thumb|Artists Rifles Memorial at [[Burlington House, London]]

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

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. 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.

History

Formation and 19th century

thumb|left|upright|[[The Place (London)|The Place, 17 Duke's Road, Bloomsbury, built 1888 as the headquarters of the 20th Middlesex (Artists') Rifle Volunteer Corps]]

thumb|Former cap badge with profiles of Roman gods Mars and Minerva

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. 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. 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.

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. It was officially opened by the Prince of Wales.

thumb|left|[[Over The Top (painting)|Over The Top, 1918, oil on canvas, by John Nash]]

20th century

thumb|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. It became the 28th (County of London) Battalion of The London Regiment on 1 April 1908.

thumb|right|Terracotta doorway at the former Artists' Rifles HQ

thumb|left|King Nicholas I Petrovic of Montenegro and General Sir Douglas Haig inspecting the guard of honour, 28th London Regiment, Artists Rifles, Beauquesne, France, November 1916.

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. 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. 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.

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. 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. 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."

In early 2003, a composite squadron of about 60 soldiers of 21 SAS, including soldiers from 23 SAS, were deployed to Afghanistan. There are conflicting accounts on the role of the squadron during this time with Rayment writing in 2003 that it was "long-range reconnaissance" while in 2010 Rayment writes that it was to "establish a communications network across Afghanistan and also acted as liaison teams". 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.

Three 21 SAS soldiers were awarded Military Crosses as a result of fighting in Nad-e Ali in Helmand Province in Afghanistan in 2008. A 21 SAS soldier was awarded a Conspicuous Gallantry Cross at a later date for service in Afghanistan. The units then left that brigade before the end of 2019. 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.

Organisation

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

  • 'Cap' (Capability) Squadron (Regent's Park)
  • 'A' Squadron (Regent's Park)
  • 'C' Squadron (Basingstoke/Cambridge/Hitchin)
  • 'E' Squadron (Newport/Exeter)

Unlike other reserve units, 21 and 23 SAS routinely deploy on their own missions as formed units, sub-units or as small teams. Both units require attachments from various arms and services, including the Royal Corps of Signals, Intelligence Corps, Royal Logistic Corps, Adjutant General's Corps, Royal Army Medical Service and Royal Army Chaplains' Department.

Recruitment and training

To join, personnel must be phase-two trained in another reserve or regular unit. They must first undergo the UKSF briefing course and, if successful, are mobilised to undertake a six-month, full-time selection course which runs twice a year. Those who pass routinely progress onto mission-specific training and operations. Applications to join SAS(R) are accepted from men and women, across all three services.

Commanding officers

  • 1869–1883 Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Frederic Leighton
  • 1883–1902 Colonel Robert William Edis, CB
  • 1902–? Colonel W. C. Horsley

Honorary colonels

  • 1883–1896 Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Frederic Leighton

Battle honours

  • Second Boer War
  • The Great War (3 battalions): Ypres 1917, Passchendaele, Somme 1918, St. Quentin, Bapaume 1918, Arras 1918, Ancre 1918, Albert 1918, Drocourt-Quéant, Hindenburg Line, Canal du Nord, Cambrai 1918, Pursuit to Mons, France and Flanders 1914–18.

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:

  • 2nd Lt Rupert Price Hallowes, 4th Battalion, The Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own)
  • 2nd Lt Arthur James Terence Fleming-Sandes, 2nd Battalion, The East Surrey Regiment
  • Capt The Rev Edward Noel Mellish, Royal Army Chaplains' Department
  • Lt Geoffrey St George Shillington Cather, 9th Battalion, The Royal Irish Fusiliers
  • Lt Eugene Paul Bennett, 2nd Battalion, The Worcestershire Regiment
  • 2nd Lt George Edward Cates, 2nd Battalion, The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)
  • Lt Donald John Dean, 8th Battalion, The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment
  • Lt Col Bernard William Vann, 1/8th Bn, Sherwood Foresters
  • Lt Col Augustus Charles Newman, No. 2 Commando

See also

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

  • Army Reserve
  • Volunteer Force (Great Britain)
  • Prince Consort's Own Rifle Brigade

Notes

References

Bibliography

  • 21 & 23 SAS British Army Website