HISTORY OF THE COLDSTREAM GUARDS The Coldstream Guards is the
oldest serving regular Regiment in the British Army. These pages
describe the highlights of the Regiments history and offer you
an insight into some of the Customs and traditions formed in the
past that exist to this day. HISTORY OF THE REGIMENT "The town
of Coldstream, because the General did it the honour to make it
the piece of his residence for some time hath given title to a
small company of men whom God hath made instruments of Great
Things; and though poor, yet honest as ever corrupt Nature
produced into the world, by the no dishonourable name of
Coldstreamers." Thomas Gumble 1671 The First 50 Years Oliver
Cromwell, after raising the New Model Army in 1645 to fight
against the Royalists, finally defeated them in 1649. This paved
the way for the execution of Charles I on 30th January 1649.
With the Civil War over, Cromwell held unprecedented power in
England. Ireland, however, was still in a state of revolt and
Cromwell led a force across the