Guard Hussar Regiment (Denmark)

The Guard Hussar Regiment (Danish: Gardehusarregimentet, GHR) is a cavalry unit of the Royal Danish Army, the primary task is to train the Guard Hussars for various functions in the mobilisation force.[1] The Guard Hussar Regiment is one of two active cavalry regiments of the Danish Army, and was formed in 2001 through the amalgamation of the original Guard Hussars regiment, Zealand Life Regiment and Danish Life Regiment.[2]

Guard Hussar Regiment
Gardehusarregimentet
Cap badge of the Guard Hussars
Active 17 November 1614 – present
(406 years, 2 months)
Country Kingdom of Denmark
Branch Royal Danish Army
TypeCavalry
RoleArmoured Infantry
Reconnaissance
SizeFive battalions
Part ofArmy Staff
Garrison/HQI. & II. Battalion – Antvorskov barracks
III.Battalion – Bornholm
Nickname(s)GHR
Motto(s)In Actis Esto Volucris (Be swift in action)
Regimental belt

(Used by III. Bataljon at Bornholm )
MarchGarderhusarregimentets Signalmarch Play 
Anniversaries17 November 1614
10 February 1762
EngagementsThirty Years War
Torstenson War
Second Nordic War
Scanian War
Nine Years' War
War of the Spanish Succession
Great Nordic War
Napoleonic Wars
First Schleswig War
Second Schleswig War
Operation Weserübung
War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
Iraq conflict (2003–present)
WebsiteOfficial website
Commanders
Current
commander		Colonel Jens Ole Rossen-Jørgensen
Ceremonial chiefHM The Queen of Denmark
Notable
commanders		Peder Aalborg
Caspar Hermann Gottlieb Moltke
Insignia
Colours
Standard
Former coat of arms

History

Origins of the regiment
A Guard Hussar soldier interacts with the local population in Helmand, Afghanistan.

Although the Guard Hussars themselves date from 10 February 1762, the Danish Army takes the date of the founding of a regiment from its oldest part, in this case the Zealand Life Regiment, which was founded in 1614. This makes the Guard Hussars one of the oldest regiment of hussars in the world still operational, it is also the only hussars in mounted parade uniform to still wear the slung and braided pelisse which was formerly characteristic of this class of cavalry. In addition to its operational role, the Guard Hussar Regiment is one of two regiments in the Danish Army (along with the Den Kongelige Livgarde) to be classed as 'Guards'; in this case, the Mounted Squadron perform the same role as the Household Cavalry do in the British Army.

From 1961 to 1972 the regiment was responsible for two armoured battalions, one recon battalion. From 1972–2000 the regiment was responsible for one armoured, one mechanised infantry, one reconnaissance and one infantry battalions. From 2000–2004 the regiment was responsible for two armoured, two mechanised infantry, one reconnaissance and two infantry battalions. From 1992–2004 the regiment also had to form two light Reconnaissance Squadrons assigned to the 1st Zealand Brigade and Danish International Brigade.

2001 amalgamation

As part of the Defence Agreement 2000–04, it was decided to merge the Guard Hussar Regiment with the Zealand Life Regiment and the Danish Life Regiment. With this amalgamation of the three infantry regiments, the name and history of the new regiment had to be decided. This led to what the media called "the Colonels' War" (Danish: Oberstkrigen), with the three colonels fighting for their regiment’s name and history to survive.[3][4] The Chief of Defence, Christian Hvidt, ordered the old insignia removed, which was not customary. The new armoured horse head was nicknamed the "biker patch". Furthermore, it was decided that a colour be used alongside the standard.[5]

Modern times

Following the amalgamation, the Guard Hussar Regiment has participated in a number of international missions, resulting in the loss of 16 soldiers.[6]

Structure

Today the Gardehusarregiment is classed as a cavalry regiment, it is in fact a mixed armoured and infantry unit, with three battalions:

  • 1st Battalion – Armoured Infantry (part of 1st Brigade)
    • Staff Company
    • 1st Armoured Infantry Company (1/I/GHR)
    • 2nd Mechanised Infantry Company (2/I/GHR)
  • 3rd Battalion – Reconnaissance (part of 2nd Brigade) motto:Nec temere nec timide (Neither random nor timidly)
    • Staff Platoon (Inactive)
    • 1st Light Reconnaissance Squadron (1 LOPKESK)
    • 2nd Light Reconnaissance Squadron (2 LOPKESK)
    • 3rd Light Reconnaissance Squadron (inactive until 2023)
    • Marine Squadron (4th Basic Training Squadron)
  • 5th Battalion – Basic Training (part of 2nd Brigade) motto:Terror in Hostes – Vor fjender til frygt
    • 1st Basic Training Company motto:Fremad på ny – hurtig og adræt (Forward again - fast and agile)
    • 2nd Basic Training Company (Livkompagniet) motto:Fremad på ny – lige på og hårdt (Forward again - head on)
    • 4th Mechanised Infantry Company (4/V/GHR)
  • Mounted Squadron – Public duties/ceremonial
Disbanded Units
  • II/GHR Armoured Battalion (1955−1976), Infantry Battalion (1977-2000), Armoured Infantry Battalion (2001-2018)
  • IV/GHR Infantry Battalion (1983−1996), Armoured Infantry Battalion (1997-2013).
  • VI/GHR Infantry Battalion (2000-2004).
  • VII/GHR Infantry Battalion (2000-2004).

Names of the regiment
Names[7]
HusarregimentetHussar Regiment1762-02-10–1780
1. og 2. Husaregiment1st and 2nd Hussar Regiment1780–1785
1. og 2. Husarkorps1st and 2nd Hussar Corps1785–1788
HusarregimentetHussar Regiment1788–1842
GarderhusardivisionenGuard Hussar Division1842–1855
HusarregimentetHussar Regiment1855–1856
GardehusarregimentetGuard Hussar Regiment1856–Present

References
  1. "The Guard Hussars". Archived from the original on May 13, 2011. Retrieved July 25, 2009.
  2. "Regimentets historie". forsvaret.dk/GHR (in Danish). Gardehusarregimentet. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  3. Brøndum, Christian (November 17, 2014). "Dronningen fejrer tvivlsomt jubilæum". b.dk (in Danish). Berlingske Media. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  4. Brøndum, Christian (November 2016). Baunehøj, Birgit (ed.). "Forsvaret går ikke med rygmærker" (PDF). Forsvarsavisen. Værnsfælles Forsvarskommando. 5 (8): 7. Retrieved November 21, 2018.
  5. Brøndum, Christian (April 29, 2002). "Gammelt nag ruster ikke" (in Danish). Berlingske Tidende. Retrieved November 21, 2018.
  6. "Danske militære tab i international tjeneste". fns-naestved.dk (in Danish). May 31, 2014. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  7. Laursen, Ole (April 22, 2014). "Historical Overview of Guard Hussar Regiment". Wadschier. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
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