DESCRIPTION

British Grenadier Queen’s Guards Plastic Model Kit 

ICM 16001

1:16 Scale

Manufacturer: ICM

Material: Plastic

Condition: New in original packaging

Historical reference

The Grenadier Guard emerged in 1656  in Bruges, in the Spanish Netherlands (modern Flanders), where the "Lord Wentworth's Regiment" was formed from among the English royalist emigrants, whose purpose was to protect the then heir to the throne, the prince Charles (later King Charles II). A few years later, another similar formation was formed, known as the John Russell's Regiment of Guards. In 1665, these two regiments were merged into the 1st Regiment of Foot Guards, consisting of 24 companies. Since then, the Grenadier Guard has served ten kings and four queens, including the current Queen Elizabeth II. Throughout the 18th century, the regiment took part in a number of campaigns, including the War of the Spanish Succession, the War of the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years' War [4]. In July 1815, at the end of the Napoleonic Wars, the regiment was named "Grenadier".

Grenadier Guards, 1889

In the Victorian era, the regiment took part in the Crimean War, participating in hostilities on the Alma River, at Inkerman and Sevastopol. Four members of the 3rd battalion received the Victoria Cross for their participation in the Crimean War. Lieutenant Colonel G. Ponsonby was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath. During the Second Boer War, the 2nd and 3rd Battalions were deployed to South Africa, where they took part in a number of battles, including the battles of the Modder River and Belmont, as well as a number of smaller battles. In 1900, 75 of the regiment were temporarily assigned to the 4th Guards, known as the Irish Guard, in honor of the role the Irish regiments played in the fighting in South Africa. 

In June 1945, after the end of World War II, the 2nd and 4th battalions lost their tanks and again became infantry. Soon the regiment returned to its former, three-battalion composition. The 6th battalion was disbanded during the war, the 4th and 5th battalions were disbanded after its end. Initially, the Grenadier Guard performed occupation duties in Germany, however, soon the 3rd battalion was transferred to Palestine, where it tried to maintain peace until May 1948, when it was replaced by the 1st battalion. Subsequently, the battalions of the Grenadier Guard served in Malaya (1949), Tripoli (1951) and Cyprus in 1956 . In 1960, shortly after returning from Cyprus, the 3rd Battalion marched for the last time and was then put into suspended animation. In order to preserve the customs and traditions of the battalion, one of its companies (companies), the Inkerman Company, was included in the 1st battalion. 

Since the mid-1960s, the 1st and 2nd Battalions served in Africa, South America and Northern Ireland, where they performed peacekeeping duties. They also served with NATO forces stationed in Germany during the Cold War.  In 1991, the 1st Battalion, which was serving in Germany at the time, was deployed to the Middle East, where it took part in the Gulf War, and after returning it served in Northern Ireland for six months.

In 1994, as part of the reform of the British Army, the Grenadier Guards Regiment was reduced to one battalion. The 2nd Battalion was put into "suspended animation" and its colors were preserved in a specially formed independent company, which was named "Nijmegen". As a result, the regiment was reduced to its current composition: one full battalion, the First, consisting of three rifle companies (Royal Company, Company No. 2 and Inkerman Company), a support company and a headquarters company at its headquarters, based in Wellington Barracks. (London Borough of Westminster), and one independent company, Nijmegen.  The Queen, as Chief Colonel of the Grenadier Guard, introduced the new colors to the Nijmegen Company in 2013.

Edward Barber, one of 14 Grenadier Guards to be awarded the Victoria Cross

Combat training of recruits at the Katterik parade ground

Chief Colonel of the Grenadier Guard with the regiment commander, 2007

In recent years, the 1st Battalion took part in the British military operatio  during the invasion of by the coalition forces (2003), as well as in Operation Herrick [en] during the war in Afghanistan.

The Royal Company of the Grenadier Guards Regiment traditionally participates in the funeral of monarchs, in particular, the company soldiers carry a coffin with the body of the deceased 

The Grenadier and other Guards regiments have a long-standing relationship with the Parachute Regiment, the British Army's elite airborne unit. Guardsmen who have completed Pegasus, rigorous training and selection at the Infantry Training Center in Catterick, North Yorkshire, are assigned to the Guards Parachute Platoon, which is currently attached to 3 1st battalion of the Parachute Regiment. The Guards Parachute Platoon maintains the tradition established by the No. 1 Independent Parachute Company (Guards), which was part of the Pathfinder Group of the 16th Parachute Brigade, later renamed the 16th Air Assault Brigade.

With love from Ukraine