The Worcestershire Rifles (Worcs Rifles) was a volunteer, part-time unit of the British Army based in the county of Worcestershire which had a long, yet split history in two units before merging into the larger Worcestershire Regiment. Following active service in both World Wars, during which its strength was doubled into three battalions, the unit was reduced to a company, and later expanded to two companies. Following reductions in the early 21st century, the two companies were merged and later reduced to a platoon in 2006. Today, the regiment's lineage is continued in the anti-tank platoon of the 4th Battalion, Mercian Regiment, still based in Kidderminster where the first volunteers had formed.
Following Napoleon III's coup and successful take over of France in 1851, a French threat of invasion loomed over the United Kingdom. With this threat, company sized Rifle Volunteer Corps (RVCs) units were formed across the country.[1][2] On 1 July 1859, the British government announced that it would issue 25 Long Enfield Rifles per 100 volunteers, on the condition that the corps provided safe ranges, secured the weapons, set approved rules, and made themselves subject to periodic military inspection.[1] On 4 May 1859, the Worcestershire (Worcs) Rifles were formed. Just two years into the unit's history, the many RVCs, which became increasingly difficult to administer were grouped into 'Administrative Battalions'. Thus, the 1st Battalion, Worcestershire Volunteer Rifles or the 1st Administrative Battalion, Worcestershire Volunteers was formed later that year. The battalion's initial organisation on formation was as follows, and it was intended that each RVC had 100 men.[3][4][2][5]
In 1863, the Volunteer Act 1863 was passed, which required the volunteers to be mobilised in the event of an invasion. In 1872, under the provisions of the Regulation of the Forces Act 1871, jurisdiction over the volunteers was removed from the county lord-lieutenants and placed under the Secretary of State for War. This started the process of integrating the volunteer units into the British Army.[2] On 16 March 1880, the corps was consolidated into a single battalion and the individual titles were removed. The formation then became the 1st Worcestershire Rifle Volunteers. The above RVCs were re-designated as 'companies', lettered A-L and remained based at their former locations.[4][5]
On 1 May 1881, General Order 41/1881 (41st order of 1881) was issued to the Army, signed under the name of the Secretary of State for War, and becoming known as the Childers Reforms. These wide-ranging reforms would seed the creation of the modern British Army with the disestablishment of the old-style numbered regiments, and creation of new county regiments. Among the changes was the union of the 29th (Worcestershire) Regiment of Foot and 36th (Herefordshire) Regiment of Foot, creating the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the new Worcestershire Regiment (Worcs), the county regiment of both Worcestershire and Herefordshire (at least initially). Along with the regular changes, the county RVs were merged into the new regiments creating new 'Volunteer Battalions'. The 1st Worcestershire RVs therefore became a volunteer battalion of the new regiment on 1 July 1881. In 1882, a new 'M Company' was formed in Dudley.[4][5]
Following a supplement to the original reforms, in June 1883 the RVs in the Worcs became the 1st Volunteer Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment, however the Worcs' uniform was not adopted, and the old style uniforms were retained. Between 1885 and 1886 the battalion's headquarters moved to Stourbridge.[4][5]
In 1891, headquarters moved to Kidderminster, and A Company followed shortly thereafter. During the South African War, the battalion sent volunteers to serve alongside the regular 1st and 2nd battalions. For their efforts, the battalion was granted its first battle honour; "South Africa 1900–1901".[2][13][14]