Royal Scots Dragoon Guards


The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards is a cavalry regiment of the British Army, and the senior Scottish regiment. The regiment, through the Royal Scots Greys, is the oldest surviving Cavalry Regiment of the Line in the British Army. The regiment is currently based at Leuchars Station, as part of the Scottish 51st Infantry Brigade.

History

It was formed on 2 July 1971 at Holyrood, Edinburgh, by the amalgamation of the 3rd Carabiniers and 6th Dragoon Guards ), and The Royal Scots Greys.
The regiment has deployed on four tours of Northern Ireland in 1972, 1974, 1976 and 1980, suffering one fatality in 1972, when Trooper Ian Hunter Caie, was killed by a bomb in a beer barrel that exploded in the path of his Ferret scout car in Moybane, near Crossmaglen County Armagh.
It saw active service during the Gulf War in 1991 deploying 57 Challenger tanks and in Bosnia as part of SFOR in 1996-97. In 1998, it became the first regiment in the British Army to operate the Challenger 2 main battle tank. It deployed to Kosovo, as part of KFOR, in 2000.
The regiment deployed to Iraq for Operation Telic, the British element of the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The bulk of the regiment deployed as part of the Scots Dragoon Guards Battle Group with a single squadron detached to the First Battalion The Black Watch Battle Group. All deployed elements of the regiment took part in the advance on Iraq's second largest city, Basra. Prior to reaching Basra, A Squadron fought in and around Az Zubayr and C Squadron was detached from the SCOTS DG BG to fight with 3 Commando Brigade in actions south of Basra that included Britain's largest tank engagement since the Gulf War, when 14 Challenger 2 tanks engaged and destroyed 14 Iraqi tanks.
The regiment deployed to Iraq in 2006, where it suffered two casualties Lieutenant Richard Palmer and Corporal Gordon Pritchard. The regiment also saw service in Iraq in 2008. More recently in 2008, 2011 and 2013/14 the regiment deployed to Afghanistan. The pipes and drums distinguished themselves, most recently winning the award for Album of the Year at the 2009 Classical Brits.
In November 2013, the unit bade farewell to its Challenger 2 tanks and converted to a Light Cavalry unit, armed with Jackal vehicles. Under the Army 2020 plan, it was reroled as a light cavalry unit, and moved to Leuchars Station in summer 2015. The Regiment deployed to Cyprus with the United Nations as part of the Op TOSCA 27 peace-keeping for a 6 months tour in September 2017.

Current organisation

The regiment has converted to the role of light cavalry as part of restructuring in the army under Army 2020. It is now equipped with Jackal armoured fighting vehicles. The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards is paired up with the Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry, an Army Reserve light cavalry regiment.
The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards is broken into the following structure:
The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Museum is situated at Edinburgh Castle. Opened in 2006, the exhibits include uniforms, medals, weapons, regalia, music and the French Imperial Eagle that was captured by Sergeant Charles Ewart of the Royal Scots Greys from the French 45th Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne at the Battle of Waterloo.

Official abbreviation

The regiment's official abbreviation is SCOTS DG, the format of which follows the traditional Cavalry line.

Accoutrements and uniform

The cap badge features an eagle, which represents the French Imperial Eagle that was captured by Sergeant Charles Ewart of the Royal Scots Greys from the French 45th Regiment of Foot at the Battle of Waterloo. It is always worn with a black backing in mourning for Tsar Nicholas II, the last Tsar of Russia, who was their Colonel-in-Chief at the time of his execution. The cap badge also has the crossed carbines of the 3rd Carabiniers at the rear of the eagle.
The Plume of The Prince of Wales with its motto "Ich Dien" is worn by all members of the Regiment embroidered on the upper part of the left sleeve. The right to wear this badge was granted to the 3rd Dragoon Guards in 1765, subsequently became the cap badge and later, with the crossed carabines, formed the badge of the 3rd Carabiniers.
The distinctive yellow zigzag cap band was inherited from the Royal Scots Greys, who had worn it since the mid-19th century.
As a royal regiment, the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards is permitted to wear the Royal Stewart tartan, which was a privilege granted by HM King George VI, and is worn by the regiment's pipers.

Regimental mottos

The Loyal Toast is drunk at formal dinners in the Mess and is always drunk seated, except when Royalty is present. On evenings when a military band is present, besides playing "The Queen' the band also play "God Bless the Prince of Wales", an old 3rd Dragoon Guards custom, and the "Imperial Russian Anthem" in memory of Tsar Nicholas II, the Colonel-in-Chief of the Scots Greys, killed during the Russian Revolution. The regiment also has a mounted Drum Major who wears a distinctive white bearskin - a gift to the regiment from Tsar Nicholas during his time as Colonel of the Regiment.
In 2015 the Regiment introduced a small mounted unit named the "Waterloo Squadron". Eight members of the Guards were coached by the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment before making their debut at Kilmarnock on 20 June 2015, and then moved on to Edinburgh the following week for the Battle of Waterloo victory celebrations. The Duke of Kent took the salute. At the time it represented a return to horseback and full dress uniform for the first time in eighty years. This sparked speculation that the Waterloo Squadron may now begin to undertake more mounted ceremonial duties in Edinburgh alongside the Balaclava Company of The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland, who handle the military side of most Edinburgh ceremonies.
As of 2018 the Squadron has also begun to provide mounted support for other Edinburgh ceremonies, such as the Edinburgh Riding of the Marches.

Pipes and Drums

The regiment has its own pipe band, who were first formed in 1946 and tour widely, performing in competitions, concerts and parades. It was the first official organized pipes and drums in the history of the regiment. Their most famous piece is "Amazing Grace", which reached number one in the charts in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and South Africa in 1972. The track sold over seven million copies by mid 1977, and was awarded a gold disc. The track was also featured in the 1978 version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers.
The band released a new CD in late November 2007 through Universal Music, featuring a number of classic pipe tunes along with some modern arrangements and was recorded while the regiment was based in Iraq. The album Spirit Of The Glen was produced by Jon Cohen and released by Universal on 26 November 2007. It was a remake of their most popular song "Amazing Grace" and featured the Czech Film Orchestra. Spirit Of The Glen was officially launched at Edinburgh Castle and won Album of the Year at the 2009 Classical Brits. They have also made regular appearances at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo over the years.

Commanding Officers

Commanding Officers have included:

Lineage

Alliances

The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards inherited all of its antecedent Regiments' battle honours when it was formed in 1971. These consist:
3rd Dragoon Guards
Carabiniers
3rd Carabiniers
Royal Scots Greys
Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
Colonels of the Regiment have been: