Waterloo

 

Picturesque Representations Of The Dress And Manners Of The English - - 1814 - - By William Alexander (1767 1816) - Illustration Of Grenadier Of The 1st Regiment Of Guards

GRENADIER OF 1st REGIMENT OF GUARDS.

The three regiments of Foot Guards were formed in the reign of King Charles II. : the first in point of time is the Coldstream regimeni;, (though now the Second), which had been raised by General Monk, when he was in the service of the Commonwealth, and of which the King made him Colonel upon the new regulations taking place after the Restoration. In every war since that period, in which Great Britain has been engaged, these three regiments have been employed: as their's is the post of honour, it is of course that where the greatest exertions are required, and it may be said that since the battle of Fontenoy in J 745 till the present day, the history of their achievements is, with few exceptions, that of the most transcendant heroism. In time of peace the three regiments are usually quartered in garrison in the Tower of London, and in barracks in Westminster. The King's person, the Royal Family, the Tower, and, in times of danger, the Bank of England, are particularly under their protection. Great attention is paid to the size and figure of the recruits, and their discipline is of the very strictest kind. When in the field the grenadiers of the three regiments are frequently formed into one brigade.