London, GB | Formerly of New York, Buenos Aires, Fife, and the Western Cape. | Saoránach d’Éirinn.

The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards

The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers and Greys), to give its full name, is a rather interesting outfit, being Scotland’s only cavalry regiment and indeed the senior Scottish regiment in the entire British Army. The oldest antecedents of the regiment date back to the late 1600s, though it only took its current form as SCOTS DG (the official abbreviation) in 1971. The unit’s cap badge displays the French Imperial Eagle captured by the Scots Greys (the main antecedent of the current regiment) at Waterloo. More interestingly, however, is that the cap badge is always, even to this day, worn on a black facing, in mourning for Czar Nicholas II.

The Czar was Colonel-in-Chief of the Scots Greys from 1894 until his grizly murder at the hands of the Bolsheviks. Indeed, at regimental dinners at which the band is present, ‘God Save the Czar’, the old Russian Imperial Anthem, is still played in memory of His Imperial Majesty and his family. In 1998, the Commanding Officer and a regimental party were present at the interrment of the Czar’s remains in St. Petersburg. The Czar is pictured above in his uniform as Colonel-in-Chief of the regiment. Unique amongst the British cavalry regiments, the full dress uniform of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards includes the bearskin cap, a privilege inherited from the Scots Greys.

The Scots Greys were also the subject of one of Lady Elizabeth Butler’s great paintings, ‘Scotland Forever!’ (below, and in larger form here), depicting their charge at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 and further described here by our own Man About Mayfair. Of course, the fact which we have no doubt will bring even greater reknown to the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards is its privilege of counting the great William Calderhead, M.A. (Hons), St Andrews 2004, among its officers.

Published at 6:37 am on Monday 12 June 2006. Categories: History Military.
Comments

I suppose this is one of the lucky few regiments to survive the recent re-org. Good for them!

— RP 12 Jun 2006 9:16 am

Yes, the reorganization was of the Scottish Infantry so SCOTS DG, being cavalry, managed to escape the modernizers.

— Andrew Cusack 12 Jun 2006 9:42 am

Dear, dear, Andrew, who’s this Lady Elizabeth Butler you speak of? Now you know very well that the style ‘Lady Firstname Surname’ is only allowed to daughters of dukes, marquesses or earls. And as Lady Butler derived her style from her husband, Lt-Gen. Sir William Francis Butler, it should probably be Elizabeth, Lady Butler, or just simply Lady Butler. And well done on your degree btw!

— Michael Fryer 14 Jun 2006 8:03 am

It would not be Elizabeth, Lady Butler, if she were the wife of a Baronet or Knight (other). Lady Butler or Elizabeth Butler suffice.

— Philip 14 Jun 2006 10:55 am

In reality things have turned out to be more complicated … and more interesting.

— Pozycjonowanie 27 Oct 2006 9:04 am

LoL! You have fantastic site and very interest articles. Enjoyed browsing through the site. Keep up the good work. Thanks and Greetings

— Meble 14 Feb 2007 8:25 am

More than 300 years and still existing, that`s great

— Umstandsbrautkleid 30 May 2007 4:24 pm

Britain have a modern army? What ever next? Rubber-soled boots?

— Dick Bird 13 Oct 2009 12:58 am

As a former member of this Regiment (22 years with the Greys and the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards), it is refreshing to see so many articles about them today. One small point I have to make though, not a criticism but a correction if I may!, the abbreviated title for the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards is SCOTS DG and please not RSDG! Do keep up the good work and hopefully they will survive another 300 years plus!!
Sandy Fowler ( Ex-Sgt)

— Sandy Fowler 17 Oct 2009 11:09 am
Leave a comment

NAME (required)

EMAIL (required)

WEBSITE (not required)

COMMENT

Home | About | Contact | Paginated Index | Twitter | Facebook | RSS/Atom Feed
andrewcusack.com | © Andrew Cusack 2004-present (Unless otherwise stated)