Who we Are

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Who we Are

The First Foot Guards is a recreated British regiment of the American War for Independence.

The First Foot Guards was sent to the American Colonies as part of the Brigade of Guards and landed in New York in 1776

during the war. Participating in most of the major campaigns of the war. We currently maintain an active schedule in and

around the New England area. We also travel up and down the eastern seaboard as well as Canada. We participate in battle reenactments, encampments, ceremonies and parades. We are made up of individuals from all walks of life who share one common bond and that is the love of history. You need not have an English back ground or be related to anyone in the history of the British army. What you need though is a love of history, a good sense of humor and the desire to pass on to others our love of the past.

A Detachment of Guards in Quebec, Canada 1998

A history of the Guards

In 1656, King Charles II, while in exile after the execution of his father, raised a regiment from his

loyal exiles at Bruges, in Flanders. It was called "The Royal Regiment of Guards". On the King's return to his throne in 1660,

he disbanded the old Parliamentarian Army and commissioned another Regiment of twelve companies for his personal

protection. The first of which was called the King's Company. In 1664, the Royal Regiment of Guards was recalled from

Flanders and merged with the King's Company to form the "King's Regiment of Foot Guards." By 1665 the Regiment had

become the "First Regiment of Foot Guards," which it remained until 1815, when the title was changed to "The First

Regiment or Grenadier Regiment of Foot Guards."

The Regiment has fought in almost every major campaign of the British Army since that time. During

the 17th Century it served in Morocco and in the naval wars against the Dutch and later played a distinguished part in the

Wars of the Spanish Succession under the Duke of Marlborough, being present at his brilliant victories of Blenheim,

Ramillies, Oudenarde, and Malplaquet.

The Guards in North America

AMERICAN REVOLUTION

FORMATION OF THE BRIGADE

On 13 February 1776 orders were issued from Guards Headquarters in London forming a detachment from the three Regiments of Foot Guards for service in the war in America. Under the command of Brigadier General Edward Matthew (Coldstream Guards), the detachment was to consist of 15 privates from each of the 64 companies of Foot Guards. Officers, noncommissioned officers, and musicians were also drawn from the regiments. A chaplain, surgeon, and surgeon's mates were recruited. The personnel were divided into 8 regular infantry or battalion companies, 1 light infantry company, and 1 grenadier company. The unit embarked for America on 2 May 1776.

Upon the detachment's arrival at Sandy Hook, New York, on 12 August 1776, General Howe ordered it to field as a Brigade composed of 2 battalions of 5 companies each. First Battalion consisted of the Grenadier Company (men and officers from all three regiments), the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Infantry Companies (men and officers from First Guards), and the Brigade or 4th Company (men from all three regiments, officers from First Guards). Second Battalion was composed of Companies 5 and 6 (men and officers from Third Guards), Companies 7 and 8 (men and officers from Coldstream Guards), and a Light Infantry Company (men and officers from all three regiments).

Shortly after the Brigade's arrival off Sandy Hook in 1776, the uniform was altered from the parade ground look of a London garrison regiment to the more rugged appearance of a combat unit. The smartly cocked hats of the infantrymen were let down and cut smaller, then turned up on one side only. The gleaming white waist belts were laid aside and the bayonet scabbards mounted on the cartridge pouches.

Trousers and spatter dashes replaced breeches and gaiters for field service. Finally, the last vestige of the Guardsman's glory, the 18 yards of white lace, was removed from the uniform coats, with the First Battalion men retaining only the lace on their shoulder straps.

The Brigade began its American service on 22 August 1776 when it went ashore on Long Island and camped at New Utrecht. During the next few months it saw service at various locations in New York. The Guards participated in the Battle of Long Island on 27 August, after which they camped at Hell Gate until 15 September when the Army landed on New York (Manhattan) Island at Kip's Bay. The Brigade encamped near Turtle Bay during which time the men were called out to create a fire break to prevent the spread of the disastrous fire that burned one-third of the city of New York on the night of 21 September. The Guards accompanied Howe when the Army went north and landed at Frog's Neck on 12 October and Pell's Point on 18 October. They were present at White Plains on 28 October, although they did not see combat. From White Plains, the Army marched west to Tarry Town and then South towards New York Island again. The Grenadier Company suffered the loss of two of its officers early in the campaign. Capt. Bourne died in New York on 14 October and Capt. Madan was left

sick in New York from October 1776 until May 1777. As a result, on 11 October Capt. Charles Leigh of the 6th Company (Third Guards) was assigned to do duty with the Grenadiers until otherwise ordered.

On 15 November 1776 the Guards were ordered to leave their camp standing near Kingsbridge, New York, and be ready to march at 4:00 the next morning carrying canteens, blankets and haversacks with one day's provisions. They were provided with a guide, a local loyalist who knew the territory. Their objective was Fort Washington, located on a prominent height at the north end of New York Island. Howe had planned a four-pronged attack on the fort. No attempt was made from the west, due to the high cliffs rising from the Hudson River. The main assault was launched from the north by German troops under General Kniphausen. General Percy, bringing up a column from New York City, formed line of battle from the south. The 42nd Regiment of Foot crossed Harlem Creek to storm the fort from the southeast. Meanwhile, Brigadier General Matthew led the Brigade of Guards and the Army Light Infantry in a waterborne assault down Harlem Creek from Kingsbridge to attack the fort from the northeast. The defenders surrendered to Kniphausen, and although the Germans suffered heavy losses in the fighting, there appear to have been no casualties among the Guards.

From Fort Washington the Brigade, with other elements of the Crown Forces under Cornwallis, crossed the Hudson River to New Jersey, participating in the capture of Forts Lee and Constitution. After marching through the Jerseys, Cornwallis sent his force to winter quarters. The Guards were quartered at Raritan Landing, just up river from Brunswick, New Jersey. After the Continental victory at Trenton, the First Battalion of Guards was ordered to the field for several days in early January 1777, while the Second Battalion stayed with Brigadier General Matthew to assist in the defense of Brunswick. During the remainder of the winter the Guards participated in several raids, feints, and foraging parties.

After going to the field in May of 1777, the Brigade was in combat at Short Hills, New Jersey. It took ship from New York with the British force destined for Philadelphia via the Chesapeake. The Guards saw action at Brandywine, Valley Forge, Germantown, and White Marsh before going to winter quarters in Philadelphia.

In 1778 the British forces, including the Guards, en route from Philadelphia to New York, met the Continentals in battle at Monmouth Courthouse, New Jersey. Due to a lack of officers, the Guards spent most of the next two years in garrison in and around New York City. The flank companies of the Brigade were sent to the field for raids and skirmishes including Portsmouth, Virginia and New Haven, Connecticut in 1779, and Young's House in New York in 1780. The entire Brigade saw action at Springfield, New Jersey in 1780. Brigadier General John Howard (First Guards) was temporarily appointed to replace Brigadier General Matthew in 1780 until the arrival of the new commander, Brigadier General Charles O'Hara (Coldstream Guards). The Brigade embarked for the South in October of that year, eventually joining Cornwallis in North Carolina in January of 1781. By that time O'Hara had joined the detachment. On 1 February the Guards forced the crossing of the Catawba River (North Carolina) with great gallantry and on 15 March suffered grievous losses at the battle of Guilford Courthouse, North Carolina, after which the Brigade was temporarily reduced to one battalion of 4 under-strength companies. They marched with Cornwallis to Yorktown, Virginia and surrendered to the Continental Army on 19 October 1781. General O'Hara, as second in command,

surrendered Cornwallis' sword to Washington's representative, General Lincoln. Most of the Brigade's officers were paroled and the men marched into captivity at York, Pennsylvania, where they remained until 1783. During most their imprisonment, Lt. Col. John Watson Tadwell Watson (Third Guards) commanded the Brigade from New York. The Guards returned to England in two detachments, one arriving in January and one in July of 1783. After disembarking, the men marched to London to rejoin their respective regiments.

In 1815, the word "Grenadier" was added to the title of the Regiment, as a result of bravery shown at

the battle of Waterloo. It is the only Regiment in the British Army to have earned its title directly as a

result of the part it played in action. As the Grenadier Guards, the Regiment is still part of the British

Army to this day.

If you would like more information please e-mail us at [email protected]

Or Contact one of the following officers below.

Lieut. Col. Winston Stone

171 Thompson Street

Middleboro, MA 02346

Lt. Michael Szkolka

193 Savin Hill Avenue

Boston MA 02125

Doug Ozelius, Serjeant Major

30 George Street

Plymouth MA 02360

A view of the Grenadier Guard in the 20th Century.

The 1st Foot Guards in America 1776-1783 are members of The British Brigade and The Living History Association