Horse Grenadier Guards
Louis XIV added a troop of 154 to the Maison Militaire du Roi in December 1676, making it perhaps the most impressive regiment in Europe.
[3] John Evelyn, in his Diary entry for 5 December 1683, described the appearance of the horse grenadiers: The King had now augmented his guards with a new sort of dragoons, who carried also granados, and were habited after the Polish manner, with long picked caps, very fierce and fantastical.
[6] These grenadiers functioned as mounted infantry, riding with the Horse Guards but fighting with grenades and muskets on foot.
To The King's Troop of Horse Guards were attached 80 privates, officered by one captain, two lieutenants, three sergeants, and three corporals, and accompanied by two drummers and two hautboys.
But thanks to the Life Guards class as private gentlemen, an insult to Willem van Keppel, 2nd Earl of Albemarle in 1719 only required an apology; the matter never reached court.
By contrast Robert Walpole's policy of isolationism from continental wars frustrated the Blues and Royals, who were used to police riots and on anti-smuggling patrols.
[15] When on 25 March 1745, Prince William, Duke of Cumberland was appointed Commander-in-chief and arrived in Flanders, the Horse Grenadiers were put into a brigade with Life Guards, and Blues, under Lord Craufurd.
[17] One distinguished Horse Grenadier was General Onslow, Colonel of 1st Troop, who was a divisional commander in Flanders under Cumberland.
The regiment took part in all royal escorts providing the van and rearguards; with Life Guards around the King's body in the centre.
He tackled questions such as the purchasing of commissions, dragoon tactics, care and size of horses, and the quality of leadership and discipline.
On 20 October 1760, at his last public engagement, George II reviewed the Horse Grenadiers with Life Guards in Hyde Park.
A party of Horse Grenadier Guards had to be called out to protect Sir George Savile's house in 1780 during the Gordon Riots, their last significant action.
[22] In 1788, army reforms broke up the "gentlemen's club" of the Horse Guards, and a decisive mood prevailed in parliament for Pitt to act.
The wholesale replacement of aristocrats by common troopers gave the Life Guards the derisory nickname of "Cheeses" or "Cheesemongers".
Generous retirement annuities were negotiated by Colonel of Horse Grenadiers, Hugh Percy, 2nd Duke of Northumberland and his deputy, John Griffin, 4th Baron Howard de Walden.
Traditionally chosen for their size and strength, the Horse Grenadiers' more professional complexion changed the character of the 'gentlemanly' Life Guards.
Devonshire's long black jackboots, and the flash cord of the grenades from the Horse Grenadiers were used in the design of the modern ceremonial cartouche of the 1850s.
