The Irish Guards
The Irish Guards in common with other British Regiments of Irish origin, were long exempted from service in Northern Ireland.The drawdown in the overall size of the British Army following the end of the Cold War, however meant, meant that this policy was no longer sustainable. The year 1992 saw the regiment finally carry out its first tour of duty in Northern Ireland, being based in County Fermanagh. The violence in Northern Ireland had mostly subsided by this time and their first-ever tour west of the Irish Sea passed quietly. They left the following year. In 1995 their second tour of Northern Ireland began , based in County Tyrone. The regiment headed for Germany in 1998 as part of British Forces Germany, successor to BAOR.
During the troubles in the Balkans in 1999, a company of Irish Guards deployed to former Yugoslav republic of macedonia, while the rest deployed to Kosovo, forming the Irish Guards Battle Group. The Battle Group was the first British unit to enter the Kosovan capital city of Pristina on the 12th June, and were greeted by the local population who treated the Guards like heroes. After the town had been secured the battle group began to consolidate its position, moving across the surroundng countryside to secure it. The Battle Group performed professionally, attempting to prevent violence from breaking out between the Albanian and Serb Kosovans while also helping to rebuild the country. The regiment left in September, heading back to Germany.
In 2000, the 100th year of the creation of the Irish Guards, Liverpool granted them the freedom of the city. The following year the regiment took part in training exercises in Poland, BATUS in Canada and the large exercise in Oman called Saif Sareea II. At the funeral of the Queen Mother in 2002, the coffin bearer party was made up of the Irish Guardsmen. This was a remarkable honour, given the fact that the late Queen Mother not only was not the regiment's Colonel ( she was in fact, Colonel-in-Chief of the Black Watch ) she had no official connection with the regiment at all, in spite of her long identification with it.
In 2003 the regiment deployed to Kuwait during the build-up to the Iraq War. The Irish Guards were part of the 7th Armoured Brigade ( successor of the famed 7th Armoured Division, ' The Desert Rats ' ) and began training for the war. The battalion was split up with companies, platoons and sections being attached to various units of the Desert Rats. Upon crossing the Iraq border the Dsert Rats began the journey towards the area around Basra, gradually taking comtrol of much of the area that surrounded Iraq's second largest city.
Soldiers of the Irish Guards led the British advance on Basra from late March, helping in securing objectives on the outskirts of the city. During the Battle of Basra, the Irish Guards lost two soldiers: Lance Corporal Ian Keith and Piper Christopher Muzvuru. The Latter was from Zimbabwe, and was the first black piper in the regiment's history. The regiment claim to have been the first to enter Basra on the 6th April, stating they did so many hours before the Parachute Regiment. The Irish Guards reverted from a war-role to performing many duties that would be familiar to any British soldier that has served in Northern Ireland. Upon their return to the UK they were almost immediately posted back to Northern Ireland for their third tour. They performed these duties until early may when they left Iraq.
In 2005, the 1st Battalion, Irish Guards became the first unit to be officially awarded battle honours for service in Iraq - this was to enable these to be displayed on the battlion's new Regimental Colour during the Sovereign's Birthday Parade. As part of the reforms, the army announced in 2004, that the Irish Guards will remain a single battalion regiment but be given a fixed role. It will serve as a light infantry battalion, alternating with the Coldstream Guards on public duties in Windsor.
During the troubles in the Balkans in 1999, a company of Irish Guards deployed to former Yugoslav republic of macedonia, while the rest deployed to Kosovo, forming the Irish Guards Battle Group. The Battle Group was the first British unit to enter the Kosovan capital city of Pristina on the 12th June, and were greeted by the local population who treated the Guards like heroes. After the town had been secured the battle group began to consolidate its position, moving across the surroundng countryside to secure it. The Battle Group performed professionally, attempting to prevent violence from breaking out between the Albanian and Serb Kosovans while also helping to rebuild the country. The regiment left in September, heading back to Germany.
In 2000, the 100th year of the creation of the Irish Guards, Liverpool granted them the freedom of the city. The following year the regiment took part in training exercises in Poland, BATUS in Canada and the large exercise in Oman called Saif Sareea II. At the funeral of the Queen Mother in 2002, the coffin bearer party was made up of the Irish Guardsmen. This was a remarkable honour, given the fact that the late Queen Mother not only was not the regiment's Colonel ( she was in fact, Colonel-in-Chief of the Black Watch ) she had no official connection with the regiment at all, in spite of her long identification with it.
In 2003 the regiment deployed to Kuwait during the build-up to the Iraq War. The Irish Guards were part of the 7th Armoured Brigade ( successor of the famed 7th Armoured Division, ' The Desert Rats ' ) and began training for the war. The battalion was split up with companies, platoons and sections being attached to various units of the Desert Rats. Upon crossing the Iraq border the Dsert Rats began the journey towards the area around Basra, gradually taking comtrol of much of the area that surrounded Iraq's second largest city.
Soldiers of the Irish Guards led the British advance on Basra from late March, helping in securing objectives on the outskirts of the city. During the Battle of Basra, the Irish Guards lost two soldiers: Lance Corporal Ian Keith and Piper Christopher Muzvuru. The Latter was from Zimbabwe, and was the first black piper in the regiment's history. The regiment claim to have been the first to enter Basra on the 6th April, stating they did so many hours before the Parachute Regiment. The Irish Guards reverted from a war-role to performing many duties that would be familiar to any British soldier that has served in Northern Ireland. Upon their return to the UK they were almost immediately posted back to Northern Ireland for their third tour. They performed these duties until early may when they left Iraq.
In 2005, the 1st Battalion, Irish Guards became the first unit to be officially awarded battle honours for service in Iraq - this was to enable these to be displayed on the battlion's new Regimental Colour during the Sovereign's Birthday Parade. As part of the reforms, the army announced in 2004, that the Irish Guards will remain a single battalion regiment but be given a fixed role. It will serve as a light infantry battalion, alternating with the Coldstream Guards on public duties in Windsor.
