95thRifles.com - History of the 95th (Overview)

Text Box: History of the 95th Overview

Text Box: In 1800 the ‘Experimental Corps of Riflemen’ was formed under the command of Colonel Coote Manningham. The new Corps first parade was at Horsham on the 1st April 1800. As the primary tasks of the riflemen were to be outpost duty, skirmishing and serving as the ‘eyes and ears of the army’ during an advance or any retreat, the Corps of Riflemen were subsequently issued with the Baker rifle, an arm which had gained the approval of The Board of Ordnance in tests conducted at Woolwich in February 1800. Though rifled arms had seen previous use, the Baker rifle became the first general-issue rifle to be used by the British Army. Recruits to the 95th were taught the use of aimed-fire from the rifle by example and encouragement, especially through regular target-practice and making the best use of available rifle-rests and all forms of cover. At the time it was commonly held that the smoothbore musket loaded by paper cartridges in the hands of a light-infantryman was limited in effective range and accuracy at a single target to less than 80 yards - the term ‘aim’ wasn’t used by these - the Baker rifle was sighted to 100 yards but in loading a deadly ‘patched ball’ could be effective in the hands of a trained rifleman at man-sized targets at twice that range. On campaign, the rifles-system linked and employed extended order, movement and aimed-fire and was successfully applied to tasks not just opposing enemy skirmishers or light infantry including singling out enemy field commanders and officers, non-commissioned officers and including the enemy means on a battlefield of tactical communication - buglers and drummers - but also in eliminating enemy artillery teams, shooting from cover at enemy gunners during sieges and as their morale and esprit de corps grew were later during the storming of defended places also used several times as ‘Grenadiers’. The distinctive rifle-green uniforms of the 95th and the lack of embellishment or ornamentation earned them their lasting nickname ‘greenjackets’ - but in the ranks of the French after their first introduction in 1808 in seeing their battlefield

Overview