Guards Division

The Guards Division is an administrative unit of the British Army responsible for the administration of the regiments of Foot Guards and the London Regiment. The Guards Division is responsible for providing two battalions for public duties to London District (plus three incremental companies); although the guards are most associated with ceremony, they are nevertheless operational infantry battalions, and as such perform all the various roles of infantry.

History

The Guards Division was established by redesignation of the Brigade of Guards in 1968. The depot was established at Wellington Barracks in London.[1]

Before the Options for Change defence review in 1992, there were eight battalions:

The cuts made to the infantry under Options for Change included three battalions of Guards. However, rather than disbanding them, the 2nd Battalions of each of the first three regiments were placed in "suspended animation" – although they would not be active, they would still be listed on the Army Roll, and could be reactivated should they be needed. In order to maintain the traditions of each battalion, and to keep custody of the colours, three companies were kept active, one to represent each battalion:

  • No 2 Company, 2nd Bn Grenadier Guards (renamed Nijmegen Company)
  • No 7 Company, 2nd Bn Coldstream Guards
  • F Company, 2nd Bn Scots Guards

These three units were based permanently at Chelsea Barracks in London on public duties until Chelsea Barracks was sold off by the army. They represent the suspended battalions at significant events, such as Trooping the Colour, and receive the battalion's new colours whenever they are presented. As such, each company is an independent unit of their regiment, separate from the operational battalions.

Current units

Currently units comprise:[2][3]

Past units

Past units include (dates when they were part of the division):[7][8][9]

Note: The three 2nd battalions have technically not been disbanded; instead they are in "suspended animation" and, in theory, can be re-raised if needed. The colours and traditions of each battalion are kept and maintained by the incremental companies.

Telling the regiments apart

Two officers and a Warrant Officer class I of the Irish Guards – in this image the blue plume can be seen on the right hand side of the bearskin, the tunic buttons are grouped in fours, and the shamrock badge is on the collar. The Officer on the far side has a parachute badge indicating he's trained to deploy as a parachutist.

The five regiments of foot guards are most often seen in full dress uniform, comprising navy trousers, scarlet tunic and bearskin cap. From a distance they appear identical, but there are ways to distinguish between the regiments:

  • The colour of the plume, and which side of the bearskin it is worn on
  • The spacing of the tunic buttons
  • The badge worn on the collar
  • The badge worn on the shoulder
RegimentPlumePlume colourButton spacingCollar badgeShoulder badge
Grenadier GuardsLeftWhiteSinglyGrenadeRoyal Cypher
Coldstream GuardsRightRedPairsGarter StarRose
Scots GuardsN/AN/AThreesThistleThistle Star
Irish GuardsRightBlueFoursShamrockSt Patrick Star
Welsh GuardsLeftWhite-Green-WhiteFivesLeekLeek

See also

List of Bands:

References

  1. "Wellington Barracks Review". Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  2. Heyman, p.88
  3. "Army 2020 Report" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 June 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  4. "The Parachute Regiment". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  5. "Guards Parachute Platoon, 3 PARA | ParaData". www.paradata.org.uk. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  6. "22nd Special Air Service Regiment: Service". 24 October 2007. Archived from the original on 24 October 2007. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  7. Whitaker's Almanack 1969
  8. "Brigade of Guards [UK]". 18 December 2007. Archived from the original on 18 December 2007. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  9. "2nd Bn, Scots Guards: Service". 18 December 2007. Archived from the original on 18 December 2007. Retrieved 25 July 2020.

Sources

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