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**pio12345** · 28-06-2009, 11:48

Bit of a history question here. I've just been reading Clayton's The British Officer and noticed he referred to the formation of the Royal Green Jackets as the amalgamation of a number of regiments to preserve their 'elite' status. I've also read in a few other places the RGJ being referred to as elite. Having read the Sun I know to take this kind of thing with a pinch of salt as everything is referred to as elite but was wondering why I often see the RGJ being referred to as elite. Is it a social or historical thing? Has this elite status transferred onto the Rifles?

**tropper66** · 28-06-2009, 11:49

Read " The Rifles" by Mark Urban

**dingerr** · 28-06-2009, 11:59

Good as they may be, by definition, no they're not elite.

stabradop · 28-06-2009, 12:04

My old man was in that regiment - historically they were an elite as in the Napoleonic Wars they started out as hand picked men, chosen for their ability to think for themselves a bit better than the average redcoat.

Elite (occasionally spelled Élite) is taken originally from the Latin, eligere, "to elect" (yes I nicked this from Wiki)

**Werewolf** · 28-06-2009, 12:12

Originally Posted by stabradop

My old man was in that regiment - historically they were an elite as in the Napoleonic Wars they started out as hand picked men, chosen for their ability to think for themselves a bit better than the average redcoat.

Elite (occasionally spelled Élite) is taken originally from the Latin, eligere, "to elect" (yes I nicked this from Wiki)

In fairness to the RGJ, a British Infantry Regiment is better than many of the world's so-called elite or Special Forces units.

Anyone remember the Egyptian "Force 777"?

**FiveAlpha** · 28-06-2009, 12:15

If the jackets were elite, Werewolf would have forged a fawning, almost stalker-like friendship with one of them on here by now.

**the_boy_syrup** · 28-06-2009, 12:24

Originally Posted by stabradop

....., chosen for their ability to think for themselves a bit better than the average redcoat....

"As in bury her here"
"What did you get as a get away car"
"A Mini Moke"
"Choosen men"

They could have marched faster than that heap of sh1t :D

**cupoftea** · 28-06-2009, 12:30

Edited. Question moved.

**Werewolf** · 28-06-2009, 12:32

Originally Posted by FiveAlpha

If the jackets were elite, Werewolf would have forged a fawning, almost stalker-like friendship with one of them on here by now.

Like the "friendship" between you and Biscuits_AB?

**FiveAlpha** · 28-06-2009, 13:21

Originally Posted by Werewolf

Originally Posted by FiveAlpha

If the jackets were elite, Werewolf would have forged a fawning, almost stalker-like friendship with one of them on here by now.

Like the "friendship" between you and Biscuits_AB?

You mean the 'we're both the same poster' fantasy that you've invented and started believing? Anyone that sees through your obsessive lust for soldiers and martial arts which carries you through your mundane civvy life of trolley collecting is a friend in my books.