Officer, Coldstream Guards, 1680

Description

The Coldstream Guards is a part of the Guards Division, Foot Guards regiments of the British Army. It is the oldest regiment in the British Army in continuous active service. Founded by General George Monck at Coldstream in 1650, it is one of two regiments of the Household Division that can trace its lineage to the New Model Army (the other being the Blues and Royals). Monck led them from Coldstream, where they were stationed to join King Charles II at his Restoration. They were thus the first Infantry regiment to join the establishment of the regular army but were made junior in precedence to the First Guards (now the Grenadier Guards) who were with Charles in exile. Here is an officer in undress uniform, like the blue frock coat worn by officers before 1914 and still worn by the Brigade of Guards 60 years ago. Taken from a picture showing a guard mounted by the regiment in the Horse Guards, Whitehall, in which the officers are shown in this order of dress rather than in ceremonial full dress. The brown coat is little different from the simple brown coats worn by King Charles II and the members of his court. The crimson sash, worn by the British infantry officer on duty from about this time, is shown almost as it is worn today. The main weapon carried by the officers, only part of which is shown, is the sixteen-foot pike, the same as that carried by the pikemen of the regiment. It was more usual for officers to carry the half-pike, or spontoon, but, for guard duties, the full pike was ordered.
Source: Contemporary picture of the Coldstream Guards belonging to the Duke of Roxburghe.