1st Battalion, The Rifles

1st Battalion, The Rifles (1 RIFLES) is a light infantry battalion of The Rifles formerly attached to 3 Commando Brigade and based at Beachley Barracks in Chepstow. It is now under 160th Brigade.

History
The battalion formed on 25 December 2007 in Alma Barracks, Catterick Garrison as part of 52 Infantry Brigade, merging the single battalions of the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment and the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment. In August that year, the Battalion moved again to its permanent home of Beachley Barracks at Chepstow still under 52 Brigade, whose HQ had departed for Afghanistan. From 1 April 2008 however, it was permanently attached to 3 Commando Brigade, where it will serve as one of the brigade's four manoeuvre battalions/units alongside the three commandos of the Royal Marines. In April 2011 the 1st battalion deployed to Afghanistan again, returning to the UK in October 2011.