History of the Scots Guards (1946–present) facts for kids

The Scots Guards are a famous regiment of the British Army. They are known for taking part in many important events. These include the Beating Retreat, Changing of the Guard, the Queen's Birthday Parade, Remembrance Sunday, and welcoming important visitors during State Visits. Each of the Guards' regiments has a slightly different uniform. The Scots Guards can be spotted by their tunic buttons, which are arranged in groups of three. They also have the Order of the Thistle on their shoulder badge and the Thistle on their collar badge. Unlike some other Guards, they do not have a plume (a feather) on their bearskin hat.

Throughout the second half of the 1900s, the Scots Guards were involved in various conflicts. They helped keep peace and order in places like Malaya, Ireland, Cyprus, and Uganda.

Scots Guards in World War II

After World War II, both of the Scots Guards' main groups, called battalions, returned to the UK by 1946. One came from Germany and the other from Trieste. In 1948, the 1st Battalion took on a special job. They became the Guards Training Battalion, helping to train new soldiers until 1951.

Fighting in Malaya

The 2nd Battalion of the Scots Guards went to Malaya in October 1951. They were part of the 2nd Guards Brigade. Their mission was to help stop a communist-led uprising, known as the Malayan Emergency. The rebels were called the Malayan National Liberation Army (MNLA). They were led by Chin Peng, who had previously led a group that fought against the Japanese during World War II.

Deployments in Cyprus and Suez

In late 1951, the 1st Battalion went to Cyprus with the 32nd Guards Brigade. In February 1952, they moved to the Suez Canal Zone in Egypt. This happened after the Egyptian government ended a treaty that allowed the British to have a base there.

While in Egypt, the battalion had many duties. They patrolled areas and guarded important sites. Sometimes these duties were quiet, but at other times, they faced attacks from Egyptians, including snipers. There were also riots. The battalion stayed in Egypt until late 1954. They left after a new treaty was signed. This treaty said that British forces would gradually leave Egypt. The last British forces left in June 1956. Only one soldier from the battalion died during their time in Egypt.

Changes and Deployments in Africa and Borneo

In 1952, Queen Elizabeth became Queen. She also became the regiment's fifth Colonel-in-Chief. This is a special honorary role. Also in 1952, the regiment formed a new friendship with the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment. This friendship still exists today.

In July 1953, the 2nd Battalion went to West Germany. They joined the 4th Guards Brigade as part of the British Army of the Rhine. They returned home in 1957. That year, the 1st Battalion went to Germany and stayed until 1960.

In February 1962, the 2nd Battalion arrived in Kenya. They helped the local government keep order. In 1964, they helped during a mutiny (a rebellion) by the 1st Battalion, The Kenya Rifles. They also sent a company to Uganda to help with a mutiny there. The battalion left Kenya later that year.

In 1964, the regiment's alliance with the Canadian Winnipeg Grenadiers ended. This alliance had been in place since 1933.

In late 1964, the 1st Battalion went to Malaysia. They were based in Camp Terendak, Malacca. In 1965, the battalion served two tours in Borneo during the Indonesian Confrontation. Their time in Borneo was similar to the 2nd Battalion's experiences in Malaya. They patrolled the dense jungle to stop Indonesian attacks. The following year, the 1st Battalion returned home. That same year, the 2nd Battalion went to West Germany.

Serving in Northern Ireland

The 1st Battalion went to the Persian Gulf for the first time in 1970. They were in Sharjah, which is now part of the United Arab Emirates. They left in late 1970. Also that year, the 2nd Battalion returned from Germany. They then went on a short tour to Northern Ireland. This would be the first of many tours for the regiment in Northern Ireland, especially during the 1970s.

In 1971, the 2nd Battalion was temporarily put on hold due to defense cuts. However, it was reformed the next year. Also in 1971, the 1st Battalion went to Northern Ireland for the first time. These deployments were dangerous. Soldiers were always at risk from snipers and bombs. Patrolling and guarding were their main duties. Their tour ended in December, and five soldiers were lost.

In 1972, the 1st Battalion went to West Germany. The newly reformed 2nd Battalion also went to Northern Ireland. During their tour, three soldiers were killed by gunfire. In May 1973, the 1st Battalion deployed to Northern Ireland again. The 2nd Battalion followed later in 1973 and lost one soldier to sniper fire. In 1974, two members of the regiment died in a bombing in Guildford.

In 1975, the 1st Battalion went to Northern Ireland again. This time, they did not lose any soldiers during their four-month tour. The 2nd Battalion went to Belize in Central America for five months. In January 1976, the 1st Battalion returned home from Germany. The 2nd Battalion went to Germany. Later that year, the 2nd Battalion went to Northern Ireland again. The 1st Battalion had a very short tour there later that year. In August 1978, the 1st Battalion returned to Northern Ireland for another four-month tour. That year, a soldier from the 2nd Battalion was killed while working undercover.

In March 1980, the 1st Battalion went to Aldergrove, Northern Ireland. They stayed there until late 1981. The 2nd Battalion joined them in May 1980 for a five-month tour. In late 1981, the 1st Battalion left Aldergrove and went to Hong Kong for two years.

The Falklands War

On April 2, 1982, Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands. These islands are a British territory off South America. The British quickly gathered many ships, including Royal Navy warships and merchant ships. They sailed south towards Ascension Island.

On April 25, the island of South Georgia was recaptured. By May 1, the Royal Navy had set up a 200-mile (370 km) exclusion zone around the Falklands. On May 12, the 2nd Battalion of the Scots Guards boarded the Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2). This ship had been taken by the government to carry troops. They left Southampton for South Georgia. In the early hours of May 21, D-Day began. 3 Commando Brigade landed at San Carlos and secured a safe landing area.

In late May, the QE2 arrived. But it was too risky to move her closer to the Falklands. So, most of the 5th Brigade transferred to another ship, the Canberra. On June 2, the Canberra anchored in San Carlos Water. The Guards were then taken ashore by landing craft.

On June 5, the Scots Guards boarded the assault ship HMS Intrepid. They were then taken by smaller landing craft to Bluff Cove. On June 8, the 1st Welsh Guards were on the ship RFA Sir Galahad. They were also waiting to land at Bluff Cove. Suddenly, Argentinian Skyhawk planes attacked. They hit both Sir Galahad and RFA Sir Tristram. Sir Galahad was badly hit and both ships caught fire. This caused terrible casualties on Sir Galahad. Forty-eight people died, including thirty-two Welsh Guards. Many more were wounded, suffering severe burns. Only 200 survived.

On the morning of June 13, the Scots Guards were moved by helicopter to an area near Mount Tumbledown. This mountain was their target. It was defended by a strong Argentinian unit, the 5th Marine Infantry Battalion. On the night of the 13th, the main force of the Scots Guards began their attack on the western side of Mount Tumbledown.

During the battle, in the early hours of the 14th, soldiers from the battalion launched a bayonet charge. This led to fierce and bloody fighting. It was one of the last bayonet charges by the British Army. The battle continued, and by 8:00 am, the mountain was captured by the Scots Guards. It was a bloody but successful battle. The battalion showed great skill in taking a well-defended mountain. Just a few months before, they had been performing public duties in London. The Scots Guards lost eight soldiers and one Royal Engineer. Forty-three were wounded. The Argentinians lost forty men, and over thirty were captured. You can read more about this at Battle of Mount Tumbledown.

On June 14, the Argentinian commander surrendered his forces. The war was over, though it was officially declared over on June 20. The next day, a company of soldiers raised the Governor's flag over Government House. It had been down for seventy-four days. The Falklands were finally free. Most of the 5th Brigade moved back to Fitzroy. The Scots Guards then moved to West Falkland to wait for the first garrison troops. They left the Falklands on July 19. The battalion returned home by RAF VC-10 aircraft.

The regiment received many awards for their bravery in the Falklands War. The battalion's commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Michael Scott, received a Distinguished Service Order (DSO). They also won two Military Crosses (MC), two Distinguished Conduct Medals (DCM), and two Military Medals (MM). The battalion was given two battle honours for their part in the war: "Tumbledown Mountain" and "Falkland Islands 1982".

Activities in the 1980s and 1990s

In 1984, the 1st Battalion returned from Hong Kong. The 2nd Battalion went to the Sovereign Base Area, Cyprus. They stayed there until February 1986. In June, the 1st Battalion took part in the Queen's Birthday Parade again. This was the last time Queen Elizabeth rode on horseback during the parade. In September, the 1st Battalion went to Northern Ireland for an emergency tour. This lasted until January 1987.

The 1st Battalion received new Colours (regimental flags) from Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace. In October, the 2nd Battalion went on a tour of Northern Ireland. This tour lasted until February 1988. That same month, the 1st Battalion went to Hohne, West Germany. The 2nd Battalion also went abroad. They took part in training exercises in Canada. Also that year, the 2nd Battalion received new colours from the Queen in Edinburgh. In 1989, the 1st Battalion went on an emergency tour to East Tyrone, Northern Ireland, for about four months. The 2nd Battalion also went to Canada for training exercises.

The 1990s began with the 1st Battalion going to Canada for training. The 1st Battalion also received new equipment that year. They switched from the FV432 to the more advanced Warrior armoured vehicle. In March, the 2nd Battalion arrived in Northern Ireland for another tour. During that year, the regiment lost one soldier in Ireland.

In November 1990, the Regimental Band of the Scots Guards went to the Gulf. They were part of Operation Granby. The band served as medics in a hospital in Kuwait. They also played music for the British ambassador and for coffins returning home. Soldiers from the Scots Guards band still wear their medals today. The 1st Battalion also went to the Persian Gulf as part of Operation Granby. This was Britain's part in the war against Saddam Hussein. For this, the battalion received the honour "Gulf 1991". That same year, the 2nd Battalion took part in the Queen's Birthday Parade.

In 1992, the 2nd Battalion provided the Royal Guard at Balmoral Castle. They also took part in the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. The regiment celebrated its 350th Anniversary at Holyrood Palace that year. In 1993, the 2nd Battalion took part in training in Canada. But on November 4, due to defense cuts, the battalion was temporarily put on hold. Only one company, F Company, was kept for public duties. In 1994, the 1st Battalion went on a six-month tour of Ireland. The next year, the 1st Battalion took part in the Queen's Birthday Parade and went to Canada for training. In 1996, the battalion went to Ireland again. The following year, the regiment took part in the Queen's Birthday Parade. In 1998, the 1st Battalion went to Abercorn Barracks at Ballykinler, Ireland, for a two-year posting.

A New Millennium for the Scots Guards

As the new millennium began, the Scots Guards continued their activities. The 1st Battalion was sent to Ireland in 2000. Later that year, they also went to Kenya for six weeks of training. Some Scots Guards were also sent to Sierra Leone in West Africa.

In 2001, the 1st Battalion was back in Ireland. A single company stayed there for six months. When the Queen Mother passed away in March 2002, the regiment played a big role in her funeral. On April 5, six officers and 300 other Guardsmen took part in the funeral procession to Westminster Hall. The Queen Mother's coffin lay there until April 9. Officers from the regiment took turns standing guard around her coffin.

Later that month, the 1st Battalion and F Company received new Colours from Queen Elizabeth at Windsor Castle. On June 15, the battalion took part in the Queen's Birthday Parade. This parade was extra special because 2002 was also Queen Elizabeth's Golden Jubilee. This marked her 50th year as Queen. The regiment was also celebrating its 360th year. The 2nd Battalion had been the first regiment to parade the Colour for Queen Elizabeth in 1952.

The battalion and F Company also helped with firefighting duties. This was part of Operation Fresco during the firefighters' strike. The Scots Guards, like other armed forces units, used old Army fire engines. The Scots Guards worked in Greater London during these duties.

In 2003, the 1st Battalion moved to Münster, Germany. They joined British Forces Germany (BFG) for a six-year posting. Also that year, F Company went to Kazakhstan for training exercises. In 2004, the 1st Battalion went to Iraq for six months. They were part of 4th Armoured Brigade. This brigade helped provide security in south-east Iraq until 2009.

Under new British Army reforms announced in 2004, the Scots Guards remained a single battalion regiment. They were given a fixed role as an armoured infantry battalion. They moved from Münster to Catterick, North Yorkshire, in northern England, in 2009. In 2011, the 1st Battalion performed public duties for the first time in many years. Their Queen's Colour was paraded during the Queen's Birthday Parade. For this, parts of the battalion moved from Catterick to Pirbright for a while.

In 2021, the 1st Battalion moved to Somme Barracks, Catterick Garrison. This was part of the Army 2020 Refine reforms.

On May 1, 2022, soldiers from A (The London Scottish) Company transferred to the Scots Guards. This company became G (Messines) Company, Scots Guards, 1st Battalion London Guards.