The Guards Division is an administrative unit of the British Army responsible for the training and administration of the regiments of Foot Guards and the London Guards reserve battalion. The Guards Division is responsible for providing two battalions for public duties to London District (plus three incremental companies); although the guards are most associated with ceremony, they are nevertheless operational infantry battalions, and as such perform all the various roles of infantry. History The Guards Division was established by redesignation of the Brigade of Guards in 1968. The headquarters was established at Wellington Barracks in London. Before the Options for Change defence review in 1992, there were eight battalions: 1st and 2nd Battalions, Grenadier Guards 1st and 2nd Battalions, Coldstream Guards 1st and 2nd Battalions, Scots Guards 1st Battalion, Irish Guards 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards The cuts made to the infantry under Options for Change included three battalions of Guards. However, rather than disbanding them, the 2nd Battalions of each of the first three regiments were placed in "suspended animation" – although they would not be active, they would still be listed on the Army Roll, and could be reactivated should they be needed. In order to maintain the traditions of each battalion, and to keep custody of the colours, three companies were kept active, one to represent each battalion: No 2 Company, 2nd Bn Grenadier Guards (renamed Nijmegen Company) No 7 Company, 2nd Bn Coldstream Guards F Company, 2nd Bn Scots Guards These three units were based permanently at Chelsea Barracks in London on public duties until Chelsea Barracks was sold off by the army. They represent the suspended battalions at significant events, such as Trooping the Colour, and receive the battalion's new colours whenever they are presented. As such, each company is an independent unit of their regiment, separate from the operational battalions. In 2022, two further public duties companies were formed following the conversion of 1st Battalion, Irish Guards to the Security Force Assistance role. The two new companies, No 9 Company and No 12 Company, have been formed to represent the Irish Guards' 2nd Battalion, which was placed in suspended animation in 1947. Current units Currently units comprise: Guards Division Headquarters, at Wellington Barracks, Westminster 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards Nijmegen Company, Grenadier Guards 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards No 7 Company, Coldstream Guards 1st Battalion, Scots Guards F Company, Scots Guards 1st Battalion, Irish Guards No 9