HOUSEHOLD CAVALRY INFORMATION - THE MACHINE GUN GUARDS 1918

THE HOUSEHOLD CAVALRY -

BRIEF REGIMENTAL HISTORY OF

THE MACHINE GUN GUARDS - 1918

2nd Life Guard Maxim Gunner

Maxim Gun, 2nd Life Guards, with an NCO at the firing position.

The Maxim was first introduced into service in 1891,
and the carriage shown — which could be drawn by one horse —
was the invention of Colonel The Earl Of Dundonald,
who commanded the 2nd Life Guards.

1918

Early in 1918, 1st and 2nd Life Guards and The Blues finally lost their
horses and were re-equipped and trained as Machine Gun Regiments
- 1st Life Guards becoming the 1st Guards Machine Gun Battalion,
2nd Life Guards becoming the 2nd Guards Machine Gun Battalion,
and The Blues became the 3rd Guards Machine Gun Battalion.

The three battalions entered the line in May 1918 -
1st GMGB at Arras, 2nd GMGB at Warlay, and 3rd GMGB at Mazingarbe.
1st GMGB were with 51st Highland Division in the (1918) Battle of the
Scarpe (25th August).

During the battles of the Hindenburg Line (12 September -
9th October, 1918), all three of the Guards Machine Gun Regiments
were in action.

On 18th September, 2nd GMGB had two Companies in the line
at Villers Faucon during the Epehy action, and were in action again
during the crossing of the St. Quentin Canal, on 29th September,
with 46 Division.

In the action of the Beaurevoir Line, 2nd GMGB took over part of
46 Division line north of Sequehart, which is north west of St. Quentin.

On 8th/9th October, 1st GMGB and 3rd GMGB took part in 1st and
3rd Cavalry Divisions in the final battles of the Hindenburg Line,
in the action of Cambrai.

On 27th October, 3rd GMGB came under command of IX Corps,
exchanging with 2nd GMGB. Thus 1st and 2nd GMGB were together
near Wassigny in the action of The Selle (17th-25th October).

3rd GMGB (The Blues), working with 1st and 32nd Divisions, put down
a superb barrage when these Divisions crossed the Sambre on 4th
November, 1918. Shortly after the Armistice, 1st, 2nd and 3rd Guards
Machine Gun Battalions reverted to their proper names again,
i.e. 1st and 2nd Life Guards and Royal Horse Guards.