The Brigade of Guards

The Guards
Could you imagine the Masion du Roi if they were still around or the French Imperial Guard? If you think about it the Guards are the oldest "fighting" Household Troops around. I think Regimental affiliation is one of the greatest things a soldier can experience. I personally have been mixed about my regimental affiliations: 116th Infantry ( Stonewall's Brigade) VA ARNG dates back to the French and Indian War. The Battle Honors Start during the AWI. There are no traditions save the Normandy Invasion Celebration (the tragic Bedford boys) and the politically edgy heritage as the descendant of the Confederate Regulars of Gen Thomas Jackson. Lately the Regiment sent battalions to fight in both Afghanistan (their battle space was next to ours) and Iraq. For such an old unit it was treated with ambivalence. I am also affiliated as a trooper in the 508th Parachute Infantry. A very young regiment and distinguished one as well . There I wonder if the "para" elitism is also fuels the Regimental Pride. St, Micheal's day celebrations, the three Combat Drops- Normandy, Holland, Iraq. The vicious fighting in Vietnam (Hue & Saigon 68). It was there we celebrated the past glories and had a standard to uphold.

I believe the Swiss Guards at the Vatican are the oldest surviving unit to have actually seen combat (that said, they were wiped out on that occasion). Until their recent amalgamation, the oldest corps in the British Army was the Royal Scots (1633, or 1625 if you include previous service of most of the unit in the Swedish army). IIRC, didn't the US Army consciously adopt a British style regimental system a few years back, in order to foster precisely these traditions? Might have been during the return to an all-volunteer professional army post-Vietnam.

Just a quick question as no reference books to hand but... Guards drummers: bearskins? Cheers Andy

Probably not in America. The whole unit seems to have gone into the cut-down hat (hat cap for flank companies), but there's no definitive evidence either way, so if you really want to stick a dead bear's bum on someone's bonce, nobody can prove you wrong.

Thanks Ronan. I seem to recall you mentioning a white bearskin at some point? Hence my question. As I'm using Minifigs (Continental Marines) for this unit I'd like to pick up suitable Minifigs figures for the drummers. Don't suppose you have any in that batch you're sorting for me? :)... Andy

The 3rd Foot Guards was one of the regiments that got some polar bear pelts and had white bearskin caps, but only for the drummers (who also wore white coats in the early 1770s, but I'm not sure about post-1775). So a bit of artistic licence could give you an interesting/unusual uniform. There are a few drummers in the Polly Oliver stuff, but not in with the Minifigs Guards "bag" (only the Grenadiers in the Minifigs range have drummers in bearskins). I'll see what extras I can pop in for you. :wink:

I'll see what extras I can pop in for you. :wink: Someone's going to get some 59th, methinks.

Ooooh, no. That's a completely different project...... :shock:

I'm confused now. Not that it takes much...

I'm confused now. Not that it takes much... For your convenience and edification ... forumer.com/viewtopic.php?p=22639#22639>clicky

Field Uniforms
There is a very intresting article done by two members of the Company of Military Historians on the organization and uniforms of the Guards provisional unit that was sent to North America in 1776. Here is the bibliographical entry: Burke, William W., and Bass, Linnea M., ‘Preparing a British Unit for Service in America: The Brigade of Foot Guards, 1776.’ Military Collector and Historian, VolumeXLVII, Number 1, Spring 1995, 2-11. I would highly recommend it.

It's the first link in the second post on page 1.

I can't remember where I read it
But I believe I skimmed over a source mentioning the Brigade of Guards flank companies in leather caps?

IIRC, didn't the US Army consciously adopt a British style regimental system a few years back, in order to foster precisely these traditions? Might have been during the return to an all-volunteer professional army post-Vietnam. Sadly the concept of regimental traditions and loyalty you will only see in the elite regiments. The examples that come to mind are the 75th Rangers, and Parachute Regiments. I am proud to say that certain line units are laying the foundations for something akin to the British experience. The cavalry regiments make troopers and officers alike earn their spurs and campaign hat. The 7th Cav has an actual tartan and pipers (Volunteers). It was my experience in the 75th Rangers where I saw real regimental traditions and a legacy transcend the generations. There you had to learn the ranger creed and pass through a Three week physical and mental hell to become a ranger. The Names of the recent dead had to be learned and recited. Battles and history had to be regurgitated on examination. There were two or three volunteer pipers .... harking back to the Scots ancestry of Roger's rangers and even a tomahawk throwing contest. It is known as "the regiment" ... they are the elite and for my UK Audience they are SOF Infantry and have a combat rep similiar to the Rhodesian Light Infantry.

Marine Corps Regiments...
The US Marine Corps has had numbered regiments for quite some time, both infantry and artillery. Each has its traditions and battle honors, the latter being noted as streamers on the regimental colors. The US Marine Corps band in Washington DC also goes back to reversed colors for their uniforms, and the drum major wears a tall bearskin. Marine Corps drum majors have that as their MOS (Military Occupation Specialty) and have a school that they attend to earn the designation. Sincerely, G

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