The Light Infantry - A Short History

The stringed Bugle Horn - The cap badge of the Light Infantry

History

"Pride of Regiment and love for the Regiment's history and tradition is the sacred Ark of the Covenant on which the British soldier depends in battle and on which Britain, through him, has again and again survived and won through to victory."

Sir Arthur Bryant

The Origins of Light Infantry

Although there had been 'light troops' in the British Army in the 1740s, such as the Highlanders at Fontenoy (1745), it was the colonial war between France and England in North America which established the concept of 'Light Infantry' in the British Army.

In the North American Wars of the 1750s, the heavy equipment, conspicuous red and white uniforms and close formation fighting of the British Army proved to be wholly unsuitable when operating in close country against Indians and French colonists, who had highly developed fieldcraft and marksmanship skills.

American irregulars in conflict with British Infantry

Prompted by these experiences General James Wolfe (1727-59) and Lord Amherst (1717-97) realised there was a need for a new approach in the Infantry. A small corps of 'Light' troops, recruited from the settlers, was formed in 1755. It consisted of specially trained men, carefully selected for their toughness and intelligence, able to scout and skirmish, concentrating and dispersing with great stealth and speed. Their dress, equipment and tactics were adjusted to meet this new role.

A Light Infantryman in the 1790s

So effective were these 'Light' troops that steps were taken to increase the number available. Regiments formed 'Light Companies' of soldiers specially selected for their toughness, intelligence, military skills and ability to act on their own initiative, within the framework of a broad tactical plan. The bugle horn, which subsequently became the emblem of light troops, replaced the drum as the means of communication for the often widely dispersed Light Companies.

The cumbersome drum was replaced by the Bugle Horn

By the end of the eighteenth century it was not unusual for commanders to group the various Light Companies together for specific tasks. The invasion of Spain by Napoleon in 1802 was to cause a further, rapid evolution of the Light Infantry concept under the leadership and training of the brilliant young general, Sir John Moore. 

General Sir John Moore

John Moore joined the 51st Regiment of Foot, later to become The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, as an Ensign at the age of fifteen. In 1790 at the age of thirty he was appointed to command of the 51st serving in Ireland, Gibraltar and Corsica until 1796, when he was appointed to command of a Brigade. He became a Major General in 1797. It was in 1802 at Shorncliffe in Kent that he began to develop further his ideas for the training of infantrymen, grouping regiments to fight together as  Light Infantry and eventually forming the Light Division which fought with such distinction in the Peninsula War.

Sir John Moore has been described as "the greatest trainer of troops that the British Army has ever known" and "the father of the Light Infantry". He discarded the then existing disciplinary system, largely maintained through fear and brutality which, in his view, also stifled individual initiative, and replaced it with a system based more upon self-discipline, mutual respect and trust. Sir John Moore died at the battle of Corunna in 1809, but his influence and the concept of the "thinking soldier" have been fundamental to the conduct of Light Infantrymen ever since. The famous historian Sir Arthur Bryant wrote of him

"Moore's contribution to the British Army was not only that matchless Light Infantry who have ever since enshrined his training, but also the belief that the perfect soldier can only be made by evoking all that is finest in man physical, mental and spiritual."

Throughout the Peninsula War Light Infantry and Rifle Regiments were regarded as the elite of the British Army.  These regiments were attached to each of the divisions as riflemen and skirmishers and so took part in every major engagement against the French.  The most famous of all the divisions during the Peninsula War was the Light Division.  The Division still survives to this day and remains the elite of the Army.

Development of the Light Infantry

During the early nineteenth century it became the practice to grant, as an honour, the much coveted title of "Light Infantry" to regiments which particularly distinguished themselves in action. The regiments which were to form the present Light Infantry were all granted this distinction and subsequently incorporated it into the Regiment's name when, in 1881, the system of numbering regiments was discontinued. Those regiments, and the year in which they became Light Infantry, were:

1808
68th Foot - Later to become The Durham Light Infantry

1809
51st Foot - Later to become The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
85th Foot - Later to form The King's Shropshire Light Infantry with the 53rd (Shropshire) Regiment)

1822
13th Foot - Later to become The Somerset Light Infantry (Prince Albert's)

1858
32nd Foot - Later to become The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry with the 46th Foot (The South Devon's)

The last two of these amalgamated on 6 October 1959, to form the Somerset and Cornwall Light Infantry (SCLI).

1947

Herefordshire Regiment - Granted the honour of becoming a Light Infantry Regiment, The Herefordshire Light Infantry, in recognition of its Service in WW2 and its long association with the King's Shropshire Light Infantry. 

Each of these great regiments brought to the Light Infantry a long and distinguished record of service to the Crown.

Formation of the New Regiment

The new regiment, The Light Infantry (LI), was formed on Vesting Day 10th July 1968 from the four regular battalions remaining from the old Regiments: 1 SCLI, 1 KOYLI, 1 KSLI, 1 DLI and the Light Infantry Volunteers. The Light Infantry Volunteers were formed on 1st April 1967 by amalgamating parts of, 4th Bn KSLI, 1st Bn Herefordshire LI, The DCLI, 4th Bn KOYLI, and 8th Bn DLI.  The LI Vols became 5th Bn the Light Infantry in 1972.  The Regiment subsequently formed further TA Battalions, with 5 LI coming to represent Shropshire and Herefordshire, 6 LI (Somerset and Cornwall), 7 LI (Durham) and 8 LI (Yorkshire).  Sadly these TA Battalions were reduced to company sized sub-units, in the Late 1990s, with TA restructuring. 

The Light Infantry Brigade Depot at Shrewsbury became the Light Infantry Depot, and the Regiment was grouped with the Royal Green Jackets in the Light Division - a grouping of two regiments with much in common. The Light Infantry was so structured that the traditions and customs of its forbears were embodied equally in all battalions. The long established and much cherished links with the counties from which the regiments sprung were retained, the new regiment receiving on formation, and in the years immediately thereafter, the Freedom of 21 County Boroughs, Cities and Boroughs. These important links with the counties, and the Light Infantry interests therein, were maintained through the establishment of Light Infantry Offices in Durham, Pontefract, Shrewsbury, Taunton and Bodmin.

The silver bugle cap badge, drill from the 'at ease' position, rapid marching pace and green beret bear testimony to the ancestry of The Light Infantry. Distinctions of dress serve as an ever-present reminder of the former great regiments; red backing to the capbadge from the DCLI, sashes tied on the right from the SOM LI, the Inkerman chain from the DLI and the wearing of white roses on Minden Day from the KOYLI. The Regiment has the distinction of not being required to drink the Loyal Toast; a privilege which had been conferred upon both the KSLI and the DLI.

On 22nd July each year the Regiment celebrates its Regimental Day, the anniversary of the Battle of Salamanca (I 812), a battle in which all the former regiments fought. The Light Infantry was intensely proud to have as its first Colonel-in-Chief Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, an association which began in 1927 when, as Duchess of York, Her Majesty became Colonel-in-Chief of the KOYLI. It was also the Regiment's very good fortune to have as Deputy Colonel in-Chief, Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra, who had been Colonel-in Chief of the DLI. The Royal patrons have a prodigious knowledge of, and interest in, all branches of the Light Infantry family, and their concern for the Regiment is an inspiration and encouragement to Light Infantrymen everywhere.

Since 1968, when the Light Infantry was firmly established as a thoroughly professional regiment, rooted in the counties from which its predecessors sprang and from which, to this day, it still draws its fighting men. Emphasising this point, the volunteer companies now incorporate the County names, cementing the links with the past and identifying the Regiment to the area from which it recruits. The capbadge, the silver bugle, the green beret and the swift marching pace all serve to show the Regiments antecedents, and its ability to adhere in modern times to the concepts of forward thinking and adaptability espoused by General Sir John Moore in 1802.

Click on the County Regiment links to find out more.

Whilst every effort has been taken to ensure the accuracy of this information, personnel must confirm details through the chain of command or with their Administrative Office before taking any action or making any commitment. Last Reviewed: 11 Nov 03