1st Infantry Regiment (Thailand)

The 1st Infantry Regiment, Kings Own Bodyguard

(Thai: 1 ) (.1
.) is a Kings Guard regiment under the 1st Infantry
Division, Kings Guard of the Royal Thai Army. The regiment is divided into four battalions, all of them based in
Bangkok. The regiment is the only unit of the Royal Thai
Armed Forces with the designation Mahat Lek Rajawallop (Thai: ); meaning the kings close
bodyguards, translated as the Kings Own Bodyguards.
The unit was rst established by King Chulalongkorn
(Rama V) in 1859, whilst he was still a young prince. One
of the primary role of the regiment is to provide security
and protection to members of the Thai Royal Family as
well as the ceremonial escort and guarding of the royal
palaces. The unit is the oldest regiment of the Thai army.

Kings Own Bodyguard

3rd Infantry Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment,
Kings Own Bodyguard (King Vajiravudhs Own)
4th Infantry Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment,
Kings Own Bodyguard

3 Uniforms

The 1st, 2nd and 4th battalions wears a ceremonial uniform of scarlet red and black facings based on the British
Army Foot Guards. The 3rd Battalion however wears a
ceremonial uniform of white and shocking pink facings
and plumed helmet, by the orders of King Vajiravudh
(Rama VI) who founded the battalion. The ceremonial
uniform is worn only when the regiment is on duty in a
1 History
public royal ceremony with a member of the royal family
present. When providing guard on royal premises, such
The Royal Guards were established by King Chulaas the Grand Palace, the soldiers wear a white uniform
longkorn (Rama V) of Siam in 1859, when he was still
with a pith helmet.
a young prince. Initially, the Royal Guards were servants
with duties such as scaring crows, which led to commoners referring to them as the Mahat Lek Lai Ka, roughly
4 Notable members
translated as "Scarecrow Corps."
When he succeeded his father in 1868, King Chulalongkorn took his Royal Guard and formed a 24-strong
Royal Bodyguard, referred to as the Thahan Song Lo
(Two-Dozen soldiers). In 1870, the unit was upgraded
into a full army regiment and was given the name the
Kings Guard and their duties included escorting the
king while he travelled around the country.

Prince Bhanurangsi Savangwongse Commander of

the regiment 1879-1885
Prince Damrong Rajanubhab Commander of the
regiment 1885-1892
Crown Prince Maha Vajiravudh (later King Rama
VI) Commander of the regiment 1901-1910

The king commanded the regiment himself until 1873,

when he appointed Lieutenant General Chao Phraya
Phasakornwongse as its rst military commander.

Prince Chakrabongse Bhuvanath Commander of the

regiment 1910-1919

The Royal Guards still exist down to the present and serve
as protectors of the Royal Family of Thailand.[1][2]

Prince Paribatra Sukhumbhand Commander of the

regiment 1923-1932
Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat Commander of the
regiment 1945-1948, Prime Minister of Thailand
1958-1963

Organization

The regiment is divided into four infantry battalions:

Field Marshal Praphas Charusathien Commander of

the regiment 1948-1951, Commander in Chief of
the Army 1964-1973

1st Infantry Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment,

Kings Own Bodyguard (King Chulalongkorns
Own)

Prince Mahidol Adulyadej as a special Colonel of

the regiment

2nd Infantry Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment,

1

8
Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn as a battalion
commander in 1980
Prince Maha Chakri Sirindhorn an honorary Captain of the regiment

Gallery
King Chulaongkorn, the founder of the unit, in the
scarlet uniform of the regiment
King Prajadhipok in the scarlet uniform, with the
old style helmet to the right of the picture
Regimental colours of the 1st Infantry Regiment,
Kings Own Bodyguard
Red ceremonial uniform of the regiment, used by
the 1st, 2nd and 4th battalions
Distinctive white and pink uniform of the 3rd Battalion
White uniforms of the regiment, changing of the
guards at the Grand Palace in Bangkok

See also
List of army units called Guards
Kings Guard (Thailand)
Thai Royal Guards parade
Monarchy of Thailand
Head of the Royal Thai Armed Forces

References

[1] Nationreligionking.com
[2] http://www.nationreligionking.com/military/thahansua/

External links
Ocial Website of the 1st Infantry Regiment

EXTERNAL LINKS

Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

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