For their gallantry in fighting back to back, the Regiment was given the
unique honour of wearing a badge at the back of their caps. This honour has
prevailed. The Battle Honour 'Egypt' with the Sphinx together with the
laurel leaves of victory are also borne on the Regimental Colour. Cap badges
fore and aft are worn to this day by soldiers of The Royal Gloucestershire
Berkshire & Wiltshire LI.
The Regiment, then the
28th Foot (North Gloucestershire) under the Command of General Sir Ralph
Abercromby landed in Egypt against strong French opposition. They marched
onwards to Alexandria where they brought the French army to Battle.
The 28th. took up a defensive position on a line of low sand hills. On
their right was an old Roman fort, which stood on a slight rise close to the
shore, and to the front of this was an unfinished redoubt, which was manned
by the 28th. Between them, the fort and the redoubt formed the key position,
for if either was taken, then the British flank could be turned.
Under the cover of the pre-dawn darkness and sand dunes, two columns of
French infantry headed straight for the British right. Heavy fighting ensued
and as more French columns joined the attack, the 28th. Became cut off. The
British musketry drove off the French onslaught but a brigade of French
infantry moved through the gap between the 28th. and the rest of the British
line. A counter attack by the 42nd Foot drove off this attack but they in
turn went too far and were themselves in danger from French cavalry. The
battle raged all along the line, but nowhere as fiercely as on the right,
with the 28th fighting to their front and flanks. More French cavalry joined
in, supported by more infantry. Some of the cavalry broke through the 42nd
and formed up to charge the 28th in the rear. With no reserves available at
this critical point in the battle, Lt. Col. Chambers, who had taken over
command following the serious wounding of the C.O. Col. Paget, gave the
historic order "Rear rank, 28th! Right about face!"
The rear ranks turned and with exemplary discipline waited until the
French cavalry were a few horse lengths away. They then fired one
devastating volley, causing heavy casualties amongst the cavalry and forcing
them to withdraw.
In 1801 battles were fought by forming up
into what is often referred too as the 'Thin Red Line' with battles fought
from the front. The infantry, in their bright red tunics, would line up in a
columns of three. The front rank would be lying in the prone position, the
middle rank would kneel and fire over the heads of those in front and the
rear rank would be standing and firing over the heads of their comrades.
