1880s China British Army The Royal Berkshire Regiment Wales SILVER Boxing medal

8.5 gr silver, 30mm. The Royal Berkshire Regiment (Princess Charlotte of Wales's) was originally formed in 1881, amalgamating the 49th (Princess Charlotte of Wales's) (Hertfordshire) Regiment of Foot with the 66th (Berkshire) Regiment of Foot and originally formed as The Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Berkshire Regiment). The 49th Foot becoming the 1st Battalion and the 66th Foot became the 2nd Battalion. In 1885 the'Royal' title was bestowed upon them, (see'Royal' appointment) and became The Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire Regiment). 1921 saw the titles switched again to become The Royal Berkshire Regiment (Princess Charlotte of Wales's).

After their services during WWI and II the regiment was amalgamated once more into The Duke of Edinburgh's Royal Regiment (Berkshire and Wiltshire) in 1959. The China dragon cap badge worn over the red triangular clothe dates bake to the Chinese opium war of 1840 to 1843 resulting in the regiment being permitted to adopt the China dragon, and to display the word'China' on their colours etc. The red triangular clothe a result of the 1777 battle of Brandywine Creek when the regiments green headdress feathers were dyed red so the Americans could recognise the regiment on the field of battle.

The battalions appointment to'Royal' was decreed in 1885 by the late Queen Victoria for gallantry in a relatively little known battle called'McNeill's Zariba'. The gallant part played by the regiment is known today by it's more commonly used title'Tofrek' which can be seen carved into the lintel above the entrance to the barrack room at Brock Barracks in Reading.

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