Wilcox
No. 285242 L./Cpl. Alfred Wilcox, 2/4th Oxf. & Bucks. L.I. (Birmingham). For most conspicuous bravery and initiative in attack when his company was held up by heavy and persistent machine-gun fire at close range. On his own initiative, with four men he rushed ahead to the nearest enemy gun, bombed it, killed the gunner, and put the gun out of action. Being then attacked by an enemy bombing party, Cpl. Wilcox picked up enemy bombs and led his party against the next gun, finally capturing and destroying it. Although left with only one man, he continued bombing and captured a third gun. He again bombed up the trench, captured a fourth gun, and then rejoined his platoon. Cpl. Wilcox displayed in this series of successful individual enterprises exceptional valour, judgment, and initiative. 12 September 1918 near Laventie, France LG 12/11/1918
Brooks
No. 201154 C.S.M. Edward Brooks, 2/4th Oxf. & Bucks. L.I. For most conspicuous bravery. This Warrant Officer, while taking part in a raid on the enemy's trenches, saw that the front wave was checked by an enemy machine gun at close quarters. On his own initiative, and regardless of, personal danger, he rushed forward from the second wave with the object of capturing the gun, killing one of the gunners with his revolver and bayonetting another. The remainder of the gun's crew then made off, leaving the gun in his possession. C. S./M. Brooks then turned the machine gun on to the retreating enemy, after which he carried it back into our lines. By his courage and initiative he undoubtedly prevented many casualties, and greatly added to the success of the operations 28th April 1917 at Fayet, near Staint-Quentin, France. LG 26/6/1917
Tooltip Title
No. 201154 C. S./M. Edward Brooks, Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.
For most conspicuous bravery. This Warrant Officer, while taking part in a raid on the enemy's trenches, saw that the front wave was checked by an enemy machine gun at close quarters. On his own initiative, and regardless of, personal danger, he rushed forward from the second wave with the object of capturing the gun, killing one of the gunners with his revolver and bayonetting another. The remainder of the gun's crew then made off, leaving the gun in his possession. C. S./M. Brooks then turned the machine gun on to the retreating enemy, after which he carried it back into our lines. By his courage and initiative he undoubtedly prevented many casualties, and greatly added to the success of the operations 28th April 1917 at Fayet, near Staint-Quentin, France. LG 26/6/1917
Suakin 1885 2nd Oxfordshire L.I.
1777 Cpl. J. Cusack
350 Sgt. W. Franks
1525 Sgt. E. McVittie
1896 Sgt. J. Parker
1978 Sgt. T. Taylor
1900 Sgt. T. Yeoman
Smith
Captain Frederick Augustus Smith 43rd Regiment

For his distinguished conduct during the engagement at Tauranga, on the 21st of June. He is stated to have led on his Company in the most gallant manner at the attack on the Maories' position, and, although wounded previously to reaching the Rifle Pits, to have jumped down into them, where he commenced a hand to hand encounter with the Enemy, thereby giving his men great encouragement, and setting them a fine example. LG 4th Nov 1864
Hawthorne
Bugler Robert Hawthorne 52nd Regiment
Date of Act of Bravery, 14th September, 1857
Bugler Hawthorne, who accompanied the explosion party, not only performed the dangerous duty on which he was employed, but previously attached himself to Lieutenant Salkeld, of the Engineers, when dangerously wounded, bound up his wounds under a heavy musketry fire, and had him removed without further injury.
(General Order of Major-General Sir Archdale Wilson, Bart., K.C.B., dated Head Quarters, Delhi City, September 21, 1857.) LG 27th April 1858
Smith
Lance-Corporal Henry Smith 52nd Regiment
Date of Act of Bravery, 14th September, 1857
"Lance-Corporal Smith most gallantly carried away a wounded comrade under a heavy fire of grape and musketry on the Chaundee Chouck, in the city of Delhi, on the morning of the assault on the 14th September, 1857."
(General Order of Major-General Sir Archdale Wilson, Bart., K.C.B., dated Head Quarters, Delhi City, September 21, 1857.) LG 27th April 1858
Addison
Private Henry Addison 43rd Regiment
For gallant conduct on the 2nd of January, 1859, near Kurrereah, in defending, against a large force, and saving the life of Lieutenant Osborn, Political Agent, who had fallen on the ground wounded. Private Addison received two dangerous wounds, and lost a leg, in this gallant service. LG 2nd Sept. 1859
 

Medals of the Regiments:
The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire
 Light Infantry

 

© Images Copyright ©

Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire LI Beret Badge. Buckinghamshire Battalion Cap Badge
The strung bugle badge of the regiment Cap badge of the Buckinghamshire Battalion
 a volunteer, and later territorial battalion of the regiment
Beret version:  Kipling and King 2005 Kipling and King 1737

 
 
 
 

The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire
 Light Infantry
1741 - 1966
 
 
Titles
pre 1881 post 1881
43rd (Monmouthshire) Regiment of Foot (Light Infantry) 1st Battalion, The Oxfordshire Light Infantry
52nd (Oxfordshire Light Infantry) Regiment of Foot 2nd Battalion, The Oxfordshire Light Infantry
 
Earliest recognised formation: 43rd: 1741, when raised as Thomas Fowke's Regiment of Foot. Numbered the 54th Foot in 1747, renumbered the 43rd Foot in 1751
52nd: 1755, when raised as the 54th Foot.  Renumbered the 52nd after the disbandment of 50th and 51st Regiments of Foot.
 
Motto: ???
 
Regimental Journal:  The 43rd & 52nd Light Infantry Chronicle (1892-4). The Oxfordshire Light Infantry Chronicle, 1895-1908). The Chronicle of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (1909-57). Chronicle of 1st Green Jackets, 43rd and 52nd and the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, (1958-196?)
 
WWI: Battle Honours; 59 Victoria Crosses; 2 Died; 5880
WWII:    Battle Honours;  30 Victoria Crosses; 0 Died; ???
 
Amalgamated:  1966, with the 2nd Green Jackets (The King's Royal Rifle Corps) and the 3rd Green Jackets (The Rifle Brigade)  to form: The Royal Green Jackets.
 
 
A 2nd battalion of the 43rd Regiment existed 1804-17, and a 2nd battalion of the 52nd Regiment 1804-15
 

Peninsula War 1808 - 1814   (Both regiments present.)

Military General Service Medal.  1793 - 1814

 
43rd Regiment*
                 
clasp:

Vimiera

Corunna

Talavera

Busaco

Fuentes d' Onor

Ciudad Rodrigo

Badajos

Salamanca
number: 126101 2348 140268 269 252
              
clasp:

Vittoria

Pyrenees

St Sebastian

Nivelle

Nive

Orthes

Toulouse

  
number: 307191 21162 1383* 291  
 
52nd Regiment**
              
clasp:

Vimiera

Corunna

Talavera

Busaco

Fuentes d' Onor

Ciudad Rodrigo

Badajos

Salamanca
number: 8362 26175 121302 260 251
              
 
clasp:

Vittoria

Pyrenees

St Sebastian

Nivelle

Nive

Orthes

Toulouse

  
number: 269215 52135 115214 239  
 
 

*The three Orthes clasps went to officers, one of which was Lt Col Sir William Napier, author of " History of the Peninsular War"

**A Roleia clasp is recorded for a Captain Charles Pagent but this is possibly an error, being recorded as a Corunna clasp on the Army List. Several other officer recipients received clasps for service outside the regiment, inc. Egypt(1), Barrosa (2), Maida(1), Shagun & Benevente(1)

 

Battle Honours:  Vimiera; Corunna; Busaco; Fuentes d'Onor; Ciudad Rodrigo; Badajos; Salamanca; Vittoria; Pyrenees; Nivelle; Nive; Orthes; Toulouse; Peninsula.

 
 
 

Battle of Waterloo 1815 1st Battalion 52nd Regiment.

Waterloo Medal 1815

Number : 1112
 
 

Casualties 16th, 17th & 18th June 1815 (extracted London Gazette 8/7/1815 & "Medals of the British Army and  how they were won" T. Carter 1861*)

Officers:1 Ensign killed;  2 Captains, 1 Major, 2 Captains, 4 Lieutenants 1 Staff  wounded.

*Sergeants, Trumpeters, Drummers, Farriers and Rank and File:

Wounded Missing
Died of wounds Suffered amputation Discharged Transferred to Veteran or Garrison Battalions Rejoined the Regiment Remaining in hospitals in April 1816 Total Rejoined the RegimentNot since heard of, supposed dead.
14 33 10 3 - 102 26 174 - -
 
 

*Carter's figures are in turn extracted from the return prepared by the Adjutant-Generals office, 13th April 1816.

Battle Honour;  Waterloo.

 
 
 

8th Kaffir War, 1851-1853  43rd Regiment

South Africa Medal 1834-53

number: 610*
 

* The Regimental Surgeon, Alexander Barclay also served in the 7th Kaffir War with the 91st Regiment, and one man, Pte Joseph Tokeley, served in the 7th Kaffir War with the Rifle Brigade.

 

Battle Honours: South Africa 1851-1852-1853.

 
 
 

India Mutiny 1857  (Both regiments present.)

India Mutiny Medal. 1857 -59

   
clasp:
Delhi
....none....
regiment: 43rd 52nd 43rd 52nd
number: -715 81666
 

  VCs: 3;   Hawthorne (52nd)   Smith (52nd)    Addison (43rd)

 

Battle Honour: Delhi

 
 
 

3rd Maori War, New Zealand 1863-1866   43rd Regiment (?? 1863 - March 1866)

New Zealand Medal 1845-1866

 
reverse1863-18641863-18651863-186618641864-18651864-186618651865-1866total medals
number???????? ?
 

VCs: 1;  Smith

 

Battle Honour: New Zealand

 
1881: 43rd and 52nd   Regiments of Foot now become 1st and 2nd Battalions, The Oxfordshire Light Infantry
 

Sudan & The Nile Expedition 1884-5  2nd Battalion

Egypt and Sudan Medal 1882-89

A detachment of the 2nd Ox and Bucks LI formed a component of the Mounted Infantry Camel Regiment for the Nile Expedition

 
Clasp:
The Nile 1884 -85

Suakin 1885
Number: 33 6
 

 

Recipients also entitled to a Khedive's Star dated 1884-6

 

 
 
 

Operations in Burma 1889-92,  2nd Battalion

India General Service Medal 1854 - 95

   
clasp:
Burma 1889-92
number: ?
 

 

 
 
 

North West Frontier Operations 1897-98   2nd Battalion

India Medal 1895

clasp:

Punjab Frontier  1897-98
Tirah 1897-98
number: 1110851
View the Roll
 
 
 
 

South African War 1899 - 1902 or "Boer War"    1st Battalion (Jan 1900 - end of the war)

Queen's South Africa Medal 1899-1902, with or without the King's South Africa Medal 1901 - 1902

Common clasps: Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902; also:

 
         
clasp:
Relief of Kimberley

Paardeberg

Driefontein

  
number:        
         
 

 

Casualties:

Officers NCOs and Men
KIA & DOW/ DOD Wounded Missing / POW KIA & DOW Death from disease Wounded Missing / POW
 
2/- 8 1 29 83 96 -
 

Battle Honours: Relief of Kimberley, Paardeburg, South Africa 1900-1902

 
1908: title of the regiment now becomes: "The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry"
 

The Great War 1914 - 1918, and Archangel 1919  (  18 battalions;  12 served overseas:- )

Generally awarded the British War Medal & Victory Medal, men overseas prior to 1/1/1916 also a 1914 or 1914-15 Star.

Battalion → 1*  2 1/4 1/1 2/1 2/4 5 6 7 8 1 2**
Buckinghamshire Pioneer Garrison
date of first overseas service.
 (first theatre red x )		 27/11
1914		 14/8
1914		 30/3
1915		 30/3
1915		 26/5
1916		 26/5
1916		 21/5
1915		 22/7
1915		 21/9
1915		 19/9
1915		 ?/2
1916		 ?/7
1916
France & Flanders   x x x x x x x x x   x
Gallipoli                        
Egypt & Palestine                        
Mesopotamia x                      
Macedonia                 x x    
North Russia* x                      
India                     x  
Star
possible ? 		1914 or 1914-15   x                    
or 1914-15 only x   x x     x x x x    
VCs at a glance:                      
died
Extracted from : "Soldiers / Officers Died in the Great War" (consider approximate - in addition the regiment as a whole lost an additional   64 officers who are recorded with 'battalion not shown'  or with battalions not shown here, or who we have  not yet allocated a battalion.)		 566 1117 519 501 436 567 946 525 219 42 13 12
 
* 1st Battalion in India at the start, sent to Mesopotamia. Captured Kut al Amara 29/4/1916. Reformed from reinforcements. Spring 1919: The 1st Ox and Bucks LI formed HQ and "A" Coy of No 2 Composite Battalion for service in North Russia, with the other three companies formed from Warwicks, Devons and Berks. This Battalion later became 1st Ox and Bucks LI.
** Title changed to "11th Garrison Battalion", 13/7/1918, "Garrison" later dropped.
 
Regular Territorial Force New Armies Garrison.

 

Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19
13 officers and 90 men of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry also qualified for this medal.

 


VCs: 2,   Wilcox    Brooks

 

Battle Honours:  Mons; Ypres 1914, 1917; Langemarck 1914, 1917; Nonne Bosschen; Somme 1916, 1918; Cambrai 1917, 1918; Piave; Doiran 1917, 1918; Ctesiphon; Defence of Kut al Amara.
 Retreat from Mons; Mame 1914; Gheluvelt; Aubers; Festubert 1915; Hooge 1915; Loos; Mount Sorrel; Albert 1916, 1918; Bazentin; Delville Wood; Pozieres; Guillemont; Flers Courcelette; Morval; Le Transloy; Ancre Heights; Ancre 1916; Bapaume 1917, 1918; Arras 1917; Vimy 1917; Scarpe 1917; Arleux; Menin Road; Polygon Wood; Broodseinde; Poelcapelle; Passchendaele; St Quentin; Rosieres; A vre; Lys; Hazebrouck; Bethune; Hindenburg Line; Havrincourt; Canal du Nord; Selle; Valenciennes; France and Flanders 1914-18; Vittorio Veneto; Italy 1917-18; Macedonia 1915-18; Kut al Amara 1915; Khan Baghdadi; Mesopotamia 1914-18; Archangel 1919.

 
 
 

Saya San Rebellion, Burma.  2nd Battalion

India General Service Medal 1908

clasp:

Burma 1930-32

number:?
 
 
 
 

WW2 1939 - 1945   6 battalions served overseas

Battalion → 1st 2nd 4th 1st
 Buckinghamshire		 6th 7th
campaign ↓            
France and  Belgium 1940.
(Dunkirk )		 x   x x    
North Africa & Middle East           x
Burma         x  
Sicily / Italy           x
N.W. Europe x x   x    
 

Notes.
  11th and 143rd  Infantry Brigades BEF
3/10/39 - 29/1/40 - 1/6/40

71st Infantry Brigade  from 30/7/42
NW Europe 25/6/44 - end.

 In India at the start moved to the UK

D-Day Landers 6th Airlanding Brigade.
 D Coy and 2 Pls B Coy,  formed part of special force to try and seize intact bridges at Benouville and Ranville.

 145th Infantry Brigade BEF
majority captured 1940		 UK to India 9/8/42
74th Indian Infantry Brigade
Arakan 12/3/44 - 2/4/45		 167th London Infantry Brigade 14/2/41- 23/9/44

Iraq, Palestine, Egypt, North Africa, Libya, Italy.
 
    21st Army Group NW Europe. D-Day Landers, Assault Troops, 6th Beach Group deployed to to secure Sword Beach and defend ammo dump.
 

WW2 Stars common to the Battalion. (excluding 39-45 star )
 Key: A = Africa, P = Pacific, B =  Burma, I = Italy,  F&G = France and Germany
  F&G F&G   F&G B A, I
             
 
 

Most also entitled to the 1939-45 War Medal and many the Defence Medal

 

Battle Honours: Second World War Cassel; Ypres Comines Canal; Normandy Landing; Pegasus Bridge; Reichswald; Rhine; Enfidaville; Salerno; Anzio; Gemmano Ridge.  Defence of Escaut; Caen; Esquay; Lower Maas; Ourthe; Rhineland; Ibbenburen; North-West Europe 1940, 1944-5; North Africa 1943; St Lucia; Salerno Hills; Teano; Monte Camino; Garigliano Crossing; Damiano; Coriano; Italy 1943-5; Arakan Beaches; Tamandu; Burma 1943-5.

 
 
 

Jewish / Arab Unrest,  Palestine 1945 - 48 2nd Battalion (1945)

General Service Medal 1918 -62

clasp:
Palestine 1945-48
number:?
 
 
 
1948: Regulars reduced to a single battalion (the 1st)
 

Canal Zone 1951 - 1954 1st Battalion

General Service Medal 1918 -62

clasp:

Canal Zone

numbers:?

 

 
 
 

The Cyprus Emergency 1955 - 1960  1st Battalion (Aug 1956 - May 1959)

General Service Medal 1918-62

clasp:

Cyprus

numbers:?
 
 
 
 
 
1958: 1st Battalion, The Oxfordshire Light Infantry redesignated  "1st Green Jackets (43rd and 52nd)"
 
 
 

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Selected Links

The Regimental Museum. (Located in )
 
 
 

Selected Bibliography;

 
Author Title Publisher
Sir Richard George Augustus Levinge, Bart. Historical Records of the Forty-Third Regiment, Monmouthshire Light Infantry, with a Roll of the Officers and their Services from the period of embodiment to the close of 1867.  352 pp. London: W. Clowes & Sons, 1868.
Compiled under Direction of the Committee and edited by W. S. Moorsom, late Captain. Historical Record of the Fifty-Second Regiment (Oxfordshire Light Infantry) from the year 1755 to the year 1858.    437 pp. London: Richard Bentley, 1860.
 Rev. William Leeke The History of Lord Seaton's Regiment (The 52nd Light Infantry) at the Battle of Waterloo; together with various Incidents connected with that Regiment, not only at Waterloo, but also at Paris, in the North of France, and for several years afterwards: to which are added many of the Author's Reminiscences of his Military and Clerical Careers, during a period of more than fifty years.   2 vols. London: Hatchard and Co., 1866.
Sir Henry Newbolt. The Story of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (The old 43rd and 52nd Regiments).  224 pp. London: " Country Life." 1915
Capt. J. E. H. Neville. History of the 43rd and 52nd (Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire) Light Infantry in the Great War, 1914-1919. 
Vol. 1. The 43rd Light Infantry in Mesopotamia and North Russia.  (the only volume published)		 Aldershot: Gale & Polden Ltd., 1938.
Edited by Lieut.-Col. A. F. Mockler-Ferryman. The Oxfordshire Light Infantry in South Africa. A Narrative of the Boer War.  314 pp.  London: Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1901.
Lt.-Col. R. B. Crosse. A Record of H.M. 52nd Light Infantry in 1914.   139 pp., Privately published  200 copies. Warwick: Spennell Press Ltd., 1956
Henry Stooks Smith. An Alphabetical List of the Officers of the Forty-Third, or Monmouthshire Light Infantry from 1800 to 1850.  40 pp. London: Simpkin, Marshall & Co., 1851.
 Lieut.-Col. C. Wheeler.
 Foreword by Major-Gen. J. Duncan		 Memorial Record of the Seventh (Service) Battalion The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. 224 pp. Oxford: Basil Blackwell. 1921.
Lieut.-Col. A. F. Mockler-Ferryman. Regimental War Tales, 1741-1914. Told for the Soldiers of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (The Old 43rd and 52nd).  253 pp. Oxford: Alden & Co., Ltd., 1915
Compiled by Major P. Pickford. War Record of the 1/4th Battalion Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.  127 pp.  Banbury: "Banbury Guardian" Office, 1919.
Capt. G. K. Rose
Preface by Brig.-Gen. The Hon. R. White and an Introduction by Col. W. H. Ames.		 The Story of the 2/4th Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.   226 pp.  Oxford: B. H. Blackwell, 1920.

 

Additional Bibliography for this Page.

 
Author/Compiler Title Publisher
Officers of the Regiment. Unpublished rolls in the care of the National Archives; WO 100/ etc. -
  Additional bibliography same as Northumberland Fusiliers page  
     
     
 

 

 

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