RGJRA In the News

There has long been a connection between the King`s Royal Rifle Corps and the historic town of Colchester in Essex which dates back to 1858 when the depot companies of the 3rd and 4th Battalions were stationed there whilst the battalions were in India.

In later years the 3rd Battalion formed a part of the towns Garrison from1870 – 71 and again from 1906 – 08, and the 4th Battalion from 1878 – 79. Whilst at Colchester the 3rd Battalion was particularly strong at football and won the coveted Army Football Cup in 1908. The team was also the first main user of the Layer Road Stadium and was perhaps instrumental in bringing an enthusiasm for football to the town. The 2nd Green Jackets, King`s Royal Rifle Corps, returned to Colchester from 1963 to 1965.

David Taylor, a former member of the regiment living in Great Bromley, was interested in finding how it might be possible to get the King`s Royal Rifle Corps badge into the vacant space on the supporting buttress on Balkerne Hill where for many years some 20 other Regimental Plaques had been in position. After a fruitless search his daughter, who works for Colchester Borough Council managed to get in touch with someone in Essex County Council who turned out to be just the person that David needed to talk to. He discovered that in addition to the one vacant position an extra two spaces were to be created and he was told that one of those was available. The plaque has now been mounted and below you will see the first of two photographs which indicates its general position. In this photograph the old gateway through the Roman wall can be seen just to the right of the Hole in the Wall Pub. The second picture shows a more detailed view of the displayed plaque.

The £400 cost of the plaque was met by a grant of £250 from the Celer et Audax Club with the balance provided by donations from local members of the London and Essex Branch of The King`s Royal Rifle Corps Association.

Photo 1





Photo 2