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The 'Irish Guards' is a regiment of the British Army, which is part of the Guards Division. As of 2006, it is one of only two purely Irish regiments remaining in the British Army. (The other being the Royal Irish Regiment.) It recruits Catholics and Protestants alike in Northern Ireland, the Irish neighbourhoods of major British cities, and (unofficially) the Republic of Ireland. (The latter permits its citizens to enlist in the British forces, but forbids active recruiting.) More recently, the regiment has seen some truly "non-traditional" recruits, notably Zimbabwean Christopher Muzvuru, who qualified as a piper before becoming one of the regiment's two fatal casualties in Iraq in 2003.
Irish Guards officers tend to be drawn from the ranks of graduates of elite British public schools, particularly those with a Roman Catholic affiliation, such as Ampleforth College and Stonyhurst College. Catholic foreign royals or aristocrats, even those with no Irish connection, have often found a home in the Irish Guards. (Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, for example.)
One way to distinguish between the regiments of Foot Guards is the spacing of buttons on the tunic. The Irish Guards have buttons arranged in groups of four. They also have a prominent blue plume on the right side of their bear skins.

Contents

History

Band History

Uniform, Motto, Nicknames, Mascot and Traditions

Battle honours

Victoria Cross winners

Colonels of the Regiment

Directors of Music

Pipe Majors

Order of Precedence

Alliances

References

History

Main articles: History of the Irish Guards

Band History

The Regimental Band was formed at about the same time as the regiment itself and consisted of 35 musicians with a Warrant Officer, Mr. C.H. Hassell, as the Bandmaster. The most notable event in these early years occurred in 1905 when the band was invited to make what turned out to be the first of many tours of Canada.
During two World Wars the band frequently travelled to active service areas performing concerts for the troops. Commitments during the Second World War became so intense that the strength of the band was increased to 65 musicians. It has toured extensively and in addition to Canada has visited the USA, Australia, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Italy, Germany, France, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Japan and Egypt. In Japan the band was accorded the unique privilege of being the first band ever to perform inside the Imperial Palace in the presence of the Empress and two Crown Princes.
Unlike the battalion, which moves around the world to various duty stations, the band is stationed permanently in London, providing music in rotation with the other Guards bands at the Changing of the Guard ceremony and other events. It has an establishment for 49 musicians from which it provides a Concert Band, Marching Band, Orchestra, Dance Band, Brass Quintet and Fanfare Trumpeters.
The band has numerous recordings to its credit and has broadcast frequently, one such broadcast being the British premier of Hindemith's Symphony for Concert Band. On retirement from the Band, a number of musicians have continued their musical careers with national orchestras such as the Halle Orchestra and The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, or working in the world of popular music, recording with artists such as Sting and Tom Jones.
In common with the other Guards regiments, the Irish Guards also have a "Corps of Drums", under the command of the drum major, which is, in fact, a fife and drum band.
Like the Scots Guards, the Irish Guards also boast a distinctive national feature in their pipe band. The Drums and Pipes were formed during the First World War, with the first two sets of Great Irish Warpipes being donated by John Redmond, the leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party at Westminster, whose son was serving with the regiment as an officer. They were trained by the London Irish and adopted their pattern of uniform, including the practice of wearing the caubeen badge over the right eye. Unlike the regimental band, pipe bands are based at battalion level, and when additional battalions are raised for wartime service, pipe bands are also raised to accompany them. (See list of pipe majors below.)
For several decades, Irish Guards pipers carried the Great Irish Warpipes, essentially a two-drone version of the three-drone Great Highland Bagpipe. In 1968, however, with the amalgamation of the three remaining Irish line infantry regiments into the Royal Irish Rangers, the Highland pipe was standardized throughout the British Army and has been used by the Irish Guards ever since.
Members of the regimental band are full-time musicians who train for duty as medical assistants in wartime. Pipers and drummers, however, are full-time soldiers who undertake their musical responsibilities on a part-time basis. Two regimental pipers, Lance Corporal Ian Malone and Christopher Muzvuru, were killed during Operation Telic in Iraq.

Uniform, Motto, Nicknames, Mascot and Traditions

'Uniform'
Like the other Guards regiments, the "Home Service Dress" of the Irish Guards is a scarlet tunic and bearskin. Buttons are worn in two rows of four, reflecting the regiment's position as the fourth most senior Guards regiment, and the collar is adorned with a shamrock on either side. They also sport a blue plume on the right side of the bearskin.
A blue, rather than an Irish green, plume was selected because blue is the color of the mantle and sash of the Knights of St. Patrick, Ireland's order of chivalry, from which the regiment draws its capstar and motto. Also, the uniform of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, which were still in existence at the time the Irish Guards were formed, was a scarlet tunic and bearskin with a green plume. To prevent confusion, the Irish Guards opted for a blue plume.
In "walking out dress", the Irish Guards can be identified by the green band on their forage caps. Officers also traditionally carry an Irish blackthorn walking stick.
The uniform of the Irish Guards pipers is, like the Scots Guards, a kilt and tunic, yet is also very different. Irish pipers wear saffron kilts rather than tartan, green hose with saffron flashes and heavy black shoes known as brogues with no spats, a rifle green doublet with buttons in fours and a floppy Irish beret known as a caubeen rather than a feather bonnet. The regimental capstar is worn over the piper's right eye and is topped by a blue hackle. A green cloak with four silver buttons is worn over the shoulders, but is never buttoned except in severely inclement weather. A white tunic is available for wear in the tropics. The pipe major, like the pipe major of the Scots Guards, also holds a warrant as personal piper to Her Majesty, the Queen.
'Motto'
The regiment takes its motto, "Quis Separabit", or "Who shall separate us?" from the Order of St. Patrick, which is currently in abeyance.
'Nickname'
The Irish Guards are known affectionately throughout the Army as "the Micks." An earlier nickname, "Bob's Own", after Field Marshal Lord Roberts, their first colonel, has fallen into disuse.
'Mascot'
Since 1902, an Irish Wolfhound has been presented as a mascot to the regiment by the members of the Irish Wolfhound Club, who hoped the publicity would increase the breed's popularity with the public.
The first mascot was called Brian Boru, after Ireland's great national hero. There have been 12 more since, all named after Irish High Kings or heroes. In 1961, the wolfhound was admitted to the select club of "official" Army mascots, entitling him to the services of the Royal 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. During Trooping the Colour, however, the mascot marches only from Chelsea Barracks as far as Horse Guards Parade. He then falls out. He does not participate in the trooping itself.
'Traditions and Affiliations'
St. Patrick's Day is the traditional regimental holiday (although Orangemen's Day, The Twelfth of July, is also marked with gusto). Fresh shamrock is presented to the members of the regiment, no matter where it is stationed. Except in wartime, the presentation is traditionally made by a member of the Royal Family. This task was first performed in 1901 by HM Queen Alexandra and later by HM Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. Since the latter's death, the presentation has been made by the Princess Royal. On the regiment's 50th anniversary in 1950, King George VI made the presentation in person. In 1989, the Queen Mother was unable to make the journey to Belize, where the battalion was stationed, and the Grand Duke of Luxembourg substituted for her.
The regiment is also associated with HMS Portland, as well as the 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment.

Battle honours

★ ''First World War'': Mons, Retreat from Mons, Marne 1914, Aisne 1914, Ypres 1914 1917, Langemarck 1914, Battle of Gheluvelt, Nonne Bosschen, Festubert 1915, Loos, Somme 1916 1918, Flers-Courcelette, Morval, Pilckem, Poelcapelle, Passchendaele, Cambrai 1917 and 1918, St. Quentin, Lys, Hazebrouck, Albert 1918, Bapaume 1918, Arras 1918, Scarpe 1918, Drocourt-Quéant, Hindenburg Line, Canal du Nord, Selle, Sambre, France and Flanders 1914–18

★ ''Second World War'':

★
★ ''North-West Europe'': Pothus, Norway 1940, Boulogne 1940, Cagny, Mont Pincon, Neerpelt, Nijmegen, Aam, Rhineland, Hochwald, Rhine, Bentheim, North-West Europe 1940 1944–45,

★
★ ''North Africa'': Medjez Plain, Djebel bou Aoukaz, North Africa 1943,

★
★ ''Italy'': Anzio, Aprilia, Carroceto, Italy 1943–44

★ Al Basrah 2003, Iraq 2003

Victoria Cross winners

★ Guardsman Edward Colquhoun Charlton, 2nd Battalion, The Irish Guards

★ Lance-Corporal John Patrick Kenneally, 1st Battalion, The Irish Guards

★ Acting Lieutenant-Colonel James Marshall, Irish Guards but attached to the 16th Battalion, The Lancashire Fusiliers

★ Lance-Sergeant John Moyney, 2nd Battalion, The Irish Guards

★ Lance-Corporal Michael O'Leary, 1st Battalion, The Irish Guards

★ Private Thomas Woodcock, 2nd Battalion, The Irish Guards

Colonels of the Regiment

British Army regiments typically feature an honorary "colonel", often a member of the Royal Family or a prominent retired military officer with connections to the regiment, who functions as a kind of patron or guardian of the regiment's interests in high government circles. (HM the Queen is colonel-in-chief of all Guards regiments.)
The Irish Guards colonels have been:

★ Field Marshal Sir Frederick Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts of Kandahar and Pretoria and the City of Waterford, VC, KG, KP, PC, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCIE. Appointed Oct. 17, 1900.

★ Field Marshal Sir Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener of Khartoum and of Broome, KG, KP, PC, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCIE. Appointed Nov. 15, 1914.

★ Field Marshal Sir John French, 1st Earl of Ypres and High Lake, KP, PC, GCB, OM, GCVO, KCMG, ADC. Appointed June 6, 1916.

★ Field Marshal Sir Frederick Lambart, 10th Earl of Cavan, KP, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, GBE, DCL, LLD, DL. Appointed May 23, 1925.

★ Field Marshal Sir Harold Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis and Errigal in the County of Donegal, KG, PC, GCB, OM, GCMG, CSI, DSO, MC, CDL, LLD. Appointed Aug. 28, 1946.

★ Gen. Sir Basil Oscar Paul Eugster, KCB, KCVO, CBE, DSO, MC, MA. Appointed June 17, 1969.

★ Gen. HRH Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, KG. Appointed Aug. 21, 1984.

★ HG James Hamilton, 5th Duke of Abercorn, KG. Appointed Nov. 1, 2000.

Directors of Music

Capt. C.H. Hassel, OBE, 1900-1929
Capt. J.L.T. Hurd, 1929-1938
Maj. G. H. Wilcocks, MBE, MVO, 1938-1948
Lt. Col. C.H. Jaeger, OBE, LRAM, ARCM, psm, 1948-1969
Major E.G. Horabin, LRAM, ARCM, psm, 1969-1977
Lt. Col. M.G. Lane, ARCM, psm, 1977-1989
Major M.J. Henderson, psm, 1989-1998
Lt. Col. A.R. Chatburn, BA, ARCM, psm, 1998-2005
Maj. S.C. Barnwell BBCM, psm, 2005-

Pipe Majors

Original title of "Sergeant Piper" was changed to "Pipe Major" via Army Order 139 of 1928, change to date from July 31, 1928. On St. Patrick's Day 1991, the Queen Mother presented the regiment with its first-ever pipe banner. This is carried by the pipe major on the bass drone of his pipes when a member of the Royal Family is present.
'1st Battalion'
Sgt. T. Atkins, 1917(?)-36;
Sgt. F. Cosgrove, 1936-39;
CSgt. R.J. Batt, 1939-40;
WO2 J. Smyth, 1940-43;
Sgt. A.F. Phair, 1943-49;
WO2 J. Ramsey, 1950-54;
WO2 T.R. Ramsey, 1954-61, 1963-72;
Capt. H.F. Groves, 1961-63;
CSgt. W. Lyons, 1972-78;
CSgt. J.M. Johnston, 1978-81;
Sgt. K.J. Frazer, 1981-1991;
Sgt. J. Stranix, 1991-1993;
Sgt. J. Martin, 1993-95;
Sgt. R. Tumulty, 1995-00;
Sgt. R. Allan, 2000-05;
Sgt. D. Rogers, 05-Present
'2nd Battalion'
Sgt. J.T. Crozier, 1941-44;
CSgt. R.J. Batt, 1945-47;
'3rd Battalion'
CSgt. R.J. Batt, 1941-44;
Sgt. E. Norbury, 1944-46
'Training Battalion'
WO2 J. Smyth, 1940;
CSgt. R.J. Batt, 1940-41, 1944-45

Order of Precedence

Alliances

★ - 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment

★ - HMS ''Portland''

References

★ "Europe's Last VC - Guardsman Edward Charlton", ''After the Battle'' (magazine) No. 49, 1985. Contains additional memoirs of the surviving Irish Guards officers and men and German officers which correct the original citation.

★ Army.mod.uk - Irish Guards

★ The Long, Long Trail - Irish Guards

★ Irish Guards.org.uk

★ Regiments.org - Irish Guards
=External Links=

★ The Guards MuseumContaining the history of the five regiments of Foot Guards, Wellingon Barracks, London.
www.irish-guards.co.uk/origin-irish-guards.htm