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History of British light infantry facts for kids

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The history of British light infantry is a story about special soldiers in the British Army. These soldiers were trained to be fast, flexible, and good at scouting and skirmishing. At first, the British Army used unofficial troops and hired soldiers for these roles.

But from the early 1800s, the Army started training its own regular soldiers as light infantry. They learned a special way of fighting called the Shorncliffe System. This system was created by important officers like Sir John Moore and Sir Kenneth MacKenzie Douglas. Light infantry soldiers were sometimes called "light bobs." This nickname started during the American Wars of Independence and was often used for the Light Division during the Napoleonic wars.

Early British Light Infantry

Before the 1800s, the British Army mostly used unofficial fighters or hired soldiers for light infantry duties. These soldiers were very useful during the Seven Years' War (also known as the French and Indian War). For example, at the Battle of Quebec, they climbed cliffs and fought French forces.

During the Seven Years' War and the American wars, the army needed more scouts and skirmishers. So, regular army companies were sometimes temporarily given these light infantry jobs. However, these special companies were often stopped when the need for them decreased.

Lord George Howe is known for really pushing for dedicated light infantry training. He based his ideas on the fighting styles of Native American groups during the Ticonderoga Campaign in 1758. By 1770, every regular regiment had to have a light infantry company. But their training was not always good.

Later, in the late 1700s, the Duke of York saw that the British Army really needed proper light troops. This was especially true because they were about to fight Napoleon and his skilled French light infantry, called chasseurs. In the early years of the war against France, the British Army often used hired light infantry from Germany and the Netherlands. This included the 60th Foot, which was technically British but had many foreign soldiers.

In 1797, it was decided to create a fifth battalion for the 60th Royal Americans. This battalion was made up of foreign rifle soldiers, mostly German. These "Riflemen" were different from general light infantry because they were expert sharpshooters. The British light infantry companies had struggled against the experienced French in earlier campaigns. So, changes to the infantry became very urgent.

The fifth battalion proved so useful that by 1799, a rifle company was added to each of the 60th's red-coated battalions. Two more battalions of German Riflemen were also created. By late 1799, the British Army had several battalions of Riflemen, even if they were in a "foreign" regiment. This showed the Duke of York that a special "British" rifle corps was definitely needed.

The Shorncliffe System

Map of Shorncliffe Camp 1801
Map of Shorncliffe Camp - 1801.

In 1801, a new group called the "Experimental Corps of Riflemen" was formed. This group later became the famous 95th Rifles. The army also decided to train some regular line regiments in light infantry skills. This way, they could act as both light and line infantry.

Sir John Moore was a big supporter of the light infantry idea. He offered his own regiment, the 52nd Foot, for this special training at Shorncliffe Camp. So, in 1803, the 52nd became the first regular British Army regiment to be called "Light Infantry." The 43rd Foot soon followed, and more regiments became "light infantry" in 1808. Much of this training was led by Lieutenant-Colonel Kenneth MacKenzie, who created many of the light infantry tactics.

Moore wrote in his diary that his soldiers knew exactly what to do. He noted that discipline was kept without being too harsh, and officers and soldiers were close. This was because of their training methods. Unlike other regiments, officers trained with their men and had to know all the drills, including how to use weapons. The soldiers also got extra training. They were encouraged to think for themselves and make quick decisions. When fighting as skirmishers, they often had to react without direct orders.

Fighting Techniques

Most army regiments fought in tight formations, which made it easy to give orders. But light infantry worked in small groups ahead of the main army. So, they used complicated bugle calls to send orders instead of drums. Because of this, the bugle horn became the symbol for light infantry regiments in 1770. It was taken from the German Jäger regiments and became standard for the new Light Infantry regiments.

When skirmishing, light infantry soldiers fought in pairs. One soldier would fire while the other reloaded, covering each other. Regular line regiments fired together in big volleys. But skirmishers fired when they wanted, taking careful aim at targets.

The army thought about giving light infantry rifles because they were more accurate. However, it was hard and expensive to get enough rifles. So, most light infantry troops were given the standard infantry musket. Muskets were not very accurate at long range. Since French chasseurs and voltigeurs also used muskets, skirmishes likely happened at very close distances, maybe 50 yards or less. At 10 yards, a musket was accurate at point-blank range. The British light infantry only used ball ammunition, even though the French often used pellet-shot with their muskets.

Light infantry soldiers were equipped more lightly than regular regiments. They could march very fast, at 140 paces per minute. Their jobs included scouting ahead, protecting the army's sides, and fighting at the front. They also had to form regular lines during battles or join groups attacking enemy forts. During the Peninsular War, they were seen as the army's best soldiers.

Napoleonic Wars

See also: British Army during the Napoleonic Wars

The light infantry regiments were a very important part of the army during the Napoleonic Wars. The Light Division fought in most of the major battles and sieges of the Peninsular War.

During this time, besides the light company in each regular battalion, here were some of the main light infantry groups:

Light Infantry Changes Over Time

By the late 1800s, almost all soldiers used rifles. Also, armies stopped fighting in tight formations because weapons had become so powerful. This meant the difference between "line" infantry and "light" infantry almost disappeared in the British army. Many regiments were still called "light infantry" in 1881, but this was mostly a special title. They no longer had unique fighting roles.

By 1914, the main differences for light infantry regiments were their names, a faster marching pace, buglers instead of drummers, and a special way of carrying their rifles during parades. Their badges always had bugle horns.

Two "light divisions" fought in the First World War. These were the 14th (Light) Division and the 20th (Light) Division. However, they fought just like any other regular divisions. Other countries, like France and Germany, kept special mountain or alpine units. These units were true light infantry. German mountain battalions, called Gebirsjäger, were key in developing their Sturmtruppen (assault battalions). These used classic light infantry tactics to break through enemy lines.

Modern Light Infantry Units

By the Second World War, new ways of using modern light infantry were being developed. As infantry became more mechanized (using vehicles), a difference grew between regular battalions with heavy weapons and those that didn't use vehicles due to tough terrain. At the same time, new parachute infantry, mountain infantry, and special forces units appeared. These were all lightly equipped and often moved on foot.

Sometimes, new infantry regiments were formed for these roles. For example, the Parachute Regiment still serves as specialist light infantry today. Other times, existing infantry battalions were given these new roles, regardless of their old titles.

Another change was the creation of mechanised infantry units for armored divisions. These units used tracked Universal Carriers or Lend-Lease half-tracks. Battalions from the Rifle Brigade and King's Royal Rifle Corps were chosen for this.

After the Second World War, the army continued to become more mechanized. By the 1970s, a standard infantry battalion used armoured personnel carriers. But some battalions remained "light role" units. They had fewer heavy weapons and traveled on foot or by truck. Without heavy vehicles, they could move quickly and be transported by aircraft or helicopters.

These light units were planned to be a reserve force because they could move strategically very fast. They were also used for home defense or quick operations. They were better suited for missions outside of a big war in Western Europe. A famous use of British light infantry was in the Falklands War. The force there included Royal Marine commando units, two battalions of the Parachute Regiment, two light role Guards infantry battalions, and a light role battalion of 7th Gurkha Rifles.

Fate of Light Infantry Regiments

Between 2004 and 2007, many British Army regiments joined together. This followed earlier changes in 1958. The goal was to create a more flexible fighting force for today's threats, which are very different from the Cold War era. Most regiments that existed before 1958 have now been disbanded or reorganized into larger regiments. This process affected all the historic light infantry regiments. The new infantry structure now has different battalions with specialized roles: light, Air assault (or Airborne), armoured, mechanised, and commando support. These are all part of a smaller number of large regiments, like The Rifles.

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