Service dress cap badge, 5th Dragoon Guards, c1940.
NAM. 1991-08-181-1Introduction
In 1922 the Inniskillings (6th Dragoons) and 5th Dragoon Guards (Princess Charlotte of Wales's) were amalgamated into a single regiment, with the King of Belgium as its first colonel-in-chief. The new unit was at first known as the 5th/6th Dragoons, but in 1927 it became the 5th Inniskilling Dragoon Guards, later gaining a 'Royal' prefix in 1935.
The unit finally mechanised with light tanks and troop carriers in 1938 and fought in northern France during the 1940 retreat to Dunkirk. It did not return to action until 1944, landing a little after D-Day, fighting in France, the Low Countries and Germany and reaching Hamburg by the time of the German surrender.
Rosette won at the Imperial Delhi Horse Show by Lt Col L R J C Wilkinson, 5th Inniskilling Dragoon Guards, 1928. NAM. 1966-12-30-1The post-war period saw the regiment fighting in Korea, particularly in the defence of the position known as 'the Hook'. It was then posted to Egypt, Aden, Libya, Cyprus, Hong Kong and West Germany.
In 1981 it became the first Irish regiment to deploy to Northern Ireland but, though it began preparing to join the First Gulf War, that conflict came to an end before the unit could be posted there. Soon afterwards, in 1992, the regiment was amalgamated with the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards to form the Royal Dragoon Guards.
Key facts
Motto:
- 'Vestigia Nulla Retrorsum' (meaning 'We Do Not Retreat' - inherited from the 5th Dragoon Guards)
Titles to date:
- 5th/6th Dragoons
- 5th Inniskilling Dragoon Guards
- 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards
- C Squadron, Royal Dragoon Guards
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