1945-Present day History of the Irish Guards

the irish guards mascot

with army demobilisation, 3rd irish guards disbanded in 1946, 2nd doing following year.

in 1947 1st irish guards deployed abroad first time since 1944, heading troubled palestine perform internal security (is) duties there. after british left palestine in may 1948, battalion moved tripoli, libya , returned home in 1949. battalion joined british army of rhine (baor) in west germany in 1951, remaining there until 1953. after battalion participated in ceremonial duty coronation of elizabeth ii, posted suez canal zone in egypt, remaining there until british withdrawal in 1956.

in 1958, during troubles in cyprus when there tension, indeed violence, between greek , turkish cypriots , against british forces eoka, regiment performed vital internal security duties. returned britain in closing months of year. in 1961 in west germany. in 1966, regiment moved aden, colony experiencing violence. irish guards returned home before aden gained independence british empire in 1967.

in 1970 regiment posted hong kong garrison, remaining there 2 years until return uk. in 1974, regiment re-roled mechanised battalion, subsequently being posted baor. in 1977 regiment suffered fatal casualty of troubles, when guardsman samuel murphy shot provisional ira while walking mother near parent s home in andersonstown in west belfast whilst on leave. later died of wounds.

upon returning united kingdom, however, troubles reached central london when ira bomb blasted bus carrying men of regiment chelsea barracks on 10 october 1981. twenty-three soldiers , 16 others wounded , 2 passers-by killed.

the regiment returned baor in february of following year, missing falklands war. in 1986, regiment returned home, receiving new colours 2 years later hm queen. returned belize later year, before being posted british sector of west berlin in 1989, first , deployment city. regiment present when berlin wall fell year. left newly united berlin in 1992.

the irish guards , number of other british army regiments including gurkhas long exempted service in northern ireland. (small numbers of irish guardsmen, however, gained experience in ulster while attached other guards regiments during service in troubled province). drawdown in overall size of british army following end of cold war, however, meant policy no longer sustainable. year 1992 saw regiment carry out first tour-of-duty in northern ireland, being based in county fermanagh. violence in ni had subsided time , first-ever tour west of irish sea passed quietly. left following year. in 1995 second tour of ni began, based in county tyrone. regiment headed germany in 1998 part of british forces germany, successor baor.

a warrior infantry fighting vehicle of irish guards training kings royal hussars in macedonia, april 1999.

during troubles in balkans in 1999, company of irish guards deployed macedonia while rest deployed kosovo, forming irish guards battle group. battle group first british unit enter kosovan capital city of pristina on 12 june , greeted local population treated guards heroes. after town had been secured battle group began consolidate position, moving across surrounding countryside secure it. battle group performed professionally, attempting prevent violence breaking out between albanian , serb kosovans while helping rebuild country. regiment left in september, heading germany.

at funeral of queen elizabeth queen mother in 2002, coffin bearer-party made of irish guardsmen. remarkable honour, given fact late queen mother not not regiment s colonel (she was, in fact, colonel-in-chief of black watch), had no official connection regiment @ all, in spite of long identification it.

in 2003, regiment deployed kuwait during build-up iraq war. irish guards part of 7th armoured brigade (successor of famed 7th armoured division, desert rats ) , began training war. battalion split companies, platoons , sections being attached various units of desert rats. upon crossing iraq border, desert rats began journey towards area around basra, gradually taking control of of area surrounded iraq s second largest city.

an irish guardsman provides cover royal engineers during invasion of iraq.

soldiers of irish guards led british advance on basra late march, helping in securing objectives on outskirts of city. during battle of basra, irish guards lost 2 soldiers: lance corporal ian keith malone , piper christopher muzvuru. latter native of zimbabwe, , first black piper in regiment s history. regiment claim have been first enter basra on 6 april, stating did many hours before parachute regiment.

the irish guards reverted war-role performing many duties familiar british soldier has served in northern ireland. performed these duties until may when left iraq. (it evidence of how stretched modern british army upon return uk, posted northern ireland third tour.)

in 2005, 1st battalion, irish guards became first unit officially awarded battle honours service in iraq – enable these displayed on battalion s new regimental colour during sovereign s birthday parade.

as part of reforms of army announced in 2004, irish guards remain single battalion regiment given fixed role. serve light infantry battalion, alternating coldstream guards on public duties in windsor.

in 2010, 1st battalion, irish guards deployed part of british forces in afghanistan. irish guardsman killed in november 2010.