Scots Guards

The Scots Guards
Regimental badge of the Scots Guards
Active	1642–1651 1661–present
Country	Kingdom of England (1686–1707)  Kingdom of Great Britain (1707–1800)  United Kingdom (1801–present)
Branch	British Army
Type	Foot Guards
Role	1st Battalion – Mechanized Infantry F Company – Public Duties
Size	One battalion One company
Part of	Guards Division
Garrison/HQ	RHQ – London 1st Battalion – Mons Barracks, Aldershot Garrison F Company – London
Nickname(s)	The Kiddies; Jock Guards
Motto(s)	"Nemo Me Impune Lacessit" (Latin) "No one touches me with impunity"
March	Quick – Hielan' Laddie Slow – The Garb of Old Gaul
Anniversaries	St Andrew's Day Nov 30
Commanders
Colonel-in-Chief	Elizabeth II
Colonel of the Regiment	Prince Edward, Duke of Kent KG, GCMG, GCVO
Insignia
Tactical Recognition Flash
Tartan	Royal Stewart (pipers kilts, trews and plaids)
Plume	none
Abbreviation	SG

The Scots Guards (SG), part of the Guards Division, is one of the Foot Guards regiments of the British Army. Their origins lie in the personal bodyguard of King Charles I of England and Scotland. Its lineage can be traced as far back as 1642, although it was only placed on the English Establishment (thus becoming part of what is now the British Army) in 1686.

The Scots Guards trace their origins back to 1642 when, by order of King Charles I, the regiment was raised by Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll for service in Ireland, and was known as the Marquis of Argyll's Royal Regiment.

It spent a number of years there and performed a variety of duties, but in the mid-1640s, during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, the regiment took part in the fight against James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose who was fighting on the side of Charles I.

In April 1809 the 1st Battalion made their way to the Iberian Peninsula where they were to take part in the Peninsular War in Portugal and Spain. On 12 May 1809, the 1st Battalion took part in the crossing of the River Douro, an operation that ended so successfully that the French Army were in full retreat to Amarante after the actions in Oporto and its surrounding areas. In late July 1809 the regiment took part in the Battle of Talavera, one of the bloodiest and most bitter of engagements during the war.

The 2nd Battalion's flank companies took part in the disastrous Walcheren Campaign in the Low Countries. The 1st Battalion went on to take part in the Battle of Fuentes de Oñoro in May 1811, the Battle of Salamanca in July 1812, the Siege of San Sebastián in Summer 1813 and the Battle of the Nive in December 1813.