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The 8th (Isle of Wight Rifles, Princess Beatrice's) Battalion, The Hampshire Regiment, known informally as the 'Isle of Wight Rifles' or by the nickname 'The Isle of Wight Gurkhas'〔Due to a similarity in Rifles uniform and drill, and possibly because they tended to be shorter than the average height of the time.〕 was formed to defend the Isle of Wight after a 19th Century invasion scare. The unit served as infantry during World War I, and as coastal defence artillery during World War II. Postwar it converted to the air defence role. ==Origin== The Isle of Wight had long been fortified against invasion, due to its strategic position. It had also had numerous troops billeted in the Napoleonic Wars.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://woottonbridgeiow.org.uk/rifles/index.php )〕 In 1859, Artillery and infantry Rifle Volunteer Corps were raised in response to an invasion scare following the perceived resurgence of French naval power under Louis Napoleon III.〔Beckett.〕 On the Isle of Wight there was a major programme of fortification, including Forts Victoria, Albert, Golden Hill, and Culver Fort and batteries at Sandown, Puckpool, Bouldnor and the Needles.〔 Infantry support was provided by eight RVCs formed at various locations around the island (dates given are those of first officers' commissions):〔Beckett, Appendix VII.〕〔Westlake, pp. 113–4.〕〔(IoW Rifles at Regiments.org, accessed 28 August 2014 )〕 * 1st (Ryde) Isle of Wight Rifle Volunteers – 25 January 1860 * 2nd (Newport) Isle of Wight Rifle Volunteers – 27 August 1860 * 3rd (2nd Ryde) Isle of Wight Rifle Volunteers – 7 December 1860; disbanded * 4th (Nunwell) Isle of Wight Rifle Volunteers – 17 July 1860 * 5th (Ventnor) Isle of Wight Rifle Volunteers – 22 October 1860 * 6th (Sandown) Isle of Wight Rifle Volunteers – 31 March 1860; disbanded 1862 * 7th (Cowes and Osborne) Isle of Wight Rifle Volunteers – 27 April 1860 * 8th (Freshwater) Isle of Wight Rifle Volunteers – 6 July 1860; disbanded 1869 Those who served in the Corps paid for their own kit and expense; Newtown ranges were set aside for their training. They were soon 3,000 strong. With another 4,000 troops from the mainland, soldiers comprised 1 in 4 of the local population. By this time Queen Victoria had moved to the Isle of Wight at Osborne House.〔 The separate RVCs were brought under the umbrella of the 1st Administrative Battalion of Isle of Wight Rifle Volunteers, formed on 5 July 1860 with headquarters at Newport, under Colonel Dunsmore formerly of the 42nd Highlanders. In 1880 the Administrative Battalion was consolidated as the 1st Isle of Wight Rifle Volunteers, organised as follows:〔〔〔 * A & B Companies at Ryde – formerly 1st RVC * C & D Companies at Newport – formerly 2nd RVC * E Company at Nunwell – formerly4th RVC * F & G Companies at Ventnor – formerly 5th RVC * H Company at Cowes – formerly 7th RVC In September 1885 the unit became the 5th (Isle of Wight 'Princess Beatrice's) Volunteer Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment, Princess Beatrice being Queen Victoria's youngest daughter, married to Prince Henry of Battenberg, who was appointed Honorary Colonel of the battalion.〔〔〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Isle of Wight Rifles」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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