{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox military unit | unit_name = 1st Battalion, The Rifles | image = top|100px 100px | caption = Cap and Back badges of The Rifles | dates = 1 February 2007 – | country = {{flag|United Kingdom}} | branch = {{army|United Kingdom}} | type = Light Infantry | size = Battalion | current_commander = | command_structure = 7th Light Mechanised Brigade Combat Team | garrison = Beachley Barracks, Chepstow | ceremonial_chief = | ceremonial_chief_label = | colonel_of_the_regiment = General Sir Nicholas Parker KCB CBE | colonel_of_the_regiment_label = Colonel Commandant | nickname = | motto = ''Swift and Bold'' | identification_symbol = 75px | identification_symbol_label = Tactical Recognition Flash | identification_symbol_2 = Croix de Guerre<br><small>From Devonshire and Dorset Light Infantry</small> | identification_symbol_2_label = Arm Badge | identification_symbol_3 = 1 RIFLES | identification_symbol_3_label = Abbreviation | colours = Rifle Green | march = Quick: ''Mechanised Infantry''<br>Double Past: ''Keel Row/Road to the Isles''<br>Slow: ''Old Salamanca'' | mascot = | battles = | notable_commanders = | anniversaries = }} '''1st Battalion, The Rifles''' ('''1 RIFLES''') is a light infantry battalion of The Rifles under the command of 7th Light Mechanised Brigade Combat Team.<ref name=mod>{{cite web|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/infantry/regiments/24711.aspx|title=1st Battalion The Rifles|website=British Army|publisher=Ministry of Defence|accessdate=6 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409180641/https://www.army.mod.uk/infantry/regiments/24711.aspx|archive-date=9 April 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=1st Battalion The Rifles|website=British Army|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/infantry/regiments/35342.aspx|publisher=Ministry of Defence|accessdate=5 January 2017}}</ref>
==History== [[File:ANA and C Company 1 Rifles Engaging the Taliban MOD 45150612.jpg|thumb|left|C Company 1 Rifles and the Afghan National Army engaging the Taliban in Helmand Province, Afghanistan in 2009.]]
The battalion formed on 1 February 2007 as part of 52 Infantry Brigade, merging the single battalions of the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment and the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lightinfantry.me.uk/therifles.htm|title=History of the Light Infantry|accessdate=26 April 2014|archive-date=11 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111054936/http://www.lightinfantry.me.uk/therifles.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> The battalion then moved in August 2007, to its permanent home of Beachley Barracks at Chepstow.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chepstowbeacon.co.uk/article.cfm?id=106086&headline=Barracks+set+to+close+as+part+of+armed+forces+cutbacks§ionIs=news&searchyear=2016|title=Barracks set to close as part of armed forces cutbacks|publisher=Chepstow Beacon|date=23 November 2016|accessdate=11 January 2019}}</ref>
From 2008 to 2012, it was attached to 3 Commando Brigade as the fourth manoeuvre unit of the brigade alongside the three battalion sized commando units of the Royal Marines.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Resubordination of the 1st Battalion The Rifles to 3 Commando Brigade RM on 1 April 2008|url=https://rmhistorical.com/files/content/Rifles%20to%203%20Commando%20Brigade.pdf|website=Royal Marines Badge & Insignia Reference|accessdate=5 January 2017}}</ref>
From March 2020, 1 RIFLES was deployed throughout Wales on Operation Rescript, supporting the UK's efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic. The battalion helped install hospital beds at Dragon's Heart Hospital, a temporary critical care hospital for COVID-19.<ref>{{cite news |title=Duchess makes first visit to The Rifles in new role |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-54054974 |access-date=12 August 2021 |work=BBC News |date=7 September 2020}}</ref>
== Future == The battalion is currently based in Dhekelia, British Forces Cyprus until 2025. 1 Rifles will return to Chepstow in the summer of 2025 to take on a new role as a Light Mechanised Battalion driving Foxhound vehicles. Towards the end of the decade, 1 Rifles will move to new build facilities at Caerwent Barracks.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Riflemen bid fond farewell to South East Wales – for now {{!}} The British Army |url=https://www.army.mod.uk/news-and-events/news/2023/05/riflemen-bid-fond-farewell-to-south-east-wales-for-now/}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/infantry/rifles/1-rifles/ 1 Rifles]
Category:The Rifles Rifles 001 Category:British light infantry Category:Military units and formations established in 2007 Category:Military units and formations of the United Kingdom in the Iraq War Category:Military units and formations of the United Kingdom in the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) Category:2007 establishments in the United Kingdom