REGIMENTAL HISTORY OF THE

ROYAL HORSE GUARDS 1650 - 1821

In August 1650, prior to Cromwell's second invasion of
Scotland, Parliament ordered the raising of a Regiment
of Horse in Newcastle and County Durham.

This Regiment remained intact after the Restoration,
but its Parliamentary officers were replaced by Royalists
in July 1660.

Colonels of the Commonwealth Regiment were as follows:

1650 - 1651 - Sir Arthur Hesilrig

1651 - 1659 - James Berry

1659 - 1660 - Unton Croke

King Charles II re-named the Regiment as 'The Royal Regiment'
after replacement of the Cromwellian officers.

He appointed a prominent Royalist, Daniel O'Neale, as Colonel.

Parliament pressed King Charles to disband all Regiments;
the 'Royal Regiment' escaped disbandment until late December
1660 when it was paid off at Bath.

Early in January 1661, following the Venner Riots in London,
the Privy Council sent Daniel O'Neale to the King at Portsmouth,
to urge the raising of more Regiments.

The King signed the Royal Warrant creating the first British
Regular Army on 26th January, 1661.

The Royal Regiment was re-raised under the name of the
Royal Regiment of Horse. Its first Colonel was Aubrey de Vere,
20th Earl of Oxford.

O'Neale commanded His Majesty's Own Troop of the Regiment.

During the Jacobite Wars, the Regiment went to Flanders,
but was not engaged in any actions and shortly afterwards
was brought home and sent to Ireland.

The Blues took part in the battle of the Boyne, the Siege
of Limerick (both in 1690), and the battle of Aughrim (1691).

In the War of the Austrian Succession, the Regiment was
in the first line of cavalry at the battle of Dettingen (1743),
and at Fontenoy was the only cavalry Regiment to be named
in the official despatches (1745).

During the Seven Years' War, the Regiment was commanded
by the Marquis of Granby, one of its greatest Colonels.

Prevented with the rest of the cavalry from taking part in
the Victory at Minden (1759), The Blues formed the centre
of the force which won a spectacular cavalry victory
at Warburg (1760).

Following the charge, the Marquis of Granby - who had lost his
head-dress during the operation - saluted H.M. King George,
and reported that the British cavalry had won the day.

As a mark of respect, the King allowed The Blues the privilege
of saluting without head-dress, a custom continued to
the present day.

The Regiment again distinguished itself at Wilhelmstahl (1762).

In service on the continent during the War with
Revolutionary France, The Blues, in a force of 1,500 cavalry,
rolled up the left flank of a French army of 28,000 men
near Cambrai.

The honour commemorative of this battle used to be called
'Cateau', but since the award of the honour 'Le Cateau' (1914),
it has been called 'Beaumont'.

Near Tournai, at Willems, a few days later, in 1794, The Blues,
as part of a greatly outnumbered force, replused a five hour
attack by the French Army.

This campaign ended in disaster, and the British Army
retreated through Holland and Germany during one of
Europe's severest winters (1794-1795).

The Blues had long been especially favoured by
King George III.

With the appointment of the Duke of Wellington as Colonel
of the Regiment (1st January, 1813), came the first step in
the elevation of The Blues to the status of Household Cavalry.

The Iron Duke was the first Colonel to take office as Gold Stick
with the Colonels of the 1st and 2nd Life Guards.

Brigaded with the other two Regiments of Household
Cavalry in the Peninsular Campaign, The Blues fought with
them at the decisive battle of Vittoria (1813).

Together with the 1st and 2nd Regiments of Life Guards
and the K.D.G., The Blues formed the Heavy Cavalry Brigade
in the Waterloo campaign. At the commencement of the
famous charge of this Brigade, the Regiment was in support,
but as the charge developed, got into the first line.