1st (The King's) Dragoon Guards

Inhaber
1756 Bland

Unit History
The regiment was formed in 1685 as the Queen's or 2nd Regiment of Horse. The regiment became the King's Own Regiment of Horse in 1714. The unit was engaged in 1745 at Dettingen. In 1746, the first three regiments of Horse were, for reasons of economy, 'reduced to the quality of Dragoon', with the extra title of 'Guard' added as compensation. As part of the change, the units lost their cross-belts and were provided with drums and hautbois instead of trumpets. Their arms were sword, carbine and pistol.
The unit fought at Bergen; Minden; Korbach, where it charged with the 3rd Dragoon Guards in an attempt to save some Allied guns losing 66 men out of 90; Warburg, Vellinghausen; Wilhelmstal, and other engagements in the 'Kleinkrieg' in Germany.
At Bergen, April 1759, the regiment was in the centre column of the Anglo-Allied army. The infantry in the column was fed into the assaults on Bergen and beaten back while the cavalry protected their flank.
At Minden, August 1759, three squadrons were present along with the Royal Horse Guards and Inniskilling Dragoons under the command of Colonel John Mostyn. This command was in the first line under the command of Lord Sackville.
At Warburg, July 31, 1760, the regiment was in the brigade under the command of the Marquis of Granby. His brigade included the Royal Horse Guards, and the 3rd Dragoon Guards, and the 2nd Royal North British Dragoons.
Considered a regular unit receiving elite pay whose motto was 'Honi soit qui mal y pense' (Evil be to him who evil thinks).

Comments
This is one of my ‘Bergen’ units. The unit has fought well on the table top. Unit painted in the spring of 2004.

Sources
Flag: Osprey’s British Colours & Standards 1747-1881 (1) Cavalry (Elite 77)
Text: J. Mollo, Uniforms of the Seven Years War 1756-63, Blandford Press, page 188.