The Regiment

Grenadier Officer c1685

Pte c 1790

Gdsm in the Gulf War 1991

This short reference has been compiled mainly from existing Histories and books on the Regiment, and it complements rather than supersedes these Histories.

A Short History of the First or Grenadier Regiment of Foot Guards

The life of our Regiment began in Flanders. At many times in the last three hundred years the towns and villages of the Low Countries have been familiar to men of the 1st Guards. They fought in 1658, and again in 1940, against great odds, on the road between Furnes and Dunkirk. Under the great Duke of Marlborough they bore their part in the victories of Ramillies, Oudenarde and Malplaquet. At Waterloo in 1815 they won their name, a name to which great honour was added a century later in the mud and suffering of the Western Front. In 1944 they entered Brussels at the head of a victorious British Army. They have returned gloriously many times to Flanders, and in Flanders they were first formed.

King Charles II was in exile, and England lay under the military dictatorship of Cromwell, the Lord Protector. In May of that year the King formed his Royal Regiment of Guards at Bruges, under the Colonelcy of Lord Wentworth. The Regiment was first recruited from the loyal men who had followed their King into exile rather than live under tyranny, and their reward came in 1660 when the King was restored to his throne. After the Restoration, a second Royal Regiment of Guards was formed in England under the Colonelcy of Colonel John Russell. In 1665, following Lord Wentworth's death, both Regiments were incorporated into a single Regiment with twenty-four Companies, whose royal badges or devices, given by King Charles II, are still emblazoned on its Colours.

The Regiment, later termed "The First Regiment of Foot Guards", and now called "The First or Grenadier Regiment of Foot Guards", has fought in almost every major campaign of the British Army from that time until our own. Under the last two Stuart Kings it fought against the Moors at Tangiers, and in America, and even took part as Marines in the naval wars against the Dutch.

In the Wars of the Spanish Succession, the 1st Guards served under a commander who had joined the King's Company of the Regiment as an Ensign in 1667. His name was John Churchill, first Duke of Marlborough who was Colonel of the Regiment and who, with his brilliant victories of Blenheim (1704), Ramillies (1706), Oudenarde (1708) and Malplaquet (1709), established his reputation as one of the greatest soldiers of all time. The 1st Guards took part in his famous march from the Low Countries to the Danube in 1704, and when the British stormed the fortified heights of the Schellenberg before Blenheim, the Regiment led the assault.
In the long series of wars against France - then the chief military power of Europe - that covered fifty-six of the 126 years between 1689 and 1815, the 1st Guards played their part. They fought at Dettingen and Fontenoy, where the superb steadiness of their advance under a murderous cannonade won the admiration of both armies. Rigid attention to detail, flawless perfection of uniform and equipment and a discipline of steel were the hard school in which the tempered metal of the Regiment was made for the service of the State. Yet running through that tradition of discipline, of harsh punishments, of undeviating rule, ran a vein of poetry, of humour, of loyalty to comrade, of sense of belonging to something greater than any individual, something undying and profound. And the letters and diaries of men of the Regiment of those days bear witness to it.

During the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, the 1st Guards, crossing to Holland in 1793, were among the first British troops to land in Europe. Driven from the Continent two years later, they returned in 1799 when another British Army attempted, though in vain, to liberate Holland. In the autumn and winter of 1808 they took part in Sir John Moore's classic march and counter-march against Napoleon in Northern Spain and, when under the terrible hardships encountered on the retreat across the wild Galician mountains the tattered, footsore troops, tested almost beyond endurance, showed signs of collapse, the 1st Foot Guards, with their splendid marching discipline, lost fewer men by sickness and desertion than any other unit in the Army. Subsequently they took part in the battle of Corunna and when Sir John Moore fell mortally wounded in the hour of victory it was men of the 1st Foot Guards who bore him, dying, from the field. Next year, they fought again in Spain under one of the great Captains of history, an officer also destined to become Colonel of the Regiment, Arthur Wellesley, first Duke of Wellington. Under Wellesley, they took part in the desperate engagements of the Peninsular War.

When, after the victorious peace that followed, Napoleon escaped from Elba and re-entered Paris, the Regiment returned to the Low Countries. In the middle of June 1815 the Emperor struck at the British and Prussian forces north of the Meuse, seeking to separate them and destroy them severally.

After a fierce encounter at Quatre Bras on June 16th, 1815, in which the 3rd Battalion suffered heavy casualties, Wellington's Army withdrew to Waterloo, and on Sunday June 18th, was fought the battle in which the Regiment gained its present title and undying fame. During the morning the light companies of the Guards defended the farm of Hougoumont, the light companies of the 1st Guards being withdrawn later to join their battalions - the 2nd and 3rd Battalions. At evening these two battalions, together forming the 1st Brigade, were in position behind the ridge which gave shelter to the Army. At this point Napoleon directed his final assault with fresh troops - the Imperial Guard, which had hitherto been maintained in reserve. That assault was utterly defeated, and, in honour of their defeat of the Grenadiers of the French Imperial Guard, the 1st Guards were made a Regiment of Grenadiers and given the title of "First or Grenadier Regiment of Foot Guards" which they bear to this day. The Grenade was adopted as a badge and the Bearskin Cap was worn after Waterloo.

During the Crimean War, the 3rd Battalion formed part of Lord Raglan's Army, which stormed the heights above the River Alma and besieged the Russian fortress of Sebastopol. During the early part of that grim siege was fought, in November 1854, the battle of Inkerman. The defence of the Sandbag Battery in the fog against overwhelming odds is one of the epics of British military history. On that day the Brigade of Guards, of which the 3rd Battalion of the Grenadier Guards formed part, lost half its officers and men, but not a single prisoner or an inch of ground.

The Grenadier Guards fought at Tel-el-Kebir and in the Boer War, proving the worth of discipline and esprit de corps in the era of khaki, machine guns and open order as they had done under the old dispensation of muskets and scarlet and gold.

In the first Great War of 1914-18, they fought in nearly all the principle battles of the Western front. At First Ypres all but 4 officers and 200 men of the 1st Battalion and 4 officers and 140 men of the 2nd fell in action. The regiment won the battle honour 'Ypres' twice; firstly in 1914 and then again in 1917.

During this war a 4th Battalion was formed for the first time and covered itself with glory in the critical fighting in the spring of 1918. The Marne, the Aisne, Ypres, Loos, the Somme, Cambrai, Arras, Hazebrouck and the Hindenburgh Line are inscribed on the Colours of the Regiment, commemorating its part in the bloodiest war of our history. Before the final victory was won and Britain's new Armies broke the German Imperial Army, 12,000 casualties had been suffered by the Regiment.

The rank of Guardsman replaced that of Private in all Guards Regiments in 1919, an honour awarded by the King in recognition of their great effort during the War.

In 1939 the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions again returned to the Continent, forming part of the British Expeditionary Force under Lord Gort, himself a Grenadier. During the retreat of 1940, the traditional discipline of the Regiment stood the test as it had done at First Ypres, Corunna and Waterloo. Two of its Battalions fought in the Division then commanded by Major General, later Field Marshal, Montgomery and another in that commanded by Major General, later Field Marshal, Alexander. At Dunkirk, which the Regiment had garrisoned under Charles II, it took part in the defences of the perimeter, under cover of which the embarkation of the Army was made. In the course of that year the 4th Battalion was re-formed, and in 1941 two further Battalions, the 5th and 6th, were raised.

The Regiment was represented in the Eighth Army's famous advance to Tunisia, taking part in the battle of Mareth, where the 6th Battalion, the first to meet the enemy after the evacuation of Dunkirk, suffered heavy casualties but won the respect of friend and foe alike. The 3rd and 5th Battalions shared in the invasion of North Africa; all three Battalions were engaged in the invasion of Italy and the Italian campaign, the 5th Battalion forming part of the force that landed at Anzio.

Meanwhile, in England, the 2nd and 4th Battalions had been converted to armour, and the 2nd Battalion, with the 1st Battalion, which had become a Motor Battalion, served in the Guards Armoured Division under the command of Major General Allan Adair, another Grenadier, and later to become Colonel of the Regiment. The 4th Battalion formed part of the 6th Guards Tank Brigade. These three Battalions fought in the battles of Normandy and across France and Germany. In September 1944 the 1st and 2nd Battalions entered Brussels. On September 20th, tanks of the 2nd Battalion and troops of the 1st Battalion crossed the Nijmegen Bridge. In 1945 the Army entered Germany.

The British public most frequently sees the Grenadier at his ceremonial duties in time of peace. But behind this ceremony lies a tradition tested on the battlefields of British history, a tradition as valid to-day as ever, a tradition of discipline, comradeship, loyalty and fidelity to one another, to the Country, and to the Crown. It was expressed by the then Colonel of the Regiment, the Prince Consort, speaking on the 200th anniversary of our formation in words that remain as true over a century later. "That same discipline which has made this Regiment ever ready and terrible in war has enabled it to pass long periods of peace in the midst of all temptations of a luxurious metropolis without the loss of vigour and energy; to live in harmony and good-fellowship with its fellow citizens; and to point to the remarkable fact that the Household Troops have for over 200 years formed the permanent garrison of London; have always been at the command of the civil power to support law and order, but have never themselves disturbed that order, or given cause of complaint, either by insolence or licentiousness. Let us hope that for centuries to come these noble qualities may still shine forth, and that the Almighty will continue to shield and favour this little band of devoted soldiers".

Since 1945 the Regiment has served in virtually every one of the "small campaigns" and crises which have marked the last few decades, and has continued its traditional and privileged task of mounting guard over the person of the Sovereign.

In the Gulf war of 1991, the 1st Battalion went from the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) - Germany - to fight in their Warrior armoured personnel carriers. They then returned to London to Troop their Colour on the Queen's Birthday Parade in 1992, before going to South Armagh for a six-month operational tour in Northern Ireland. They then carried out operational tours in the Falkland Isles and a two-year operational tour in Northern Ireland.

In 1998 they trained in the United States of America, were on operations in Northern Ireland in 1999, conducted training in Canada in 2000 and Norway in 2001, served in Northern Ireland in 2001 and were again in Canada in 2002. They trained in Kenya and served in the Falklands in 2003.

Currently the Queens Company are deployed on peace keeping duties in Kosovo. The remainder of the Battalion are conducting Public Duties and training and are stationed in Windsor.

The Regiment now consists of the 1st Battalion whose Left Flank Company, the 'Inkerman Company', retains the inherited privileges of the 3rd Battalion.

The 2nd Battalion was placed in suspended animation in 1994, but the traditions and the Colours of the Battalion are carried by the Nijmegen Company, the incremental Company, which carries the name of the battle honour won by the 2nd Battalion in 1944.

During the Regiment's long history, seventy nine battle honours have been awarded. Thirteen members of the Regiment have won the Victoria Cross and one the George Cross.

Battle Honours.

The correct title for "Battle Honours" is Honorary Distinctions. The Regiment has been awarded seventy-nine Honorary Distinctions of which forty-six appear on the Colours of the Regiment. These are in chronilogical order, by Year and Date:-

1680 Tangier 1899-1901 South Africa

1695 Namur 1914 - 4 Aug France & Flanders 1914-1918

1704-05 Gibralter 1914 - 8 Sep Marne

1704 - 11 Aug Blenheim 1914 - 14 Sep Aisne

1706 - 23 Apr Ramillies 1915 -27 Sep Loos

1708 - 11 Jul Oudenarde 1916-1918 Somme 1916-1918

1709 - 11 Sep Malplaquet 1917-31 Jul Ypres 1914-1917

1743 - 16 Jun Dettingen 1918 - 12 Apr Hazebrouck

1793 - 18 Aug Lincelles 1918 - 27 Aug Arras (Scarpe)

1799 - 2 Oct Egmont-op-Zee 1918 - 12 Sep Hindenburg Line (Havrincourt)

1809 - 16 Jan Corunna 1918 - 8 Oct Cambrai

1808-09 Penninsular 1940 - 3 Jun Dunkirk

1811 - 5 Mar Barrosa 1943 - 16 Mar Mareth

1813 - 13 Dec Nive 1943 - 23 Apr Medjez Plain

1815 - 18 Jun Waterloo 1943 - 10 Sep Salerno

1854 - 20 Sep Alma 1943 - 6 Nov Monte Camino

1854 - 5 Nov Inkerman 1944 - 22 Jan Anzio

1855 - 9 Sep Sevastopol 1944 - 30 Jul Mont Pincon

1882 - 13 Sep Tel-el-Kebir 1944 - 25 Aug Gothic Line

1882 Egypt 1944 - 19 Sep Nijmegen

1885 Suakin 1945 - 30 Mar Rhine

1898 - 2 Sep Khartoum 1991 - 28 Feb Gulf 1991

1899 - 28 Nov Modder River 1991 - 28 Feb Wadi-al-Batin

Victoria Cross.

Thirteen members of the Regiment have been awarded the Victoria Cross:

Crimea War - 4 Colonel The Hon HHM Percy (Inkerman) *

Brevet Major Sir Charles Russell Bt (Inkerman)

Sergeant A. Ablett (Sevastopol)

Private A Palmer (Inkerman)

1914-1918 War - 7 Capt & Brevet Major (Acting Lieut Colonel) Viscount Gort. MVO.,DSO.,MC (Premy Ridge) *

Lieutenant (Acting Capt) GHT Paton, MC (Gonnelieu)

Lieutenant (Acting Capt) TT Pryce, MC (La Couronne)

Lance Sergeant JH Rhodes, DCM (Crossing the Broembeek)

Lance Corporal WD Fuller (Neuve Chapelle) *

Private E. Barber (Neuve Chapelle)

Private WE Holmes (Cattenieres)

1939-45 War - 2 Major The Hon WP Sidney (Anzio) *

Lance Corporal H. Nicholls (River Escaut)

The Victoria Crosses of those shown with a asterisk are not held by the Regiment. The Medals belonging to Lance Corporal Fuller are held by the Guards Museum.

Regimental Marches.

The Regimental Marches are :

Slow Marches The March from Scipio and The Duke of Yorks March

Quick Marches The British Grenadiers and The Grenadiers March

Presentation of New and Laying up of Old Colours of the Regiment.

I have been gleaning some information about the Presentation and the Laying up of Colours of the Regiment. This information covers only the period between 1951 and 1993. I shall be pleased to add to this list if anyone would like to give me any firm detail. Perhaps you might have copies of Order of Parade or Order of Service laying about somewhere.

Date
Battalion
Presented
Laying Up
Place

1951 (New)
3rd Bn (New) Buckingham Palace Colours Lodged in Garrison Church, Pirbright and at some stage the 10 WW II Battle Honours were added to the Colours

1951
3rd Bn Old Colours Manchester Cathedral

1953 Queen's Company Windsor Castle

1953
1st and 2nd Bns Buckingham Palace

1953
1st Bn Old Colours St Mary's Nottingham

1953
2nd Bn Old Colours Liverpool Cathedral

1967
1st Bn Buckingham Palace

1968
1st Bn Old Colours Lincoln Cathedral

1969
2nd Bn Buckingham Palace

26 Apr 1970
2nd Bn Old Colours Worcester Cathedral

3 May 1978
1st and 2nd Bns Buckingham Palace

1979
1st Bn Old Colours Derby Cathedral

1979
2nd Bn Old Colours Ely Cathedral

26 May 1992 1st and 2nd Bns Horse Guards Parade

3 Dec 1992
1st Bn Old Colours Guards Chapel, Wellington Barracks

5 Dec 1993
2nd Bn Old Colours St Margaret's Church, Westminster Abbey

Spring 2001 2nd Bn (Nijmegen Company) Buckingham Palace

19 Sept 2002 2nd Bn (By Nijmegen Company Old Colours Bristol Cathedral

Nick Names.

The following was submitted to Jim White for inclusion in his weekly newsletter to those in the email listings.

I have just found a set of cigarette cards published in 1900, by a firm called Parkers. This set depicts many Regiments of the British Army, with their badge, cap badge and nicknames. For the Regiment it correctly shows the Royal Cypher with the VR reversed and interlaced, a Grenade fired proper as the cap badge and the following nicknames, presumably in the order of the three Battalions; "Sand Bags"; "Coal Heavers" and "Old Eyes". Where do these fit in? and when were Grenadiers first referred to as "Bill Browns", "Models" or "Ribs"?

This is another item submitted for the same newsletter from Jim White.

"Some time ago I read Hamiltons history of The Grenadier Guards, this stated that The Bill Browns applied to the third battalion only. At that time the second battalion was the Boners, meaning that they had bone in the Brown Besses instead of flints, they were also known for many years as The Bermuda Exiles, the result of a mutiny in London.

Another from Jim White's latest newsletter -

Reference the various nicknames: the origins of the Dandies, Models and Ribs are in regimental standing orders and are generally now accepted by the regiment. The origins of the Bill Browns (or Brownes) remain unclear to me, I remain convinced that it is connected with civil disorder brought about in connection with one William Browne, I have been unable to prove this apart from very tenuous links. The Coal Heavers allegedly came about because officers of the regiment 'rented out' services of the Guardsmen (or at that time privates) to haul coal, this was done to raise money for the refurbishment of the officers mess at St James' Palace. The sand bags or more likely 'sandbaggers' is a reference to the action at the sand bag battery at the battle of the Inkerman. I suspect that the origins of Bill Browns is lost to time but most of these nicknames would probably have been applied originally to only one battalion. The link to the Brown Bess seems very unlikely as this weapon was in service for around one hundred years and it seems far fetched that there is a link unique to the regiment. Any more offers?

The current and "official" nicknames of the Regiment and the three Battalions are as follows :-

The Regiment - The Bill Browns

1st Battalion - The Dandies

2nd Battalion - The Models

3rd Battalion - The Ribs

Long before the Royal Marines came into existence as The Duke of Albany's Maritime Regiment, the First Guards (3rd Battalion) were serving at sea as marines - (the Pith helmeted ones hate being reminded of this fact!) - The 3rd Bn fought at sea in the wars against the Dutch, and because they slept down in the depths of the ship, or its Ribs, they picked up the nickname of 'The Ribs' - To commemorate those days at sea, the 3rd Bn adopted the custom of playing Rule Britannia before The National Anthem at Tattoo Beating.

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The photograph below shows The March Past on the occasion of the Presentation of New Colours by Her Majesty The Queen to the 1st and 2nd Battalions on 26th May 1992 on Horse Guards.

Photo acknowledgement: J.Salmon Ltd. Sevenoaks, Kent

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Three figures in the margin are acknowledged as the work of Alix Baker FRSA

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