The regiment was formed in 1992 by the amalgamation of two other regiments: The
4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards and the
5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards. The Royal Dragoon Guards has served in a variety of roles and theatres since its formation. Historically
dragoons were flexible soldiers, who fought on and alongside their mounts.
Northern Ireland In February 1996, three squadrons of the regiment deployed to
Northern Ireland as part of
Operation Banner, the UK military support to the civil authorities in the province. Two squadrons were employed as infantry in
Belfast and the third acted as a prison guard force at the
Maze Prison.
Balkans In the winter of 1997, A Squadron, RDG, deployed with their
Challenger 1s tanks to
Barice in
Bosnia (Op Lodestar) with the 9th/12th Lancers Battle Group. They were subsequently moved to
Mrkonjić Grad and were employed, primarily in Land Rovers, to monitor former wartime factions and inspect cantonment sites.
Iraq The regimental
Battle Group deployed to Iraq in 2004 (
Operation Telic 5) and assumed control of the area south of
Basra, close to the border with
Kuwait. The main tasks were to mentor the newly formed Iraqi Police Force and provide security for the first presidential elections in the country since the
US led invasion in 2003. The regiment deployed again to Iraq towards the end of the United Kingdom's combat operations in 2007 (Op Telic 11), this time with
Main Battle Tanks and
Warrior Armoured Fighting Vehicles were called upon to support Iraqi led efforts to re-impose control in Basra (
Operation Charge of the Knights). During this Operation Sergeant CP Richards was awarded the
Military Cross for outstanding leadership and gallantry in the face of the enemy. As commander of the lead tank, working for Left Flank Company Group,
Scots Guards Battle Group, he deployed on a joint arrest operation with Iraqi Security Forces in Al Quiblah, Basra. He fought his way through 5
improvised explosive device detonations, showing courageous restraint to minimise any civilian casualties, onto the target. During this deployment, squadrons from the regiment assisted the Iraqi Border Agency to provide security on the Border with
Iran and mentored Iraqi Army Units.
Afghanistan The regiment deployed to Afghanistan in the spring of 2010 (
Operation Herrick 12) to assist in bringing stability to Central
Helmand and to provide security for the country's second Presidential Elections. Squadrons from the Regiment provided protected mobility support in the Mastiff (also known as
Cougar), Viking (
Bv 206), Ridgeback and Warthog armoured vehicles and held ground in
Nad Ali District Centre following Op Moshtorak. Tasks of these squadrons included: providing route security, assisting in reconstruction work and clearing insurgents from southern Nad Ali. The regiment had four men killed in action during the tour. Acting corporal Mathew Stenton, one of those killed, was posthumously awarded the Military Cross for bravery. As a Viking commander he moved his vehicle forward to engage insurgents to assist in the evacuation of a friendly casualty, his citation reads: "A/Cpl Stenton's gallantry was of the very highest order and he made the supreme act of self-sacrifice to save a comrade's life". The Regiment subsequently went on to complete a second tour of Afghanistan in 2013. The Regiment's role was to provide institutional and individual development advice and training to the Afghan National Police in Helmand. During this second tour The Royal Dragoon Guards also deployed a mounted manoeuvre squadron, operating on Warthog armoured vehicles. Following the 2012 announcement of Army 2020 structures, the RDG has adopted an 'Armoured Cavalry' role equipped initially with Scimitar 2 the latest iteration of the CVR(T) platform. The Regiment moved to Warminster in November 2020, as announced by the Secretary of State for Defence in March 2016. ==Squadrons and organisation==