Irish Guards

The Micks continue to support Op INTERFLEX, our instructors are delivering crucial training to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

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Heavy Weapons Week - by night

Last Tuesday, an already bright harvest-moon sky was further illuminated by Number 4 Company’s HMG night firing. The 12.7mm (.50) ammunition being fired had one round of tracer for every four rounds of ball in the link (4B1T). Meaning the fall of shot is easily identifiable, particularly in the dark.

The Grenadier Guards Mortar Platoon were also on hand assisting with illumination and coordinated fires. In the end, this integration of support weapon assets proved effective in fixing and destroying the targets.

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Heavy Weapons Week - by day

Number 4 Company have been firing the Heavy Machine Gun this week on Salisbury Plain as part of their Machine Gun Cadre. The L111A1 12.7mm (.50) Heavy Machine Gun (HMG) is an updated version of the Browning M2, firing belts of 100 rounds.

This weapon system requires a team of two, the controller and the gunner. The controller loads the weapon and conducts the requisite drills, changes the barrel, identifies targets and brings the gunner onto the target through corrections. The gunner aims the weapon, operates the cocking handle, corrects the point of aim from the controller’s adjustments, and fires the weapon.

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Today, soldiers from Number 1 Company completed a 12.5km loaded march, carrying 12.5Kg, in recognition of the Battalion’s 125th anniversary.

Number 1 Company are currently deployed on Op INTERFLEX where the Regiment has been involved in training Ukrainian soldiers since the beginning of 2025.

After completing their Tactical Advance to Battle (TAB), the Company came together to hear a poem written by the Commanding Officer to mark our quasquicentennial. Naturally, this was followed by a chance to rehydrate at a local establishment, much to the enjoyment of all.

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A huge congratulations to the 11 Irish Guardsmen who were selected for promotion from Lance Corporal to Lance Sergeant last week, and to the 4 selected to promote from Lance Sergeant to Sergeant.

The Commanding Officer had the privilege of promoting these Micks on parade last Wednesday, and presenting them with their new rank slides.

Furthermore, the Commanding Officer welcomed a new Lance Sergeant who has just transferred to the Irish Guards from a different Regiment. He was presented with a Capstar and welcomed to his new Regimental family!

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Regimental Remembrance

Yesterday, 110 years ago on the 27th September 1915, Lieutenant John Kipling of the 2nd Battalion Irish Guards was killed at the Battle of Loos aged just 18. He was the only son of famous journalist, poet and writer, Rudyard Kipling.

Like so many young soldiers and officers of the Great War, his life was cut tragically short. His father’s words in “My Boy Jack” came to symbolise the grief carried by countless families across the nation. He now lies alongside 6 other Irish Guardsmen in St Mary’s A.D.S Cemetery, France.

Today, we remember him, his fellow Irish Guardsmen, and all those who made the ultimate sacrifice at Loos and throughout the First World War.

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Last week, a delegation from the Irish Guards travelled to Normandy to take part in commemorations for the 80th Anniversary of Operation GOODWOOD. Alongside the people of Cagny and representatives from the Grenadier and Welsh Guards, the Irish Guards took part in six services and wreath laying ceremonies in and around Cagny.

The 2nd (Armoured) & 3rd (Infantry) Battalions of the Irish Guards both took part in the Normandy campaign with the Guards Armoured Division and were involved in Operation GOODWOOD. This British offensive began on the 18th July 1944 and ran until the 20th. Operation GOODWOOD was successful in capturing and liberating the territory to the east and south of Caen, moving the frontline further south into occupied Normandy.

These pictures show the Irish guards delegation after a service in Cagny church with the people of Cagny; Lt West and RQMS Heaton at the Operation GOODWOOD memorial. This memorial references Lt John Gorman ramming the German King Tiger tank in his M4 Sherman “Ballyragget”, for which he was awarded the MC; the Guards Armoured Division memorial on the side of Cagny Church with poppy wreaths presented by the Grenadier, Irish and Welsh Guards Regimental Adjutants; and a Plaque (hanging in Cagny Church) presented by Major Tony Brady, Irish Guards, to the people of Cagny as a gesture of appreciation for looking after his fallen comrades.

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Grenadier.Guards Welsh Guards

Numbers 9 and 12 Company were extremely privileged to receive their new Colours from His Majesty The King, at an intimate ceremony in Windsor Castle today.

The new King’s Colour will be ‘trooped’ this Saturday for the King’s Birthday Parade.

For more information, follow this link 🔗 https://www.army.mod.uk/news-and-events/news/2024/06/the-irish-guards-receive-new-colours-from-his-majesty-the-king/