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 public duties battalions to London District (plus three incremental companies); although the guards are most associated with ceremonial, they are nevertheless operational infantry battalions, and as such perform all the various roles of infantry.

History

The Guards division was established by renaming 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:

• 1st and 2nd Bn, Grenadier Guards
• 1st and 2nd Bn, Coldstream Guards
• 1st and 2nd Bn, Scots Guards
• 1st Bn, Irish Guards
• 1st Bn, Welsh Guards

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

Current units comprise:^[2][3]

• Regular Army Units
  • 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards (light infantry role)
  • Nijmegen Company, Grenadier Guards
  • 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards (public duties role)
  • No 7 Company, Coldstream Guards
  • 1st Battalion, Scots Guards (heavy protected mobility role)
  • F Company, Scots Guards
  • 1st Battalion, Irish Guards (public duties role)
  • 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards (light protected mobility role)
• Territorial Army Units
  • London Regiment

Past units

Past units include:^[4]

• 2nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards (1656–1994)
• 2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards (1711–1993)
• 2nd Battalion, Scots Guards (1689–1993)

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.

See also

• Household Division
• Guards Division for the tactical formation active in World War I (and briefly at the end of World War II)
• Guards Armoured Division for the tactical formation active in World War II

List of Bands:

• Band of the Grenadier Guards
• Band of the Coldstream Guards
• Band of the Scots Guards
• Band of the Irish Guards
• Band of the Welsh Guards

References

1. "Wellington Barracks Review". Retrieved 18 April 2014.
2. Heyman, p.88
3. http://www.army.mod.uk/documents/general/Army2020_Report.pdf
4. Whitaker's Almanack 1969

Sources

• Heyman, Charles (2012). The British Army: A Pocket Guide, 2012-2013. Pen & Sword.

External links

• Brigade of Guards at regiments.org by T.F.Mills at the Wayback Machine (archived 15 July 2007)