21 SAS (Reserve)

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The Artists Rifles
Artists Rifles Badge.jpg
Cap badge of The Artists Rifles
Active1859–1945
1947–present
CountryFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
Branch Army Reserve
Type Special forces
RoleSpecial operations
Part of United Kingdom Special Forces
Garrison/HQ Regent's Park Barracks, London, United Kingdom
Engagements
Decorations8 VCs, 56 DSOs, 893 MCs, 26 DFCs, 15 AFCs, 6 DCMs, 15 MMs, 14 MSMs, 564 MIDs (First World War)
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Henry Wyndham Phillips and Frederic Leighton
Artists Rifles Memorial at Burlington House, London Artists Rifles Memorial.jpg
Artists Rifles Memorial at Burlington House, London

The 21 Special Air Service Regiment (Artists) (Reserve), historically known as The Artists Rifles, [nb 1] is a regiment of the British Army Reserve. Its name is abbreviated to 21 SAS(R).

Contents

Raised in London in 1859 as a volunteer light infantry unit, the regiment saw active service during the Second Boer War and the First World War, earning a number of battle honours. During the Second World War, it was used as an officer training unit. The regiment was disbanded in 1945, but in 1947 it was re-established to resurrect the Special Air Service Regiment. [2] Together with 23 Special Air Service Regiment (Reserve) (23 SAS(R)), it forms the Special Air Service (Reserve) (SAS(R)) part of the United Kingdom Special Forces (UKSF) directorate. [3]

History

Formation and 19th century

The Place, Duke's Road, Camden, built 1888 as the headquarters of the 20th Middlesex (Artists') Rifle Volunteer Corps London - Middlesex (Artists') Rifle Volunteers' drill hall (former), Duke's Road, Holborn 2014-10-30 (15531820368).jpg
The Place, Duke's Road, Camden, built 1888 as the headquarters of the 20th Middlesex (Artists') Rifle Volunteer Corps

The regiment was established in 1859, part of the widespread volunteer movement which developed in the face of potential French invasion after Felice Orsini's attack on Napoleon III was linked to Britain. [4] The group was organised in London by Edward Sterling, an art student, and comprised various professional painters, musicians, actors, architects and others involved in creative endeavours; a profile it strove to maintain for some years. It was established on 28 February 1860 as the 38th Middlesex (Artists') Rifle Volunteer Corps, with headquarters at Burlington House. [1] Its first commanders were the painters Henry Wyndham Phillips and Frederic Leighton. The unit's badge, designed by J. W. Wyon, shows the heads of the Roman gods Mars and Minerva in profile. [5] Until 1914 the regimental full dress uniform was light grey with white facings, silver buttons and braid. This distinctive uniform dated from the regiment's foundation as a volunteer unit. After the First World War, standard khaki was the normal dress. [6]

In September 1880, the corps became the 20th Middlesex (Artists') Rifle Volunteer Corps, with headquarters at Duke's Road, off Euston Road, London (now The Place, home of the Contemporary Dance Trust). The drill hall was designed by Robert William Edis, the commanding officer. [7] It was officially opened by the Prince of Wales. [7]

It formed the 7th Volunteer Battalion of the Rifle Brigade from 1881 until 1891 and the 6th Volunteer Battalion from 1892 to 1908. During this period, The Artists' Rifles fought in the Second Boer War as part of the City Imperial Volunteers. [8]

After the 1860s the voluntary recruitment basis of the regiment gradually broadened to include professions other than artistic ones. By 1893 lawyers and architects made up 24% of the unit, doctors followed with 10% and civil engineers 6%. Sculptors and painters totaled about 5%. [9]

Over The Top, 1918, oil on canvas, by John Nash NashOverTheTop.jpg
Over The Top , 1918, oil on canvas, by John Nash

20th century

Player's cigarette card showing a soldier of the Artists Rifles in the new field service dress Artists Rifles Cigarette Card.jpg
Player's cigarette card showing a soldier of the Artists Rifles in the new field service dress

Following the formation of the Territorial Force, the Artists' Rifles was one of 26 volunteer battalions in the London and Middlesex areas that combined to form the new London Regiment. [nb 2] It became the 28th (County of London) Battalion of The London Regiment on 1 April 1908. [11]

Terracotta doorway at the former Artists' Rifles HQ The Artists' Rifles HQ - geograph.org.uk - 777821.jpg
Terracotta doorway at the former Artists' Rifles HQ

The Artists' Rifles was a popular unit for volunteers. It had been increased to twelve companies in 1900 and was formed into three sub-battalions in 1914, and recruitment was eventually restricted by recommendation from existing members of the battalion. It particularly attracted recruits from public schools and universities; on this basis, following the outbreak of the First World War, a number of enlisted members of The Artists' Rifles were selected to be officers in other units of the 7th Division. [1] This exercise was so successful that, early in 1915, selected Artists' officers and NCOs were transferred to run a separate Officers Training Corps, in which poet Wilfred Owen trained before posting to the Manchester Regiment, [12] the remainder being retained as a fighting unit. Over fifteen thousand men passed through the battalion during the war, more than ten thousand of them becoming officers. [13] The battalion eventually saw battle in France in 1917 and 1918. Casualties suffered by members of this battalion and amongst officers who had trained with The Artists' Rifles before being posted to other regiments were 2,003 killed, 3,250 wounded, 533 missing and 286 prisoners of war. [1] Ex-Members of the Regiment won eight Victoria Crosses (though none did so while serving with the Regiment), fifty-six DSOs and over a thousand other awards for gallantry. [13]

In the early 1920s, the unit was reconstituted as an infantry regiment within the Territorial Army, as the 28th County of London Regiment. In 1937, this regiment became part of The Prince Consort's Own Rifle Brigade. [14]

The regiment was not deployed during the Second World War, functioning again as an Officers Training Corps throughout the war. [1]

History as 21 SAS(R)

A 21 SAS soldier after a night parachute drop exercise in Denmark, 1955 21 SAS NIGHT DROP.jpg
A 21 SAS soldier after a night parachute drop exercise in Denmark, 1955

The unit was disbanded in 1945, but reformed in The Rifle Brigade in January 1947 and transferred to The Army Air Corps in July as the 21st Special Air Service Regiment (Artists Rifles). [15] The number 21 SAS was chosen to perpetuate two disbanded wartime regiments, 2 SAS and 1 SAS. The unit was active during the Malayan Emergency and in many subsequent conflicts. In 1952, members of The Artists Rifles who had been involved in special operations in Malaya formed 22 SAS Regiment, the regular special forces regiment – at the time, the only time a Territorial Army unit had been used to form a unit in the Regular Army. [16]

In 1985, David Stirling, founder of the SAS, commented: "There is one often neglected factor which I would like to emphasize - the importance of the two SAS Territorial regiments. At the start of the Second World War, and during its early stages, it was the ideas and initiatives of these amateur soldiers which led to the creation of at least two units within the Special Forces and gave a particular elan to others. When, however, a specialist unit becomes part of the military establishment, it runs the risk of being stereotyped and conventionalized. Luckily the modern SAS looks safe from this danger; it is constantly experimenting with innovative techniques, many of which stem from its Territorial regiments, drawn as they are from every walk of civilian life." [17]

For much of the Cold War, 21 SAS's role was to provide stay-behind parties in the event of a Warsaw Pact invasion of western Europe, forming (alongside 23 SAS) I Corps' Corps Patrol Unit. [18] In the case of an invasion, this Special Air Service Group would have let themselves be bypassed and stay-behind in order to collect intelligence behind Warsaw Pact lines and conduct target acquisition, and thus try to slow the enemy's advance. [19] Peter de la Billière, who later commanded 22 SAS and then became Director Special Forces, served as their adjutant for part of this period. He later wrote: "People began to see that the Territorial SAS were first class and enhanced the reputation of the whole Regiment in a special way of their own." [20]

In early 2003, a composite squadron of about 60 soldiers of 21 SAS, including soldiers from 23 SAS, were deployed to Afghanistan. [21] [22] There are conflicting accounts on the role of the squadron during this time with Rayment writing in 2003 that it was "long-range reconnaissance" [23] while in 2010 Rayment writes that it was to "establish a communications network across Afghanistan and also acted as liaison teams". [24] Neville writes that they were "instrumental in early efforts to unite various warlord factions" working with the SIS [Secret Intelligence Service] and that they also provided close protection for SIS officers. [25]

Three 21 SAS soldiers were awarded Military Crosses as a result of fighting in Nad-e Ali in Helmand Province in Afghanistan in 2008. [26] [27] A 21 SAS soldier was awarded a Conspicuous Gallantry Cross at a later date for service in Afghanistan. [26]

On 1 September 2014, 21 and 23 SAS were moved from United Kingdom Special Forces and placed under the command of 1st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade. [28] [29] The units then left that brigade before the end of 2019. [30] Today, the two reserve regiments, 21 SAS and 23 SAS are back under the operational command of the Director Special Forces, as an integrated part of United Kingdom Special Forces. [31]

Organisation

21 Special Air Service Regiment (Artists) (Reserve) currently consists of: [32]

Commanding officers

Honorary colonels

Battle honours

War memorial

The unit's war memorial in the entrance portico of the Royal Academy at Burlington House commemorates the 2,003 men who gave their lives in the Great War, with a second plaque dedicated to those who died in the Second World War. [37]

Victoria Cross

Although no-one was awarded the VC while serving with the Artists Rifles, the following have been awarded the Victoria Cross before or after serving in the regiment:

See also

See also Category:Artists' Rifles officers and Category:Artists' Rifles soldiers

Notes

  1. ↑ Originally the regiment was designated as The Artists' Rifles until the apostrophe was officially dropped from the full title in 1937, as it was so often misused. [1]
  2. ↑ The Honourable Artillery Company and The Inns of Court Regiment were intended to become the 26th and 27th Battalions of the London Regiment. They were not satisfied with their high numbers so ignored them. [10]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Regiment page". Artists Rifles Association. 2016. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023.
  2. ↑ Gregory, p. 297
  3. ↑ "21 & 23 Special Air Service (SAS)". British Army. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  4. ↑ Gregory 2006, p. xvi.
  5. ↑ Mars-Minerva (JPEG), Artists Rifles Association
  6. ↑ "Artists Rifles Association" . Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  7. 1 2 Historic England. "The Place and attached railings, Camden (1342089)". National Heritage List for England .
  8. ↑ Gregory 2006, p. 80.
  9. ↑ "Artists Rifles Association" . Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  10. ↑ Westlake 1986, p. 233.
  11. ↑ Gregory 2006, p. 96.
  12. ↑ "No. 29617". The London Gazette (Supplement). 6 June 1916. p. 5726.
  13. 1 2 Higham 2006, p. xviii.
  14. ↑ Gregory 2006, p. 253.
  15. ↑ Gregory 2006, p. 297.
  16. ↑ Shortt 1994, pp. 16–17.
  17. ↑ Seymour, Preface
  18. ↑ Asher, Michael (2008). The Regiment: The True Story of the SAS. London: Penguin UK. ISBN   978-0141026527.
  19. ↑ Sinai, Tamir (8 December 2020). "Eyes on target: 'Stay-behind' forces during the Cold War". War in History. 28 (3): 681–700. doi: 10.1177/0968344520914345 .
  20. ↑ de la Billiere, p. 161
  21. ↑ Rayment, Sean (28 December 2003). "Overstretched SAS calls up part-time troops for Afghanistan". The Sunday Telegraph . London. Archived from the original on 23 March 2010.
  22. ↑ Rayment, Sean (11 April 2010). "SAS reservists withdrawn from Afghan front line". The Daily Telegraph . Archived from the original on 13 April 2010.
  23. ↑ Rayment 2003.
  24. ↑ Rayment 2010.
  25. ↑ Neville, Leigh (2016). The SAS 1983–2014. Elite 211. Illustrated by Peter Dennis. Osprey Publishing. ISBN   978-1472814036.
  26. 1 2 "Question By Philip Hollobone MP and answer by James Heappey, MO Min AF". UK Parliament. Hansard Volume 692. 20 April 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  27. ↑ Sean, Rayment (3 March 2013). "Revealed: nearly half of Special Forces could go in deepest cuts in 50 years; Full details of the biggest cuts programme to Britain's Special Forces in almost half a century can be disclosed" . The Daily Telegraph . Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  28. ↑ Janes International Defence Review, May 2014, p. 4
  29. ↑ Army Briefing Note 120/14, NEWLY FORMED FORCE TROOPS COMMAND SPECIALIST BRIGADES, Quote . It commands all of the Army's Intelligence, Surveillance and EW assets, and is made up of units specifically from the former 1 MI Bde and 1 Arty Bde, as well as 14 Sig Regt, 21 and 23 SAS(R).
  30. ↑ "Force Troops Command Handbook". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  31. ↑ "21 & 23 SAS (Reserve)". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  32. ↑ "The Artists Rifles - From Pre-Raphaelites to Passchendaele" (PDF). ARQ Army Reserve Quarterly. Andover: Army Media & Communication. Autumn 2014. p. 21. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 February 2015.
  33. 1 2 3 "No. 25251". The London Gazette . 17 July 1883. p. 3588.
  34. 1 2 3 "No. 27508". The London Gazette . 23 December 1902. p. 8848.
  35. ↑ Bootland, Morag (14 December 2018). "The Macpherson clan chief believes in family". Scottish Field. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  36. ↑ "No. 28287". The London Gazette . 10 September 1909. p. 6815.
  37. ↑ "Artists Rifles War Memorial". London remembers. Retrieved 28 May 2017.

Bibliography

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