Wight rifles
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[edit] The Isle of Wight Rifles
The Isle of Wight Rifles were also known as the "8th (territorial) Battalion The Hampshire Regiment, Princess Beatrice's Isle of Wight Rifles", or informally "The Isle of Wight Rifles". They also gained the Nickname "The Isle of Wight Gurkhas" due to a similarity in Rifles uniform and drill, and possibly because they tended to be shorter than the average height of the time.
The Isle of Wight had long been fortified against invasion, due to its strategic position. It had also had numerous troops billeted in the Napoleonic Wars. In 1859 the Artillery and Infantry Volunteer Corps were raised in response to an invasion scare following the perceived resurgence of French naval power under Louis Napoleon III, along with major fortification building, constructing Forts Victoria, Albert, Golden Hill, and Culver Fort in addition to batteries at Sandown, Puckpool, Bouldnor and the Needles. Newtown ranges was set aside for their training.
Those who served in the Corps paid for their own kit and expenses. They formed throughout Hampshire and the Isle of Wight formed six units- 1st & 3rd at Ryde, 2nd at Newport, 4th at Nunwell,5th at Ventnor and 6th at Sandown. Although these were originally independent they were amalgamated in on 6 july 1860 into the "1st Administrative Battalion, Isle of Wight Volunteer Corps". They were now 3,000 strong. With another 4,000 troops from the mainland, this resulted in soldiers comprising 1 in 4 of the local population. Many of the mainland troops were biletted in villages in an attempt to deepen the local gene pool. At this time Queen Victoria had moved to the Isle of Wight at Osborne House. The name was changed to the "1st Isle of Wight Volunteers" under Colonel Dunsmore of the 42nd Highlanders. It became the 5th Isle of Wight Volunteer Corps in 1880 and the 5th (Isle of Wight, Princess Beatrice's Own) Volunteer Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment.
[edit] The Boer Wars
When volunteers were asked for in 1890 South Africa only twenty riflemen were accepted as the "1st Active Service Section of the Isle of Wight Rifles". They served with other Hampshire volunteers in a support capacity, in which they distinguished themselves by marching thirty five days in twelve hours to cover the withdrawal of a detachment under fire near Mafeking.
In 1901, despite many volunteering only ten were accepted and only three passed the medical. Even so the unit was able to display "South Africa 1900-01" on its badge.
In 1907 their name was changed again to "Princess Beatrice's Isle of Wight Rifles, 8th Battalion the Hampshire Regiment".The volunteers were now paid an annual bounty of 5 GBP and weekend and annual two-week camps, for which wages were received, which were very socially popular.
[edit] First World War
In 1913 Lieutenant Colonel John Rhodes took command. He offered a pound bounty for joining and as a result a number of men from the mainland joined up in preference to other units. In 1914 the Rifles were mobilised to man local fortifications and the First Battalion of 900 men were raised for foreign service and a second battalion of 900 raised for home service. Training commenced, firstly at Parkhurst and then at Bury St.Edmunds and Watford. On 30 July 1915 they sailed from Liverpool aboard the Aquitania (the wood of which now forms a bar in Sandown Broadway) as part of the 163rd Infantry Brigade, 54th East Anglian Division to Gallipoli.
[edit] Suvla Bay
An Allied force under Lieutenant General Frederick Stopford had landed at Suvla Bay on 7th and 8th August 1915. The beach led to a plain overlooked by a range of hills. Stopford (who set up his command post in a sloop - HMS Juno- anchored offshore)took the beaches but waited whilst stores were landed before occupying the empty hills. By the time he decided to move upon them the Turks had filled them full of artillery and infantry. The 163rd Brigade, consisting of the 1/5th Suffolk 4th & 5th Norfolk, & 1/8 Hampshires (I.W.Rifles)were landed on 10 August 1915. In order to attack the Turkish positions on Anafurta Ridge. Stopford delayed the attack wishing to make good losses in his lines until pressured by the overall commander, General Hamilton, to order the attack, thus giving the Turks full warning of the impending attack. On 12 August 1915 the attack was ordered across terrain varying from thick scrub to abandoned fields, all cut with dried watercourses. The purpose of the advance was to clear the area of snipers prior to a Divisional attack on Anafarta Ridge the next day. Muddle and confusion hampered the planning with the individual Battalions not receiving the warning orders that the advance was to take place, and no clear objective was indicated. Eventually at 16:45 the order to advance was sounded. The start line which had been doglegged around a small hill was then subject to a muddled order that changed direction of the Norfolks at the moment of advance. Rather than straightening the line, the bend was amplified and as the Norfolks charged a gap opened up between them and the 8th Hants, and the rest of 163 Brigade. Advancing 1500 yards across the more favourable terrain, the Norfolks took nearly forty percent casualties. The Norfolk's Company which included men from the Royal Estate of Sandringham were able to advance the furthest and was cut off. Mystery and fantasy has dogged this action ever since. The Brigade held a temporary line formed along a road edge for 48 hours and were relieved by the Essex Brigade. For the Rifles 3 Brothers from the Urrey family were killed, and their Brother-in-Law, whilst among the officers two brothers, Clayton and Donald Ratsey- of the legendary sailmaking firm Ratsey & Lapthorn- both Captains in the Rifles were also killed. Losses in each of the Battalions involved were counted in the high 300's including missing and wounded. The Rifles lost 89 men killed in action, when the missing men were transferred to "presumed killed in action". In September 1915 they were moved back to Anzac Cove and evacuated in November.
[edit] Egypt and Palestine
The 1st Battalion sailed to Alexandria and to an acclimatisation camp at Sidi Bish, then to Mena Camp by the Pyramids of Giza. They moved into deployment at the Bitter Lakes on the Suez Canal. In January 1917 they marched to Mazar and in February marched across the Sinai Desert 145 miles in 12 days to El Arish. On the night of 6 April 1917 the offensive against the Turkish line at Gaza began, supported by tanks. After some success at night, the Rifles sustained major casualties in day attacks. Two hundred were kept in reserve, but out of 800 who went into action only two officers and ninety men answered roll call the following evening, some being taken prisoner and subsequently transferred to Austria. At the end of April the survivors took part in a further push by General Allenby against the Gaza-Beersheba Line, attacking Gaza once again, taking few casualties. They then fought their way into Palestine, fighting in the Judaean Hills as Allenby entered Jerusalem. They remained in Palestine until the final defeat of the Turks in September 1918. They sailed from Beirut to Alexandria and were demobbed in Cairo. However when rioting broke out a cadre joined the Army of Occupation in the Sudan, eventually returning to the Isle of Wight in 1920.
[edit] Mesopotamia
In August 1916 the 2nd Batallion, manning the forts in the Isle of Wight, sent 250 men to join the 4th Hampshires at Romsey. In September they were shipped to India. From here they were landed at Basra with the Indian Army. They fought no major battles but were involved in constant skirmishing through Amarah, Kut, Ctesiphon, Persia, Turkestan, Constantinople, Salonika, Italy and France, returning home in 1919.
[edit] Inter War
The Rifles were stood down, but were not disbanded due to Princess Beatrice's (Governess of the IOW) intervention. They were mobilised at Albany Barracks during a coal-strike in 1921. They were converted to artillery in 1937, becoming the "530 Coast Defence Regiment, R.A., The Princess Beatrice's Isle of Wight Rifles.
[edit] Second World War
The 530 Coast Defence Regiment was called up on 25 August 1939. Although the Regiment was employed manning the extensive coastal defences many personnel were drafted to service in other units. A contingent sailed to Alexandria on the Empress of Canada in 1941 and sent to reinforce Tobruk, aboard HMAS Voyager- a number being captured when it fell to Rommel on 21 June 1942. Another contingent was sent to Gibraltar aboard the S.S.Aquila to prepare defences against Franco's Spain. Another battery served with General Alexander in Burma.
[edit] Post War
The Rifles were once again renamed, now becoming the "P(Princess Beatrice's Own)Battery, 457 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery. They were disbanded in 1967 and their remnant becoming a company in the Territorial Army. They had received two Distinguished Service Orders,a Distinguished Conduct Medal, four Military Crosses, seven Military Medals and various mentions in despatches.
[edit] Legacy
The Rifles are the subject of a "living history group" on the Isle of Wight.
[edit] References
www.theneedlesbattery.org.uk/rifles.shtml
Isle of Wight Rifles Living History Society www.iwight.com/living_here/voluntary/vol.org.detail.asp?orgID=1270
www.isle-of-wight-memorials.org.uk/towns/county.iowr.htm
Tribute to IOW Rifles www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRiD83Rfors
There was a regiment raised in the American Civil War from Isle of Wight County, Virginia called the "Isle of Wight Avengers" (F Company, 7th Battalion, 61st Virginia Infantry)who fought for the Confederacy.
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