Guides Regiment
Encyclopedia
The 1st Guides Regiment was an armoured
regiment of the Belgian Army
. Previously amalgamated with the 1st Regiment Chasseur
s à cheval (2004), in 2011 the regiment was amalgamated with 2/4 Regiment to Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, Reconnaissance, (ISTAR).
speaking members) and the 2de Regiment Gidsen (Dutch
speaking members), following a reorganisation of the army. The amalgamation saw both regiments withdrawn as operational units, with the name of the new unit, together with the combined battle honours of its antecedents, assigned to the Cavalry Training School (L’école de cavalerie/Pantsercavalerieschool). In addition to this role, the regiment had a reserve role as an armoured regiment, attached to 17th Mechanised Brigade, which was Belgium's main force stationed in Germany
. This role ended in 2002. The following year, the regiment was reduced to a single squadron and reactivated as an operational unit. The Eskadron Gidsen was formed as a reconnaissance unit to be attached to the army's Para-Commando Brigade, replacing 3 Regiment Lanciers-Parachutisten. In 2004, the squadron was attached to the 1 Regiment Jagers te Paard, following with the names of the two regiments amalgamating as 1ste Regiment Jagers te Paard/Gidsen.
In 2011 the regiment was again amagamated with 2/4 Regiment to Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, Reconnaissance (ISTAR).
of the Guides. The band was founded in 1832 out of the band of the 1st Line regiment on the orders of Leopold I of Belgium
and was connected to the royal guard. Over the course of its more than 175 years of existence, the band of the Guides has become one of the foremost military bands in the world. The orchestra consists out of 85 professional musicians, all winners of first prizes at a Conservatoria.
Armoured warfare
Armoured warfare or tank warfare is the use of armoured fighting vehicles in modern warfare. It is a major component of modern methods of war....
regiment of the Belgian Army
Belgian Army
The Land Component is organised using the concept of capacities, whereby units are gathered together according to their function and material. Within this framework, there are five capacities: the command capacity, the combat capacity, the support capacity, the services capacity and the training...
. Previously amalgamated with the 1st Regiment Chasseur
Chasseur
Chasseur [sha-sur; Fr. sha-sœr] is the designation given to certain regiments of French light infantry or light cavalry troops, trained for rapid action.-History:...
s à cheval (2004), in 2011 the regiment was amalgamated with 2/4 Regiment to Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, Reconnaissance, (ISTAR).
Cavalry regiment
The regiment was formed in 1994 by the amalgamation of the 1er Régiment des Guides (FrenchFrench language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
speaking members) and the 2de Regiment Gidsen (Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
speaking members), following a reorganisation of the army. The amalgamation saw both regiments withdrawn as operational units, with the name of the new unit, together with the combined battle honours of its antecedents, assigned to the Cavalry Training School (L’école de cavalerie/Pantsercavalerieschool). In addition to this role, the regiment had a reserve role as an armoured regiment, attached to 17th Mechanised Brigade, which was Belgium's main force stationed in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. This role ended in 2002. The following year, the regiment was reduced to a single squadron and reactivated as an operational unit. The Eskadron Gidsen was formed as a reconnaissance unit to be attached to the army's Para-Commando Brigade, replacing 3 Regiment Lanciers-Parachutisten. In 2004, the squadron was attached to the 1 Regiment Jagers te Paard, following with the names of the two regiments amalgamating as 1ste Regiment Jagers te Paard/Gidsen.
In 2011 the regiment was again amagamated with 2/4 Regiment to Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, Reconnaissance (ISTAR).
- Battle Honours
- Halen/HaelenBattle of HaelenThe Battle of Haelen was a cavalry battle on the Western Front at the beginning of World War I. It took place on August 12, 1914 between German forces led by Georg von der Marwitz and the Belgian forces led by Leon De Witte and resulted in a tactical victory for the Belgians.-Strategic...
, Burkel, Antwerpen/AnversSiege of AntwerpThe Siege of Antwerp was an engagement between the German and the Belgian armies during World War I. A small number of British and Austrian troops took part as well.-Strategic Context:...
, Maldegem, Gete/Gette, Winterbeek, Zelzate, Campagne 1914-1918
- Halen/Haelen
Great Orchestra of the Belgian Guides
Part of the regiment is the military bandMilitary band
A military band originally was a group of personnel that performs musical duties for military functions, usually for the armed forces. A typical military band consists mostly of wind and percussion instruments. The conductor of a band commonly bears the title of Bandmaster or Director of Music...
of the Guides. The band was founded in 1832 out of the band of the 1st Line regiment on the orders of Leopold I of Belgium
Leopold I of Belgium
Leopold I was from 21 July 1831 the first King of the Belgians, following Belgium's independence from the Netherlands. He was the founder of the Belgian line of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha...
and was connected to the royal guard. Over the course of its more than 175 years of existence, the band of the Guides has become one of the foremost military bands in the world. The orchestra consists out of 85 professional musicians, all winners of first prizes at a Conservatoria.