Second to None: The Evolution

When describing military history particularly of a specific regiment there is a certain level of reverence that a historian must remember. The history of military regiments is usually a dark one littered with heroic events and epic battles and where better to start than with the longest standing regiment in the British army. To condense a regiment dating back to the 17th century into one short piece is not easy so I have decided to pick some outstanding events and people from this regiment to enhance the experience of the prestigious history and the people who have impacted me when reading the history of this regiment.

So, on one of my first jaunts into in depth military history, we follow the Coldstream Guard, I have family links to the Guards which gave me an interest in the Grenadiers but when my friend joined the Coldstream and its prestigious history began to spark an interest. I also found myself delving into the more modern invention of war with the memoirs of current soldiers, the idea of the army is essential for the modern world as a safety it has always frightened me and honestly this brief look at the Coldstream has not made it any easier but as with most of my research surrounding war it has made me appreciate the malady of the common soldier rather than seeing the media representation.

The story begins then in 1650 during the English Civil War when Oliver Cromwell was asserting his dominance over the British population. Cromwell was aware of  Colonel George Monck’s prowess as a military leader as had been imprisoned in the Tower of London for fighting for the king, Cromwell wanted him and after initially rejecting to work for Cromwell, following two years in the Tower ,  he joined and helped him significantly in gaining control he was given permission to create a regiment taking the elite from many others to create a “New Model Army” and on 13th August 1650 Monck’s Regiment of the Foot was created.  Their first epic victory was the Battle of Dunbar on 3rd September and by then they were already an elite force, earning the first of many medals and accolades.  

Upon Cromwell’s death in 1658 the ascendants of the Coldstream were stationed at their namesake town on Scottish Border and Monck marched them 5 weeks to London as the country was about to change and he appears to have always been a royalist at heart. After fighting for a freely chosen parliament, they voted to restore his beloved monarchy once more and Monck welcomed the exiled Charles back to England. Therefore, bringing the beginning of the democracy we have today and in fact allowing the monarchy back into its rightful place with Charles II.  However, as Monck had opposed the parliament they passed an act to disband this “New Model Army” but through the military effort of the Coldstream forbears quashing rebellion against the King, they were not only not disbanded but were chosen to become Royal Guards.  

They laid down their arms as the King returned and he immediately told them they fought for the King and they became The Lord’s General’s Regiment of Footguards. This was mainly a ceremonial action to prove that they were loyal to the monarchy as opposed to Cromwell’s government, a bold action inferring they were on the side of Britain rather than leaders. So, within 11 years of creating a new regiment they had proven to be worthy of protecting the newly reinstated King. However, the King had a royal guard with him in exile who were perceived to be more senior and their addition to these duties had them held as the second senior regiment of the household guards, the first of which became the Grenadier Guards. This lead to a, it seems still, bitter rivalry and a motto that mirrors the sentiment “Nulli Secundus” Second to None  and with the regiment being at the left of the line in parade they always stand second to none.  From Monck’s death in 1670 the Earl of Craven took his place and the name was changed once more to the Coldstream regiment of Foot Guards and they became prestigious and proud regiment they are today with more historical and epic battles.

More articles to follow.