Do knights of the Kingsguard have squires?

[Canon Claude]

I can't recall if the books ever make it clear, but I figured that the knights of the Kingsguard would need assistance with their armour and weapons like any other knight. And yet it strikes me that Jaime Lannister seems to be the only knight of the Kingsguard who makes use of squires. What about the others? 

[Ser Arthurs Dawn]

And Jaime squired for Barristan as well. I don't recall any other time George mentions a KG member having a squire, but it's probably safe to assume they all do. It makes more sense imo.

Edit: Steffon Darklyn was said to have had a squire, Harrold Darke. 

Edited August 29, 2023 by Ser Arthurs Dawn

[sifth]

Jamie has two squire in AFFC. I forget their names, but they both seemed like decent lads.

[Nittanian]

Steffon Darklyn

Quote

Aegon II had suffered his first defections the night before, when Ser Steffon Darklyn of the Kingsguard had slipped from the city with his squire [Harrold Darke], two stewards, and four guardsmen (FAB The Blacks and the Greens)

Meryn Trant

Quote

ACOK Sansa I

At a signal from the master of revels, the combatants couched their lances and put their spurs to their mounts. There were shouts from the watching guardsmen and the lords and ladies in the gallery. The knights came together in the center of the yard with a great shock of wood and steel. The white lance and the striped one exploded in splinters within a second of each other. Hobber Redwyne reeled at the impact, yet somehow managed to keep his seat. Wheeling their horses about at the far end of the lists, the knights tossed down their broken lances and accepted replacements from the squires. Ser Horas Redwyne, Ser Hobber's twin, shouted encouragement to his brother.

But on their second pass Ser Meryn swung the point of his lance to strike Ser Hobber in the chest, driving him from the saddle to crash resoundingly to the earth. Ser Horas cursed and ran out to help his battered brother from the field.

Jaime Lannister

Quote

 Josmyn Peckledon held the palfrey's reins as Ser Jaime mounted. The squire was skinny as a spear, with long arms and legs, greasy mouse-brown hair, and cheeks soft with peach fuzz. His cloak was Lannister crimson, but his surcoat showed the ten purple mullets of his own House arrayed upon a yellow field. (AFFC Jaime III)

and

Quote

Jaime glanced at his two younger squires, who were hovering near the braziers pretending not to listen. Lewys Piper and Garrett Paege were both the sons of river lords. He had grown fond of both of them and would hate to have to give them to Ser Ilyn. (AFFC Jaime V)

Balon

Quote

Ser Balon's journey had been shorter but troubling in its own way, the captain knew. Three knights, eight squires, twenty men-at-arms, and sundry grooms and servants had accompanied him from King's Landing, but once they crossed the mountains into Dorne their progress had been slowed by a round of feasts, hunts, and celebrations at every castle that they chanced to pass. (ADWD The Watcher)

 

[Alden Rothack]

It seems unlikely that anyone well known enough to be a kingsguard would lack one or more squires and if they did then its very likely that would change once accepted into the kingsguard

[Takiedevushkikakzvezdy]

On 8/30/2023 at 5:28 PM, Nittanian said:

Steffon Darklyn

By the way, have we ever got an explanation as to why House Darklyn has such a long history with the Kingsguard? They really seem like a minor house in the grand scheme of things.

Edited August 31, 2023 by Takiedevushkikakzvezdy

[James Steller]

13 minutes ago, Takiedevushkikakzvezdy said:

By the way, have we ever got an explanation as to why House Darklyn has such a long history with the Kingsguard? They really seem like a minor house in the grand scheme of things.

Proximity to the capital, presumably.

On topic, though, it’s interesting how GRRM, for all his name-dropping and creating a huge world of people, wouldn’t bother naming the squires of the Kingsguard. They have no presence whatsoever apart from the aforementioned casual mentions. Where were their squires during Jaime’s meeting? Why do they seem to have zero presence?

Edited August 31, 2023 by James Steller

[Arrow of the Morning]

On 8/30/2023 at 12:28 PM, Nittanian said:

Steffon Darklyn

Meryn Trant

Jaime Lannister

and

Balon

 

Yeah, this give plenty of evidence that members of the  Kingsguard have squires, pratcally every knight needs a squire to tend for the horse and help the armor and in the joust. It is just strange that George didn't name any of them in the book, being a Kingsguard is a prestigious position and historically the Kingsguard are filled by excellent knights and squiring for them would give prestige as well, just image being squire for Barristan Selmy or Arthur Dayne. It could be used for politics too, if the king and the princes already have squires, giving the position of squire of a kingsguard to the scion of a noble house would be a good way to reward loyalty.

The only reason to not have squires would be for the Kingsguard to dedicate all his time protecting the king or needing to maintain a small group to keep the king's secrets, in this case squires might be used only during missions, campaigns and tournaments. 

[SerDuncan]

When I/Dunk took on Egg as my/his squire, wasn't a Kingsguard yet. So in 236 AC (earliest mention) Aegon V/Egg was already king for 2 or 3 years. It'd be nice if his sons had also squired for the Tall after his KG vows.