The Oxford Blues (Royal Regiment of Horse Guards)

 

We have had a Blues impression since the early 1980s when Waller’s raised a troop of 1745 troopers.  In 1985 the 1745 uniforms were converted to depict the Blues of the Sedgemoor campaign, and then more recently, the old Blues kit was used in our “Cavalry Through The Ages” displays.  It was decided to continue with the impression of Restoration troops and a new batch of uniforms was made. Four new blue coats with red facings and cuffs, four pairs of breeches, four sets of buff leatherwork, new pistol case housing cloths and saddle housing cloths. The carbine slings will have the edges in red and gold lace.  The old coats will be then re-lined and converted back to the 1745 impression.  This will be an on-going project to do justice to a most prestigious regiment. 

 The Royal Regiment of Horse Guards can trace its origins to the post-Civil War Commonwealth period (pre-restoration). Troops of horse were raised to protect the Lord Protector (Oliver Cromwell), then after Cromwell’s death and the restoration in 1660 many of the commonwealth regiments were disbanded.  An insurrection of religious dissenters in 1661 caused a re-think regarding the disbanding of experienced regiments, and the regiment of horse commanded by Unton Crook was retained. The Earl of Oxford (Aubrey De Vere) was given command and the regiment was entitled The Royal Regiment of Horse Guards, otherwise know as the Oxford Blues.

 Their dark blue coats with red lining and facings distinguished the regiment from the Life Guards who had red coats with blue lining and facings.  Private Troopers were distinguished by their buff carbine slings, which were edged red and laced with gold.

They were not part of the household establishment but performed many of the duties befitting a Royal Regiment, which caused great rivalry between the Blues and the Lifeguards.  This rivalry still exists today. The Lifeguards, by all accounts, refer to the Blues as “Those Bloody Parliamentarians”.

 The Blues were active during the Monmouth Rebellion of 1685 when James Scott, Duke of Monmouth (illegitimate son of Charles II) raised an army to claim the throne from James II.  There were seven troops of Blues at Sedgemoor under the command of Lt Col Sir Francis Compton. There were several fierce encounters with the rebel horse (Greys and Jones) but the Blues prevailed and Monmouth’s rebellion was crushed.

 The Blues have seen service all over the world and are still distinguished by their Blue Coats.

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