The Royal Scots Greys: Scotland’s senior cavalry regiment and its long history of service

Wars & Conflicts · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Formed in 1681, the Royal Scots Greys served the British Army for nearly three centuries. Known for their distinctive grey horses and storied battlefield legacy, they evolved from a mounted force suppressing rebellions into a modern tank regiment before finally amalgamating into a new unit in 1971.

The Royal Scots Greys originated in 1681 as The Royal Regiment of Scots Dragoons, formed from existing cavalry troops. By 1693, the regiment was famously mounted on grey horses, a feature that defined its identity and earned it the nickname 'Scots Grey Dragoons'. While the regiment was officially ranked as the 4th Dragoons in 1692, it was later re-ranked as the 2nd Dragoons in 1713. It was not until 1877 that the name 'Royal Scots Greys' became part of its official title.

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the regiment participated in major European conflicts, including the War of the Spanish Succession and the Napoleonic Wars. At the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, the regiment secured its only Napoleonic battle honour, during which Sergeant Charles Ewart captured the eagle of the French 45th Line Infantry Regiment. Later, in the Crimean War, the unit famously charged uphill against 3,000 Russian cavalry at Balaklava in 1854, earning two Victoria Crosses in the process.

The 20th century brought significant technological shifts. During the Boer War, the regiment camouflaged its white horses with khaki dye to avoid detection. By 1941, during the Second World War, the unit transitioned from horses to become a motorised force, marking the end of the last British cavalry unit to retain its mounts. After fighting in North Africa, Italy, and across Europe following the D-Day landings in 1944, the regiment continued its service in various global locations until 1971, when it merged into The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards.

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