On Guard was published in the 1880's. The publisher was Jaques & Son.
Round Game for Four or more Players.
Before commencing, a pool should be formed, each of the players contributing an equal number of counters. The dealer then deals round the cards to the players. The object of the game is for each of the players to collect into his hand the proper cards required for the formation or mobilisation of an Army Corps.
An Army Corps shall consist of the following thirteen cards:—
The Staff Card.
One Regiment of Artillery or Engineers.
Two Regiments of Cavalry.
Three Regiments of Infantry.
A Regiment consists of two cards, one representing the officers and the other the men.
In order to give the game a military character, each of the players should select or be allotted one of the follow- names of Garrison Depots or Towns, by which name they are to be addressed if called on. A forfeit should put into the pool if the names
are called wrongly;
London, Aldershot, Windsor, Portsmouth, Plymouth, Colchester, The Curragh, York, Dover and Shorncliffe.
In order to avoid mistake, the chosen name should be written on a piece of paper, and given to the player.
After the deal, the players should take up their cards, and the player to the left of the dealer commences by asking any of the players for a card he may require toward the completion of his Army. If he is successful, he continues asking for any others from any of the players he chooses, until he fails to draw the card asked for. In asking for a card he must always use the following form of address:— “I call out the (officers or men) of the [Royal Welsh Fusiliers] from [Aldershot).” If the player called Aldershot has not the card asked for in his hand, he replies, “Not at station named,” and the turn passes to that player. Every player who asks for the Staff Card without obtaining it, shall pay a counter to the pool. The game continues until any player has his Army complete, when he declares he is ready for War, and lays down his cards on the table, and, if the cards are found correct, he takes the pool.
Another method of playing is for the players to try and pair up the cards into regiments, and the player who at the end of the game has the highest aggregate score to become the winner.