5th Dragoon Guards


Drumhorse 1955


After World War One the 5th Dragoon Guards had accumulated many battle honours and, like other regiments, were permitted to emblazon ten of them on the standard and drum banners. The previous pair of banners dated from the 1880s and were full of embroidered detail that allowed no room for 13 more battle honours (ten WW1 and three others). So a new pair of drum-banners was prepared, crimson velvet and containing 23 honours. The new ones included SOUTH AFRICA 1899-1902, DEFENCE OF LADYSMITH, and BEAUMONT retrospectively granted in 1909. But the new drum banners were redundant as soon as they were completed because the 5th DG amalgamated with the 6th Dragoons in the 1920s. However they were still used, at least from 1933, when they were photographed at the Aldershot Tattoo. The above photo was taken in July 1955 by W Y Carman at a rehearsal for the SSAFA Tattoo at White City in London. The bridle has been simplified, although the throat plume now seems to be of two colours. The bit boss and the ear boss have the castle of Inniskilling in the middle with the 5th DG motto inscribed around it.


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by Stephen Luscombe