Royal Scots Dragoon Guards

Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, uploaded by Hayden Soloviev · Public domain · source
Unit name	Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
Caption	Cap badge of the regiment
Dates	1971–present
Type	Heavy cavalry
Role	Armoured reconnaissance
Size	Regiment
Garrison	Edinburgh Castle
Nickname	()
Motto	Second to None

Royal Scots Dragoon Guards The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards is a regiment of the British Army formed by amalgamation in 1971 and based at Edinburgh Castle. It traces antecedents to cavalry units with service in the War of the Spanish Succession, the Napoleonic Wars, the Crimean War, the Second Boer War and both World War I and World War II. The regiment combines traditions from the 3rd Dragoon Guards and the 6th Dragoon Guards and maintains close associations with Scottish institutions such as the Royal Regiment of Scotland and ceremonial connections to the British monarchy.

History

The regiment was created by merging the 3rd and 6th Dragoon Guards in 1971, linking lineages with the 3rd Carabiniers (Prince of Wales's Dragoon Guards), the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons, and other historic cavalry like the 9th/12th Lancers and the Royal Scots Greys. Its antecedent formations fought at the Battle of Blenheim, the Battle of Waterloo, the Siege of Sevastopol, and the Relief of Ladysmith. During the Cold War the unit served within the British Army of the Rhine alongside formations such as I (British) Corps and supported NATO commitments including exercises with the United States Army Europe and the Bundeswehr. In the post-Cold War era the regiment deployed to operations including Operation Granby, Operation Telic, Operation Herrick and various United Nations and NATO missions, adapting from traditional cavalry roles to contemporary armoured reconnaissance and peacekeeping.

Organisation and structure

The regiment is structured as a single-battalion cavalry regiment under the command of the Household Division-associated chain in the British Army order of battle and forms part of 1st (UK) Division frameworks during restructuring initiatives such as the Army 2020 and Future Soldier programmes. Sub-units include troop and squadron-level elements analogous to those in other regiments like the Blues and Royals and the Queen's Royal Hussars. The regimental headquarters is at Edinburgh Castle, maintaining liaison with civic bodies including the City of Edinburgh Council and ceremonial links with the Royal Company of Archers.

Operational deployments and engagements

Operational history encompasses deployments to conventional conflicts and peace support. In the Gulf War the regiment contributed to coalition operations alongside units such as the Royal Dragoon Guards and the Queen's Dragoon Guards. In Iraq and Afghanistan the regiment conducted reconnaissance, convoy protection and partnered operations with formations including the Iraqi Army and the Afghan National Army, and operated within multinational headquarters such as Combined Joint Task Force structures. Past contributions to UNPROFOR and NATO-led missions placed the regiment alongside the Canadian Armed Forces, French Army, and Polish Land Forces. Historic battle honours derive from fights like the Somme, Cambrai, El Alamein and the Normandy campaign, reflecting service with divisions such as the 7th Armoured Division and corps-level formations during Second World War operations.

Equipment and uniforms

Armoured platforms operated by the regiment have included main battle tanks and reconnaissance vehicles such as the Challenger 2, the Scimitar (FV101) series and variants of the Warrior IFV or wheeled reconnaissance vehicles used in modernisation efforts akin to procurement programmes like the Ajax (Scout SV). Personal kit and small arms mirror British Army issue including weapons from manufacturers associated with equipment used by the Royal Armoured Corps and brigades in NATO collaborations. The regiment preserves historic full-dress items descended from its predecessors: kilts and doublets reflecting links to the Royal Scots Greys and dress accoutrements similar to those maintained by the Gordon Highlanders and the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment), while service dress aligns with standards of the British Army Uniform Board.

Traditions and regimental culture

The regiment maintains piping and military music traditions comparable to those of the Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland and retains trophies and standards commemorating engagements with opponents including units from the French Army, Prussian Army and more recent coalition partners. Ceremonial events occur at venues such as Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace and during national commemorations at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and National War Memorial (Canada). Affiliations with civic and educational institutions include affiliations with universities and cadet organisations like the Combined Cadet Force and links to regimental museums akin to the National Army Museum and the Royal Scots Museum.

Recruitment, training, and insignia

Recruitment draws on Scottish and UK-wide intake, with training pathways shared with other armoured regiments including courses at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, the Armoured Crewman’s Course and collective training at depots such as Sennelager and Bovington Camp. Specialist reconnaissance and leaders’ courses are run in concert with establishments like the Land Warfare Centre and in joint exercises with NATO partners such as NATO Response Force elements. Regimental insignia combine elements from predecessor units including the cap badge, number flashes, and battle honours displayed on colours; these motifs resonate with symbols used by units such as the Royal Scots, the Scots Guards and other Scottish regiments. The regiment maintains a regimental museum and archives with artefacts linked to figures like Field Marshal Lord Roberts and leaders from 19th- and 20th-century campaigns.

Category:Regiments of the British Army Category:Scottish regiments