the reputation. He surfaced and swam to shore where he was found bleeding and exhausted. They had one son, Robert, who grew up to become a lieutenant colonel in the Royal Green Jackets. During the Korean War he commanded a rifle company. And Jim Lahey can fuck off. 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. 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 developed Alzheimers-like symptoms and slowly faded, dying in 2007. Don't miss Troyes' Gothic Cathedral, considered one of the most beautiful churches in all of Europe. Yet he was a controversial leader. Join Facebook to connect with Robert Speirs and others you may know. The Following Officers & Soldiers died whilst serving with the Royal Green Jackets between 1966-2007 & includes all those who have died whilst serving regard. His three beautiful children are my pride and joy.. The 5th (Volunteer) Battalion, The Royal Green Jackets was an infantry unit of the Royal Green Jackets part of the Territorial Army which existed around 13 years before disbanding. * Ronald Speirs wrote a letter to Stephen Ambrose which he dated 29/01/1981. The British Army was expanded and reduced to suit the needs of the moment. 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They then joined their colleagues of the Light Brigade for Moore`s advance into Spain and provided the rearguard when the larger French army forced Moore to retreat to Corunna. These two Riflemen units formed the vanguard when the army moved. 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? 4 Around this time, Robert met Martha McNeil. It continued in British Army service until 2007, when it was amalgamated into The Rifles. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. In Normandy, he was wounded in the face and knee by a German potato masher hand grenade, evacuated to a hospital, then rejoined his unit in England prior to the Holland jump. With the sword fitted to the rifle, the overall weapon was the same length as a musket with bayonet attached. 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. The two battalions of the 95th, grouped with the 5/60th in a brigade of Riflemen, fired the first shots of the campaign at bidos. They married and had a son together. Hello we are the Royal Green Jackets. Thoroughly enjoyed it. The soldiers parachuted into the middle of extreme hostile territory, Bethea said. 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. Want to start taking action on the content you read on AoM? On 25 July 1992 the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions RGJ merged into two Battalions. 3 His engineering career began as a young man when he became an apprentice engineer fitter in the Glasgow area. 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. Throughout the war, Speirs was seen doing his duty, no matter the cost. On 8th July 1755 a column of British redcoats under General Braddock were ambushed by the French. 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. 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. Royal Green Jackets recruiting poster, 1974. The men stayed in contact over the years. Of the officers who commanded Easy Company during the war, Speirs commanded the longest. [3]:185[2]:209 Speirs successfully took over the assault and led Easy Company to victory. 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. Captain Gross was killed in battle the next day, and the incident was never pursued. It continued in British Army service until 2007, when it became part of The Rifles. 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! He was initially assigned as a platoon leader in B Company of the 1st Battalion of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment. The following year the reconstituted Light Brigade returned to the Peninsula under Robert Craufurd, landing at Lisbon. The enemy opened fire and he dove into the water after taking a German bullet in his butt. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy, Please enter a password with 6 characters or more. [3]:176 The selection of Speirs was incidental; Winters later stated that Speirs was simply the first officer he saw when he turned around. All three battalions of The Royal Green Jackets had multiple postings in West Germany and Northern Ireland between 1966 and 1992. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. 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. They were dressed in green and armed with the Baker rifle. please send them to me at Seamus.lyons@rgjassociation.info. Moore has been described as 'the very best trainer of troops that England has ever possessed'. They became the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions of a new regiment, The Royal Green Jackets. The name Ron Speirs will always be associated with deeds done during WWII, he said. RGJ. The Royal Green Jackets were light infantry, trained to move fast. His English mother died some years ago. Deeply saddened by the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II - 8th September 2022. As they were used as shock troops and marksmen, they had to get to the front of the battle as fast as possible. Winters wrote, [By shooting the man,] Speirs probably saved the lives of the rest of the squad. This site uses cookies. The The story of the Royal Green Jackets and their 41 year history is told in pictures, words and displays. Resides in Levittown, NY. The original2nd and 3rd Battalions were renumbered as 1st and 2nd Battalion respectively. robert speirs royal green jackets. The Maltese Cross cap badge of the RGJ was adopted as the belt badge of The Rifles and carries the battle honours. Winters noted how the drunken sergeant twice ignored a command given by Speirs to halt an advance toward St. Come du Mont. Unlock this free profile to update company info and see who's viewing your profile. (Note: all scanned photo's should have a minimum resolution of 300 dpi. His English mother died some years ago. His last years were spent quietly with family in California. news. They began in the eighteenth century to improve tactics and training, mobility and marksmanship, equipment, personnel-management and individual initiative. He shot one of his own sergeants between the eyes for getting drunk. By the end of the 18th century European armies often included infantry specialised in the roles of skirmishing and reconnaissance. to 120 people at the bandstand in Regents Park. Japan surrendered before Speirs and Easy could be transferred to the Pacific Theater. The 2nd Battalion led Wellington`s army into Paris in 1815. [1], The regiment's greatest loss of life came on 20 July 1982 when seven RGJ bandsmen were killed by a Provisional Irish Republican Army bomb which exploded during a public concert featuring the music from Oliver! In spite of his wound he brought back vital information and later received the Silver Star for his actions. 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. Guth wrote to Speirs a final time on June 11, 2006, exactly 61 years after Speirs first letter. However, evidence suggests Ronald Speirs inadvertently wrote the incorrect year and the letter was in fact, written in 1991. When the future Duke of Wellington landed in Portugal in 1808, the5/60th was the first unit ashore at Mondego Bay. His stepson Marv Bethea considers Speirs strongest trait not to be bloodthirstiness, but conscientiousness. ______________________. [1] The 1st Battalion The Royal Green Jackets' final operational tour was in Basra, in Iraq, on Operation Telic in 2006-07. You cant bring prisoners with you in that kind of battle. If they caught enemies, their unofficial orders were to take no prisoners. Brutal and death-defying stories abound about Speirs: Speirs nicknames included Bloody and Killer, but is the reputation valid? Winters went on to say that Speirs not only confirmed the allegation, but wrote a letter to that effect.[5]. Speirs demanded all comments about my English wife be eliminated44 and states this is all I care about.45 Again he mentions, she was not, as you stated a widow at our marriage.46 Speirs writes, she was a wonderful person.47, The passenger manifest of the Queen Mary shows Speirs leaving England in January of 1946 as a Company Commander with 82nd Airborne Division. Born in 1920, Speirs would have been 71 years old in 1991 not in 1981. aka Black Mafia.Recorded before my time with the Regiment but got to meet & Work with some. Her Late Majesty was Colonel in Chief of the Regiment from 1966 to 2007. The Royal Green Jackets was formed on 1 January 1966 by the amalgamation of the three separate regiments of the Green Jackets Brigade:[1], There were also two Territorial Army battalions made up as follows:[2], During the 1970s, 1980s and onwards up until the end of The Troubles, the battalions were deployed to various parts of Northern Ireland (Operation Banner). We play a variety of different games with a diverse community. [6], Speirs returned to the United States and decided to remain in the Army, serving in the Korean War. Two battalions of the 95th fought at the Siege of Badajoz (1812). Speirs served in the Korean War, as a major commanding a rifle company and as a staff officer. Keep up to date with our exhibitions and latest On 20 May 1944, Speirs married Margaret Griffiths, whom he had met while stationed in Wiltshire, England. He was reassigned as commanding officer of Easy Company and remained in that position for the rest of the war. Last summer I visited Robert at his 200-year-old house in England. Donald had but an old mare and a portmanteau, with its contents, worth about 15, to leave behind him. 2nd Battalion The Royal Green Jackets into 4th Battalion The Rifles. [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. 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. Lieutenant Colonel Ronald Charles Speirs (20 April 1920 - 11 April 2007) was a United States Army officer who served in the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division during World War II. Martha and their five children boarded the SS Winifredian in Liverpool on 13th December, 1924,9 sailing for Boston to be reunited with Robert. 1939-1945 Star This star was awarded for service in the Second World War between 3rd September 1939 and 2nd September 1945. An order to hold position was given and relayed down the line which the sergeant refused to obey, wanting to rush forward and engage the Germans. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The RGJ still refer to their bayonets as 'swords'. Last summer I visited Robert at his 200-year-old house in England. He retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1964. He sprinted cross-town through a hail of enemy fire at Foy. He doted on his grandchildren, taking them to the park. He was initially assigned as a platoon leader in B Company of the 1st Battalion of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment. We can reunite you with your friends who served at Royal Green Jackets and we have a wealth of information on different units, bases and ships in the site. The Royal Green Jackets. 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. The Men of Easy Company Series Part I: Warren Skip Muck Part II: Robert Rader Part III: Ron Speirs, __________________________________________________________________________________. It was here that PFC Art DiMarzio, who is also referenced in the book "Beyond Band of Brothers", was eyewitness to an event. He located an enemy machine gun nest, an enemy headquarters and other enemy activity near the town of Wageningen. The woman returned to her first husband. [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 ship docked at Boston Harbour on Christmas morning, 1924.10. He secured a rubber boat left by the enemy and returned to the friendly side of the river with this information. The information proved of great value to his unit. All four future Green Jacket regiments fought at Vimeiro,the victory which forced the French to evacuate Portugal. After his return to the States, Speirs and his English wife were divorced under US law.48, Ronald second marriage to a war widow whose first husband was killed in 1944 took place on 8th May, 1950, at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.49 It is unknown when this marriage was dissolved, but records show a third marriage on 12th July, 1958 in Berlin, Germany.50 This union is known to have lasted until divorce in 1966.51. The Royal Green Jackets (Rifles) Museum Battle of Waterloo Bicentenary Exhibition and Waterloo 2015 Appeal We have received a grant of 100,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund but we need to raise . The Ox & Bucks would become the 1st Green Jackets (43rd & 52nd . Related To Patricia Speirs, Michelle Speirs, Ronald Speirs, Kristin Speirs, August Speirs. Speirs made the military his career. This rifle regiment was formed in 1800 and was one of the first to undergo light infantry training. This infantry regiment was formed in 1966. It was renumbered the 52nd a year later. 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. in both print and TV. 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. All rights reserved. The regiment was classed as a 'rifle' regiment, having its lineage in the regiments of foot that were equipped with the first Baker rifles. 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. "First time @NAM_London today. [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. View the profiles of people named Robert Speirs. Astoundingly, after Speirs got his message through to another company on the other side, he sprinted back. He wrote in his memoirs that Speirs had worked hard to earn a reputation as a killer and had often killed for shock value. [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]. He retired as a Lieutenant colonel. The RGJ is a mostly trade focused group. Speirs men would follow him anywhere. In 1807 the 95th, now two battalions strong, served under Sir Arthur Wellesly, the future Duke of Wellington. It was gazetted under the new title of The Rifle Corps. 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 ). Above all, they were riflemen and took pride in their reputation of being thinking, and fighting soldiers.Please don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe. For those of you who are happier sending me your photographs on a disc please contact me for my postal details, or for those with Database access my home address is available from there. They began in the eighteenth century . The Royal Rifle Volunteers (minus The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment Company but with The Royal Green Jacket Companies of The London Regiment) into 7th Battalion (TA) The Rifles. After that, it mostly alternated between England and Northern Ireland. "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. [7], The cap badge was a Maltese Cross, which was drawn from the badges of the King's Royal Rifle Corps and The Rifle Brigade, with a combination of some of their battle honours on its arms.[7]. 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. London Gazette: Died of wounds, 7 May 1812. Our condolences to the Royal Family at this sad time. In 1958, he became the American governor of the Spandau Prison in Berlin, where prominent Nazis such as Rudolf Hess were imprisoned. robert speirs royal green jacketscan low magnesium kill you. Royal Green Jackets Association Contact Webmaster Samus Lyons, Requests for Access to Personal Data Held by the Ministry of Defence. June 14th, 2022 mazda 3 2021 bose sound system mazda 3 2021 bose sound system To find out more about how we collect, store and use your personal information, read our Privacy Policy. [5], The Royal Green Jackets (Rifles) Museum is based at Peninsula Barracks in Winchester. He later became the American governor for Spandau Prison in Berlin. Robert and Martha left Glasgow in 1908 as Robert went to work at the shipyard in Devonport, Plymouth, England. After the capture of Ciudad Rodrigo, Lieutenant Gurwood of the 52nd received the French Governor's sword in surrender. Therefore, Ambrose would have had no reason to write to Speirs in 1981. Speirs was born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1920 and spent his first few years there. Infantry battalions began to include a light company of men chosen for tasks needing rapid reactions. According to DiMarzio, Speirs, commanding 2nd platoon, Dog Company was given orders to halt their attack on Ste. [2]:208 To countermand this order, Speirs himself ran through the town and German lines (as this platoon had no radio), linked up with the Item Company soldiers and relayed the order. Single. He reached the river bank with his patrol in the early hours of the morning and spent the entire day observing across the river. 2012-2023 Cloud Imperium Rights LLC and Cloud Imperium Rights Ltd. We do not support Internet Explorer 11 and below. He retired in 1964 as a lieutenant colonel. Traditionally, rifle regiments wore rifle green tunics, an early form of camouflage, instead of the red jackets worn by line infantry. As skirmishers and sharpshooters, they did not need to identify their fellows on the battlefield. 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. Welcome to Forces Reunited the place where you can find information and friends from Royal Green Jackets. 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. Lieutenant Colonel Robert Speirs (1945 - d.) - Genealogy Lieutenant Colonel Robert Speirs Back to Speirs surname View Complete Profile view all Immediate Family Robert's mother mother By US Army - US Army http://www.band-of-brothers.nl/artikel/vet_vet_speirs.htm, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8571418 Close order drill was taught by two regular army officers. 2nd Battalion The Light Infantry into 3rd Battalion The Rifles. It is also very important that each photo is indexed with Year/Location for them to be inserted in chronological order.). And Jim Lahey can fuck off. Also known as Robert Spears, Robeet Speers, Robrt Speirs, Robeet Speirs. By 2007, at another time of manpower reduction in the Army, The Royal Green Jackets had been reduced to two battalion strength. 1st Lt. Donald McPherson of the 95thwas severely wounded during the storming of Badajoz, 6th April 1812. 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. Discover more about The Royal Green Jackets by visiting The Royal Green Jackets (Rifles) Museum in Winchester. 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. 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. 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. They became the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions of a new regiment, The Royal Green Jackets. 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. been lauded as a hero, embroiled in controversy and celebrated Its first Colonel, Coote Manningham, helped shape the Light Infantry of the Army. 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. Both battalions returned to the United Kingdom by 2002 and in 2003 the 1st Battalion served on Operation Telic 2 in Iraq. The RGJ began as a group of Mount and Blade players and expanded to play everything from League of legends to Arma. He became the U.S. Please use a different web browser. 1st Battalion The Light Infantry into 5th Battalion The Rifles. Poor Donald! For information about the antecedent regiments of the Royal Green Jackets see Regimental Titles. 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. 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. Arthur has been described as a typical Rifle Brigade Quartermaster, incredibly efficient, loyal and, his understanding of loyalty meant it had to be to . While returning to his own lines, he was wounded by fire from an enemy machine gun. Thanks for watching. 1977This production is for viewing purposes only and should not be reproduced without prior consent. Swift & Bold. 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). His three beautiful children are my pride and joy." Speirs made the military his career. 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. In 1966 Quartermaster of the battalion, by now the 3rd Battalion The Royal Green Jackets, the Rifle Depot in 1969 and 3 Inf Bde Northern Ireland in 1973. In 1803 the regiment, now named the 95th or Rifle Regiment, joined the 43rd and 52nd to form the Light Brigade under the command of Sir John Moore. Once again, he tried to protect her reputation. Once there, the family lived in the Suffolk County section of the city11 among a large population of recent immigrants, primarily of Scottish-Irish heritage. 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. in 1958, the battalion joined the new Green Jacket Brigade with the title 1st Green Jackets (The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry). Lt. Ronald Speirs was a pit-bull of a soldier, distinctively tough, exceptional and intimidating. He finished the war in the European Theater as a captain. 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 ROYAL GREEN JACKETS. Celer et Audax. 1st Battalion Dorset and Devonshire Light Infantry, and 1st Battalion Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Light Infantry into 1st Battalion The Rifles. 288-9: "On the morning following the storming of Badajoz: Of the doomed, who still survived, was poor Donald McPherson, a gigantic Highlander of about six feet and a half, as good a soul as ever lived; in peace a lamb - in war a lion. Sixteen Battle Honours were earned by the regiment. Many regiments were disbanded in 1748, but the 54th,garrisoned at Minorca, was just renumbered and became the 43rd. 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.. George Robert Humphrey WO 2 Served from 1964 - 1987 Served in Royal Green Jackets Tony Price L/CPL Served from 1981 - 1989 Served in Royal Green Jackets Keith Taylor Served from 1962 - 1974 Served in Royal Green Jackets Patrick Walker CORPORAL Served from 1961 - 1966 Served in Royal Green Jackets Peter Deane This website looks at the real man behind 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 ).