The History of the Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort’s Own) Formerly the 95th

In this book, originally published in 1877, late lieutenant William Henry Cope recounts the trials and tribulations of the Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort’s Own) in which he served. An infantry rifle regiment of the British Army that was formed in Jan. 1800 as the “Experimental Corps of Riflemen” to provide sharpshooters, scouts and skirmishers (soon renamed the “Rifle Corps”). In 1816, at the end of the Napoleonic Wars, they were again renamed, this time as the “Rifle Brigade”. The unit was distinguished by its use of green uniforms as standard in place of the traditional redcoat, as well as being armed with the first British-made rifle accepted by the British Army, in place of smoothbore muskets. Cope carries his narrative on through the Crimean War, the Indian Mutiny and postings to the far-flung corners of the British Empire to 1870.

Richly illustrated throughout with maps and plans.

“A WISH had long been entertained and often expressed by Riflemen, both by those serving in the Regiment and by those who had formerly served in it, that a detailed record of its services should be compiled...

“To some readers some of the facts and anecdotes I have here recorded may appear trifling and unworthy of mention. But it must be borne in mind that I write for Riflemen, at the desire of Riflemen, and to preserve the memory of the deeds of Riflemen. By them I am sure nothing will be considered trivial, nothing out of place in a history of the Regiment, which records the valour, the acts, the sufferings or even preserves an anecdote of any (of whatever rank) of the members of that brotherhood.”-The Author