we publish here on AoM. Whilst in Plymouth, Robert and Martha had had three daughters and a son.7 The family left Devon and moved back to Scotland in 1918 and it was during this time, in Edinburgh, that Ronald was born. And Jim Lahey can fuck off. Prior to the Normandy invasion, Speirs met an English widow. The womans husband had been reported dead, but he was actually in a POW camp and showed up alive at the end of the war. [3], In 1992, 1/RGJ was disbanded and 2/RGJ and 3/RGJ renumbered 1/RGJ and 2/RGJ respectively. The official Rains shop | Danish outerwear & waterproof clothing | Shipped within 24 hours on working days | Fast international delivery | rains.com In. Four companies of the 60th fought at the Battle of Albuera 1811. 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. We are able to bring you these interesting documentaries, which would otherwise be held in a vault, or away from public view because we purchase commercial licenses often at considerable expense.. 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. In 1807 the 95th, now two battalions strong, served under Sir Arthur Wellesly, the future Duke of Wellington. The Royal Green Jackets have won 56 Victoria Crosses, more than any other unit. Related To Patricia Speirs, Michelle Speirs, Ronald Speirs, Kristin Speirs, August Speirs. He wrote in his memoirs that Speirs had worked hard to earn a reputation as a killer and had often killed for shock value. Traditionally, rifle regiments wore rifle green tunics, an early form of camouflage, instead of the red jackets worn by line infantry. Speirs volunteered for the paratroopers after the United States entered World War II. 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. It is also very important that each photo is indexed with Year/Location for them to be inserted in chronological order.). 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. Once again, Speirs gave him the order to hold his position. During this battle, Lt. Dike had ordered a platoon to go on a flanking mission around the rear of the town. By the end of the 18th century European armies often included infantry specialised in the roles of skirmishing and reconnaissance. It continued in British Army service until 2007, when it was amalgamated into The Rifles. And if soor if notwhat can we learn from a man like Speirs? Therefore the RGJ marches at 140 paces per minute whereas other regiments march at just 120. 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. 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 name Ron Speirs will always be associated with deeds done during WWII, he said. Their motto is 'Swift and Bold'. 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. Many regiments were disbanded in 1748, but the 54th,garrisoned at Minorca, was just renumbered and became the 43rd. It also saw action in Bosnia and Kosovo during the Yugoslav Wars. Based in Germany from 1997 to 2002, the new 2nd Battalion was sent on further postings to Northern Ireland (1995-96 and 2003-04), Bosnia (1998 and 2001) and Kosovo (1999). in both print and TV. Throughout the rest of the Peninsula War the Light Brigade and later the Light Division was to contribute significantly to Wellington`s victories. The regiment carried no colours. Winters wrote, [By shooting the man,] Speirs probably saved the lives of the rest of the squad. The Royal Green Jackets. "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. 4 Around this time, Robert met Martha McNeil. 1st Battalion Royal Green Jackets, Iraq, 2003. 2nd Battalion The Light Infantry into 3rd Battalion The Rifles. Yet he was a controversial leader. 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. God Save The King. He was responsible for fitting out the large guns on the Royal Naval battleships which according to family legend, included HMS Hood.6. The Maltese Cross cap badge of the RGJ was adopted as the belt badge of The Rifles and carries the battle honours. National Army Museum, Royal Hospital Road, London, SW3 4HTRegistered Charity Number: 237902, 2nd Green Jackets, The King's Royal Rifle Corps, The Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Light Infantry, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, The Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment. Robert Speirs, Ronald's father, was born in Greenock, Scotland in 1882. In the intervening years Green Jacket Riflemen served around the world; in mechanised formations in Germany facing the Warsaw Pact during the Cold War; as part of the garrisons stationed in Berlin, Cyprus, Hong Kong and Gibraltar; on peace keeping duties with the United Nations and in the United Kingdom formations designated as Rapid Deployment forces. Within six months the Corps had proved its worth and ceased to be experimental. This infantry unit was formed in 1994. Single. Sixteen Battle Honours were earned by the regiment. It was renumbered the 52nd a year later. In anticipation of further reorganisation within the Army the Regiment chose to amalgamate with others to form The Rifles and create a seven battalion strong infantry regiment. 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. [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. Under the 1982 Defence White Paper, a small reduction was made . The story of the Royal Green Jackets and their 41 year history is told in pictures, words and displays. In 1992, 1st Battalion was disbanded. 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. They became the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions of a new regiment, The Royal Green Jackets. Other items were begged or purchased from various other sources. You cant bring prisoners with you in that kind of battle. A recruit at the Royal Green Jackets depot, Winchester, 1971. The RGJ is a mostly trade focused group. Hence the regimental name. [1] The 1st Battalion The Royal Green Jackets' final operational tour was in Basra, in Iraq, on Operation Telic in 2006-07. Join Facebook to connect with Robert Speirs and others you may know. As skirmishers and sharpshooters, they did not need to identify their fellows on the battlefield. The sergeant refused and began to reach for his rifle. [citation needed]. He handed out cigarettes nonchalantly to twenty German prisoners then mowed them down with his submachine gun. been lauded as a hero, embroiled in controversy and celebrated He retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1964. Art DiMarzio says he then saw Speirs shoot the sergeant in self-defense. Below are just some of our members who have served at Royal Green Jackets. We specialize in: We are not pirates or slavers we will actively cooperate with law enforcement first and foremost. The Art of Manliness participates in affiliate marketing programs, which means we get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links. His three beautiful children are my pride and joy." Speirs made the military his career. In a military career spanning 22 years, Speirs has [3]:185[2]:209 Speirs successfully took over the assault and led Easy Company to victory. While on reconnaissance in Holland, Speirs paddled across the Neder Rhine alone at night. He surfaced and swam to shore where he was found bleeding and exhausted. [3]:176 The selection of Speirs was incidental; Winters later stated that Speirs was simply the first officer he saw when he turned around. 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. Simply enter your email address below to start receiving our monthly email newsletter. Close order drill was taught by two regular army officers. It was gazetted under the new title of The Rifle Corps. This rifle regiment was formed in 1800 and was one of the first to undergo light infantry training. The ship docked at Boston Harbour on Christmas morning, 1924.10. [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. 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. He emigrated with his family to the United States, arriving in Boston, Massachusetts on 25 December 1924. In 1800, the British created an Experimental Corps of Riflemen, its members being hand-picked from other regiments. Two battalions of the 95th fought at the Siege of Badajoz (1812). [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 soldiers parachuted into the middle of extreme hostile territory, Bethea said. Speirs made the military his career. Shortly afterwards the Light Brigade was re-formed and Wellesley ordered the 60th in the 3rd Division to provide a company to cover each of the other brigades of his force. 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. 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. [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. His English mother died some years ago. Royal Green Jackets recruiting poster, 1974. This regiment was formed in 1756 and was one of the first in the British Army to be equipped with rifles. 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. Want to start taking action on the content you read on AoM? Lieutenant Speirs immediately reported the incident to his commanding officer, Captain Jerre S Gross. The RGJ still refer to their bayonets as 'swords'. Marcus Brothertons most recent book is A COMPANY OF HEROES, where he interviewed relatives of deceased E Co veterans. Keep up to date with our exhibitions and latest DiMarzio, who was lying in a prone position next to a sergeant, stated he remembered the sergeant being drunk. Traditionally, rifle regiments wore rifle green tunics, an early form of camouflage, instead of the red jackets worn by line infantry, hence the regimental name. The Royal Green Jackets were light infantry, trained to move fast. Moore was killed in the final battle but his army was able to embark and return to England. Decades after the war, in an interview with then-Congressman John D. Payne, Winters stated that the legal department for publisher Simon & Schuster was concerned that the allegations surrounding Speirs could lead to a lawsuit, leading Winters to directly confront him about the rumor. Robert Speirs, Ronalds father, was born in Greenock, Scotland in 1882.3 His engineering career began as a young man when he became an apprentice engineer fitter in the Glasgow area.4 Around this time, Robert met Martha McNeil. Hello we are the Royal Green Jackets. 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? 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. Discover more about The Royal Green Jackets by visiting The Royal Green Jackets (Rifles) Museum in Winchester. Don't miss Troyes' Gothic Cathedral, considered one of the most beautiful churches in all of Europe. Peace be to thy manes, for thou werent one whom memory loves to dwell on!. 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. 4th (V) Battalion, Royal Green Jackets formed from the remnants of the Rangers (KRRC), London Rifle Brigade, Tower Hamlets Rifles. Swift & Bold. Guth wrote to Speirs a final time on June 11, 2006, exactly 61 years after Speirs first letter. In 1966, it merged with the two other regiments of the Green Jackets Brigade to form The Royal Green Jackets. Arthur has been described as a typical Rifle Brigade Quartermaster, incredibly efficient, loyal and, his understanding of loyalty meant it had to be to . The Art of Manliness would like to thank Mr. Brotherton for this great series and all veterans for their service to our country. 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. Robert and Martha left Glasgow in 1908 as Robert went to work at the shipyard in Devonport, Plymouth, England. [5], The Royal Green Jackets (Rifles) Museum is based at Peninsula Barracks in Winchester. Editors note: Tomorrow marks the US observance of Veterans Day. Unlock this free profile to update company info and see who's viewing your profile. Get the latest business insights from Dun & Bradstreet. Register of Officers effects: Died of Wounds, 7 May 1812, at Elvas. 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 Sir John Moore's training. [2]:301 Prisoner Albert Speer mentions in his book, Spandau: The Secret Diaries, a "hard-nosed, irritating American Commandant"; that man was later identified as Speirs. The battle honours of the Royal Green Jackets were therefore worn on the regimental cap badge. 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. [2]:209 Having completed this, he then ran back through the German-occupied town. Come-du-Mont, to hold position while regimental headquarters coordinated a rolling barrage shelling fifteen targets in the vicinity of St. Marie-du-Mont. [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.

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