1920-39



Between the wars, the only active service in which the Regiment took part was two tours of Palestine between 1936 and 1939. However, each battalion undertook a tour of duty in various outposts of the British Empire.
 
TURKEY 1922-23
 
During the First World War Turkey was allied to Germany. At the Paris Peace Conference 1919 the victorious allies set about dismantling the Ottoman Empire, and parts of Turkey were placed under Greek control. This was unacceptable to the Turks and they raised an army to drive the Greeks out. This threatened the post-war settlement in the Balkans, so the British, French and Italians agreed to send an international force to safeguard the demilitarised status of the Bosphorus Sea which leads to the Black Sea
 
In October 1922, the 3rd Battalion deployed as part of the 1st Guards Brigade. On arrival in Constantinople the Battalion was ordered to disembark and carried out a route march through the town with bayonets fixed and colours flying to reassure the local population. They then re-embarked and crossed to the Asiatic shore where two companies occupied a defensive position, whilst the remainder of the Battalion was quartered in an abandoned orphanage.
 
After about a month they crossed to the other shore where they carried out Internal security duties and guards at GHQ and other key points. Incidents were rare. On 3rd June, 1923, the 1st Guards Brigade Trooped the Colour for the King’s Birthday Parade.
 
By the end of September a permanent settlement had been reached and the Battalion returned home in October 1923.
 
 
CHINA 1927-28

An International settlement was maintained in Shanghai. Although the Chinese Civil War had no physical effect on the Settlement, Chinese hostility towards Europeans threatened their well-being and the British Government decided to send a division to reinforce the Shanghai Defence Force.
 
The 2nd Battalion embarked in January 1927, and when they arrived in March they were they first Foot Guards battalion to serve east of Suez.  Their task was to support the Shanghai Police in maintaining order, and manning the perimeter of the Settlement.
 
It was not long before the situation calmed down and a King’s Birthday Parade was held in June. Much of the remainder of the tour was taken up with garrison duties and sport. The Battalion left Shanghai in February 1928, arriving home at the end of March.

 

 

 
       
 

 

 

 

SUDAN & EGYPT 1932-33
 
The 1st Battalion had been due to undertake a two year tour as part of the Suez Brigade in Egypt, but the requirement for extra troops in China had left shortages elsewhere, so they were diverted to the Sudan for six months.
 
They arrived in April 1932, and conditions were primitive and uncomfortable. Duties were routine and much time was spent on sport. A King’s Birthday Parade was held in June, but because of the heat it was held at six o’clock in the morning.
 
The Battalion left Sudan for Egypt in October 1932, and then spent just over a year in Egypt as part of the garrison protecting the Suez Canal, prior to returning home in December 1933.