By the Treaty of Versailles the preservation of world peace was entrusted to the League of Nations. In the twenty years which followed, Germany threw off all control and was allowed to organize herself for a second attempt at world domination.

Demobilization

Demobilization at the end of the First World War was a gradual process. The 1st and 2nd Battalions remained in the Cologne area as part of the Army of Occupation which was commanded by Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Morland, K.C.B., K.C.M.G., D.S.O., a 60th officer, and the 3rd Battalion represented the Regiment at Constantinople, but by the middle of 1919 the battalions had returned, the 1st and 2nd to England, the 3rd and 4th, after re-forming at home, sailing to India. The end of 1919 also saw the disbandment of all the remaining New Army battalions, the 11th, 12th, 13th, 16th, 17th and 25th (Pioneers) early in the year; the 13th, 18th and 20th (which had been grouped into the 1st (Light) Brigade at Cologne, under the command of Brigadier-General G. V. Hordern, C.B., C.M.G., another 60th officer) towards the end of it.

For some time the camp at Cannock Chase in Staffordshire was occupied by large numbers of officers and Riflemen sent home for demobilization. In 1920 and 1921 both the 1st and 2nd Battalions were quartered in Ireland.

H.R.H. Prince Henry

H.R.H. Prince Henry was gazetted to the Regiment in 1919 and joined the 2nd Battalion. His Royal Highness transferred to the 10th Hussars in 1921. He became Colonel-in-Chief of The Rifle Brigade, as Duke of Gloucester, in 1942.

Colonel-in-Chief

His Majesty King George V died in 1936. The following year the Regiment was again honoured by the decision of His Majesty King George VI to become Colonel-in-Chief.

3rd and 4th Battalions Disbanded

At the end of 1922 the Army Council decided to disband the 3rd and 4th Battalions of both the 60th and the Rifle Brigade, a serious blow to both regiments. They had been nearly seventy years in existence. Our 1st Battalion was ordered to India and took over details from the 3rd and 4th Battalions at Quetta. The final disbandment took place at Winchester in January and February,1923.

1st and 2nd Battalions

Meanwhile, in April, 1922, the 2nd Battalion went to Silesia and back to Cologne in July, returning home in June, 1925. In 1936 the 2nd Battalion was sent to Palestine to quell the Arab revolt and remained there for fourteen months, after which it remained in England. The 1st Battalion was in India from 1922 to 1934. After an arduous period in Waziristan it proceeded to Burma in November, 1934, and to Egypt at the end of 1938.

The Regiment Becomes "Motor"

In 1937, when war with Germany was more than probable and the use of tanks on a large scale was certain, the need for protective mobile infantry, specially trained and equipped for the purpose, for use with armoured formations, became clear. The 2nd Battalion joined an experimental brigade at Aldershot to try out new arms and equipment. Eventually The King's Royal Rifle Corps and The Rifle Brigade were the regiments selected for service with armoured formations, an honour well in accord with their history and traditions.

The name "Motor Battalion" was given to the new units — an inadequate designation, although the entire personnel is carried in motor transport of various kinds. The organization was designed to make each company self-supporting and able to act independently. The equipment of a company therefore included rifles, light machine guns, mortars, and anti-aircraft and anti-tank weapons, while a high proportion of the men were trained as drivers. The original organization and types of weapons were, of course, changed from time to time during the Second World War.

In 1937 the 2nd Battalion at home was converted to " Motor" and the 1st Battalion in Egypt followed suit at the end of 1938. It was intended that both should take the field with tank formations.

The three affiliated Territorial regiments, The Queen Victoria's Rifles, The Rangers and The Queen's Westminsters, had for some years attested their personnel for service with The King's Royal Rifle Corps, but they did not become an actual part of the Regiment until the war started in September, 1939. During 1940 they each converted their two battalions into "Motor," so that the Regiment included eight field battalions only. The 60th and The Rifle Brigade were fortunate in not having to supply units of other arms of the Service as was the case with all other regiments."