King's Guard (Thailand)

King's Guard
King Bhumibol Adulyadej inspecting the King's Guard on parade, the Royal Plaza in 1953
Active	1859–present
Country	Siam (1859-1939) Thailand (1939-present)
Branch	Royal Thai Army Royal Thai Navy Royal Thai Air Force
Type	Guard Division
Role	Protection and ceremonial duty
Size	69 regimental units
Nickname(s)	Thahan Song Lo (ทหารสองโหล, Two-Dozen soldiers) Mahat Lek Lai Ka (มหาดเล็กไล่กา, Scarecrow Corps)
March	Royal Guards March (มาร์ชราชวัลลภ, March Raja Vanlok)
Insignia
Unit Colour

The King's Guard (Thai: ทหารรักษาพระองค์; rtgs: Thahan Raksa Phra Ong) is a ceremonial designation given to various regiments within the Royal Thai Armed Forces. This contingent is dedicated to the protection of the Royal Family of Thailand.

History

The Royal Guards were established by King Chulalongkorn the Great of Thailand in 1859, when he was still crown 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 Royal Guard regiment were given the name the "King's Guard" and their duties included escorting the king while he travelled around the country.

About the year 1875 the necessity for surveys in connection with improvements in the city of Bangkok, and for supervision in carrying out these improvements, led to the selection of certain officers of the royal bodyguard for training in this direction. These officers were formed into a special company called "Military Engineers of the Royal Bodyguard," in which Mr. James McCarthy held the rank of captain. A royal decree issued September 3, 1885, separated the surveyors from the royal bodyguard and created the Royal Survey Department,^[1] which is now the Royal Thai Survey Department (Thai: กรมแผนที่ทหาร, a Special Services Group of the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters.

The Royal Guards still exist down to the present and serve as protectors of the Royal Family of Thailand.^[2]^[3]

King's Guard units

Royal Thai Army

Cadet unit

Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy Cadet Regiment, King's Guard (Cadet students of the Royal Military Academy)

Infantry units

1st Infantry Division, King's Guard
- 1st Infantry Regiment, King's Own Bodyguard (a.k.a. "Mahat Lek Ratchawanlop" Thai: มหาดเล็กราชวัลลภ: The king's close bodyguards)
- 11th Infantry Regiment, King's Guard
- 31st Infantry Regiment, King's Guard

2nd Infantry Division, King's Guard
- 2nd Infantry Regiment, King's Guard
- 12th Infantry Regiment, King's Guard
- 21st Infantry Regiment, Queen's Guard (a.k.a. "Thahan Suea Rachini" Thai: ทหารเสือราชินี: the queen's tiger soldiers)

Cavalry units

2nd Cavalry Division, King's Guard
- 1st Cavalry Squadron, King's Guard
- 4th Cavalry Squadron, King's Guard
- 5th Cavalry Squadron, King's Guard

27th Cavalry Division, King's Guard

29th Cavalry Division, King's Guard

Artillery units

1st Field Artillery Regiment, King's Guard
2nd Field Artillery Regiment, King's Guard
1st Air Defense Artillery Battalion, King's Guard

Engineer units

1st Engineer Battalion, King's Guard
1st Engineer Division, King's Guard

2nd Engineer Division, King's Guard

Signal units

1st Signal Division, King's Guard
2nd Signal Division, King's Guard

Transport unit

Transport Regiment, King's Guard

Royal Thai Navy

Naval Cadet Regiment, King's Guard (Cadet students of the Royal Naval Academy)
Headquarters Battalion of the 1st Infantry Regiment, Marine Division, King's Guard (Royal Thai Marine Corps)
Headquarters Battalion of the 3rd Infantry Regiment, Marine Division, King's Guard (Royal Thai Marine Corps)
1st Marine Battalion, King's Guard, 1st Infantry Regiment, Marine Division (Royal Thai Marine Corps)
9th Marine Battalion, King's Guard, 3rd Infantry Regiment, Marine Division (Royal Thai Marine Corps)

Royal Thai Air Force

Air Cadet Regiment, King's Guard (Cadet students of the Royal Air Force Academy)
RTAF Security Force Regiment, King's Guard
Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment, King's Guard
201st Air Force Squadron, King's Guard
602st Air Force Squadron, King's Guard

Gallery

A Royal Guard at the gate of Chakri Maha Prasat Throne Hall, Grand Palace, Bangkok.
HRH Princess Sirindhorn with her royal guards, 2012.
Colours guards of the 1st Infantry Regiment, King's Own Bodyguard
A Military Band of 3rd Infantry Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, King's Own Bodyguard
A company of the 1st Artillery Battalion prepared for a 21-gun salute in the royal cremation ceremony of Bejaratana Rajasuda, 2012.
Colours guards of the 1st Cavalry Squadron, King's Guard
Colours guards of the 2nd Infantry Battalion, 11th Infantry Regiment, King's Guard
The Royal Thai Army Band in uniforms of various royal guards unit, ranked in the shape of the flag of Thailand
Colours guards of the Naval Cadet Regiment, King's Guard, Royal Thai Naval Academy
Colours guards of the 1st Marine Battalion, King's Guard, Royal Thai Navy
Colours guards of the Air Cadet Regiment, King's Guard, Royal Thai Air Force Academy
Colours guards of the 1st Security Force Battalion, King's Guard, Royal Thai Air Force
Change of the guard of the First Infantry Regiment of the Royal Guard, Grand Palace, Bangkok

References

↑ Giblin, R.W. (2006) [1908]. "Royal Survey Work.". In Wright, Arnold; Breakspear, Oliver T. Twentieth century impressions of Siam (65.3 MB). London&c: Lloyds Greater Britain Publishing Company. p. 121. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
↑ Nationreligionking.com
↑ http://www.nationreligionking.com/military/thahansua/