Household Cavalry Regiment
Encyclopedia
The Household Cavalry Regiment (HCR) is a cavalry regiment
of the British Army
, and is one of two regiment
s that are formed from the Household Cavalry
. It was formed in 1992, under the Options for Change
reforms, by the amalgamation of The Life Guards
and the Blues and Royals
. Both regiments were allowed to maintain their identities, and each provides two squadrons for the HCR. This makes the HCR relatively unique in the British Army, in that it is an operational regiment only - it does not have its own ceremonial identity, as The Life Guards and the Blues and Royals have their own RHQs, their own uniforms and accoutrements.
The regiment is part of the Household Cavalry
, which is a corps in its own right, rather than the Royal Armoured Corps
(RAC). However, it serves as one of the five formation reconnaissance regiment
s, for which it is equipped with various vehicles including the FV107 Scimitar
, and is considered, for operational purposes, as part of the RAC. Uniquely among the army's formation reconnaissance regiments, in peacetime the Household Cavalry Regiment has four operational squadrons (the rest have three); one of the HCR's squadrons is permanently attached to 16 Air Assault Brigade.
It currently serves as the formation reconnaissance regiment assigned to 1 Mechanised Brigade and is based at Combermere Barracks
, Windsor, one mile from Windsor Castle
.
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...
, and is one of two regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
s that are formed from the Household Cavalry
Household Cavalry
The term Household Cavalry is used across the Commonwealth to describe the cavalry of the Household Divisions, a country’s most elite or historically senior military groupings or those military groupings that provide functions associated directly with the Head of state.Canada's Governor General's...
. It was formed in 1992, under 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....
reforms, by the amalgamation of The Life Guards
Life Guards (British Army)
The Life Guards is the senior regiment of the British Army and with the Blues and Royals, they make up the Household Cavalry.They originated in the four troops of Horse Guards raised by Charles II around the time of his restoration, plus two troops of Horse Grenadier Guards which were raised some...
and the Blues and Royals
Blues and Royals
The Blues and Royals is a cavalry regiment of the British Army, part of the Household Cavalry. The Colonel-in-Chief is Her Majesty The Queen and the Colonel is HRH The Princess Royal...
. Both regiments were allowed to maintain their identities, and each provides two squadrons for the HCR. This makes the HCR relatively unique in the British Army, in that it is an operational regiment only - it does not have its own ceremonial identity, as The Life Guards and the Blues and Royals have their own RHQs, their own uniforms and accoutrements.
The regiment is part of the Household Cavalry
Household Cavalry
The term Household Cavalry is used across the Commonwealth to describe the cavalry of the Household Divisions, a country’s most elite or historically senior military groupings or those military groupings that provide functions associated directly with the Head of state.Canada's Governor General's...
, which is a corps in its own right, rather than the 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). However, it serves as one of the five formation reconnaissance regiment
Formation reconnaissance regiment
The Formation Reconnaissance Regiment is one of two organisations currently provided by cavalry regiments of the British Army. Until recently, it was known as the Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment....
s, for which it is equipped with various vehicles including the FV107 Scimitar
FV107 Scimitar
FV107 Scimitar is an armoured reconnaissance vehicle used by the British Army. It is very similar to the FV101 Scorpion but mounts a high velocity 30 mm L21 RARDEN cannon instead of a 76 mm gun. It was issued to Royal Armoured Corps, Armoured Regiments in the Reconnaissance role...
, and is considered, for operational purposes, as part of the RAC. Uniquely among the army's formation reconnaissance regiments, in peacetime the Household Cavalry Regiment has four operational squadrons (the rest have three); one of the HCR's squadrons is permanently attached to 16 Air Assault Brigade.
It currently serves as the formation reconnaissance regiment assigned to 1 Mechanised Brigade and is based at Combermere Barracks
Combermere Barracks
Combermere Barracks, Windsor, is a British military installation one mile from Windsor Castle. It is the home of the Household Cavalry Regiment....
, Windsor, one mile from Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...
.
See also
- KingcolKingcol-Creation and composition:Kingcol was created to allow a portion of Habforce to relieve RAF Habbaniya as soon as possible. The column was named after its commander, Brigadier J.J. Kingstone...
- GocolGocolGocol was a flying column created by the British Army shortly after the Anglo-Iraqi War had ended.-Creation and composition:Gocol was a truck-borne flying column created in early June 1941 specifically to pursue and capture Dr. Fritz Grobba, the German Ambassador to the Kingdom of Iraq...
- MercolMercolMercol was a flying column created by the British Army shortly after the Anglo-Iraqi War had ended.-Creation and composition:Mercol was a truck-borne flying column created in early June 1941 specifically with the task of rounding up irregular troops under Fawzi al-Qawuqji. In addition to Mercol,...
- Household Cavalry Mounted RegimentHousehold Cavalry Mounted RegimentThe Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment is a ceremonial cavalry regiment of the British Army. It is classed as a regiment of guards, and carries out mounted ceremonial duties on State and Royal occasions. These include the provision of the Sovereign's Escort, most commonly seen at the present...