High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The Isle of Wight Rifles were also known as the "8th (territorial) Battalion The Hampshire Regiment, Princess Beatrice's Isle of Wight Rifles", or informally "The Isle of Wight Rifles". They also gained the Nickname "The Isle of Wight Gurkhas" due to a similarity in Rifles uniform and drill, and possibly because they tended to be shorter than the average height of the time. The Isle of Wight had long been fortified against invasion, due to its strategic position. It had also had numerous troops billeted in the Napoleonic Wars. In 1859 the Artillery and Infantry Volunteer Corps were raised in response to an invasion scare following the perceived resurgence of French naval power under Louis Napoleon III, along with major fortification building, constructing Forts Victoria, Albert, Golden Hill, and Culver Fort in addition to batteries at Sandown, Puckpool, Bouldnor and the Needles. Newtown ranges were set aside for their training. Those who...