The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards are Scotland's senior regiment and her only regular cavalry.

The Regiment was formed in 1971 from the union of two famous regiments, the 3rd Carabiniers and the Royal Scots Greys. The 3rd Carabiniers had themselves been constituted in 1922 form the amalgamation of the old 3rd Dragoon Guards and the Carabiniers (6th Dragoon Guards).

The history of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards is therefore the record of 3 ancient regiments and, through the Royal Scots Greys; they can claim to be the oldest surviving Cavalry of the Line regiment in the British Army.

With the other Cavalry Regiments they now form part of the Royal Armoured Corps but, though horses have been replaced by tanks and armoured cars, it is the cavalry spirit of the past which provides the inspiration of the future, whatever it may hold.

Battle of Waterloo 1815

With such an extensive and illustrious history, The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards can recall on many prestigious battle honours. One of the most famous being at the Battle of Waterloo in the spring of 1815, where a Sergeant Charles Ewart captured the Imperial Eagle of Napoleon's 45th Regiment, going on to receive a commission given by the Prince Regent.

The Commanding Officer in this battle was last seen alive with both his wrists slashed, holding the reins in his teeth charging towards the French Artillery batteries. Napoleon himself was overheard referring to the Scots Greys as "Those terrible Grey Horses" whilst their charge has since been described as the greatest thunderbolt ever launched by the British Cavalry.

In 1854, with the Russians threatening to invade Turkey in order to gain access to the Mediterranean, The Scots Greys were called upon and took part in the Battle of Balaklava. On October 25th, outnumbered 10 to 1, two Squadrons of the Scots Greys charged uphill into 3000 Russian Cavalry with a battle that was described as one of the most desperate but successful cavalry versus cavalry charges in history. Two of the first Victoria Crosses were given to Sergeant Major Grieve and Pte Ramage for bravery during the charge of the Heavy Brigade.

Tercentenary: 1678-1978

It was fortunate that the three hundredth Anniversary of the raising of the original troops of dragoons fell at a time when all bar one Squadron was based in the United Kingdom. The entire regiment assembled at Redford Barracks on the 3rd July 1978. H.R.H. The Duke of Kent, a serving Officer in the Regiment, laid a wreath at the Regimental War Memorial and then stood before it to take the salute at the mounted march past down Princes Street.

Headed by the Commanding Officer, mounted in full dress and on Grey horses, there followed the awesome spectacle of row upon row of Chieftain and Scorpion Tanks rumbling past in perfect formation. It was said that 20,000 stood in Princes Street to see the spectacle as Scotland's own cavalry drove through the heart of her capital.

The Queen reviewed her Regiment in Holyrood Park at a parade to celebrate three hundred years of unbroken service to the crown. It was marked by its colour, the precision of drill and the outstanding quality of the regimental band and the Pipes and Drums. In a telegram The Queen told the Regiment that she had been filled with great pride.

Traditions

The Standard of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards is of Crimson Damask Silk. At the centre is the badge of the Order of the Thistle surrounded by the motto of the order, 'Nemo Me Impune Lacessit'. This is the badge of the Scotland's foremost order of chivalry and has been displayed on the Guidon of the Scots Greys since very early times.

Displayed on both sides of the Standard are fifty of the Battle Honours won by the regiments' forebears over three centuries. Ont he obverse side, pride of place under the badge is given to the Scots Greys honour of "Waterloo" whilst on the reverse is "Nunshigum", an honour won in Burma in 1944 by the 3rd Carabiniers. Of those Battle Honours awarded for the First and Second World Wars, but a limited number can be displayed on the Standard.

Mottoes

• "NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSIT" - ("No one shall harm me with impunity")

The motto of the Order of the Thistle, borne at the centre of the Standard.

• "ICH DIEN" - ("I Serve")

The motto of the badge of the Prince of Wales, inheritied through the 3rd Dragoon Guards.

• "SECOND TO NONE"

The famous second motto of the Royal Scots Greys (2nd Dragoons). This motto has special significance for the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards since they take second place amongst the regiments of the Cavalry of the Line, yet are the oldest of them all.