擲彈兵是17世紀中葉歐洲陸軍的一個兵科，最早是指軍隊中能投擲手榴彈的步兵。由於當時的手榴彈體積重量類似小型炮彈，因此需要在步兵當中挑選臂力過人的士兵才有辦法投擲，這些士兵在戰鬥中需要在己方戰線的前面向敵方投擲手榴彈，因此在歐洲軍隊中將擲彈兵的稱號作為表彰軍人英勇戰鬥表現的榮譽稱號，也幛顯擲彈兵是步兵當中的精銳及佼佼者。雖然擲彈兵逐漸退出了歷史舞台，但鼓舞步兵的士氣並延續軍隊的傳統，“擲彈兵”的稱號被延續下來，例如二戰時德國的“裝甲擲彈兵”。擲彈兵行進曲是英國最著名也是歷史最為悠久的步兵行軍曲，其歷史可以追溯到17世紀，原作者不明。目前的版本是在18及19世紀逐漸改編而得，是英國步兵在行軍及攻擊發起時最常用的行軍曲，當步兵方陣攻擊前進伴以此樂來鼓舞士氣。目前是英國皇家擲彈兵衛隊軍樂隊常年性演奏的主要曲目之一。 這首樂曲最早發現的出處是在一本名為"普萊福德的舞蹈（Playford's dance）"的著作中，以"新浴池（The New Bath）"為標題的曲目。但也有研究認為，這首曲子改編自荷蘭的"弗里斯蘭王子（De Jonge Prins van Friesland）"行軍曲，這是因為兩首的旋律非常相近，據稱是荷蘭國王威廉三世（William III）在統治英國期間引入這首曲子的。
英文歌詞
（加粗字型有詞語註解）
歌詞如下：
Some talk of Alexander, and some of Hercules
Of Hector and Lysander, and such great names as these.
But of all the world's great heroes, there's none that can compare.
With a tow, row, row, row, row, row, to the British Grenadiers.
Those heroes of antiquity ne'er saw a cannon ball,
Or knew the force of powder to slay their foes withal.
But our brave boys do know it, and banish all their fears,
Sing tow, row, row, row, row, row, for the British Grenadiers.
Whene'er we are commanded to storm the palisades,
Our leaders march with fusees, and we with hand grenades.
We throw them from the glacis, about the enemies' ears.
Sing tow, row, row, row, row, row, the British Grenadiers.
And when the siege is over, we to the town repair.
The townsmen cry, "Hurrah, boys, here comes a Grenadier!
Here come the Grenadiers, my boys, who know no doubts or fears!
Then sing tow, row, row, row, row, row, the British Grenadiers.
Then let us fill a bumper, and drink a health to those
Who carry caps and pouches, and wear the loupèd clothes.
May they and their commanders live happy all their years.
With a tow, row, row, row, row, row, for the British Grenadiers.
