1st Infantry Regiment (Thailand)

The 1st Infantry Regiment, King's Close Bodyguard (Thai: กรมทหารราบที่ 1 มหาดเล็กราชวัลลภรักษาพระองค์) (ร.1 ทม.รอ.) is a King's Guard regiment under the 1st Infantry Division, King's Guard of the Royal Thai Army. The regiment is divided into three battalions, all of them based in Bangkok. The regiment is the only unit of the Royal Thai Armed Forces with the designation Mahat Lek Rajawallop (Thai: มหาดเล็กราชวัลลภ); meaning the king's close bodyguards, translated as the King's Own Bodyguards. The unit was first established by King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) in 1859, whilst he was still a young prince. One of the primary role of the regiment is to provide security and protection to members of the Thai Royal Family as well as the ceremonial escort and guarding of the royal palaces. The unit is the oldest regiment of the Thai army.

1st Infantry Regiment, King's Close Bodyguard
กรมทหารราบที่ ๑ มหาดเล็กราชวัลลภรักษาพระองค์
Rajawallop insignia, the official emblem of the 1st Infantry Regiment, King's Close Bodyguard
Active1859-present
CountryThailand
Branch Royal Thai Army
TypeRoyal Guard
RoleInfantry
SizeRegiment
Part ofRoyal Security Command
Garrison/HQPhaya Thai District, Bangkok
Nickname(s)Thahan Mahat Lek Rajawallop
(มหาดเล็กราชวัลลภ, King's close bodyguards)
Thahan Song Lo
(ทหารสองโหล, Two-Dozen soldiers)
Mahat Lek Lai Ka
(มหาดเล็กไล่กา, Scarecrow Corps)
ColorsRed-White
MarchRoyal Guards March
(มาร์ชราชวัลลภ, March Raja Vanlok)
Engagements
Decorations
Bravery Medal (2nd Battalion)[1]


King Rama VIII Royal Cypher Medal, 1st Class[2]


King Rama IX Royal Cypher Medal, 1st Class[3]
Websitewww.1stinfantryreg.in.th
Insignia
Unit colours

History

The Royal Guards were established by King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) of Siam in 1859, when he was still a young prince. Initially, the Royal Guards were servants with duties such as scaring crows, which led to commoners referring to them as the "Mahat Lek Lai Ka," roughly translated as "Scarecrow Corps."

When he succeeded his father in 1868, King Chulalongkorn took his Royal Guard and formed a 24-strong Royal Bodyguard, referred to as the "Thahan Song Lo" (Two-Dozen soldiers"). In 1870, the unit was upgraded into a full army regiment and was given the name the "King's Guard" and their duties included escorting the king while he travelled around the country. The king commanded the regiment himself until 1873, when he appointed Lieutenant General Chao Phraya Phasakornwongse as its first military commander.

The Royal Guards still exist down to the present and serve as protectors of the Royal Family of Thailand.[4][5]

On 18 January 2019, the unit has renamed to 1st King's Own Bodyguard Regiment.[6] Then, on 23 April 2019, The unit has renamed again to 1st Infantry Regiment, King's Close Bodyguard.[7]

On October 1, 2019, the command of the unit was transferred from the 1st Division, King's Guard to the Royal Security Command under the command of King Vajiralongkorn, along with 11th Infantry Regiment. Thereby removing the two units out of the chain of command of the Royal Thai Army and into the monarchy.[8]

Organization

Active
  • 1st Infantry Battalion, 1st King's Own Bodyguard Regiment (King Vajiralongkorn's Own Guards)
  • 2nd Infantry Battalion, 1st King's Own Bodyguard Regiment (King Vajiralongkorn's Own Guards)
  • 3rd Infantry Battalion, 1st King's Own Bodyguard Regiment (King Vajiralongkorn's Own Guards)

Dissolved
  • 4th Infantry Battalion, 1st King's Own Bodyguard Regiment (King Chulalongkorn's Own Guards) (amalgamated with the Royal Security Command and renamed to King's Own Bodyguard Command in 2017)

Notable members
  • King Chulaongkorn, the founder of the unit, in the scarlet uniform of the regiment
  • King Prajadhipok in the scarlet uniform, with the old style helmet to the right of the picture
  • 1st Infantry Regiment in the Royal Funeral Procession of King Ananda Mahidol
  • Regimental colours of the 1st King's Own Bodyguard Regiment
  • Red ceremonial uniform of the regiment, used by the 1st, 2nd battalion and former 4th battalion
  • Distinctive white and pink uniform of the 3rd Battalion
  • White uniforms of the regiment, changing of the guards at the Grand Palace in Bangkok

See also

References
  1. ราชกิจจานุเบกษา. แจ้งความสำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี เรื่อง พระราชทานเหรียญกล้าหาญประดับธงชัยเฉลิมพล. เล่ม ๕๘, ตอน ๐ ง, ๒๙ เมษายน พ.ศ. ๒๔๘๔,หน้า ๙๑๓.
  2. ราชกิจจานุเบกษา. แจ้งความสำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี เรื่อง พระราชทานเหรียญรัตนาภรณ์ประดับธงไชยเฉลิมพล. เล่ม ๕๕, ตอน ๐ ง, ๒๓ มกราคม พ.ศ. ๒๔๘๑, หน้า ๓๖๑๘.
  3. ราชกิจจานุเบกษา. แจ้งความสำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี เรื่อง พระราชทานเหรียญรัตนาภรณ์ประดับธงชัยเฉลิมพล. เล่ม ๗๐, ตอน ๗๖ ง, ๘ ธันวาคม พ.ศ. ๒๔๙๖, หน้า ๕๑๙๓.
  4. Nationreligionking.com
  5. http://www.nationreligionking.com/military/thahansua/
  6. https://www.thairath.co.th/content/1473061
  7. http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2562/E/100/T_0027.PDF
  8. Wongcha-um, Panu (October 1, 2019). Richardson, Alex (ed.). "Thailand's king takes personal control of two key army units". Reuters.
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