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. 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. 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. We play a variety of different games with a diverse community. For information about the antecedent regiments of the Royal Green Jackets see Regimental Titles. Japan surrendered before Speirs and Easy could be transferred to the Pacific Theater. His actions were in accordance with the highest standards of military service. This website looks at the real man behind [3]:186 A rolling artillery barrage had been coordinated in support of the ground assault on the morning of 7 June, to initiate the attack. "My son Robert, born in England during the war, is now an infantry major with the Royal Green Jackets Regiment. They began in the eighteenth century to improve tactics and training, mobility and marksmanship, equipment, personnel-management and individual initiative. 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. [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 stepson Marv Bethea considers Speirs strongest trait not to be bloodthirstiness, but conscientiousness. [3]:272, Winters assessed Speirs as being one of the finest combat officers in the battalion. History. He finished the war in the European Theater as a captain. Our condolences to the Royal Family at this sad time. robert speirs royal green jacketsannalise mahanes height. It also saw action in Bosnia and Kosovo during the Yugoslav Wars. The Rifle Volunteers into 6th Battalion (TA) The Rifles. However, evidence suggests Ronald Speirs inadvertently wrote the incorrect year and the letter was in fact, written in 1991. 1st Battalion The Light Infantry into 5th Battalion The Rifles. Therefore the RGJ marches at 140 paces per minute whereas other regiments march at just 120. 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. Although Speirs had enough points to go home after the end of the European Campaign, he chose to remain with Easy Company. 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. Thoroughly enjoyed it. in both print and TV. The 43rd(Monmouthshire Light Infantry) and the 52nd (Oxfordshire Light Infantry) fought at the Siege of Badajoz. Deeply saddened by the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II - 8th September 2022. Cold war Rifleman in NBC protective gear. Four companies of the 60th fought at the Battle of Albuera 1811. 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. Royal Green Jackets Association Contact Webmaster Samus Lyons, Requests for Access to Personal Data Held by the Ministry of Defence. Get the latest business insights from Dun & Bradstreet. The woman returned to her first husband. In his letter Speirs states he is 71 years old. This regiment was formed in 1756 and was one of the first in the British Army to be equipped with rifles. Close order drill was taught by two regular army officers. 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. "Celer et Audax". 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. Guth referred to the original and wrote: Your letter helped me endure the loneliness of not being with my old friends.. He was a man who followed orders absolutely, Bethea said. 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. been lauded as a hero, embroiled in controversy and celebrated Want to start taking action on the content you read on AoM? Other ranks cap badge, The Royal Green Jackets, 1973. They were dressed in green and armed with the Baker rifle. The Royal Green Jackets were light infantry, trained to move fast. The entire platoon also witnessed the event. When Sir John Moore succeeded to the command and advanced into Spain, two battalions of each regiment were in his army and, with the 95th, played a distinguished part in forming the rearguard when the army was forced to retreat in mid-winter to Corunna. La Laiterie's concert list along with photos, videos, and setlists of their past concerts & performances. Speirs made the military his career. This site uses cookies. 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. [1][4], After the 1992 reorganisation, the unit was mostly based overseas in Dhekelia (Cyprus) and Paderborn (Germany), as well as in Northern Ireland. Other items were begged or purchased from various other sources. The Royal Green Jackets. In 1966, it merged with the two other regiments of the Green Jackets Brigade to form The Royal Green Jackets. Once again, Speirs gave him the order to hold his position. Traditionally, rifle regiments wore rifle green tunics, an early form of camouflage, instead of the red jackets worn by line infantry. The soldiers parachuted into the middle of extreme hostile territory, Bethea said. (Note: all scanned photo's should have a minimum resolution of 300 dpi. Martha and their five children boarded the SS Winifredian in Liverpool on 13th December, 1924,9 sailing for Boston to be reunited with Robert. 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. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd battalions were also based in West Germany, Osnabrck (1RGJ), Minden (2RGJ) and Celle (3RGJ). This infantry regiment was formed in 1958. Her Late Majesty was Colonel in Chief of the Regiment from 1966 to 2007. 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. 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 ). After arriving in England, the division began training for the invasion of France. Last summer I visited Robert at his 200-year-old house in England. The reason goes far beyond shooting [the sergeant] because he was drunk.. It was renumbered the 52nd a year later. 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. 2709564. 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. 1st Battalion The Royal Green Jackets into 2nd Battalion The Rifles. The new 1st Battalion was in Cyprus from 1993 to 1996. The men stayed in contact over the years. He was reassigned as commanding officer of Easy Company and remained in that position for the rest of the war. His death a month later was mentioned in many British publications. [3]:185[2]:209 Speirs successfully took over the assault and led Easy Company to victory. During this battle, Lt. Dike had ordered a platoon to go on a flanking mission around the rear of the town. The Royal Green Jackets joined the Devonshire and Dorset Light Infantry, The Light Infantry and The Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Light Infantry in 2007 to form The Rifles - The British Army's Rifle Regiment. The enemy opened fire and he dove into the water after taking a German bullet in his butt. Swift and Bold. This infantry regiment was formed in 1966. The Royal Green Jackets Association Photographic Site Deeply saddened by the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II - 8th September 2022. 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. Please use a different web browser. During the Korean War he commanded a rifle company. The regiment carried no colours. Documentary about 1st Battalion Royal Green Jackets. He wrote in his memoirs that Speirs had worked hard to earn a reputation as a killer and had often killed for shock value. the reputation. Unlock this free profile to update company info and see who's viewing your profile. please send them to me at Seamus.lyons@rgjassociation.info. The Art of Manliness participates in affiliate marketing programs, which means we get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links. The following year the reconstituted Light Brigade returned to the Peninsula under Robert Craufurd, landing at Lisbon. His last years were spent quietly with family in California. Lt. Ronald Speirs was a pit-bull of a soldier, distinctively tough, exceptional and intimidating. In the weeks preceding this holiday, we have published a series of short profiles written by Marcus Brotherton about the men from WWIIs Easy Company. History Manifesto Charter. Our condolences to the Royal Family at this sad time. Once again, he tried to protect her reputation. As skirmishers and sharpshooters, they did not need to identify their fellows on the battlefield. Other deployments included Gibraltar for 2nd Battalion (1975), West Berlin for 3rd Battalion (1975-77) and Hong Kong for 1st Battalion (1978). He became the U.S. Don't miss Troyes' Gothic Cathedral, considered one of the most beautiful churches in all of Europe. * Ronald Speirs wrote a letter to Stephen Ambrose which he dated 29/01/1981. Related To Patricia Speirs, Michelle Speirs, Ronald Speirs, Kristin Speirs, August Speirs. 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. Robert Speirs, Ronald's father, was born in Greenock, Scotland in 1882. Robert G Speirs, 91. Come-du-Mont, to hold position while regimental headquarters coordinated a rolling barrage shelling fifteen targets in the vicinity of St. Marie-du-Mont. Editors note: Tomorrow marks the US observance of Veterans Day. By creating an account you agree to us emailing you with newsletters and discounts, which you can switch off in your account at any time. It was here that PFC Art DiMarzio, who is also referenced in the book "Beyond Band of Brothers", was eyewitness to an event. Winters noted how the drunken sergeant twice ignored a command given by Speirs to halt an advance toward St. Come du Mont. Thought the presentation & interpretation made the subject accessible". Jim Lahey is a drunk, bald bastard number one: he can fuck off, and number two: he can fuck off. While on reconnaissance in Holland, Speirs paddled across the Neder Rhine alone at night. Robert now began planning for the family to join him. In 1958, he became the American governor of the Spandau Prison in Berlin, where prominent Nazis such as Rudolf Hess were imprisoned. news. Marcus Brothertons most recent book is A COMPANY OF HEROES, where he interviewed relatives of deceased E Co veterans. Yet he was a controversial leader. 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. Register of Officers effects: Died of Wounds, 7 May 1812, at Elvas. 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. By 2007, at another time of manpower reduction in the Army, The Royal Green Jackets had been reduced to two battalion strength. 5th (V) Battalion, Royal Green Jackets formed from the 4th Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (TA) and the Buckinghamshire Battalion, This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 10:16. [5], The Royal Green Jackets (Rifles) Museum is based at Peninsula Barracks in Winchester. 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! However, it also deployed to Bosnia (1996), Sierra Leone (2001-02), Iraq (2003-04 and 2006-07) and Kosovo (2005). RGJ. This was the first British unit to be dressed in a green jacket and armed with a rifle in place of the smoothbore musket. 2012-2023 Cloud Imperium Rights LLC and Cloud Imperium Rights Ltd. We do not support Internet Explorer 11 and below. All four future Green Jacket regiments fought at Vimeiro,the victory which forced the French to evacuate Portugal. Royal Green Jackets recruiting poster, 1974. 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. 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. [citation needed]. 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. You cant bring prisoners with you in that kind of battle. 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? [2]:287 Speirs denied this claim. Speirs served in the Korean War, as a major commanding a rifle company and as a staff officer. "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. He was initially assigned as a platoon leader in B Company of the 1st Battalion of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment. The four-page letter is dated June 11, 1945, and full of chatty news, not exactly the kind of letter a bloodthirsty killer would write. Speirs parachuted into Normandy on 6 June 1944 (or D-Day) and quickly met with fellow troops after landing. 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. With the sword fitted to the rifle, the overall weapon was the same length as a musket with bayonet attached. His three beautiful children are my pride and joy.. Governor of Spandau Prison in Berlin, which housed key Nazi war criminals. DiMarzio, who was lying in a prone position next to a sergeant, stated he remembered the sergeant being drunk. Finally, in 1958, the battalion joined the new Green Jacket Brigade with the title of the 2nd Green Jackets (The Kings Royal Rifle Corps). June 14th, 2022 mazda 3 2021 bose sound system mazda 3 2021 bose sound system 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. With the addition of two battalions of Portuguese light infantry, the Brigade grew into the Light Division and for the next four years was the cutting edge of Wellington's force until the French were driven out of Spain. 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. This infantry unit was formed in 1994. 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. He assembled a small group of soldiers to assist during the Brecourt Manor Assault, where they captured the fourth 105mm howitzer. Prior to the Normandy invasion, Speirs met an English widow. The RGJ's lowest rank (after 'recruit') is Rifleman (Rfn), rather than Private (Pte), as in other regiments. We play a variety of different games with a diverse community. The 2nd Battalion led Wellington`s army into Paris in 1815. View the profiles of people named Robert Speirs. 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. And Jim Lahey can fuck off. The 52nd joined them during the American War of Independence. 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 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. All three battalions of The Royal Green Jackets had multiple postings in West Germany and Northern Ireland between 1966 and 1992. Winters wrote, [By shooting the man,] Speirs probably saved the lives of the rest of the squad. Also known as Robert Spears, Robeet Speers, Robrt Speirs, Robeet Speirs. 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. 4th (V) Battalion, Royal Green Jackets formed from the remnants of the Rangers (KRRC), London Rifle Brigade, Tower Hamlets Rifles. Lived In Franklin Square NY, Rockville Centre NY. It is also very important that each photo is indexed with Year/Location for them to be inserted in chronological order.). By this time, Robert was a journeyman engineer. Hello we are the Royal Green Jackets. The RGJ began as a group of Mount and Blade players and expanded to play everything from League of legends to Arma. His English mother died some years ago. He located an enemy machine gun nest, an enemy headquarters and other enemy activity near the town of Wageningen. The story of the Royal Green Jackets and their 41 year history is told in pictures, words and displays. On 25 July 1992 the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions RGJ merged into two Battalions. In 1807 the 95th, now two battalions strong, served under Sir Arthur Wellesly, the future Duke of Wellington. Great Britain was often at war with France during the 18thcentury, both on the Continent and throughout the colonies. Thanks for watching. 1977This production is for viewing purposes only and should not be reproduced without prior consent. The Following Officers & Soldiers died whilst serving with the Royal Green Jackets between 1966-2007 & includes all those who have died whilst serving regard. If you have photographs of your time in the Regiment (or of Fathers/Grandfathers/Uncles etc.) There he served as a platoon leader within Dog Company, 2nd Battalion of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, which later became part of the 101st Airborne Division, at Camp Toccoa, Georgia and was then shipped to England in late 1943. On 1 January 1966, in a period of much change in the structure of the Infantry and impending strength reductions, these Regiments chose to forego their independent titles and form a large regiment of three battalions The Royal Green Jackets. June 30, 2022 . Peace be to thy manes, for thou werent one whom memory loves to dwell on!. Winters went on to say that Speirs not only confirmed the allegation, but wrote a letter to that effect.[5]. 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. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy, Please enter a password with 6 characters or more.