4th (Royal Irish) DRAGOON GUARDS
The 4th Dragoon Guards raised in 1685, was originally known as "Arran's Cuirassiers," or the "6th Horse," and in 1788 "The Fourth Dragoon Guards," and later on the words "Royal Irish" were added. Whilst on service in Ireland it obtained the name of the "Blue Horse," from its facings being of that colour. During the Crimean War the regiment took part in the famous charge of the Heavy Brigade at Balaklava, a memorable feat which has hardly received the recognition it deserved. The regiment rode into the charge cheering madly and did terrible execution. They are the only regiment of Dragoon Guards with an Irish title.
Nicknames: "The Buttermilks" on account of their lengthened stay in Ireland, during which many of the men acquired farms; and the "Mounted Micks."
(Depot, Dunbar).
On Standard, the Regimental device within a union wreath.
"Blenheim," "Ramillies," "Oudenarde," "Malplaquet," "Beaumont," "Salamanca," "Vittoria," "Toulouse," "Peninsula," "Balaklava," "Sevastopol," "Defence of Ladysmith," "South Africa, 1899-1902."
Motto: "Vestigia nulla retrorsum" (No going backward).
Uniform, Scarlet.
Facings, Dark Green.
Head-dress, Brass helmet with red and white plume; band, red plume.
Forage cap, Blue, with dark green band.
Linked Regiment, 1st (King's) Dragoon Guards.
Special arm badge for Sergeants, White Horse of Hanover.
At Salamanca it captured the staff of the drum-major of the French 66th Regiment. This is still carried on special parades by the trumpet-major.