| Irish Guards | |
|---|---|
 Regimental badge of the Irish Guards[a] | |
| Active | 1 April 1900 – present |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | 1st Battalion - Security Force Assistance[1] No. 9 Company - Public Duties No. 12 Company - Public Duties No. 15 Company - Reserve |
| Size | One battalion Three independent companies |
| Part of | Guards and Parachute Division |
| Garrison/HQ | RHQ – London 1st Battalion –Aldershot Garrison |
| Nicknames |
|
| Motto | Latin:Quis Separabit? ('Who Shall Separate [Us]?') |
| March | Quick –St Patrick's Day Slow –Let Erin Remember |
| Mascot | Irish Wolfhound |
| Commanders | |
| Colonel-in-Chief | King Charles III |
| Colonel of the Regiment | Catherine, Princess of Wales |
| Insignia | |
| Tactical Recognition Flash |  |
| Tartan | Saffron (pipes) |
| Plume | St. Patrick's blue Right side ofBearskin cap |
| Abbreviation | IG |
TheIrish Guards (IG) is one of theFoot Guardsregiments of theBritish Army and is part of theGuards Division. Together with theRoyal Irish Regiment, it is one of the two Irishinfantry regiments in the British Army.[2][3] The regiment has participated in campaigns in theFirst World War, theSecond World War, theIraq War and theWar in Afghanistan as well as numerous other operations throughout its history. The Irish Guards claim sixVictoria Cross recipients, four from the First World War and two from the Second World War.
The Irish Guards were formed on 1 April 1900 by order ofQueen Victoria to commemorate the Irishmen who fought in theSecond Boer War for theBritish Empire.[4][5]
Following the outbreak of theFirst World War, 1st Battalion Irish Guards was deployed to France almost immediately, and they remained on theWestern Front for the duration of the war. During the early part of the war, the battalion took part in theBattle of Mons and formed the Alliedrearguard during theGreat Retreat. The battalion then took part in one of the bloodiest battles of 1914, theFirst Battle of Ypres, which began on 19 October, inflicting major casualties among the oldRegular Army.[6]
The 1st Battalion was involved in fighting for the duration of 'First Ypres', atLangemarck,Gheluvelt andNonne Bosschen. The 1st Battalion suffered huge casualties between 1–8 November holding the line against near defeat by German forces, while defendingKlein Zillebeke.[6]
In May 1915, the 1st Battalion took part in theBattle of Festubert, though did not see much action. Two further battalions were formed for the regiment in July. In September that year, all three battalions took part in theBattle of Loos, which lasted from 25 September until early October.[7]
The Irish Guards went into action again on1 July 1916 when theBattle of the Somme began. The 1st Battalion took part in an action atFlers–Courcelette where they suffered severe casualties in the attack in the face of withering fire from the German machine-guns. The battalion also took part in the action atMorval before they were relieved by the 2nd Battalion.[8]
In 1917 the Irish Guards took part in theBattle of Pilckem which began on 31 July during theThird Battle of Ypres. The Irish Guards also took part in theBattle of Cambrai that year. In 1918 the regiment fought in a number of engagements during theSecond Battle of the Somme, including atArras andAlbert. The regiment then went on to take part in a number of battles during the British offensives against theHindenburg Line.[9] On 11 November 1918 theArmistice with Germany was signed. The 1st Battalion was atMaubeuge when the Armistice was signed.[10]
The regiment's continued existence was threatened briefly whenWinston Churchill, who served as Secretary of State for War between 1919 and 1921, sought the elimination of the Irish Guards andWelsh Guards as an economy measure. This proposal, however, did not find favour in government or army circles and was dropped. Between the wars, the regiment was deployed at various times to Turkey,Gibraltar,Egypt andPalestine.[11]
During the Second World War, the regiment fought inNorway,France,North Africa,Italy,Belgium,Netherlands andGermany. The regiment first saw combat during theNorwegian Campaign. Following a challenging sea voyage to Norway, the 1st Battalion arrived in May 1940 and fought for two days at the town of Pothus before they were forced to retreat. The Irish Guards conducted a fighting withdrawal and served as the Allied rearguard.[12]
The battalion was evacuated along with the rest of the expeditionary force in June. While the 1st Battalion was fighting in Norway, the 2nd Battalion was deployed to theHook of Holland to cover the evacuation of theDutch royal family and Government in May 1940. The 2nd Battalion was then deployed to France and ordered todefend the port of Boulogne. The guardsmen held out against overwhelming odds for three days, buying valuable time for theDunkirk Evacuation, before they were evacuated themselves.[13] In November 1942,Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg joined the British Army as a volunteer in the Irish Guards.[14]
In March 1943 the 1st Battalion landed, with the rest of the24th Guards Brigade, inTunisia, to fight in the final stages of thecampaign in North Africa. The battalion saw extensive action while fighting through Tunisia and was subsequently deployed to theItalian Front in December of that year. The battalion took part in theAnzio landings on 22 January 1944.[15] They also participated in the fierce fighting around the Allied beachhead and suffered severe casualties fighting off a German counterattack atCampoleone after which the depleted battalion was returned to the UK in April.[16]
The Irish Guards returned to France in June 1944 when the 2nd and 3rd Battalions took part in theNormandy Campaign. Both battalions served as part of theGuards Armoured Division and took part in the attempt to captureCaen as part ofOperation Goodwood. They also saw action in theMont Pincon area. On 29 August, the 3rd Battalion crossed theSeine and began the advance intoBelgium with the rest of the Guards Armoured Division towardsBrussels.[17]
The Irish Guards were part of the ground force ofOperation Market Garden, 'Market' being the airborne assault and 'Garden' the ground attack.[18] The Irish Guards led the vanguard ofXXX Corps in their advance towardsArnhem, which was the objective of theBritish 1st Airborne Division, furthest from XXX Corps' start line. The Corps crossed the Belgian-Dutch border, advancing fromNeerpelt on 17 September but the Irish Guards encountered heavy resistance which slowed the advance.[19] Following the conclusion of Market Garden, the Irish Guards remained in the Netherlands until taking part in theAllied advance into Germany and seeing heavy action during theRhineland Campaign with GuardsmanEdward Charlton earning the final Victoria Cross to be awarded in the European theatre.[20]
After the war, the regiment was reduced to a single battalion, with the 2nd Battalion being placed in suspended animation[21] and the 3rd Battalion being disbanded. In 1947, the 1st Battalion deployed toPalestine to perform internal security duties there. It was then posted to theSuez Canal Zone inEgypt, remaining there until the British withdrawal in 1956. The regiment continued to serve in troubled regions such asCyprus andAden throughout the 1950s and 1960s. During this time they were also part of theBritish Army of the Rhine (BAOR) in Germany on a number of occasions. They also served as the garrison of Hong Kong from 1970 to 1972.[22]
The Irish Guards were one of the few regiments in the British Army initially exempt from service inNorthern Ireland duringThe Troubles. However, aProvisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) bomb blasted a bus carrying members of the regiment band toChelsea Barracks in October 1981.[23][24] 39 people (23 soldiers and 16 others) were wounded and two civilians were killed.[25][26] 1992 saw the regiment finally carry out its first tour-of-duty in Northern Ireland, based inCounty Fermanagh.[22]
The Irish Guards were involved in theBalkans Conflicts when they were deployed toMacedonia andKosovo in 1999 and were the first British unit to enter the Kosovan capital city ofPristina on 12 June. The regiment played a significant role in the initial stages of theIraq War as part of the7th Armoured Brigade and they led the British advance intoBasra in March 2003.[27] The Irish Guards deployed to Iraq on Operation Telic 10 in 2007.[28] In 2010, the regiment deployed on their first tour of duty toAfghanistan.[29] Number 2 Company deployed to Afghanistan in 2013 as a Brigade Operations Company.[30][31]
In 2014 the entire regiment deployed to Cyprus to patrol the buffer zone as part ofOperation Tosca 20.[32] Following theManchester Arena bombing, the Irish Guards were deployed in London to guard key locations, including theMinistry of Defence building inWhitehall, as part ofOperation Temperer.[33] Later that year Number 1 Company deployed to the Falkland Islands as the Roulement Infantry Company while Number 2 Company deployed to Thailand on an overseas training exercise where they worked alongside the Thai Army.[34]
December 2019 saw the Irish Guards deploy on two operations concurrently. Number 1 Company deployed toSouth Sudan onOperation Trenton and the rest of the battalion deployed toIraq onOperation Shader, training Iraqi Security Forces in the mission to defeatDaesh. However, the deployment rapidly changed in January 2020 with the escalation of the 2019–20 Persian Gulf crisis following the Americanstrike on Major General Qasem Soleimani. The Irish Guards' mission changed from training to force protection in order to protect British assets in Iraq from possible retaliation byIran. Eventual de-escalation saw the Irish Guards resume their original mission.[35][36]
In the light infantry role the 1st Battalion comprised five companies; Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 Companies, and theHeadquarters Company.[37] Following theIntegrated Review and after the Queen's Birthday Parade 2022, 1st Battalion took on thesecurity force assistance role for 4 years. With a much-reduced establishment, this role required a substantial readjustment to the battalion. Concurrently, the Irish Guards raised twopublic duties incremental companies (PDICs).[38] These are Numbers 9 and 12 Companies, taking on Irish Guardsmen fresh out of theInfantry Training Centre before the young soldiers progress to the 1st Battalion.[1][39] Nos. 9 and 12 Company carry on the customs and traditions of the former 2nd Battalion, Irish Guards.[1] Finally there is Number 15 Company in the Army Reserve, based at Flodden Road,London, which is operationally organised as part of 1st Battalion,London Guards.[40]
The regiment recruits inNorthern Ireland and among residents of Irish extraction in Great Britain. Restrictions inIreland's Defence Act make it illegal to induce, procure or persuade enlistment of any citizen of Ireland into the military of another state.[41]
Like the other Foot Guards regiments, the "Home Service Dress" of the Irish Guards is a scarlet tunic andbearskin. Buttons are worn in fours, reflecting the regiment's position as the fourth most senior Guards regiment, and the collar is adorned with embroided shamrock. They also sport aSt. Patrick's bluehackle (plume) on the right side of the bearskin.[42] A plume of St Patrick's blue was selected because blue is the colour of the mantle and sash of theOrder of St Patrick, a chivalric order,[43] founded byGeorge III of the United Kingdom for theKingdom of Ireland in February 1783[44] from which the regiment also draws its cap star and motto.[45] The Irish Guards pipers wear saffron kilts, green hose with saffron flashes and heavy black shoes known asbrogues with no spats, a rifle greendoublet with buttons in fours and a hat known as acaubeen.The regimental capstar is worn over the piper's right eye and is topped by a blue hackle.[46] A green cloak with four silver buttons is worn over the shoulders and is secured by two green straps that cross over the chest.[47]
In "Walking-out Dress", the Irish Guards can be identified by the green band on theirforage caps. Officers also traditionally carry ablackthorn cane.[48]
Like the other Guards regiments, they wear a khaki beret with the blue/red/blue Household Division backing patch on it. On the beret, ranks from Guardsman to Lance Sergeant wear a brass or staybrite cap badge, Sergeants and Colour Sergeants wear a bi-metal cap badge, Warrant Officers wear a silver plate gilt and enamel cap badge and commissioned officers of the regiment wear an embroidered cap badge.[49]
Prince William, who was then Colonel of the Irish Guards, wore the uniform of the Irish Guards athis wedding toCatherine Middleton.[50]
The regiment takes its motto,Quis Separabit?, or "Who shall separate us?", from theOrder of St Patrick.[51]
The Irish Guards are known throughout the British Army as "the Micks" or "Fighting Micks." The term "Mick" is an offensive term for an Irish person; however it is proudly used internally within the regiment.[52]
Recruits to theGuards Division go through a thirty-week training programme at theInfantry Training Centre (ITC). The training is two weeks more than the training for the Regularinfantry regiments of the British Army; the extra training, carried out throughout the course, is devoted to drill and ceremonies.[53]
Since 1902, anIrish Wolfhound has been presented as amascot to the regiment by the Irish Wolfhound Club, who originally hoped the publicity would increase the breed's popularity with the public. The first mascot was calledBrian Boru.[54]
In 1961, the wolfhound was admitted to the select club of official Army mascots, entitling him to the services of theRoyal Army Veterinary Corps, as well as quartering and food at public expense. Originally, the mascot was in the care of a drummer boy, but is now looked after by one of the regiment's drummers and his family. The Irish Guards are the only Guards regiment permitted to have their mascot lead them on parade. DuringTrooping the Colour, the mascot marches only fromWellington Barracks as far asHorse Guards Parade. He then falls out of the formation and does not participate in the Trooping itself. Domhnall, the regiment's seventeenth mascot, retired back to Ireland, in 2019.[55]
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St Patrick's Day is the traditional regimental celebration.[56] It is customary for the regiment to begin the day's celebrations with the Guardsmen being woken by their officers and servedgunfire.[57] Fresh shamrock is then presented to members of the regiment, whether they are in the UK or abroad on operations.[45]
Except in wartime, the presentation of shamrock is traditionally made by a member of the royal family. This task was first performed in 1901 byQueen Alexandra and later byQueen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. After the latter's death, the presentation was made byAnne, Princess Royal. Starting in 2012, the presentation has been made byCatherine, Princess of Wales.[58]
In 1950George VI marked the fiftieth anniversary of the formation of the Irish Guards by presenting the shamrocks on St Patrick's Day.[59] This honour was mirrored by King George's surviving wife, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, fifty years later when she presented shamrocks to the regiment on St. Patrick's Day in their centenary year of 2000.[60]
The regiment's battle honours are as follows:[61]
King Edward VII assumed the colonelcy-in-chief of the regiment on his accession,[82] and subsequent monarchs have also been colonel-in-chief.[83]
The following is a list of individuals who have served in the role of colonel of the regiment:
 |
The Regimental Lieutenant Colonels have included:[88]
Commanding Officers have included (since 2001):[88]
| Preceded by | Infantry Order of Precedence | Succeeded by |
Australia –4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment[61]
Montserrat –Royal Montserrat Defence Force[110]
France –13e Demi-Brigade de Légion Étrangère (Bond of Friendship)[111]The Irish Guards and other Guards regiments have a long-standing connection toThe Parachute Regiment. Irish Guardsmen who have completedP Company can be seconded to the Guards Parachute Platoon, which is currently attached to the3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment. The Guards Parachute Platoon maintains the tradition established by Number 1 (Guards) Independent Parachute Company that was part of the originalPathfinder Group of16th Parachute Brigade, which has since been designated as the16th Air Assault Brigade.[112]
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