The
Horse Guards
I’m
currently immersed in a new WIP that includes creating some senior
military officers within the inner sanctum of Whitehall in 1813. Luckily
I love research, for much as I enjoy giving my imagination free rein,
it’s probably not a Good Idea to indulge in flights of fancy
here. It’s artistic license to insert a make-believe duke into
the ranks of the nobility . . . It’s asking for trouble from
the High Sticklers to insert a mythical regiment into the British
Army.
And why go to all the trouble when the actual facts make such great
history! When I was in London last fall, I did some boots-on-the-ground
poking around at the impressive building that served as a military
command center during the Napoleonic Wars. Situated at right angles
to the Admiralty, overlooking a massive parade ground that used to
be a jousting field, the Horse Guards building still houses the top
brass and, well, horses—which shouldn’t come as any surprise.
Curious about the perfectly polished soldiers who mount guard there
everyday, I decided I needed to know a little bit about the history
of the Horse Guards. So saddle up and let’s take a quick gallop
through the illustrious history of the Household Cavalry . . .
Traditionally, the term “Household” refers to a country’s
most elite units, as they were one ones used to guard a monarch and
his household. The British Household Cavalry is made up of two units—the
Blues and Royals (The Royal Horse Guards, known as the Blues, and
the Royal Dragoons, known as the Royals were joined together in 1969)
and the Life Guards.
The Royal Horse Guards were founded in 1650 on the orders of Oliver
Cromwell. The regiment was commanded by the Earl of Oxford during
the reign of King Charles II and as the color of its uniform was blue
at the time, it was nicknamed "the Oxford Blues", later
shortened to the "Blues." In 1750 the regiment became the
Royal Horse Guards Blue. The Colonel-In-Chief is the Queen, and both
Prince William and Prince Harry joined as cornets.
The Life Guards is made up of four different troops of horse guards
raised by Charles II around the time of his restoration. In 1788,
they were streamlined into two regiments called 1st Life Guards and
2nd Life Guards, and in 1815 they were part of The Household Brigade
at the Battle of Waterloo.
Today, the Life Guards, which can be recognized by their red coats
and white plumes, work in tandem with the Blues and Royals to form
the Household Cavalry. One half is a modern armoured reconnaissance
unit and the other half performs the ceremonial duties. Though they
serve together, the Life Guards and the Blues and Royals maintain
their regimental identity, with distinct uniforms and traditions,
and their own colonel.There is a wonderful little museum on the Horse
Guards located in the back of the main building, which include the
original stables where one can watch the horses being saddled for
the daily guard duties on their home turf. The exhibits feature vintage
weapons, uniforms and memorabilia from the various campaigns throughout
the regiment’s storied history, including battle flags and sabers
from Waterloo. It’s well worth a visit if you are strolling
down Whitehall Street.
