The Grenadier Guards in the Great War of 1914-1918, Vol. 3 of 3Ponsonby, Frederick
History
The Grenadier Guards in the Great War of 1914-1918, Vol. 3 of 3
Ponsonby, Frederick
Great Britain. Army. Grenadier Guards; World War, 1914-1918 -- Regimental histories -- Great Britain
"In Para. 2. He says the G.O.C. Guards Division is in error
in supposing that the Grenadier Guards are the only Regiment
in which the word 'grenadier' forms part of the title of
the Regiment. The G.O.C. Guards Division never made this
supposition, and is perfectly aware that the Indian Army
contains the 101st Grenadier and the 102nd King Edward's Own
Grenadiers, and there are also some Colonial Grenadiers,
but he is not aware that any British Regiment has the word
grenadier as part of its title except the First Guards.
"Reference Para. 4. No claim to be the only wearers of
a Grenade Badge was made, but the title Grenadiers was
officially given in the _London Gazette_ of July 1815 to the
First Guards in commemoration of their having defeated the
Grenadiers of the Imperial Guard at Waterloo.
"The title of Grenadier Company is of course of ancient
origin and was almost universal. If resuscitated it would be
welcome and would solve the problem; if a report stated that
'the Grenadier Company of the ---- Battalion then attacked'
no objection would be raised, but if the report was worded
'the Grenadiers then advanced,' I consider it not only an
infringement of privileges but misleading to future historians.
"Had the weapon been the carbine or carabine or the Fusil
the same confusion would have arisen with the Carabineers or
Fusiliers.
"It is in no carping spirit that this letter is written, but
I most respectfully beg to emphasise my point that the title
'Grenadiers' was a battle honour given to the First Guards and
as such should be respected."
Finding it impossible to get any redress in France, Colonel Streatfeild
in January 1916 appealed to the King, as Colonel-in-Chief of the
Regiment, and His Majesty promised to look into the question. Nothing
was done till March, and then at last, in deference to the King's
expressed wish, the Army Council decided that in future the word
"Bomber" should be used instead of "Grenadier." The decision was
embodied in the following Order:
WAR OFFICE,
_28th March 1916._
673. BOMBERS.
The term "Grenadier" will no longer be applied to men trained
or employed in the use of hand-grenades.
Such men will in future be designated "Bombers."
121/7862 (A.G. 1).
By Command of the Army Council,
(Signed) R. H. BRADE.
APPENDIX III
OFFICERS KILLED IN ACTION OR
DIED OF WOUNDS
BRIGADIER-GENERAL
Batt. Date.
Nugent, G. C., M.V.O. 31/5/15
LIEUTENANT-COLONELS
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