5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards
Encyclopedia
The 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards was a cavalry regiment
of the British Army
in existence from 1922 to 1992, when it was amalgmated into the Royal Dragoon Guards
.
was formed in 1922 at Cairo
, Egypt
as the 5th/6th Dragoons by the amalgamation of the 5th Dragoon Guards (Princess Charlotte of Wales's) and The Inniskillings (6th Dragoons).
In 1923 the regiment was deployed to Risalpur
, India. In 1927 the regiment discarded the "6th" and inserted Inniskilling into its title, to become the 5th Inniskilling Dragoon Guards. The following year the regiment returned to the UK for the first time, as the 5th Dragoon Guards. In 1935 it gained the Royal accolade to become the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards.
In 1938, as part of the preparation for the Second World War, the regiment was mechanised and the following year joined the newly-formed Royal Armoured Corps
(RAC).
had invaded Poland
, the UK, France
and their Allies declared war on Germany.
The regiment acted as the reconnaissance regiment of the British 4th Infantry Division
of the British Expeditionary Force
(BEF) that was deployed to the continent
shortly after war broke out. On 10 May 1940 the Germans launched their invasion of the Low Countries
, thus ending what was known as the Phony War
. The German invasion was swift and successful, the Allied forces in Belgium having to retreat to the Scheldt
River which the regiment was part of. Fierce fighting continued, the BEF continuing to withdraw further until the order was given for them to withdraw to Dunkirk in northern France. What followed from 27 May to 6 June, known as Operation Dynamo
, was the remarkable evacuation of more than 330,000 British and Allied troops back to the UK; the regiment was successfully evacuated, with the exception of their equipment.
In December 1940 a cadre from the regiment and the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards
were used to form a new regiment, the 22nd Dragoons
; it was disbanded in December 1945.
The 5th Dragoon Guards remained in the UK until 1944 when it landed in Normandy a month after the D-Day
landings, where it joined the 22nd Armoured Brigade
, 7th Armoured Division
(the famed 'Desert Rats'). Heavy fighting was still raging in Normandy and the Regiment took part in actions in Mont Pincon
in early August and, subsequently, at St Pierre La Vielle. The regiment saw further service in Northern France, including helping in the capture of Lisieux
on 23 August, and later crossing the Risle
, advancing rapidly to the Seine
. Paris
had been liberated on 25 August.
The Inniskillings began their advance on Belgium on 31 August -- the 7th Armoured Division's objective was the city of Ghent
-- and crossed the Somme
, where the regiment's predecessor regiments had fought during World War I, and Authie rivers. The division had made a remarkable advance on the Franco-Belgian border but, however, the division could not maintain its advance, having consumed enormous amounts of fuel, and so a smaller force, which the Innsikilling's were part of, was, instead, employed in the effort to capture Ghent; the Inniskillings and the 11th Hussars
entered the city on 5 September. The 7th Armoured Division remained in Belgium to take part in operations against the remnants of the German forces and, thus, did not take part in Operation Market Garden
. The regiment subsequently took part in heavy fighting around the Maas river that began in late October.
The regiment saw action during Operation Blackcock
to clear the west bank of the Roer of Germans, that commenced on 16 January 1945. The 5th DG subsequently took part in the crossing of the Rhine, which began on 25 March, with the objective of heading eastward, straight for the city of Hamburg
. The regiment was now firmly inside German territory, encountering fierce resistance from the Germans. The regiment took part in the capture of a number of towns during the rapid advance into Germany. In April the regiment took part in the efforts to capture Ibbenburen
, seeing heavy fighting against the fierce defenders. The regiment saw further heavy fighting elsewhere before it, with the rest of its brigade, headed south for Bremen, where they helped capture Wildehausen. Later, the Inniskillings took part in the successful attack on Soltau
advance before the advance on Harburg
, a suburb of Hamburg, resumed. Nearing the end of April, the Germans were negotiating the surrender of Hamburg—a city devastated by the Allied bombing campaigns—and 7th Armoured Division entered the city on 3 May.
Germany surrendered to the Allies, after almost six years of war, on 7 May and VE Day took place on 8 May. The regiment moved with the rest of the division to Berlin, taking part in the Victory Parade there in July. The 5th Inniskillings remained in Germany as part of the Occuupation forces, known as the British Army of the Rhine
(BAOR), for a number of years. When battle
and theatre honours were awarded to the British Army during the late 1950s, the regiment gained ten battle honours and two theatre honours.
to take part in the Korean War
—a war that had been raging since when North Korea
had launched a surprise attack against South Korea
—as part of the 1st Commonwealth Division
. The Chinese launched a massive attack on 'The Hook'
, a tactically important position held by the British, on 18 November 1952, commencing the second battle for 'The Hook'. The Black Watch
, having stoutly defended their positions, were forced back by the overwhelming Chinese attack. The British, subsequently, launched a counter-attack that involved B Squadron of the Regiment, armed with the powerful Centurion
main battle tank, supported the Black Watch as they began the methodical effort to dislodge the Chinese from 'The Hook'. Fighting raged on into the early hours of 19 November but as dawn broke the Chinese retreated, unable to consolidate their situation on 'The Hook'. The 5th Inniskillings left Korea the following month, arriving in the Suez Canal Zone just prior to its handover to the Egyptians. It returned home to the UK the following year.
In 1964 the Regiment had squadrons in the three British territories of Aden
, Bahrain
and Hong Kong
, and the following year the regiment was posted to the British military bases in Libya
. In 1966 A Squadron deployed to Cyprus
to act in the reconnaissance role for the United Nations
(UN) forces, there to prevent conflict from breaking out between the opposing Greek and Turkish Cypriots. In 1968 the Regiment returned home and shortly afterwards deployed to Herford
, West Germany
as part of the British Army of the Rhine. In October 1973 the Regiment deployed to Cyprus as part of UN forces there and returned to its base in May 1974. In 1981 the Regiment deployed to NI in April on a 4-month tour before returning to Osnabrück
.
In 1984 the Inniskillings moved back to the UK, to Tidworth. A Squadron was detached and to serve as the armoured component of the United Kingdom Mobile Force, tasked with reinforcing the Baltic approaches in time of war. D Squadron was based in Warminster as the armoured support squadron to the school of infantry.
The regiment returned to Germany, to Barker Barracks, Paderborn just two years later as part of 11 Armd Bde, 4 Armd Div.
In 1992, as a consequence of the Options for Change
defence cuts, the Regiment was amalgamated with the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards
to form the Royal Dragoon Guards
.
, Ramillies
, Oudenarde
, Malplaquet
, Dettigen
, Warburg
, Beaumont
, Willems, Salamanca
, Vittoria, Toulouse
, Peninsula, Waterloo
, Balaklava, Sevastopol, Defence of Ladysmith, South Africa 1899–1902
Cavalry regiments of the British Army
There are currently nine regular cavalry regiments of the British Army, with two tank regiments provided by the Royal Tank Regiment, traditionally classed alongside the cavalry, for a total of eleven regiments. Of these, five serve as armoured regiments, and five as formation reconnaissance...
of the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
in existence from 1922 to 1992, when it was amalgmated into the Royal Dragoon Guards
Royal Dragoon Guards
The Royal Dragoon Guards is a cavalry regiment of the British Army. It was formed in 1992 by the amalgamation of two other regiments: The 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards and the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards...
.
The beginning
The regimentRegiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
was formed in 1922 at Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
as the 5th/6th Dragoons by the amalgamation of the 5th Dragoon Guards (Princess Charlotte of Wales's) and The Inniskillings (6th Dragoons).
In 1923 the regiment was deployed to Risalpur
Risalpur
Risalpur is a city in Nowshera District, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, on the Nowshera-Mardan Road. It is nearly 45 km from Peshawar and 15 km from Mardan and is located at 34°4'52N 71°58'21E. In a basin some 1014 feet above sea level, it is bounded on the south and west by the Kabul and...
, India. In 1927 the regiment discarded the "6th" and inserted Inniskilling into its title, to become the 5th Inniskilling Dragoon Guards. The following year the regiment returned to the UK for the first time, as the 5th Dragoon Guards. In 1935 it gained the Royal accolade to become the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards.
In 1938, as part of the preparation for the Second World War, the regiment was mechanised and the following year joined the newly-formed Royal Armoured Corps
Royal Armoured Corps
The Royal Armoured Corps is currently a collection of ten regular regiments, mostly converted from old horse cavalry regiments, and four Yeomanry regiments of the Territorial Army...
(RAC).
Second World War
On 3 September 1939, two days after GermanyNazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
had invaded Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, the UK, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and their Allies declared war on Germany.
The regiment acted as the reconnaissance regiment of the British 4th Infantry Division
British 4th Infantry Division
The 4th Infantry Division is a regular British Army division with a long history having been present at the Peninsular War the Crimean War , the First World War , and during the Second World War.- Napoleonic Wars :...
of the British Expeditionary Force
British Expeditionary Force (World War II)
The British Expeditionary Force was the British force in Europe from 1939–1940 during the Second World War. Commanded by General Lord Gort, the BEF constituted one-tenth of the defending Allied force....
(BEF) that was deployed to the continent
Continent
A continent is one of several very large landmasses on Earth. They are generally identified by convention rather than any strict criteria, with seven regions commonly regarded as continents—they are : Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia.Plate tectonics is...
shortly after war broke out. On 10 May 1940 the Germans launched their invasion of the Low Countries
Low Countries
The Low Countries are the historical lands around the low-lying delta of the Rhine, Scheldt, and Meuse rivers, including the modern countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and parts of northern France and western Germany....
, thus ending what was known as the Phony War
Phony War
The Phoney War was a phase early in World War II – in the months following Britain and France's declaration of war on Germany in September 1939 and preceding the Battle of France in May 1940 – that was marked by a lack of major military operations by the Western Allies against the German Reich...
. The German invasion was swift and successful, the Allied forces in Belgium having to retreat to the Scheldt
Scheldt
The Scheldt is a 350 km long river in northern France, western Belgium and the southwestern part of the Netherlands...
River which the regiment was part of. Fierce fighting continued, the BEF continuing to withdraw further until the order was given for them to withdraw to Dunkirk in northern France. What followed from 27 May to 6 June, known as Operation Dynamo
Operation Dynamo
The Dunkirk evacuation, commonly known as the Miracle of Dunkirk, code-named Operation Dynamo by the British, was the evacuation of Allied soldiers from the beaches and harbour of Dunkirk, France, between 26 May and the early hours of 3 June 1940, because the British, French and Belgian troops were...
, was the remarkable evacuation of more than 330,000 British and Allied troops back to the UK; the regiment was successfully evacuated, with the exception of their equipment.
In December 1940 a cadre from the regiment and the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards
4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards
The 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards was a cavalry regiment of the British Army from 1922 to 1992.It was formed in India in 1922 by the amalgamation of the 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards and 7th Dragoon Guards , as the 4th/7th Dragoon Guards; it gained the distinction Royal in 1935...
were used to form a new regiment, the 22nd Dragoons
22nd Dragoons
The 22nd Dragoons was the title held by a series of four Cavalry regiments of the British Army raised and disbanded between 1716 and 1945. The last regiment of this name existed during the Second World War, from 1 December 1940 until 30 November 1945....
; it was disbanded in December 1945.
The 5th Dragoon Guards remained in the UK until 1944 when it landed in Normandy a month after the D-Day
Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings...
landings, where it joined the 22nd Armoured Brigade
British 22nd Armoured Brigade
The 22nd Armoured Brigade, a British Army brigade, was formed as the 22nd Heavy Armoured Brigade on 3 September 1939 with three Yeomanry mechanised cavalry regiments The 22nd Armoured Brigade, a British Army brigade, was formed as the 22nd Heavy Armoured Brigade on 3 September 1939 with three...
, 7th Armoured Division
British 7th Armoured Division
The 7th Armoured Division was a British armoured division which saw service during the Second World War where its exploits made it famous as the Desert Rats....
(the famed 'Desert Rats'). Heavy fighting was still raging in Normandy and the Regiment took part in actions in Mont Pincon
Mont Pinçon
Mont Pinçon is the highest point of the département of Calvados, in Normandy, with an elevation of . It is in the west of Swiss Normandy about to the south-west of Caen, near the village of Plessis-Grimoult....
in early August and, subsequently, at St Pierre La Vielle. The regiment saw further service in Northern France, including helping in the capture of Lisieux
Lisieux
Lisieux is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.Lisieux is the capital of the Pays d'Auge area, which is characterised by valleys and hedged farmland...
on 23 August, and later crossing the Risle
Risle
The Risle is a long river in Normandy, left tributary of the Seine.The river begins in Orne west of L'Aigle, crosses the western part of the department of Eure flowing from south to north and out into the estuary of the Seine on the left bank near Berville-sur-Mer...
, advancing rapidly to the Seine
Seine
The Seine is a -long river and an important commercial waterway within the Paris Basin in the north of France. It rises at Saint-Seine near Dijon in northeastern France in the Langres plateau, flowing through Paris and into the English Channel at Le Havre . It is navigable by ocean-going vessels...
. Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
had been liberated on 25 August.
The Inniskillings began their advance on Belgium on 31 August -- the 7th Armoured Division's objective was the city of Ghent
Ghent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
-- and crossed the Somme
Somme
Somme is a department of France, located in the north of the country and named after the Somme river. It is part of the Picardy region of France....
, where the regiment's predecessor regiments had fought during World War I, and Authie rivers. The division had made a remarkable advance on the Franco-Belgian border but, however, the division could not maintain its advance, having consumed enormous amounts of fuel, and so a smaller force, which the Innsikilling's were part of, was, instead, employed in the effort to capture Ghent; the Inniskillings and the 11th Hussars
11th Hussars
The 11th Hussars was a cavalry regiment of the British Army.-History:The regiment was founded in 1715 as Colonel Philip Honeywood's Regiment of Dragoons and was known by the name of its Colonel until 1751 when it became the 11th Regiment of Dragoons...
entered the city on 5 September. The 7th Armoured Division remained in Belgium to take part in operations against the remnants of the German forces and, thus, did not take part in Operation Market Garden
Operation Market Garden
Operation Market Garden was an unsuccessful Allied military operation, fought in the Netherlands and Germany in the Second World War. It was the largest airborne operation up to that time....
. The regiment subsequently took part in heavy fighting around the Maas river that began in late October.
The regiment saw action during Operation Blackcock
Operation Blackcock
Operation Blackcock was the code name for the clearing of the Roer Triangle formed by the towns of Roermond, Sittard and Heinsberg. It was conducted by the 2nd British Army in January 1945 between 14 and 26 January 1945. The objective was to drive the German 15th Army back across the Rivers Rur and...
to clear the west bank of the Roer of Germans, that commenced on 16 January 1945. The 5th DG subsequently took part in the crossing of the Rhine, which began on 25 March, with the objective of heading eastward, straight for the city of Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
. The regiment was now firmly inside German territory, encountering fierce resistance from the Germans. The regiment took part in the capture of a number of towns during the rapid advance into Germany. In April the regiment took part in the efforts to capture Ibbenburen
Ibbenbüren
Ibbenbüren or Ibbenbueren is a medium-sized town in the district of Steinfurt, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is on position 185 of the largest cities in Germany and the largest city in Tecklenburger Land.-Geography:...
, seeing heavy fighting against the fierce defenders. The regiment saw further heavy fighting elsewhere before it, with the rest of its brigade, headed south for Bremen, where they helped capture Wildehausen. Later, the Inniskillings took part in the successful attack on Soltau
Soltau
- Middle Ages :The region of the Lüneburg Heath had already been settled by the start of the New Stone Age about 4,000 years ago. The Soltau area was initially occupied by a few individual farms. The parish of Soltau was probably founded around 830 and the first wooden church Sante Johannis...
advance before the advance on Harburg
Harburg
Harburg is a district in Lower Saxony, Germany. It takes its name from the town of Harburg upon Elbe, which used to be the capital of the district but is now part of Hamburg...
, a suburb of Hamburg, resumed. Nearing the end of April, the Germans were negotiating the surrender of Hamburg—a city devastated by the Allied bombing campaigns—and 7th Armoured Division entered the city on 3 May.
Germany surrendered to the Allies, after almost six years of war, on 7 May and VE Day took place on 8 May. The regiment moved with the rest of the division to Berlin, taking part in the Victory Parade there in July. The 5th Inniskillings remained in Germany as part of the Occuupation forces, known as the British Army of the Rhine
British Army of the Rhine
There have been two formations named British Army of the Rhine . Both were originally occupation forces in Germany, one after the First World War, and the other after the Second World War.-1919–1929:...
(BAOR), for a number of years. When battle
Battle honour
A battle honour is an award of a right by a government or sovereign to a military unit to emblazon the name of a battle or operation on its flags , uniforms or other accessories where ornamentation is possible....
and theatre honours were awarded to the British Army during the late 1950s, the regiment gained ten battle honours and two theatre honours.
Post-WW II
In December 1951 the Regiment arrived in KoreaKorea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
to take part in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
—a war that had been raging since when North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
had launched a surprise attack against South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
—as part of the 1st Commonwealth Division
1st Commonwealth Division
The 1st Commonwealth Division was the name given, after July 1951, to Commonwealth land forces in the Korean War. The division was a multinational unit that was part of British Commonwealth Forces Korea, and whilst British and Canadian Army units formed the bulk of the division, Australian...
. The Chinese launched a massive attack on 'The Hook'
Battle of the Hook
The third Battle of the Hook was a battle of the Korean War that took place between a United Nations force, consisting mostly of British troops, supported on their flanks by American and Turkish artillery units against a predominantly Chinese force...
, a tactically important position held by the British, on 18 November 1952, commencing the second battle for 'The Hook'. The Black Watch
Black Watch
The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The unit's traditional colours were retired in 2011 in a ceremony led by Queen Elizabeth II....
, having stoutly defended their positions, were forced back by the overwhelming Chinese attack. The British, subsequently, launched a counter-attack that involved B Squadron of the Regiment, armed with the powerful Centurion
Centurion tank
The Centurion, introduced in 1945, was the primary British main battle tank of the post-World War II period. It was a successful tank design, with upgrades, for many decades...
main battle tank, supported the Black Watch as they began the methodical effort to dislodge the Chinese from 'The Hook'. Fighting raged on into the early hours of 19 November but as dawn broke the Chinese retreated, unable to consolidate their situation on 'The Hook'. The 5th Inniskillings left Korea the following month, arriving in the Suez Canal Zone just prior to its handover to the Egyptians. It returned home to the UK the following year.
In 1964 the Regiment had squadrons in the three British territories of Aden
Aden
Aden is a seaport city in Yemen, located by the eastern approach to the Red Sea , some 170 kilometres east of Bab-el-Mandeb. Its population is approximately 800,000. Aden's ancient, natural harbour lies in the crater of an extinct volcano which now forms a peninsula, joined to the mainland by a...
, Bahrain
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
and Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, and the following year the regiment was posted to the British military bases in Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
. In 1966 A Squadron deployed to Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
to act in the reconnaissance role for the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
(UN) forces, there to prevent conflict from breaking out between the opposing Greek and Turkish Cypriots. In 1968 the Regiment returned home and shortly afterwards deployed to Herford
Herford
Herford is a town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, located in the lowlands between the hill chains of the Wiehen Hills and the Teutoburg Forest. It is the capital of the district of Herford.- Geographic location :...
, West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
as part of the British Army of the Rhine. In October 1973 the Regiment deployed to Cyprus as part of UN forces there and returned to its base in May 1974. In 1981 the Regiment deployed to NI in April on a 4-month tour before returning to Osnabrück
Osnabrück
Osnabrück is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany, some 80 km NNE of Dortmund, 45 km NE of Münster, and some 100 km due west of Hanover. It lies in a valley penned between the Wiehen Hills and the northern tip of the Teutoburg Forest...
.
In 1984 the Inniskillings moved back to the UK, to Tidworth. A Squadron was detached and to serve as the armoured component of the United Kingdom Mobile Force, tasked with reinforcing the Baltic approaches in time of war. D Squadron was based in Warminster as the armoured support squadron to the school of infantry.
The regiment returned to Germany, to Barker Barracks, Paderborn just two years later as part of 11 Armd Bde, 4 Armd Div.
In 1992, as a consequence of the Options for Change
Options for Change
Options for Change was a restructuring of the British Armed Forces in 1990, aimed at cutting defence spending following the end of the Cold War....
defence cuts, the Regiment was amalgamated with the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards
4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards
The 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards was a cavalry regiment of the British Army from 1922 to 1992.It was formed in India in 1922 by the amalgamation of the 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards and 7th Dragoon Guards , as the 4th/7th Dragoon Guards; it gained the distinction Royal in 1935...
to form the Royal Dragoon Guards
Royal Dragoon Guards
The Royal Dragoon Guards is a cavalry regiment of the British Army. It was formed in 1992 by the amalgamation of two other regiments: The 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards and the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards...
.
Battle honours
Pre-War (Battle Honours for predecessor regiments): BlenheimBattle of Blenheim
The Battle of Blenheim , fought on 13 August 1704, was a major battle of the War of the Spanish Succession. Louis XIV of France sought to knock Emperor Leopold out of the war by seizing Vienna, the Habsburg capital, and gain a favourable peace settlement...
, Ramillies
Battle of Ramillies
The Battle of Ramillies , fought on 23 May 1706, was a major engagement of the War of the Spanish Succession. For the Grand Alliance – Austria, England, and the Dutch Republic – the battle had followed an indecisive campaign against the Bourbon armies of King Louis XIV of France in 1705...
, Oudenarde
Battle of Oudenarde
The Battle of Oudenaarde was a key battle in the War of the Spanish Succession fought on 11 July 1708 between the forces of Great Britain, the Dutch Republic and the Holy Roman Empire on the one side and the French on the other...
, Malplaquet
Battle of Malplaquet
The Battle of Malplaquet, fought on 11 September 1709, was one of the main battles of the War of the Spanish Succession, which opposed the Bourbons of France and Spain against an alliance whose major members were the Habsburg Monarchy, Great Britain, the United Provinces and the Kingdom of...
, Dettigen
Battle of Dettingen
The Battle of Dettingen took place on 27 June 1743 at Dettingen in Bavaria during the War of the Austrian Succession. It was the last time that a British monarch personally led his troops into battle...
, Warburg
Battle of Warburg
The Battle of Warburg was a battle fought on 31 July 1760 during the Seven Years' War. The Battle was a victory for the Hanoverians and the British against the French. British general John Manners, Marquess of Granby achieved some fame for charging at the head of the British cavalry and losing his...
, Beaumont
Battle of Beaumont
The Battle of Beaumont on August 30, 1870 was won by Prussia during the Franco-Prussian War.It was fought between Fifth French Corps d'Armee under General Pierre Louis Charles de Failly, and the IV and XII Army Corps under Prince George of Saxony The Battle of Beaumont on August 30, 1870 was won...
, Willems, Salamanca
Battle of Salamanca
The Battle of Salamanca saw Anglo-Portuguese and Spanish armies under the Duke of Wellington defeat Marshal Auguste Marmont's French forces among the hills around Arapiles south of Salamanca, Spain on July 22, 1812 during the Peninsular War....
, Vittoria, Toulouse
Battle of Toulouse (1814)
The Battle of Toulouse was one of the final battles of the Napoleonic Wars, four days after Napoleon's surrender of the French Empire to the nations of the Sixth Coalition...
, Peninsula, Waterloo
Battle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815 near Waterloo in present-day Belgium, then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands...
, Balaklava, Sevastopol, Defence of Ladysmith, South Africa 1899–1902
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
- First World War (Battle Honours for predecessor regiments):
- Western Front: MonsBattle of MonsThe Battle of Mons was the first major action of the British Expeditionary Force in the First World War. It was a subsidiary action of the Battle of the Frontiers, in which the Allies clashed with Germany on the French borders. At Mons, the British army attempted to hold the line of the...
, Le CateauBattle of Le CateauThe Battle of Le Cateau was fought on 26 August 1914, after the British, French and Belgians retreated from the Battle of Mons and had set up defensive positions in a fighting withdrawal against the German advance at Le Cateau-Cambrésis....
, Retreat from Mons, Marne 1914Battle of the MarneThere were two Battles of the Marne, taking place near the Marne River in Marne, France during World War I:* First Battle of the Marne * Second Battle of the Marne...
, Aisne 1914Battle of the AisneThe Battle of the Aisne is the name of three battles fought along the Aisne River in northern France during the First World War.*First Battle of the Aisne - Anglo-French counter-offensive following the First Battle of the Marne....
, La BasséeBattle of La BasséeThe Battle of La Bassée was a battle between British and German forces in northern France in October 1914, and was part of the Race to the Sea....
, Messines 1914Battle of MessinesThe Battle of Messines was a battle of the Western front of the First World War. It began on 7 June 1917 when the British Second Army under the command of General Herbert Plumer launched an offensive near the village of Mesen in West Flanders, Belgium...
, Armentières 1914Battle of ArmentièresThis battle was part of Race to Sea campaign. During this battle the British successfully held the line in their sector, against repeated German assaults.To the south it merged into the battle of La Bassée, to the north into the battle of Messines....
, Ypres 1914 '15Battle of YpresThere were five Battles of Ypres during World War I:*First Battle of Ypres *Second Battle of Ypres...
, Frezenberg, Bellawaarde, Somme 1916'18, Flers-CourceletteBattle of Flers-CourceletteThe Battle of Flers-Courcelette, was a battle within the Franco-British Somme Offensive which took place in the summer and autumn of 1916. Launched on the 15th of September 1916 the battle went on for one week. Flers-Courcelette began with the overall objective of cutting a hole in the German...
, MorvalBattle of MorvalThe Battle of Morval, which began on 25 September 1916, was an attack by the British Fourth Army on the German-held villages of Morval, Gueudecourt and Lesboeufs during the Battle of the Somme. These villages were originally objectives of the major British offensive of 15 September, the Battle of...
, Arras 1917Battle of Arras (1917)The Battle of Arras was a British offensive during the First World War. From 9 April to 16 May 1917, British, Canadian, New Zealand, Newfoundland, and Australian troops attacked German trenches near the French city of Arras on the Western Front....
, Scarpe 1917, Cambrai 1917 and 1918Battle of Cambrai (1918)The Battle of Cambrai was a battle between troops of the British First, Third and Fourth Armies and German Empire forces during the Hundred Days Offensive of the First World War. The battle took place in and around the French city of Cambrai, between 8 and 10 October 1918...
, St Quentin, Rosières, Avre, Lys, Hazebrouck, Amiens, Hindenburg LineHindenburg LineThe Hindenburg Line was a vast system of defences in northeastern France during World War I. It was constructed by the Germans during the winter of 1916–17. The line stretched from Lens to beyond Verdun...
, St Quentin Canal, BeaurevoirBeaurevoirBeaurevoir is a commune in the department of Aisne in Picardy in northern France.-Population:...
, Pursuit to Mons, France and Flanders 1914–18
- Western Front: Mons
- Second World War:
- North-West Europe: Withdrawal to Scheldt, St. Omer-La Bassée, Dunkirk 1940Operation DynamoThe Dunkirk evacuation, commonly known as the Miracle of Dunkirk, code-named Operation Dynamo by the British, was the evacuation of Allied soldiers from the beaches and harbour of Dunkirk, France, between 26 May and the early hours of 3 June 1940, because the British, French and Belgian troops were...
, Mont PinconMont PinçonMont Pinçon is the highest point of the département of Calvados, in Normandy, with an elevation of . It is in the west of Swiss Normandy about to the south-west of Caen, near the village of Plessis-Grimoult....
, St Pierre La Vielle, LisieuxLisieuxLisieux is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.Lisieux is the capital of the Pays d'Auge area, which is characterised by valleys and hedged farmland...
, Risele Crossing, Roer Triangle (Operation BlackcockOperation BlackcockOperation Blackcock was the code name for the clearing of the Roer Triangle formed by the towns of Roermond, Sittard and Heinsberg. It was conducted by the 2nd British Army in January 1945 between 14 and 26 January 1945. The objective was to drive the German 15th Army back across the Rivers Rur and...
), IbbenburenIbbenbürenIbbenbüren or Ibbenbueren is a medium-sized town in the district of Steinfurt, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is on position 185 of the largest cities in Germany and the largest city in Tecklenburger Land.-Geography:...
, North-West Europe 1940 '44–45North-West EuropeNorth-West Europe is a term that refers to a northern area of Western Europe, although the exact area or countries it comprises varies.-Geographic definition:...
- North-West Europe: Withdrawal to Scheldt, St. Omer-La Bassée, Dunkirk 1940
- Korea: The Hook 1952Battle of the HookThe third Battle of the Hook was a battle of the Korean War that took place between a United Nations force, consisting mostly of British troops, supported on their flanks by American and Turkish artillery units against a predominantly Chinese force...
, Korea 1951–52Korean WarThe Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
Other information
- Colonels-in-Chief:
- HM King Albert I, King of the BelgiansAlbert I of BelgiumAlbert I reigned as King of the Belgians from 1909 until 1934.-Early life:Born Albert Léopold Clément Marie Meinrad in Brussels, he was the fifth child and second son of Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders, and his wife, Princess Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen...
(1922) - HM King Leopold III, King of the BelgiansLeopold III of BelgiumLeopold III reigned as King of the Belgians from 1934 until 1951, when he abdicated in favour of the Heir Apparent,...
(1937) - HRH Prince Charles, The Prince of WalesCharles, Prince of WalesPrince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
(1985)
- HM King Albert I, King of the Belgians
- Motto: Vestigia nulla retrorsum (We do not retreat)
- Nicknames: The Skins, The Old Farmers
- Anniversaries: Oates Sunday (nearest Sunday to 17th March, commemorating Captain OatesLawrence OatesCaptain Lawrence Edward Grace Oates was an English Antarctic explorer, known for the manner of his death, when he walked from a tent into a blizzard, with the words "I am just going outside and may be some time"....
), WaterlooBattle of WaterlooThe Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815 near Waterloo in present-day Belgium, then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands...
(18 June), SalamancaBattle of SalamancaThe Battle of Salamanca saw Anglo-Portuguese and Spanish armies under the Duke of Wellington defeat Marshal Auguste Marmont's French forces among the hills around Arapiles south of Salamanca, Spain on July 22, 1812 during the Peninsular War....
(22 July), Balaklava (23 October) - Marches:
- Quick: Fare Ye Well Inniskilling
- Slow: The Druids'
- Alliances:
- 10th Brant Dragoons (1922-1936) - Canada
- 2nd/10th Dragoons2nd/10th DragoonsThe 2nd/10th Dragoons was a militia regiment of the Canadian Army, based in the Niagara, Wentworth and Brant regions of southern Ontario...
(1936-1946) - Canada - The British Columbia DragoonsThe British Columbia DragoonsThe British Columbia Dragoons is a Primary Reserve armoured reconnaissance regiment of the Canadian Forces. It is based in Kelowna, Vernon and Penticton, British Columbia...
(1960-1992) - Canada - 9th Light Horse (The Flinders Light Horse) (1927-1943) - Australia
- 3rd/9th South Australian Mounted Rifles (1951-1992)
- The Manawatu Mounted Rifles (1922-1944) - New Zealand
- Yeomanry:
- The Cheshire Yeomanry (Earl of Chester's)
- North Irish HorseNorth Irish HorseThe North Irish Horse is a yeomanry unit of the British Territorial Army raised in the northern counties of Ireland in the aftermath of the Second Boer War...