WoD054
King & Country
A very familiar sight on certain streets of London even today are the mounted soldiers of the Household Cavalry. These men and horses belong to the two most senior cavalry regiments in the British Army, the “Blues and Royals” and the “Life Guards”. While on ceremonial duties in London they are garrisoned at Hyde Park Barracks in Knightsbridge in the heart of the capital.
Here, for the first time, K&C are producing 3 individual mounted figures of the “Life Guards”, resplendent in their red tunics and gleaming silver breastplates surmounted by magnificent gold and silver helmets with white plumes. All men of the “Life Guards”, with the exception of their trumpeters, are mounted on jet black steeds. Trumpeters ride a white horse.
Their ceremonial uniforms today have not changed since the last quarter of the 19th Century so Sherlock Holmes himself would not have been surprised to see them ride down Baker Street in all their military splendor ... either yesterday or today!
“Trooper” in the cavalry is the equivalent of a “Private” in the infantry and the lowest entry rank to the regiment. All mounted troopers have already completed 14 weeks of basic training before moving onto a further 12 weeks of specific military skill training. For those joining the ceremonial squadrons (cavalry regiments have squadrons, the infantry equivalent is the rifle company) a 12 week “Khaki Ride” which includes stable management, horsemanship and basic riding skills will be taught at Windsor, near London. Then the graduate moves to Hyde Park Barracks in the capital where they will learn to ride wearing the colourful ceremonial uniforms that generations of Household Cavalrymen have worn.
Fully trained troopers can expect to spend 18-24 months taking part in traditional daily duties on Horse Guards Parade and Whitehall as well as numerous State Ceremonial occasions throughout the year.
Additional figures and diorama pieces for scale purposes only.