Guardsman Explained

Guardsman is a rank used instead of private in some military units that serve as the official bodyguard of a sovereign or head of state. It is also used as a generic term for any member of a guards unit of any rank.

Canada

In the Canadian Forces, the rank is used by privates in the Governor General's Foot Guards and the Canadian Grenadier Guards. This honour was awarded by King George V in 1918 to mark the service of regiments of Foot Guards during the First World War. General Order 138 of 1923 promulgated this honour.^[1]

The rank is considered non-gender specific and therefore applies equally to female soldiers and is inclusive of any person who has earned the rank. The rank badge is identical to that of private, a single chevron.

Scandinavia

Guards units in Scandinavia all use the rank. This includes the Danish Army's Gardehusarregimentet (Guard Hussar Regiment) and Den Kongelige Livgarde (Royal Life Guards), the Norwegian Army's Hans Majestet Kongens Garde (His Majesty's Royal Guard), and the Swedish Army's Life Guards.

India

In the Indian Army the rank is used by the elite Brigade of the Guards.^[2] It is also used by the Indian Home Guards as a rank equivalent to a constable in the Indian Police Service.^[3] The rank is used for regular employees and not volunteers.

Singapore

In the Singapore Armed Forces, the rank is used by the elite Singapore Guards.^[4]

United Kingdom

The British Army's Foot Guards regiments have used the rank since 1920, when it was adopted instead of private.^{[5] [6]} It is abbreviated Gdsm.^[7]

United States

It is also used to refer to members of the National Guard of the United States, a reserve force of the U.S. Army and Air Force.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Governor General's Foot Guards Regimental Museum . 4 October 2020.
2. Web site: 230 recruits pass out as guardsmen from Kamptee Regimental Centre. 2018-08-16. 2021-04-10. Following completion of training, 230 recruits have passed out as guardsmen from the Guards Regimental Centre in Kamptee. The ‘Brigade of The Guards’ is the elite regiment of the Indian Army..
3. Web site: Gauhati High Court: Nirmal Dey And Anr. vs State Of Tripura And Ors. on 6 January, 1997. 2021-04-10. The case of the Petitioner No. 1 is that he entered into the service as a member of the Tripura Home Guards in 1965 with the designation of "Guardsman" which is equivalent to the rank of Police Constable and the duties performed by him since his entry into the service are similar to the duties performed by a police constable..
4. Web site: The Guardsmen. https://web.archive.org/web/20180612162123/https://www.mindef.gov.sg/oms/imindef/mindef_websites/atozlistings/army/ourforces/Guards.html. mindef.gov.sg. 2018-06-12. 2021-04-10.
5. Web site: British army ranks. 2021-04-10. nam.ac.uk. Private is the lowest rank of trained soldier. Various regiments and corps have equivalent ranks such as trooper, gunner, guardsman, sapper, signalman, fusilier, craftsman and rifleman. Insignia: None.
6. Web site: Guardsman (British Army). icanbea.org.uk. 2021-04-10.
7. Web site: Abbreviations. Internetseite des Lincolnshire Regiments. 2020-04-11.