 | ||
The Guards Division is an administrative unit of the British Army responsible for the administration of the regiments of Foot Guards and the London Regiment. The Guards Division is responsible for providing two public duties battalions to London District (plus three incremental companies); although the guards are most associated with ceremonial, they are nevertheless operational infantry battalions, and as such perform all the various roles of infantry.
Contents
History
The Guards division was established by renaming the Brigade of Guards in 1968. The depot was established at Wellington Barracks in London.
Before the Options for Change defence review in 1992, there were eight battalions:
The cuts made to the infantry under Options for Change included three battalions of Guards. However, rather than disbanding them, the 2nd Battalions of each of the first three regiments were placed in "suspended animation" - although they would not be active, they would still be listed on the Army Roll, and could be reactivated should they be needed. In order to maintain the traditions of each battalion, and to keep custody of the colours, three companies were kept active, one to represent each battalion:
These three units were based permanently at Chelsea Barracks in London on public duties until Chelsea Barracks was sold off by the army. They represent the suspended battalions at significant events, such as Trooping the Colour, and receive the battalion's new colours whenever they are presented. As such, each company is an independent unit of their regiment, separate from the operational battalions.
Current units
Current units comprise:
Past units
Past units include:
Note: The three 2nd battalions have technically not been disbanded; instead they are in "suspended animation" and, in theory, can be re-raised if needed. The colours and traditions of each battalion are kept and maintained by the incremental companies.
Tunics
The grouping of buttons on the tunic is a common way to distinguish among the regiments of Foot Guards: