major@uunet.UU.NET (Mike Schmitt) (01/24/91)
From: bcstec!shuksan!major@uunet.UU.NET (Mike Schmitt)
As fascinated as I am with the history of British regiments, I've looked
up some historical facts about the British armor and infantry units now
supporting Desert Storm. Most of these units have a lineage stretching
back to the 1600's and have fought in most all the major conflicts that
British Army has participated in. In fact, under Marlborough during
the 1704 Battle of Blenheim, you'll find the ancestors of the Scots Dragoon
Guards, Royal Scots, Coldstreamers, Fusiliers, and 5th Lancers(Dragoons).
197 years later they're again ready to fight - side by side - Desert Storm.
[Blenheim is called Blindheim in Germany - a little village nestled in
a valley between the Donau River and Ulm - I had the opportunity to walk
the battlefield in 1982 when I was supposed to be conducting a 'route
reconnaissance' for the 1st Inf Div (Forward)].
Some highlights on selected units:
Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Scots Greys) (Armoured)
Raised in 1678 as 2nd Dragoons. Known as "Scots Greys" as they were
mounted on 'huge' grey horses - used as "heavy cavalry" and
conducted a famous charge at Waterloo. Part of the "Heavy
Brigade" in the Crimean War.
Queen's Royal Irish Hussars (Armoured)
Amalgamation of 4th Dragoons (1685) and 8th Dragoons (1693) - were
'Hussars' (Light Cavalry) and took part in the Charge of the
Light Brigade at Balaclava.
1st Royal Scots (Mechanised Infantry)
The oldest regiment (though not the senior regiment) in British
Army history - on continious service since 1633 (descendents of
Gustavus Adolphus' Green Grigade). Carries 137 battle honours.
Withstood brutal cavalry attacks at Waterloo.
Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (Mechanised Infantry)
Fought in the American Revolution at Bunker Hill, Brandywine, and
Yorktown. Also fought at Blenheim, Minden, Penninsula, Waterloo.
1st Batallion Coldstream Guards (Infantry)
The senior regiment of British Infantry (1650) raised from the
village of Coldstream as Colonel Monk's Regiment then the
Lord-General's Regiment of Foot Guards. Only regiment to
trace an unbroken lineage from the New Model Army (1650).
One of the regiments that you'll see at Buckingham Palace and
the Changing of the Guard (along with Grenadier Guards, Irish Guards,
and Welsh Guards). Their battle streamers include Canada(1812),
New Orleans(1815), Waterloo, Crimea, Boer, The Somme (WWI),
During WWI and WWII, most of the books I have begin talking about Brigades
and Divisions and Armies and some of the regimental identities are lost
in the dialogue. But, I'm sure these 'senior' regiments participated.
It would be interesting to know if any participated in the Mesopotamia
Campaign (modern Iraq) in WWI against the Turks (Ottoman)
(I don't have much information on units participating in the Falklands -
if someone has that info (Angela?) it would be much appreciated.)
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I don't believe any army in the world can trace their lineage and honors
as far back as the British Army.
Mike Schmitt
"First rank, kneel!"
"Present."
"Fire!"
"Second rank."
"Present."
"Fire!"
- The thin red line of British Infantry
grahams@milton.u.washington.edu (Stephen Graham) (01/25/91)
From: grahams@milton.u.washington.edu (Stephen Graham) In article <1991Jan24.032946.18864@cbnews.att.com> bcstec!shuksan!major@uunet.UU.NET (Mike Schmitt) writes: > > I don't believe any army in the world can trace their lineage and honors > as far back as the British Army. > Oddly enough, the U.S. Army has older units. For instance, portions of the Massachusetts National Guard trace their lineages back to a militia unit raised in 1632. The Connecticut and Virginia National Guard have units raised in 1634 and 1637. (The Virginia unit's lineage is even more interesting, as it includes service as the 1st Virginia Infantry in Confederate service.) However, the U.S. Army's lack of regard for historicity threatens to eliminate these units. Steve Graham graham@isis.ee.washington.edu
chidsey@smoke.brl.mil (Irving Chidsey) (01/25/91)
From: Irving Chidsey <chidsey@smoke.brl.mil>
In article <1991Jan24.032946.18864@cbnews.att.com> bcstec!shuksan!major@uunet.UU.NET (Mike Schmitt) writes:
< 1st Royal Scots (Mechanised Infantry)
< The oldest regiment (though not the senior regiment) in British
< Army history - on continious service since 1633 (descendents of
< Gustavus Adolphus' Green Grigade). Carries 137 battle honours.
<
< 1st Batallion Coldstream Guards (Infantry)
< The senior regiment of British Infantry (1650) raised from the
< village of Coldstream as Colonel Monk's Regiment then the
< Lord-General's Regiment of Foot Guards. Only regiment to
< trace an unbroken lineage from the New Model Army (1650).
Please, how can one tell if it was on continuous service unless
it was possible to trace an anbroken lineage? I presume the paradox is
due to the formal definitions and rules of military heraldry, not to the
definitions and rules of normal English usage.
Irv
--
I do not have signature authority. I am not authorized to sign anything.
I am not authorized to commit the BRL, the DOA, the DOD, or the US Government
to anything, not even by implication.
Irving L. Chidsey <chidsey@brl.mil>