The Household Division of the British army consists of two cavalry regiments and five regiments of Foot Guards. In order of precedence; Grenadier, Coldstream, Scots, Irish and Welsh Guards. The Foot Guards have a small museum in the Wellington Barracks, next to St James Park in London.
I had a spare hour after a meeting in Whitehall this week and took the opportunity to visit a museum that I had previously missed. It is a small museum but packed with interesting exhibits, covering the long history of the Foot Guards.
Most people are familiar with the guardsman who parade at Buckingham Palace, but many will not know that these are also fighting regiments to this day.
The museum takes a chronological tour from the Grenadier and Coldstream Guards regiments establishment during the Civil Wars and the Restoration. This was followed by the Scots Guards and later by the Irish and Welsh Guards.
Most people are familiar with the guardsman who parade at Buckingham Palace, but many will not know that these are also fighting regiments to this day. The museum takes a chronological tour from the Grenadier and Coldstream Guards regiments establishment during the Civil Wars and the Restoration. This was followed by the Scots Guards and later by the Irish and Welsh Guards.
The displays are traditional, supplemented by some quite stunning life sized vignettes. There are plenty of uniforms and equipment from each campaign.
There is also a model soldier shop next to the museum and you can also visit the Guards Chapel. The original was largely destroyed by a V1 flying bomb in 1944. Today, it has a fine display of standards used by the Guards over the years.
Overall, well worth a visit if you are in that part of London.
There is also a model soldier shop next to the museum and you can also visit the Guards Chapel. The original was largely destroyed by a V1 flying bomb in 1944. Today, it has a fine display of standards used by the Guards over the years.
Overall, well worth a visit if you are in that part of London.
Glad you visited the Guards Museum toy soldier shop next door (linked to MKL Models?) where they often have some lovely old Britains, new model metal and cards. I usually drop by on the rare occasions of travelling through London. Usually an expensive visit!
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