Rifle Volunteers

{{about|the regiment formed in 1999|the rifle volunteers of 1859-1908|Volunteer Force (Great Britain)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox military unit | unit_name = The Rifle Volunteers 6th Battalion, The Rifles | dates = 1999 – present | allegiance = {{flag|United Kingdom}} | branch = {{army|United Kingdom}} | type = Line Infantry | role = Light Role Infantry — Army Reserve | identification_symbol = | colours = | size = 335 personnel (2024)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/historical_size_of_the_rifles_re/response/2738360/attach/3/20240827%20FOI13869%20Pritchard%20Response%20ArmyPolSec.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1|title=Historical size of The Rifles Reserve|accessdate=16 October 2024}}</ref> | colors_label = | commander1 = Lt. Col Olly Bevan }}

The '''Rifle Volunteers''' is a regiment of the British Territorial Army. In 2007, it was re-designated as '''6th Battalion, The Rifles'''.

==History== The ''Rifle Volunteers'' were formed in 1999 by the amalgamation of the 6th (Volunteer) Battalion, The Light Infantry, 4th (Volunteer) Battalion, Devonshire and Dorset Regiment and elements of the 2nd (Volunteer) Battalion, Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment in consequence of the reforms implemented due to the Strategic Defence Review. The HQ was in Exeter, and the battalion comprised five rifle companies and a headquarters company, as follows:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.devonheritage.org/Places/Crediton/The1stRifleVolunteers.htm|title=The 1st Rifle Volunteers|publisher=Devon Heritage|accessdate=25 March 2018}}</ref><ref name="reg">{{cite web|url=http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/volmil-england/vinf-so/99RifV.htm|title=The Rifle Volunteers and 6th Battalion, The Rifles|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070217172256/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/volmil-england/vinf-so/99RifV.htm|archive-date=17 February 2007|accessdate=11 December 2020}}</ref> *HQ Company, at Wyvern Barracks, Exeter *A (The Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment) Company, at Gloucester, Bristol, and Cinderford ''(from A and B Companies, 2nd Battalion, Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment)'' *B (Somerset Light Infantry) Company, at Taunton, Yeovil, and Bath ''(from HQ and B Companies, 6th Battalion, The Light Infantry)'' *C (Devonshire and Dorset Regiment) Company, at Dorchester and Poole ''(from C and D Companies, 4th Battalion, Devonshire and Dorset Regiment)'' *D (Cornwall Light Infantry) Company, at Truro, Bodmin, and Camborne ''(from C and D Companies, 6th Battalion, The Light Infantry)'' *E (Devonshire and Dorset Regiment) Company, at Plymouth and Exeter ''(from HQ and A Companies, 4th Battalion, Devonshire and Dorset Regiment)''

The Volunteer Band of the 4th Battalion, The Devonshire and Dorset Regiment formed the band of the Rifle Volunteers.<ref>"The Devonshire and Dorset Regiment", Pen & Sword Books Ltd. Published 2007</ref> The battalion regularly entered the Nordic & Biathlon Championships known as "Exercise Spartan Hike",<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.awsa.org.uk/ex-spartan-hike/|title=Spatan Hike|publisher=Army Winter Sports Association|accessdate=4 May 2018}}</ref> held in Serre Chevalier, France each year. They were Territorial Army and 5th Division Champions for three years running between 2003 and 2005.<ref>"The Regimental Journal". The Devonshire and Dorset Regiment and The Devonshire and Dorset Light Infantry. Vol 1 No 7. 2005</ref>

thumb|A soldier from the Rifle Volunteers in Iraq, 2004. In 1999 a number of individuals were mobilised from The Rifle Volunteers to join 2nd Battalion The Royal Green Jackets on their Kosovo tour returning in early 2000.<ref>"The Regimental Journal" The Devonshire and Dorset Regiment. Vol 1 No 2. 2000</ref>

The first major deployment from The Rifle Volunteers was in November 2003 when 55 soldiers were deployed to the Kabul, Afghanistan.<ref>"The Regimental Journal" The Devonshire and Dorset Regiment. Vol 1 No 6. 2004</ref> Attached to C 'Tavolato' Company of 2nd Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles. On 28 January 2004 Private Jonathan Kitulagoda was killed by a suicide bomber whilst on a routine patrol.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/uk-forces-operations-in-afghanistan|title=UK forces: operations in Afghanistan: Death of Private Jonathan Kitulagoda|publisher=Ministry of Defence|accessdate=25 March 2018|url-status=bot: unknown|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130505140755/https://www.gov.uk/uk-forces-operations-in-afghanistan|archivedate=5 May 2013}}</ref>

In April 2004 a composite company of the regiment (Salamanca Company) was dispatched to Basra, Iraq. The company was attached to the 1st Battalion Cheshire Regiment, as part of 1 Mechanised Brigade, within the Multi-National Division (South East). Salamanca Company distinguished itself; Sergeant Peter 'Stooley' Poole-Reeves was awarded a Mention in Dispatches for his actions during a contact in which he was shot in the chest plate of his body armour. Additionally Sergeant Kevin Pinnell and Private Matthew Gavin were awarded Joint Commander's Commendations.<ref>"The Devonshire and Dorset Regiment. Pen & Sword Books Ltd. Published 2007</ref> The company returned home at the end of October. The battalion was part of 43 (Wessex) Brigade.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.operationtelic.co.uk/order-of-battle/Operation-Telic_Order_of_Battle_04.pdf|title=Operation Telic 4 (May to Nov 2004) (8,900 troops)|publisher=Operation Telic|first=Tim|last=Ripley|accessdate=25 March 2018}}</ref>

===Structure before re-designation=== Shortly before re-designation as a battalion of the Rifles, the regiment's structure underwent a reform in order to reflect its post amalgamation structure, and ease the process:<ref name="reg"/> *HQ (Devonshire and Dorset) Company, at Wyvern Barracks, Exeter ''(from E (Devonshire and Dorset Regiment) Company)'' *A (Gloucestershire) Company, at Gloucester and Bristol *B Company, at Taunton and Exeter *C (Devonshire and Dorset) Company, at Dorchester and Poole *D Company, at Bodmin and Plymouth ''(from Plymouth Platoon of E (Devonshire and Dorset Regiment) Company)''

==6th Battalion, The Rifles== On 24 November 2005, it was announced by the Ministry of Defence that the battalion would be re-designated as a territorial battalion of a new large regiment to be called The Rifles. To that effect on 1 February 2007, the regiment became 6th Battalion, The Rifles. The battalion now serves as the reserve infantry battalion for Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Gloucestershire, and Hereford, with sub-units spread right across its recruiting area.<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>

===Current Structure=== The battalion's current structure is as follows:<ref>{{cite web |title=6 RIFLES |url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/infantry/rifles/6-rifles/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215050424/https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/infantry/rifles/6-rifles/ |archive-date=15 February 2019 |accessdate=11 December 2020}}</ref> *HQ Company, at Wyvern Barracks, Exeter **Detachment, at Paignton **Detachment, at Barnstaple *A Company, at Gloucester **1 Platoon, at Gloucester **2 Platoon, at Suvla Barracks, Hereford **3 Platoon, at HMS Flying Fox, Bristol *C Company, at Dorchester **6 Platoon, at Poole *D Company, at Truro **8 Platoon, at Plymouth

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.army.mod.uk/riflevolunteers/ Regimental website (Ministry of Defence)]

Rifle Volunteers Category:The Rifles Category:Military units and formations established in 1999 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 2007 Category:1999 establishments in the United Kingdom Category:2007 disestablishments in the United Kingdom