Coldstream Guards facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Coldstream Guards |
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Regimental badge of the Coldstream Guards
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| Active | 1650–present |
| Country |  Commonwealth of England (1650–1660) England(1660–1707)  Great Britain (1707–1800) United Kingdom(1801–present) |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | 1st Battalion and No 17 Company – Light Role Infantry No 7 Company – Public Duties |
| Size | One battalion – 559 personnel One independent incremental company One reserve company |
| Part of | Guards and Parachute Division |
| Garrison/HQ | RHQ – London 1st Battalion—Windsor No 7 Company—London No 17 Company Hammersmith |
| Nickname(s) | The Lilywhites |
| Motto(s) | Nulli Secundus (Latin for 'Second to None') |
| March | Quick: "Milanollo" Slow: "Figaro" ("Non più andrai" from The Marriage of Figaro) |
| Anniversaries | St George's Day (23 April) |
| Engagements |
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| Commanders | |
| Colonel-in-Chief | King Charles III |
| Colonel of the Regiment |
Lt Gen Sir James Bucknall |
| Regimental Lieutenant Colonel | Col. Toby P. O. Till |
| Insignia | |
| Tactical Recognition Flash |  |
| Plume | Red Right side of Bearskin cap |
| Abbreviation | COLDM GDS |
The Coldstream Guards is a very old and important part of the British Army. It is the oldest regular regiment that has served without stopping since it was formed. As part of the Household Division, one of its main jobs is to protect the King or Queen. Because of this, you often see them at big royal events. The Coldstream Guards have served all over the world and fought in most major wars the British Army has been in.
This regiment has always been active and has never joined with another group. It started in 1650 as 'Monck's Regiment of Foot'. After the King returned in 1660, it was called the 'Lord General's Regiment of Foot Guards'. When George Monck died in 1670, it was renamed the 'Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards'. This name came from a town in Scotland where they started their march to help bring back the monarchy in 1660. In 1855, its name changed again to the 'Coldstream Guards', which it still is today.
Today, the regiment includes its main office, one group of soldiers called a battalion (the 1st Battalion), a special company (Number 7 Company) that keeps old traditions, a Regimental Band, and a reserve company (Number 17 Company). Some members also work at training schools or other special jobs.
Contents
History of the Coldstream Guards
How the Regiment Began
The Coldstream Guards started during the English Civil War. Oliver Cromwell allowed Colonel George Monck to create his own regiment. This new group was part of the New Model Army. Monck gathered soldiers from two other regiments. On August 13, 1650, he formed Monck's Regiment of Foot. Soon after, they fought in the Battle of Dunbar. In this battle, Cromwell's forces defeated Charles Stuart.
After Richard Cromwell left power, Monck decided to support the return of the King. On January 1, 1660, he crossed the River Tweed into England at the village of Coldstream. From there, he marched for five weeks to London. He arrived on February 2 and helped bring back the monarchy. For his help, Monck received a special award, and his regiment was told to keep order in London. However, the new government soon ordered his regiment, and all others from the New Model Army, to be disbanded.
Before that could happen, the government needed the regiment's help. A rebellion started on January 6, 1661, led by Thomas Venner. Monck's regiment defeated the rebels. On February 14, the soldiers symbolically put down their weapons as part of the old army. Then, they were immediately ordered to pick them up again as a royal regiment. It was now called The Lord General's Regiment of Foot Guards, part of the King's own troops.
This regiment became the second most important of the King's Foot Guards. It joined the King's service after the 1st Regiment of Foot Guards. But the Coldstream Guards adopted the motto Nulli Secundus, meaning Second to None. This showed they believed they were just as good, or even older, than the first regiment. When on parade with other Foot Guards, they always stand on the left, showing they are "second to none." When Monck died in 1670, the regiment got a new commander and a new name: the Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards.
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British Foot Guards in 1751 by David Morier
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Lt Robert Orme (1756) by Sir Joshua Reynolds
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Crimean War: Joseph Numa, John Potter and James Deal of the Coldstream Guards
_-_Grenadiers,_1st_and_3rd_Regiments_of_Foot_Guards_and_Coldstream_Guards,_1751_-_RCIN_405597_-_Royal_Collection.jpg)
Serving Around the World (1685–1900)
The regiment fought in many places, including Flanders and the Monmouth Rebellion. They were key in the Battle of Sedgemoor in 1685. They also fought in the Battle of Walcourt in 1689 and the Siege of Namur.
In 1760, a part of the regiment went to Germany. They fought under Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick. Three companies of Guards also fought in the American Revolutionary War.
The Coldstream Regiment played a big part in the wars against the French Revolution and in the Napoleonic Wars. They defeated French troops in Egypt in 1801. In 1807, they helped in the attack on Copenhagen. In 1809, they sailed to Portugal to join forces with Sir Arthur Wellesley. In 1814, they fought in the Battle of Bayonne in France. A cemetery there still remembers them.
Later, they served in the 2nd Guards Brigade at Chateau Hougoumont. They bravely defended it against French attacks all day during the Battle of Waterloo. This defense is seen as one of their greatest achievements. Each year, a ceremony called "Hanging the Brick" remembers the efforts of Cpl James Graham and Lt-Col James Macdonnell. They closed the North Gate after a French attack. The Duke of Wellington himself said that the battle's success depended on closing those gates.
The regiment was part of the British forces that stayed in Paris until 1816.
During the Crimean War, the Coldstream Regiment fought in the battles of Alma, Inkerman, and Sevastopol. When they returned, four soldiers received the new Victoria Cross medal.
The regiment got its current name, the Coldstream Guards, in 1855. In 1882, they went to Egypt to fight rebels. In 1885, they were in the Suakin Campaign. In 1897, a 3rd battalion was added. The 1st and 2nd battalions went to South Africa when the Second Boer War started. They were important in the Battle of Belmont. They also fought at Graspan, Modder River, and other key battles.
The 20th and 21st Centuries
When the First World War began, the Coldstream Guards were among the first British regiments in France. They suffered many losses in battles. At the First Battle of Ypres, the 1st battalion was almost completely destroyed. By November 1, only 150 men and one officer were left. The regiment fought at Mons, Loos, and the Somme. They also formed a 4th battalion, which was disbanded after the war.
When the Second World War started, the 1st and 2nd battalions were in France. The 3rd Battalion was serving in the Middle East. Two more battalions, the 4th and 5th, were also formed for the war. They fought a lot in North Africa and Europe. The 4th battalion became an armoured battalion in 1943, using tanks.
After the war, the Coldstreamers gave up their tanks. The new battalions were disbanded, and soldiers joined the 1st and 2nd Guard Training Battalions.
After the war, the 1st and 3rd battalions served in Palestine. The 2nd battalion served in the Malayan Emergency. The 3rd battalion was put on hold in 1959. The remaining battalions served during the Mau Mau rebellion from 1959 to 1962. They also served in Aden in 1964, Mauritius in 1965, and Cyprus in 1974. They were also in Northern Ireland many times after 1969.
The Regimental Band of the Coldstream Guards was the first group to perform at the Live Aid concert in Wembley in 1985. They played for the Prince and Princess of Wales.
In 1991, the 1st battalion went to the first Gulf War. They helped with prisoners of war and other tasks. In 1993, because of army cutbacks, the 2nd battalion was put on hold.
For much of the 1990s, the 1st Battalion was in Münster, Germany. They were an armoured infantry unit. From 1993 to 1994, the battalion served as peacekeepers in Bosnia.
The battalion was sent to Derry, Northern Ireland, for two years in 2001. In April 2005, they went to Iraq for six months. They were based in the south of the country. Two soldiers from the battalion died during this time.
In October 2007, the battalion was sent to Afghanistan. In October 2009, they were deployed on Operation Herrick 11. They played a big part in Operation Moshtarak in February 2010.
The battalion was a light infantry unit. It then moved to London District to perform public duties. In 2019, it joined the 11th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters South East.
How the Regiment is Organized
Regiment Structure
The Coldstream Guards regiment and its band are organized like this:
- Regimental Headquarters, located at Wellington Barracks, London.
- 1st Battalion, based at Victoria Barracks, Windsor. This is a light infantry unit.
- Battalion Headquarters
- Headquarters Company
- No. 1 Company (the oldest company)
- No. 2 Company
- No. 3 Company
- Support (No. 4) Company (includes the Corps of Drums)
- No. 7 Company, located at Wellington Barracks, London. This company keeps the traditions of the old 2nd Battalion.
- No. 17 Company, based at Hammersmith. This is the regiment's reserve unit.
- Band of the Coldstream Guards, located at Wellington Barracks, London. They are part of the Royal Corps of Army Music.
The companies in the regiment are traditionally numbered. New officers training at Sandhurst or the Infantry Battle School form No. 13 Coy. Soldiers training at ITC Catterick form No. 14 Coy. No. 7 Coy is one of the special companies that performs public duties in London and Windsor. It also looks after the flags and traditions of the former 2nd Battalion.
What the Coldstream Guards Do
Today, the 1st Battalion and No. 7 Company mostly perform ceremonial duties. You can see them in London and Windsor as part of the Household Division. The 1st Battalion is also an active light infantry battalion based in Windsor.
The Corps of Drums plays music for ceremonies, like the Changing of the Guard at Windsor Castle. They also serve as a machine gun platoon. All Guardsmen on public duties wear a special uniform. In summer, it's the 'Home Service' Dress tunic. In winter, they wear a greatcoat and a bearskin hat with a red plume. The Band of the Coldstream Guards plays at the Changing of The Guard, state visits, and many other events.
Unlike other Foot Guards regiments, which recruit from all four home nations, the Coldstream Guards recruit from specific areas. These are the counties that Monck's Regiment marched through from Coldstream to London. Their main recruiting areas are the South West and North East of England.
The Coldstream Guards and other Guards Regiments have a strong link to The Parachute Regiment. Guardsmen who pass a tough training course can join the Guards Parachute Platoon. This platoon is part of the 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment. This continues the tradition of the No. 1 (Guards) Independent Parachute Company, which was the original pathfinder group for the 16th Parachute Brigade.
Regimental Traditions
You can tell the Foot Guards regiments apart by how the buttons are grouped on their tunics. Coldstream buttons are arranged in pairs. Their brass badges also have a Star of the Garter. Another way to spot them is their red plume, called a hackle, on the right side of their bearskin hats.
The regiment is ranked second in importance, after the Grenadier Guards. Their motto is Nulli Secundus, which means Second to None. This is a clever way of saying that even though they are the "Second Regiment of Foot Guards," they believe they are older than the Grenadier Guards.
The regiment's nickname is Lilywhites. An ordinary soldier in the regiment is called a Guardsman. This special title was given by King George V after the First World War. The regiment is always called the Coldstream, never the Coldstreams. And a member of the regiment is called a Coldstreamer.
Training to be a Coldstream Guard
New recruits for the Guards Division go through a very tough training program. This happens at the British Army's Infantry Training Centre (ITC). Their training lasts two weeks longer than for other army regiments. This extra time is spent on special drills and ceremonies.
Royal Leaders of the Regiment
The King or Queen of the United Kingdom is the Colonel-in-Chief of the Coldstream Guards. This means they are the ceremonial head of the regiment.
- 1901–1910: King Edward VII
- 1915–1936: King George V
- Jan 1936–Dec 1936: King Edward VIII
- 1936–1952: King George VI
- 1952–2022: Queen Elizabeth II
- 2022–present: King Charles III
Battle Honours
The Coldstream Guards have earned 117 battle honours, which are special awards for battles they fought in. Some of these include:
- Tangier 1680, Namur 1695, Gibraltar 1704–1705, Oudenarde, Malplaquet, Dettingen, Lincelles, Egypt, Talavera, Barrosa, Fuentes d'Onor, Salamanca, Nive, Peninsula, Waterloo, Alma, Inkerman, Sevastopol, Tel-el-Kebir, Egypt 1882, Suakin 1885, Modder River, South Africa 1899–1902
- The Great War (5 battalions): Mons, Retreat from Mons, Marne 1914, Aisne 1914, Ypres 1914 '17, Langemarck 1914, Gheluvelt, Nonne Bosschen, Givenchy 1914, Neuve Chapelle, Aubers, Festubert 1915, Loos, Mount Sorrel, Somme 1916 '18, Flers-Courcelette, Morval, Pilckem, Menin Road, Poelcappelle, Passchendaele, Cambrai 1917 '18, St. Quentin, Bapaume 1918, Arras 1918, Lys, Hazebrouck, Albert 1918, Scarpe 1918, Drocourt-Quéant, Hindenburg Line, Havrincourt, Canal du Nord, Selle, Sambre, France and Flanders 1914–1918
- The Second World War: Dyle, Defence of Escaut, Dunkirk 1940, Cagny, Mont Pincon, Quarry Hill, Estry, Heppen, Nederrijn, Venraij, Meijel, Roer, Rhineland, Reichswald, Cleve, Goch, Moyland, Hochwald, Rhine, Lingen, Uelzen, North-West Europe 1940 '44–45, Egyptian Frontier 1940, Sidi Barrani, Halfaya 1941, Tobruk 1941–42, Msus, Knightsbridge, Defence of Alamein Line, Medenine, Mareth, Longstop Hill 1942, Sbiba, Steamroller Farm, Tunis, Hammam Lif, North Africa 1940–1943, Salerno, Battipaglia, Capezzano, Volturno Crossing, Monte Camino, Calabritto, Garigliano Crossing, Monte Ornito, Monte Piccolo, Capture of Perugia, Arezzo, Advance to Florence, Monte Domini, Catarelto Ridge, Argenta Gap, Italy 1943–1945
- Gulf 1991
Order of Precedence
| Preceded by Grenadier Guards |
Infantry Order of Precedence | Succeeded by Scots Guards |
Alliances
The Coldstream Guards have special connections with other military units:
Canada – The Governor General's Foot Guards (Canada)
Australia – 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (Australia)
Royal Navy – HMS Ocean (a ship in the UK Navy)
Images for kids
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A Coldstream Guards Sergeant dressing through the ranks during the rehearsal for the Trooping the Colour
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Battle of Alma in the Crimean War
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4th Coldstream in the Third Battle of Ypres, 1917
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Coldstream Guard members of the Guards Parachute Platoon, 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment
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Guardsman using the Sharpshooter Weapon System
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Section Second in Command giving Quick Battle Orders during exercise
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81mm Mortar moments after firing.
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U.S. President Donald Trump and Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by Major Oliver Biggs, reviewing the 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards at Windsor Castle during Trump's visit to London in July 2018.
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Battle of Bayonne's cemetery, 1814, France, detail
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1st Battalion on Exercise in Kenya 2019
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Two Coldstream Guardsmen show the traditional uniform and the capabilities with a Javelin system during a small-arms display in Cincu, Romania
See also
- Category:Coldstream Guards officers
- Category:Coldstream Guards soldiers
- Eddie Chapman criminal and World War II British double agent served with the Coldstream Guards.
- Honourable Artillery Company, the oldest surviving regiment in the British Army
- Band of the Coldstream Guards
