Dear Ladies,
Our first Guest Speaker of 2016, Lt. Col. Lewinski, presented our meeting with a very lively account of the Cavalry – The Queen’s Guard. A great deal of highly informed personal detail was given in a most dashing style that was fascinating and tremendously exciting but unfortunately, ultimately rather easy to forget for we will not be called to remember such detail immediately. So here for all members, a brief recall of the main details of all seven bodies who make up this most distinguished company of solders who guard HM The Queen in London and Windsor.
“The Life Guards: “Shame Upon He Who Thinks Evil Of It” – Formed in 1660, The Life Guards has its origins in a group of loyal gentleme who chose to go with King Charles ll into exile on the continent. Since the Restoration, the Regiment has seen many changes in both name and set-up but has always retained the rank of senior regiment of the British army. From 1788 to 1922, the troops were re-organised into the 1st and 2nd Regiments of Life guards and from 1922 they were amalgamated into one regiment known as The Life Guards.
The Blues and Royals: “Shame Upon He Who Thinks Evil Of It” – Created in 1969 by the amalgamation of two famous cavalry regiments, the Royal Horse Guards and The Royal Dragoons. The uniform of The Blues and Royals is distinguishable by their blue tunics with red plumes on their helmets.
Grenadier Guards: Shame Upon He Who Thinks Evil Of It” – Formed in 1656 by King Charles ll whilst in exile in Flanders, they are the most senior infantry regiment of the British Army. They wear a white plume on the left side of their bearskin cap.
Coldstream Guards: “Second To None” – Formed in 1650, they are famous for being the oldest regiment in the British Army. They wear a red plume on the right side of their bearskin and their tunics sport buttons in pairs.
Scots Guards: “No One Assails Me With Impunity” – Formed in 1642 by Archibald, 1st Marquis of Argyll on the orders of King Charles l, they are the 3rd regiment of the Foot Guards. They wear bearskins without plumes and their tunics have buttons grouped in threes.
Irish Guards: “Who Shall Separate Us” – Formed on 1st April 1900 to commemorate the Irishmen who took part in the Second Boer War for the British Empire by order of Queen Victoria. A St. Patrick’s blue plume adorns their bearskin and the tunic buttons are set in fours.
Welsh Guards: “Wales Forever” – The Regiment was raised on 26 February 1915 by order of King George V to complete the national complement of Foot Guard companies identified with the countries of the UK, and the last body to be created. They wear their white/green/white plume on the left side of their bearskins and their tunic buttons are grouped in sets of five.”
I hope the above online info proves useful.
Margaret Halstead xxx