2nd Infantry Division, Queen Sirikit's Guard
กองพลทหารราบที่ 2 รักษาพระองค์ ในสมเด็จพระนางเจ้าสิริกิติ์ พระบรมราชินีนาถ พระบรมราชชนนีพันปีหลวง
Emblem of the 2nd Infantry Division, Queen Sirikit's Guard
Active	1910-present
Country	Thailand
Branch	Royal Thai Army
Type	Mechanized infantry
Size	Division
Part of	First Army Area
Garrison/HQ	Fort Promyothee, Prachinburi, Thailand
Nickname(s)	Nakrob Burapha (นักรบบูรพา, Eastern warriors) Burapha Payak (บูรพาพยัคฆ์, Eastern tigers)
Motto(s)	Ready for battle and Graceful
Engagements	World War II Franco-Thai War Pacific War Burma campaign Cold War Korean War Vietnam War Cambodian Civil War Laotian Civil War Communist insurgency in Thailand Third Indochina War Cambodian–Vietnamese War Vietnamese border raids in Thailand South Thailand insurgency Cambodian–Thai border dispute
Website	2id.rta.mi.th/2id/

The 2nd Infantry Division, Queen Sirikit's Guard (Thai: กองพลทหารราบที่ 2 รักษาพระองค์ ในสมเด็จพระนางเจ้าสิริกิติ์ พระบรมราชินีนาถ พระบรมราชชนนีพันปีหลวง) (พล.๒ รอ.) also known as Mechanized Infantry Division (Thai: กองพลทหารราบยานเกราะ) is a mechanized infantry division of the Royal Thai Army. It is currently part of the First Army Area. The division was founded by King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) in 1910. In 1988 the division was designated a King's Guard unit by cabinet order, however, as a mark of distinction the division and all its subsidiary units were put under the patronage of Queen Sirikit and has since been known as the Queen's Guard.

The division is composed of three infantry regiments and three attached units, the 2nd Infantry Regiment, Queen's Guard, the 12th Infantry Regiment, Queen's Guard, and the 21st Infantry Regiment, Queen's Guard. The division and its subsidiary units are all based east of Bangkok, headquartered in Prachinburi, with other units in Chonburi and Sa Kaeo.

History

The 2nd Infantry Division was formed in 1910 at the command of King Chulalongkorn, as a part of the newly reorganised Siamese army. After the Siamese revolution of 1932 the new administration temporarily dissolved all formations above battalion level, including the 2nd Infantry Division. During the Franco-Thai War of 1940-1941, the division's former components were incorporated into the Burapha Army (Eastern army), as the 2nd Division on the orders of Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram. The division remained part of the army during the Burma Campaign and supported the Phayap Army's invasion of the Shan States. After the end of the war the division was once again dissolved in 1946, this time due to budget cuts. Its headquarters was absorbed into the 2nd Infantry Regiment.^[1]

In 1974 the 2nd Division was reconstituted as part of the First Army Area. During the Cold War the division defended the Thai border against Vietnamese incursions and the suppression of domestic communist agitations. The division saw action in at least four border raids by Vietnamese or Kampuchea troops, in 1975, 1978-1979, 1983, and 1984-1985.^[1]

On 19 August 1988, the 2nd Infantry Division was designated a King's Guard unit by cabinet order (นร.020/14747). However, as a mark of special distinction the 2nd Infantry Division and all its subsidiary units were put under the royal patronage of Queen Sirikit and has since been known as Queen's Guard.^[1]

Mission

• Protect and preserve the sovereignty of the nation.
• Protection of The Royal Family.
• Spearheaded the combat in battlefield.

Composition

2nd Division

2nd Infantry

12th Infantry

21st Infantry

Locations of main units of the 2nd Infantry Division, King's Guard

See also

• 1st Division (Thailand)
• 4th Infantry Division (Thailand)
• 5th Infantry Division (Thailand)
• 7th Infantry Division (Thailand)
• 9th Infantry Division (Thailand)
• 15th Infantry Division (Thailand)
• King's Guard (Thailand)
• Royal Thai Army

References

External links

• Official website of the 2nd Infantry Division, King's Guard
• Thailand Political Base: กองพลทหารราบที่ 2 รักษาพระองค์ (Thai)