View source for 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name= 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards
|image=5th Inniskilling Dragoon Guards badge.jpg
|image_size=150px
|caption= Regimental Badge.
|dates= 1922&ndash;1993
|country= {{flag|United Kingdom}}
|branch= {{army|United Kingdom}}
|command_structure= [[Royal Armoured Corps]]
|type= [[Armoured warfare|Armoured]]
|role= [[Cavalry regiments of the British Army|Cavalry]]
|size= [[Regiment]]
|nickname= 
|current_commander=
|garrison= Chester
|ceremonial_chief= 
|ceremonial_chief_label=Colonel-in-Chief
|identification_symbol=
|identification_symbol_label=
|identification_symbol_2=
|identification_symbol_2_label=
|motto= ''Vestigia nulla retrorsum'' <br/>([[Latin]]: We do not retreat)
|march= Quick: Fare Ye well Enniskillen<br/>Slow: The Soldier's Chorus from Gounod's ''[[Faust (opera)|Faust]]''
|anniversaries= [[Lawrence Oates|Oates]] Sunday<br>[[Battle of Balaclava|Balaklava]] Day<br>[[Battle of Waterloo|Waterloo]] Day<br>[[Salamanca]] Day
}}
The '''5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards''' was a [[Cavalry regiments of the British Army|cavalry]] [[regiment]] of the [[British Army]] formed in 1922 by the amalgamation of the [[5th Dragoon Guards|5th Dragoon Guards (Princess Charlotte of Wales's)]] and the [[6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons]]. It served in the [[World War II|Second World War]] and the [[Korean War]]. In August 1992, as a consequence of the [[Options for Change]] defence cuts, the regiment was amalgamated with the [[4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards]] to form the [[Royal Dragoon Guards]].

==History==
===Formation===
The [[regiment]] was formed in 1922, as the '''5th/6th Dragoons''', at [[Cairo]], [[Kingdom of Egypt|Egypt]] by the amalgamation of the [[5th Dragoon Guards|5th Dragoon Guards (Princess Charlotte of Wales's)]] and the [[6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons]].<ref name=regiments>{{cite web|url=http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/cav/DG5Innis.htm |title=5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards |publisher=Regiments.org |access-date=6 August 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070227033318/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/cav/DG5Innis.htm |archive-date=27 February 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nam.ac.uk/research/famous-units/5th-royal-inniskilling-dragoon-guards|title=5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards|publisher=[[National Army Museum]]|access-date=6 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807141744/http://www.nam.ac.uk/research/famous-units/5th-royal-inniskilling-dragoon-guards|archive-date=2016-08-07|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 1923, the regiment was deployed to [[Risalpur]], [[British Raj|India]].<ref name=cheshire>{{cite web|url=http://www.cheshiremilitarymuseum.co.uk/regimental-histories/5th-royal-dragoon.aspx|title=5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards|publisher=[[Cheshire Military Museum]]|access-date=6 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160713195822/http://www.cheshiremilitarymuseum.co.uk/regimental-histories/5th-royal-dragoon.aspx|archive-date=2016-07-13|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1927, the regiment discarded the "6th" and inserted [[Inniskilling]] into its title, thereby becoming the '''5th Inniskilling Dragoon Guards'''.<ref name=regiments/> In the following year, the regiment moved to the UK for the first time, as the 5th Dragoon Guards. In 1935, it gained the Royal accolade to become the '''5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards'''.<ref name=regiments/> In 1938, as part of the preparation for the Second World War, the regiment was mechanised; in the following year, it joined the newly formed [[Royal Armoured Corps]] (RAC).<ref name=regiments/>

===Second World War===
[[File:The British Army in North-west Europe 1944-45 BU2823.jpg|thumb|A Cromwell tank of 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards supporting infantry in Weseke, 29 March 1945.]]

On 3 September 1939, two days after the [[Wehrmacht]] had [[Invasion of Poland|invaded Poland]], the United Kingdom, France and their [[Allies of World War II|Allies]] declared war on [[Nazi Germany]]. Equipped with Vickers [[Light Tank Mk VI|Mk.VI]], the regiment, commanded initially by Lieutenant Colonel [[John Anstice]], acted as the reconnaissance regiment of the [[4th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)|4th Infantry Division]] of the [[British Expeditionary Force (World War II)|British Expeditionary Force]] (BEF) that was deployed to the continent shortly after the war broke out. On 10 May 1940, the German Army launched their invasion of the [[Low Countries]], thus ending what was known as the [[Phoney War]]. The [[Battle of France|German invasion]] was swift and successful; the Allied forces in Belgium, which included the regiment, having to retreat to the [[Scheldt]] River. Fierce fighting continued, the BEF continuing to withdraw further until the order was given for them to [[Battle of Dunkirk|withdraw to Dunkirk]] in northern France. The regiment was successfully [[Dunkirk evacuation|evacuated from Dunkirk]] in June 1940.<ref name=cheshire/>

In December 1940, [[Cadre (military)|cadre]]s drawn from the regiment and the [[4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards]] were used to form a new regiment, the [[22nd Dragoons]], which was disbanded in December 1945.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/cav/D22.htm |title=22nd Dragoons|publisher=regiments.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118043511/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/cav/D22.htm |archive-date=18 January 2008}}</ref>

The 5th Dragoon Guards remained in the United Kingdom until late July 1944, when it [[Invasion of Normandy|landed in Normandy]], over a month after the initial [[Normandy landings|D-Day landings of 6 June]], and joined the [[22nd Armoured Brigade (United Kingdom)|22nd Armoured Brigade]], [[7th Armoured Division (United Kingdom)|7th Armoured Division]] (the famed 'Desert Rats'). Heavy fighting was still raging in Normandy and the regiment took part in actions in [[Mont Pincon]] in early August and, subsequently, at [[Saint-Pierre-la-Vieille]]. The regiment saw further service in Northern France, including helping in the capture of [[Lisieux]] on 23 August, and later crossing the [[Risle]], advancing rapidly to the Seine.<ref name=cheshire/>

The Inniskillings began their advance on Belgium on 31 August-the 7th Armoured Division's objective was the city of [[Ghent]]-and crossed the [[Somme (river)|Somme]], where the regiment's predecessor regiments had fought during World War I, and [[Authie (river)|Authie]] rivers. The division's remarkable advance on the Franco-Belgian border could not be maintained as the enormous amounts of fuel consumed had depleted available supplies. Instead, a smaller force, including the Innsikillings, was employed in the effort to capture Ghent; the Inniskillings and the [[11th Hussars]] entered the city on 5 September. The 7th Armoured Division remained in Belgium to take part in operations against the remnants of the German forces and, thus, did not take part in [[Operation Market Garden]]. The regiment subsequently took part in heavy fighting around the [[Meuse|Maas]] river during [[Operation Pheasant]] which began in late October.<ref name=cheshire/>

The regiment saw action during [[Operation Blackcock]], the plan to clear the west bank of the [[Roer]] of Germans, which commenced on 16 January 1945. It subsequently took part in the crossing of the [[Rhine]], which began on 25 March, with the objective of heading eastward, straight for the city of [[Hamburg]]. The regiment was now firmly inside German territory, encountering fierce resistance from the Germans. The regiment took part in the capture of a number of towns during the rapid advance into Germany. In April, the regiment took part in the efforts to capture [[Ibbenburen]], seeing heavy fighting against the fierce defenders. The regiment saw further heavy fighting elsewhere before it, with the rest of its brigade, headed south for [[Bremen (city)|Bremen]], where they helped capture [[Wildeshausen]]. Later, the Inniskillings took part in the successful attack on [[Soltau]] before the advance on [[Harburg (quarter)|Harburg]], a suburb of Hamburg, resumed. Towards the end of April, the Germans negotiated the surrender of Hamburg, a city that had been devastated by the Allied bombing campaigns; the 7th Armoured Division entered the city on 3 May.<ref name=cheshire/>

===Post-War===
[[File:Enniskillen Cathedral of St. Macartin North Aisle Royal Inniskilling Dragoons Window Detail Insigna 1922-1992 2012 09 17.jpg|thumb|Memorial window at [[St Macartin's Cathedral, Enniskillen]]]]
The regiment was sent to York Barracks in [[Munster]] to serve as part of [[22nd Armoured Brigade (United Kingdom)|22nd Armoured Brigade]] in 1946 and then moved to Barker Barracks in [[Paderborn]] in December 1948.<ref name=bau>{{cite web|url=http://british-army-units1945on.co.uk/royal-armoured-corps/royal-inniskilling-dragoon-guards.html|title= 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards|publisher=British Army units 1945 on|access-date=6 August 2016}}</ref> The regiment returned to the UK in August 1951, from where the regiment was sent, a few months later, to [[Korea]] to take part in the [[Korean War]]—a war that had been raging ever since [[North Korea]] had launched a surprise attack against [[South Korea]]—as part of the [[1st Commonwealth Division]].<ref name=cheshire/> The Chinese launched a massive attack on [[Second Battle of the Hook|'The Hook']], a tactically important position held by the British, on 18 November 1952, commencing the second battle for 'The Hook'.<ref name=cheshire/> The [[Black Watch]], having stoutly defended their positions, were forced back by the overwhelming Chinese attack. Subsequently, the British launched a counter-attack that supported the Black Watch as they began the methodical effort to dislodge the Chinese from 'The Hook'; B Squadron of the regiment, which was armed with the powerful [[Centurion tank|Centurion]] main battle tank, was part of this attack. Fighting raged on into the early hours of 19 November but, as dawn broke, the Chinese retreated, unable to consolidate their position on 'The Hook'. The regiment left Korea the following month, arriving in the [[Suez Canal|Suez Canal Zone]] just prior to its handover to the Egyptians.<ref name=cheshire/>

In February 1957, the regiment moved to Athlone Barracks in [[Sennelager]] but returned to the UK in November 1962 from where it deployed troops to [[Libya]] in Autumn 1963 and to [[Aden]] and [[Hong Kong]] in December 1964.<ref name=bau/> A Squadron deployed to [[Cyprus]] in January 1966 to act in the reconnaissance role for the [[United Nations]] (UN) forces, which were there to prevent conflict from breaking out between the opposing Greek and Turkish Cypriots.<ref name=bau/> The regiment returned home in December 1967 but then moved to Harewood Barracks in [[Herford]] in March 1969 and to York Barracks in [[Münster]] in June 1970.<ref name=bau/> In October 1973, the regiment joined the [[UNFICYP|UN forces in Cyprus]], returning to its base in December 1974.<ref name=bau/>

The regiment moved to Imphal Barracks in [[Osnabrück]] in December 1976, from which it deployed to Northern Ireland on a four-month tour in April 1981.<ref name=bau/> The regiment returned to the UK in November 1984 and then moved to Barker Barracks in [[Paderborn]] in November 1986.<ref name=bau/> The regiment deployed on another four-month tour in Northern Ireland in September 1989 and again in January 1992.<ref name=bau/>

In August 1992, as a consequence of the [[Options for Change]] defence cuts, the regiment was amalgamated with the [[4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards]] to form the [[Royal Dragoon Guards]].<ref name=cheshire/>

==Regimental museum==
The regimental museum, along with that of the [[Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers]], is based in [[Enniskillen Castle]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.enniskillencastle.co.uk/|title=Enniskillen Castle|access-date=6 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.inniskillingsmuseum.com/|title=Inniskillings Museum|access-date=6 August 2016|archive-date=9 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160809032432/http://www.inniskillingsmuseum.com/|url-status=dead}}</ref> A further display can be seen in the [[Cheshire Military Museum]] at [[Chester Castle]].<ref>{{Citation| url = http://www.armymuseums.org.uk/museums/0000000024-Cheshire-Military-Museum.htm| title = Cheshire Military Museum| access-date = 18 February 2011| publisher = Army Museums Ogilby Trust| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110617114853/http://www.armymuseums.org.uk/museums/0000000024-Cheshire-Military-Museum.htm| archive-date = 17 June 2011| url-status = dead| df = dmy-all}}</ref>

==Uniform==
At the time of amalgamation, care was taken to ensure that the new regiment's uniform retained a balance of features from both former regiments. Thus in full dress, the red and white plume of the 5th Dragoon Guards was worn on the (silver) helmet of the 6th Dragoons, the helmet badge of the 5th was worn, but the collar badge of the 6th. Yellow facings (collar and cuffs) were retained from the 6th Dragoons, but in order not to lose the distinctive green facings of the 5th Dragoon Guards, it was proposed that green breeches/overalls be worn. (Green breeches had formerly been worn in the eighteenth century, when the regiment was known as 'the Green Horse'.) The proposal was accepted, and a new tradition established. After mechanisation, green trousers began to be worn with various orders of dress (a custom still maintained by the successor regiment, the Royal Dragoon Guards).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rdgmuseum.org.uk/history-and-research/did-you-know/?n=the-history-of-the-green-trousers |title=History of the green trousers|publisher=Royal Dragoon Guards Museum|access-date=6 August 2016}}</ref>

==Battle honours==
[[File:Enniskillen Cathedral of St. Macartin Regimental Colours Fifth Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards 2012 09 17.jpg|thumb|Regimental colours in [[St Macartin's Cathedral, Enniskillen|St.&nbsp;Macartin's Cathedral]] displaying the honors from Mons to Korea]]
The regiment's battle honours were as follows:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.inniskillingsmuseum.com/the-regiments-2/battle-honours/battle-honours-of-the-royal-inniskilling-dragoon-guards|title=Battle Honours of the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards|publisher=Inniskillings Museum|access-date=5 August 2016|archive-date=5 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805010919/http://www.inniskillingsmuseum.com/the-regiments-2/battle-honours/battle-honours-of-the-royal-inniskilling-dragoon-guards/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*''Early Wars'': (Battle Honours for predecessor regiments): [[Battle of Blenheim|Blenheim]], [[Battle of Ramillies|Ramillies]], [[Battle of Oudenarde|Oudenarde]], [[Battle of Malplaquet|Malplaquet]], [[Battle of Dettingen|Dettingen]], [[Battle of Warburg|Warburg]], [[Battle of Beaumont|Beaumont]], Willems, [[Battle of Salamanca|Salamanca]], [[Battle of Vittoria|Vittoria]], [[Battle of Toulouse (1814)|Toulouse]], [[Peninsular War|Peninsula]], [[Battle of Waterloo|Waterloo]], [[Battle of Balaklava|Balaklava]], [[Siege of Sevastopol (1854)|Sevastopol]], [[Defence of Ladysmith]], [[Second Boer War|South Africa 1899–1902]]
*''First World War'' (Battle Honours for predecessor regiments):
**''Western Front'': [[Battle of Mons|Mons]], [[Battle of Le Cateau|Le Cateau]], [[Retreat from Mons]], [[First Battle of the Marne|Marne 1914]], [[First Battle of the Aisne|Aisne 1914]], [[Battle of La Bassée|La Bassée]], [[Battle of Messines (1914)|Messines 1914]], [[Battle of Armentières|Armentières 1914]], [[First Battle of Ypres|Ypres 1914]] [[Second Battle of Ypres|'15]], [[Battle of Frezenberg|Frezenberg]], [[Battle of Bellewaarde|Bellewaarde]], [[Battle of the Somme|Somme 1916'18]], [[Battle of Flers-Courcelette|Flers-Courcelette]], [[Battle of Morval|Morval]], [[Battle of Arras (1917)|Arras 1917]], [[Battle of the Scarpe (1917)|Scarpe 1917]], [[Battle of Cambrai (1917)|Cambrai 1917]] and [[Battle of Cambrai (1918)|1918]], [[Operation Michael#Battle of St. Quentin (21–23 March 1918)|St Quentin]], [[Battle of Rosières|Rosières]], [[Battle of Avre|Avre]], [[Battle of the Lys (1918)|Lys]], [[Battle of Hazebrouck|Hazebrouk]], [[Battle of Amiens (1918)|Amiens]], [[Hindenburg Line]], [[Battle of St. Quentin Canal|St Quentin Canal]], [[Battle of Beaurevoir|Beaurevoir]], [[Pursuit to Mons]], [[Western Front (WWI)|France and Flanders 1914–18]]
*''Second World War'':
**''North-West Europe'': Withdrawal to Scheldt, [[Battle of St Omer-La Bassée|St Omer-La Bassée]], [[Operation Dynamo|Dunkirk 1940]], [[Mont Pincon]], St Pierre La Vielle, [[Lisieux]], Risele Crossing, Roer Triangle ([[Operation Blackcock]]), [[Ibbenburen]], [[North-West Europe|North-West Europe 1940 '44–45]]
*''Korea'': [[Battle of the Hook|The Hook 1952]], [[Korean War|Korea 1951–52]]

==Commanding Officers==
{{Incomplete list|date=November 2020}}
The Commanding Officers have been:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/REGIMENTAL%20COs.pdf|title=Regiments and Commanding Officers, 1960 - Colin Mackie|page=18|access-date=3 November 2020}}</ref>
*1960–1962: Lt.-Col. Harry C. Walker MC
*1962–1965: Lt.-Col. Gavin S. Murray
*1965–1967: Lt.-Col. [[Henry Woods (British Army officer)|Henry G. Woods]]
*1967–1970: Lt.-Col. Guy L. Wathen
*1970–1972: Lt.-Col. Charles E. Taylor
*1972–1975: Lt.-Col. [[Richard Keightley|Richard C. Keightley]]
*1975–1977: Lt.-Col. [[Patrick Brooking|Patrick G. Brooking]]
*1977–1980: Lt.-Col. Nicholas G. P. Ansell
*1980–1982: Lt.-Col. [[William Andrew Evans|William A. Evans]]
*1982–1984: Lt.-Col. Water J. Courage
*1984–1987: Lt.-Col. [[Patrick Cordingley|Patrick A. J. Cordingley]]
*1987–1990: Lt.-Col. Brian R. Anderson
*1990–1992: Lt.-Col. David W. Montgomery

==Colonels-in-Chief==
The colonels-in-chief were as follows:<ref name=regiments/>
*1922–1934: Field Marshal HM [[Albert I of Belgium|King Albert I of Belgium]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|KG|GCB|GCStJ|DFC}} 
*1937–1951: HM [[Leopold III of Belgium|King Leopold III of Belgium]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|KG|GCVO}}
*1985–1992: Commander HRH [[Charles, Prince of Wales|The Prince of Wales]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|KG|KT|GCB|AK|QSO|CD|PC|ADC}}

==Regimental Colonels==
Colonels of the Regiment were:<ref name= regiments/>
;5th/6th Dragoons then 5th Inniskilling Dragoon Guards (1927)
*1922–1928 (6th Dragoons): Maj-Gen. Sir [[Michael Frederic Rimington]], KGB, CVO (ex [[6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons|6th Dragoons]])
*1922–1937 (5th Dragoon Guards): Lt-Gen. Sir [[George Tom Molesworth Bridges]], KCB, KCMG, DSO (ex [[5th Dragoon Guards]])
;5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards (1935)
*1937–1947: Maj-Gen. [[Roger Evans (British Army officer)|Roger Evans]], CB, MC
*1947–1957: Gen. Sir [[Charles Frederic Keightley]], GCB, GBE, DSO
*1957–1962: Col. Sir [[Michael Ansell|Michael Picton Ansell]], CBE, DSO
*1962–1967: Gen. Sir [[John D'Arcy Anderson]], GBE, KCB, DSO, DL
*1967–1972: Brig. Arthur Carr, OBE
*1972–1981: Gen. Sir [[Cecil Blacker]], GCB, OBE, MC
*1981–1986: Brig. William Francis Allan Findlay, OBE
*1986–1991: Maj-Gen. [[Richard Keightley|Richard Charles Keightley]], CB
*1991–1992: Maj-Gen. [[Patrick Brooking|Patrick Guy Brooking]], CB, MBE (to [[Royal Dragoon Guards]])
*''1992: Regiment amalgamated with [[4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards]] to form [[The Royal Dragoon Guards]]''

==Alliances==
*{{CAN}} [[2nd/10th Dragoons|10th Brant Dragoons]] (1922–1936) - Canada
*{{CAN}} [[2nd/10th Dragoons]] (1936–1946) - Canada
*{{CAN}} [[The British Columbia Dragoons]] (1960–1992) - Canada
*{{AUS}} [[9th Light Horse Regiment (Australia)|9th Light Horse (The Flinders Light Horse)]] (1927–1943) - Australia
*{{AUS}} [[3rd/9th Light Horse (South Australian Mounted Rifles)]] (1951–1992) - Australia
*{{NZL}} [[6th (Manawatu) Mounted Rifles]] (1922–1944) - New Zealand

;Yeomanry:
*{{UK}} [[List of units of the British Army Territorial Force 1908|The Cheshire Yeomanry (Earl of Chester's)]]
*{{UK}} [[North Irish Horse]]

==Former officers==
{{See also|Category:5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards officers}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book|last1=Blacker|first1= C. |last2=Woods|first2=H. |year=1978|title=Change and Challenge: 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards 1928-1978|publisher=Privately printed}}
*{{cite book|last=Evans|first=Roger |year=1951|title=The Story of the Fifth Inniskilling Dragoon Guards|publisher=Gale & Polden}}

{{Royal Dragoon Guards}}
{{RAC armoured regiments of the Second World War}}

[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1922]]
[[Category:Irish regiments of the British Army]]
[[Category:Military units and formations of the United Kingdom in the Korean War]]
[[Category:Regiments of the Korean War|Britain]]
[[Category:Regiments of the British Army in World War II|Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards 005]]
[[Category:Enniskillen]]
[[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1993]]