Question on British Household Guards

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Ad RE:Question on British Household Guards 3/5/2005 1:02:21 PM

I made comment on 2 Para as I serve in that battalion. As far as Regimental hierarchy goes, we?re very much the junior regiment. However, as far as fighting abilities go, we?re trained to a greater degree with P-Coy than traditional line Regiments and as such serve a different role in the Army as an ?elite? Light Infantry unit, capable of deploying in different ways. In such, we?re more flexible. The structure its self is different too, as there are on average 530 soldiers to a battalion in the Parachute Regiment, which differs with around 600 to 650 in a Line Regiment and 800 to an RM Commando. This being down to the different role each unit is intended to carry out within the Army.

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Worcester RE:Question on elite Household Division 3/8/2005 3:08:39 PM

The Household Division includes:- (a) the Household Cavalry in which the "Life Guards" are senior to the "Blues & Royals" ("Royal Horse Guards/1st Dragoons"); in practice, these two cavalry regiments are split with half of each forming the Household Cavalry Regiment (a Formation Armored Recon Regiment) and half of each forming the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment (on horse for ceremonial); troopers alternate every two years or so. HCR was the lead regiment in Iraq last year and the standards are extremely high including its own airborne element. (b) the Guards Division (infantry) in which the Grenadier Guards are senior due to their formation from the Kings Regiment of Guards raised in exile under Charles II; however, the Coldstream Guards (2nd Foot Guards) were formed as Moncks Regiment under Parliament at an earlier date and became Guards on the restoration of Charles II...hence their motto: "Second to None". The Hiusehold Division are carefully selected to be politically loyal to the Crown and are very well trained and disciplined. The Major-General Commanding the Household Division is also General Officer Commanding London District, responsible for the security of not only all Royal Palaces but the entire metropolis; a politically important job. To do this he has command of the HCR at Windsor (with light tanks), the HCMR plus 2 Public Duties Guards Battalions in Central London and two Light Role Guards battalions nearby as well as the Irish Guards armored battle group in Germany (delegated to XXth Brigade in war) and emergency control of Army Training Regiment Pirbright (primarily the Guards Depot). In addition he has command of all London-based military headquarters and units not included in the Field Army formations, and Field Army units (Headquartered at Land Command in Wiltshire) are not permitted to enter London without his permission. The Household Division are all elite regiments by selection, training and tradition. They have only ever taken volunteers and have never had conscription. It is noticeable that the only Victoria Cross in Northern Ireland went to the Scots Guards and the only George Cross in Iraq last year to the Household Cavalry. The Guards formed elite formations in both world wars: 1st (Guards) Brigade (which remains the formation for light role Guards battalions today) and 20th (Guards) Armored Brigade (in which the Irish Guards still serve). The elite Airborne Pathfinder unit was the Guards Independent Parachute Company which was so good that the name was simply changed in 1966 to G (Guards) Squadron, 22 Special Air Service Regiment - dedicated to the Household Division soldiers it is the only squadron so "reserved" for particular regiments. It should be remembered that the SAS was founded predominantly by Guards officers. Aside from this it is notable that 3 Para recently requested reinforcement and were sent a platoon of Guards (Guards Platoon, 3 Para) who within a month of joining beat seven other Para platoons to come second in the MacKay VC Trophy patrol competition. The Platoon retain their elite "Household Division Flash" both on their left arm and beret. Stict order of precedence of the British Army is:- 1. The Household Cavalry (The Life Guards and The Blues & Royals (RHG/D)) 2. The Royal Armoured Corps (all Cavalry Regiments & Ryl Tank Regiment) 3. Royal Regiment of Artillery 4. Corps of Royal Engineers 5. Royal Corps of Signals 6. The Foot Guards 7. Infanty Regiments of the Line (senior: The Royal Scots, junior: The Parachute Regiment) 8. The Special Air Service Regiment 9. Army Air Corps

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Yimmy RE:Question on elite Household Division 3/8/2005 6:56:29 PM

Worcester, ATR Pirbright hasn't been a Guards depot for some time now. As far as I know no Guards are based their now.

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PeregrinePike RE:Question on elite Household Division 3/8/2005 8:14:22 PM

Thanks. For some reason I was under the impression that Cavalry and Infantry had parallel rankings, not inf. below cav. So that was illuminationg. The reason I asked was that Indian Brigade of Guards is formed on Coldstream lines, and I find too much info on Coldstream to shrift through for this kind of sucsinct info. Thanks.

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Worcester RE:Question on elite Household Division-Yimmy 3/11/2005 2:02:25 PM

"Pirbright isnt the Guards Depot. As far as I know no Guards are based there." I didnt say it was the Depot. Pirbright ATR is used for Guards and HCR training (among others such as Royal Artillery) so it is "essentially" the same role as when it was the Depot, hence "essentially the Guards Depot".

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Worcester RE:Strict Seniority 3/11/2005 2:09:43 PM

Of course senior to the regular regiments are those militia and bodies formed before there was a standing army. The oldest:- 1. Royal Monmouthshire Militia - a Royal Engineers TA unit 2. Honourable Artillery Company - a TA Special Forces strategic recon unit; used to have responsibility for targetting tactical nuke strikes, now used for strategic fire control and recon similar to 21SAS.

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PeregrinePike RE:Question on elite Household Division 4/12/2005 7:19:43 PM

"The Hiusehold Division are carefully selected to be politically loyal to the Crown and are very well trained and disciplined." -- How is this "loyalty" determined in this rather free thought times? And beyond being well trained, I thought they were also supposed to be physically large... 6 feet or so in early 19th Century. Does that tradition continue? If so what are such requirements?... for comparison with a commonwealth unit styled on the Coldstream Guards

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Yimmy RE:Question on elite Household Division 4/12/2005 8:20:03 PM

Worcester, I have been to Pirbright more times than I care for, and not once I have I seen a gaurdsman - I am almost certain they no longer have a part there. From what you see RLC are in the vast majority.

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Worcester RE:Question on elite Household Division 4/13/2005 2:00:32 PM

"mostly RLC"...maybe you're hanging out with the wrong people! Sure it's not a traditional depot anymore, but it does include the central ceremonial unit (or whatever it's now called) which has an awful lot of Household in it.

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Worcester RE:Question on elite Household Division-Peregrine 4/13/2005 2:05:03 PM

"how is this loyalty determined in these free thought times" Tradition, indoctrination + selection: "sound" officers and reliable/good soldiers. And the Guards have rarely been accused of having "free thought".

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