Born from Boer War gallantry, the Irish Guards have served for over a century.

Nature · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Formed by Queen Victoria in 1900, the Irish Guards are a storied British infantry regiment. Beyond their iconic ceremonial duties guarding the Royal Family, they have fought in major global conflicts from the trenches of the First World War to the modern battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Irish Guards were established in April 1900 as a direct response to the bravery displayed by Irish soldiers during the Boer War. Initially composed of men of Irish descent drawn from existing British Army units, the regiment quickly expanded its recruitment across Britain and Ireland. By the time the First World War erupted in 1914, the regiment was ready for deployment, with its 1st Battalion reaching France just eight days after the declaration of war in August.

Throughout the 20th century, the regiment saw intense combat across multiple theaters. During the First World War, they fought in pivotal engagements including the Somme and Passchendaele, earning four Victoria Crosses. The inter-war period brought unique challenges, including political instability in Ireland and an attempt by Winston Churchill to disband the unit as an economy measure—a proposal that ultimately failed to gain traction. In the Second World War, the regiment’s reach expanded further, with battalions serving in Norway, North Africa, Italy, and the advance into Germany.

Post-1945, the regiment transitioned into a global security role, serving in locations ranging from the Palestine Mandate and the Suez Canal Zone to Hong Kong and Belize. While they were largely exempt from service during the Troubles in Northern Ireland for many years, they eventually undertook an operational tour there in 1992. In the 21st century, the Irish Guards have continued to deploy, participating in the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and the war in Afghanistan starting in 2010, maintaining their dual identity as both elite ceremonial guards and battle-hardened infantry.

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