Royal Scots Greys (2nd Dragoons)

Collar badge of the Royal Scots Greys, c1900.
NAM. 1964-04-85-8

Introduction

The regiment was formed in 1681 from a number of existing troops of cavalry. Their early postings were keeping the peace in Scotland in the generation before the Jacobite rebellion.

In 1693 they were inspected in London by King William III - on this occasion the whole regiment was mounted on ‘greys’ (horses with white or dappled-white hair). This gained them the nicknames ‘the Grey Dragoons’ or ‘the Scots Regiment of Grey Dragoons’, though this only became part of their official name in 1877, when they were renamed the 2nd Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys). In the meantime they were re-ranked as the 2nd Dragoon Guards in the combined English and Scottish cavalry order of precedence.

An early soldier in the regiment was Christian Davies or Mother Ross, a woman in disguise. It fought as dismounted infantry at Blenheim in 1704 before returning to Scotland for a long period of policing duties, including the suppression of the First Jacobite Rebellion in 1715.

This was only interrupted by minor continental engagements during the Seven Years War and the unit saw no combat service until the campaign in the Low Countries from 1793 to 1795, early in the French Revolutionary Wars. It then did not fight again until the Battle of Waterloo (1815), its only Napoleonic Wars battle honour, at which 201 of its men and 228 of its horses were killed attacking a French infantry brigade. In this attack, Sergeant Charles Ewart captured the French 45th Line Infantry Regiment’s eagle, which forty years later became part of the unit’s cap badge.

Sergeant Henry Ramage of the Scots Greys winning the Victoria Cross at Balaclava in 1854.
NAM. 1973-02-10-9

In 1854 the regiment won two Victoria Crosses charging uphill against 3,000 Russian cavalry at the battle of Balaklava - yet 40 years later Tsar Nicholas II of Russia became its colonel-in-chief! It did not see active service as a whole unit from 1857 until the Boer War in 1899, during which it camouflaged its white horses with khaki dye. It fought as both cavalry and infantry during the First World War then in India and Palestine during the inter-war years.

The unit’s modern-day officers have included racing commentator Murray Walker, the explorer Ranulph Fiennes and the Victoria-Cross-winning commando Geoffrey Keyes. It remained on horses until 1941, when it became an armoured unit - the last British cavalry unit to do so. It then fought in North Africa, Italy, North-West Europe and Operation Market Garden before becoming part of the post-war garrisons of Germany and Aden.

It finally moved back to Scotland in 1969 and two years later was amalgamated with 3rd Carabiniers (Prince of Wales’s Dragoon Guards) at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh to form the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers and Greys).

Key facts

Motto:

• 'Nemo Me Impune Lacessit' (meaning 'No One Attacks Me With Impunity')
• 'Nulli Secundus' (meaning 'Second to None')

Nicknames:

• The Bird Catchers
• The Bubbly Jocks

Titles to date:

• The Royal Regiment of Scots Dragoons
• 4th Dragoons
• The Royal North British Dragoons
• 2nd Dragoons
• 2nd Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys)
• The Royal Scots Greys (2nd Dragoons)
• Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers and Greys)

Find out more

Regimental Museum

• Visit the website of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Museum

Regimental Merchandise

• Visit the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Museum Shop
• Visit the National Army Museum Shop
• Visit the National Army Museum Print Shop

National Army Museum Collection

• Search our online collection for objects relating to this unit.
• Search our online inventory for books and publications relating to this unit
• Search our online inventory for other types of object relating to this unit