CORNET OF
THE COLONEL'S TROOP, KING'S LIFEGUARD OF HORSE
English Civil War, circa 1645
The King's
Lifeguard of Horse was the senior cavalry regiment of the Royalist army of
Charles I. As its name implies, the regiment furnished a bodyguard for the
King when he was present on the field. The regiment served as battle cavalry in most of the
major actions of the English Civil War,
including Edgehill (1642), Newbury (1643), Cropredy, Cornwall and second
Newbury (1644), and Naseby (1645). It was formed with 500 men
divided into six troops, and as a prestigious regiment closely connected
with
the King, was probably able to maintain this strength throughout the war.
Command was exercised by the colonel of the regiment, assisted by a
lieutenant-colonel and a major.
The King's
Lifeguard of Horse was nicknamed the "Troop of Show" for its magnificent
appearance—a rarity in the cavalry corps of the Royalist army, which though
well horsed, was often poorly equipped. The Lifeguard, however, was composed
mostly of gentlemen and their retainers, who could afford to buy the best.
Most troopers probably rode into battle wearing a stout buff leather coat
and metal helmet; the usual cavalry weapons were a long straight sword, a
brace of pistols and possibly a short carbine. Each troop carried a standard
or "cornet" of scarlet taffeta, about two feet square, with deep gold
fringe, but their specific design remains a matter of speculation. Very likely
these cornets bore different royal devices, like those of the
King's Lifeguard of Foot, embroidered
rather than painted. This standard depicted above may have been that of the
Colonel's Troop.
See
also Colors of the
Royalist Foot.
FLAGS
OF THE US ARMY
ORGANIZATIONAL FLAG,
26th INFANTRY BRIGADE COMBAT
TEAM
The
26th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the Massachusetts Army National Guard traces its lineage to the First World War,
when it was raised as the 5th Infantry Division with National Guard troops
from the New England states. These origins gave rise to the nickname “Yankee
Division.” Within a few months the division was renumbered, becoming the
26th Infantry Division. The Yankee Division saw combat in both world wars, serving
with Patton’s Third Army in World War II. At the conclusion of hostilities
in 1945, the division was released from active federal service and
returned to the Army National Guard. In 1993, the division was reorganized
as the 26th Infantry Brigade, 42nd Infantry Division. It was again
reorganized in 2006 as a modular brigade combat team and became the 26th
Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 42nd Infantry Division. Currently the 26th
Infantry Brigade is undergoing another reorganization and on 1 October 2008
it will be officially redesignated as the 26th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade,
42nd Infantry Division.
As an
infantry brigade, the 26th Infantry Brigade Combat Team has a flag of the
standard pattern for separate numbered infantry brigades: horizontally
divided, Old Glory blue and scarlet, with the brigade shoulder sleeve
insignia (SSI) centered. This SSI, reflecting the original division’s
nickname, was authorized in 1922. The flag’s dimensions are 3 feet on the
hoist by 4 feet on the fly, plus 2 1/2-in. yellow fringe.
See
also
US Army Brigades.
"WILLING
AND ABLE"
STANDARD, COAST (ANTIAIRCRAFT) ARTILLERY TRAINING BATTALION
US ARMY REPLACEMENT TRAINING
CENTERS
1944 Regulations
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