Chapter 4 of 7 · 1572 words · ~8 min read

IV.

THE FOOT GUARDS.

The Grenadier Guards.

3 Batts.

[Illustration: THE CROWN AND CYPHER OF CHARLES II.: THE ORIGINAL BADGE.]

[Illustration: A GRENADE.]

TITLES.

1660-85. The King's Royal Regiment of Guards. 1685-1815. The First Regiment of Foot Guards. 1815 (from). The First, or Grenadier Regiment of Foot Guards.

PRINCIPAL CAMPAIGNS, BATTLES, &c.

* "Honours" on the Colours.

1680-83. Tangier. 1685. Sedgemoor. 1691-97. Flanders. 1692. Steenkirk. 1693. Neer Landen. 1695. Namur. 1702-13. Germany. 1704. Schellenberg. *1704. Blenheim. 1704-8. Spain. 1705. Gibraltar. 1705-6. Barcelona. 1706. Ramilies. 1707. Almanza. 1708 Lisle. *1708. Oudenarde. 1708. Ghent. 1709. Tournay. *1709. Malplaquet. 1710. Menin. 1710. Douai. 1729. Gibraltar. 1742-47. Flanders. *1743. Dettingen. 1745. Fontenoy. 1745. Jacobite rising. 1747. Val. 1758. Cherbourg. 1759-62. Germany. 1762. Denkern. 1762. Wilhelmstahl. 1776-81. America. 1776. Brooklyn. 1777. Brandywine. 1777. Germantown. 1778. Freehold. 1781. Guildford. 1793. Famars. 1793. Valenciennes. *1793. Lincelles. 1793-95. Flanders. 1794. Cateau. 1799. Helder. 1799. Crabbendam. 1799. Bergen. 1799. Egmont-op-Zee. 1799. Alkmaer. 1806-7. Sicily. *1808-14. Peninsula. 1809. Flushing. *1809. Corunna. 1811. Barossa. 1813. St. Sebastian. 1813. St. Marcial. 1813. Bidassoa. 1813. Nive. 1813. Nivelle. 1814. Bayonne. 1814-15. Netherlands. 1814. Bergen-op-Zoom. 1815. Quatre Bras. *1815. Waterloo. 1826-27. Portugal. 1838-42. Canada. *1854. Alma. *1854. Inkerman. *1855. Sevastopol. *1882. Egypt. *1882. Tel-el-Kebir. *1885. Suakim. *1898. Khartoum. 1900. South Africa.

UNIFORM.--Scarlet with Blue facings (from formation).

REGIMENTAL AND OTHER BADGES.--On formation "The Red Cross of St. George" on a white ground; also (till 1815) "The Royal Cypher and Crown." From 1815 "A Grenade," with three of the ancient company badges in rotation (as Colours are renewed). Also, 1st Batt.--The Imperial Crown. 2nd. Batt.--The Royal Cypher, interlaced and reversed, surmounted by the Imperial Crown. 3rd Batt.--The same as 2nd Batt. The company badges are:--

(1) The Royal Crest of England. (2) The Red and White Rose. (3) The Fleur de Lys. (4) The Golden Portcullis. (5) The Rose en Soleil. (6) The Scottish Thistle. (7) The Harp of Erin. (8) The Red Dragon of Wales. (9) The White Greyhound with Golden Collar and Chain. (10) The Sun in Splendour. (11) The Unicorn of the Royal Crown of Scotland. (12) The Antelope. (13) A Royal Hart. (14) A Silver Falcon within a Golden Fetterlock. (15) The Red Rose of Lancaster. (16) A White Swan. (17) The Falcon and Sceptre. (18) A Stock of a Tree putting forth a Green Shoot. (19) A Sword and Sceptre crossed. (20) The Boscobel Oak. (21) The Sun in the Clouds. (22) A Blazing Beacon. (23) Crossed Plumes. (24) The Royal Crest of Ireland. (25) The Cross of St. George. (26) The Lion of Nassau. (27) The Badge of the Order of the Bath. (28) The Crest of Old Saxony. (29) The Irish Shamrock. (30) The Crest of H.R.H. the late Prince Consort.

NICKNAMES.--"The Sand Bags," "The Coal-heavers," "Old Eyes," "The House-maids' Pets," "The Bermuda Exiles."

NOTES.--First raised in London by Colonel John Russell, and incorporated with the Royal Guards of Charles II., raised by Lord Wentworth in the Low Countries in 1656. The title received in 1815 was in recognition of having defeated the French Imperial Guards at Waterloo.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.--_The Origin and History of the 1st or Grenadier Guards._ By Lieut.-Gen. Sir T. W. Hamilton, K.C.B. 3 vols. With Illustrations. [London: Murray. 1874.]

The Coldstream Guards.

3 Batts.

[Illustration: THE STAR OF THE GARTER.]

[Illustration: THE SPHINX.]

TITLES.

1650-60. Colonel Monck's Regiment of Foot: also (popularly) Monck's Coldstreamers. 1660-61. The Lord General's Regiment of Foot. 1661-70. The Lord General's Regiment of Foot Guards. 1670-1817. The Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards. 1817 (from). The Coldstream Guards.

PRINCIPAL CAMPAIGNS, BATTLES, &c.

* "Honours" on the Colours.

1680-83. Tangier. 1689-97. Flanders. 1689. Walcourt. 1692. Steenkirk. 1693. Neer Landen. 1695. Namur. 1704-8. Spain. 1704. Gibraltar. 1705-6. Barcelona. 1707. Almanza. 1707-13. Germany. *1708. Oudenarde. 1708. Ghent. *1709. Malplaquet 1711. Bouchain. 1742-45. Flanders. *1743. Dettingen. 1745. Fontenoy. 1745. Jacobite rising. 1758. Cherbourg. 1760-62. Germany. 1761. Denkern. 1762. Wilhelmstahl. 1776-81. America. 1776. Brooklyn. 1777. Brandywine. 1777. Germantown. 1778. Freehold. 1781. Guildford. 1793-95. Flanders. 1793. St. Amand. 1793. Valenciennes. *1793. Lincelles. 1794. Tournay. 1794. Cateau. 1799. Helder. 1799. Crabbendam. 1799. Bergen. 1799. Egmont-op-Zee. 1799. Alkmaer. *1801. Egypt. 1801. Aboukir. 1801. Alexandria. 1801. Marabout. 1805. Hanover. 1807. Copenhagen. *1809-14. Peninsula. 1809. Flushing. 1809. Douro. *1809. Talavera. 1811. Fuentes d'Onor. *1811. Barossa. 1812. Ciudad Rodrigo. 1812. Badajos. 1812. Burgos. 1812. Salamanca. 1813. St. Sebastian. 1813. Vittoria. 1813. Pyrenees. 1813. Bidassoa. 1813. Nive. 1813. Nivelle. 1814. Bayonne. 1814-15. Netherlands. 1814. Bergen-op-Zoom. 1815. Quatre Bras. *1815. Waterloo. 1827-28. Portugal. 1838-42. Canada. *1854. Alma. *1854. Inkerman. *1855. Sevastopol. *1882. Egypt. *1882. Tel-el-Kebir. *1885. Suakim. 1900. South Africa.

UNIFORM.--Scarlet faced with Green (1650-70); Scarlet faced with Blue (from 1670).

REGIMENTAL AND OTHER BADGES.--In 1660 a red cross on a green ground with six white balls; in 1684 a St. George's Cross, bordered white on a blue ground. The _Regulation_ device is for 1st and 3rd Batts., the Star of the Order of the Garter, surmounted by the Imperial Crown; 2nd Batt., a Star of eight points within the Garter, surmounted by the Imperial Crown, the Union within the dexter canton. Also in twos, in succession, as the Colours are renewed, the following company badges conferred by Royal Authority in 1751:--

(1) A White Lion. (2) The Prince of Wales's Feathers. (3) A Spotted Panther. (4) Two Crossed Swords. (5) The George and Dragon. (6) A Red Rose within the Garter. (7) A Centaur. (8) Two Golden Sceptres crossed. (9) The Golden Knot of the Collar of the Garter. (10) An Escarbuncle. (11) A White Boar with golden bristles. (12) A Dun Cow. (13) A Red and White Rose empaled with a Pomegranate. (14) The White Horse of Hanover. (15) The Electoral Bonnet of Hanover. (16) The Hanover Horse.

Also "The Sphinx" for Egypt.

NICKNAMES, &C.--"The Coldstreamers." "The Nulli Secundus Club."

NOTES.--The Regiment of Coldstream Guards is the direct and only descendant of the Parliamentary Infantry, all other corps having been disbanded at the Restoration. It derives its name from Monck's march from Coldstream to restore Charles II.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.--_The Origin and Services of the Coldstream Guards._ By Colonel Sir Daniel MacKinnon. 2 vols. [London: Bentley. 1833.]

_A History of the Coldstream Guards from 1815 to 1895._ By Lieut.-Col. Ross of Bladensburg, C.B. [London: 1896.]

The Scots Guards.

3 Batts.

[Illustration: ROYAL ARMS OF SCOTLAND.]

[Illustration: THE THISTLE.]

[Illustration: THE SPHINX.]

TITLES.

1660-1713. The Scots Regiment of Guards. 1713-1831. The 3rd Foot Guards. 1831-77. The Scots Fusilier Guards. 1877 (from). The Scots Guards.

PRINCIPAL CAMPAIGNS, BATTLES, &c.

* "Honours" on the Colours.

1689-95. Flanders. 1689. Walcourt. 1690. Boyne. 1693. Neer Landen. 1695. Namur. 1709-13. Spain. 1710. Saragossa. 1742-48. Flanders. *1743. Dettingen. 1745. Fontenoy. 1747. Val. 1758. Cherbourg. 1759-62. Germany. 1761. Denkern. 1762. Wilhelmstahl. 1776-83. America. 1776. Brooklyn. 1777. Brandywine. 1777. Germantown. 1778. Freehold. 1781. Guildford. 1793. Valenciennes. 1793-95. Flanders. *1793. Lincelles. 1799. Helder. 1799. Crabbendam. 1799. Bergen. 1799. Egmont-op-Zee. 1799. Alkmaer. 1801. Aboukir. *1801. Egypt. 1801. Alexandria. 1801. Marabout. 1807. Copenhagen. *1809-14. Peninsula. 1809. Flushing. 1809. Douro. *1809. Talavera. *1811. Barossa. 1812. Badajos. 1812. Burgos. 1812. Ciudad Rodrigo. 1813. St. Sebastian. 1814-15. Netherlands. 1814. Bayonne. 1814. Bergen-op-Zoom. 1815. Quatre Bras. *1815. Waterloo. 1826-28. Portugal. *1854. Alma. *1854. Inkerman. *1854. Sevastopol. *1882. Egypt. *1882. Tel-el-Kebir *1885. Suakim. 1900. South Africa.

UNIFORM.--Scarlet and White facings (from 1660 to _circa_ 1713); Scarlet and Blue facings (from _circa_ 1713).

REGIMENTAL AND OTHER BADGES.--The 1st Batt.: The Royal Arms of Scotland, with motto, "_En! Ferus Hostis_," surmounted by the Imperial Crown; 2nd Batt.: The Union Badge, viz., the Rose, Thistle, and Shamrock, with the motto, "_Unita Fortior_," surmounted by the Imperial Crown. Also two of sixteen company badges, with mottoes borne in rotation, as follows:--

(1) The Royal Crest of Scotland, with "_Nemo me impune lacessit_." (2) A Bombshell, with "_Terrorem affero_." (3) A Lion erect, with "_Intrepidus_." (4) The Badge and Motto of the Order of the Thistle. (5) The Red Lion rampant of Scotland, with collar and chain of gold, and "_Timiere nescius_." (6) A Blue Griffin, with "_Belloque ferox_." (7) A Phœnix in flames, with "_Per funera vitam_." (8) A Thunderbolt, with "_Horror ubique_." (9) A Cannon firing, with "_Concussæ cadent urbes_." (10) A Salamander, with "_Pascua nota mihi_." (11) St. Andrew's Cross, with "_In hoc signo vinces_." (12) A Trophy, with "_Honores præfero_." (13) A Dog, with "_Intaminata fide_." (14) The Label of the Duke of Connaught, with "_Te duce vincimus_." (15) The Galley of Lorne, with "_Ne obliviscaris_." (16) The Rose and Thistle, with "_Fecit cos en gentem unam_."

Also "The Sphinx," for Egypt (1801).

NICKNAME.--"The Jocks."

NOTES.--Raised in Scotland by the Earl of Linlithgow.

The Irish Guards.

[Illustration: THE HARP AND CROWN.]

[Illustration: THE STAR OF THE ORDER OF ST. PATRICK.]

By an Army Order (No. 77, April, 1900), "Her Majesty the Queen, having deemed it desirable to commemorate the bravery shown by the Irish regiments in the recent operations in South Africa, has been graciously pleased to command that an Irish regiment of Foot Guards be formed. This regiment will be designated 'The Irish Guards.'"

The details of the Uniform have not yet been fully settled; the Harp and Crown appear on the buttons, and the Shamrock on the collar, while the regimental badge is the Star of the Order of St. Patrick.

The Irish Guards commenced their public service as the guard of honour at the reception by H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, at Paddington, of Lord Roberts, the Commander-in-Chief, on the occasion of his return from the field of operations in South Africa, 1899-190[?].