WWI Guards Division Forum

Here are a few things that are important to know about the Guards during WWI.

As the British Monarch's Household Troops, the Guards continued posting Guards at Buckingham Palace, St. James Palace, and the Tower of London throughout the war without interruption.

The Guards barracks in London is Wellington Barracks on Birdcage Walk.

In 1914 there were:
3 Battalions of Grenadier Guards
3 Battalions of Coldstream Guards
2 Battalions of Scots Guards
1 Battalions of Irish Guards

In 1918 there were:
5 Battalions of Grenadier Guards
5 Battalions of Coldstream Guards
2 Battalions of Scots Guards
2 Battalions of Irish Guards
2 Battalions of Welsh Guards
Guards Machine Gun Regiment

Prior to 1915 all the Guards Battalions were spread out among different divisions. They were united at the urging of Lord Kitchner in 1915 when the King created the Guards Division.

The King proclaimed that the men who use grenades shall be called "Bombers" and the title "Grenadier" was reserved for the Grenadier Guards.