Last month, I had the opportunity to examine an Irish Guards Company Colour. As a former Scots Guards officer and someone with a particular interest in the Great Bustard, I was intrigued to discover the bird featured prominently within the design. Curious about the connection, I began exploring the history behind it and uncovered a fascinating story linking one of Britain's rarest birds to one of the most distinguished regiments in the British Army.
The story begins during the Peninsular War between 1807 and 1814. Irish soldiers serving in Spain and Portugal developed a tradition of wearing Great Bustard feathers in their shakos. The precise origin remains uncertain, but Great Bustards were widespread across the Iberian Peninsula at the time. It is thought the birds were occasionally hunted for food, with their impressive feathers subsequently finding their way into military dress. Over time, the feathers became a distinctive and much-admired feature associated with Irish troops.
When the Irish Guards were formed by Queen Victoria in 1900 following the Boer War, they adopted the blue plume of the Household Division rather than the Great Bustard feathers worn by their predecessors. Despite this, the regiment retained a strong connection to the bird and its history.
The association was revived during the First World War as the regiment expanded and introduced distinctive company symbols. Around the same period, Field Marshal Herbert Kitchener, the regiment's second Colonel, provided an unexpected link. His family coat of arms, rooted in his Wiltshire ancestry, featured the Great Bustard. The bird was subsequently adopted as part of Company Number 20 (XX) Colours, reconnecting the regiment with its historic symbol.
Today, the Great Bustard remains part of Irish Guards heritage. The Company Colour is currently held by Christopher Ghika, Regimental Lieutenant Colonel and former Major General Commanding the Household Division. Through this enduring emblem, the Great Bustard continues to represent tradition, service and a remarkable connection between military history and one of Britain's most iconic birds.
