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The Household Cavalry Journal Incorporating The Acorn and The Blue and Royal Vol. No. 6 1998 Editor: Lieutenant Colonel (Retd) JS Olivier, The Blues and Royals.

Colonel-in-Chief Her Majesty The Queen Colonel of The Life Guards and Gold Stick :

Major General Lord Michael Fitzalan Howard GCVO, CB, CBE, MC, DL

Colonel of The Blues and Royals and Gold Stick: Commander Household Cavalry and Silver Stick: Commanding Officer Household Cavalry Regiment:

HRH The Princess Royal, KG, GCVO, QSO Colonel PS WF Falkner, OBE, The Life Guards

Lieutenant Colonel P] thor, M V0, The Blues and Royals

Commanding Officer Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment:

Lieutenant Colonel HS] Scott, The Life Guards

gs The Life Guards C 453) gas?

Battle Honours Dettingen Peninsula Waterloo Tel el Kebir Egypt (1882)

Relief of Kimberley Paardeberg

South Africa (1899-1900) Mons Le Cateau Retreat from Mons

Marne (1914) Messines (1914)

no

Ypres (1914) Langmarck (1914) Gheluvelt Nonne Boschen St Julien Frenzenberg Ypres (1915) Somme (1916) Albert (1916) Scarpe(1917) (1918)

Broodseinde , Poelcappelle Passchendaele

Bapaume (1918) Arras (1917) Ypres (1917) Arras (1918) Hindenburg Line Epehy St Quentin Canal Cambrai (1918) Selle Somme (1918) France and Flanders

Souleuvre Noireau Crossing Amiens (1944) Brussels Neerpelt Nederrijn Nijmegen Lingen Bentheim North West Europe

Palmyra

(1944-1945) Baghdad (1941)

Italy (1944)

(1914-18) Mont Pincon

Iraq (1941)

Gulf(l99l)

7

Syria (1941) E1 Alamein North Africa (1942-1943) Arezzo Advance to Florence

Gothic Line

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The Blues and Royals Battle Honours Tangier (1662»1680) Dettingen Warburg

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Mons Le Cateau Retreat from Mons

Ypres (1917)

Mont Pincon

Msus

Somme (1918) St Quentin

Souleuvre, Noireau Crossing

Gazala Knightsbridge

Marne (1914) Messines (1914) Armentieres (1914)

Avre

Amiens (1944)

Defence of Alamein Line

Broodseinde

Brussels

El Alamein

Poelcappelle

Neerpelt Nederrijn

E1 Agheila Advance on Tripoli

.

9 them to maximise their technology budget

Beaumont Willems

Fuentes d’Onor Peninsula Waterloo Balaklava

Ypres (1914) Langemarck (1914)

Passchendaele Veghel

North Africa (1941-1943)

Nijmegen

Sicily (1943)

Rhine North West Europe

Arezzo Advance to Florence Gothic Line

Pursuit to Mons

(1944-1945) Baghdad (1941) Iraq (1941)

France and Flanders

Palmyra

(1914»1918)

Syria (1941)

Arniens

Gheluvelt Hindenburg Line

Sevastpol

Nonne Bosschen

Egypt

St Julien

Tel el Kebir

Ypres (1915) Frezenberg

Beaurevoir Cambrai (1918)

Relief of Kimberley Paardeberg

Relief of Ladysmith South Africa (1899-1902)

Loos Arras (1917) Scarpe (1917)

Samhre

Italy (19434944) Falkland Islands (1982)

Crown Copyright: This publication contains official information. It should be treated with discretion by the recipient. The opinions expressed in the articles in this ioumal are those of the authors and do not necessarily rellect the policy and \‘lC\\‘S. official or otherwise of the Household Cavalry or the Ministry of Defence. No responsibility tor the goods or services advertised in this journal can he accepted by the Household Cavalry; publishers or printers and advertisements are included in good faith.

The Journal was designed and printed by Crest Publications, Moulton Park Centre, Redhouse Road, Northampton NN3 GAQ. Tel: 01604 497565

Contents Preface by The Commander Household Cavalry ................... 4

Household Cavalry Regiment Foreword by the Commanding Officer ................... 5 Diary of Events ..................................... 6 A Squadron The Life Guards .......................... 8 B Squadron The Life Guards .......................... 10 C Squadron The Blues and Royals ...................... 12 D Squadron The Blues and Royals ...................... 14 Headquarters Squadron ............................... 16

A

,

._r

The Ltfe Guards Squadron with the Ptdmg Master /I1 Hyde Park

30 31 33 35 38 40

Pages 56 - 90

56 58 60 61 62 64 65 66

A College Commanders View .......................... 68 Fresh from the Factory ..............................

Saumur ...........................................

Wilkinson Sword of Peace Award ......................

A Tour of Northern Ireland with the Scots Guards .........

69 71 72 74

The Spanish Staff College ............................ 75 Exercise Maple Leaf 98 «Spruce Meadows ...............

Life in the Jungle — Two views of Belize .................

Royal Guards on Parade .............................

La Dolce Vita II ....................................

Pages 30 - 55

Musical Ride ....................................... 42 The Band of The Blues and Royals ..................... 49 Household Cavalry Training Wing ..................... 51 Winter Training Troop .............................. 51 Equitation ........................................ 52 Summer Camp ...................................... 54

Household Cavalry News The Year of the Salamander and the Sturgeon ............

The Household Cavalry’s Battlefield Tour ................

Exercise Ulan Eagle—Poland ...........................

D Squadron Kape Tour ...............................

The Household Cavalry in Jordan ......................

Medicine Man 5 ....................................

Expedition Cockney City Blues ........................

London to Cape Town Car Rally .......................

Pages 5 - 29

Quartersmaster’s Department .......................... 18 Quartersmaster Technical’s Department .................. 19 Light Aid Detachment ............................... 20 WO’S and NCO’s Mess ................................ 22 The Band of The Life Guards .......................... 23 The Household Cavalry Recruiting Team ................. 24 Regimental Administration Office ...................... 29

Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment Foreword by the Commanding Officer ..................

Diary of Events ....................................

The Life Guards Mounted Squadron ...................

The Blues and Royals Mounted Squadron ...............

Headquarters Squadron ..............................

WOs’ & NCOs’ Mess ................................

,

76 77 78 79

Visit to the Gendarmerie Nationall, Guarde Republicaine, Regiment de Cavalrie ................................ 80 Visit from the Garde Republicaine ...................... 81 Sports The Household Cavalry Ski Team 1998/9 ................ 82 The Cresta Run ..................................... 83 HCR Rugby ....................................... 84 P010 .............................................. 85 Sub Aqua .......................................... 85 Sailing ............................................ 86 Swimming ......................................... 87 HCMR Cricket ..................................... 88

HCMR Rugby ...................................... 88 HCMR Football .................................... 89 HCR Football ...................................... 90 Fencing and the Modern Pentathlon .................... 90

News from the Associations The Life Guards Association Annual Report ............. 91 Minutes of the 63rd AGM of The Life Guards Association . . . 91 The Life Guards Association Charitable Trust Accounts ..... 92 Association Notices ................................... 93 LG Area Representatives ................................94 The Blues and Royals Annual Report ..................... 95 The Blues and Royals Association Accounts .............. 96 Minutes of the AGM of the Blues & Royals ................ 97 Association Notices ................................... 98 Household Cavalry Museum ........................... 100

Pages 90-120

Obituaries: The Life Guards ........................... 101 Obituaries: The Blues and Royals ....................... 102

Nominal Rolls ....................................... 110 The Life Guards to Life Savers .......................... 114 Leuven Revisited .................................... 115 The Queen’s Bodyguard of the Yeoman of the Guard ........ 116 Book Review ........................................ 117 The Household Cavalry Association North Staffs Branch .......... 119 History of Jock ....................................... 120

//7 Hyde Park The Front Cover shows:

CoH Miller LG outside St Pauls Cathedral on the Lord Mayor’s procession.

The Rear Cover shows:

Sun Setting on HCR at BATUS.

Photograph murtesy ufHemy Della].

Household Cavalry Regiment

Preface

Household Cavalry Regiment

by Colonel PSWF Falkner, The Life Guards Commander Household Cavalry.

Foreword In last year’s Preface I commented that change is the order of the day and the past year supports that statement. At that time we were facing two serious threats: the first was the impact on us of the Strategic Defence Review (SDR). The second was the threat of legal action by the Commission for Racial Equality.

Under SDR the overall shape of the RAC is to change. Armoured regiments will reduce from 8 to 6, reconnaissance regi— ments will increase from 3 to 4 and there

by Lieutenant Colonel PJ Tabor, The Blues and Royals, Commanding Officer. he Regiment is currently experienc— ing one of those extremely rare occasions when all four Sabre Squadrons are in barracks simultaneously, but this state will last for even less time than originally anticipated. As I write this, D Squadron is on stand-by to deploy to Kosovo as part of a large NATO force.

Furthermore RHQ and B, C and HQ Squadrons will be heading for Bosnia for another six month regimental tour.

The Household Cavalry regiment continues to be one of the busiest major units in the Army today.

will be an NBC reconnaissance regiment.

At one stage it was suggested that this role should be fitted by the Household Cavalry Regiment but I am glad to say that in the end we were spared. However, all reconnaissance regiments are to reduce in size from 4 to 3 squadrons.

This would make our numbers so low as to make the supply of manpower to the Mounted Regiment precarious. There are good reasons, though, to believe that we will keep HCR at more or less current levels.

Fortunately, HCMR remains unaffected by SDR. A year ago the Household Cavalry had been found guilty by the Commission for Racial Equality of institutionalised racism. By April though, we had con— vinced the Commission that this was not true and that we were making great strides in recruiting high quality young men from the ethnic minorities. At the time of writing we have one officer and

11 ORs from the ethnic minorities. This represents about 1.5% of our total which is above the army average. We are now firmly out of the clutches of the Commission who are now working in partnership with the MOD to bring the same racial equality impetus to all three services.

The Colonels of both The Life Guards and The Blues and Royals have recently changed. In September 1998 General Sir Desmond Fitzpatrick stood down after almost 30 years as either Deputy Colonel

or Colonel of the Blues and Royals, and in January 1999 Major General Lord Michael Fitzalan Howard retires as

Colonel of The Life Guards. He took over the appointment nearly 20 years ago. Both have been essential to the well—being of their respective Regiments as well as being very highly respected for

Colonel The Me Guards. Colonel The Blues and Royals and Commander Household Cavalry.

We are lucky that Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal and General Sir Charles Guthrie have been appointed by The Queen to become Colonel of The Blues and Royals and The Life Guards respectively.

Other changes worthy of note are that both our bands now have female musi» cians. For the first time the Kings Troop took part in the Queens Birthday parade and the Commanding Officer, HCMR rode on the Parade as the commander of mounted troops.

HCR provided the enemy forces throughout the season at BATUS in Canada and became the first reconnaissance regiment to do an Exer— cise Medicine Man. As well as these changes, both HCR and HCMR have had very full years which I hope you will enjoy reading about in the following pages.

One particularly important achievement was the award of the presti— gious Wilkinson Sword of Peace to HCR for their humanitarian work in Bosnia.

We were especially honoured that our Colonel-in-Chief came to present the Sword at Combermere Barracks. Her Majesty spoke to many members of the Regiment as well as to their families. The Princess Royal also attended for the first time as Colonel of The Blues and Royals making it a very special day for all.

their wise advice and for the interest they have taken in us all individually and in the Household Cavalry in general.

The coming year promises to be characteristically busy. The usual hectic Sum-

mer season of ceremonial events is likely to include a travelling escort for The Queen when she opens the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh in July. Escorts away from London are always popular and require us to plan anew and, with the increasing frequency of Windsor State Visits, the Mounted Regiment will be hard at it. The Windsor Regiment is no different; in June RHQ, two sabre squadrons and HQ Squadron deploy once again to Bosnia and, as I write, a further squadron is on 72 hours notice to deploy to Kosovo as part of the hoped for peace implementation force.

These deployed squadrons are stronger than normal so we can expect Combermere Barracks to be pretty empty in the mid— dle of the year.

My impressions, therefore, are that the Household Cavalry has had a really good year, despite many changes, and has a great deal to be proud of. Yet there are some uncertainties ahead. Indeed there always will be, for change remains the

order of the day. Our biggest problem remains recruiting. We are still around 60 under strength despite considerable efforts and we badly need to improve on this. But the quality, professionalism and versatility of our officers, WOs, NCOs

and troopers remains as strong as ever and it is no surprise that we remain in the forefront in all mounted fields, be it CVR(T) or horse.

1998 was dominated, not as in previous years by continuous tours to Bosnia, but almost entirely by the Regiment provid— ing, from April to November the enemy force at the Army’s training base at Suffield in Alberta. Most recent House— hold Cavalrymen have spent considerable periods on the prairies of western Canada. Five of the Army’s armoured battlegroups pitted their wits against us with varying degrees of success.

Equipped with a fleet of specially converted CVR(T) representing Soviet style vehicles with names such as Sturgeon and Salamander, the Regiment formed up to two tank, one reconnaissance and one infantry company.

The latter included sixty ‘dismounts’ from regiments as varied as the Parachute Regi— ment, RTR, Prince of Wales Own, The Black Watch and some Canadian gunners. Everyone had to display great adaptability in getting to grips with completely different skills from those normally required for us and all rose to the challenge in magnificent fashion. In addition to the military training on the prairie there were magnificent opportu— nities for adventure training in the Rockies and some excellent R&R. A very imaginative battlefield tour to the site of General Custer’s untimely death at the Battle of the Little Bighorn just

over the border for about fifty members of the Regiment was led by Mai R R D Griffin. Canada also provided the first opportunity for several years for the Regiment to train for it’s war role, some— thing which successive Bosnia tours

have made almost impossible. As the 3rd (United Kingdom) Division’s Reconnaissance Regiment we had never trained together with all those other regiments with which we would have to operate in war. Our greatest interest at the moment is the ‘deep battle’ which entails operating deep behind the forward edge of the enemy’s forces and requires skills particularly suited to reconnaissance regiments.

Exercise Medicine Man was preceded by a mar— velous live squadron firing period Exercise ‘Bluecoat’, which should bring back memories ofNorth Africa for old Royals.

Working with artillery, army helicopters, aircraft from the Canadian Air Force and a new unmanned aerial reconnaissance vehicle called Phoenix and against a live enemy, (commanded by the author of this foreword), the Regiment was tested as it has not been in recent years and came through with flying colours.

The high point of the year was without doubt the presentation by Her Majesty The Queen of the Wilkinson Sword of Peace awarded to the Regiment for it’s efforts in Bosnia in 1996 and 1997. In the words of the citation “HCR person— nel used their skills, imagination, initiative and resources to return a severely damaged community to conditions approaching normality in which the seeds of long standing peace might grow”. The Sword is clear recognition of the wonderful work undertaken by Household Cavalrymen on operations abroad and a testament to their profes— sionalism and skills. It hangs proudly in RHQ for all visitors to see.

On the sporting front, there has been lit— tle time to add to the laurels of previous years. However, recently the ski team captained by Ct D I Scott and including ZLt J H Blount, LCoH Tate and LCoH Bassett, came second in the RAC Cham— pionships, won the 3 Divisional Championships and did extremely creditably in the Army Championships. Earlier in the year, the Rugby team reached the finals of the Household Division Championship (The Prince of Wales Cup).

The operational role of the Regiment continues to be particularly challenging.

Beneath the umbrella of being the 3rd Division’s reconnaissance regiment we continue to provide support to 5 Airborne and 3 Commando Brigades. With an airborne troop on very short notice to deploy anywhere as part of the Joint Rapid Deployment Force and the remainder ofthe squadron able to follow shortly after, the Regiment continues to be at the forefront of the deployable Army. As a result of the Government’s Strategic Defence review, the Regiment will be amongst the first to exercise the Lead Reconnaissance Battle Group con» cept as part of the new Joint Rapid Reaction Force. This will be an all arms grouping and will build on lessons learned from Exercise Medicine man 5.

1999 is set to be a particularly challeng— ing year. Armoured reconnaissance continues to be the most useable part of the Army and this looks unlikely to change.

If we deploy to Kosovo and Bosnia, only very few will be left behind in Windsor between June and the late Autumn. We will also continue to ask an enormous amount ofthe families who have to hold the fort at home, and do so uncomplainingly time after time, and without whose support the Regiment would be much less effective. We are looking forward to the next twelve months. The Regiment is in very good shape and is ready for anything that might come our way.

Household Cavalry Regiment

The Regiment also sent a number of Officers and NCOs to Jordan in May to commemorate a ‘Bond of Friendship’ which had been struck up between 2 HCR and The Royal Jordanian Guard who were fighting as part of the Arab Legion in the Second World War. The trip was an immense success and culminated in a parade of the Royal Guard in which several members of HCR and HCMR paraded in Dismounted Review Order, wilting slightly to say the least.

The Commander Household Cavalry, Colonel P S W F Falkner headed the party, with the senior visitor being Brigadier, His Grace The Duke of Wellington.

Diary of Events he year began with the entire Regiment together in Combermere Bar— racks for the first time in years. With D Squadron recently returned from Bosnia, it seemed as if the continual independent Squadron Balkan tours were to give way to a new period of Reg— imental cohesiveness.

The year was dominated by the role we were to play as OPFOR in BATUS. It was decided early on that the Regiment would split in two to allow B and C

Squadrons to carry out the first three Med Men and A and D to carry on with the last three. The precursor to BATUS was a week at Graffonwoehr in Germany

for SIMNET at which the command elements were re-introduced to warfighting and Soviet style tactics.

BATUS seemed to grow and grow suck— ing ever more life out of Windsor. Certainly Combermere Barracks began to resemble a ghost town and the dearth of soldiers to even guard the barracks caused extra funding having to be made available for a civilian guard force to be

installed. This lack of bodies continued throughout the year as the remaining Squadrons took the opportunity to send substantial numbers of soldiers on career courses which had been so diffi-

cult in previous years dominated by Bosnia.

commitment, took part. It was a huge success and was topped off with a battle field tour of Custers Last Stand at the

The highlight of the BATUS calendar was Medicine Man Five. This was the first time a Formation Reconnaissance Regiment had exercised in BATUS and was certainly the first time that the concept of the Deep Battle had been realistically exercised. The majority of the Regiment, less C squadron who remained behind to cover our JRDF

Little

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organised

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Squadron Leader, Major RD Griffin LG. This period also saw a number of the Regiment going up to the Interna—

The final days in Canada were marked by the Regiment being awarded the prestigious Wilkinson Sword of Peace.

This award was given to commemorate the substantial and often much unrecognised humanitarian work which almost all members of the Regiment have been involved in at some stage during the last five years. We were delighted that HM The Queen was able to come and present the sword to the Commanding Officer at a ceremony in the Gym. It was well attended by those members of the Regiment, and their families, who had returned from BATUS.

Command ofthe Regiment also changed over in the latter half of the year. Lieu— tenant Colonel B W B White—Spunner handed over command to Lieutenant Colonel P] Tabor MVO and departed to take up the post of Deputy Director of Defence Policy in the Ministry of Defence.

The Regimental Corporal Maior also handed over and W01 (RCM) Lindsay LG handed over to WOl (RCM) Carpenter RHG/D who had spent the early half of the year with the Regiment in the guise of the Safety

Staff WO in BATUS. 1998 also saw the change over of the two Colonels of the Regiment. In October General Sir Desmond Fitzpatrick relinquished his post as the Colonel of The Blues and Royals and was replaced by HRH The Princess Royal. The new Colonel visited the Regiment twice this year; the first time to witness HM The Queen present The Wilkinson Sword of Peace and again on her first official visit to see the majority ofthe Blues and Roy— als on their return from Canada. She is to be represented by Brigadier, His Grace The Duke of Wellington who has been appointed as Deputy Colonel when her engagements become too pressing for her to attend herself. The second major change was Major General Lord Michael Fitzallen Howard who likewise

Ma/ M/[ford Slade LG and Ma/ Locking/r RHG/D on parade H7 Jordan

relinquishes his post as Colonel of The Life Guards at the year’s end to be replaced by the Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir Charles Guthrie. Both outgoing Colonels came and visited their respective Regiments during the latter half of the year.

tional Show Jumping at Spruce Mead— ows, something which until now has

The Year of 1/78 Se/amander- [he BATUS OPFOH MET

always been the exclusive preserve of the chosen few from HCMR.

HCR Contingent at Spruce Meadows.

Household Cavalry Regiment Household Cavalry Regiment

A Squadron The Life Guards

At the end of March Lieutenant Z N Catsaras and LCoH Matthews ran an excellent Map Reading Course in the Brecon Beacons. The final phase was more ofan endurance march then a Map Reading test but they all survived and passed with flying colours.

lying half way around the world in a C 130 and then parachuting into the

arctic wastelands of Goose Bay is not everyone’s idea of fun, especially when the temperature rarely rises above ~30C. However, it proved to be the perfect way to loose weight after the Christmas fes— tivities especially when as sick as CoH Stevenson.

At least he survived the parachute descent unlike Captain W J P Simpson-Gee who hurtled towards mother earth with severe twists and a few collisions along route. Fortunately he lived to tell the tale but swore blind that he would never jump again. It was certainly a memorable trip and one of the intrepid team, CoH Tovell, made all the headlines in his local paper.

Salisbury Plain in January was nearly as cold as the Squadron deployed to support 2 PARA on the first ever Airborne TESEX (and in hindsight, the last!). An experimental exercise that required a fresh approach. Memories were of LCoH Gardner and LCpl Wood bringing down a chemical strike on the enemy echelon; LCoH Farrimond and his crew pulling the whole of the BG echelon out of the

mire on the final assault and Lieutenant J A S Bellman being the first blue on blue casualty. An over excited Gurkha on his

first sighting of a tracked vehicle was the guilty party, (the fact that it had already broken down and was miles from the FEBA didn’t really worry him!). The LAD team, notably LCpl Murphy, did an outstanding job working in the troops and keeping the vehicles on the road.

From April until July we helped out on countless TALO tasks and there is now considerable expertise within the Squadron. During this time we also supported the CVR(T) Dieselisation Trials at Bovington. Added with the vast number of individual courses it was amazing that we were able to support both 1 Bde and 5 AB Bde on their Bde FTXs. WOZ Barry was the master magi— cian and somehow managed to juggle commitments and make sure that the show was kept on the road.

COH Stevenson 'Pacrng the Lmes‘ tn the Reg/'rnenla/ Adm/n Area during Mil/15

Annual Firing in February was the next challenge for the Squadron. For this, much to the annoyance of our Gunnery God, CoH Rees, we deliberately did no preparation and worked with totally mixed crews. The result was electric : enthusiasm, commitment and some out standing gunnery to prove to the remainder of the Regiment that we could achieve the highest standards with minimal training. Three crews achieved a 100% hit rate (top gun awards going to Tprs Stay, Mitchinson, on his first ever firing camp and Tpr Beaumont) and all crews passed the Annual Crew Test. A mixed 3 Troop / GW / Echelon Troop led

Tucker Trophy for being the top Troop on Gunnery Camp - rightly deserved.

Summer leave in late July was a welcome break for everyone. This was followed by a four month spell in Canada — working first as the OPFOR and then with the HCR Deep Ops BG. The Squadron provided a Tank Company, led by Major C N

Mitford—Slade, and an Infantry Compa— A free flight out to Germany and a week playing computer games in Grafenwoer provided a change of scenery for the Squadron. We may not have won on the computers but the Sqn displayed their true colours on the Bowling Alley mainly due to the skills of Tpr Murgatrod and LCpl Wood. It was at this time that we lost SCpl Kingston who was sent at short notice to Nicosia to work with the UN on promotion to WOZ. SCpl Poynter arrived fresh from the stables at Knightsbridge to take over as SQMC.

by Lieutenant T A D Cape and CoH Rees were later awarded the coveted ;

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f.

ny, led by Captain W J P Simpson-Gee. OPFOR tactics were relatively simple and appeared to be extremely effective. It allowed for Mission Command at every level and there was no shortage of volunteers to take command as casualties were taken. CoH Stevenson deserves a special mention here for taking out half of D Squadron, on one particular battle, from a very well sighted fire position.

Tpr Murgalrod leading LCp/ Ashton on the assent of PenryrFan IN Brecon Beacons during the Map Read/rig 7 Course

The focus on returning from Canada in November was the B3 Gunnery Course.

CoH Rees and LCoH Hitchings (fresh off his Gunnery Course) did a first class job in putting everyone through the course with a 100% pass rate and a most successful Recruit Firing Camp at Lulworth.

That’s about it for 1998 but what have we achieved? As a Squadron, BATUS was certainly the highlight of the year and on Ex Med Man 5 we were able to practice our war fighting role for the first time for years. However the key success in the Squadron is that almost everyone has had the opportunity to fur— ther his career : through courses, post— ings or promotion. We have had a mas— sive turnover in the Squadron and over

the year we have said farewell to the following Officers and NCOs : Maior C N Mitford—Slade, Lieutenan T A D Cape, Lieutenant] A S Bellman, Lieutenant Z N Catsaras, W02 Barry, SCpl Kingston, CoH Core, LCoH Carhart, LCoH Gard» ner, LCoH Heaton, LCoH Knowles, LCpl Beech, LCpl Brown, LCpl Holloway, LCpl Pickard and LCpl Stafford.

On my departure as Squadron Leader I wish to thank everyone in the Squadron, especially the SNCOs, for their hard work, loyalty and dedication over the year. Next year the Dieselisation Conversion Programme will be your focus — an important programme and one which I was directly involved in whilst at the MOD. I wish you all the best over the forthcoming years.

After Med Man 4 the whole of the CoH Reece. LG in a qtuet moment.

Squadron went Adventure Training at Trails End Camp in Banff. The weather was perfect and everyone returned to BATUS refreshed and enthused. The next hurdle was Med Man 5, the first opportunity for the Squadron to practice their Deep Ops recce skills. The build up training for this was far too short but everyone rose to the challenge. Everyone will have their own memories of this exer~ cise but there are a few notable ones that come to mind : LCoH Matthews and

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LCoH Gallagher demonstrating their

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.

COH Matthews covering Brzes DZ rn Albania await/rig 2nd wave of B Coy 2 PARA 10 [amp H).

Household Cavalry Regiment

l

Maj Mit/ord-S/ade baking refreshed after the London Marathon,

infantry skills on proving a route over the infamous River Suffield; Lieutenant Z N Catsaras bringing in a most successful ATACMS strike onto the enemy A2 Echelon; the Squadron Leader putting the entire Squadron into NBC kit for a Scud strike which failed to materialise; Tpr Metcalfe for his endurance march during the live fire exercise and SSgt Penfold and his team who worked all hours trying to keep the Squadron mobile.

Household Cavalry Regiment

B Squadron The Life Guards he year started unusually with an attempt on the Squadron Leader’s

life at firing camp in Castlemartin. The Chief suspects were SCM Tate, the War— rant Officer in charge of ammunition and the Second in Command Captain] R D Barnard, the Range Safety Officer. In

a freak accident, a piece of shrapnel had ricocheted back to strike the Squadron Leader in the head. CoH Bonner, L/Cpl Rowan and 2nd Lieutenant P HanburyBateman administered first aid. Later, in hospital, a two inch square piece of metal was removed from Major R R D

Griffin’s skull.

Infantry Company had modified Spartans, representing BMPZ armoured personnel carriers, as well as an additional forty dismounted infantrymen.

These came from ZRTR, the Black Watch and ZPARA. We certain— ly enjoyed and benefited from working with them all.

The role of BATUS Opposing Forces (OPFOR) is undoubtedly one of the Army’s best kept secrets. With the fairly new Tactical Engagement Simulator

Capra/n Barnard's Infantry Company , OPFOF? 7

Squadron Leader en/oy/ng the wew

(TES) equipment, warfighting .: ‘ March was less eventful with most of the Squadron moving to Germany for a week to train on SIMNET. The aim was to teach Soviet style OPFOR tactics to the Regiment in preparation for deployment to BATUS. This was done with computer simulation of all types of vehicles and terrain. The technology was fairly old fashioned but it did help to clarify the drills in the commander’s minds. Also, most of the Squadron learned to navigate in hyperspace with notable experts being Captain J R D Barnard and L/CoH Stew— art. The SCM swears he did not commit fratricide on the Commanding Officer!

In April the majority of the Squadron, less those on courses, deployed to BATUS in Alberta, Canada to act as enemy for three British Armoured Battle Groups during Medicine Man 15. The Squadron was split into two sub-units a Tank Company and an Infantry Compa— ny. The Tank Company was entirely

manned by the squadron mounted on visually modified Scorpions representing Soviet T80 Main Battle Tanks. The San Bar-B-O going OTT

training is now considerably more realistic and enjoyable.

The TES kit comprises ofa vehi—

‘

cle mounted weapon system ’ i which fires harmless lasers at . sensors strapped onto each vehi» cle. This means that there is far less requirement umpiring and 1‘ whiff. individual commanders have to ‘Tne Unlouchab/es (Tan carry out the correct procedures or risk their vehicle being immobilised Vegas, the SQMC managed New York and Las Vagas.

Lieutenants Blount, by laser. The competition to be alive at the end of each mission was intense.

Hanbury Bateman and Peasgood went surfing in California.

In addition to the hard work on the Prairie there was plenty of opportunity In July the Squadron returned home for for adventure training at Trails End summer leave and at the end of the camp near Calgary. L/Cpl Thompson month got back on the plane to Canada proved that you can ride without 20 for Medicine Man 5. For this exercise weeks in riding school. L/COH Smith the tables were turned and the Regiment and Captain J B C Butah terrified every— became the exercising Battle Group one, including themselves, by Parachut— (BG). The aim was to practise the new ing free fall over Calgary. Even Tpr deep reconnaissance doctrine and fully Greenfield enjoyed the canoeing. Sever— run out the Offensive Support Group al members of the Squadron also man— (OSG). The OSG comprises of Artillery, aged to travel abroad, L/CoH Bassett fighter aircraft and strike helicopters carreached Cancun in Mexico and Las rying TOW missiles. This formation

makes up the combat power of the Regi— ment, the intention being to identify and strike the forward elements of the enemy advance. This action is known as a Joint Air Attack Team (JAAT). Although the Regiment still remains the eyes of the Division this is co—ordinated at Brigade level. We spent a good deal of time prac— tising this as it is the Squadron’s role to bring the firepower accurately down onto the target. The opportunity to practice this with live ammunition was there, and the Squadron seized the chance.

CoH Sykes RHG/D and the GW troop had some very successful shooting before the squadron was launched on some unexpecting wooden targets.

Several medals should have been awarded that day, in particular to CoH Kellet for lead» ing a half squadron raid on his own, CoH Patternote for representing another

troop on his own while the rest of his troop took a break. CoH Hodder man— aged to survive even after his troop lead— er, Captain JBC Butah, was seen in the gunner’s seat! The exercise itself was an excellent learning experience for the Squadron. Due to our recent involvement in Peace Support Operations many of the younger members had not been trained fully in basic reconnaissance skills. For the remainder it served to bring them up to speed with current tactics and procedures as well as the chance to call down live artillery fire and task attack helicopters.

Straight after the end of the Medicine Man a number of the Squadron went on

a Regimental battlefield tour organised by the Squadron Leader to the Little Bighorn.

This famous battlefield in

Montana was the scene of General Custer’s Last Stand. It was a great trip marred only by an accident involving LCoH Lythe. He is unfortunately still in hospital at the time of writing and we all wish him a speedy recovery.

There have been several changes in the Squadron orbat this year. Captain S J Rhodes—Stampa retired to civilian life, with Captain J R D Barnard taking his place as Squadron Second in Command.

SCpl Core replaced SCpl Maunder as SQMC. CoH Benge took over SHQ CoH from CoH Curson, who miraculously survived three Medicine Man exercises as the Squadron Leaders gunner and has now been posted to RMAS as an instructor. CsoH Bonner and McMillan have also departed to Lulworth to instruct in

gunnery.

San CFT - BATUS.

"P/ease 8/: can I have some more? Cap! Bt/lan, Sqn Ldr and Mr Blown!

Household Cavalry Regiment Household Cavalry Regiment

C Squadron The Blues and Royals he beginning of the year saw us run» ning courses for Gunnery and Map Reading, both of which proved invaluable later on our deployment to BATUS. There was time for Exercise Gopher’s Hole, designed to teach new Troop Lead— ers the art of digging in dismounted observation posts, followed by a Guided Weapons Firing Camp at which LCoH Lochrane proved that he certainly was wire guided!

February brought most of the Squadron together for the first time in the year for Recruit Firing followed by Gunnery Camp at Castlemartin Ranges. No soon— er had this been completed with great success, before the Activation Party deployed on 11 March 98 to BATUS under the ever audible and dulcet tones of CoH Horner. For all vehicle Corn— manders there was a real treat in store (not), when they visited the SIMNET between 15 - 20 March 98, in Germany.

On returning the Squadron won a well deserved third place in the Regimental Cross Country where the Squadron Leader added extra weight to the overall placings.

In early March the main body of the Squadron departed for BATUS and build up training for Medicine Man 1.

This again proved to be valuable training

for the battles and C Squadron became the first OPFOR Squadron to beat a Bat— tle Group on Exercise Rattlesnake It was here that we first experienced over the net the ever present Lieutenant P R T ‘Firemission’ Stucley, who had a habit of training all artillery pieces onto a sin— gle enemy infanteer out for a shovel recce. C Squadron members made up Tank Company 2 and the Reece Company, both of which were instrumental in reducing the Green Howard Battle Group to cannon fodder!

The Queens Royal Lancers faired no better on Medicine Man 2, with the squadron second in Command, Captain A Dick reeking havoc with his Recce Company. The Squadron unfortunately said a tearful goodbye to him as he departed for JCSC, but were soon overjoyed to find his replacement was Cap— tain W Bartle—Jones, returning from Northern Ireland. The Squadron Lead— er, Major T E Thorneycroft was rarely seen minus cigarette, brew, LCpl Spencer and huge grin, after reducing the QRL to something resembling scenes from Dads Army. ‘Its good to be alive!’ could often be heard booming over the net. Some well deserved adven— ture training that included parachuting, hill walking in the Rockies, white water rafting and horse riding followed, before

Colonel The Blues and Royal's talking to Col—l Pickford and Ma] Thorneycroft,

deployment for Medicine Man 3. This saw the Kings Royal Hussars Battle group full of confidence and expectation take to the field. Unfortunately for them this also saw a well moulded, tactically honed C Squadron ready to reap a third victory. This we duly achieved leaving them, Commander BATUS and the remaining OPFOR in no doubt who were Kings of the Prairie.

After more adventure training and local leave the Squadron reassembled to move back to England. We had certainly left an impression that A and D Squadrons would find hard to match.

Summer leave was taken on return to Windsor in August, before returning to take over the Joint Rapid Deployment Force (JRDF) commitment. Cornet D I Scott and LCoH Lochrane led a Cape Tour to South Wales, where they spent a fruitful two weeks trawling Swansea, Cardiff and Newport for young Welshmen to join the Household Cavalry.

LCpl Brown was keeping up the Regiment’s policy of non sexual discrimination by attempting to woo the ladies to join! In October Captain W Bartle-Jones and CoH Pickford deployed with l Parachute Regiment as part of the Lead Parachute Battalion Group (LPBG) to Poland on Exercise Lanyard.

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LCpl bran! and Tpr Dom; [h the ‘ouback’.

final ml'sstO/i.

The town of Drawsko Pomorski proving an imperative stop over for Tpr Eulert to brush up on his German and a few other things.

On returning, the Officers wined and dinned all the Squadron senior ranks and their wives and girlfriends in the Officers Mess. This proved to be one of the highlights of the year where CoH McCarley and CoH Horner had, quite literally, a smashing time. LCoH Lochrane also made special attempts to enhance the regiments ties with the local Gendameriel Cornet RHA Lewis and CoH Musgrave along with the remainder of 3 Troop, provided the Marines with an excellent training package on Exercise Dragons Storm on Sennybridge Training Area.

The Marines were so impressed with their knowledge and expertise that one can only assume Cornet RHA Lewis had lost his voice for the week. Tpr Bullen returned from a successful attempt at P Company and now awaits his jumps course in early 1999. October also saw the visit of Her Majesty The Queen, where she kindly presented the Regiment with the Wilkinson Sword of Peace for its efforts in restoring some form of normality to those in the Former Republic of Yugoslavia. The Queen met many ofC Squadrons’ members and their fam— ilies and wrote to the Commanding Offi— cer expressing how much she had enjoyed the day.

The Squadron provided members who took part in the London District Sports Competition, notably the rugby 7s team

who were worthy runners—up.

The Remembrance Day service was attended by all Squadron personnel, who were more than upset for not being able to march to church due to the dreadful weather conditions. The Princess Royal, the new Colonel ofThe Blues and Royals, visited in early December, where in par— ticular, LCoH Burton and LCpl Brooks, Tprs Ingram-Mitchelle, McWhirter, and Lidbetter impressed her with their dis— play of Support Troop and its equipment.

The remainder of December has seen the WOs and NCOs party, the Regimental Carol Service, the Pensioners Christmas Lunch and Brick Hanging. Next year promises more of the same with pre Bosnia training already on the horizon.

E/‘ld of Mission, What was left of the Sqn after MISS/on 5 - Mil/13 with our Master CS 6C (AKA QMS/ Smart)

Household Cavalry Regiment 12

Household Cavalry Regiment

l3

D Squadron The Blues 8: Royals It was a period of change for the squadron as it returned from Christmas leave.

W02 (SCM) Carney had taken over from W02 Norris just prior, and in January Major C B B Clee took over from Major G V Woyka and SCpl

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Tp/ T/encliet LCOH Bell. 889! Snell and Col-l Bernard on tetra luma

Smith replaced SCpl Harris as SQMC. The SCMs first act was to send the Squadron Leader and SQMC on a

course. . . .

February was a time to find our feet. GW troop fired at Otterburn, while we sup— ported the Regiment’s annual firing in Castlemartin and dismounted skills exercise in Sennybridge. March saw all available vehicle commanders, except for Captain R R Philipson—Stow who left the Squadron for JDSC and HCMR, deploy

to SIMNET in Grafenwehr. There we spent hours immersed in a computer generated virtual world playing on Europe’s most expensive and complex video game as part of our pre—BATUS training. We returned to victory in the regimental cross—country competition, which the Squadron Leader boycotted as he was getting married the next day and refused to risk injury for anyone!

The squadron carried out ATD training in April. Captain D E Hughes joined us as Zic from JDSC for Ex Clear Water, a low level troop exercise in Pippingford Park Training Area organised and run by the troop leaders. This ended with an inter-patrol competition that started with a series of nocturnal close target 3 To at The Regimental Tower

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Colonel The Blues and Royals watching a video of stnker lm'ng.

recces, complete with allegations of foul play and at least one successful kidnap attempt that cost the victim’s team dear— ly. The final task involved anti ambush drills followed by an extraction with a casualty across a water obstacle, com— plexity and ingenuity abounded. Tpr Whelan was judged to have won the competition for the most dramatic soak~ ing, for which (sadly) there was no prize, and LCoH Barrett’s patrol were overall winners for which there was. Also of note were LCoH Brown 06, who won the orienteering competition, and Tpr Trencher was the first trooper home.

The search for LCoH Martin, who had entered the wrong map datum into his

GPS (with the result that he was trying to navigate around Long Valley using the electronic equivalent of a street map of Oslo), ended without tears and the Squadron Leader was relieved not to have to write to his wife and family.

May was taken up with a TES exercise against the Royal Dragoon Guards on Salisbury Plain acting as the enemy for their BATUS build up. This proved to be an excellent opportunity to hone our skills as an OPFOR T80 tank company, and over the 10 days we didn’t loose a mission. Tpr Lingard upset (and got himself posted as a result...) the squadron leader, ZIC and 2 Troop Leader

by inverting our new WOLF landrover during a recce. Though it pleased CoH Peat, in his final exercise before handing over to CoH McKechnie, because his radio installation remained intact.

LCoH McMullen spent most ofthe exercise hosting the SAAB Gremlin, much to his frustration, and LCoH Findell proved to be the “Top Gun” of the exercise as well as being the “Most Killed Callsign”, there is a message in there somewhere!

The majority of vehicle commanders, less CoH Smith who managed to delay handing over the WOs’ and NCOs’ until after we had left, moved to BATUS for our recce early in June and participated in Med Man 2 with B and C Squadrons.

In addition we had an excellent KAPE tour to Birmingham. We then returned for a spot ofsummer leave in July before deploying as part ofOPFOR 2 in August leaving behind LCoH Shields, who fled for the comparative sanity of the RMAS signals wing on promotion.

Townley won the admiration of us all as he described in graphic detail how his vehicle was on fire with the flames licking around live 30mm rounds, until we realised he was speaking from a safety staff callsign some 600m away. Tpr Collier broke every vehicle he drove; he is now on Alvis’s Christmas card list and first name terms with the Tiffy. CoH Fermor managed the longest sulk, after a particularly choice burst from the squadron leader (it’s still going!)

LCoH Reason berated the bemused owner ofa land—locked Medicine Hat fishing store for his lack of sea fishing gear. Tpr Holliday, during his free fall course, refused to let go of the wing strut of the aircraft with the result that they had to circle until he fell off(ish). All in all, a good time was had by most!

The squadron returned to Windsor early in November for some well-earned rest, recruit firing, and the build up to Christ— mas. We said good bye to the Zic Captain DE Hughes and Captain PA Bedford, Lieutenants Brennan and Antelme, SSgt Snell REME, LCOH Anderton and LCpl Lewis, and hello to Captain M P GoodwinHudson who is still trying to find his uni— form. It has been a busy year with a large turnover of individuals (too large to list here, and the shopping list is still out to top B, C and HQ Squadrons for Bosnia), but we extend our best wishes to all who have left us. Despite being away from home for so much of it, it has been, on balance, tremendous fun and hugely valuable with most of us having spent over 9 weeks actually exercising with DFWES.

LCOH Pass (lull/jg tlje FAC concern/anon

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In BATUS we provided the Reece Com— pany, commanded by the Zic, and the tank company for Med Mans 4 and 6.

While in the middle we reformed as a squadron for Med Man 5 for live firing and ottr recce battlegroup exercise. This exercise was a first in many respects for the army, however for the squadron it was principally remembered for forcing the SCM onto the prairie for the first time.

There were many notable events. During the live fire phase Lieutenant P B A

Household Cavalry Regiment 14

Household Cavalry Regiment

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CO and Son Ldr o’lscussmg tact/cs during TESSEX

by a LAWES when the carrier (who shall remain nameless) accidentally fell over and pulled the trigger - or that’s what he said. SCpl Farmer displayed the remark— able versatility shown by all the Squadron by starting the exercise running 0H, then taking over as A Sqn SQMC and finally running RHQ security. This left LCoH Mardon running 0H for which the whole of RHQ were eter— nally grateful. It was amazing to see how many other members ofthe Battle Group turned up at RHQ just before meal times due to the culinary expertise of LSgt Barnard and LCpl Woodgate.

Headquarters Squadron he year has provided a certain amount of stability within the Squadron, borne out by the fact that a record has been set for the longest serving HCR Headquarters Squadron Leader, with Major C A Lockhart (at the time of writing) in the chair for 13 months beating the previous record of 12 months.

However, just as last year and as many as you would care to mention before that, the Squadron has been equally busy and has spent a majority of the reporting peri— od split to the proverbial “Four Winds”.

This has been largely due to the Regiments’ commitment to the OPFOR in Canada which started in March, with the last member of the Squadron not actually back until early December.

The early part of the year saw the Squadron supporting the Regimental Firing. Soon after this, in March, the Regiments’ command team deployed to Germany for Exercise SIMNET - a virtual reality war game that was to prepare commanders for Canada. Accommoda— tion was exceptionally spartan and many thanks must go to Captain N P Sackett and his team, namely SCM Harris and SQMC Grantham, who did the best they could to make life more bearable. They were helped out by the fact that the transport used to take the essential stores over to Germany, started as a 4 Tonner but ended up as an articulated lorry!

Almost immediately after returning from Germany the Regiment held the

Cross

Country

competition.

The

Squadron came a most credible 2nd behind D Squadron. Special congratulations must go to W02 (RQMC) Norris who came Sth overall but won his age category (under 50 but over 30!!)

HO and B Sqn Ldrs prepare for handover

With this continued absence of members of the Regiment, it is worth mentioning those left behind to continue their work in Windsor and of particular note is the Families Office where CoH Robertson has manned the fort; a task made even more difficult due to the length of time the Families Officer spent in Canada.

Household Cavalry Regiment

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Colonel The Blues and Royals talking to LCol and Mrs Clarke AGC

Colonel of The Blues and Royals talk/n9

As stated, OPFOR has taken up the bulk of the Squadron’s manpower during the year. The Squadron provided all the usual integral support to the 2 sabre squadrons who were deployed at any one time. Included in this was Command Troop who also had a fair representation - especially from W02 Shatliff who, it is rumoured, is applying for Canadian citi— zenship due to the time he has spent out there, even though he did try and make an early break for it (no pun intended) by breaking his arm. Meanwhile in Wind— sor, Captain] S Holbrook and SCpl Cowton have displayed a huge aptitude for flexibility in acting as UEO and taxi firm respectively due to the never ending flow of people moving to and from Canada.

They have been ably assisted by W02 Hyland and SSgt Lindsay—Smith as

UEO’s in their turn.

Towards the middle of the year the main focus was orientated towards MMS which was the Regiments’ own Med Man — this is covered in greater detail else— where in the Journal.

Due to the Squadron being split, there was limited opportunity to train as a whole for this exercise - but ultimately on deployment in August/September everyone was prepared. The live firing package at the start proved to be extremely valuable as it gave A1 echelon the chance to carry out live training with all the SQMC departments together, which must be the first time this has happened in well over 4 years.

The dry training also was invaluable and all appeared to be going well until we were informed of the premature demise of Captain J S Holbrook (MTO) who, having valiantly defended Al against a Challenger attack, was shot

At the end of October it was time for the Regiment to prepare to receive The Sword of Peace from Wilkinson Sword which Her Majesty The Queen had kind— ly agreed to present. This also gave the new Colonel of The Blues and Royals, HRH The Princess Royal, her first chance to meet the Regiment in her new appointment. The whole day was a great occasion enjoyed by many families and friends — helped by the extremely generous gift of champagne for some 300 people given by the Major General Commanding the Household Division.

We say goodbye to the Commanding Officer who heads for the MOD, Captain W R Lindsay to Pirbright, WOl Norris to the QOY, W02 Flynn to ATDU and SCpl Cowton who leaves us for civilian life. We welcome Lieutenant Colonel P] Tabor, W01 Carpenter, W02 Evans and W02 Atkinson.

Tombstone rewsrteu‘ , Adventure Tra/nrng lll lie Hock/es

Finally, on a sad note it was with deep regret that the Squadron learned of the news that the previous Squadron Leader, Major Mick Brown, had lost his battle against cancer at the end of October and our very best wishes go to all his family.

Kryplon Factor Team 2

Commanding Officer's Tank Crew , it ulti‘p‘ll c «tn-av, .5.

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Household Cavalry Regiment

Quartermaster’s Department As you have already read thus far, our main focus this year has been to provide the OPFOR for BATUS and the very first formation reconnaissance exercise on medicine man 5.

As always, this department has participated in providing manpower as well as various other resources. The OPFOR started with the QM deploying to BATUS for four months at the begin— ning of Mar 98 to set up the activation and see MMl and most of MMZ through.

This was closely followed by a change of RQMC’s, as W02 Norris picked up his well deserved W01 and prepared to move to Newcastle. He handed over to W02 Harris in August, who promptly deployed to BATUS with LCpl Smith, to take over the ammunition account for both the HCR battlegroup and the

newly formed MMS OPFOR. A steep learning curve, and a challenge they both relished.

WOZ {ROMCJ Harris RHGUD

The remainder of the team were by no means idle. As always with the old and tired barracks the emphasis was heavy on property management. The long awaited rebuild has been put back from 1997 to 1999 to 2001 and now 2003. However, all is not lost.

This year has seen some money come through for the barracks for health and safety at work and environmental legislation. We increasingly see civilian authorities entering barracks to inspect us on these issues!

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Clothing has also been a prominent factor this year. Combat Soldier 95 (C895) is now firmly in place. For the old and bold, this stanv dardised clothing throughout the armed forces and works on the layered principle i.e. no more winter or tropical clothing. All you do is reduce the number of layers in warm weather, or vice versa in cold weather. An excellent idea which unfortunately has been dogged with supply and quality problems from the manufacturers.

Another aspect of clothing has been the withdrawal of barrack dress.

This has caused great consternation, as lightweight trousers are now the uniformed order for in-barrack wear. We might all even be dressed the same!

Special mention must be made of our chefs. They continually sup— port the regiment, both in the field and in barracks with an inex— haustible supply of enthusiasm and flair, something which is all too often taken for granted. They have additionally transformed the cookhouse into a proper dining-room/restaurant, on a self help basis, with modest slice of PR1 money.

The personnel and changes with in this department are; Captain M A Harding RHG/D is moving to a staff appointment in Episkopi Gar— rison as 503 Gl/GS for two years (there is justice after all), he will be replaced by Captain N P Sackett RHG/D from QM(T). W02 Norris, as already mentioned, moved to Newcastle as RCM of QOY and been replaced by W02 Harris. CoH Birch remains as accommodation SNCO, CoH Cox is the local works liaison officer, LCoH Hooper remains as clothing storeman, LCoH Callow moves from ration storeman back to the troops, his replacement is LCoH Robson from command troop, LCpl Stickland is unfortunately medically dis— charged. He will be sorely missed and is wished every ounce of luck in the future. He is replaced by LCpl Jones from command troop.

Quartermaster Technical’s Department nce again the year has flown by.

The Department for a change has been split between commitments throughout the year. The team was split between OPFOR and Windsor, OPFOR being the main effort. The first team to deploy was ably led by SCpl Plater RHG/D and consisted of CoH McKenzie RHG/D and LCpl Spares RHG/D. Their task was to get the OPFOR up and running, and to give Tech cover for Medicine Man 1-3. They carried out their tasks well which enabled the season to get off to a tremendous start. The next team to deploy was under the watchful eye of LCoH Jones RHG/D, who was assisted by LCoH Beulah RHG/D and LCpl Marsh LG. They had the task of ensuring that everything went well for the remainder of the training season, and also the task of handing all equipments back to BATUS. Medicine Man 5 was a little fraught with the many different units coming togeth» er for the exercise, most of whom had never been to BATUS before. This did cause some problems but nothing that phased the already BATUS hardened team. To ensure that we had the correct manpower the team was enhanced by W02 (RQMC(T)) Godson LG and SCpl Peat RHG/D. The exercise from the Dept’s point of view went very well, so well that the RQMC(T) only managed 6 packs of Rennies per day!

As well as the commitments to OPFOR and the normal day to day running back in Windsor, the Dept has had a concert— ed effort on career courses, all LCsoH by the time the journal is printed will have completed their Crew Commanders qualification and hopefully their education. This means that those chosen to work in the stores will no longer trail behind their tank park peers, instead they may in future bring a different aspect to tank park soldiering.

The LCpls have not been forgotten, they will all have their Crew Mech qualification enabling them to cross post to the sabre squadrons.

The Dept has had once again a few changes since the last journal, we have said farewell to W02 Nicholson LG who has moved to the QM’s to Carry out the task of Health and Safety advisor, we wish him well. SCpl Plater (the man

The first lodge meeting of Tech or /ust a Quiet game of Buckaroo,

who has seen many QM(T) and RQMC(T) come and go) has moved to the extended service list to help run the CVR(T) dieselisation programme. Their places have been filled

by W02 Godson LG who joins the team from the training wing and SCpl Peat RHG/D from D Sqn, LCoH Elliott RHG/D joins from HCMR. To those who have left, our gratitude goes with you for all your hard work, for the new team we extend a warm welcome.

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Household Cavalry Regiment 18

Household Cavalry Regiment

The Light Aid Detatchment he start of this year saw the LAD back together for the first time in years.

D Squadron Fitter Section’s return in December 1997 marked the end of the Bosnia tours for a while and gave the LAD a chance to take a breath.

WOl (ASM) Harvey departed for a sunshine tour to Belize, much to everyone’s disgust. Into his shoes stepped W01 (ASM) Valentine who had just finished a 3 year tour at ATSA, Chert— sey where he was employed as the Bat— tle Damage Repair (BDR) guru for the Army. If you ever find yourself with a few hours to spare ask him to give you his BDR presentation — it’s riveting (no pun intended).

Once again the LAD was split, with over half its manpower in BATUS and the remainder supporting the Windsor squadrons and catching up on career courses. Life at Combermere remained extremely busy and the LAD was stretched to capacity throughout the year. Luckily, several REME units kindly released personnel to augment the

OPFOR Maintenance Group and their assistance was a great help to us. Our thanks to those augmentees who joined us, especially Cpl Moffat who worked tirelessly alongside Sgt Ingle, LSgt Vietch and LSgt Mayes replacing faulty DFWES equipment. Together they provided an invaluable service, keeping the OPFOR fit to fire.

Back in UK, AQMS Griffiths and SSgt Rogers organised a two day leadership training exercise at Bramley training area for the LAD JNCOs. For some of the younger members, this was their first experience of commanding a small

group, but they quickly got to grips with thinking on their feet and improved as the exercise went on. LSgt Downton and LCpl Murphy did particularly well and, during the leaderless command tasks, had to be killed offby the DS to give the others a chance!

i ‘

In July, SSgt Patey organised a week of low level adventurous training at Fremington in Devon. Walking, climbing, body»surfing and water skiing made the week a total success and a good time was had by all.

,-.2 Four Gingers' together on the Battlefield Tour

eral vehicles rolled, they were all low speed accidents and none resulted in any major injuries.

Meanwhile, back in the Batcave, the ASM and SSgt Wilson were busy overseeing the maintenance of the OPFOR fleet and gave 100% availability at the start of every mission, a record that must be congratulated. Obviously, none

of this would have been possible without the hard work of the tradesmen within the Maintenance Group who pulled together well and worked long hours to keep the fleet on the road. As the Maintenance Group was flying yel— low flags it was not possible to recover vehicles during missions and much of the work was completed at night, so the Maintenance Group personnel became

nocturnal creatures.

As with the rest of the Regiment, the LAD changed the majority of its man— power in BATUS during August and OPFOR 2 got under way. Barring a few

glitches during the first week, Ex MEDICINE MAN 4 went well for the Maintenance Group. During post exer— cise rollback, the EME instigated a 100% track inspection and, much to BATUS’ delight, over a three day period, the

ff to war" Ex Med Man 5

OPFOR consumed all of the CVR(T) track in theatre — 300 sections of it!

Which brings us to the major exercise of the year, Ex MEDICINE MAN 5. The Maintenance Group reformed to become not only the BG LAD, but also the ENFOR LAD and absorbed fitter sections from all ofthe exercising sub—units.

With such a diverse BG, logistic elements were a little thin on the ground and the LAD was hard pressed to sup— port the large fleet ofvehicles. However, on the whole, things went reasonably well and sub-units enjoyed good levels of

equipment availability.

After Ex MEDICINE MAN 5, Ex MEDICINE MAN 6 was relatively relaxed and, with the OPFOR reduced to one tank company, the Maintenance Group had a slightly easier task on its hands. However, by the end of the sea— son the vehicles were very tired and keeping them roadworthy was becoming harder by the day. Despite this, the exer»

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SSg/ Perifo/d explaining the finer pO/nis of Recovery [0 Sgt Cooke

cise went well and the OPFOR had enough battleworthy vehicles to give the Battle Group a hard time. Following a rapid clean up and hand back, the major— ity of the LAD returned to UK in November, leaving just a handful on Rear Party with BATUS Wksp.

This year has been a hard, but extremely rewarding time for the LAD. The time spent in Canada has helped everyone to improve their trade skills and all have benefited greatly from the experience.

Ex MEDICINE MAN 5 gave the LAD its first chance to exercise properly for some years and was a good learning experience for all.

Mid-December brought the remaining LAD personnel back from Canada, with their work as Rear Party complete. As one chapter in the LAD’s life closes another opens in the form of a Bosnia tour in 1999..

GD. Golding Tailors Ltd.

One of the

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Household Cavalry Regiment

Fax: (01727) 831462

Household Cavalry Regiment

WO’s and NCO’s Mess he early part of 1998 was dominated by the regiment preparing for its departure to BATUS as the OPFOR which as well as the usual range periods and exercises included a trip to Germany

to train on Simnet.

Although everyone was extremely busy we still found time to say farewell to a number of senior mess members, W01 (ASM) Harvey, W02 (RQMC) Maher and W02 (SCM) Fisher on posting and W02 Nicholson, WOZ Roberts and not forgetting CoH Kirkpatrick MBE to civilian life.

Once OPFOR 1

had departed for

BATUS life in the mess was fairly quiet, however a very successful Life Guards Association Dinner was held on the 13th June, which as usual was very well attended.

the majority of the rest of the regiment deploying on Medicine Man 5.

This meant that there were only a handful of mess members in barracks over this period who’s only inconvenience was having to eat in the junior ranks dinning hall. During this clo— sure it was also decided to re—vamp the bar and have a change of brew— ery which was long overdue. This was done and once the electrical work was completed we had a grand mess re—opening in the form of a pub night which was an outstanding success and it was good to see some life in the mess again after a very quiet few months.

Band of The Life Guards anuary was a relatively quiet month 130, despite the quartet being busy and the odd guard mount at Windsor Castle, the football team progressed steadily through the Corps of Army Music Cup beating the Band of the Royal Artillery in Woolwich raising everyone’s hopes of some silverware this season.

V in ROM BCM and HQ SCM

The senior mess members are: W01 (RCM) Carpenter RHG/D W01 (ASM) Valentine REME W01 (BM) Cooper LG

W01 (SSM)0’Donnell AGC(SPS)

February saw things return to normal with not only having to contend with the usual round of public duties at the Guards Chapel> Windsor Guards and Investitures at Buckingham Palace but also preparation for the move to RMA Sandhurst to take up the post of resident band. These seven weeks proved to be a very testing time with the band already understrengh with the loss of three per— sonnel to HCMR for the Quadrille and the odd one or two sick meant that the combination of early morning drill and late night mess nights were exhausting.

W02 (RQMC) Harris RHG/D 0n the 14th June W01 (RCM) Lindsay handed over to WOl (RCM) Carpenter who, as soon as he took over was informed by the Quartermaster that he would have to close the mess for up to eight weeks during August, September and October in order to have the kitchens and public rooms completely re-wired as they were presently a health and safety nightmare. This closure was not as bad as first thought and it came at a good time as it coincided with the embarkation leave for OPFOR 2, the disembarkation leave for OPFOR 1 and

The CO's Farewe/l,

On the 24th October the mess hosted the RUC Widows dinner which is an annual event sponsored by the police. A very enjoyable evening was had and all in a good cause. We also hosted the 2 HCR lunch on lst November which again is an annual event. It is a great privilege to host this lunch for these veterans to whom we owe so much.

W02 (RQMC(T)) Godson LG W02 (SCM) Tate LG W02 (SCM) Ford RHG/D W02 W02 W02 W02 W02

(SCM) Carney RHG/D (SCM) Grantham LG (BCM) Graves LG (RSWO) Shatliff RHG/D (RIWO) Evans RHG/D

W02 (MTWO) Atkinson RHG/D W02 (ABCM) Young LG

December is usually a busy month and this one was no exception. It started with a bang on the 4th with the inaugural visit ofThe Princess Royal as the new Colonel of The Blues and Royals. As well as visiting various displays laid on

by C, D and HQ squadrons she also visited the mess and managed to meet the majority of The Blues and Royals and attached personnel. On 12th December we held our mess Christmas party in the gymnasium. We sat down 440 people to a night of good food and drink and first class entertainment in the form of the Gary Glitter Band, who proved extreme— ly popular with everyone, especially those who remember the 70’s.

W02 (SQMS) Reeves AGC(SPS) W02 (SQMS) Moore AGC(SPS) W02 (SQMS) Ali RLC

W02 (AQMS) Griffiths REME

Unfortunately during our time at Sandhurst Trumpet Major Carson was involved in a very serious road accident which resulted in him being absent from the band for the rest of the year whilst he recuperated at Headley Court. However, he is making an excellent recovery and is back working with the band.

0n returning from Sandhurst the Band drew breath only slightly before getting stuck in to their state kit inspections in preparation for the Major Generals Review of HCMR. Sandwiched in between the various rehearsals for this

were a variety of trumpet engagements W025 SCM Tate and Bam/ LG

including playing for the launch of the cruise ship “Vision of The Seas” down in Southampton.

During this time the Steam roller that is the band football team had disposed of all challengers including an effort from The Blues and Royals to reach the quarter finals of the cup. Unfortunately, despite a desperate rear guard action which included broken bones, this is where they were to fall at the hands of

The Royal Military School of Music who The Christmas festivities finished on 17th December with Brick Hanging.

The Brick was hung for the second year

by Morris (Lofty) Young with well over 500 people in attendance. It was good to finish the year by meeting so many old friends and the festivities continued into the wee small hours.

went on to win the cup.

In May the ‘season’ began in earnest and the band proved just how versatile they can be. Not only were we mounted for Queens Life Guards, Beating Retreat and Queen’s Birthday Parade rehearsals but we marched on Cavalry Sunday, played

Mourning The Queen's L/fe Guard 7998

concerts at Castle Hill in Windsor, and the orchestra played for another investi~ ture at the Palace and we still managed to send eight trumpeters to the Guildhall for a banquet.

ning of December in Windsor. ‘Band Troop’ was seen to run smoothly with all ranks lending a hand down the yard (even the Band Corporal Major was seen brush in hand!)

During June and July both band and trumpeters were on the road again travelling as far afield as Portsmouth, Exeter and the usual week on the bandstand in Eastbourne. We were also asked to play at Royal Ascot again in very trying conditions which included a noisy generator and a neighbouring Irish band.

The run—in to Christmas was busier than ever with concerts being well received at various venues in Windsor and a fantas— tic evening with the massed bands of the Household Division at the Royal Festival Hall in London.

After Beating Retreat displays in Brighton and Shropshire we went on a well earned leave. Returned in September to give a concert in Stevenage, make a new recording and also travel to Good— wood for two days to play for the revival of the race circuit.

Finally the Band has been able to welcome new members and we hope that both Musicians ‘Graham’ Thorpe and ‘Bruce’ Dickinson will do very well.

During October we enjoyed our annual visit to North Wales for a series of British Legion concerts and the marching band made a spectacular debut at Billy Smarts circus!

November began with a concert in Chichester then the trumpeters played for the Festival of Remembrance at the Albert Hall and the band played at the Garrison Chapel in Windsor on Remembrance Sunday. Various orchestral duties followed before the Band joined forces with The Blues and Royals Band in preparation for a state visit at the begin»

Household Cavalry Regiment Household Cavalry Regiment

The Wilkinson Sword of Peace Presentation

The Household Cavalry Recruiting Team With around three million people unemployed, improving on an already good year would appear easy, until you consider that the youth of

today do not automatically think of a career in the armed forces as a top option. Approximately halfof all potential recruits are ineligible due to drug use, crime or physical shortcomings of one sort or another, so already the task becomes more complex than first thought.

One ofthe first tasks to be dealt with was to update and improve the recruiting displays and publicity that inevitably

meant that finance was a governing factor. The recruiting team proved very resourceful (as all good soldiers are) and managed to produce monies and equip-

ment from almost all ofthe Regional and

Secondly was to develop ideas and initia» tives already put in place by our recruiters in their areas, and our final objective was stir» veying potential areas

for future squadron KAPE tours.

Areas previously found such as Sunderland, Birm— ingham and South Wales proved to be a great success, not only with the number of potential recruits dealt with but also the amount of good publicity gained, some of which was not always planned

wrisrzuwe5,ottr vudwg

Regimental Headquarters, In Spring the team, loaded down with their newly acquired equipment‘ descended upon the unsuspecting public as far afield as Preston and Newcastle in the north to Dover and Redruth in the south.

Whilst on the road the team had three main objectives with the first and foremost one . being to identify . _ ‘ and develop any recruiting opportunities that arose.

During the many brief periods when not on the road the team decided to max~ imise on the potential of the local area.

Along with the ethnic minorities recruiting team, we attended numerous and varied events which produced some success and managed to open a few previously inaccessible doors into the more diverse areas of the local community The five day look at life, work experience and particularly the youth activities con-

WE HQW ”JO.

tinue to provide a steady flow of recruits and this is mainly due to the assistance provided by the squadrons both at Windsor and Knightsbridge. Their assistance is greatly appreciated considering their very busy schedule over the past twelve months, The efforts over the past two years of all those involved in the recruiting activities for the Household Cavalry Regiment

a," , Her Majesty Der/7g rntrodt/ced [0 Ma] and Mrs Woyka.

must be applauded.

,

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Her Ma/esty talk/rig lo Capra/n Harding and farm/y

T'/

The prcmre used on the new r

r‘ta

Mr Ma/oo/m orderer (Wilkinson Sword) presenting [/ie Sword {0 Her Ma/esry.

Household Cavalry Regiment 24

Household Cavalry Regiment

25

Household Cavalry Regiment

Here and There ll V“

5% .

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Sunset boulevard.

W02 (SCM) Camey cal/gm wrlh his boots down

W‘Efi

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W»:

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HCR Tower ‘Ec/vo 2' ATUS.V

2/C B San smiles for the camera

Tpr Harvey RHG/D and Slee/ havmg completed flue

The Ad/l dresses down

W02 (SC/W Tale LG W/lll SUN/776%

'

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,

SIWCG Meadows Parade ’ Calgary

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LCp/ Dawes and Tpr Deakln play/77g in a boat.

Members of HO San a! Black Flock Momma/n

dog handlers course

Household Cavalry Regiment 26

Household Cavalry Regiment

27

Regimental Administration Office The Welsh Maid and her Little Helpers

L

,, -

\

nee upon a time a merry band of Owise and helpful men and women were gathered together and were presented a distinctive green beret. The proclamation was heard throughout the land “Go forth, members of the Adjutant General’s Corps, and spread your wisdom. Offer every assistance to those poor soldiers who need it and are unable to help themselves, and, whatever you do make sure that their pay is correct or you will never hear the end ofit!”

Parade at CoH Park/nson's (late LG) Memorial BATUS.

I

‘

“

And so this collection of fine individuals duly gathered their UNICOM passwords and their well-worn pairs of barrack dress trousers with shiny patches and spread themselves throughout the Four Corners ofthe Earth. Indeed, some even made it to Windsor where they set about their work with Those With The Strange

1

ary S 30/ at Ste/ace. Bosma, for their help in reftuolslting the school

Ranks (TWTSR).

Those selected to carry out The Admin— istrative God’s work at Windsor were a particularly fine bunch and were led, from a distance, by a resident of Worthy Down, Captain Burton-Doe. The call of his spiritual home however became so strong that he had to return full time and handed the reins over to Captain Larmour. She had no need to fear the task ahead as The Welsh Maiden, Second Lieutenant Lovett, and W02 “The Pearly King” Reid were on hand to assist with the trials presented.

The Welsh Maiden had previously proven herself when TWTSR were whisked away to a far off land known as Canada. It was a barren place, inhabited by men with long hair who drove pick up trucks and large women who preyed upon the young soldiers visiting their lair, The Sin Bin.

The Welsh Maiden’s Little Helpers also toiled bravely in the face of these demands. The Chief Helper’s role was shared by Sergeant “I wasn’t there at the time” Francis, Sergeant “I didn’t realise it was the Ladies toilet” Street, Staff Sergeant “No, my name is Mark, not Linsey” Lindsay-Smith and finally Sergeant “I don’t drink me” Dixon.

They rallied around the Little Helpers, who caused no little amount of worry to their chaperones when they joined the other young soldiers down town, drinking the local brew. Some enjoyed the mead and local ladies more than others.

Private “Blown out but back on the prowl” McKeown did particularly well in the Cowboy’s hometown of Calgary, but Lance Corporal “The Devil’s Hair— cut” Birchall found the absence of his loved one at home too great. He prompt— ly accumulated a phone bill large enough to repay the national debt of a small African nation. That’s love I suppose.

They were certainly crazy days and throughout it all The Welsh Maiden and her Little Helpers did their utmost to make sure that TWTSR were not overpaid or even underpaid. And all the time they kept their sense of humour.

All good times must, however, come to an end and it was not long before the green grass of Windsor was again home.

They returned to their normal lives with TWTSR to join those that had worked tirelessly in their absence, glad to be away from the temptations on offer in Canada and happy in the notion that they will not quickly return there.

Instead they busied themselves preparing to go to Bosnia and all lived happily ever after.

She fought long and hard with the air-

lines to ensure that TWTSR could

The Commander Household Cavalry in deep tho-ugh! WlI/l Tl 7e Commanding OlllCe/

28

Household Cavalry Regiment

The Colonel. The Blues and Royals wrtlt RCM Carpenter and W02 Atkinson

return to the golden shores of England at every available opportunity and the cries of “Where’s my flight ticket?” were heard almost as often as “When’s the next pay parade? We need some cash!"

She mostly remained calm and also had time to ensure that TWTSR were able to enjoy some time at Trails’ End Camp for Adventurous Training, whether they liked it or not.

Many other little helpers shared time in the strange land.

W02 “UNPROMOORE" Moore found time to join WOl O’Donnell in scaring the natives with their strange brand of chanting at the local Karaoke bar having previously managed to ensure a number of fights did not actually start. The Welsh Maiden was also very relieved when Private Burford eventually found her way back to work from the NAAFI.

Household Cavalry Regiment

29

Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment

Diary of Events January

March

January was notable for its lack of major events. Several visits took place, includ—

March began with celebration as Major The Hon MRM Watson formerly LG won the Grand Military at Sandown on the aptly named Silver Stick. In the same week, we also had the visit ofHRH The Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh and the Press Open Day to launch the Major General’s Ethnic Recruiting drive. The Household Cavalry Race was won by Captain JHF Fuller LG, the Winter Training Troop Officer and many other soldiers took part in the Sandhurst Spring Hunter Trial. The end of the month was taken up with the

Foreword byLkumnmuCobndIISJSafiLTheLfieGumds

ing DCinC LAND and a party of Ugan-

Commanding Officer Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment he Mounted Regiment has had a smashing year, but you would be under a serious misapprehension if you thought that Knightsbridge is a cushy billet. Most of our work is done from home with few nights out of London, but it’s early mornings and few days off.

While the annual programme does not change much, it only seems to get busier.

On the plus side the Strategic Defence Review made no mention of us, so no change is visible on the horizon. In the last year we were lucky not to have an escort in February, but for various reasons the two we carried out in May and December were eventful.

For the Emperor of Japan the crowd in the Mall were mostly either resentful or angry.

The atmosphere was unusual and was transmitted to men and thus to horses.

The crescendo that met The Queen’s carriage resulted in an awkward ride for the extra carriage officers deployed to draw fire and catch the few eggs or mis— siles that might be thrown. Thankfully none were. At Windsor in December a large and noisy crowd greeted the return of State Visits to Castle Hill, and this proved too much for Reaveley, and then LCpl Salmon, as the horse pirouetted out of the 2nd Division past The Queen, into the 3rd carriage, and finally over

backwards onto LCpl Salmon.

The

resulting insurance claim for damage to an Ascot Landau continues.

A departure from the norm was the introduction of the King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, to the Queen’s Birthday Parade. This considerably altered matters for us as the mounted troops squeezed into the space available on the Approach Road. Many felt the parade went well, though the noisy, dusty progress of the gunners did steal the attention of some viewers and diminish our television coverage.

The theme for the year has been recruit—

ing and retention. At the time of writing numbers of trained personnel at Hyde Park Barracks are 30 better than last

year. The benefit of this is felt by all.

Retention is equally going well.

Yet

dan officers.

Otherwise, training of recruits continued and a B1 Equitation course was run. A trial was conducted in adjusting the daily routine to improve

there are two concerns: recruiting must continue at the same rate for at least two more years, and more soldiers need to

quality of life for the soldiers.

benefit from getting Committal Cards signed by potential recruits which earns them a £250 bonus for each signatory badged to his Regiment that passes basic training. All who love the Household Cavalry are to continue to make their best effort in the recruitment of young men as officers and soldiers. The only qualification a young man need have is that he is good enough to become Blue Red Blue and join the Household Divi—

February

Sion.

Congratulations are due to a few of our soldiers. Most notable have been the awards of MBE to the Riding Master, Maj I Sanderson, and to the Forage NCO, CoH Hadden. These long serving specialists have been crucial to the Regiment, and I am delighted that their unstinting efforts have been acknowl— edged.

Another highlight was CoH Jenkins’s victory in the Queen’s Cup showjumping competition at the Royal Tournament on Ramillies. It was splen— did to recapture the cup in this premier

event.

The diary, squadron and departmental accounts will give detailed news of a year when the horses have rarely looked better, the weather shone throughout Summer Camp except on Open Day, and 30 men did their first escort in Nov/Dec.

The Musical Ride had a full programme, but sadly were not called to go to Amsterdam, Brussels or Dubai which looked likely at one time. It is believed a show in Belgium is keen to make a booking for 1999. The Ride have had high standards and been the centre of attention whenever they have been out and about.

An innovation for the future will be qualification in Riding School for a National Vocational Qualification. It is hoped to get a Level 2 NVQ for all mounted dutymen after 2 years. This

The

Watering Order left barracks at 0730 for 3 days’ running to see if it made a differ— ence. It was decided, however, that traf— fic difficulties and the knock—on effect later in the day made it unworkable.

L/eutemant Co/one/ H S J Scott. LG.

in a trade. A welcome return for troops is to be winter camp. Two troops will spend a week together at Crowborough for 3 successive weeks in Feb/Mar. This has been impossible for the last 2 years due to early or late state visits and the reworking of the Birthday Parade.

In 1999 the Regiment faces a hectic time

after April.

In addition to the usual

annual round it will be the last year of the Royal Tournament at Earl’s Court requiring a large mounted presence including the Band of The Blues and Royals, while the Band of The Life Guards is to perform at the Edinburgh Tattoo at the same time. Also there are likely to be escorts for The Queen to open the new parliaments in Scotland and Wales. The year 2000 looks memorably busy as well, and with 2002 shap— ing for a Golden Jubilee the Regiment had better catch its breath in 2001.

What a splendid prospect!

General Arthur Denaro, Comdt RMAS, took the pass out parade for Nonne— boschen Ride which he much enjoyed, being a keen horseman himself. We also continued the series of Visits from the Household Division Army Youth Team which is proving fruitful in terms of recruits. Full Dress Inspections were carried out by the Commanding Officer, a usual task for February as were ATDs. We were privileged to receive HRH The Princess Royal for a short time as she was visiting barracks to open National Riding Week. The 3rd week in February was extraordinary, since we started preparations for The Queen’s Birthday Parade 3 months earlier than usual. We carried out an Early Morning Rehearsal to examine the possibility of The King’s Troop RHA coming on parade. This was conducted at 10 days’ notice and during

Officers’ Spring Drills, so was beneficial to all officers who had not been involved

with the Parade before.

Commanding Officer’s Horse Inspections and a visit by The Lord Chamberlain, The Lord Camoys.

April April started with two staggered leave periods, when the barracks is always fairly quiet.

DRAC, Brigadier JHT Short took a Kit Ride Pass Out. The Major General’s Inspection took up much of the month in rehearsals, in between torrential rain. Katie Hill from Blue Peter took part in the Comd H Cav’s Rehearsal which was broadcast on national TV.

May The preliminaries of the Richmond Cup competition were held in barracks and the final contestants were judged at the Royal Windsor Horse Show, where the prizes are presented by HM The Queen.

Tpr Ward RHG/D, who had only rejoined the Army in January was the deserving winner.

The end of the

month, as ever, was dominated by brief— ings, recces and rehearsals for the Queen’s Birthday Parade.

We had another Early Morning Rehearsal for the Parade with the King’s Troop to con—

firm arrangements.

June June is a very predictable month for HCMR and 1998 was no exception. It kicked off with Beating Retreat and moved on to almost simultaneous rehearsals with the Garter Service. General Schoomaker US Army came to visit as this year’s Kermit Roosevelt lecturer.

Seaview Regatta was well attended and the HCMR boat came 3rd. The Regiment was assessed for Investors In People and was successfully accredited in July. The end ofthe month saw the Regiment departing on leave.

July The Musical Ride went to the ATR Pirbright Open Day and to Bovington but otherwise the Regiment enjoyed leave and prepared horses for Summer Camp.

The Argentinian Army Polo Association visited and were escorted by Captain RC Taylor LG. On 20 July, we remembered our dead at the Household Cavalry Memorial on the 16th anniversary ofthe Hyde Park Bombing.

August Taken up almost in its entirety by Summer Camp at Bodney Camp in Norfolk, the month of August is one to which all ranks look forward. Good weather was

NVQ is accepted widely and is respected as indicating ability and potential rather than narrowly being seen as competence

The Queen's Birthday Parade

Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment 30

Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment

31

The Life Guards Mounted Squadron he Life Guards Squadron have had an eventful year with members of the Squadron participating in all the

major ceremonial events and also being despatched to various exotic locations around the world. 1997 finished with the State Visit of the President of Brazil with the squadron providing the Standard Party and 3 and 4 Divisions. The Escort went extremely well but was exceedingly cold which was exacerbated

by the 7 minute long Brazilian National Anthem.

LCoH Adams RHGrD competmg in the Windsor Show/jumping on Wykeham (LG).

The Garter Ceremony. early mom/rig rehearsel

the order of the day, although Open Day was the notable exception. A high standard of competition was achieved and every one had a good time. The only person to injure himself substantially in the three week period was the Commander Household Cavalry who broke his collar bone in an unfortunate accident.

The Officer’s Mess said a fond farewell to Major N D Garrett, Captain J H F

Fuller and Captain L E A Chauveau by inviting them to ride a jumping lane at night under the lights of a 4 ton truck.

September With half the Regiment on leave, twelve soldiers taking part in the Spruce Meadows Show in Canada, six soldiers in H01land, the Musical Ride performing at Newbury and four soldiers in Belize, there were very few people left in bar— racks in September.

Quietly W01 (RCM) Manning was commissioned and

slipped off to the Recruiting team in Windsor, and the Adjutant, Captain G

W Howson, flew offto spend six months in Sarajevo. In their place arrived W01 (RCM) Maher and Captain R C Taylor.

October October was the lull before the storm of November; horses came back from grass, soldiers came back from the four corners of the earth and started turning their attention to the Winter Ceremoni— al Season. In the lull the Regiment enjoyed a few visits, firstly from the Roman Catholic Bishop to the Armed Forces, Bishop Walmsley. This was fol— lowed later in the month with visits from Major General T] Sulivan and The Speaker of the House of Commons, Betty Boothroyd, the latter being an instant hit in both Messes. Meanwhile in Belize three Life Guards were in Hurricane shelters sitting out Hurricane MITCH - much to the mirth of their contemporaries left in London.

The Regt salute the Coma H Cav on his inspect/on prior to the Major Genera/s

The Speaker of the House of Comma/is. meets the Vet

resolve in the rain by being given command of the (warm and dry) Staircase Party for the State Opening of Parlia— ment. During preparations for the State Opening the Regiment said a sad farewell to Padre Gilbert, who had served the Regiment for twenty years notably providing invaluable support to the Regiment and families during the Hyde Park Bombing in 1982.

December Like it or not December was dominated by the Media interest in Reaveley’s antics during the Windsor State Visit on 1

December.

LCpl Salmon RHG/D was

unfortunate enough to have his horse Reaveley shy backwards from 2 Division, bounce off the Queen’s Carriage and the third Carriage, and finally throw him off in front of the cameras on Windsor Thames St.

The majority of the horses were then despatched to grass, while the Squadron went on Christmas leave. This was fol— lowed by an intensive, for HCMR, peri— od of personal training with B1 courses being run and ATDs being carried out.

It was an interesting experience for the range staff at ATR Pirbright who were unaware that the mounted regiment had rifles as well as swords! Once this was completed the preparations for the cere— monial season began in earnest.

s.

‘u.k-..

2 7,0. /ed by Capt A Lawrence and CoH Chambers accompanied by Gen S/r Anthony MIN/INS. vrsrt 'The Wr‘ dmr/i

The first major event ofthe year was the Major General’s Inspection which went very smoothly except for the Squadron Leader’s young charger, who was rather too keen on the band and executed some perfect pirouettes in time to the music.

The second part of the inspection took on a slightly different slant which pandered to the Major General’s love of all

things equestrian and involved displays of skill at arms and show jumping. This prepared us well for the State Visit ofthe Emperor ofJapan and the huge and hostile crowds on the mall. This again went well from a Squadron point of view with l and 2 divisions doing a good job. The Adjutant, Captain GW Howson, showed off his equestrian skills as an extra car— riage officer by managing to travel the full length of The Mall sideways and in

canter.

highlight with the usual litany of events; Beating Retreat rolled into the Queen’s Birthday Parade which rolled into the Garter Service. Finally the cer» emonial season was complete and we were able to send both horses and men away on a short break before winding ourselves up again in preparation for Summer Camp. The Squadron made full use of WOZ Waygood at Windsor by sending horses and men to him for some extra jumping tuition prior to camp.

The ceremonial season continued to march on apace after this interesting

It was not all work during the ceremonial season. The squadron participated in

Tpr Blakeway arid others returning from Buckingham Palace

~ ‘5‘»,

Summer Camp.

November November was the busiest month for a number of years; in addition to the Remembrance Service at the Cenotaph and the Lord Mayor’s Show, the Regiment had to provide an Escort for the State Opening of Parliament in London

and for the State Visit of the President of Germany in Windsor - both within a week I The Blues and Royals Division

for the Cenotaph were luckier with the weather on the day than on the rehearsal when they had to stand for two hours in the pouring rain. Captain C W G Rodway was rewarded for his indefatigable

Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment

Capt RJC GD Phelps and LCp/ Iddon LG lead 3 Tp to the beach.

all the major military equestrian events

and performed admirably.

The first

showjumping competition was held at Windsor and the Squadron Team was second to the DAC Team, this was fol— lowed by the Aldershot show where the Squadron team was narrowly beaten by the Riding Staff “A” Team and culminated at Royal Windsor Horse Show. Here the team came sixth out of thirty, thanks mainly to a superb second round by W02 (SCM) Lanahan. The other members of the team were Major JDA Gaselee and Tpr Darlington. All members of the squadron have had the chance to compete in these events and have done very well, especially Tpr Coupe who won the Novice competition at Alder-

shot.

All this training paid off and the Squadron had a very successful camp.

We took part in all the normal activities with 2 Troop under Captain A Lawrence winning Troop tests, ably assisted by

Tpr Weyrnan’s extraordinary knowledge of NBC and CoH Gray winning the Senior Ranks Show Jumping.

The troops all went to the beach at Holkam, though as usual this caused a certain amount of chaos. Sedgemore, a well built horse, managed to drop Tpr Jordan and disappear back to the horsebox 2 miles away, destroying a thick wooden gatepost en route. Damage to the horse was negligible. The troops all had their own days out and either went to a water— sports centre or go-karting.

CoH Parkinson here showed immense courage in maintaining a tight grip on the throttle of his Jet-Bike as it ploughed through a wall of reeds and onto the bank of the lake. The only other memorable moment at Camp was watching the Sqn Ldr being deposited by Traherne at the last fence of the jumpoff in the Senior Ranks Show Jumping, (He would have won - honest). The unluckiest man was Tpr Stafford 67 who produced a great clear round in the Show—Jumping jump off on Open Day, but unfortunately started before the bell and was disqualified.

The new and improved Winter Ceremonial season began in earnest in November with Captain R J C D Phelps commanding the division on the Lord Mayor’s Show.

This was followed

quickly by the State Opening of Parliment and the State Visit ofthe President of Germany. This last escort was in Windsor and caused much debate as to how it should be performed, the last Windsor Escort being in 1991. The Sqn found the Field Officer, Standard Parties and 3 and 4 Divisions for both occasions. The Sqn finished the year with a very good party, which was organised by CoH Gray

The Blues and Royals Mounted Squadron

\

Tpr Johnston LG prepares for Queen‘s Life Guard assrsted by Tpr Jordan LG.

ous people away on trips and visits. The annual excursion to Spruce Meadows took place, along with trips to Holland and France, sailing in the Mediterannean and attachments to the Foot Guards. LCpl Tiffoney and Tpr Parry went to lSG in Northern Ireland for 6 months and were deployed on the front line at Drumcree. LCoH Canning, Tpr Adamson in March and LCpl Flood, Tpr Grime, Tpr Howland in October accompanied Welsh Guard Companies to Belize and are now all experts in jungle warfare. It is hoped to continue these attachments by sending groups to Seattle, USA with both the Grenadier and Welsh Guards in the New Year.

The Sqn says farewell to Captain C E O Allerton, Captain A Lawrence to JDSC and SCpl Coleman to HCTW and wel— comes Lieutenant C Trietline from HCR and SCpl Coles from HCTW.

November 1997 saw the change of command of the Squadron from Major] A Lydiard Wilson to Major T P R Daniel. The remounts were selected: the blacks being named Watton (to mark The Regiment’s association with that CCF), Yalu, Yeastvite (after the horse killed in the bombing), Yeovil, Yesterday, Yodel, Yukon, Yokohama, Yalta and Yeats; the greys were named Yuletide and Yugoslavia. After the State Visit of The President of Brazil the majority of horses were put out to win— ter grass and the usual round of Christmas festivities began before the Squadron departed for Christmas leave in December.

In January ATDs started and the Squadron drew rifles and bergans for trips to Pirbright ranges and out into Windsor Great Park. Bl Courses start— ed for Troopers Reeves, Hunt, Holt, Sherlock, Cromie, Lutherburrow, Newton and Cooper and ran through to February.

In March the inevitable round of uni~ form and horse inspections began prior to the ceremonial season. One Troop won the Squadron Leader’s Horse Inspections.

In April Troopers Brown 45, Abbott and Walker returned from their AMEC course after Easter Leave with the latter sporting a broken arm. On Valentine’s

day the Squadron enjoyed an excellent party in the gymnasium organised by CoH Brockhurst and a dedicated entertainment committee. The Commanding Officer’s uniform inspections were finally completed before drills began.

The month was rounded off with a very successful Major General’s Inspection.

One of the highlights of May was the Squadron’s successful performance in the Princess Elizabeth Cup at The Royal Windsor Horse Show. The competition was won by Trooper Ward, who had only rejoined the Army a couple of months earlier, followed by Troopers Gibbons (second), Lewis (third) and Walsh (sixth). On 9 May the Squadron laid on an excellent dinner, organised by W02 (SCM) Maxwell for The Blues and Royals Association. Unusually it was held in The Warrant Officers’ and NCOs’ Mess after a performance by the Musical Ride in Hyde Park.

In between preparations for the modified Queen’s Birthday Parade the main event was the State Visit of The Emperor ofJapan. Amidst considerable media attention focused on the likely protests

by Burma Star veterans the Squadron played a central role in the Escort with Major T P R Daniel as Field Officer and W02 (SCM) Maxwell carrying the Standard.

Protests were made and although relatively peaceful they, com— bined with the pre thunderstorm elec—

a.

Major TPR Danre/ drSp/ayrng a poor lower leg posrt/on writ/st p/cK/ng up ltt‘ter on Trafalgar at the Rund/e Cup

tricity of the weather, unsettled a number of horses requiring SCpl Harris 27 to achieve rapid, if only temporary, field promotion.

In June the inclusion of The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery on the Queen’s Birthday Parade for the first time led to the unique situation of the Standard of The Sovereign’s Escort being carried by a Blue and Royal, W02 (SCM) Maxwell, and commanded by a Life Guard Commanding Officer. The performance of the trumpeter, LCpl Harrison, with only one year’s experi—

Capt Podway leads hrs drvrsron on the Birthday Parade

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The Squadron has been remarkably lucky and has managed to send numer-

Tpr Crawford, LCp/ Cooper and Tpr Adamson prepare for the Jnr Ranks Handy Hunter.

The Squadron Leader leadtng from the front.

Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment 34

Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment

35

of Music will include this long forgotten tune in some incidental music during the Queen’s Birthday Parade and he would find Inky settling down for a snooze beneath him in the middle of Horse Guards.

Tpr ‘Chln’ Ward HHG/D gets his first box

ence who not only had to be heard by the King’s Troop over the sound oftheir guns’ wheels but also perform a tricky weaving manoeuvre between a trotting Standard Party and Escort Commander, was of particular note. After the Garter Service the Regiment held a casting parade and The Squadron said goodbye to Miranda, Olympia, Kingfisher and Marengo to well deserved retirement after

After the first summer leave period horses returned from grass and the build up for Summer Camp began. Captain H F Whitbread and CsoH Moore and Bar— rett took ten horses and new troopers up to the Defence Animal Centre as part of the process to take advantage of the excellent facilities available there.

Troopers Sanders, Millington, Parker and Hunt also departed to The Mediter» ranean with the Adjutant for a weeks sailing on Gladeye. On 20 July the Reg— iment commemorated the 16th anniversary of the Hyde Park bombing outrage with a small but moving service at the memorial. We were delighted that Mrs Young and one of LCpl Young’s daugh— ters were able to attend for the first time in a number of years.

result Colonel Olivier has forever lived in

At Summer Camp, during excellent weather on almost every day except Open Day, the Squadron took full advantage of its break from London.

The Squadron Junior Ranks Show Jumping was won by Trooper Luther— burrow on Ramillies. In Regimental competitions the Squadron had consid— erable success with Trooper Scott winning the Junior Ranks Show Jumping on Vengeful, Captain M P GoodwinHudson and CoH Overton winning the Senior Ranks’ Handy Hunter and Trooper Cromie on Sefton sharing the Junior Ranks’ with LCpl Jacobs LG. On Open Day Captain H F Whitbread won the Show Jumping, LCoH Griffiths the 6 Bar and LCpl Ireland 48 the Individu—

fear that a Household Division Director

al Tent Pegging and Sword, Lance and

many years of dedicated service to the Household Cavalry. It was with great sadness that the Squadron also had to say good bye to Inky who had been the Regimental Adiutant’s charger for many years. For a number of years Inky had been a lie down horse on the Musical Ride and Colonel Olivier had been told by :1 Riding Master that she was so well trained she automatically lay down when a certain piece of music was played. As a

Luthcrburrow moved up to the Defence Animal Centre to start their six month Advanced Mounted Equitation Course.

In October the horses returned from

grass and the hard slog to get them ready for the winter ceremonial season began. As drills began so did the horse inspections with 3 Troop winning the

Squadron Leader’s and l Troop the Commanding Officer’s . On Remembrance Sunday in November the contingent was commanded by Captain C W G Rodway assisted by CoH Barrett and

later in the month the Squadron played a

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Cap! MP Goodwtn-Hudson RHG/D relaxes at Summer Camp

its part in the State Opening of Parliament before packing up to move to Windsor the next day.

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Revolver.

SCpl Harris 27 and his department organised an excellent Squadron BBQ where troops put on an excellent show of skits and we also enjoyed trips bowling, Go-Carting and paint balling. The officers treated the senior ranks to dinner which was only marred by the discovery that the tyres of the minibus had been let down whilst dinner was going on. A rumour that it was WOZ (SCM) Lanahan LG has never been substantiated.

In addition the newly married Colonel — The Blues and Royals visited the Squadron on Open Day with Lady Fitzpatrick for the last time in his official capacity although we look forward to seeing him return infor— mally in the years to come.

The December State Visit of the President of Germany proved an interesting change of scenery although extremely hard work with all showing consider— able flexibility. On return to Knights— bridge horses were roughed off and B1 courses continued amid the usual round of parties including squadron drinks and troop nights out.

The Squadron has said goodbye to a number of individuals during the last

Hudson, CsoH Gibbons and Brockhurst t0 HCR, Captains L E A Chauveau and J E A logs—Chambers and CoH Kemp to civilian life, SCpl Harris 27 t0 HQ SCM and CoH Panter to the D&M School.

We have, however, welcomed Captain R R Philipson»Stow, Lieutenants L E Brennan and M C Antelme, SCpl Hast— ings and CsoH Overton and Barrett from HCR as well as CoH Polley from

year including Captain M P Goodwin-

Families CoH.

Finally the close of 1998 finds The Blues and Royals Mounted Squadron in a far healthier state of affairs than this time last year mainly due to the efforts of Captain D Pickard LG and his Recruiting Team. The flow of recruits has start— ed to resolve the issue of under manning and once all senior troopers have moved on to HCR we can look forward to build— ing up to full strength.

ONE FAMILY, NOW ONE NAME. ‘ 1X} / Midland Bank \

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On return to Hyde Park Barracks Troop— ers Ward, Walsh, Gibbons and Horton departed to Spruce Meadows in Canada as their prize for their performance in The Princess Elizabeth Cup. As the sec— ond leave period got underway LCoH Griffiths and Tprs Bodycoat and

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Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment

36

Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment

37

Stoneleigh, the National Agriculture

Show Ground. Out of a total of twelve Countries the British Army Team came a respectable fifth. FLCoH Varley rejoined

the forge after a tour in Cyprus where he his year has proved to be just as busy as it has in previous years. The Squadron continues to provide manpower to the sabre squadrons to fill saddles

was attached to 259 Signal Regiment.

FLCoH Adams has replaced him until the end of the year when sadly the post closed. LSgt McGarrell has moved into civilian life and handed over his post of Veterinary Technician to Sgt Tidy who joins us on a second tour. Overall a busy time for the Forge but enjoyable, as the year closes the farriers are about to com~ pete in the Defence Animal Centre Military Farriery Competition.

for escorts whilst continuing to provide the administrative support not only for the ceremonial calendar but also for the day to day running of the Regiment.

This being said some members of the Squadron have managed to leave Knightsbridge and travel to Holland, Canada, Malaysia and Jordan. In addition, for the nautical members of the squadron a trip on Gladeye to the Mediterranean made all the hard work worthwhile.

As the Army continues to change in size and structure, so the turnover for the squadrons increases.

Soldiers are required to have all armoured trades and keep their skills up to a standard equal to those serving with the Armoured Regiment. The glue as always for the Mounted Regiment is the expertise of those on long term postings to London.

The Farriers, Saddlers, Tailors and Rid—

ing Staff form the main strength in the divisions when the Regiment is per» forming its ceremonial duties through-

out the year.

Throughout the year, a number of changes have taken place within the command structure of the Squadron starting with the change of Squadron Leaders. Major N D Garrett LG has moved on to civilian life and has been

replaced by Major J T Lodge LG. We welcome back Captain M Whatley LG as Quartermaster and W02 Atkinson RHG/D as RQMC who replaced W02 Burns on his move into civilian life. As

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FCoH Newman RHG/D Instructing thlOp/an tnbesmen.

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this article is being written W02 (SCM) Haywood RHG/D has handed over to W02 Harris RHG/D and moved into the Household Cavalry Training Wing.

The year started with the Major General’s Inspection followed quickly by a State Visit. With the Birthday Parade rehearsals following on immediately afterwards, there was no let up with the pace.

Thoughts were now turning towards the first of the summer block leaves and summer camp. On return from summer leave the build up started for our annual camp at Bodney in Norfolk. The Quartermaster’s Department were kept busy organising stabling, ration contracts, and forage delivery.

Whilst the Farriers were kept busy preparing the horses for what was to be not only an enjoyable three weeks but also demanding. The Troop Tests this year organised by Captain M G Holden—

Craufurd LG were varied in their con— tent mixing equine skills with military.

Although a long day, the troop tests proved to be rewarding and enjoyable for all those that participated in them. The Squadron was a credible second only just missing the vital points in the tug-o-war competition. The chain of command race produced some hidden talent in the guise ofthe Doctor, who in true Alf Tupper tradition ran in a pair of cut down lightweight trousers and a pair of rather old leather shoes (one of which he lost half way around the course) and won the event. This now has the Squadron Lead— er in a dilemma as to whether a pair of Nike Air Max will do for the marathon or his working shoes.

This year has been a busy and successful time for the Farriers. With four more apprentices swelling its ranks, FLCpls McGregor, Carrel, Lawson and Conroy

COH Dtxon RHG/D, The San Ldr and SCp/ Hunter RHG/D.

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all qualified and are now working within the forge. There were some good results in the County, National and Internation— al Competitions.

Only three Silver Medals were given out by the Worshipful Company of Farriers, two of which were presented, to FLCpl Carrel and FCpl Casey.

In February, FCoH Cox—Rus— bridge, FLCoH Middleton, and FLCpls Lawson, Conroy and Carrel competed in the National Shoeing Competition at Warwickshire College. This competition resulted in the Masters gaining 2nd place in shoemaking and the Apprentices achieving a lst place in front of England.

FLCpl Conroy excelled himself by becoming the Best National Apprentice; an Army Farrier has never before achieved this.

In March, this year, FCoH Newman packed his bag, suntan lotion, associated equipment, and headed towards Ethiopia with the International League for the Protection of Horses (ILPH). The trip for a week was to assess the standard of farriery and the possibility of a month long course to be held in country to improve the understanding of both equine and the art of farriery. If possible, the course will be held mid 1999 with FCoH Newman being at the front of the queue for volunteers.

During August, at summer camp, FLCoH Macdonald won the Casey Cup for the most improved farrier in the department. All the farriers attended an

informal visit to the nearby ILPH HQ in Snetterton. This visit enabled the study of ill- treated equines on rehabilitation programs.

During the same period, FCsoH Newman and Cox-Rusbridge along with FLCoH Carrel competed in the International Shoeing Competition at

The Master Saddler exercising his athlet— ic prowess won the spring and autumn London District Golf Competition and caught the selectors eye to represent the District in the Inter District Championship. Not content with his trophies he went on to win the Regimental Competi— tion whilst at Summer Camp. Following in his footsteps LCpl Woods represented the Regiment in the Army Fencing Championships, obtaining seventh in the Foil and tenth in the Epee’. Moving on in the competition with the skill of Zorro and the agility of Errol Flynn, he compet— ed in the Sabre reaching the last 16. Not to be out done he also caught the selectors eye and represented the Army in the Combined Services Competition where he achieved a very good result. CoH Goodwin and LCoH Scovell not content with matters on land have turned their attention to the sea and joined the Regimental Sub Aqua Club. They have so far tested the murky water of Bovisands with a view to seek clearer waters in lands for— eign. The football pitch has not been left untouched as CoH Twyman continues to represent the Regiment.

The saddlers have continued to support the Regiment not only within Barracks but also on a number oftrips. These have ranged from numerous shows around the country involving the musical ride to Spruce Meadows Canada.

Throughout the year behind the scenes, the logistical machine has gone on. A major change with the feeding ofsoldiers and cleaning of the barracks took place on April lst with the arrival ofthe Multi Activity Contract. As with all changes of this sort, there were the initial teething problems. Now some nine months into the contract and we are on an upwards trend. This now means that the Quartermaster can turn his thoughts to other issues.

W02 Waygood LG, LCp/ lddon LG and LCoH W/l/Iams RHG/D.

Although locked away in the bowels of the barracks the department have on occasions surfaced to participate in parades and sporting events.

LCoH Walker more used to saying “No or You want it when” has discovered a hidden talent in cross country running and has successfully competed for the Regiment and the District. With all but three of the department regularly riding in the divisions, the year has proved a very busy one. It was with great pleasure that we learnt that CoH Hadden had been awarded the MBE for his services over the past 22 years. He is to continue in his present position as Forage CoH serving on the Long Service List.

At the top ofthe barracks overlooking us all the Regimental Tailors have continued to support the regiment. This year has seen CoH Slingsby visit Jordan and then after 14 years move to Windsor.

LCpl Stevens has left to attend the Reg» ular Commissions Board (RCB) and if successful be allocated a place at Sand» hurst at the beginning of next year. LCpl Peet returns after an attachment with the Armoured Regiment and has successfully achieved an ‘A’ grade on his upgrading

course.

The year finished with the State Opening of Parliament and a State Visit in Windsor thus closing a busy period for the squadron. We now look forward to next year, which will no doubt prove to be just as busy if not more with the millennium just over the horizon.

Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment 38

Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment

39

ninc teams. Sgt McKee and CoH Stewart compiled the ques-

The WOs’ and NCOS’ Mess

tions and hosted the quiz with great expertise, and the prizes were well earned !

After a very busy ceremonial season WOII (SCM) Lanahan and SCpl (SQMC) Coleman organised a stupendous Summer Ball Which took the Mess out to Battersea Park, the theme being Caribbean and the weather complimented the evening. The planning and the organisation did the two organisers proud and at 2:30 am the Mess returned to Knightsbridge for a Champagne

he perpetual motion that is the Warrant Officers and NCO’s Mess stuttered briefly, to wish everyone a Happy New Year, before continuing the busi— ness of entertaining, dining - out and welcoming all manner of visitors, old and new. On 17th January the New Years Dinner, “State of the Nation” address, reviewed and previewed the events in the regimental calendar and was the Mess’s first formal event, as opposed to the informality of the Single Living in Members (SLIM’s) lunch on

Breakfast.

attended with over 30

the 29th.

The Mess’s first visit night out was by a group ofboxing enthusiasts led by RCM Manning, who attended a charity evening at the Duke of York’s in Chelsea. Boxing was not the only activ— ity that required a “weigh in” during the month. On 24th the long awaited “Fat Boys” lunch took place. SCpl Hunter and Vic, our kitchen “Meister”, chose a menu with enough calories and choles— terol to immobilise a small village. The lunch was originally planned for the “Les Miserables” participating in the

sponsored diet which had been running for the previous 6 weeks, but attendance snowballed when many members saw the prospect of a good afternoons enter— tainment.

On Saturday 21 March, the organisational ability and know how of the Entertainments Committee, led by SCpl Harris, reached a peak. The Fathers and Sons night saw 90 “Couples” enjoying one of the most successful evenings ever held at Hyde Park Barracks.

The

some marvellous prizes and of course the much sought after money tree. On the 17th the Mess “Hung the Brick” and as expected, it was one of , the most successful and overindulgent days of the year. The ; occasion was very well ’

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The Major General en/oyrng a QUlel moment ln the Mess

evening began with a group photograph, a mammoth task in itself, and was followed by a superb marching dis— play by The Band of the Blues and Roy» als. A fine 8 course meal was washed down with copious amounts of wines and port. With our appetites satisfied, we were further entertained by Colonel P S W F Falkner LG, Commander Household Cavalry whose after dinner speech would rival that of any profes— sional orator.

In April The Life Guard Squadron took over as Entertainment’s Committee. A trip to Wimbledon Greyhound Track was the first function on the 15th and included an excellent four course meal and was followed by a feast of rac— ing and lost money!!! CoH Miller is to be congratulated for the work he put into organising the evening. April also

saw a “Bavarian” evening, with traditional menu and Bavarian Steins aplenty! The music and entertainment were provided by a superb OOMPAH Band.

The dancing carried on to the early hours.

With the busiest weekend of the year upon us, Saturday 9 May saw a very well attended RHG/D Association Dinner, expertly put together by WOII (SCM) Maxwell and the Mess Manager, CoH Halfhide. Cavalry Sunday followed on the 10th and with a warm sunny day was very well attended by many past and present cavalrymen and their fami— lies. Thanks go to SCpl (SQMC) Coles and CoH Heaton for running the bars so smoothly. A WO’s lunch was held on Tuesday 12th to say farewell to RAOWO O’Daly. The Quiz Night on the 13th saw a fiercely fought battle between Eyes left and nght , New Year D/nner 98.

ROM and PMC checkrng the seating plan . New Year D/nner 98

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The Mess met Summer Camp with a full forecast of events arranged by WOII Pringle the President ofthe Mess Committee and SCpl Coleman President of the Entertainment’s Committee for the duration of camp. Once again the Quiz Night was an excellent brain teaser run by Sgt McKee (REME). The fun games afternoon, with a team from each Squadron and one from the Officers Mess gave full participation. The honours this year went to HQ Squadron. A Greek night organised by SSgt Baxter for the WOs and SNCOs was a resounding success doing much for the china industry. After the annual Officer’s Mess lunch, the Officers threw down the gauntlet for a game of softball only to regret almost immediately their challenge. Our apologies go out to Captain J B Poole. The mess also lunched out the old Adjutant, Capt G W Howson LG. At the beginning of September, The Mess dined out WOI (RCM) R P Manning after his term in the Chair. WOII (RQMC) Atkinson, SCPL (SQMC) Harris and the RHG/D Squadron Entertainments Committee organised an excellent dinner held in the gymnasium followed by drinks and a disco in the Mess. The Mess welcomes the new Regimental Corporal Major W01 V P Maher and hopes he enjoys his term in the

. ,

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guests, including Colonel P S W F Falkner LG who very kindly agreed to Hang the Brick. Thanks go to W02 (SCM) Lana- 'B han for organising a very auspicious occa— ‘

J

sion. Finally, we sang i “Auld Lang Sang”, wished each other Commander Household Cavalry many happy returns for toasting the BHCK the season and climbed back on the roller coaster to start what we know will be anoth~ er successful year in the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment WOs and NCOs Mess.

Chair.

To record the coming and going of our many and varied guests, a book was commissioned by W01 (RCM) V P Maher RHG/D. It wasn’t long into the month of October when its first signato— ry “booked—in”. This was the Rt Hon Betty Boothroyd MP, the Speaker ofthe House of Commons. She was delighted to be presented with a Sefton print on behalf of the mess by the RCM. WOII (SCM) Hayward, who is commissioned as Officer Commanding HCTW, began phase one of a three phase dining—out operation. This started on 30th October when he was dined out by the entire mess and was followed by a WOs and SCpls lunch on 6th November. The mission was completed on the 11th by Headquarters Squadron and once again we would like to take the opportunity to congratulate him on his completion of 22 years service and on his new career as a commissioned officer.

Remembrance Sunday was on 8th November and the Mess hosted the Combined Cavalry Old Comrades Association to a buffet and drinks after laying wreaths at both the Cavalry Memorial and the Hyde Park Bombing Memorial.

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SCpl Coles LG organised and stage managed his Sqn lunch on 10th November which The Blues and Royals Sqn mirrored on the 18th, this time steered by CoH Overton. The later was to say “au revoir” to four members ofthe Sqn.

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www.horseshoes.co.uk December is always a busy time for the Mess. On the Sth the Wives Club Dinner was staffed by the husbands who waited on hand and foot. The Christmas Draw was a roaring success with

40

Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment

Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment

41

The Musical Ride

By Captain j E A Ings—Chambers RHG/D he Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment Musical Ride was formed early this year in order to encompass the early shows. Fears of a last minute call up to perform at the Royal Windsor Horse Show had forced the Ride to accept the proposal of possibly the smallest show that the Ride has performed at — the Leahurst Pig Show and Country Fair. There were many good reasons for accepting this show. Firstly it gave the very new and young Ride a chance to perform in public prior to the expected call up by Windsor. Secondly

due to the Ride and the effects of an extremely rigorous PR campaign. The Ride normally gauges its success on a “clapometer” but this was hard quanti— tative data.

The Mustea/ Ride

Corporal

of Horse,

CoH

Goodwin

RHG/D of Saddlers Shop fame, the per— formance was a great success. With a fantastic setting ofthe castle lawn, a fine warm May evening and a near faultless performance the guests could hardly fail to enjoy it. The comment of the season though came when the US commander

This small show, that has been running a few years, proved to be no problem to the rapidly seasoning Ride. A half hour hack to the Showground and the same back made sure that the men were busy for most of the day tacking and untack— ing their horses and changing there own dress almost constantly too.

thanked the Ride Officer, Captain J E A

perform in front of the Commanders of all the NATO forces who were at Bovington on a visit. Despite quite a few behind the scenes logistical nightmares, all ably circumnavigated by the Ride

The last show before the ceremonial sea— son kicked off was another 1 day gig at the Heathfield Show in East Sussex.

Horse Show never actually materialised so the next stop was Lulworth Castle to

From Woburn Abbey the Ride bounced straight to the Cheshire Show where we had our only Royal performance of the season. A fairly unrealistic programme for His Royal Highness Prince Charles, Prince of Wales meant that the Musical Ride had to remain in the arena for over an hour waiting for His Royal Highness

Soon after our return from Lambeth the Ride was packing up for the 13 day trip to Europe to perform at a children’s theme park in southern Holland. Each soldiers administration was fully on the ball for the move out, mostly thanks to CoH Goodwin and the travel arrangements were also fairly faultless. The Ride was due to perform twice a day for 10 days as the summer attraction for the Park. Once again some excellent PR had been carried out and the Ride was watched by almost capacity crowds on each performance. Some members of the audience had come to the Park with no children, from all over Holland just to see the Ride. To the soldiers’ cred— it they behaved impeccably throughout the visit always ensuring that the public were being entertained even if they were just having a look around the yard.

small insight into the hectic and tiring life of a member of the Royal family and reminded those members of the Ride who had forgotten what life in Knightsbridge was like.

Ings—Chambers RHG/D. He said, “We might have the biggest army in the Free World but there is no way that we could do something like that for the Presi« dent!”. Praise indeed!

The call-up for the Royal Windsor

Regiment with its efforts to increase its profile within the ethnic minorities, it also led to a group of mounted soldiers in different uniforms carrying out their own small parade down the Lambeth High Street under Captain A Lawrence LG later in the year.

to take the final salute. This provided a

it allowed the ride to assess its effectiveness as a performance. This show has been running for 5 years now and is a big event in the Wirral. In even its first year it pulled crowds of almost 8, 000 people. This had grown to 12, 000 last year and through a great deal of sponsorship the ride had been booked.

Despite a bitterly cold day and even snow throughout the second perfor— mance the gate figures were up to just shy of 18, 000. This was without doubt

this Show and I do not believe that it will be the last. The wonderful venues that are chosen by the Fair and the fact that this is a two day show and the response from the crowds should all conspire to make this one of the Rides most successful Shows.

After the Garter Service the Ride headed off to Woburn Abbey where we were to perform at the Lilliput Lane Collec— tors Fair. Lilliput Lane is a make of miniature porcelain cottages and the Collectors Fair is a two day show at which enthusiasts in this field come to buy, paint, repair, swap and investigate future issues. This was not the first time that the Ride has made an appearance at

The Ride was allowed a spot of well earned leave which was cut short in order to appear at the Army Training Regiment Pirbright. Although bad weather prevented the Ride performing for the Officers’ Mess Ball it did not stop the Open Day performance, the bad weather eventually caused the day itself to be can— celled. This show was followed by a trip to South London to the unlikely named Lambeth Country Show.

We were extremely well received here and have been asked to return already. This Show proved to be particularly relevantfor the s?

«

There was, however, one incident worth mentioning where 3 of the soldiers caught a lift with one of the workers in the Park.

Unfortunately the driver crashed the car and the two Dutch occu— pants were badly hurt. One of our soldiers, also, received a nasty wound but fortunately LCpl Goodwin RHG/D, no

relation to the CoH, was in the car and took control of the situation. All reports have confirmed that LCpl Goodwin’s reaction to the crisis could not have been carried out better by an instructor who

had set up the situation. Calmly and efficiently he checked all the casualties and then issued instructions to some Dutch passers-by to give reassurance to the Dutch casualties whilst he dealt with the wounds until assistance arrived. His con— duct during this incident was of no surprise as LCpl Goodwin was certainly one of the stars of the Ride.

Having split for Summer Camp the Ride reformed for the Open Day performance and then remained in Norfolk to move straight to the Eye Show in Suffolk. Suc— cess at this show was followed a week later by an amazing reception at the Dorchester Show.

The performances given had the crowds whooping and cheering throughout, which gave the members of the Ride a really fluffy, warm feeling!

The brief for the Newbury Show two week-ends later was easy, “just make it as good as Dorchester, ”. In the end for our last two days of performances, the Ride did more than was asked of them and produced their best performances of the year, a fantastic note to finish the year on.

Despite the last complete performance of the Musical Ride having been carried

-

Dorchester

The Whee/

Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment

43

out there were still a few smaller commit» ments such as the Horse of the Year Show at Wembley Arena, an escort at Newmar» ket Racecourse and our mounted musi» cians at a gig at Hampton Court.

Overall the year has been a great success.

The programme left by the previous Musical Ride Officer had fallen through completely, through no fault of his but just through a change of plans and emphasis by the Shows. I feel it is an indicative fact that this Ride performed one of the busiest years and all from a position of zero. I count myselflucky to have commanded this cherished Regimental jewel and to have had so much fun in the process, Troop Leading is indeed the most fun job available to a cavalry officer and now in my twilight months of my commission I feel incredibly grateful to have been allowed another glimpse of that job. It goes, almost without saying, that

LCpI Ansell RHG/D taking rfngs a! the Rund/e Cup.

The Nfusl-cat' Plde red 01/ Capt JEA lngsChambers RHG/D in Holland,

3 lot depends on the general performance of those men under your command and to that end I can safely say that I was privileged to have such a wonderfully diverse, fun and above all professional group of soldiers to have spent my last year with. Certainly a year I will never forget - the end of year party was fairly unforgettable too!

Leavmg the Arena - Ho/land,

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Jam/e Osbourne trying to persuade LG Sqn Ldr to give him a horse for the 2.30 at Haydockv

Musical Ride Performances 1999 Great Yorkshire Show, Catterick 16 — 31 July Royal Tournament

MARCH 17 » 22 March Brabant, Holland

MAY

NOVEMBER 04 - 08 November International Jumping of Brussels, Belgium

AUGUST 21 August Thetford Town Show, Norfolk

12 - 17 May Royal Windsor Horse Show

22 August Weyland Show, Norfolk

JUNE 25 - 30 June Royal Highland Show

DECEMBER 01 — 06 December International Jumping of Amsterdam, Holland 14 - 21 December

SEPTEMBER JULY 05 - 08 July AES Catterick 12 — 16 July

Olympia, London

05 September Open Day, Summer Camp

Dutch Courage DS/OIE‘ [he Handy Hunter

Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment 44

Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment

45

The Command/mg Omcer Mounled Reg/went /eads the Household Cal/ally pas[ Her Ma/esly The Queen ah [he QBP.

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Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment

Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment

The Band of The Blues and Royals Well another busy year in the Band of The Blues and Royals has come and gone, so here’s a brief outline of our

yearly calendar for 1998. It all started in January, ( as it usually does I )when we came back from our Christmas leave during which we all had over indulged in the seasons festivities.

At the end of 1997 we said farewell to our Director of Music, Major CRC Garrity who retired after serving some 37 years in the army, the last five which he served with us. The band thank him for his time with us and wish him and his wife Rosemary well in their retirement.

Out with the old and in with the new they say, so in January we welcomed our new Director of music Capt Bob Owen into the “hot seat” and within a few short weeks he was welcomed back into the saddle with our usual round of khaki rides. This was shortly followed by our annual dismounted inspections of which the CO congratulated the band on our particularly high standard of turn out throughout the band - boxmen, one and all I

FLCoH Middleton proving that the Farmers do work at Camp

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2 To horse lines behind the Windmill" prior to some refreshments.

In February we said farewell to our BCM W02 Martin Haywood, who retired after 22 years of service with the band, we also wish him and his wife Pauline a long and happy retirement.

We then welcomed our new BCM, W02 Hugh Billington “into the chair”. One of his first duties was to take the band on a series of Windsor Castle Guards with the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, who must have broken all the records for the longest guard change ever! It was truly, The Longest Day! March came around which saw us perform at the Grand Military Cup at Sandown Park racecourse where more than a few of us lost a few pounds thanks to some rather dodgy ‘hot tips’ from the Bandmasterl Later in the month, two trumpeters went to Egypt for a very arduous week ( or so they said I )With the Jaguar car company, while the rest of us made the trek up to Whitley Bay to per— form a concert there for the first time, where we were very warmly received.

IL Tp/ Perry LG and Venture both enjoy the sea at Ho/kham

Household Cavalry Mounted Reglment .

Tpr Coupe LG on Our Che sler making It /oo/< ea 1y

The orchestra also made the news headlines when they literally brought the house down whilst playing at an investiture in Buckingham Palace when part of the ceiling crashed to the ground, fortunately no one was seriously hurt.

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The Band Moo/7mg The Longest Day' , W/no’sor Cast/e.

Before we knew it the ‘The Silly Season’ was upon us once more, with the usual Major General’s, Beating Retreat and Trooping the Colour ceremonies. This years Trooping being slightly different, as for the first time the Kings Troop, Royal Artillery took part . Due to this we had the dubious pleasure of a few extra early morning rehearsals to work out how and where they were going to fit into the parade.

Once the silly season was over we grasped the opportunity to get stuck into some full band rehearsals before going offon summerleave. After leave we went up to summer camp for the day where once again the weather was less than kind to us, but as they say the band played on through the wind and rain.

Next on the agenda was the Shrewsbury Flower Show, a great experience for the band to get out and play to large appreciative audiences. The most unusual performance must have been the 1812 overture played in more or less complete darkness when the lighting failed.

In September we went off for a very suc— cessful week on the bandstand at East~ bourne, where we played to capacity audiences for just about all the perfor— mances. During the week Musn Bishop had his stag night which caused much amusement among the locals.

Also whilst at Eastbourne, the members of the band presented our Bandmaster

WOl Brigden, with membership to the world famous International Military Music Society, of which he is very proud.

Straight after Eastbourne the whole band should have flown straight off to Spruce Meadows in Canada for a few days, but thanks to a strike by Air Canada it was only possible to send four trum— peters. It seems quite a strange coinci— dence that at this point the BCM decided that he was a state trumpeter and ended up being one of the four to go.

Next on the agenda was Newbury Show where we accompanied the Musical Ride and performed ‘The Beating Retreat’ ceremony at the close of each day. Congratulations at this point to the Director of Music on his promotion to Major at the end of September, which we cele» brated courtesy of his tab behind the bar at the Ennismore Arms. In October we welcomed our first female musician to the band in the shape of Musn Nicholls who is presently on her equitation course, on which we Wish her well and look forward to seeing her back in the band next year.

Towards the end of October and into November saw the Trumpet Major getting his trumpet teams into shape ready for their usual round of banquets includ— ing the lighting up ceremony at The Mansion House as well as performing in front of the Queen at the opening of the Albert Memorial in Kensington Gardens.

Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment

49

Household Cavalry Training Wing

By Captain MG Holden-Craufurd his has been a pleasingly busy year for the Training Wing. Even with the Phase 2 training being only 13 weeks, the number of trainees entering Riding School from ATR Pirbright has demanded an extra Ride Non-Commis» sioned Officer, with four rides regularly in training at any time. This in turn has helped both sabre Squadrons, which both now average 10 more Troopers than this time last year.

TheB/uesand Roya/s Orchestra at The Gill/dha/l 7998.

Major Owen ~ rects the Band at the VlSlf of the Gato'e Republica/h

At the end of October Ll'CoH Gough played Cavalry Last Post and Reveille at the wreath laying ceremony for the Falklands war in front of President Menem ofArgentina at St. Pauls Cathedral. LCoH Gough played the calls impeccably, only to be told later, after numerous phone calls to the Band Oflice that they had actually wanted the Infantry Last Post and Reveille played on a Bugle and that no one had recognized the Cavalry Last Post, some would say ignorance is bliss!

In November we moved to Windsor for five days to take part in the State Visit

there at the beginning of December.

The Lord Mayor of London’s Show, and a series of other engagements led us up to Christmas. We are now looking forward to a tour of duty at Sandhurst at

the start of 1999.

LCpl Kent, LCpl Thomas, LCpl Jones and CoH Purnell, who tied all the knot this year.

Congratulations also go to the newly promoted LCpl Kent, LCpl King, LCOH Marsh, LCoH Redman, SCpl Howe and W02 Kitching who was also appointed ABCM at the same time.

Congratulations go to Musn Witter, Musn Bishop, Musn Ravenscroft,

Early in the year, HCTW bade a sad farewell to WOII Godson LG, who had been invaluable in the setting up of the revised syllabus for Phase 2 training. He was replaced by WOII Pringle LG, who had a hard act to follow, but threw him— self with plenty of enthusiasm into his new job. His first project was to revise the driver training package, which has been very successful to date, with a high percentage of recruits passing their driv— ing test before the completion of the Khaki phase.

Another notable success has been the establishment of a National Vocational Qualification (level 2) Scheme in horse management.

This now provides trainees with real and recognised qualifications in reward for their training levels achieved whilst at HCTW. We are hoping to continue this into their

a, appsfitment .o H M Ou§n El zabet'i :1 Sada er and Lenny

careers at Knightsbridge, when the Modern Apprenticeship (level 3) will be available to those wishing further qualifications.

The annual Household Cavalry show jumping, held at HCTW was a great weekend out for the Household Cavalry, and the Life Guards in particular. LCpl Knaggs LG and Utopix had a particularly memorable time, sweeping the major— ity ofthe novice classes. WOII Waygood LG won the open class, over an excellent course, on Fly—By-Night.

SCpl Weller LG has been busy main— taining the training facilities and instructing, but found time to take a very beneficial days riding in the New Forest. This was enjoyed by all partici— pants, and served very well in giving equestrian confidence to the trainees.

Coach Troop has had a useful year, being placed in each of the country—wide shows that it has entered. We were lucky enough to get back another coach— ing day at Royal Ascot this year, and the Troop performed very well in their

duties.

CoH Mitchell RHG/D is now

spending many hours bringing on a newly arrived, and very promising young coach horse, for future years.

i The Training W/h'g‘ Team writhing the Inter-Troop Tug 0/ War

Since the last report The Household Cavalry Training Wing has welcomed a number of new faces. WOII Pringle LG Has taken over as SCM from WOII God— son LG, who has moved to RQMC(T) at HCR; SCpl Coleman LG has replaced SCpl Coles LG, who has gone to the Life Guard Squadron as SQMC; and CoH Stewart LG has swapped places with CoH Holden LG, who has taken up post in 3 Troop LG. At time of print, Capt CT Haywood RHG/D is taking over the reins from Capt MG Holden—Craufurd LG who departs to attend the Junior Command and Staff Course.

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By Captain H F Whitbread Last years season ended with the Cavalry Race which was again run on Migs Greenall’s land. This was a great success and Captain] H F Fuller LG, the Winter Training Troop Officer, walked away with the laurels. This was made even more memorable because his father who has subsequently died, was there to cheer him home.

This years troop formed in the first week of September, with a skeleton number of staff and horses. By the end of summer leave period this had grown to a full strength of 19 horses and 10 men.

Autumn hunting started in earnest with all the horses getting a chance to settle in amongst other excited horses. Equal— ly important was the opportunity for all members to enjoy a few days out, other ranks managed a staggering 97 days Autumn Hunting. Full use was made of the excellent facilities at DAC Melton Mowbray. The jumping lanes and crush with brush fences have proved useful and entertaining, not jttst for the horses and men but also for the rabbit fund.

For some the contribution would grow quicker when on Yasmin or Edward.

For the first time the HDiv WTT ran an Autumn Hunting Course for those interested in either taking up the sport or wishing to learn more about the art of hunting. Due to various commitments the course was shorter than planned and was blessed by the presence of three lofty Grenadiers. The course started with the opening meet of the Belvoir, as this proved well within their abilities the attendees subsequently had three challenging rides per day. The whole Winter Training Troop then had the opportunity to look round the immacu— late Quorn Kennels.

Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment

51

Tent Pegging Association Display Team in between matches at The Rundle Cup. The performance was creditable considering the participants’ blurred vision and the fact that Major TPR Daniel was almost killed by an over zealous Colonel in the Honourable Artillery Company.

At Imber Court Metropolitan Mounted Police Show the team began to achieve creditable results in the absence of the Kings Troop with Trooper Cooper coming third in the Tent Pegging with Major TPR Daniel second in Tent Pegging, Ring and Peg and Master at Arms. x

|

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By the end of the end of the Autumn Hunting, the troop had spent a lot of time in preparing the horses for the coming season. Owing to ceremonial commitments, the troop were asked for men and horses, however due to the con-

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Ma; ND Garret? LG and Lt Col HSJ Scott LG at the Michael Farr/n Testimonial Meet at the Quom

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The carnage at the first fence durlng the Household Cavalry Race

As this goes to print the troop are putting out 14 horses and riders for the Royal Wessex Yeomanry Cross Country Ride at Badminton and providing another 10 horses for hunting with the

Once again he has been crucial in the preparation of the horses and ensuring the horses are turned out immaculately.

His professionalism will hopefully con-

tinue for many more seasons.

Beaufort afterwards.

tinued dedication of SCpl Peers and Sgt Russell the troop still managed to con— tinue hunting.

All those who visit Melton will be fully

aware of Sgt Russell’s familiar face.

Equitation

By Major I Sanderson LG his year has been a great success for the Mounted Regiment with us walking away with all the honours at the major military competitions. The year started with Captain H F Whitbread RHG/D taking men hunting from London. This was mainly with the Sandhurst Drag but he did get the opportunity to go out with

W02 Waygood LG had a mixed year eventing. He was desperately unlucky at Windsor International 3 Day Event, Crackerjack was pulled up lame while in the lead and Fly by Night fell at the last on the Cross Country course while being well placed. However his season picked up with many wins on the One Day cir» cuit. Her Majesty the Queen’s horse Joust completed the British Championships at Gatcombe and WOZ Waygood LG finished 3rd on Fred at the Tweseldown 3 Day Event. At the Tweseldown One Day Event, LCpl Knaggs LG on Utopix won his section and LCpl Arkely LG was 4th in his. LCpl Arkely LG was second at Burnham Breeches on Ultra and Ultra has now been upgraded to Intermediate

Regiment this year. The initial spur was to provide additional activities for the Major General to watch after his inspection and led to Major] D A Gaselee LG taking hopefuls, weather permitting, down to his old haunt at Kensington Palace Fields to try to identify talent.

Once a pool of men with an eye and suit— able horses was established the squad, under an over enthusiastic Major T P R

Aldershot, narrowly beating the LG Sqn

level. SCpl Weller LG had a busy year

Team led by Major J D A Gaselee LG. W02 Haywood RHG/D, W02 Waygood LG and LCpl Arkely LG won the Queen’s Cup at the Royal Windsor Show with W02 Waygood LG riding an immaculate round in the jump off. The highlight of the year was CoH Jenkins RHG/D win-

with placings at Holdenby and Borough Court One Day Events. He was also selected for the Combined Services Team at the International Military Event, where

in early May. For a first run out mem~ bers ofthe squad did well to appear in all finals and collect a healthy handful of rosettes despite the need for last minute tuition by members of The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, who throughout the year have been generous with their advice despite being in direct competi— tion with us. At Royal Windsor Show in mid May the squad did less well against a large field although Captain H F Whit— bread RHG/D came a creditable sixth in the Individual Tent Pegging.

some local packs. He also took three sol— diers to the British Racing School for a weeks National Hunt Riding course.

Show Jumping has been the major success this year. The Riding Staff “A” Team of W02 Haywood RHG/D, SCpl Weller LG,

CoH Jenkins RHG/D and LCpl Arkely LG won the military team jumping at

ning the Queen’s Cup at the Royal Tournament, He and Ramilies produced a lovely clear round to bring the trophy

back to the Mounted Regiment. He then won the military open at Sandhurst.

the British Team finished 3rd.

The coach troop had a busy year support— ing the Regiment and were successful in numerous competitions.

Mounted Skill at Arms has gone through something of a revival in the

Capt HF Whltbread HHS/D competing on Nola at the Rundle Cup,

In July a squad of3 Officers, 5 LCpls and one Trooper departed for the Defence Animal Centre at Melton Mowbray for a five Day Cadre kindly organised by Captain R T Lyne RAVC and his staff of W02 Kohler RAVC, SSgt Evans RHA and CoH Bye RHG/D. For five glorious days they stabbed, lanced and shot at anything put before them including fire and streamer pegs. The week culminat~ ed in a day of competitions and they were extremely privileged to be lectured and judged by Major (Retired) Ron Hill (Late RCT).

On return to Knightsbridge and on the morning after the Officers’ Mess Ball, Major P R Daniel, Captain H F Whitbread and LCpl Ansell (all RHG/D) performed as part ofthe British

The honeymoon was over with the strong presence ofthe Kings Troop RHA at the Royal Tournament. Never the less the Regiment was represented in all the finals during performances with LCoH Weston LG achieving an outstanding second in the Individual Tent Pegging as did the HCMR “C” Team (consisting of LCpls Featherstone, Ireland 48 and Trooper Scott (all RHG/D)) in the Team event. Major T P R Daniel RHG/D and Captain M G Holden-Craufurd LG both got through to the Sword Lance and Revolver Finals.

At Summer Camp most troops managed a days Skill at Arms using the NCOs who had been on the DAC Cadre as assistant instructors under CoH Jenkins RHG/D. LCpl Ireland 48 RHG/D infuriated his Squadron Leader by walking offwith not one, but two Barbour jackets when he won both the Individual Tent Pegging and Sword, Lance and Revolver Competitions on Open Day.

COH Jenkins RHG/D ncl/ng Hamil/es to victory in the Queen‘s Cup at the Royal Tournament.

Finally, this article can not end without a mention of CoH Kemp RHG/D who retired from the Army prematurely with a back injury sustained whilst training horses at the Royal Military Police Mounted Display Troop with whom he served until its demise under Options for Change and his transfer to the Mounted Regiment. He was a great supporter of Mounted Skill at Arms and had passed on his knowledge to a large number of Household Cavalrymen. It is fitting that he should have been Master at Arms at The Aldershot Military Show in his lasL year ofcompetition and his expertise will be sorely missed

Daniel RHG/D, The Blues and Royals Squadron Leader, set about entering the various shows where this unique form of cavalry skill remains on the competition agenda.

The first event was The Aldershot Show

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Royal Cornwall Show 1998 COH Mitchell ‘Sp‘ringlng' the-team outiof the arenaaftgfi'coming 3rd. LCézH

McThun’e‘tand Tpr Royston as grooms. with the ‘Sh‘owAVSponsors on hoard. .. '~:

Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment

52

Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment

53

RHG/D and the 6 Bar by LCoH Griffiths, RHG/D. The fancy dress competition was excellent with a great deal of flair and imagination going into the various items. Trp Smythe LG braved the icy winds in his nappies with just a thumb (his thumb) in his mouth, in a pose reminiscent of Miss Maggie Simpson.

The adjutants polo pony was pressed into service as part of a King’s Troop, RHA number, reflecting the topical issue of their participation in state events. The winner was Tpr Stafford 67, of3 Tp LG as an Indian Brave on “John— ny” Utah, although whether or not real Indian Braves were foolish enough to wish to be in Utah remains an unan— swered question.

Summer Camp

By Captain Rj’CD Phelps - LG his year’s summer camp was held in August over three weeks at Bodney

Camp in Norfolk. As part of the Stan— ford Military Training Area it is accus— tomed to military activity of all types, not least the stirring sight of uniformed soldiers on cavalry blacks. The various elements of the advance party had done an excellent job in preparing the Camp for the Regiment’s arrival and the fencebuilding party did especially well under

the steady hand of S/Cpl Weller LG. The cross-country course was so well laid out

that lTp LG even managed to find the water jump on the first day.

Tpr Bysouln LG as/eep at the wheel.

W/tn Tp/S Pres! and Jacob

The balmy weather and country atmo— sphere did much to enable the Camp to get off to a good start with a relaxed atmosphere that made the usual duties a little more palatable. The first week was inevitably dominated by Troop Tests on the Sunday, for which the sunny weather held. What was inevitably a long day in the saddle went well with no horses suf— fering from the heat or work and some

imaginative stands were set up.

that by this time the weather had broken and it was an exceedingly wet occasion.

The Musical Ride, nonetheless, showed their all—weather capability, at least hel» mets are waterproof. The Show Jumping was won by Captain H. F. Whitbread,

Overall camp was a great success with much experience being gained both for horses and men. The break from London routine was inevitably welcome,

especially with the second round of State occassions occuring in the early Winter.

The horses certainly appreciated the fresh air and grass underhoof and the local economy surely received a considerable boost from relaxing Gentlemen of

The Riding Master

the Household Cavalry. Next year sees the reintroduction of Winter Camps which will hopefully complement those at Summer.

PS Nizfella did really well and thanked all concerned

Tpr Bovey RHGJ’D on afternoon stab/es.

sharp. Overall the day was won by 2 Tp LG headed by that most nonchalant pair, Capt A Lawrence LG and CoH Parkin— son LG, a prize that their Troop thoroughly deserved.

The

Riding Master’s collection of cuttings proved a surprising challenge to many with the modest yew sprig being particularly elusive for almost all teams to identify. The RAO had planned a series of brain teasers which required clear and prompt logical thought and revealed many qualities in a number of people

The sun continued for the first half of camp with fine days for the showjump— ing and cross—country competitions.

The Junior Ranks Show Jumping was won by Tpr Scott, RHG/D riding Vengeful and the Senior Ranks by CoH Gray, LG on Utopiz. CoH Gray had an espe— cially successful camp and from time to time laid aside his customary modesty to show his various trophies to whoever might be looking.

that may not have been utilized fully before. Tpr Gibbs of 3 Tp LG showed himself to be particularly alert at getting almost all questions right immediately, actually being much quicker than his Troop Leader who had previously enjoyed a reputation for being rather

The Senior Ranks Handy Hunter was keenly contested by all. The triumphant

duo, Captain M.

P Goodwin—Hudson

RHG/D & CoH Overton RHG/D, showed themselves to be popular win— ners when they received their prizes from the Commanding Officer to tumul— tous applause from all.

The Junior Ranks Handy Hunter was won by L/Cpl Jacobs LG & Tpr Cromie RHG/D, on Sennelager and Sefton respectively.

Both of them rode a very good round.

There were all the customary visits and more popular equine mornings such as pub and beach rides. The Regimental Open Day was well attended considering

LCoH Weston LG suoerwsmg LCo/ Keno/e RHG/D on Troop Tests.

Blind leading the blind

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Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment

55

Household Cavalry News The Year of the Salamander and the Sturgeon OPFOR (Enemy) at BA TUS (British Army Training Unit Sufifield) Canada, March to December I 998.

By Major G G E Stibbe LG Colonel White—Spunner admits he enjoys good food. Older readers may remember his last gesture as Adjt

RHG/D:

posting an excellent Chef

called Fish (AKA “Monsieur Poisson”) to HCMR to coincide with his tour there as RHG/D Mtd Sqn Ldr. That said it was with a considerable helping of trepidation that I suggested to him during the 1996 Christmas Festivities, as we stood down from a possible operational deployment to Rwanda, that we ought to check if we were indeed to be BATUS

OPFOR in 1998.

It was confirmed HCR was to provide enemy to five out of six Battlegroups on successive Medicine Man exercises. So in characteristically reassuring fashion the Comd Offr laid down his priorities for 1997 and 1998 - Operations (JRDF and Bosnia), collective and individual training and BATUS — so all four sabre squadrons working in Bosnia and deploying to Egypt on Exercise Bright Star in 1997 knew exactly when, where, who, and what. In the same spirit that was recognised with the award of The Wilkinson Sword of Peace for 1997, Colonel White-Spunner saw the oppor— tunity for the first ever armoured recon— naissance Medicine Man exercise; HQ 3 (UK) Div agreed to let the HCR Battlegroup (BG) train for their possible war

role with the Divisional Offensive Sup» port Group (OSG). The OSG is commanded by the Divisional Commander Royal Artillery. He is responsible for all targeting in the “deep battle” where

HCR as the Divisional Formation Reconnaissance expects to deploy It was

a relief to know the OSG would have overall responsibility for organising Ex Med Man 5 1998 in which HCR were the exercising BG.

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rode around the battlefield in cut down landrovers like the Long Range Desert Group. So for driving and maintenance

all our kit was familiar.

The extra

dimension was provided by eye safe “lasers” simulating ex-Warsaw Pact kit and tactics as used by the now standard training enemy “GENFOR” all linked into a computer data base with the exercising Battlegroup’s kit. All dismounted troops were issued with helmet, tunic, and weapons’ simulators to ensure fair play. For each Med Man exercise HCR were reinforced by an infantry company - successively supplied by Z RTR, 1 Black Watch, 2 PARA, 1 Prince of Wales’s Own, and a Canadian Horse Artillery battery - two gunner Forward Observation officers, and an armoured engineer troop.

As GOFA - Group of Orange Forces Alberta — OPFOR launched TOTALIZE

The BATUS enemy or Opposing Force

missions against two armoured infantry

(OPFOR) is equipped with CVR(T) based vehicles and landrovers. The old CVR(T) Scorpions form a brace of “tank” squadrons with Salamander, CVR(T) Spartan (with Milan Compact Turrets) and one armoured infantry company of Sturgeon. A “recce” company

BGs (1 Green Howards on MMl, and 1 Irish Gds on MM6) and three armoured BGs. (Queen’s Royal Lancers, King’s Royal Hussars, and Royal Dragoon Guards). The Comd Offr commanded MM], 2, 4, and S, and the ZIC MM 3 and 6. During a memorable Ascot week the

56

Household Cavalry News

Comd Offr had his complete Command Team with him as the OPFOR 2 com— manders trained with OPFOR 1 (HCR split OPFOR l (B and C Squadrons) for

MMl to 3, and OPFOR 2 (A and D Squadrons for exs MM 4 and 6).

OPFOR’s ultimate objective always seemed to be the Brooks’ oil fields which were the crux of the “West Albertan Cri— sis”! Brooks sounds a pleasant enough place. It is, in fact, an unprepossessing “pit stop” on the Trans Canada highway about 50 miles west of Suffield. As a set— tlement it marks the rough boundary between arable and grazing prairie, and is picketed by the ubiquitous “Nodding Donkey” oil pumps.

imised. Most families were reunited for nearly six weeks in both OPFOR peri— ods. Extra special tribute must be paid to the OPFOR QMs, Captain’s Harding, Holbrook, and Sackett whose staffs “made it happen”. “First in, last out” from early March to mid December.

BATUS probably has the best Adventure Training facilities available to the British Army. Based at Trails’ End Camp in the Rockies’ foothills the combined expertise of SSgt Ward and CoH Wells ensured most Household Cavalrymen went on expeditions with a challenging variety of activities; skiing, whitewater rafting, freefall sky diving (a whole new dimension for LCpl Spencer RHG/D), mountain biking and climbing, and, for the more traditionally—minded, pony trekking! Field sports were not neglect— ed. Fishing was most popular as Suffield has easy access to the mighty Bow river and excellent lakes. Captain Barnard shot a black bear, but seems surprisingly reluctant to do an exchange tour with the Foot Guards! Even the Comd Offr’s other life as hunting correspondent for “The Field” was indulged in Wyoming.

The ZIC persuaded a four—wheel drive garage to loan him a test car for a weekend. When he reached Montana he was pleased to be told by a police patrolman “This is the only State in the Union where you can drive at any speed you like with a gun in one hand and a drink in the other!” Very generously the 21C agreed to accompany Major Griffin on a July recce for the October Little Big Horn battlefield. “A gentle stroll ofa few clicks” was eventually accomplished as this pair of mad dog Englishmen marched up hill and down dale for ten miles in the midday sun.

The battlefield tour itself proved cooler and wetter. In fact rain and wind lashed the forlorn headstones on those desolate hills, and the high mountain route to the “Jellystone Park” was already closed by

snow. Yet the “Old Faithful” geyser and the Black Bear cousins of the one shot by Captain Barnard in the Spring were more than a match for incipient winter.

Freakish (El Nino induced?) weather dogged the 1998 BATUS Campaign Sea— son: snow and frost or almost tropical humidity with tiresome locust-like mosquito swarms preceded the normal almost desert dusty conditions. Flora featured cacti. Fauna included eagles windhovering over their prairie dog prey; elk, pronghorn, and white bob-tailed deer roamed the same “beat” as howling coy— otes; porcupines and rattlesnakes nest in or under trees by a beaver’s dam at “Drowning Ford” in “Sherwood Forest” (joke name for one of two copses on an area the size of Dorset or Luxembourg) on the South Sasketchewan river. A dinosaur’s fossilised thighbone lies above the entrance to a cave turned seismic vault under the hill opposite EXCON that broods on the highest ridge overlooking this “Big Sky” country 7“ s coolees”.

A Typ/Ca/ Prairie Scene.

manded the enemy: an AS 90 battery whose “Tac Group” was attached to RHQ, an RDG Challenger l squadron, and Armoured Infantry companies from 1 RHF mounted in Warrior, and 1 KORBR

in older AFV 432 APCs. Coolee warfare was the name of the game until Ex Med Man 5. Then, practising our most difficult “Deep Battle” war role we were NOT meant to swarm around the broken country on our Salamanders like jackals circling buffalo Challengers whose rear and flanks are obviously more vulnerable than their frontal armour.

Instead HCR BG was unprecedented at BATUS. Our three sabre squadrons orbat (A, B, and D; C stayed at Windsor as JRDF squadron and deployed to Poland on exercise with 5 AB Bde) was comple— mented by an artillery “Tac Group” and “Stay Behind Ops”, a sapper recce troop, a signals’ Light Electronic Warfare Team, and a joint echelon based on HQ Squadron. This lineup was similar to the one we took to Egypt on Ex Bright Star in autumn 1997. So it was an ideal opportu» nity for Colonel White—Spunner to consolidate all the training achieved during his tour of command. His successor com— M/lan (WES)

BG training started with conventional “Special to Arm” ranges. These achieved challenging realism levels. D Squadron completed their annual firing on a mixed Scimitar fleet (five from B Squadron and eight from the BATUS close recce troop which had been “hammered” during the previous four Med Man exs). A and D Squadrons fired a preparatory gunnery camp using the same fleet, and most Household Cavalrymen practised the demolition skills that are our Assault Troops’ speciality. We also entertained the 1999 OPFOR, 9/12L, before Com— mander Household Cavalry arrived to lead our contingent at a splendid week end at Mr Ron Southern’s Spruce Meadows’ world show-jumping competition near Calgary. There we provided an arena escort and Guard of Honour with eight Mounted Dutymen each from HCMR and Lord Strathcona’s Horse for OPFOR C Group

All work proverbially makes Tommy and Jack dull boys, and an excellent package for each OPFOR developed. Base Camp boasted immaculate accommodation that made its Windsor equivalent look decid« edly primitive. Half of each five week Med Man exercise cycle would be focused on OPFOR work at BATUS; the other half saw Household Cavalry— men adventure training, global travelling (eg New Zealand), and, by a skillful enhancement of the travel budget, separation for married personnel was min-

Household Cavalry News

57

the British High Commissioner as he opened British House.

Meanwhile back on the prairie the regimental gunnery gurus supervised Exer-

cise Blue Coat.

This tested each

squadron in turn as part of3 (UK) Division’s OSG Joint Air Attack Team. Our Swingfire and Rarden were fired sequentially with artillery, attack heli-

reduction of OPFOR by one Salamander Company) provided by half A and D Squadrons “fought” the lst Bn Irish Guards’ Battle Group on Ex Med Man 6.

The Micks were supported by a KRH Squadron. Med Man 6 had been billed as a “Blue Red Blue” extravaganza as our penultimate CO Brigadier Rollo’s fourth 4 Armd Bde BG of the season faced us supported by The Queen’s Company 1

copters, and Fighter Ground Attack.

Gren Gds. Sadly Comd BATUS « a QDG

Each squadron then advanced into “enemy” territory before withdrawing in contact and breaking clean. So the stage was set for “TESEX”. Four mis~ sions - screen, recce matrix, break-in and break clean, and raid - filled a busy week. Bad weather proved our need for coaxially mounted thermal imaging Spire sights to supplement our “OTIS”

— balked at this prospect The Grenadier presence was reduced to a Milan training team for a dismounted battery of Canadi— an gunners! The Micks proved as “Bubbly” as ever. After all it is supposed to be very dangerous to change the habits of a lifetime.

Callsign “Whisky Whisky” ensured the cold never hit too hard. Cap— tain Eyre, Operations’ Officer, led a dev— astating attack on the Micks’ “Middle Order” on “Mission Zero”. The Major General’s visit was commemorated by breakfast and lunch with us and the Micks, and, it being “a small world” it transpired that both our Canadian FOOs had served with The Major General in

and “Spyglass”. Our Forward Air Con— trollers relished a proverbial “Turkey Shoot” on an encircled enemy during

the last afternoon.

A reduced OPFOR (Colonel WhiteSpunner successfully negotiated the

Bosnia.

BATUS conceded that The Guards’ visit hosting set an exemplary standard.

As well as Brigadier Rollo, the Major General, and Comd H Cav other visitors included DC-in-C Land Command, Lt Gen] F Deverell, who rode out from the

LG Mtd Sqn when it was commanded by Major Griffin who led B Squadron at BATUS, and CGS, General Wheeler who shared a Squadron/Coy group twenty— two years ago with the Regt Adjt. Remi— niscing about this seemed preferable to the SDR announcement! Two memori-

als survive to remind BATUS of OPFOR 1998: the restored cross honouring CoH Parkinson LG who was tragically killed while serving with the BATUS Safety Staff on 3 June 1980; and E2 navigation tower now resplendently “Blue Red Blue” and topped with the HCR cypher.

This explains why it was chosen by SCpl Freeman: “EIIR” (Geddit?!) one of the range’s most central landmarks it certainly makes our presence felt let alone leaves a lasting impression...

The Household Cavalry’s Battlefield Tour of Little Big Horn

men had expended over thirty thousand

rounds of ammunition. Crook and his men spent the next seven weeks hunting and fishing, feeling that they could not move due to the strength of the Indians.

They did not take part in the Battle of Little Big Horn, while the Cheyenne and Sioux went to meet the growing numbers of Indians to the North. This was an obvious morale boost to the Indians.

The next stop on the tour was about thirty miles away at the site of the battle of Little Big Horn itself. The first of several stops on this field was at Reno’s first position. Having spent a little time on recces of the valley around the valley of the Little Big Horn River, Custer had decided that the Indian village that had been spotted was best attacked as soon as possible to facilitate the complete destruction of the enemy, even though the full extent of the village had not yet been seen by any of Custer’s men.

Custer sent Reno to the Southern side of the village and as he advanced towards the Indian village at a fast trot, Reno decided that it was too large for him to attack and survive the ordeal as more and more warriors poured out of the village. As the number of Indians swelled, Reno placed a skirmish line on the ground and eventually had to withdraw into some nearby woods and then onto the high ground which was to be the next point of interest.

2nd to 4th October 1998

By Major R R D Grzflin LG fter a testing three weeks on the Prairie in Alberta, Canada, on Medicine Man 5, and several long days of vehicle maintenance, it was with some considerable relief that forty-five members of both The Life Guards and The Blues and Royals departed on a Battle— field Tour. The tour had been organised

by Major Griffin LG to the site of the Battle of Little Big Horn, also known as Custer’s Last Stand, in Montana, USA. Members of A, B, D and HQ Sqn attend-

steady stream of Custer’s Last Stand videos put people soundly to sleep.

On arrival in Montana, we pushed through to the southern part of the state where the small city of Billings was to be our home for the weekend.

Having checked into the Radison Northern Hotel we received an hour’s background brief from Major Griffin, a notable expert on the battle, and then went to

dinner in the hotel.

Third Cavalry regiments and of the Fourth and Ninth Infantry against native Indians from both the Cheyenne and Sioux tribes. The leadership of the Indians is not clear, but known to be pre— sent on the battlefield were leaders such as Crazy Horse. Having pushed North from Fort Fetterman, General Crook was looking to link up with Custer and Terry in the area South of the Yellowstone River where earlier reports indicated a gathering of Indians.

ed the tour along with the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel WhiteSpunner and the future Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Tabor.

The party left Suffield on the morning of

2nd October and faced ahead ofit a nine hour coach journey through Alberta,

across the border with the United States down to Montana. The scenery gradual-

To say the least, the start in the morning was a little slower than planned, but for— tunately LCoH Swinburne had the com— mon sense to make his way around all the rooms to ensure that no one was left behind, and so, he believed, had a good reason for being half an hour late and the last person on the coach. After a comparatively short journey we arrived at the first of several stops in the tour.

ly changed from the flat Prairie of BATUS to the “Cowboy and Indian” countryside of Southern Montana.

Although how much of this was noticed by the touring party is not known as the

58

Household Cavalry News

The Battle of Rosebud was fought on June 17th 1876 between General Crook

commanding a force of over thirteen hundred men from the Second and

The battle started with the soldiers being caught off-guard and almost being over run, with only the friendly Indian Crow scouts protecting the soldiers while they recovered from being unprepared during their morning coffee break. The battle ran from early morning through till late afternoon and by the time it was over Crook had ten dead and over twenty-one injured, while the Cheyenne and Sioux had at least twenty killed. Many consider the battle to be an Indian victory, as it resulted in Crook having to return back to camp at Goose Creek to tend to his wounded and also due to the fact that his

However, this was not to be before lunch was taken at the start of the trail that maps out the battle. Sgt Eachus had organised a selection of fresh meats and cheeses that were eagerly consumed by those who had missed breakfast at the hotel. It was an excellent lunch but all

were dismayed to feel rain falling towards the end of it.

From lunch the party was taken by minibus to the head of the trail, from where we would walk the battlefield back towards the coach, a distance of about five miles. The head of the trail also coincided with the area of Reno’s retreat to an area now called Reno’s hill. Here the men were joined by Benteen who had bought the pack train with him and they placed all the wounded men and animals

in a circular depression and then formed a defensive position. When night fell, hasty defences were constructed on top ofthe hill, while down below the Indians already started celebrating their victory.

The next morning, the 26th, the sniper fire improved and Reno started to lose more men - forty eight killed or injured compared to eleven the day before.

Problems such as lack of water were starting to take their toll, especially with the injured.

53 Sqn ta, explaining the Battle 0/ Rosebub, As we moved along the bluffs to the next point of interest, it was hard to miss the grave stones of soldiers who had fallen during the battle. The huge spacing between the various stones demonstrated the fluidity ofthe battle and how it must have changed shape several times during the day adding to the confusion.

As we continued to walk down the trail the weather continued to close in on us and the rain had become a steady storm by the time we had come to the next point of interest. Along with the fast approaching closing time of the park this was to cut short the last couple of miles of the tour, which were done in the back of various vehicles.

Before Reno had achieved his defensive position Custer was moving into a posi— tion to try and influence the battle. Having seen Reno set up his skirmish line and observed that he was under a lot of pressure down near the river, Custer believed that if he managed to cross the river and attack the village from the other side from Reno then he could deal a crushing blow to the Indians. He split his command into two columns that descended to the river down separate coulees. However it soon became evi— dent that the number of Indians and the ground that they were fighting on meant that Custer had to regroup his two columns and then withdraw to high ground around Custer’s Hill. This was to be where Custer was to die.

Meanwhile Reno was holding onto his ground, but did not know anything of Custer’s ordeal in the other position. By mid afternoon of the second day, the 26th, the Indians appeared to lose inter— est and gradually packed up the village

and dispersed into the hills. The Indians left in their wake the 7th Cavalry almost destroyed to the man and amongst the dead lay Custer.

After a brief stop for a coffee down the road, a rather wet coach load of people returned to Billings for another night in preparation for the return to BATUS the next day.

After another early start on the Sunday morning we headed off to Yellowstone Park on a rather round about route back to Canada. The park had been ravaged by fire in 1988 and evidence of this could still be seen as we drove through it to get to Old Faithful, the world famous geyser in the park. However we did manage to glimpse a black bear cub, several bison, deer and coyote. Again a rendezvous had been set up with Sgt Eachus and Capttain Butah, travelling in a separate minibus, for lunch to be provided at the sight of the geyser. However, due to a small navigational error, the minibus found itself going through an unsuitably high pass and almost becoming entrapped in snowdrifts. When we did have lunch it was to the same excellent high standard as.the day before and Old Faithful erupting made an unusual back» drop to it.

We left Yellowstone Park mid-afternoon and made the final journey watching the wildlife and many more steam holes that seemed that seemed to spring out of the surrounding hills at frequent intervals.

We eventually arrived back in BATUS at about 0400hrs on Monday morning in time for B Squadron to catch flights home and the other Squadrons to go on leave until Medicine Man 6 as OPFOR against The Irish Guards.

Household Cavalry News

59

Exercise Ulan Eagle - Poland

tediously did for a further 48 hrs. The enemy attempted a futile attack on the airfield, but were caught in the open after some lightening reactions by CoH Pickford and myself.

By Captain WBartle—Jones RHG/D his 1 (UK) Armoured Division sponsored Field Training Exercise took place in Poland on the Drawsko» Pomorski Training Area (DPTA) over

the period 16 Sep ~ 09 Oct 98.

Whilst defence of the airfield was a pri— ority, local liaison was also important.

This proved extremely fruitful as the locals seemed particularly interested in any form of foreign cigarette, of which we had plenty. Exchanging these for bottles of local sherry, labelled with a scull and cross bones, may not have seemed like a sensible option, however it proved to add a little spice to an otherwise dull boil in the bag dinner.

C

Squadron Household Cavalry Regiment (HCR) provided armoured support in the form of 2 x CVR(T) to the Lead Parachute Battle Group (LPBG) based on lst Parachute Battalion (1 PARA).

These elements were to conduct parachute and Tactical Air Landing Operation (TALO) assaults to secure objectives on DPTA, link up with 4 Armoured Brigade and recover by air via Szczein Airfield to RAF Lyneham.

ber of the HCR did have its merits.

How to make an entrance lf7 Poland

All this was of course preceded by the usual planning and briefing conferences, the first of which I sat amongst almost fifty players and became instantly aware that I was the small spec of blue amongst a sea of maroon. Unfazed and unconcerned, I was then formally welcomed by the LPBG Commander, no doubt intent on making sure I felt at home. Prior organisation was obviously the name of the game and therefore plans were drawn up to rival those of operation Market Garden. Everyone talked of ‘Wedges, Windows and Force Loading Plans’, leaving me in no doubt I would definite» 1y not be suited to life in a Parachute Battalion.

After fighting tooth and nail for transport we headed to AMC South Cerney, with CoH Pickford feeling particularly the worse for wear. It may have been the thought of bumping into his milling opponent from P Company or the vast

quantity of strong continental lager from lnspecllng some WW2 monuments to fallen Polls/7 soldiers

The vehicles had stood up extremely well to this point, and were unfortunate not to have made it to ENDEX intact.

However with twelve hours to go both fell victim to problems that saw us sidelined for the final few hours. We moved to the airfield to clean up and await recovery to RAF Lyneham via Szczin Airfield. 12 Regiment AAC very kindly provided us with a room and meals, whilst others slummed it in the forestry blocks.

The Commanding Officer 1 PARA spotted us moving into our plush accommodation and informed me that he had to wait over fifteen years to gain a room, I informed him that being a mem-

the previous night, which was causing him concern. The fact that he met both again that day did nothing to settle his stomach! Here we conducted dry rehearsals for the TALO insertion, under command ofA Coy 1 RGR, before moving to RAF Lyneham for live rehearsals. LCpl Brooks wisely suggested we stay at RAF Lyneham due to the excellent facilities for passengers in transit. This proved to be quite correct, dismissing fears that LCpl Brooks was actu«

gun ships supported by dismounted infantry. CoH Pickford was deployed directly into the press box, scattering paparazzi faster than Roy Hatersley at a press conference.

Once the Gurkhas were firm we patrolled the approach routes to the airfield and became the Quick Reaction Force ready to take on anything trying to upset the apple cart.

ally a bit of a ‘space chimp’.

The Rapid Air Land followed in 7 x C130s with speed and timing, however much of the heavy Drop came down in the trees to the north west of the airfield, severely damaging a Pinzgauer.

The locals seemed intent on stealing as much equipment as possible and we thought we saw a new generator leaving at high speed on the back of a civilian trailer.

The Paras moved off quickly to secure their objectives leaving the Gurkhas and ourselves to guard the airfield, which we

The weather was a key factor in the deployment of friendly forces. Fortunately it was extremely good and over two hundred ofthe l PARA jumped onto

Oleszno Airfield to secure it for the fol— lowing troops with only two serious injuries. Following the initial insertion ourselves and A Coy l RGR in 2 C1305 came to a stop, deploying CVR(T)s at speed followed closely by Land Rover

Keep/rig up Foreign relations ln Drawsko — Pomorskle. Poland.

We were eventually called forward, probably after the BG Commander heard of our heroic actions which had been completed without detection in some of the most enclosed woods I have ever worked in. Visibility could only have been a few feet and navigation through unmarked woods and along tracks was extremely difficult. At times the only way drivers could see where to go was by looking up at the treetops to spot the line of track.

An immaculate trace was presented to the BG Commander who passed it on to the Commander of 4Armd Bde, Brigadier Bill Rollo, formally Blues and Royals who must have recognised the style and commented on its professionalism.

Unfortunately our transport home was not due to leave for a further 36hrs, therefore a trip to the nearest town was quickly organised for our entertainment.

Drawsko—Pomorskie proved to be typical Eastern European town.

The people were very friendly towards us and prized money off us with relative ease. Tpr Eulert’s grasp of the German Language gave us an added edge with the ladies, however I would not like to speculate on where he gained knowledge. Sampling the local delicacies in large quantities seemed to be the way to impress, and this was achieved without exception.

to and n on éi'snon Halt!

Our trip home with the RAF proved uneventful and we eventually arrived in Windsor tired but in good spirits. The exercise had been an excellent experi— ence to all that participated, with Tprs Smith and Salina gaining invaluable driving experience. All would like to thank 1PARA for their hospitality and help throughout the exercise and a special mention to 12 Regiment AAC for keeping us in the style we are accustomed to.

D Squadron Kape Tour Birmingham 24 — 30 june I 998

By Ct PBA Townley RHG/D \

ften described as “Gods own country” by SCM Carney, Birmingham seemed the ideal place for D Squadron to meet the general public. However this land of plenty was not only home to Jesus but to many other Gods for the population of Birmingham is as multi« cultural as they come, with people from all over the world settling in this won— derful city. We need all shapes, sizes and colours to “ride, drive and fly” in the HCR ofthe ‘90’s and this was the place to find them!

dazzling array of HCR uniforms, from desert combats to front gate order. We also had two special recruiters from the Army’s ethnic minority recruiting team who were attached to us for the week. Our display was made up of the recruiting teams display trailer, four CVR(T)s, support vehi» cles and a motorbike (a favourite attraction). Those red berets of the squadron also brought a parachute which was a great crowd puller until some of the smaller children were nearly blown away forever.

The school leaver was our primary target and the first day of the tottr took the D Squadron KAPE team to those schools Where youngsters were deciding on their future after their GCSEs. The team con» sisted of twenty men of D Squadron in a

There was a great deal of interest gener— ated at the schools we visited and a num— ber of committed recruit cards were handed out. It will be interesting to see how many potential recruits from these schools actually make it to the HCR.

Encouraged by the financial incentive and the prospect ofa week’s leave the D Squadron team became extremely good salesmen for the Army. Some nearly convinced themselves that it was a good career!

The “selling” of the Army was intense and hard work for all and whilst there were many demanding questions, and in some areas hostility to the Army, the majority of Birmingham embraced us with open arms. All the team enjoyed dealing with the public and became good at winning them over. Especially LCoH Bestwick who on being grilled rather aggressively about equal opportu— nities by a large female town councillor, calmed her enormously when he sug— gested that he put her over his knee and

Household Cavalry News 60

Household Cavalry News

61

spank her lest she stop (she laughed —

The final day of the tour was in many

Regiment and felt they had made a very

thank you Lord)!

ways the most rewarding. Designed as a drive/walkabout on the Soho Road area.

This is one of the most multi—cultural areas of the city and we were greeted by a very welcoming local population There was a great deal of interest and the team had great success here, mixing very well with the locals and doing some excellent PR work for the Regiment.

real contribution to enhancing the image of the Army. Everywhere we visited we were invited to return; especial— ly to the schools and we hope that this can become an annual event. It was extremely valuable having the ethnic recruiting team with us who were very helpful and experienced. The Birmingham Police Force were also extremely kind in putting us and our vehicles up at their training centre at Edgbaston in first class accommodation.

The best two days for recruiting proved to be the weekend display in Victoria

Square in the heart ofBirmingham’s city centre. The Sunday KAPE venue at a local adventure theme park was not so successful and the potential recruits were more interested in the roller coaster than anything D Squadron could pro— duce. Having taken a decision to aban— don this site we returned to our favourite shopping precinct in the city centre and successfully gained some potential recruits.

That concluded the KAPE which was enjoyed by everyone especially the peo» ple of Birmingham judging by their response.

The KAPE team from D Squadron enjoyed recruiting for the

Presentation of The Household Cavalry Flag Tpr Bostoc. Tor [meson and LCol-l Fortune making friends. ~ ..

‘

Mark W NBC Stilt passes for lug/7 lash/on.

-1.— 5v

Blues and Royals, who later became a friend of Prince Hassan, brother of King Hussein of Jordan and, until recently, Crown Prince. As a result of discussions between the Duke of Wellington and the Crown Prince a Bond of Friendship was established in 1998 between the Household Cavalry and the Jordanian Royal Guard, who can be described as the heirs to the Arab Legion. In due course a visit to Amman by the Household Cavalry was officially sanctioned and on 13th May 1998 a representative party of all ranks, consisting of6 men from each Regiment, flew out to Jordan. It was exactly 47 years ago to the day since the Arab Legion had joined the 1 HCR on the line of march to Iraq in 1941. A most interesting pro— gramme had been arranged, interspersed with rehearsals, including a visit to Petra and culminating in the parade at which a Banner was to be presented by the Household Cavalry.

The Duke and Duchess of Wellington flew out as guests of the Crown Prince.

The Household Cavalry

By Colonel PS WF Falkner LG In 1941 the 1st Household Cavalry Regiment (lHCR) played a leading role in the Iraq and Syria campaigns designed to relieve Baghdad and other centres from the control of Vichy French and pr0<

German Arab forces.

Starting from

Palestine, 1 HCR set off on a 500 mile advance to contact to relieve Baghdad in May. With such long lines of communication and open flanks the Regiment would have been in extreme danger if they were unprotected and they were lucky to have the Arab Legion allocated to them by King Abdullah of Jordan for this task. This was a force of Bedouin

tribesmen under British and Arab offi-

The Programme for the day ofthe parade started early with a polo match at 7.30 am between the Guards and our Regimental side, ofwhich only one was a reg— ular player, the remainder being in Cana— da. The game was played with great spirit and enthusiasm but in such a cloud of dust that it was difficult to see the play— ers let alone the ball. Presumably they were able to do so because the Household Cavalry were honourably defeated by 6 goals to 2. It was also surprisingly hot even at that hour and a splendid breakfast in the open at the Guards Officers’ Mess was most welcome after the game. Later that day the parade took place on the parade grounds of the Guard’s Barracks.

HCR went on to fight throughout the war in other theatres but their links with the Arab Legion were not forgotten.

In 1946 a Victory Parade was held in London in which every unit which had fought in the war took part. The Arab Legion was no exception and they stayed

with their friends at Windsor.

The

opportunity was taken to hold a joint commemorative parade at Combermere Barracks at which gifts were exchanged.

The Arab Legion were given a pair ofsilver trumpets while the Household Cavalry were presented with a silk Banner which hangs today in the Museum.

cers commanded by Lieutenant Colonel

Glubb, universally known as Glubb Pasha. Within a month the task was suc— cessfully completed with the Arab Legion playing a significant part.

1

One of those present both during the 1941 campaign and at the parade in 1946 was Brigadier The Duke of Wellington, currently the Deputy Colonel of The

/4 - =74. , .7 Commander Household Cavalry saying a few words.

The spectators included the Prime Min» ister and several Ministers, the British Ambassador and other diplomats and many senior retired and serving officers.

On one side of the parade ground there was a large group of off-duty Jordanian Guardsmen who cheered enthusiastical— ly at frequent intervals, no doubt to encourage their comrades on parade.

This did nothing to disturb the generally British ethos of the parade and, in fact, added greatly to the excitement. On the other side of the parade ground the escorting party of the Household Cavalry, gently roasting in Dismounted Review order in 30°C were drawn up with the Banner due to be presented.

Also on parade was the Royal Jordanian Guards Band who played all the traditional British airs and marching tunes with great panache which added greatly to the fun of the occasion.

With the arrival of the King, Queen Noor and the Crown Prince the off-duty Guardsmen re~doubled their cheers.

National Anthems were played and the troops on parade presented arms. The arms and foot drill of the Jordanians was impeccable. The King inspected his Guards in best Sandhurst tradition with stick orderlies slow marching in front and behind him. Speeches were then made by the Commander of the Royal Guards Battalion and Colonel Falkner and then it

was time for the presentation of the Banner. Colonel Falkner carried the Banner and the Escort, with swords at the carry marched on parade to the centre of the parade ground where the Royal Jordanian Guards Escort was waiting to receive them. The Banner was handed to the Royal Guards Commander who kissed it and the whole parade the right turned, the band stuck up and the march past started at about 120 paces to the minute.

After the parade was dismissed a small reception took place where the King and Queen spoke to the Household Cavalry— men and some ofthe wives who had managed to come out for the occasion. Mean— while the Jordanian Guardsmen started to dance traditional Bedouin dances since most of them still come from the desert tribes. The King went over to join them and was soon engulfed in a show of affection which was deeply touching. So ended a memorable occasion which I am sure made as deep an impression on our Jordanian friends as it did on all of us.

The next day the Household Cavalry party returned home full of gratitude to their hosts and happy in the knowledge that the Bond of Friendship had been well and truly cemented.

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Household Cavalry News 62

Household Cavalry News

63

Medicine Man Five

By Captain SC Tomes RHG/D hen The Household Cavalry Regiment was told that it was to be the OPFOR in BATUS in 1998, the decision was met with a certain amount of scepti—

cism by the Commanding Officer. Not only, like the rest of the Field Army, had HCR been subjected to considerable operational pressures with Bosnia in recent years but we had also had precious little time to train for our basic role; that of warfighting. The Regiment had a plethora of highly qualified and skilled individuals with a wealth of experience, however these had yet to be welded into a

cohesive and effective team.

The Exercise involved the majority of HCR with a substantial number of Headquarters Squadron and three Sabre Squadrons; A, B and D. A number of other units were involved; Gunners, Sappers, Signallers, the RLC and the AAC to name but a few. Without their help the exercise would not have been able to run.

Perhaps the most bizarre part of the entire exercise was the fact that Comd Offr HCR designate, Lieutenant Colonel P] Tabor MVO, was chosen to Command

The video imagery from the PHOENIX

HCR’s OPFOR. If anyone has ever had a split mission in life, it was surely him!

Added to

this was the considerable uncertainty that the Army found itself in with respect to the doctrine and role for a Formation Reconnaissance Regiment. Simply put; there had been no practical experience

since the Gulf War. We had become a peace-keeping/enforcing organisation.

The answer to this was for HCR to have a Medicine Man of its own. It was the first time ever that a Formation Reconnais— sance Regiment had even been considered for what was traditionally a heavy armour training ground. The pressures were immense; not only did HCR have to change its mind-set from NATO peace— keeping and Soviet style tank tactics, but also the BATUS headquarters had to run an exercise which to date it had no expe~ rience of. BATUS was a training ground for heavy armour and the headquarters trained battlegroups within pre-ordained time lines and with specific targets. For» mation Reconnaissance on its own was one thing; the introduction of the Deep Battle was quite another.

HCR was plagued throughout the exercise by the continual and mosquito-like irritation of the visiting NBC Officer.

Holding what must be the most unliked and unloved job in the Army, the poor chap descended upon us all with the questions that we most dread. Our saving grace came in two forms; the first was that it was generally so cold, we were grateful that we were forced to wear our NBC kit. Any lessening of the dress state was welcomed euphorically only to be followed ten minutes later by suggestions such as “well it’s freezing so perhaps it is the right time to continue get— ting used to the NBC suits”! The second was Tpr Shipp who managed to get the NBC supremo to remark that he had never come across such a well-informed and knowledgeable NBC sentry. Tpr Shipp has kept his experience close to his chest and to this day has been fighting off offers of several congratulatory months at Portland Down.

HCR was also able to exercise our Forward Air Controllers; the poor soldiers

Lt Be/lman and LCoH Pass With Lynx TOW during FAC Concentration (fl BATUS

RHO a! work.

new expression in the context of military engineering. This was “Frangible” which means ‘able to break off and not break beyond repair when the UAV hits the ground’.

Needless to say that PHOENIX’s frangibility was tested on several occasions during the exercise (the Battery came out with 3 containers worth of freight and went back with 2!).

Swing/ire.

was undoubtedly useful.

It was an unknown quantity and the Command— ing Officer of the OPFOR (Comd Offr HCR designate) found that the ‘flyinglawnmower’ caused him to stop all movement as he was unsure of what exactly it could see. Another important lesson learned was that no matter how good the information was, it is useless if it cannot be disseminated in an accurate and timely fashion. At one stage the video was unable to be shown to the Squadron Leaders because the video cable in RHQ wasn’t working!

who are banished to places such as “the Wash” for days at a time to wait patiently for RAF pilots to see ‘the right weather conditions’. Our resident FAC expert spent hours telling us all how important the whole system was. Rather like all ‘experts’ in the army he decided that grass roots soldiering was far beneath him and that instruction to soldiers who had been in the field for weeks was best done by arriving from a warm bath in pristine clothes.

Med Man 5 also saw the emergence ofa number of new trends in Army fashion.

It became quite unacceptable to have a webbing belt with nothing hanging onto

We were also the first Battle Group to use the Royal Artillery PHOENIX UAV. An incredible idea that will undoubted» ly change reconnaissance in the future, the PHOENIX proved to be a mixed blessing. From our point of view this

t seemed that after all the Christmas festivities over the leave period every— one needed another holiday to de—tox and recover. For eight members of the Regi— ment a two—week expedition to the British Virgin Islands was the perfect medicine. On an early Friday morning, four days after the end of leave, Cornet RHA Lewis RHG/D, CoH Spandly, LCoH Johnson, LCpl Anderson, Tprs Smith, McWhirter, Parr and Eulert, accompanied by our two instructors, were on a flight to the Caribbean. Our instructors for the expedition were W0 II Walton, formally a Blue and Royal, now in the PT Corps and Miss N Gilbert, a civilian who had recently joined the T. A.

was not least of all due to the fact that it was used against us. It also introduced a

it. The top ofthe league for attachments was undoubtedly the multi-purpose tools known either as the “Gerber” or “Leatherman”. The “Leatherman” is the ultimate in multi—purpose tools and can do anything from cut wire to cook meals. Ultimately just looks cool and gives an impression of serious intent.

The “Gerber” is the close cousin (sold in droves by the BATUS AAC Flight).

These were closely followed by the

Global Positioning Systems that the modern army has come to rely on as a close substitute for map reading. Rather like microwave ovens or video recorders, these instruments gave pro— fessional superiority according to how many functions they were able to per— form. Some would argue that the num< ber of functions on these gadgets were inversely proportional to the ability of the owners to use them! A number of other items were also available and the ultimate Med Man 5 soldier could be seen with a mobile phone nestling amongst his “new age webbing”.

Med Man 5 was undoubtedly an exercise which benefited HCR greatly at all levels. It has certainly set us up as the fore»

Regimenta/ Ber/own encampment,

most Formation Reconnaissance Regiment in terms of experience and we have rediscovered skills which have rusted over the years. As with all military endeavours it was completed against the odds and has vindicated a number of well thought out ideas as well as calling into doubt several others. Ultimately it was an exercise that the majority enjoyed and considerable benefit was achieved at every level.

Expedition Cockney City Blues - January 1998

By Cornet RHA Lewis RHG/D

Our final destination was the island of Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands. The reason for the expedition was ten days adventurous and exciting scuba~diving.

Exercise Cockney City Blues, organised in the main by Lieu— tenant PRT Stucley RHG/D, who was unfortunately unable to accompany the expedition, was aimed at qualifying the

eight of us up to the BSAC Sports Diver and PADI Advanced Open Water levels.

We arrived at Beef Island Airport late that same evening, where we were met by our guide for the next two weeks. From there it was a short taxi ride to a small jetty where we jumped onto a boat to take us over to Virgin Gorda.

Once on Virgin Gorda we were taken for a quick drink in the local bar and then on to our accommodation with a delicious dinner already prepared for us by the bar.

As we were not diving the following day, a quick recce ofsome ofthe local nightspots was undertaken. After a lie in the follow— ing morning, the day was spent sorting the kit out for the diving and a general

look around the immediate area of the island. The plan for the diving was to do two dives a day, both in the morning, with various lectures in the afternoons. Unfor— tunately we could not dive in the afternoon due to Dive BVI being very busy.

The first day consisted of two shallow dives concentrating on various skills and

Tprs Parr and McWhI/ter Wok/rig out to sea

drills.

A short lecture in the early evening finished offthe day’s tuition. As the days progressed so did our ability underwater. Our instructors began to take us to deeper depths making each dive more challenging than the next. As

Household Cavalry News Household Cavalry News

65

we grew in confidence and ability our The trip had started and was to take

two instructors gave us more control

some five and a halfweeks. After leaving over our own dive plans, allowing us to learn the importance of planning excit~ ing but safe dives. During the dives themselves, it was the dive leader’s responsibility to ensure the dive plan was carried out.

Canary Wharf we headed through the Channel Tunnel to France and then onto Belgium, there we completed a stage of the Rallye du Condroz 7 Huy and onto Liege.

Each dive offered more and more excit— ing marine life to be seen, though none scarier than CoH Spandley. This seemed to have serious affects on LCoH John— son, whose breathing rate increased ten—

fold whilst underwater. After four days diving we had our first day of R&R, which the author spent visiting friends on a nearby island, while the rest found themselves stretched out and relaxing on

one of the island’s beautiful beaches. It Sunny S/de up.

was about this stage in the expedition that a small tanning competition began.

Factor 0 Hawaiian Tropic was being applied at alarming rates in order to secure the best tan. WO II Walton was adamant his surpassed anyone else’s, although there was still a long way to go.

The diving continued to impress everyone, especially as we began to be more independent between the buddy pairs and instructors. The highlight of the trip came on our tenth day of diving when we dived the famous wreck of the

Rhone an old Royal Mail Ship sunk in the late 1800s after a hurricane swept through the islands.

Our second day of R&R was spent on the island of Tortola visiting the main town and a local beach. Little did we know that this beach had its own resident wild

dolphin! Having been spotted from the beach, LCpl Anderson hired a paddle board, mask, snorkel and fins and a few of us managed to swim with the dolphin.

It was so friendly that we were able to get within a few feet, close enough for Tpr McWhirter to catch a couple of photographs of it. Three of us returned back to Virgin Gorda that evening while the rest remained on the island with CPO Preece, who was on attachment with the local Marine Police. CPO Preece looked after us extremely well and in return he came diving with us the following day.

Unfortunately he could not stay with us for the night dive we had organised.

Although we had to pay an extra $40 it was well worth the money.

We had already dived the reef earlier that day,

thus giving us more chance to see the dif— ferences of the marine life at night.

Everything seemed much more calm and peaceful and with it being a clear night the visibility was greatly improved.

On our last day, after the final two dives, Dive BVI very kindly put on a few drinks and some pizza. These we had in the har— bour and were a perfect way to finish off the expedition. All in all the expedition was a huge success with everyone gaining the qualifications we had set out to achieve. The success was due to a number of reasons, these being the excellent planning by Lieutenant PTR Stucley, top class instruction, and last but not least our guide Richard, who looked after us extremely well.

London to Cape Town Car Rally 23rd October to [st December I 998

By Llj’AS Bellman RHG/D l, 500 miles, 24 countries, 31 Classic

Cars and 50 four wheeled drive vehicles; this was the make-up for the London to Cape Town Car Rally. The classic cars taking part ranged from a 1917 vin— tage 14.5 litre American La France Sim—

plex to a 1954 602cc Citroen ZCV.

I

heard about the rally originally through Colonel Barney White-Spunner whilst on MM6 in Canada; after much begging he kindly agreed to let me go. This was September and the rally was leaving England in October, so matters very soon became quite chaotic, what with M5, visas, finance, sponsorship and trying to find a team to join.

Once I had returned from Canada I had 2 weeks to get everything ready and fly to Northern Ireland in order to try and get my JOTES exam completed before the end of the year. 4 days before I left, I finally met my team, there were ten of us all from a variety of backgrounds.

These ranged from furniture maker, to banker, to coffee trader, to shipbroker, to journalist to housewife... . quite a mix.

The first day I saw the vehicles was the day I left the country, there were four vehicles; two 1947 Allards (which look like a large Morgan) and two TATAs (an Indian truck manufacturer trying to

break into the 4 by 4 market). The launch

Pushing into Austria across the autumn toned forests of Ardennes we were privi~ leged to complete Grand Prix circuits at Spa~Francorchamps and the Nuirburg Ring. From Austria we passed through the awesome mountains of Slovenia (the police do not like speeding here) and into Zagreb, Croatia. The Ministry of Culture kindly gave us a traditional wel— come (and an armed guard); life in Zagreb certainly seems to be returning some normality but be warned dinner is definitely for those who favour rich liv— ing and a healthy dose of gout.

Our next stop was Timisoira, Romania where our hotel was conveniently surrounded by 24~hour guard of armed police and military. The following day both clutches on our Tatas decided to die, a great stroke of Indian engineering luck; this would leave us one day behind the main pack and some very worried sponsors in Bombay. We found ourselves having to bypass the route to Bucharest and go direct to Istanbul in order to make up a day; by this stage the first serious accident of the rally had occurred in the mountains of Romania; a rolled Bentley, no life threatening injuries.

Our attempts to catch up meant driving and navigating 4 hours and 2 hours sleep, it took 23 hours of this routine to catch up in Istanbul Via Bulgaria. When we did catch up the rally was in the process of leaving and Istanbul was covered in a mass of red flags after celebrating 50 years of the Turkish republic. It is not a good place to drive and the people there are almost as ugly as those in Bulgaria; I also received my second traffic ticket

for the rally was a press send-off from the

from a very morally dubious traffic

international motor show at Birmingham

by HRH Prince Michael of Kent and from there we pushed south to Canary Wharf, London. The rally would take us through West Europe, East Europe, The Middle East, East Africa and eventually through to South Africa. Last minute changes had been made to the route because of international events; thus the drive through Croatia was shortened to take advantage of Romania, and secondly the drive through Ethiopia and Eritrea was changed for an almighty airlift from Southern Egypt to Entebbe, Uganda.

policeman for making an illegal right turn by the Bosphorous bridge. Turkey was certainly a fascinating country; we passed through Capadoccia with its strange rock formations, once a hideout

for the Christians from the Turks.

Our arrival in Syria was quite an occasion, greeted by a band of hundreds of school children and dignitaries, unfortunately our arrival was delayed by Turkish border bureaucracy. Syria was definitely going to be a highlight, the towns en route lined with children tossing flower petals into the air and the crusader cas-

Vt'cton'a Falls, Zimbabwe

tles, such as Kraks des Chevaliers, pro— viding a stunning backdrop to the drive.

Junctions along our route were always guarded by military personnel, smiling and waving but nevertheless ensuring we did not attempt to go off track. Damas— cus and its souks were a fascinating insight into daily life in Syria, where Christians and Muslims live alongside.

Onwards to Jordan where we were enter~ tained by the Crown Prince in Amman and inspired by the rock carved city of Petra; pushing south we entered scenery, such as Wadi Rum, once fought through

by Lawrence of Arabia.

Leaving Jordan, we ventured to Mount Nebo where it is possible to see the towns of Jerusalem and Galiee and the countries of Jordan, Israel and Egypt.

The drive through Sinai was spectacular, as was the east coast of Egypt and its unusually formed mountains. We were amazed by the ease of access to Egypt as we were all expecting endless bureaucra— cy which so many had encountered on previous trips; this initial victory was soon countered by the endless security checkpoints along our route.

From Hurghada, in southern Egypt we would airlift to Entebbe, Uganda in order to avoid the drive through Ethiopia and Eritia. Arriving, not in the style of the former Israeli mission, but in Russian Antonovs, we were welcomed into the late Uganda night by members of the government and a highly vibrant dance and drum troop which sent the hips of certain members swaying left and right late into the African night.

Kampala, the capital, and home to the ancient Buganda kings has a healthy

small expat community of which the for— mer Life Guards Captain Mark Graves is a resident (his wife has just had a baby).

Uganda sits near the equator and is therefore extremely lush with the green

offset by its unique red soil. The soldiers got a little excited when some tried to take photographs ofthe famed Jinja dam, once blocked by the persons who had generally upset General Idi Amin.

Onwards to Kenya passing through the Kerio Valley and the lakes of Bogoria, Nakura (home to former Blue and Royal, Jonti Barclay) Elenteitaa and Navaisha.

In Nairobi two of our Austrian competi— tors came a cropper when they were gar— roted some 100 meters from the hotel, they both passed out and came too later minus their wallets and nerves, but thankfully physically intact.

The 4x43 and classic cars split route here, 4x43 heading west of Kilimanjaro to Ngorogoro Crater and the classics to Taita Hills game sanctuary. The game around this area is spectacular, unfortunately Kilimanjaro spends more of its time with its head in the clouds. We all now pushed south to Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania for a rest day. Unfortunately unless you are going to Zanzibar, Dar is a wasted visit, fortunately we were welcomed by extremely hospitable TATA representatives who welcomed us into their homes.

From here we began the big push west‘ wards across Africa from Tanzania into Malawi and into Doctor Livingston country and the tea plantations of Mufindi. Lake Malawi was dreamlike with its immaculate white sands, blue waters and colonial hideaways.

Household Cavalry News 66

Household Cavalry News

67

Into Zambia where we experienced some of the worst roads of the entire trip, often travelling for 2 hours on severely pot holed roads at walking pace. Our welcome into Lusaka, the capital was quite some— thing with bands playing and speeches about international relations abounding.

Beware of asking for the fish delicacy, fillet of Chambo, unless you are happy to eat the head and tail with no body.

Pushing into Zimbabwe we motored alongside the Zambezi which leads into the spectacular Victoria Falls, truly mag— nificent. It is unfortunate that we spent such a short time in Zimbabwe, but it certainly seems a country worth re—visit— ing, there is so much to see and do. It is also important to note that here is the beginning of good wine again, a cause of some concern in our team and noticeably lacking in the countries of East Africa.

From here we entered Botswana driving through the wildly rich Chobe National Park, full of elephant, zebra, ostrich and varieties of antelope and deer.

Into Namibia and the Etosha National Park, where the roads are long, open, fast and extremely dusty. From Etosha we

dropped south, following the misty skeleton coast. A unique desert which carries a coastal mist, uniquely odd when you see an elephant emerging through

the mist in the Iniddle of the desert.

Into the heart of Namib Desert where you encounter the magnificent dunes of Sossusvlei which at night carry a special atmosphere. We passed through unique rock formations in the mountain passes of Kusieb, Gamsburg, and Spreethootage leading to the spectacular Fish River Canyon, second only to the Grand Canyon.

The asphalt roads through the desert can be very deceiving, by this stage two 4x45 had badly rolled and were written off, the occupants saved only by roll bars and other modern technology.

Now on the final leg pushing into South Africa via Augrabies Falls and Lamberts Bay, which is a small fishing port and home to thousands of seabirds, who find it necessary to all live on top of each other (excellent shellfish for dinner).

berge mountains, the wine regions of Paarl and Stellenbosch before passing through the coastal towns of Simon— stown round to Cape Point and finishing in Cape Town on the Victoria and Albert Waterfront; after ll, 000 miles.

The trip certainly brought in some unique insights into countries and peoples around the world. Highlights were the mountains in Slovenia, the souks in Damacus, the wadis in Jordan, the people in Uganda, Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe etc, etc I strongly recommend the trip and route. Some of the characters on the trip were also quite unique, the Iranian surfer from Honolulu, the larger than life anthropologist from Lisbon, the gold prospector from Cape Town, a truly unique and fun mix of people.

Many thanks indeed for the support of the Household Division Fund, the Household Cavalry Central Charitable Fund, The Blttes and Royals Serving Officers Trust and also Hacketts for their rallyist wardrobe, Townley communications for their invaluable satellite phone

and Abacus Financial Services.

The final drive through South Africa was truly spectacular taking in the Ceder—

Sprlng Term Cadets near/mg [he [fills/l of one of the Soverevgn's Platoon Camper/Hons.

So that’s what happens, but who is involved? The cadets and the staff are what make Sandhurst such a marvellous experience. It is an eclectic bunch that has a broad selection of talents. Some of those talents are obvious, such as the sporting but others only appear on rare occasions, like Lieutenant Dan Scott RHG/D who still holds the record for consumption by the tramp on the internal security exercise. They all have a sense of humour, and it is frequently tested to the full. The ability to see the funny side of just about anything is a major strength. Many are administra» tion vortexes when they arrive, a few still are when they leave. The overriding sense is that ofa high level of motivation

A College Commanders View

College Commande/ admmng cadets dill/S ll'l Cyprus.

which pervades every aspect oflife at the Academy. It is a motivation borne out of shared discomfort and shared goals, and there is no doubt that the friendships forged here last a lifetime.

Nothing matches the looks on the cadets’ faces at the end of their final exercise when the realisation dawns of what they have achieved. And the staff... I cannot rec— ommend highly enough, to everyone, that they should make it an ambition to serve at Sandhurst on the Directing Staff, if they are ever offered the opportunity. You will be amongst a very broad cross section from all arms and services, and though the workload is frantic I have never met anyone who has not enjoyed the Sandhurst experience.

This old blighter has found being at the Academy rejuvenating, and it has been a great privilege to command New College. I can do no better than conclude by quoting from a cadet’s journal: “ New College is a hard college, but not an impossible two terms. With dedication and presence of mind, you can achieve many things. It gives you the freedom to do what you want if you chase it. New College provides you with the challenge you joined for, the friends you will never lose, the memories that will never fade and ultimately the skills that, if used correctly, will never let you down in the field of command ”

By Lieutenant Colonel W T Browne RHG/D ittle did I dream 25 years ago that I Lmight end up as the crusty old blighter standing astride a trench on Thetford Training Area, asking cadets polite and knowledgeable questions

about range cards and rivetting. Apart from a memorable year as ADC to the Commandant, Lieutenant General Sir Richard Vickers, in 1979/80, I had not been back to the Academy since my own course in 1974. When I say memorable, it was from my perspective, General Richard was very patient! The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst is constant, except the colour of the old college building, which has gone from battle ship grey to an infinitely more pleasing cream colour. I say does not change, even my Platoon Colour Sergeant is still here, Ray Evans WG, though admittedly he is now the Academy Staff QM. It was my good fortune to be posted here after command of HCMR. Nothing prepares

you for the feeling of deflation when you leave the Regiment, but this place has done its very best to cushion the fall.

The training is considerably harder than I remember as a cadet, both the physical and the cerebral. The average age of cadets on arrival is 22.6 and well over 80% are graduates; this, I’m told, makes them more intelligent and mature than the majority oftheir forbears, it does not mean they have more common sense!

They are however a pleasure to teach, particularly because they keep the Directing Staff on their toes with endless questions, and interesting suggestions; also because they hunger for com— mand appointments, unlike us who pre— tended great difficulty with a boot lace when the slots were being handed out.

The course lasts 11 months and is split into 3 terms of 14 weeks; in between the terms the cadets get a chance to gain an adventure training qualification and then organise and lead, or play a major part in, an expedition oftheir own. The training is graduated from basic military skills and exercises in the first term, up. to company exercises, in which the

cadets fill all the command appointments, in the last term. The physical element of the course is tough, and includes some very demanding tests and competitions that not only examine the cadets’ robustness but their ability as team members and as leaders. It came as no surprise but a physical shock that the old blighter had to lumber around with the cadets! The academic content plays an increasingly important role in the training of our young officers. As offi— cers in The Household Cavalry know only too well, the rigours of peacekeeping operations place a heavy demand on them. Understanding the often very complicated politics of the theatre in which they are operating and knowing how to treat the press are but two of the areas in which their skills are honed at Sandhurst. The whole is a very success— ful package that is producing a robust, confident young officer ready to face the widely differing challenges of leading soldiers in the post cold war era.

Fresh from the Factory Life as a Oficer Cadet at RMA Sandhurst

by Corner 0 B Birbeck RHG/D he vast white pile emerges from behind the hedge as you drive in. It is only then that you are faced with the stark reality that your life is about to

change beyond recognition. That is if you have spent the last three years at university where, due to the spirit of things, the inside of a pub is more attractive than the OTC. After a while, of course, I had lost all sight ofthe OTC. The rest is history!

And this was where I fell down, for I was one of three so called “Military Virgins” in a platoon of thirty two. Not only was the learning curve furious, but the regime alien. All I had in common with the one ‘ex-ranker’ and the many avid TA and OTC enthusiasts, depressing as

it may seem, was a cynical bitterness at Sandhurst’s inability to treat you like a grown-up. This is in spite ofthe permanent reminders that 95% of Officer Cadets are 23 year old graduates — people who, perhaps, have not always measured the overlay oftheir bedsheet in centimetres, and polished the underside of bath plugs.

But there is tnethod, whether or not it is the most effective, in the madness. The oppression ofOld College, at least in the dreaded first five weeks, becomes so ingrained in you that when the freedom starts flowing back into your life on your arrival at New College, you feel as ifyou have been through a metamorphosis, and you can see its twisted value. At this

stage, however, you have long since been dumped by your girlfriend and your friends are having a whale of a time in London! You have an understanding of people under pressure, fed up, or lacking in self confidence, and how to react to it

either in others or in yourself.

The first term seemed to last forever, and was like “Ground Hog Day”.

“Officer Cadet Birkbeck, room 249, ready for your inspection Colour Sergeant.”

Household Cavalry News 68

Household Cavalry News

The

answer to most problems is to laugh out loud. It all sounds terribly lofty, but it is impossible to overstate the value of a flexible sense of humour.

69

“Colour Searnt, not Sergeant, you’re barking mad sir, say woofl”

Saumur

“Woof Colour Searnt!”

by Captain AJL Fox—Pitt - LG “Now give me fifty, ” says Colour Sergeant, or Searnt, or whatever the hell he is, Bowen, of the Welsh Guards, the most important man in my life. Inspect< ed. Rejected. Subjected.

Breakfast is wolfed down, usually half finished before you flee back to the block where your Colour Searnt is fuming about something. Ill fitting coveralls, map reading lessons, two minutes to change into PT kit, “where are my socks, Salmon’s lost his Day Sack, Oh God everyone’s on parade”.

Run round “Barossa” training area, puke up, PTI seems a relief from the Colour Searnt who is actually sweating and may indeed be human, feel good factor in the shower, two minutes for lunch. Fall asleep in the Churchill Hall, have a Polo Ball thrown at you, ranges again, NBC, DEFG, First Aid, supper, shining parade, show parade, cigarette, bed, and so on.

“I wonder who she’s kissing?”

But ‘10 and behold’, after various momentous matters such as the ‘week five pass off’, your first leave weekend, the Drill competition, and the Platoon party, you find yourself on adventurous training, leave, and the prospect of New College. It all seems rather jolly, and what is more, you feel like something vaguely resembling a soldier.

A typical day at New College involved spending that twenty minutes over breakfast that you dreamt of in Old Col— lege, Muster Parade, War Studies, Naafi, Signals, Naafi, Signals, Naafi, Signals, Death. Lunch, Endurance, impossible

t was in the early hours ofa crisp May morning that I caught the ferry bound for France. Although attached to the British Embassy in Paris, I would be based at the Ecole Nationale d’Equitation (The National French Riding School). A riding centre of excellence based in the fortress town of Saumur which sits on the banks of the River Loire.

.,

t,‘

Cacet Sgt Stttrgts RHG= D (Centre) too/(ing oored during an O Group on the t/na/ exercrse

struggle with sleep in the Churchill Hall for the rest of the day while vital information drones through your subcon— scious. But, as my Company Comman« der was so fond of telling us between swear words, Sandhurst is like a “steeple chase”. You cannot just drift through those days in barracks because, sporadi— cally, you are confronted with what seem to be outrageously unjust tests and pit— falls. You have to be up to speed - the art of bluffing is invaluable, but not foolproof.

Physically, there are no two ways about it, it is demanding, which brings a rugged smile to the face of General Arthur Denario, the Commandant, and

the Commander of the Irish Hussars during the Gulf War. But it is a gradual and immensely rewarding process. Con— versely, the series of Welsh and Nor— folkian Exercises are invariably muddy, miserable and monotonous, but all con-

tribute to the well rounded Officer Cadet.

Having unsuccessfully attempted to cram a year ofjollifications into a side of A4, a year when the pride of the Sovereign’s Parade and a handful of unforgettable moments of hilarity made it all worth it, a few words of thanks. I thank Colonel Toby Browne RHG/D for his patience, his constancy, and his wonderful Drinks Parties! I applaud Corporal Major Kibble RHG/D for his professionalism and his terrifying facial expressions. I envy CoH Benge LG for being able to turn Signals into something erotic and captivating. Lastly, I

thank Corporal Major Camp LG for his ability to keep everything in context, and to show his real opinion on a bad situa— tion without having to impeach his posi— tion by actually saying anything. He was a brick. And there, in the full glare of my future with D Squadron, I conclude!

The course was slightly different to that of my predecessors. I was there not only to learn how to ride and school horses, but to teach English, translate and act as a liaison officer to the ‘Cadre Noir, ’ part of the Ecole National. (An organisation similar in many ways to the Spanish Rid— ing School.)

The Ecole Nationale is an amazing establishment incorporating 45 instructors and over 400 horses. The military side (Cadre Noir) is commanded by Colonel Carde who not only is an accomplished horseman himself, but has the task of organising high and low school dressage performances in France and around the world. I spent a large portion of my time in this sphere helping with his correspondence to non—French speaking military and equestrian organisations.

Should anyone visit the school, they will have the pleasure of listening to my introduction video and reading my English translation of the history of the Ecole Nationale going back to 1763, although the new complex was only built

in 1972.

Ex and Yankee Ill the only available paddock

On the riding front I rode my own two horses elevating my competence under the principal instruction of Nicolas Dugue, gaining a multitude of tips and tricks on how to make young horses work. Those ofyou that know the horse Yankee from HCMR will appreciate the magnitude of this achievement. If this was the taking, the giving was teaching the school’s instructors how to instruct in English. Any spectator watching such a lesson would have been slightly con— fused listening to instructions being given in French, repeated in English and then given again in broken English.

Although run on an informal basis they proved to be successful, teaching a hand—

ful of instructors how to instruct in English. They may not be able to ask for a beer but they can tell you to put your heels down!

Away from the ‘Ecole Nationale, ’ I was helped immensely by Lieutenant Colonel Brook-Fox LD (the British liaison Officer) who introduced me not only to my most accommodating landlord, Admiral Bonnot but to Saumur society!

One such person was Krishna Lester, a viticulturist and captain of the Saumur Cricket Club, not something one immediately associates with western France but it supplied weekends of entertain» merit, playing against touring village sides.

My time in Saumur was certainly no chore, living in a small cottage doing what I love doing for most of the day, rid—

..JJ . k 1. _ .

Kl/S/lfia Lester. capta/n or the Samttr Cricket Ctub,

ing. The benefits that I came away with were immense. A vastly superior knowledge of horses and French, an understanding of the French way of doing things and their mannerisms that lets one appreciate and even enjoy their way of life. Generally I would recommend anyone with the chance of visiting Saumur to do so. Beyond one’s interest in horses, there are multitudes of vineyards and Chateaux to visit. Finally I owe my gratitude to all those who made my time in France, an experience that will be long and well remembered.

L to P Lt Col HSJ Scott. U (30/ J and Mrs Brook Fox. Capt C Hayward and Ma) H Cant/triers ‘ a

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Household Cavalry News 70

Household Cavalry News

71

Wilkinson Sword of Peace Award Household Cavalry Regiment lmost every officer and soldier of the Household Cavalry Regiment served for a period of six months in Bosnia from late 1996 and throughout 1997. C Squadron The Blues and Royals served near Glamoc in Herceg»Bosna B and then A Squadron the Life Guards, and then D Squadron the Blues and Royals served in turn in Bania Luka.

‘ ,.

, ‘

As ever in Bosnia the peacekeeping was backed up by extensive GS work and the resourcefulness of Household Cavalrymen was perfectly displayed in this, HCR engaged in numerous projects to return life to some semblance of normality for the large number of refugees, as well as those whose homes and livelihoods had been destroyed by years of civil war.

Her Majesly la/klng to Mr Malcolm Ordever and Mr John Arlen with Commander H Paw

population to look to maintaining the peace and re-establishing normality after five years of war.

ii HCR first assessed what needed to be done, HM The Queen talk/rig to Commanding Off/eel. FlCM Calpent‘er and family estimating the finances and resources HCR personnel used their skills, imagination, initiative and required to complete the task. They then sought the support of the aid agencies, and backed this by fund-raising and collections resources to return a severely damaged community to conditions of much—needed equipment at home in the Windsor area, supapproaching normality, in which the seeds of long » standing plying much of the initial man—power themselves. peace might grow. Their efforts richly deserve the award of: Among their many achievements throughout the year HCR pro— vided wood for fuel during the winter months; encouraged and supported the regrowth of local industry; gave essential assis» tance to ten schools; distributed food and clothing — much of which was collected by members of HCR and their families at home; and carried out an extensive programme of fund—raising activities including band visits and football matches, where many defeats were endured in the name of good relations and confidence-building. Significant sums were raised to help a sick girl regain her sight. Perhaps their most significant achievement was the restoration of economic activity and spirit in the refugee village of Orahova which they found shattered physically and morally but left as a functional community.

A group of Household Cavalry children :1

The Regiment focused on helping the locals to help themselves rather than simply handing out aid. This was done by identifying the means by which the civilians could provide for their own future and centred around education and reinvigorating local industry.

Schools were targeted for reconstruction, and re-equipping. The Regiment organised funding and resources and provided some labour but motivated the locals to working themselves on what would be essentially their schools. Local industry was boosted by helping to repair existing facilities, sponsoring potentially successful enterprises and co—ordinating Inter faction trade. Again

the focus was to provide a framework in which the locals could help themselves. A prime example was the village of Orahova, which consisted of 3000 unemployed Serb refugees from Croat— ia and Bosnia, totally reliant on humanitarian aid. By the time the Household Cavalry left, it had transformed the Village from being shattered, uncohesive and without hope to a community with numerous small farms and businesses and a semblance of social normality.

These projects were successful due to the involvement, flexibility and determination of the Regiment at all levels, including fund raising by families at home in Windsor, and the consistency of Squadron deployments to the same area.

The Sword OfPeaee for the Armyfar 1997.

Presented to the Household Cavalm' Regiment

by Wilkinson Sword Limited at Windsor ON 26th October I 998 in the presence of H.M. Queen Elizabeth II

The Household Cavalry Regiment has been serving in Bosnia since 1994 when the first Squadrons deployed as part ofthe United Nations Protection Force. The military ground presence had effectively contained the aggression between the Former War» ring Factions and the focus shifted to persuading the civilian

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Household Cavalry News 72

Household Cavalry News

73

A Tour of Northern Ireland with the Scots Guards

The Spanish Army Staff College

By LCpl Tifi‘oney LG

By Major GMD McCullough RHG/D

ews of my impending departure to Northern Ireland was passed to me by my Troop Leader, why was he smiling? At first I shrugged the whole thing off until the reality started to dawn on me that, for the first time, I would be away from a cavalry environment and have to do what the majority of the Army call’s “real soldiering”.

thousand people came and it was like a carnival, with fireworks, bands, and hot dog stands and even women with chil» dren. That changed on the third night when the Belfast lot came down, it was like watching a scene out of “Zulu” , the people just kept coming. At the end there was between fifty to seventy thousand people wanting blood i.e. “OURS”

We arrived at Victoria Barracks where we met the lads of the Right Flank, who’s job it was to look after us and keep us out of trouble. The Guardsmen and NCO’s gave us helpful hints and valuable infor— mation on working in the Province. One officer asked us what we thought of the cease fire, we said “ we don’t trust the cease fire in Northern Ireland”. This turned out to be rather ironic, as in less than twenty—four hours of us landing in the Province, we were deployed to dig a trench and sit in it for five days in the worst weather I have seen in a long time.

Later we found out that this was because the Int Cell had information of two car bombs coming over the border into our

For the next eight hours they hit us with everything they could get their hands on, bottles, stones, even rockets. The worst was the Petrol Bombs and the Blast Bombs. Sometimes it would come over our radio that someone in the crowd was walking around with a balaclava on and carrying a gun, it was a case of finding any cover we could.

area.

Due to the lack of NCO’s in Right Flank it was not long before I was told I would be in charge of a team within the section of our patrol. Being a good confident

NCO of the Household Cavalry it wasn’t long before we got lost, but thanks to some yobs who said to us “ P**s off up that road where your mates went” I was soon back on track. I said a big thank you to them, which they did not take too kindly to. So under a rain of bottles and stones we ran up the road to meet the rest of the Patrol, who never found out we had got lost, but it did cost me a few pints for the lads in my team to keep their mouths shut.

The next month was devoted to getting ready for Drumcree, this is where the Protestants try to march over this bridge and through the Catholic Estate. The Army and the RUC try to stop them and it always ends in violence, with us in the middle. This year the Army and the RUC said enough is enough, so we started to construct our defences. We had a seven foot wide ditch with barbed wire around it, then after twenty~five meters, a five foot fence of barbed wire, behind that we had the RUC and then us (The Mad Jocks). If this didn’t hold then nothing would. The first two nights ten

There was one humourous incident when we were in Drumcree, it was about two in the morning and this person came

out of the trees in front of us with a balaclava on and carrying a side arm. We jumped him and got him onto the ground under a lot of protest. As we were doing this I was thinking of the praise I would get for capturing a terrorist and that I would be the toast of the Regi— ment, but it was not to be. Our so called terrorist was an RUC officer who was cold and had decided to put his fire proof balaclava on to keep his face warm.

In another incident, we had just been picked up by a Helicopter that was giving air support to the Patrol on the

Tor Pa/ry, LG xwm friend

ground, one of our lads asked the Load— master if he could take some photos. He said OK, so he did, but decided he could get a better picture from between the Pilots and though the cock-pit window.

Unknown to him the Pilots had night goggles on so you can imagine what happened next, a flash, a few sharp turns to the left and right and a near loop the loop. There were a lot of green faces after that and one Guardsman with sore ears after his bollocking.

The tour was demanding and enjoyable, many friends were made with Policemen and civilians who worked with us. After a period ofleave I went to HCR in Wind» sor to begin my Armoured Training.

LCD! TWO/7y. LG on the right, NI 8 Son

Having passed the Staff Selection test, but failed to catch the selec— tor’s eye for Bracknell, I was lucky enough to be selected to attend the Spanish Army Staff Course at the Escuela de Estado Mayor in Madrid for a year. Anyone who knows me will know that I can barely string a coherent sentence togeth— er in English, so the idea of having to learn Spanish for eight months filled me with dread. But the staff at the Defence School of Languages (DSL) at Beacons— field are well used to teaching the likes of me. Like many subjects in the army, languages are taught as a drill and I soon found that mastering the subjunctive was really no different to learning to strip a Rarden, but a lot less oily. I was pumped out at the end of the production line with a level 4 diploma, which apparently means that I can speak Spanish like a native. But a native of where? Swazi-

land? In fact DSL is a fine institution and I can recommend a short colloquial course there to anyone, whatever their rank, if they can be spared for about ten weeks.

Having arrived in Madrid and found somewhere to live, I arranged a two week attachment to a cavalry regiment just outside Madrid.

“El Regimiento de Caballaria Ligera Acorazada Villaviciosa 14” has two battalion groups, one of which is tank heavy, equipped with ancient M60s and the other is a recce battalion, equipped with the Spanish VEC wheeled recce vehicle, but also with two platoons of M605. July is a bad time to visit any organisation in Spain as the heat is really not conducive to doing anything much after 10 am. So after riding a horse every morning, I would occupy my day chatting to the soldiers in my awful Spanish on the tank park as they tried to escape the heat, their officers and, after a few days, me. They are mostly conscripts, who serve for nine months of compulsory service for very little reward. It is a very unpopular system, full of abuse and as Spain becomes part of the military structttre of NATO, it is being phased out. Spain has a very different military tradition to Britain.

They did not take part in either the First or Second World Wars and during the forty years of Franco’s regimc, the army was little more than an oversized inter» nal security force. It has been very difficult for them to shake off this image, and this, together with the abolition of

Ma/ GMD McCullough RHG/D and friends

national service will lead to a much bigger recruiting problem than we have ever faced. Nevertheless, the army is justly very proud of its extensive service in Bosnia and they are very keen on all things NATO. I have met many officers and soldiers who have served on detach— ment with various British units in Bosnia and they are full of praise for our way of doing things. I can think of no better role model for the new Spanish armed forces.

The course itself is very different to ours at Bracknell.

There are 80 officers, including ll foreigners of whom six are NATO allies, four are South Americans and one is Korean. What the Korean is doing there, I have yet to find out, but I’m glad he is there, because he’s the only one who speaks worse Spanish than me.

Sadly, we spend very little time in small discussion groups, and rather too much time being lectured at. I really have to stay on my toes during these lectures, because at any moment, I could be asked to comment on the British point of view on a particular theme. I have had my back against the wall on a number of occasions concerning our seat on the UN Security Council, our non participation in the WEU and of course, Gibraltar.

The monotony of lectures is broken by week long exercises in different parts of Spain. I have just completed a command appointment on a logistic exercise as the GOC of 3 (UK) Div, in which we had to plan the deployment of the division as part ofan ARRC out ofarea intervention

operation. The Spanish use host nation support extensively, so it was interesting to visit, among other places, oil refineries to learn about pipeline capacities and fuel types.

Outside the course, I have had the oppor— tunity to see quite a lot of Spain. I spent my summer holiday trekking in Los Picos de Europa which is a spectacular mountain range on the north coast. I visited Pamplona during the San Fermines bull running fiesta which is definitely not for the faint hearted and I also spent some time at the palace of La Alambra near Grenada in the south.

So far, my time in Spain has been a rich experience. I have met lots ofinteresting people, I’ve eaten very well and I’ve learnt a lot. The Spanish are tremendous hosts and I hope that I will have the opportunity to serve in a Spanish speaking country again. When I return after graduating in front of His Majesty the King, it will take me some time to shake off Spanish habits, like taking lunch from 2pm until 5pm, but I suppose all good things must come to an end.

Household Cavalry News 74

Household Cavalry News

75

Exercise Maple Leaf 98 - Spruce Meadows

confidence but was more likely the result of the Riding Master’s new found meth~ ods of ensuring a quiet ride.

By Captain A Lawmnce LG he senior and junior ranks showjumping at Summer Camp had prepared this year’s team well for Spruce Meadows for the eight hundred thou— sand dollars prize money in the 1998 Du

Maurier International.

Bodney had

taught us that if unable to make a horse jump over anything but a flattened blade of grass then sitting still and looking smart were the next best thing.

‘The Masters’ held at Spruce Meadows just south of Calgary, Canada is the largest showjumping event in the world.

It features part of the Sansum Nations Cup and the world famous Du Maurier International, the richest prize in showiumping with first place receiving eight hundred thousand dollars and even number 40 receiving three thousand dollars.

The world’s best showjumpers attend, the British team consisted of John and Michael Whittaker, Geoff Billington and Nick Skelton. Also present were ten worthy members of the Household Cavalry!

The Household Cavalry Mounted Regi— ment has sent a team at the invitation of the Southern family for the last fourteen years and this year sent an enlarged team owing to the fact that the King’s Troop RHA were unable to attend. The team

obviously saddened by the above were further saddened to hear that Currie Bar— racks where previous teams had stayed had closed down and we would have to make do with a four star hotel. On find— ing that it had its own swimming pool and jacuzzi two team members were treated for depression!

The culmination of the Tournament came on the Sunday, British Day. After a short parade for the opening of the new

Having had the majority of the Regiment tell us with glee that that Air Canada was on strike when we were due to fly we suc» cessfully boarded our Canadian Air flight without a hitch. On arrival we were given a short tour of the facilities and briefly introduced to what were to take the place of our Cavalry Blacks for

the duration of the show.

had come from the plains of Batus that morning and a fly past of Gazelle helicopters, the Du Maurier International competition took place. With the tourna~ ment closed our work was finished with one exception. Owing to the Air Canada strike most ofthe grooms for the international teams had left before their horses

The next

morning these were thinned out to those the Riding Master and CoH Chambers, LG felt were suitable. Instantly sacked was Tranquillity, a three year old so small that should anyone have sat on her they would have been forced to use the rowels of their spurs as stabilisers. We had several days prior to the show starting on the Wednesday in which to prepare the horses for being ridden in state kit. It was actually more the case the team were being prepared to ride in front of large crowds at canter and not simply follow the horse in front. Having hidden our— selves away in the furthest menage possi» ble during the build up we were ready to make our entrance onto the international showjumping circuit.

Naturally as well as the hard work there was a certain amount of relaxation to be had. Most notable for this was ‘Cowboys’, a bar where the waitresses were unlikely to have had anything to do with roping a calf but whose silicon assets ensured the bar was always full and became a favourite. There was also the Ranchmans Party where anyone involved with the competition were invited for a country and western evening. The Household Cavalry eagerly took on the best at line dancing and Brit/sh Day

pavilion, involving elements ofHCR who

had been loaded. We were asked that with our horse expertise could we help.

The person asking had quite obviously been in a monks cell for the entire tour— nament but we agreed. Late at night we were let loose on the Airport runways with hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of horse flesh and a lead rope. Fortunately, all the horses were loaded and no team members were dragged down the international flight path.

Having completed the ‘work’ element of the exercise we departed to the Rockies for some adventure training. Banff and Lake Louise, both areas of some of the

most dramatic countryside in the world, were both Visited. Fortunately it was not the tourist season because the sight of ten white bodies relaxing in the sulphur springs would have seriously affected the local income. Perhaps the most dangerous part ofthe adventure training period was the scramble for the Ralph Lauren shop as we realised it was one third ofthe cost of the same in England.

We returned back to Calgary to say a fond farewell to the staff of Cowboys and with bulging hand luggage and far less enthusiasm for the eight hour flight than twenty days ago, we headed home.

Life in the Jungle - Two Views of Belize View One

as humanly possible. We also learnt how to be combat effective in the “J”.

by LCoH Canning LG produced their own free form version similar in many ways to those around them, however entirely lacking in style and co-ordination. The team also was hard at work charming those around them. Tpr Ward, RHG/D as the latest Princess Elizabeth Cup winner found himself unnofficial boot cleaner to the British team; whilst Major Sanderson relished his new role as press relations spokesman.

Throughout the week the ‘Radestky’ which we had to undertake at the end of each competition, where members of the Household Cavalry would canter round the arena leading the competitors, improved throughout the week. This may have been as a result of growing

Earlier this year Tpr Adamson, LG and I were fortunate enough to embark on a tour with 3 Coy (The Little Iron Men) 1 Welsh Guards to Belize, where men are men and insects are... I On arriving in Belize, we immediately broke into a sweat which never stopped.

After a week we deployed into the Jungle, the “J” as it is more commonly referred to by our friends with pieces of black tape over their eyes. This journey only took about 5 hours on a Freddie Krueger tour bus, with drivers that thought they were in the RAC Rally.

We finally reached our drop off point, the Basic Jungle School. After being grouped together in an ATAP (which is just simply a shelter), we were intro— duced to the highly skilled and slightly psychotic Jungle Warfare Instructors.

Weeks Three and Four were much more relaxing with a Range package and Adventure Training. We both learnt how to scuba dive which was a unique experience, especially in the Caribbean.

We also managed a visit to Cancun.

The final week was the Company Exer— cise. This started with a 5 Km tab to a company harbour area, it does not sound

far but in the “J” it is a long way. This provided our admin base and from here we carried out close target recces and section attacks, culminating in a large Company assault.

This was one of the hardest exercises I have ever been on, but I would go again tomorrow. I take one lasting memory from the whole experience and that is I never knew that water could taste so good.

For the next 4 weeks the Cotnpany was split into Platoon size groups and taught

View Two

how to live, survive and fight in the “J”.

by LCpl Flood LG

Week One was Basic Jungle School, this taught us all about our surroundings and how to use these to our advantage and also to suck in air from halfway round the world while getting lost on Navigation exercises. Week Two was the Intermediate Jungle School, which came as bit of a shock after The Basic School.

This phase was very demanding in the sense that we now had to ration our water supplies rather than drink as much

Tprs Grime, LG, Howland, LG and myself were attached to No 2 Coy, lWG in December 1998 for Exercise Native Trail in Belize. During this time we were trained how to fight, live and sur— vive in the big “J”. The three of us were put into different sections but in the same Platoon. The Platoons rotated through various activities. We started in Jungle School, this included contact

Tpr How/and. LG ford/n9 a rage/mg torrent,

drills, patrolling techniques, basic admin, how to set up an air marker balloon for emergencies, jungle first aid, radio operation and last but by no means least trying to navigate through the dense jungle.

At the end of the basic training we were about to start the next phase, when we were air lifted out to Belize City because Hurricane “MITCH” was approaching fast. Entering Belize City was daunting because all the traffic was heading the other way to get out! For the next couple of days with 45 Commando, we secured Airport Camp and transported Belizians out of Belize City to hurricane shelters.

We then spent a couple of nights in our own shelters. Luckily apart from the city flooding, the hurricane did not cause much damage and we could go back to training.

Household Cavalry News 76

Household Cavalry News

77

The next phase was live firing, this included firing with GPMG and rifles, grenade throwing and making impro— vised claymores and trip flares, and was designed to build on the basic phase.

This package started with individual fir« ing, where you act as lead scout and drill “pop up” targets. This was built up from team to section to a platoon live firing attack on an enemy camp which we had previously recced. All this gave us a

huge adrenaline buzz, a bit different to the APWT at Pirbright.

We then spent the next five days adventure training. The options were Scuba Diving, Sailing and Wind Surfing. I chose the diving and had an amazing experience diving on the second best

Morale was not high the next week when we returned to the Jungle to do the inter— mediate training. This had to be combined with the final exercise because of the lost time caused by the hurricane.

This was fully tactical and helped improve the skills already learnt. I’m no expert but one tip for you; always locate two trees for your hammock before “stand to” at last light otherwise you will spend a couple of hours looking for them in the dark, in other words walking into trees before finally setting up, then your hammock snaps and you end up getting soaked. Well I can laugh now!

The last few days we spent topping up our tans, mind you I have trouble remembering the rest thanks to the beautiful Jamaican Rum. Its grand.

Yeah man!

La Dolce Vita II ‘

.

By Captain C WG Rodway RHG/D

W‘WN“W-J ‘

55»mm... . M“l .

* LlFE Suagg’g . °E>w27

LCp/ Flood. LG and a pr’Bb/OLIS HCav Sin/He

reef in the world.

Royal Guards on Parade

By W0] (RSM) Manning RHG/D n the lst of September the Mounted Regiment despatched a party of sol— diers and horses to Holland to take part in a Dutch Royal Procession in com— memoration of the 100th anniversary of Queen Wilhelmina, who is the grand» mother of the present Queen. Cavalry

and carriages from all over Europe took part in the procession. In total there were 15 Royal Coaches and 36 Mounted troops from Britain, Denmark, Holland, Sweden and Spain all in ceremonial uniform and all in the grounds of the Royal Palace at Het Loo, Apeldorn.

a busy week; there were two evening parades on Thursday and Friday; a grand parade through the streets of Apel» dorn on Sunday and to top it all the stables were open to the public from 14001800 hrs daily. This made for a long day but everybody worked hard and showed the Regiment off in the best possible

The party arrived on Tuesday evening and after settling the horses down for the night were transported 35km to a bar~ racks in Harskamp, which was to be home for the week. The next morning, after a bizarre continental breakfast, we returned to the Palace stables. On arrival and with the aid of daylight the full splendour of the buildings and grounds became apparent. The rest ofthe contingents arrived throughout the day and it

started to feel as if we had been trans—

“its OK its only the English”.

ported back a 100 years.

We spent the first day sorting the horses

and equipment out but in true British fashion it began to rain and continued for a couple of days. After a briefing it soon became clear that it was going to be

The only other problem encountered in Holland was the food. The soldiers did not appreciate cheese and ham rolls for breakfast, cheese and ham rolls or raw fish for lunch and goulash for tea. Fortunately Holland is in the Western

Arriving at the airport, I straightaway hired a ‘Testa-rossa’ - it was Ferrari Red with a cream coloured soft top. It was the standard model so the steering wheel was unfortunately on the left—hand side and from dreams to harsh reality, they had spelt testa-rossa ‘Fiat Punto’. Unde— terred I headed off down the autostrada in search of adventure and more specifi» cally Montelibretti. Having never before had the joy ofa convertible, I jumped at the chance of having the fresh air rush— ing through my hair. As you can imag— ine, it was slightly unfortunate that it was to rain all ofthat first afternoon, as it did in fact for the rest of the week.

Montelibretti is the home of the Italian Cavalry.

It is located about 30 kms North ofRome- a mere 25 minutes ifyou start off heading in the right directionand comprises ofa beautiful, picturesque old white palazzo, once the seat of Roman Princes, overlooking some 800 acres of fertile rolling countryside. Here they train up their new recruits on their armoured vehicles, the 8 wheeled Blindo Centauro, juxaposing this activity with caring for 250 state bred horses, distributed through 5 different stable blocks. When I arrived, over half the

light.

The main highlight of the week was on Thursday morning when we returned and found the kit tent had been flooded by the torrential rain and was sinking fast. Despite huge efforts to stop the tent from sinking we had to move to the old Palace forge, the only spare dry space.

This was too good an opportunity to miss to get the kit dried out, so FLCpl Conroy was tasked to light the forge.

Unfortunately the forge had not been used in anger for some time and smoke alarms had been fitted, the inevitable occurred.

The Palace Guard was “crashed out” and soon appeared in the Forge, where they were heard to utter

hanks to my success last year in Italy with the pasta and pizzas and gain— ing the know»how of how to order them.

November 98 saw me lucky enough to again jet off to Rome, seated by chance beside a beautiful model on her way to do a one day fashion shoot. My mission ifl were to choose to accept it: to spend a week at the famous Italian Riding School (Scula Di Cavelleria) at Mon— telibretti near Rome.

officers were competing at international

SWBC/lSll Royal Guard

Hemisphere, so there were plenty of fast food joints to visit at all times of the day or night. It also seems that all these ceremonial Regiments seem to also have some similar Regimental personalities to us, for example every Regiment had a CoH Haddonl All in all it was a great event and we were all immensely proud to be involved in an event that is unlikely to take place again.

levels in England and France, so I was assigned to the best stable (Scuderia Nasello) and to the watchful if sometimes critical eye of Tenente Davido Carmignani.

Not knowing quite what to expect, I turned up the first morning in Service Dress (Mounted), looking forward to a guided tour around the complex, a few cheeky cappucucini, the chance to swap old cavalry war stories and importantly find out exactly where breakfast was to be had. The Italians have this habit of thinking one thimble size cup of explosive caffeine is enough to start the day with; I, on the other hand, did not.

Capt Rodway and Tenente Dav/do Cami/gnaw at the Rid/Hg School. Monte/threw

Instead, immediately on clapping eyes on me, Tenete Carmigani denied all knowledge and therefore responsibility for me (that old chestnuttol), then on being put in the Michaelangelo, escorted me to my own horse lines and showed me the 5 horses I was expected to ride that day. “I’m sorry, you’re Italian can’t be that good”, I told him in my best pizza-speak “I rather think you mean ‘week’ not ‘day’- better clear these things up straight away, I thought. An old saying says “ All roads lead to Rome”- just as well I had hired that car, because after that first day, I wasn’t in a fit state to walk to the Giamcomo, let alone the big city lights!

Day 2: woke up at 7 am. Sun streaming into my room. Birds singing on the ter— azza— very elegant these Italians, far too smart to have patios- and I thought to myself ‘It was all a dream’AAAGGGGHHHH! l l I! screamed every muscle in my body as I tried to get out of bed. OOOHHH!!! screamed the other one. It was at this point, I realised that I was in for a long week...

In fact, it was a most incredible experience. All the horses were of quality I have never experienced before, nor am I ever likely to again. All were International standard and two had competed at the Atlanta Olympics. I spent the whole time worried whether or not I would inflict any long-lasting damage on them.

As a race, their horses are slighter than our cross~draught blacks. However their

ability for jumping was amazing. Their method of schooling took a bit of getting used to as there were regularly ll Officers exercising their horses. Some were practising jumping, others dressage, others canter work-but all at the same time, and in the same arena. It was quite crucial to have not just eyes in the back of your head, but also a sixth sense of where the others were at all times.

The week passed very quickly, though since I was spending between 7 and 8 hours a day in the saddle, my exaggerat— ed gait never quite left me as I walked down the streets. I finished off my time, spending a recuperating weekend, sitting down watching the World Cup Show Jumping Finals in the Flaminium Stadium in Rome, where I saw the young Brazilian, Rodrigo Pessoa, crowned champion in front of his 60 something year old father, Nelson, who had also competed in the same competition. It was an incredible standard to be privy to watching and the sight of some of these horses leaping seemingly effortless over some 40 jumps each was breathtaking.

Overall, it was a fascinating and unique week, though not the swan which all imagined and certainly brings the comfort of a quiet hack around Hyde Park warmly back to mind. My thanks to all who made it possible and I look forward to hosting my opposite number when he visits. Arriverderci.

Household Cavalry News 78

Household Cavalry News

79

Visit to the Gendarmerie Nationall,

Guarde Republlcalne, Regiment de Cavalerie

Visit from the Garde Republicaine

By Captain HF Whitbread RHG/D 53‘ CoH Parkinson LG he reason for the invitation to visit n Friday, 18th December, 1998, The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment was host to a visit from the Regi— ment de Cavalerie of the Garde Republi— caine. They provide the mounted escorts in Paris to the French President, as well as being seen at other times in a ceremonial role. They are very much our c0un~ terparts in France, both in that they directly descend from the Garde Imperi— al and in their mixing of ceremonial duties with normal policing (they are Gendarmerie, not Army).

With the assistance of the efficient Eurostar we arrived at Garde de Nord and immediately became spectators to their equivalent of the Major General’s Parade at their elegant Barracks, Quarti— er Celestins. Rather than the entire Regiment drill, the various display teams performed their particular routines.

Their equestrian ability was astounding, and Olympia in December will be wit— ness to the spectacular Les Douze, a synchronised dressage team.

The Guarde Republicaine has over five hundred horses. They are situated in three separate barracks in Paris built all in fine settings. On our second day, we were taken by Adjutant Chef Chattier (Captain of the Show Jumping team) to Quartier Carnot situated in the Bois de Vincennes. Here we had a chance to ride horses who compete regularly in Class B show jumping. A privilege and experi— ence neither CoH Parkinson or I will ever forget On the Saturday, we were once again spoilt with a rare privilege. Four of us rode around Paris on a guided tour of the city’s grand sights. Possibly the most remarkable part of the tour was riding across the lethal Place de Concorde where Parisians stopped for the first time to look in amazement as we strode across. This was the first such tour the Guarde Republicaine had ever done.

L to R’ Capt HF Whrteheacl Fll—lGlD, L! F Clement Guarde Reptrblrca/ne, Col-l Park/risen LG and Ad/utant Ch/el Cnamler Guarde Republicaine outslde the Louvre. Paris

The following day we visited the Centre de instruction du Regiment de Cavalerie Saint—Germain—en—Laye. This is their Training Wing. After a wild and poten— tially dangerous ride through the Bois de Boulonge we had the chance to ride their remounts. To see their facilities and professionalism it is hardly surprising that these young horses would eventually go on to compete at National Level.

The grand finale was the State Visit. The weather was perfect, bright winter sun, and to see the Regiment in all their fin—

ery was impressive. The parade went well and the delight and honour the Guarde Republicaine openly displayed at escorting our Sovereign was obvious.

Afterwards we delayed our Eurostar by a couple of hours and settled down to a well deserved Parisian Lunch.

Lieutenant Clement and Adjutant Chaf Chattier made our visit to the Guarde Repulicaine something we will never forget. We look forward to trying to return their hospitality when they come to Olympia in December.

There has been a close link between our Regiments for some time, with exchanges of officers and NCOs happening each year. The ceremony on the 18th December, was the formal twinning of HCMR & Le Regiment de Cavalerie and took the form of the old QLG (RHG/D) and a similar amount of mounted soldiers from The Life Guards and Le Garde. They walked and trotted past a dais which had a number of visitors in addition to the Commanding Officer and Commander Household Cavalry. They were The Major-General, Major—General

Lt Col Alexandre srgns the twinnrng document, watched by Lt Gen Poyou Col Faulkner OBE, Maj Gen WebbCarter OBE and the Commanding Off/oer

E.].Webb—Carter, O.B.E., and Lieutenant-General J Poyou who commands the Garde Republicaine, with his deputy, the Commanding Officer of the Regiment de Cavalerie, LieutenantColonel R. Alexandre.

The day was a tremendous success and historic parchments were signed to record the event. It will lead to more exchange trips in the future which have already proved to be a useful exchange of ideas and practices as well as tremendous fun.

The Life Guards, Garde Republrca/ne and Blues and Royals on parade in Hyde Park Barracks

ill 5:] l

l

j_[']|‘l“l.

the Guarde Republicaine was two fold. Firstly it enabled the two regi— ments to get to know each other for a Friendship Ceremony in December and secondly to see the preparations for the State Visit by her Majesty The Queen on Armistice Day.

Stopp/ng for a coffee outside L'Hote/ lmra .. 1.

On monday morning, we found ourselves involved in their equivalent of a Lord Chamberlain’s Rehearsal.

Once again they spoilt us with a privilege reserved for Heads of State. We were escorted up the

Champs Elysees by thirty motorbikes and a mere three hundred horses. To step out of the car at the Arc de Triumph with a mounted band play the National Anthems and give a Royal Salute which was perhaps a little to much even for our egos.

80

Household Cavalry News

Household Cavalry News

The Household Cavalry Sports Roundup The Household Cavalry Ski Team 1998/9 Exercises Powderhound and Spartan Hike 1999

As Race Week progressed, the Team played host to various members of the Regiment, with two particular LCsoH bringing nothing but flue to the apart~ ment and its occupants. This period also saw the arrival of a particular page three model, which led to a slight lapse in LCoH Bassett’s concentration and made Galaxie Apartment 111 an understandably popular residence for much of Verbier.

fter a successful year in 1998, finishing second in both the RA and Divisional Championships, we sadly lost LCoH Beech and Capt Fox-Pitt due to commitments elsewhere.

The Team, however, was held together by LCoH Tate, now in his seventh year of racing,

and having been at the core of much of the previous year’s success. LCoH Bassett was returning for his third year, with Tpr Eastick and Ct Scott, having taken part in the 1998 racing, also in the team. The final slots were taken by Lt James Blount and Lt Johnny Rees— Davies, the latter having claimed to be a skier of considerable excellence, thus securing his place. He was, however, quite clearly confused between skiing and snowboarding: a sport in which he probably excelled, but sadly not one in which we competed.

LCsoH Tate and Bassett were delayed due to courses, as was Tpr Eastick, so it was a small car, laden with equipment and three Subalterns that left for Verbier on the 29 November. These same three Subalterns finally arrived in Verbier three days later, with slightly less equip— ment and no car. Ct Scott’s car, three pairs of race skis, and Lt Blount’s rather feminine wardrobe still remains in a Charred heap somewhere near Dijon.

Having overcome the early setback, Ct Scott managed to regain control of his

LCOH Bassett Mod not on the job' "‘2 . ‘1.s t ,

regular top five finishes, followed by Lt Blount, who all too frequently knocked Ct Scott into third place in the Team, and LCoH Bassett acting as the anchor man.

Tpr Eastick and Lt R—D made up an Air Cavalry Team with two other members from the Army Air Corps, much to Tpr Eastick’s horror. Tpr Eastick continued to improve, having been last year’s novice.

Race week ended as it had begun with a second place finish in the Downhill, Ct

Scott’s weight for once paying off over that of Lt Blount’s. Tpr Eastick and Lt R-D ended their exercise with their best performances in the Downhill. After remedial speed training, the performance of Lt R-D was particularly noted: as one instructor pointed out at the time, he resembled a juggernaut on the verge of jack—knife, but he managed to maintain his speed throughout the race.

Verbier complete and the cups having been won, the four remaining members of the Team set sail for Serre Chevalier, in a four gear minibus with a lovesick LCoH Bassett in tow.

The Divisional Championships proved an outstanding success. LCoH Tate hit form in some style, with a win in the Super-Giant Slalom, and a second in the Giant Slalom. Lt Blount continued to improve, and much to his delight wit—

nessed Ct Scott being rapidly demoted to fourth man behind LCoH Bassett.

Sadly, due to appalling snow conditions, the racing had to be complete by 0930, so much of the day was spent conducting dry training, up and down the hills under the supervision of PTI Bassett.

The Team won three of the four events, thus winning one ofthe hills and capturing the 3 Division Championship prize.

As we move forward to the Army Finals, LCoH Tate continues to show great form, and with fingers crossed should be the first Household Cavalryman to be selected for the Army Team. LCoH Bassett has undoubtedly broken through into the senior ranks of Regimental skiers, and Lt Blount will continue to ski well.

The Cresta Run administration, find somewhere to live, and beg, borrow and steal all the essen— tials required for a skiing exercise. The

final three members of the Team arrived ten days later, with further equipment, ten cases of liquid sponsorship kindly provided by Fuller’s, fresh underwear and Lt Blount’s guitar.

The first four weeks of the exercise were spent training through poles in preparation for the final week’s racing. The Swiss had yet again provided some excellent instructors, many of whom had been

working with the Army for up to fifteen years. The Team was spread evenly from groups one to six, with LCoH Tate lead— ing the field in group one. However,

early results proved that lower order skiers all too regularly surpassed the more experienced skiers. After Ct Scott’s success in last year’s speed events (Super—G, Downhill), which many put down to his well covered build. He went into intensive training from an early stage, frequenting many of the local patisseries in a bid to recapture his old form.

The start of Race Week coincided with New Year, but we kicked off the racing with a steady second behind an almost untouchable Army Air Corps team. This set a trend that was to continue through— out the remainder of the Championships. LCoH Tate led the Team with

LCOH Tate on his way to Win/7mg {he D/VtS/ona/ Super G.

By: Captain 7 E A Digs—Chambers RHG/D he Cresta team of 1998 consisted of Captain LEA Chauveau RHG/D (team captain), Captain J F Fuller LG and Captain JEA Ings—Chambers (Cresta Crow).

go slowly on their first run but Captain Ings—Chambers actually managed to double the suggested time.

With an uneventful trip down to “the English resort” of St Moritz the team found their manager for the week, Captain P] Chauveau a Territorial officer with 21 SAS, Artistes Rifles, firmly ensconced in the team chalet.

It is worth noting that “Brother Paul” as he is known in the Chauveau famille had occupied an extremely smart apartment at the head of the Cresta, almost within spitting distance. On hearing of the teams imminent arrival and dire straits concerning accommodation, he uppedsticks and moved to a larger pad that could house everyone. This apartment was a full 10 minute drive away and put paid to the coach’s lie-in each morning.

It is safe to say that without his extreme generosity the team would have never

Paul Chauveau then took on the “Cresta Crow” as his seasons project and with some careful and intensive coaching had the new boy collect a time faster than any produced by the other 2 in their previous seasons ~ and this was just the sec— ond run!

Enter the team coach stage left!

This new found competition allied with a well oriented team spirit and, of

course, assisted with some expert coaching found all 3 team members clocking excellent times and coming close to winning several medals. In amongst all these successes one or two Shuttle Cock ties were won, a prize for exiting the run at its fastest and most dangerous point but this did not put the intrepid ama— teurs off.

The author of this article can safely say that the Cresta Run gives one an adrenaline buzz second to none and it is true, there is only one run scarier than your first - your second!

Capt JEA lugs-Chambers on the Cresta

left HCMR. Chauveau Minimus, for there are 4 in total, and Fuller launched themselves down the rttn without so much as a heavy gulp and pulled in times nearing their last years best. lugs-Chambers set off, after his beginners safety brief, like a bat out of hell. All beginners are told to

Household Cavalry News

Household Cavalry News

83

HCR Rugby

Polo

by Captain N P Sackett RHG/D

By Cornet R H A Lewis RHG/D

he resurgence of Rugby continues, with even more players coming forward; C and D Sqn Ldrs are threatening to make an appearance and the Operations officer is bidding for a place ( I do hope the balaclava doesn’t impede his vision). Last season was extremely hard for some of the younger players who had only just made the step into senior Rugby. The pace of training and games at times was very demanding, they all tried hard and this should have given us a good grounding for next season.

Due to commitments and various postings this year, the Regimental Polo Team was not able to further the suc— cesses of the previous season. Whilst we were only able to enter two tournaments this season, it was good to see ten members of the Regiment, both past and present, take part in the Inter-Regimental.

The Cup however, still eludes the team although two members of the Victorious Sandhurst team have now joined the Reg— iment. This should hopefully provide a strong team for the future. The Captains and Subalterns Cup was returned unchallenged however the gap in the silver room was filled with a victory in the Subsidiary Final in the Major General’s.

At the time of writing last year’s journal, the team had only lost one game. The statistics at the end of the season read Played 14 Won 9 Lost 5. The S that were lost on 3 occasions were to teams playing top quality Rugby, those being WG, l RSME and the RAC Centre.

The remaining 2 were to 16 AD Regt RA, a team that have become a bogie team as far as the HCR is concerned.

Having been in 2 semis and 1 final, the only silverware we came away with was a runners up medal in the Prince of Wales Cup Final This was a punishing game and started off at a fairly brisk pace, WG played the game we expected. Forward orientated with a well drilled pack and extremely

experienced backs. This put us on the back foot from the start, and unfortunately did not allow our backs to receive the necessary ball to run with. As soon as the backs got good ball they crossed the gain line, and the WG backs were constantly threatened by the blistering

pace of CoH Wells on the wing.

minutes in the middle of the park, with a slight territorial advantage to HCR,

while WG had most of the possession.

There was some awesome tackling with

CoH Hodder LCpl Brown and Tpr Trencher standing out.

The flankers LCsoH Trinick and Hemming were like terriers around the scrum not allowing anything to get through. After 22 min— utes WG scored and scored twice more

before half time.

The second half , got underway at a pace

that caught WG out. HCR were camped in the WG 22 for 10 minutes, however

RHG/D and Cornet MPF Dollar RHG/D both represented the Combined Services on a tour to America.

Again it looks as if this year’s season may well be a lean one. With two squadrons in Bosnia for most of the season and other commitments the availability of players will certainly be reduced.

Enthusiasm is still high and with a new weekend format for the Inter-Regimental, it is hoped that we may be able to enter a winning team.

Sub Aqua

By Captain M P Goodwin—Hudson RHG/D the defense was strong and we could not capitalize on our advantage. Early in the half SCpl (SQMC) Smith who had made a come back for this game was forced to come off the pitch with a cut head. This weakened the pack and, together with a couple of poor refereeing decision, helped WG to take control of the game.

They scored a number of tries without HCR replying. The final result was an decisive win for WG 40 — 0.

SSgt Ward APTC SSgt Snell REME LSgt Hughes REME LCoH Hemming Tpr Williams

to civilian life.

Posted.

Posted. to civilian life. to civilian life.

The team wishes to thank them for their support during last season especially Tpr Williams who has played for the Regiment since the heady days of RHG/D Rugby in Germany.

he Club has been running for two years and has over twenty members.

Membership is available to those within the Regiment and their spouses alike.

In the last year, four new sets of diving kit have been bought, opening up the possibility to train and organise more expeditions. Also the club has started to use the swimming pool at St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington which is a convenient location for instructing new com-

ers.

What of this season. Because of com— mitments to OPFOR BATUS our season as a team will not start until after

Christmas.

Prince of Wales Cup Flnal . CoH Flees ln lull swmg.

There have been a number of day trips to Stoney Cove, where it is possible to

RAC Corps level has LCOH Cann/ng about to take me plunge.

already started and HCR is represented at this level by CoH Rees, LCoH

Trinick, The game was played for the first 20

With the arrival of two new officers, Cornet MPF Dollar RHG/D and Cornet N P Harrison RHG/D, the number of officers who play on a regular basis rose to seven.

It was also a good year for foreign tours.

The Silver Stick led a successful tour to Jordan where they were extremely well looked after.

The team, showing a wealth ofexperience consisted ofColonel PSWF Falkner LG, Major CN Mitford— Slade LG, Major CA Lockhart RHG/D and Captain SA Tomes RHG/D. The match was played on open handicap and was won 6-2 by the home side. However as the team are quick to point out played under handicap the final score line would have read 6—6. Cornet RHA Lewis

LCpl

Brown

and

Tprs

Trencher and Bullen.

WOZ (SCM) Grantham has hung up his boots or will he make a come back? He has attended and passed a coaching course and will coach the backs. W02 (RQMC) Harris will coach the front 3. This leaves SCpl (SQMC) Smith to concentrate on the remainder of the pack.

We have said goodbye to some members of the team who have left to go to HCMR so we will see them on our annual fixture, to those thanks for your support.

The following have been posted away from the Regiment and will be greatly missed.

dive on a sunken aeroplane, to Swanage using an inflatable, and to Datchet.

These open water dives have been ideal qualifiers for the club’s six new Novice trained members who are trying to pass their Sports Diver qualification.

By far the most exciting expedition has been Ex FIRST SPLASH in May this year. This involved ten members of the club staying at The Joint Services Sub Aqua Diving Centre in Fort Bovisand in Plymouth for a long weekend.

Tpr Adamson In a! the deep end

There were eighteen hours of man dives with each person having four dives. Two dives were carried out in the harbour following the nature trail, one by day and the other at night. The remaining two were done using the inflatable off the break water on the Plymouth Sound.

Depths of fifteen to sixteen metres were reached, and on the whole there was excellent visibility (between eight to ten metres plus) and plenty of fish to see.

These dives were logged and went towards individuals next dive qualifications.

An expedition had been planned to take the club out to South Africa and dive off Capetown in The New Year. Sadly there has not been the time to complete the organisation of this particular exercise.

However The South African Defence Force have said that they are willing to support this venture and the Club will meet in January to review a possible date for 1999.

The Regimental Sub Aqua Diving Club is a great opportunity for members of the Regiment to take up a challenging and exciting new sport. All members have to join The British Sub Aqua Club and as such all qualifications gained whilst diving with the Regiment are valid outside the Army and indeed all over the world. So be encouraged as not only can The Household Cavalryman fly, drive and ride, but he also now has the opportunity to dive as well! Those interested in joining should contact SCpl Newman in the Forge.

Household Cavalry News 84

Household Cavalry News

85

based to clean her from stem to stern and to catch the plane back to London and, for most, the Queen’s Life Guard. Gladeye is a thoroughbred cruising yacht, yet easy for a mostly novice crew to handle after a couple of days. Most had never sailed before, but before the week was out, they had experienced a 100 mile off— shore passage at night and moored and anchored the boat in all sorts of tricky situations. Everyone enjoyed it and I think that we will have a few more volunteers to sail next year. It is hoped that she will stay some where warm in order that the season can be as long as possible to benefit as many soldiers as possible.

Everyone who sails on board Gladeye is very lucky and long may she continue to sail the seas !

Sailing

By Captain G WHowson LG he only opportunity for organised sailing for the Household Cavalry came in July when the Mounted Regiment took part in a wider expedition organised by the Household Division on

board Gladeye. Crews from the Foot Guards had sailed her out to the Mediterranean, enduring terrible weather on the way, in order that some very

fortunate officers and soldiers could enjoy some magical sailing in warm water and warm weather. The Regiment at Windsor could not participate in any way, owing to full commitment to train— ing in Canada.

We booked 2 weeks in July, when the weather in Spain is almost at its hottest, and the Regiment is almost at its qui» etest. As ever, the troops were not eager to release valuable soldiers, who could

have been helping get the horses fit for Summer Camp, but the benefit and the enjoyment for the participants was immeasurable. The Adjutant, Captain GW Howson LG, led the way and 10 Other Ranks were picked to form the crew. We split the trip in to 2 legs in order that more individuals should ben— efit from the experience. The crew for the first leg consisted of CoH Everett LG, LCpl Pratt LG, Tprs Smith and Hogg, both LG and Tprs Parker and Sanders, both RHG/D. The second crew consisted of Capt GW Howson LG, CoH Everett LG, Tprs Stockhill and

Williams, both LG and Tprs Hunt and Millington, both RHG/D. The range of experience on the water varied but we were kept on an even keel by the boatswain of Gladeye, LSgt Court Gren

Gds. Each leg followed roughly the same route. We sailed north along the coast from Alicante, past Benidorm, to Calpe.

We stopped in Alicante itself Where it was immediately noticed that the Span-

ish way of life was remarkably different from that in Northern Europe. Nothing happens in the evening until past midnight and it all goes on until 6 in the morning ! The sailing was consequently left, on occasion, to the more dedicated yachtsmen and mornings were quiet and peaceful as people caught up on sleep as we sailed. Initially, we were stricken by light winds, so we indulged in some offshore swimming. As we drifted at less than 2 knots, we trailed a long line and

The unusual s/ght of the Adjutant Capt GW Howson LG and CoH Everett LG pa/jrd/vmg while Tor Hunt RHGlD looks on

some fenders for everyone to be towed lazily through the sea. Occasionally we were graced by the presence of dolphins swimming alongside.

After some fantastic freshly caught local seafood in Calpe - each of us had two whole barbequed lobsters — we set sail for Ibiza, some 60 miles away. After several hours of decent wind, it died away and we ended up motoring in to an anchor— age late at night — not an easy feat in a crowded anchorage on a dark night. At the anchorage, we went ashore on the fol— lowing day to explore the nearby hot sulphur springs, after which we had a glori— ous sail for the few miles in to Ibiza Town itself. Two days in Ibiza proved

almost too much for even the most hardened of Household Cavalrymen and, ultimately, we had to head for home.

The best passage of sailing was the last as we struck out for Santa Pola — 100 miles from point to point. We sailed overnight and initially we were very dis» appointed to have the wind on the nose.

A weather front came through and suddenly we were enjoying fabulous broad reaching conditions. Surfing across the waves in 25 knots of breeze in the dark is a wonderful experience and we covered the ground remarkably quickly.

Morning saw us approaching the mainland and we headed along the coast and back into the marina where Gladeye is

Tpr Williams LG Checking the tel/eta/es on board Gladeye » July 98

Other than the Gladeye trip, there were 3 Household Cavalry crews at the annual Household Division Seaview Regatta.

Major CA] O’Kane LG, the RMO at Windsor, was consistent as ever and held on to his wooden spoon after 2 day’s hotly~contested racing.

Major GMD McCullough RHG/D, now at the Spanish

Staff College, formed a crew, including an Olympic bronze medallist in the form of Majoi‘(Retd) DJG Mahoney, formerly LG. Unfortunately, Major Mahoney won his bronze medal in Modern Pentathlon and was consequently oflittle use to Major McCullough. The Mounted Regiment crew, consisting of Captain GW Howson LG, Captain MG Holden— Craufurd LG and Lieutenant M Swetman RHG/D, then a Troop Leader at Bovington, raced consistently, when they weren’t flying the small main as a foresail, and had some decent finishes to fin— ish 3rd overall.

The only other sailing activity took place on board the Adjutant’s Hobie Catamaran, with Captain A Lawrence LG, admitting after 2 hours at sea in a Force 6 that he did not really like the water that much !

Sailing at Knightsbridge is carried out by only a few, unfortunately, since there is not that much scope to release people to go on courses. Those who do partici-

Tp/ Stockh/ll LG, lunch on board Gladeye

pate, however, enjoy it enormously and it gives mounted dutymen who work extremely hard a chance to relax and enjoy a wonderful sport.

Swimming

By Captain C WG Rodway RHG/D Finding time at Knightsbridge to train and practise for sports has always been hard not least for the swim— ming teams who have always had the problem of where to train. 1998 was to prove a good year, partly because early on in the season, a deal was struck with Imperial College to allow us to use their pool at Paddington for training. There— fore, almost without fail, every Wednes» day afternoon, the Minibus crammed with aspiring paddlers set off for Paddington. Another key to our success this year was the quality of the instruc— tors.

Under the tutorage of LCoH McCormack and Guardsman Mount (who incidentally is now away swimming for the Army), the team was not just beasted to the point of exhaustion/drowning (another reason why I decided to give up smoking), but actually learnt swimming tactics, tumble turns and swimming under water with your mouth closed!

The first trial of strength was the UK Inter Unit Swimming Championships at the Arborfield Military Pool on 25 June 1998. Here we were drawn against the

likes of Nijmegen Company, Grenadier Guards, 1 DWR, l6 Regt RA and the RLC. The championships were a mixture of individual and relay races.

Strong performances were brought in by LCoH Fearnley, LCpl Flood, Tprs Jaworski and Adamson for the Life Guards and Tprs Ward, Scott, Parker and Holt for the Blues and Royals. LCpl Mackenzie the only HQ Squadron member, proving the old saying of quality before quantity. After an increasingly tense bout with the Grenadier Guards in the finals, we came second overall. This was just a warm up for later, because this race qualified the team for the District Championships a week later, again at Aborfield. Encouraged on by the team captain, LCoH Moore LG, the team did brilliantly against stronger competition and won the event with medals all round.

Buoyed up by his success, it was a confident team that arrived at Sandhurst on 2 July 1998 to compete in the Army Single Event Relay Swimming Competition.

Here we faced competition from teams army-wide and although every member of the team swam to within a whisker of

his life, it was only to be in the Butterfly Relay» a stroke which HCMR has made its personal strength, under the expert tuition of Guardsman Mount and Philip Guy Esq. — were we were to find our form, coming in a close second to the Royal Logistic Corps. Overall we were finally placed 14 out of 24 teams, which although was not what we had hoped for, nevertheless was worthily fought for and at the end of the day the teams which pipped us to the post were better.

It has been a successful year, we managed to get the team out to train, whatever the commitments the Regiment have thrown at us and the results we achieved were a credit to all the members who put the time to train in and the coaching staff who gave up their time. Thanks are also due to Mr Bob Webb of Imperial College who so helpfully set up the programme for us and readily accommodated all last minute schedule changes.

Looking ahead, the main bulk of the 98 team is still with us and we look forward to the new year and its challenges.

Household Cavalry News 86

Household Cavalry News

87

HCMR Cricket

By Capt MG Holden—Craufurd LG It is said that in the majority of the

with Captain MG Holden-Craufurd, LG

regions of Russia, there is a perfect cli-

collecting 3 for 21 and LCpl Pettifer LG Taking 2 for 18. CoH Halfhide, RHG/D

mate for summer cricket. If only we had such luck this year, with many games being cancelled due to the weather. The Regiment did however manage to get to the final of the London District Major Units competition, where we faced up to 26 Field Artillery once again. This year however we had a stronger team which promised a lot, but once again saw the all too familiar middle order collapse.

The bowlers bowled well, but could not defend the small target. So for the sec— ond year in succession HCMR were run—

ners up.

We were slightly more blessed with weather, if not prowess at Summer Camp. At the annual and most enjoy— able fixture against Watton C. We were a little surprised that they opened at both ends with spin bowling on a poor wicket. It soon became apparent that this was an excellent tactic with the ball moving in all sorts of directions, and our top 6 batsmen departing without 20 runs on the board. Captain A Lawrence LG and LCpl Ireland RHG/D restored some pride with a partnership of over 50, and presented a reasonable target for the opposition. The bowlers performed well

performed well behind the stumps, tak~ ing a memorable catch to dismiss their most dangerous batsman However Watton CC went home victorious win« ning by four wickets.

In the second week of camp the Warrant Officers and Senior Non—Commissioned Officers were baying for blood after their defeat at the hands of the Officers the previous year. The Officers scored well with Captain MG Holden—Craufurd LG and Captain HF Whitbread remaining unbeaten on 47 and 38 respectively. The Officers bowling was the surprise pack— age with notable performances from Lieutenant Colonel HS] Scott LG and Major JDA Gaselee LG. WOII (SCM)

Lanahan LG held out the only resistance to the punishing onslaught, and the Offi— cers ran out the winners once again.

The Past and Present match was a close fought and high scoring draw. It was memorable for the run out of the Cornmanding Officer by retired Captain Sir JHF Fuller LG when the former was on 49. Retired Captain LEA Chauveau

RHG/D was unfortunate to fall 3 short of his maiden half—century after an

unplayable ball from Captain MG Holden-Craufurd.

Sadly, once again the match was not well supported by past members of the two Regiments but it is hoped that this may be rectified next year. If any readers are interested in supporting what is always an excellent day, please contact the Cricket Officer, Hyde Park Barracks for further details.

The Blue and Royal plan did not go completely to plan and did this not make it through to the quarter—finals.

One or two closet rugby players came out of the woodwork, in particular CoH Moore from 1 Troop RHG/D whose tim— ing in the tackle was superb and could be found scything down the opposition at any available opportunity. He and CoH Barrett from 3 Troop RHG/D seemed to develop some sort of CoH Club and insisted on passing only to each other during most matches.

Although this unofficial plan spearheaded the RHG/D Squadron’s team assaults it proved fruitless until CoH Moore off loaded the ball, by mistake, to Captain J E A lugs-Chambers (Joss) RHG/D who scored in classic full-stretch style in the corner - one of the few tries that day.

The LG Squadron team had a little more success, qualifying for the quarterfinals. Unfortunately some strict refer-

eeing had deprived the team of one or

two important elements by this stage and so the quest for the trophy stopped there. Nonetheless, for an unpractised, undrilled team they proved the depth of

talent that is held in the Regiment and how the Regimental team could look forward to some fine performances dur— ing the season.

Team Members 1998 Capt A Lawrence LG

Lt Col HS] Scott LG LCpl Pettifer LG Capt LEA Chauveau RHG/D

LCpl Ireland 20 RHG/D WOII (SCM) Lanahan LG

LCpl Ireland 48 RHG/D

Tpr Simons LG

Capt MG Holden—Craufurd LG LCpl Jacobs LG

CoH Halfhide RHG/D

HCMR Football Team

By Captain MP Goodwin—Hudson RHG/D he Football team has had a fine season winning half of its matches in the London District League, finishing as runners up in the District Six-a—Side Competition and going on a very success» ful weekend tour in Melton Mowbray.

HCMR Rugby

By Captain ] E A lugs-Chambers RHG/D lthough this season is not properly underway we have had a few sur— prises.

corps side. With the full onset of the Regimental season it is hoped to nurture these players and make their places in

the Corps side permanent.

The Regimental matches that were to be played for the local military competi— tions have all ended up being cancelled to date, and so not much rugby has been played Regimentally. We have, however, supplied players to the Royal Armoured Corps side based at Bovington. The team management have instituted a sys— tem of calling for players 2 days before

the match for some pre-match training in order to build up some cohesion of play - a problem always inherant with a

The General Officer Commanding London Districts Sports Day proved to be another worthwhile day. As always producing the appointed sides on the day was not without its problems but all the

teams,

including

the

Life Guards

Squadron and the Blues and Royals Squadron rugby teams, arrived at Wool— wich ready to roll up their sleeves and dispatch any opposition that stood in their way en route to the 7—a-side trophy.

The Regimental team is a young side and has been characterised by strong gutsy performances interspersed with flashes of brilliance and error alike. A fine example of this was the Regiments 9—0 defeat against a well organised Welsh Guard’s team, followed a week later by a satisfying 3—1 victory for the Regiment against the same team.

The six—a-side tournament in September at Woolwicli against other members of London District was an exceptional performance. The Regiment put in two teams and played with great élan and skill against some well groomed opposition (at least two of the teams arrived complete with change of strip, coaches,

medics, sponsors, go faster glucose drinks, and hairstyles etc). The B team were hampered by an early injury to LCpl MacNamara, RHG/D and narrow— ly missed the quarter finals. The A team went all the way to the finals scoring a total oftwenty—eight goals in the process, only to be beaten by a very professional team from one of the Support Arms.

The Melton Mowbray tour against the DAC has become an annual event and went very well this year. The matches proved hard to referee as both sides were equally well matched and the final result were a fair reflection, with one victory apiece. The tour was marked by some fine performances both on and off the field. Sadly LCoH Brown, RHG/D was badly injured and was forced to hang up his boots for the rest of the season.

Although the season’s results are based on the Teams performances, certain players are particularly worthy ofa note. Tpr Jordan, LG consistently played with

great authority in the back four, and he and Tpr Corcoran, RHG/D thoroughly deserve their places in The Royal Armoured Corps Team. In the midfield Tpr Ward, RHG/D never stopped run— ning and he and LCpl Ireland, RHG/D made a very effective pair. LCoH Hock» ings, RHG/D played some silky football for the six—a-side team, up front, scoring more than twelve goals out of the seven matches. Perhaps one of the greatest moments for the team was when LCoH Auld, LG stopped shouting from the touch line, and came on as centre forward in the closing moments ofthe game against Notting Hill Police and scored two goals on the volley to give the Regi~ ment a 3-1 victory.

Looking ahead, the team is well poised to build upon what it has learnt in the last year, and it should be an excellent season. Those recently joining the Regi— ment who are interested in applying for team selection should contact SSgt Wood on Tel No LONDIST Ext 2514

Household Cavalry News 88

Household Cavalry News

89

HCR Football Team News from the Associations his year has had a very slow start due to the fact that the Regiment has

been on OPFOR in BATUS. We fin» ished 5th in LONDIST Division 2 last season having played 8 games. This sea— son we hope to achieve a better position even vying for promotion by the time the Regiment deploys to Bosnia.

There is a good crop of yottngsters coming through including Tpr Ingram—Mitchell who will soon be having trials with Read— ing Football Club. Also the team now has a qualified Football Coach in Maj Maund who runs the Education Centre in Combermere Barracks. The future looks good with old and new Regimental play— ers combining together well in training.

So far this season we have played 2 League matches due to weather and State Visits, we have won one and lost one and at times playing some quality football.

We also have the Cup competitions to look forward to, especially the Cavalry Cup which we hope to do well in this

The Life Guards Association Annual Report 1998 Patron Her Majesty The Queen

year.

President

Committee

Major General Lord Michael Fitzallan Howard

Chairman: Lieutenant Colonel HS] Scott

GCVO, CB, CBE, MC, DL Vice Chairman: Major GGE Stibbe

Fencing and the Modern Pentathlon

Trustees of The Life Guards

Vice Chairman: Major ]DA Gaselee

Charitable Trust

Honorary Treasurer: Captain LD Stratford MBE Honorary Secretary: Captain R Hennessy—Walsh

Lieutenant Colonel HS] Scott

By Capt Rj’CD Phelps LG

Major ]DA Gaselee he Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment Fencing Club was formed in April 1998 with LCpl Woods LG, as Club Coach. Other members at this time were Captain CEO Allerton LG, CoH Wharton RHG/D, Sgt Hunter AGC (SPS), L/Cpl Royston LG, Tpr Bysouth LG & Tpr Ryan RHG/D. After only a few lessons, several mem— bers of the team attended the Army Fencing Championships held at Gibraltar Barracks, near Minley in Surrey. The results gained were a particular credit to those who took part, especially consider— ing the relatively short time in which they had had to practice in relation to the other teams. Captain Allerton reached the last 16 ofthe Men’s Senior Sabre and Sgt Hunter gained a veritable hat—trick of places, gaining Gold in the Ladies Epee and Bronze in both the Ladies Foil and Sabre. The ability to do so well in all three disciplines represents a considerable achievement. Also at this tournament was the Club Coach, LCpl Woods who was also placed in all three weapons, doing best in the Foil. In the same weapon, both CoH Wharton and Tpr Bysouth reached the last 16 which completed a highly commendable perfor—

mance for members of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment at a sport which has not been practised here for many years. The overall result was that the Inter-Corps Team achieved 3rd place and therefore the Bronze Medal, the

team consisting of Captain Allerton and L/Cpl Woods. At a grade below this, but still a serious level competition consider— ing that most members of the team had only been fencing for about 6 weeks, the Inter»Unit Team gained 2nd Place and the silver medal, with Capt Allerton,

CoH Wharton and LCpl Woods in the

team.

These admirable results formed the basis for Sgt Hunter and LCpl Woods to represent the Army at the Combined Services Fencing Championships at HMS Drake, Plymouth in ]une 1998. The Royal Navy showed their customary hospitality and provided an excellent setting for this competition. On the last day, Sgt Hunter was selected for the Ladies Triangular Competition, becoming part of a 3 woman team representing the Army against the other two Services. She not only won Bronze in the Secondary Foil Competition but was also awarded her Army colours, a tremendous achievement for both her and the Regiment.

Not to be forgotten was LCpl Woods who finished in 9th position in the senior foil out of a pool of over 70 competitors. On the last day of the competition Sgt Hunter achieved Silver in the Epee and LCpl Woods was placed in the last 16.

The succeeding day produced similar results with Sgt Hunter gaining Bronze in Sabre and LCpl Woods in the best 8.

At this competition there is a 6 man/woman team event for which the club did not have enough fencers. It is to be hoped that next year there wil be suf— ficient to allow the Regiment to enter this event.

At this time there were also three indi— viduals who participated in the Army Modern Pentathlon Championships at RMA Sandhurst in May, 1998. LCpl Mackenzie, LG, Tpr Ireland RHG/D and Tpr Cromie RHG/D gained 5th place for which they are to be congratulated, especially considering that like those above they, had only been fencing

for under 6 weeks. Perhaps their riding skills were more up to date! LCpl Mackenzie won the Intermediate Trophy in this competition, a feat last emulated by one Capt Mahoney. This was a sport that LCpl Mackenzie was particularly excelled at and in the Summer he gained 2nd Place in the GOC’s Sports Day Swimming Competition, lst Place for HCMR in the LONDIST Swimming Competition and another lst place in the

Serving Members

Non Serving Members Lieutenant Colonel SV Gilbert-Denham CVO Lieutenant Colonel AD Meakin

Cippenham Lane

Major A] Mead Major ]T Lodge Captain M Whatley Captain ]S Holbrook Captain D Pickard Captain WR Lindsay W02 (TQMC) N Godson

Slough

W02 (SCM) AR Tate

Berkshire SL1 SAT

W02 (SCM) PC Lanahan

Captain LD Stratford MBE

Auditors Clark’s Chartered Accountants PO Box 150 Cippenham Court

Major NE Hearson ]P DL Captain AM Cherrington Captain WAB Henderson Mr CE Dean RVM Mr D Johnson Mr NW Taylor Mr LK Thomas Mr CD Watson

LONDIST Minor Units 5000M event.

In October, LCpl Mackenzie gained 4th place in the Eastern Region Modern Pentathlon, a large competiton with some very skilled and experienced sportsmen. LCpl Mackenzie has done extremely well in finding out about competitions and showing the determination to aquit himself very creditably. He has now potentially been selected to represent the Army and therefore the Regiment in this demanding discipline.

Since all members of the Regiment already ride and most people swim, the Fencing Club is the ideal place to begin training for the challenging sport of Modern Pentathlon.

The HCMR fencing club meets every Wednesday at 16.30 hrs in the Gymnasium and is keen to recruit new members, both male and female. This will enable many more competitions to be entered and a higher standard ofinternal fencing to be achieved. Forget the posing Errol Flynn for a moment, fencing is a highly demanding and aerobic sport which is excellent for fitness, balance, speed of reaction and suppleness. Perhaps this chance to learn to use the personal weapon of Gentleman of the Household Cavalry should not be passed off, it might still be useful as well as fun.

Minutes of the 64th Annual General Meeting of The Life Guards Association Held at Combermere Barracks, Windsor on Saturday 13 June 1998 he Chairman, Lieutenant Colonel HS] Scott, opened the meeting at 1800 hours and welcomed and thanked all those for attending. He said that it was to be his last AGM as Chairman and he was to be succeeded by Lieutenant Colonel NMA Ridley.

The Minutes of the Sixty Third Annual General Meeting were published in the current edition of the ]ournal. It was proposed by Mr Pritchard and seconded

by Mr ]ones that they were a true record of the proceedings.

Honorary Treasurer’s Report This year we have changed our auditors.

The London company which took over froin our previous auditors were neither helpful nor happy dealing with relatively small accounts. Our new auditors are Messrs Clarks of Cippenham, Slough.

They have completed the audit for 1997

and confirmed the accounts as correct.

Our investments are with the United Services Trustee and we hold 63,241 shares in the Combined Charity Capital Fund. They cost £171,000 and are now valued at £650,000. In addition we hold 1051 shares on behalf ofThe Life Guards Regimental Funds which cost £7,314 and are now valued at £10,700. This year we have received £1,240 from the Trust set up by the late Major Henry Mont— gomerie Charrington. The Association is in a healthy financial state and the Treasurer said how grateful the Associa— tion is to the Army Benevolent Fund who are always able to provide financial help when requested. If anyone has any queries on the 1997 accounts I will try and answer them. In conclusion the Treasurer said that he would be handing over to Captain Stratford during the cottrse of the year.

The report was approved by Captain Stratford and sec— onded by Mr Morris.

Honorary Secretary’s Report Home Headquarters Household Cavalry continues to thrive and has had another busy year. Mrs Pam Childs, who has worked in the office for the last 5 years, has now retired and I thank her on your behalf for the support she has given The Life Guards Association during that time. The Civilian Careers Cell, established in 1997, has not been the success I would have hoped. I remind members that it exists to register potential employers and to provide them with a record of those looking for employment. There is some thought that HQ Household Cavalry and Home Headquarters Household Cavalry could co—locate in the not too distant future. It’s most likely location is London and would probably coincide with the move of the Museum which is planned during 1999. Non serving mem— bership now stands at 2313 which is a drop in last years figure of 2349. Whilst

News from the Associations

90

Household Cavalry News

91

not a significant drop in membership it is the first time for many years that I have been unable to report a small increase. I have no explanation for this but I do know that there are ex Life Guards who are completely unaware that

the Association exists. I therefore ask all members, particularly Area Reps, to be aware of this. Committee meetings con« tinue to be held quarterly to decide on policy matters and the financial subcommittee continues to make grants to worthy cases both young and old and also to widows. The report was approved

by Captain Lodge and seconded by Mr Hadfield.

Election of Committee In accordance with normal custom the non—serving members of the Committee resigned but they all offered themselves for re—election. Proposed by Mr Wale and seconded by Mr Phillips.

Any other Business It was suggested that the Royal British Legion was contacted with regard to placing an advertisement in their maga— zine asking for all ex Life Guards, who were not already members of the Association, to make contact. (Hon Secretary to action).

The Chairman said that the Committee would look again at the pricing policy for the annual dinner.

It was suggested that the names of the Area Reps could once again be published in the Journal. (Hon Secretary to action) It was suggested that an annual House» hold Cavalry diary could be produced.

(Hon Secretary to investigate).

Members are reminded that medals are to be worn at the Annual Dinner.

The representatives of the North Staffs and Dorset branches thanked the Com— mittee for their continued support.

71.16 5.25 1,428.00 27,993.11 4,342.99 64.00 50,405.13

Empire Field of Remembrance St George’s Memorial Chapel Miscellaneous Donations (See Note 2) Grants Regimental Magazine Bank Charges Bank 8: Deposit Balances as at 31 Dec

74.10 5.25 1,551.24 14,610.69 5,640.00 42.00 34,241.17

94,205.76

88,756.02

INVESTMENTS 556,863.57 50,405.13

636,474.39 34,241.17

Investments at current value as at 1 Dec Current Bank and Deposit Accounts

607,268.70

w Notes on the Accounts

1. Investments

The Life Guards Association and Charitable Trust Income and Expenditure Account for the year ended 3lst December 1998 RECEIPTS 1997

1998

47,546.47 10,000.00

Balances as at lst January Household Cavalry Charitable Trust (1 Day’s Pay)

50,405.13 10,000.00

LG Association Helping Hand Fund LG Charitable Trust Interest on Deposit Accounts Dividends from United Services Trustee Grants from Army Benevolent Fund Legacy the late Major HE Montgomerie-Charrington Legacy the late 294958 Tpr A Green

2,428.71 153.04 74.82 1,313.57 18,191.05 4,110.00

Cost of shares held on 31 December 1998: Number of shares held: 64292.94

£178,208.17

Market value of shares held on 31 December 1998: Value per share on 31 December 1998: 989.96p The share holdings on 31 December 1998 are attributable to the following: Charitable Trust 58903.94 Sir Roger Palmer Fund 1081 Helping Hand Fund 4308

£636,474.39

583,125.44 £10,701.47 £42,647.48

The Charitable Trust holds 1,051 shares on behalf of the Regimental Funds of The Life Guards.

These shares cost £7,314.47 and are valued on 31 December 1998 at $210,404.47.

2. Miscellaneous Donations Include: Zandvoorde Memorial Taff Wells War Memorial Zandvoorde Visit Kindergarten Total

£413.24 £100.00 £538.00 £500.00 £1551.24

Subscriptions and Donations

2,398.85 140.40 237.81 2,286.46 17,087.19 7,660.00 1,195.16 4,729.89

Life Guards Association Notices

1,240.44

Christmas Cards

(1997) £3,206.65 Sales (1998) £3,282.25 (1997) £2,850.00 Costs (1998) £2,743.75 356.65

Christmas Card Profit

Annual Dinner

Annual Dinner Profit

94,205.76

300.76 88,756.02

EXPENDITURE

1,880.38 4,148.55 127.62 822.50 2,057.94 719.61

Office Equipment/Misc Expenses Postage Stationery Auditors’ Fee Secretary’s Honorarium Wreaths/Funeral Expenses Purchase of Shares, UST

Donations

139.52

92

News from the Associations

The Honorary Secretary, The Life Guards Association, Home Headquarters, Household Cavalry, Combermere Barracks Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 3DN Tel: 01753 755297 755229, Facsimile: 01753 755161 1. Membership

4. Annual General Meeting

All members of the Association are requested to introduce the Association to all those eligible for membership under Rule 2 of the Rules of Membership.

The 65th Annual General Meeting will be held in Combermere Barracks, Wind— sor on Saturday 12th June 1999 com« mencing at 1800 hours.

wives after the Dinner. It is however necessary for him to impose a restriction on children accompanying their parents into the Mess unless they are aged 18 or over. Please also note that ladies should NOT attend until after the Dinner.

5. Annual Association Dinner

6. Christmas Cards

The 64th Annual Dinner will be held in Combermere Barracks, Windsor on Sat— urday 12th June 1999 commencing at 1900 hours. Dress: Lounge suits with medals (not miniatures).

Lieutenant Colonel RJ Morrisey-Paine, who commanded the Household Cavalry Mount— ed Regiment from June 1987 until March 1990, will be in the Chair. Tickets will not be available at the door and tnust be obtained through the Honorary Secretary using the proforma enclosed with this Journal. Personal guests will not be permitted to attend. The Regimental Corporal Major will offer the hospitality ofthe WOs’ and NCOs’ Mess to all Association members and their

Details of the 1999 Christmas Card will be announced, as always, with the Newsletter issued in August each year. In view of the large demand on them members are advised to submit their orders as soon as they receive the order form which will be included with the Newsletter.

2. Life Membership

(1997) £4,375.00 Income (1998) £4,302.00 (1997) £4,168.12 Costs (1998) £4,001.24

566.88

Correspondence for the Association should be addressed to:

428.64 3,180.50 236.56 774.32 2640.84 183.24 25,000.00

In accordance with Rule 4 of the Rules of Membership any Annual Member of the Association may become a Life Member on payment of £15 in the case of Officers and £5 in the case of Other Ranks.

3. Regimental Items for Sale Various items with the Regimental Cypher are available from the Household Cavalry Museum at Combermere Barracks. A list of these items for sale appear in this Journal or can be obtained from the Curator on 01753 755203

7. Diaries Life Guard Association diaries will be produced for the year 2000. The Chairman has received an example and

assures everyone that they are very smart. Details of prices and where they can be purchased will be promulgated shortly.

Combined Cavalry Association

News from the Associations

93

LG AREA REPRESENTATIVES

The Blues and Royals Association

The following have agreed to act as Area Representatives. If you have a problem please do not hesitate to contact them. In order to give good coverage around the United Kingdom more volunteers are requtred and in particular the following areas: Scotland (All areas), Wales (All areas), Devon, Somerset, Cornwall, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, West Sussex and Leicestershire.

Annual Report 1998

Please contact the Honorary Secretary to register your name.

Mr RG Barnes 31 Alice Street Ulveistone Tasmania 7315 Australia Email: rbamescil southcom. com. au

Mr D Barnfield 9 Wickridge Close Uplands

Stroud Gloucestershire GL5 IST Tel: 01453 763218 Mr P Blake 24 Dean Court Copley Halifax West Yorkshire HX3 OUX Tel: 01422 351561

Mr A Gook

17 Moorland Close Mousehold Lane Norwich

NR7 SHD Tel: 01603 484336

Mr DG MacDonald 4 Victoria Gardens

Mr WH Stevens

20 St Nicholas Drive

President

HRH The Princess Royal KG GCVO QSO

DH Clark

Henstridge Templecombe Somerset

Feltwell Thetford, Norfolk

Chairman

Brigadier AH Parker - Bowles OBE

Maj (th)J Peck D Ellis

PB Lawson

BA8 ORE Tel: 01963 363381

IP26 4DW Tel: 01842 828785

Hon Treasurer Major (th) EL Payne

P Wilson

N. Saunders

Hon Legal

C Henderson

CE Mogg

SCM Carney"

M Pinks

Capt RB Yates

SCM Harris *

H Hunter

Lt Col (th) WR Marsh

K Taylor

Capt M Harding"

Maj (th) AW Kersting

Capt O Sackett"

M Twinn

RCM V Maher *

21 Langfield Road Knowle Solihull

Huntington York

Mr JW Maxwell JP “Meadowside”

Lees Lane

YO32 9RQ Tel: 01904 766870

Mottram St Andrew

Mr] Hadfield 35 Simmonds Close Oakdale

Macclesfield

Poole Dorset

Mr BE Page 19 Parsons Avenue

BH15 3EA Tel: 01202 671385

Stoke Gifiord

Captain WAB Henderson

Bristol

Hon Secretary

Cheshire

Mr H Taylor 1 Swedish Housre Denwood Street Crundale Canterbury Kent

I90 Highbury Grove

Cosham Portsmouth Hampshire

B93 9PN Tel: 01564 771412

Mr GH Hitchman

Bowen Queensland

4805 Australia Tel: (0061) 07478 863271

27 Apple Tree Road Alderholt Fordingbridge

Dorset SP6 3EW

1 Vicarage Lane Hambledon Waterlooville Hampshire

Cornerways Old Carnon Hill Carnon Downs

Mr J Cooper

Mr 10 Jones

BN25 2RD Tel: 01323 893124

Cumbria CA5 4LT

Mr DA Turtle 27 The Orchard Wrenthorpe

Tel: 01697 332328

Wakefield

Mr LE Pritchard

West Yorkshire

4 Hethersett Walk

WF2 OLH Tel: 01924 370590

Bucknall Stoke on Trent

3 Neil Gunn Road Dunbeath Caithness

Mr JAWP Saunderson Mead Cottage

Mr DH Underwood 30 Farm Holt New Ash Green Long‘field Kent

Besthorpe Newark Nottinghamshire

N623 7HR Tel: 01636 892525

PE10 9BY Tel: 01778 426076

SN151LN Tel: 01249 660149

1 Dove Row Cullercoates

Mr M Knight 37 St Helens Road Abergavenny

Tyne and Wear NE30 4QP Tel: 0191 290 2835

Gwent NP7 SYA Tel: 01873 854460

Mr D Sayers BEM 35 Grange Road Belmont Durham

Mr R Gable L’Hirondelle The Street High Ongar, Essex CM5 9NF Tel: 01277 364218

Mr OR Levet BEM 13 New Road Oundle Peterborough Cambridgeshire PE8 4LB Tel: 01832 273870

FY5 2QX Tel: 01253 826577

38 Mill Drove

DH1 1AL Tel: 01913866912 Mr W Sewell 11 Rowland Lane Thornton-Cleveleys Lancashire

Mr SG George 3 Pennine Court Tithebarn Hill Glasson Dock

Mr PP Lewis MBE 1 Bourton Close

Mr MPG Southerton 5 Woodbury Road

West Hunsbury

Stourport on Severn

Lancaster LA2 OBY Tel: 01524 751572

Northampton NN4 9YT Tel: 01604 661043

Worcestershire DY13 8XR Tel: 01299 823882

The Annual General Meeting was held at Hyde Park Barracks on 9 May 1998 and the minutes ofthis meeting are set out in the following pages together with the Financial Statement.

The Annual Dinner was held at Hyde Park Barracks on 9 May 1998. 220 Serving and Retired members attended.

Changes of Committee Members

*(Ex Officio)

subscriptions and donations. Investment income for the period was £14850 which was a decrease of £2805 over the previous accounting period. Bank deposit interest was £2912, an increase of £438 over the previous period.

Expenditure Expenditure for the period totalled £32417. Grants and Donations accounted for £10600 of the total sum which was an decrease of £2814 over the previous year, a reflection of the reduced number of applications for assistance received in 1998.

(A reduction from 62 to 30). Administrative costs amounted to £8666 a decrease of £1422 over the previous year.

A transfer of capital in the amount of£15000 was made from the Association to The Household Cavalry Central Charitable Trust.

SSAFA Forces Help Caseworker

for West Malling District Mr DH Vallance 5 Highfield Drive

Garforth Leeds West Yorkshire

Bourne Lincolnshire

During the past year the Association has continued to maintain its aims and objects as defined in the Constitution 81 Rules.

Specifically, the sum of£10,610 has been distributed to a total of 27 cases of applications for financial assistance from a total of 30 cases dealt with by the committee. In addition grants were made in partnership with LG Association for the renovation and repairs to the Household Cavalry Memorial at Zandvoorde.

DA3 8QA Tel: 01474 874695

Main Road

Mr DI Savage 47 Park Lane Chippenham Wiltshire

Mr G Cuthbertson

East Sussex

PO7 4RP Tel: 01705 632799

40 Rockcliife Road

Cleveland TSS SDN Tel: 01642 822729

WR Macdougall

Introduction

KW6 6EP Tel: 01593 731224

Cornwall TR3 6LE Tel: 01872 863877

Linthorpe Middlesborough

Lt Col PJ Tabor MVO

Mr LK Thomas “Hylands”

BSIZ 6PN Tel: 0117 9759721 Mr D Pattinson The Spinney Pelutho Silloth, Carlisle

Mr JDE James

Truro Email: colemantél‘dove. net. au

SCM Maxwell"

Cmmittee Members

CT4 7EF Tel: 01227 730508

STZ OPN Tel: 01782 208615

Mr RE Jewell

Mr GS Coleman 12 Wild Avenue Reynella 5161 South Australia

Major AT Lawson - Cruttenden TD MA.

Maj TPR Daniel

SK10 4LQ Tel: 01625 829197

Mr JK Ratcliffe

Mr N Clarkson 19 The Crofts St Bees Cumbria CAZ7 OBH Tel: 01946 823404

Advisor

Bishopstone

West Midlands

PO Box 385

Major (th) JG Handley

Hawth Hill

PO6 ZRU Tel: 01705 385806 Email:bill_henderson(a uk.ibm. com

Mr JR Chandler

RCM T Carpenter" RQMC L Atkinson" SCM Haywood"

Mr WH Graham 33 Linden Close

Seaford Mr JB Brook iVLM

Maj (th) BW Lane W Steel

L825 lJY Tel: 0113 2864621 Mr CD Watson 34 West Butts Road Etching Hill Rugeley Staffordshire

W815 2LS Tel: 01889 585340 Mr LG Weekes 5 Abbots Wood Headington

Oxford OX3 8TR Tel: 01865 451318 Mr DAS Williams 68 Allen Water Drive Fordingbridgc Hampshire

SP6 IRE Tel: 01425 652670

The Association is greatly honoured by the appointment of HRH The Princess Royal as Colonel of the Regiment and President of the Association vice General Sir Desmond Fitzpatrick who retires. Brigadier AH Parker Bowles is appointed Chairman of the Association vice Lt Gen Sir Richard Vickers who retires.

Lt Col PJ Tabor replaces Lt Col BWB White - Spunner on taking command of HCR. Messrs Shillabeer and Missenden retired under Rule 12 of the Constitution & Rules and have been replaced by Mr M Twinn and Mr N Saunders respectively. Mr Bourne having offered his resignation, has been replaced by Major (th) BW Lane.

Summary of Assistance Given during the Year Applications received : Grants/Donations made: Applications passed to other funds: £ 10600 Total Grants from Assn Funds: The Army Benevolent Fund assisted with grants totalling: £ 3360

Further details may be obtained from the Financial Statement.

Reasons for Assistance The following is a summary of the main purposes for which grants were made during the part year. The sums varied between

£150 and £1000 Convalescent holidays Debts / Rent arrears/ utility bills Home Repairs / Improvements Invalid Vehicles/ Aids to Disabled living Removals/Relocations Other The committee wish to record their gratitude to SSAFA / Forces Help and The Royal British Legion whose voluntary workers, on our behalf, investigate applications for assistance and submit detailed reports in support of the applicants

Income to the Association

Income to the Association amounted to a total of £35078.14, of which £10,000 was contributed from Serving Officers and Soldiers under the ‘One Days Pay’ scheme, and £1869 from membership

News from the Associations 94

News from the Associations

95

The Blues and Royals Association Accounts

Note 2

CAPITAL TRANSFER

For the period ending 31 December 1998 BALANCE SHEET.

1998 5:

1997 £

As decided at the January 1998 meeting of the committee, the sum of£15000 from the total of moneys subsumed into the accounts on the closure of The Blues & Royals Rose Fund in 1993, to be transferred to the Household Cavalry Central Charitable Trust for the purposes ofoutfitting those RHG/D Warrant Officers promoted W01 to the established Household Cavalry scale of uniform. This sum to be matched by a similar amount from The Life Guards Association, and administered by the Trustees ofthe Household Cavalry Central Charitable Trust.

ASSETS Cash on Hand Deposit account

nil

nil

60466.16

72546.46

Debtors Stock of Regt Histories

nil

186.13

8564.16

8823.68

69030.32

81370.14

REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT EXAMINER The Blues & Royals Association

I have examined the Balance Sheet and Income 8; Expenditure account and report that in my opinion, these accounts give a true and fair view of the . .

C. ' ’ l , ' ~ v . ~ 1 m ' ‘ Association 5 ,affairs as at 31 December 1998 and ofthe surplus of expenditure over income for the year ended on that date.

NET CURRENT ASSETS

AT Lawson — Cruttenden TD MA, Solicitor Advocate, 10 - ll Greys Inn Square, London WC1R5JD

Investments at Cost Investments Market Value

' (See Note 1)

TOTAL ASSETS

.

__ . :

155627.49

86597.16 615031.70)

167967.31

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting

ACCUMULATED FUNDS Balance at 01 Jan 1998 Balance at 31 Dec 1998 Excess of expenditure

167967.31 155627.49 12339.82 (see Note 2)

Held at Combermere Barracks on Saturday 9 May 1998 1. Opening remarks.

INCOME & EXPENDITURE INCOME Dividends from Investments Interest on Deposit a/cs Subscriptions & Donations Annual Dinner Christmas Cards

14850.68 2912.60 11380.48 3503.0 2418.90

17655.11 2474.73 11869.58 4468.0 1330.83

12.48

206.53

00.0

2670.0

35078.14

40674.78

10600.10 706.45

13414.44 1335.50

Annual Dinner

5508.66

5129.48

Christmas Cards

1295.80

1450.0

5640.0

6875.0

4026.95

6089.15

4460

4000

32417.96

38293.57

Regtl Histories (Sales & Royalties) Advertising (H/Cav Journal)

TOTAL INCOME EXPENDITURE

The President opened the meeting at 1845 hrs by welcoming all members present, He then handed the meeting over to the Chairman, Lt Gen. Sir Richard Vickers.

2. Minutes of the Previous meeting.

The Chairman stated that the minutes of the Annual General Meeting 1997 were published in the Household Cavalry Journal for 1997/8 which had been

despatched to all members of the Associ-

Grants & Assistance Wreaths & Funerals

H/Cav Journal

Office Administration costs & Postage Staff Pay

TOTAL EXPENDITURE Capital Transfer to HCCF (See Note 2)

ation. He went on to express appreciation to the Editor for ensuring that this year there had been no delay in the publication of the Journal thus ensuring that all had a chance to read the minutes and accounts before attending the meeting. It was then proposed by Mr Wilson and seconded by Capt Yates that the minutes be passed. This proposition was carried.

15000

3. Points arising.

The Secretary reminded the meeting that under minute 4, the committee undertook to identify a replacement for Mr Bourne who had resigned from the committee. Subsequently, Major Lane had agreed to serve.

Notes on the accounts.

Note 1.

INVESTMENTS

Details of Investments 4. The Accounts.

1997

1998

Units Held 29057

Market Value £248146.78

Investment title United Services Combined

Units Held

Market Value

29057

5328763524

8878 1443

£87714.64 £82649.27

Charitable Fund

8878 1443 10061

the field of the audit of the accounts and asked the meeting to support a vote of thanks to Major Lawson ~ Cruttenden. which was heartily endorsed by all. Mr Johnson requested that in future copies of the accounts, the amounts expended on administration should be shown in detail and not as one lump sum. The Treasurer agreed to arrange this at the next audit of the accounts. It was then proposed by Mr D Ellis and seconded by Mr W Steel that the accounts for the period be passed. The proposition was carried.

£84962.46 £76291.41

United Services Charifund M&G Charifund

£105631.05

Barclays Unicorn Exempt Trust

£515031.70

Total Value

10061

£121526.0

579525.15

The Treasurer gave a summary of the accounts for the period 1 Jan - 31 Dec. 97 followed by a short report on the benevolent expenditure for the past 5 months.

He went on to remind the meeting of the great support given to the association by the Hon Legal Advisor, particularly in

5. Committee members.

The Chairman informed the meeting that under Rule 12 of the Constitution and Rules, Mr Missenden and Mr Shill— abbeer retire from the committee and Mr Bourne had offered his resignation.

The following members have volun— teered to fill the vacancies: Major B Lane, Mr M Twinn, Mr N Saunders It was then proposed by Mr R Hogarth and seconded by Mr K Adams that they be elected to the committee.

The proposition was carried.

6. Other Business (a) Mr Lawson asked what progress had been made in appointing regional repre~ sentatives. The Secretary replied that a request for volunteers had been put into the recent journal and that he had already been approached by several members wishing to serve. Major Clay» ton then offered his services as Regional Rep for Scotland, which was gratefully accepted.

(b) Mr Rushton asked if accommodation could be offered at Windsor for a London based dinner, and its availability noted on the ticket application form.

The Secretary agreed to do this. Mr Rushton went on to ask if it would be possible to issue membership cards similar to LG Assn. It was agreed that this would be considered by the committee during the forthcoming year. Finally, Mr Rushton asked if it would be possible to produce a feature in the journal giving details of members careers and activities after leaving the service, to be entitled ‘Where are they now’ ? The Secretary agreed to look into what format this might take.

There being no further business to dis— cuss the meeting closed at 1900hrs

RHG/D ASSOCIATION NOTICES All correspondence should be addressed to: The Hon Secretary The Blues & Royals Association Home HQ Household Cavalry Combermere Barracks Windsor. Berks. SL4 3DN Annual General Meeting The 31st Annual General Meeting of the Association will be held at Hyde Park Barracks on Saturday 8 May 1999 commencing at 1830hrs. The Agenda for the meeting is set out below. Members wishing to put a resolution before the meeting should write to the Hon Secretary at least 6 weeks before the meeting.

News front the Associations 96

News from the Associations

97

AGENDA 1. Minutes of the previous meeting 2. The accounts for the period ending 31st December 1998 3. Election of Committee members

4. Other Business Association Annual Dinner

in this magazine. Due to limited avail» ability ofseating, tickets are restricted to members only, and only official guests will be permitted To assist with security, members are asked to be prepared to present some form of identity on entering barracks. Ladies may not attend the dinner, but are welcome in the Mess afterwards, by kind permission of the

RCM HCMR. The 3lst Annual Dinner will be held at Hyde Park Barracks on Saturday 8 May 1999 at 1930hrs. Dress: Lounge suits (no medals). Tickets will not be available at the door and must be obtained through the Association office using the proforma

the memorial directly after the Cavalry Memorial Parade has ended.

Notifications Members are kindly requested to notify the office of any change ofcontact details as soon as possible in order that they may continue to receive communications from the association, and in particular the Annual Journal.

The Hyde Park Bombing Memorial Members are reminded that there will be a short service of Remembrance held at

peace—time regulars or volunteer reservists, and their dependants. The VAU is a telephone help line which will advise individuals on where and how to obtain expert help. It is staffed by fully trained, friendly, warrant officers aware of the needs of Veterans no matter when they served or in which Service. It is open Monday — Friday (9am - 5pm) and has an answerphone service when closed.

No matter what your problem, the VAU is there to provide advice. Give them a call (at local call rates) on 08456 02 03 02.

SSAFA Forces Help - Recruitment SSAFA Forces Help need more volunteers from each Association to be Casework Supporters who are visitors, treasurers, administrators and fund-raisers.

Notices

SSAFA Forces Help volunteers are there to provide practical help, advice and friendship to all serving and ex«serving men, women and their families. More than 85,000 call on the charity every year. Training is given (2 days), and outof-pocket expenses are paid. Job satisfac— tion is guaranteed. Ifyou can spare a lit— tle time for a ‘comrade’ please contact: Anne Needle Branch Recruitment Office 19 Queen Elizabeth Street London SE1 2LP Telephone: 0171 404 8783 Ext. 223

SUPPORT THE JOURNAL Since the majority of the Household Cavalry Journals printed go to members of the Association it would seem appropriate to see a greater input from those readers. Members of either Association are therefore encouraged to produce arti« cles, stories etc which should be passed to their respective regimental secretary for vetting. There is always interest in articles on battlefield tours, visits to cemeteries and news from Household.

Cavalry/Division clubs around the country. Please support your magazine.

who can put you in touch with your

nearest team.

Information for members of both The Life Guards and The Blues and Royals Associations The Queen‘s Birthday Parade and Review The Queen’s Birthday Parade will be held on Saturday 12th June 1999 with the Colonels’ Review on 51h June and the Major General’s Review on 29th May. Ticket prices are: The Birthday Parade The Colonel’s Review The Major General’s Review

£14.50 £7.50 Free

Beating Retreat The massed bands of the Household Division will Beat Retreat on Horse Guards at 6.30pm on Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 June 1999 (floodlit performances have been discontinued). Tick— et prices are £10 and £7 (all reserved seating) and can be obtained from the Treasurer, Household Division Funds, Horse Guards, Whitehall, London SW1A ZAX (Tel No 0171 414 22271 or Credit Card Bookings 0171 839 5323).

Cheques/Postal Orders made payable to ‘Household Division Funds’. There is a 10% discount for groups of 10 or more.

Combined Cavalry Parade and Service The 75th Combined Cavalry Old Comrades Parade and Service will be held in Hyde Park on Sunday 9th May 1999.

Members of each Association should assemble in Broad Walk at 1030 hrs on the grass behind their Regimental Marker Board. Dress will be lounge suits and medals (not miniatures). Due to the security arrangements members should give themselves plenty of time to

get to the Assembly area. Members are invited to Hyde Park Barracks after the parade but admission will be by ticket only through your respective Honorary Secretary or on the day.

Email

Change of Address

HomeHonHCav. Freeserve. co. uk

All members are requested to inform their respective Honorary Secretary, through Home Headquarters Household Cavalry, of any change in their address. Every year both Associations lose touch with a number of members who have failed to notify us of their change of address. Any correspondence returned by the Post Office will result in that member being placed in the noneffective part of the database.

In the future it hoped we will create a web page for the Internet!!!

Home Headquarters Household Cavalry now has an Email address which is as follows:

1 HCR Annual Re-Union

2 HCR Annual Re-Union

WANTED FOR PICTURE ALBUMS

he 52nd Annual Re-Union of 1 Household Cavalry Regiment took place on Thursday 15 October 1998 in the WOs and NCOs Mess at Hyde Park Barracks, by kind permission of RCM Maher.

The 52nd Annual reunion of the 2 Household Cavalry Regiment took place on Sunday 1 November 1998 in the WOs & NCOs mess at Combermere Barracks, Windsor by kind permission of RCM T M Carpenter.

Photographs of 20th Century Household Cavalrymen

The President, Brigadier The Duke of Wellington, presided and a total of 68 members and guests enjoyed an excellent lunch at which we were also delighted to welcome Silver Stick, Colonel PSWF Falkner, Lieutenant Colonel HSJ Scott, the Commanding Officer at Knightsbridge and Lieutenant Colonel BWB White Spunner, the Commanding Officer at Windsor.

The Life President, Major General D J St Tabor presided over the very successful lunch — judging from the messages received by the Hon Secretary.

The date of the next re—union has been arranged for Thursday 14 October 1999 at Hyde Park Barracks, when we hope to welcome as many members as possi— ble to another ‘sit down’ lunch.

The next reunion will take place at Combermere Barracks in November 1999 which we hope will be even more successful than 1998. Invitations will be sent out by the Hon Secretary (S I Royle, Brig y Don, Lon St Ffraid, Trearddur Bay, Anglesey, LL65 ZYR Tel 01407 860713) at the beginning of September and replies should be sent to the Hon Treasurer (J B Brook MM, 21 Langfield Road. Knowle, Solihull, West Midlands

Veterans Advice Unit The Ministry of Defence Veterans Advice Unit (VAU) has been recently set up to assist all former members of the Armed Forces, such as veterans of the World Wars, Korea, National Ser— vice, the Falklands or Gulf Campaigns,

Genera/ Redgrave practices h/s speech to the Dorset Branch

Invitations will be sent out as usual during August, and replies please to the Assistant Honorary Secretary, Mr J R Kerrell 12 Tenderden Gardens, Croydon Surrey CRO 6NL.

Among the guests were Lieutenant Colonel BWB White Spunner & Lieutenant Colonel P J Tabor the old and new Commanding Officers of the Household Cavalry Regiment.

PAST OR PRESENT For eventual lodging in the Regimental Museum. Any man of either Regiment — Irrespective of rank.

IS INVITED TO SEND An individual postcard size photo (approx 6x4) Name and Regiment Any Regimental dress and date ofphoto (location) To Arthur W Rowlinson (ex LG) 21 Gadlas Road, Llysfafn, Colwyn Bay,

Clwyd, LL29 8TD Tel No: 01492 514805.

B93 9PN Tel 01564 771412).

Boys Squadron RAC 1952-1957

It is planned to hold a get together in October 1999 for those who served between 19524957. Contact Charlie Welchman on 01929 553466 for details.

News from the Associations 98

News from the Associations

99

Household Cavalry Museum

Obituaries

Staff: Major (Retd) AW Kersting Formerly RHG/D - Mrs Janet Watts The

Museum

remained

open

throughout 1998 from Monday to Friday, and for special occasions such as Association Dinners and other Regimental occasions the Museum was open at weekends

There has been a steady flow of visitors

ued to make use of our displays and comprehensive library.

During the year the Museum was given a sword presented by the Royal Jordani— an Army to a group of serving and for~ mer officers of the Household Cavalry

throughout the year and military histo—

led by Commander Household Cavalry, Colonel P S W F Falkner OBE, during

rians, writers and painters have contin-

the groups visit to Jordan. Other gifts

and bequests included paintings, medals, books and items ol‘uniform and porcelain military figurines of The Life Guards.

The move to Horse Guards is still on, but it is a painfully slow process obtaining permission and authority to proceed through each stage of the move.

The Life Guards 2Lt WS Henderson

Major Sir John Fuller, Bt

23915417 CoH TA Muir

Served from 1955 to 1957 Died 21 November 1997 aged 66 years

Served from 21 February 1955 to 18 December 1973 Died 2 April 1998 aged 61 years

Served from 4 February 1964 to 31 March 1977 Died 11 September 1998 aged 54 years

251156 Tpr JH Wilson Served 5 October 1936 to 1 January 1946 Died 5 December 1997 aged 80 years

296236 Tpr RSA Bennett

C Squadron The Royal Dragoons

5729020 Cpl P Warren Served from 22 February 1940 to 22 February 1946 Died 17 April 1998 aged 80 years

Served to 1 September 1947 Died 20 December 1997 aged 72 years

22556110 Tpr H Parker Served from 27 September 1952 to 26 September 1959 Died 30 November 1996 aged 61 years

296420 Cpl LGW Beint 22205509 Cpl RI Beckett Served from 6 March 1950 to 5 March 1955 Died 5 November 1997 aged 65 years

uring the celebrations to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the liberation

of Denmark in 1995 a number of ex— members of C Squadron returned to Vejle and Copenhagen. As a result they agreed to try to meet twice a year in England. This has happened and in 1998 there were two meetings, at Burford Oxon, in April and at Leicester in Octo— ber. The meeting at Burford took place at Mr John Heyworths house.

295342 CoH F McNeil

21000061 Tpr R Cowling Served from 26 September 1947

to 14 March 1953 295471 CoH FH Liggins Died 30 August 1998 aged 68 years Served from 13 March 1940 to 21 December 1948 Died 7 February 1998 aged 82 years

295808 Tpr JA Leaver

19083711 CoH RW Whitehorn

to 1 December 1946

Served from 7 January 1947 to 1 Oct 1960 Died 4 May 1998 aged 70 years

Died 11 August 1998 aged 89 years

Served from 24 April 1939 Served 11 September 1941

to 30 July 1947 Died 7 May 1998 aged 80 years 296747 Cpl LV Hobbs Served to 15 November 1952 Died 8 January 1998 aged 70 years

Other ex C Squadron members reading this report and wishing to join with their wives should contact Wilf Allen, 14 B High Oaks, St Albans, Herts AL3 6DL. Tel 01727 863850. The next meeting is planned for 14 April 1999.

Served to January 1948 Died 11 March 1998 aged 71 years

14942511 Major JG Hurst Served from 1 March 1944

455065 Captain D Morgan-Jones to 30 June 1958 as an OR

23814246 Tpr E Newton

Penman of members of C Sorted/on Royals 7943 , 47 lie/d a! Biiriord Wild Life Park at {he inwlal/on of We owner Ll Jonn Hep-worth Wednesday 75 April 7998

Served from 1 November 1959 to 1 November 1962 Died 22 April 1997 aged 56 years

22046906 Tpr CJ Eason Left to Rig/7r John Griffin Lt Jonn Heywonri Mike Ann/rage Afl/lt/r Nasn WI/fA/len Mal Bay Hodgson. Bob Mead. Peter Dr/nnan Ron Smelt

Served from 8 July 1948 to 10 March

1950

Served from 1 January 1958 to 31 December 1963 Died 13 July 1998 aged 61 years

Commissioned into 8th Hussars Died 4 November 1998 aged 72 years

296130 Tpr JH Lelliott

296032 W02(RQMC) GB Neale

Served from 19 August 1943 to 2 October 1946 Died 18 May 1973 aged 63 years

Served from 1 February 1943 to 1 July 1967 Died 14 November 1998 aged 73 years

Died 26 July 1997 aged 67 years

24041860 Tpr JS Theobald 22556619 Musn TM Crossland Served from January 1954 to January 1957 Died 2 March 1998 aged 61 years

MILITARY MARRE‘TINC 329622 Tpr LV Thompson

INTERNATIONAL Regimental Shields, Plaques and Shieldclocks

Served from 15 August 1940 to 30 March 1944 Died May 1998 aged 84 years

Served from 5 May 1965 to 3 January 1973 Died 9 August 1998 aged 49 years

296680 Cpl G] Manning Served from 23 October 1945 until 26 March 1953 Died 14 November 1998 aged 70 years

23679200 LCpl RR Voy Served from 10 October 1960 to 9 October 1969 Died 12 April 1998 aged 55 years

3685 Tpr HE Bishop Served from 8 June 1915 to 30 March 1919 Died 14 November 1998 aged 101 years

- Expert framing of oils, photos, prints and tapestries

- Framed originals and limited editions

n good company with most regiments and corps of the British Army we made your shields for the Falklands, the Gulf and now Bosnia and Croatia and most UN locations. Let us design your regimental and operational shields.

- Military Regalia and curios

14404529 TprJ Cust 296246 Tpr EJ Williamson Served from 7 February 1943 to 9 September 1947 Died 14 May 1998 aged 72 years

Served from 1 March 1943 to 1 June 1947 Died 17 July 1998 aged 73 years

Country Gardens Dedworth Road. Windsor Ladywood. Birmingham 818 7AF

Tel: 01753 833668

293753 Major PL Peake Served from January 1943

Tel/Fax 0121 454 5393

I El /\

Minimum order 25. £10.95 no vat outside UK. Shieldclocks £17.50

to December 1956 Died 13 May 1998 aged 74 years

Served from 22 March 1954 to 30 June 1983

. Write for a full colour brochure to: Military Marketing International, 74 - 77, Steward Street

22517821 SCpl(T/M) AE Close

329150 Cpl J Baxter

Died 20 November 1998 aged 61 years

Served from August 1935 to September 1945 Died 27 August 1998 aged 79 years

Feature 101 100

News from the Associations

The Blues and Royals 305411 Tpr RF Hudson RHG

305221 Tpr RH Neville RHG

305314 Tpr VE Jeffries RHG

Served from Sep 39 to Dec 45 Died Feb 97 aged 81 years

Served from Dec 36 to Feb 46 Died Jan 98 aged 81 years

Served Jan 38 to Jun 46 Died Oct 98 aged 79 years

7958716 Tpr RN Kill 1RD Served from Apr 42 to Dec 46

304453 Musn HWC Valentine RHG

23351347 Tpr A Cramer RHG

Died Mar 97 aged 74 years

Served from Nov 20 to Oct 45 Died Feb 98 aged 93 years

Served from Jan 56 to Jan 58 Died Nov 98 aged 60 years

318366 Tpr Moger RHG

48663880 Cpl WH Pyzer RHG

Served from Jun 39 to Sep 47 Died Apr 97 aged 76 years

Served from Jan 40 to Aug 53 Died Feb 98 aged 75 years

Lt Col PBV Fielden 1RD Served from Nov 39 to Jul 60 Died Nov 98 aged 72 years

306764 Cpl EG Yates RHG

23215358 Tpr DCC Godfrey RHG

Major A] Dickinson RHG

Served from May 45 to Mar 53 Died Apr 97 aged 71 years

Served from Sep 56 to Sep 59 Died Mar 98 aged 61 years

Served from 1943 to 1959 Died Nov 98 aged 76 yrs

23782673 L/Cpl M Grooms 1RD

409511 CoH S Lawton RHG

Major HGF Balfour MC 1RD

Served from Mar 60 to Feb 66 Died Sep 97 aged 55 years

Served from May 36 to Feb 44 Died Apr 98 aged 79 years

Served from Dec 42 to Oct 45 Died 1997 aged 88 years

Major WR Wilson - Fitzgerald 1RD

4696585 Tpr GL Learmonth RHG

Captain DR Ward - Jones RHG

Served from Jul 49 to Feb 69 Died 1997 age not known

Served from Oct 40 to May 46 Died May 98 aged 75 years

Served from 1944 to 1947 Died Nov 98 aged 74 yrs

22556065 Cpl JEC Howes RHG

16713570 Cpl WJ Southgate 1RD

305033 COH H Hislop RHG

Served from Aug 52 to Aug 58 Died Dec 97 aged 66 years

Served from Apr 27 to Dec 33 Died (In RSA) May 98 aged 91 years

Served from Sep 32 to Jan 45 Died Dec 98 aged 82 years

7257307 SCM W] Wardale RHG

Brigadier R Heathcoat - Amory 1RD

S/Sgt G Vince (REME att RHG)

Served from May 23 [086p 46 Died Dec 97 aged 92 years

Served from Jan 30 to Jan 57 Died Jul 98 aged 91 years

Served from Jul 42 to Jul 64 Died Dec 1998 aged 84 years

305052 W02 W Braxton RHG

24192352 CoH C] Herratt RHG/D

Served from Mar 33 to Jan 69 Died Jan 98 aged 84 years

Served from Jan 72 to Jan 80 Died Aug 98 age not known

24548695 L/Cpl KA Monks RHG/D Served from Nov 79 to Mar 93 Died Jan 99 aged 39 years

23215129 Tpr DB Carroll RHG

304664 SQMC ZA Goodacre RHG

22205906 W02 A Doxie RHG/D

Served from Oct 55 to Oct 58 Died Jan 98 aged 61 years

Served from Oct 24 to Dec 45 Died Aug 98 aged 93 years

Served from Mar 52 to Mar 74 Died Jan 99 aged 64 years

22556641 Tpr AH Milne RHG Served from Mar 54 to Feb 57

RQMS EH Joyce 1RD

Died Jan 98 aged 62 years

Served from Jan 47 to Dec 66 Died Aug 98 aged 87 years

Brigadier Roderick Heathcoat-Amory - Late Royal Dragoons Oficer who spent four days behind German Lines Destroying equipment and taking prisioners rigadier Roderick Heathcoat-Amory, who has died aged 91, was awarded an immediate MC at Alamein in 1942.

He was originally recommended for an

immediate DSO, with endorsements by his Brigade Commander and the Com— mander-in—Chief, Middle East Land Forces, General Alexander.

But the award was downgraded to an MC by General Montgomery, commanding the 8th Army.

On the night of November 1 1942, Heathcoat—Amory was in command of a squadron of the Royal Dragoons, who broke through the enemy minefields at Alamein. It took until daylight before they were clear of the minefields, but Heathcoat-Amory pushed on to his objective through enemy positions, regardless of the opposition.

Under his direction, the squadron was

subsequently responsible for the destruction of more than 100 enemy transport vehicles, a tank and several guns; and they also captured of a very large number of prisoners.

The citation for his MC commended Heathcoat-Amory’s “conspicuous ability and devotion to duty throughout this hazardous operation covering four days behind the enemy lines”.

Roderick Heathcoat~Amory was born on January 30 1907, the fourth son of Sir Ian Murray Heathcoat-Amory, 2nd B1.

The second son, Derick would become Chancellor of the Exchequer under Harold Macmillan, in 1958, and the first (and last) Viscount Amory in 1960.

The family firm of Heathcoat and Co had been started by Roderick’s greatgreat grandfather John Heathcoat, who in 1808 had invented the bobbin net machine, a revolutionary mechanism for making silk and cotton nets.

In 1816, the Luddites, fearing the machinery would put men out of work, destroyed 55 machines at Heathcoat’s plant at Loughborough. As a result, he moved to the more peaceful area of Devon, taking his workforce with him.

A man of vision and a model employer, he build up a prosperous business near Tiverton.

Young Roderick began his education at Ludgrove preparatory school. His parents visited him just once during his five years there, but that was unexceptional in those days. At Eton he paid insufficient attention to his studies, and failed to get up to Christ Church, Oxford.

Having heard good reports of New Zealand, Heathcoat~Am0ry decided to go there to make his fortune. Discour» aged by his failure to do so in a short time, he came home and joined the Army, obtaining a commission via the Supplementary Reserve. After passing the necessary examination, he was granted a regular commission in the Royal Dragoons.

He went out to join the regiment in India, at Secunderabad, where he enjoyed polo, pig~sticking and shooting although, as he would firmly point out, military training began at 6.30am and continued until lunchtime.

One incident from his time in India always stuck in his mind. He recalled how during a military review at Delhi, the Viceroy’s wife, Lady Willingdon, sent for the Commander—in~Chief, Sir Phillip Chetwode, and said she thought there should be more entertainment.

Might it be possible, Lady Willingdon wondered, for a wild animal fight to be arranged? “Certainly your Excellency, ” replied Chetwode. “Shall I apply to the Bishop of Lahore for some Christians to throw to them?”

This, HeathcoatAmory recalled, did little to improve an already frosty relationship.

In 1935, as Mussolini’s invasion of Abyssinia threatened a wider war, the regiment left India for Egypt. But in the event the situation quietened down, and in 1936 Heathcoat-Amory returned to England, making the most of the chance to hunt with the Warwickshire and to hone his skill as a pilot.

In 1938 the regiment was sent to Pales— tine to deal with the Arab rebellion, but by the time war broke out the next year Heathcoat-Amory was back in England, halfway through the Long Equitation Course at Weedon.

After an unsuccessful attempt to transfer to the RAF (for which he was already too old), he was posted back to Palestine where the regiment was then being mechanised.

In May 1941, equipped with armoured cars, the Royals were sent to the Western Desert, to carry out reconnaissance duties and to harass the Germans. Soon afterwards they were posted to Syria to take preventive action against the Vichy, pro-German government ofthat country.

During a patrol in Syria, Heathcoat— Amory’s armoured car overturned on a sand dune, landing on top of him and breaking all his ribs on one side and three on the other. While convalescing, he had a part-time job as Liaison Officer with the Polish Brigade, after which he returned to the regiment in February 1942.

In June and July 1942 the Royals were engaged in the Gazala battles, where the 8th Army was out—fought by the superi» or guns and tanks of the Germans, and retreated to the E1 Alamein position.

Here Heathcoat-Amory was given com— mand of C Squadron, took part in the victory at Alam Halfa at the end of August, and on November 1 was given the task of leading the way through the German minefields at Alamein.

After Alamein, the Royals were in the van of the Army’s drive to Tunisia, but here Heathcoat-Amory went down with nephritis, and was evacuated to hospital in Alexandria. He recovered in time to land at Taranto, Italy, in September 1943, but as the front there was static, the Royals were posted back to England to be re—equipped and trained for the North West Europe campaign.

At the end of July 1944 they landed in Normandy and became the Advanced Guard of 12 Corp, then of 30 Corp, and were involved in the battle to reach

Arnhem. The regiment saw some tough fighting in Holland, crossed the Rhine, fought its way up to Bremen, and at the end of the war had the task of disarming the 120, 000 German troops in Denmark.

At the end of the North West Europe campaign, Heathcoat»Amory was men— tioned in despatches.

Heathcoat—Amory’s next appointment was to command and then disband the North Irish Horse, followed by a similar assignment with 15th Scottish Recon~ naissance Regiment. This melancholy task over, he was sent to the Staff College, Camberley. In January 1949, he was given command of his regiment.

Heathcoat—Amory’s final appointment was the command of 11th Armoured Brigade, TA, in Yorkshire.

He retired in 1958 and settled in Yorkshire, where he was Joint Master of the Sinnington Hounds for 12 years, helped with the point—to-point races and the Pony Club, and also served on the rural District Council. In 1971 he was High Sheriff.

A lover of all outdoor sports, Heathcoat» Amory caught his first salmon at the age of 90. He had a deep love of nature and after the war made many trips to Africa to see the wildlife. He enjoyed life to the full and took great pleasure in helping others to do the same.

Roderick Heathcoat—Amory married, in 1947, Sonia (nee Denison), the widow of his cousin Gerald Heathcoat-Amory, who had been killed in Normandy. In 1939, Sonia Denison was considered to be the prettiest debutante of the year.

They had a son, the MP David Heath— coat—Amory, and a daughter.

By Mild perm/5510!) of The Daily Te/eg/aph

Obituaries 103 102

Obituaries

Major Sir John Fuller Bart - late The Life Guards

By Major TR S 600th MBEformallv The Life Guards ohn Fuller joined the Life Guards as a National Service Second Lieutenant in December 1955. The Regiment was then stationed at Balaclava Camp, Fanara in the Suez Zone where he became Troop Leader of the Heavy

Far East and commanded an armoured squadron in Germany, a squadron in Northern Ireland and, perhaps his favourite appointment, the Mounted Squadron.

Troop of D Sqn which consisted of a

As far as I know, he never served away from the Regiment in nearly twenty years service. He knew and was respect— ed by the nien he commanded and put everything he had into whatever appointment he was given. He could be difficult at times especially the ‘morning after the night before’ but was always fair in administering discipline.

He stuck rigidly to the code: “Horses first, then the soldiers, officers last”. He was extremely generous to those who deserved his help and few people realise

Daimler Scout Car and two AECs (London bus chassis with a 75mm gun).

John was just nineteen with a head of curly hair and a vivacious temperament so he was nick—named “Bubbles” and, to his many friends, remained Bubbles for

the rest of his life.

Shortly after the Regiment returned to Windsor, Bubbles was posted to the Life Guards Mounted Squadron at Knightsbridge under the command of Duncan

Llewelyn. There he lived life to the full a hunting with the Avon Vale through the winter, enjoying the delights of Lon— don each evening and fitting in the occa— sional Queen’s Life Guard in between.

London was followed by Aden and a troop of Saladin Armoured Cars, then two years in Herford, West Germany where he commanded RHQ Troop extremely efficiently. Thence back to Knightsbridge as my second-in—com— mand of the Mounted Squadron where

his social life occasionally got the better of him. On one particular night I remember finding myself in Gerald Road Police Station pleading for his

release after some minor traffic offence.

He went on to serve in Cyprus and the

From Bovington he went, in 1963, to Riding School in Windsor to join a Khaki Ride before joining the Band at Knightsbridge. As a Musician he lived in the Band rooms, not with the other trainees in Riding School. The first thing he noticed was that they were all rather old; two thirds of them were older than his father and many had three rows of medal ribbons - and these were the JNCOs and Musicians! By this stage he could play a cavalry trumpet, hold a saxophone correctly and mime with the best of them. He still desperately wanted to join the Troops but was needed on the Trumpet Guard Roll.

how much he gave to friends with financial difficulties.

After leaving the Army Bubbles went to live on his father’s estate at Neston which he inherited in 1981. Then he and Lorna, whom he married in 1968, moved into the family home where they transformed it into a modern house without in any way detracting from its style and grandeur.

He built up a delightful shoot providing excellent sport for the many friends he so generously entertained. In the summer he sailed with his three sons, he also stalked and hunted, being master of the Avon Vale from 1976 — 1987. For a time he commanded a squadron in the Wiltshire Yeomanry.

Bubbles was immensely proud when his

eldest son James followed him into The Life Guards, the third generation of Fullers to do so. He was a character, part from the century of Fielding’s “Tom Jones” and the other part firmly rooted in the twentieth century. It is sad that there is probably no place in the modern Army for a Bubbles, but The Life Guards in my time would have been much duller without him.

Our sympathy goes out to Lorna, James, Andrew and Edward. For those of us who knew him so well he will never be forgotten.

Address given by Lieutenant Colonen B WB White—Spanner — The Blues {9’ Royals at the funeral on 17 November 1998

school friend went off at fifteen and became a junior guardsman. Mick fol— lowed him like a shot, only to be told that The Blues’ junior intake was already

full for the term he wanted. That meant he would have to carry on at school, get a job and then join at seventeen and a half.

The Recruiting Sergeant tried to get him to join all manner of other regiments but

Mick said, “No, I have got to be a Royal Horse Guard”.

The Recruiting Sergeant then said that there might be some vacancies in The Blues Band. Could Mick play an instru— ment? He said that they had once had a piano at home and, thinking of his recruiting bounty, the Sergeant put him down as a pianist. All went according to plan until Mick received a letter from Major Tommy Thirtle, Director of Music of The Band, inviting him to a musical audition at Windsor.

Major Thirtle was not impressed.

He

From 1964 to 1967 he, nevertheless, enjoyed himself as a musician.

Not being in the “first choice band”, as he put it, he was pretty much left to fend for himself. Work started at nine and fin— ished at twelve with an hours NAAFI break from ten to eleven. In the after— noon his timetable varied. Some days he was a mini cab driver, sometimes a window cleaner, a bingo caller, bookies runner or anything else that paid cash in hand — until the Army finally caught up with him and he was told to report to 1 Troop The Blues Mounted Squadron at Wellington Barracks as a Yard Trum-

peter.

Major Mick Brown - Late The Blues & Royals ick had always wanted to be a Royal Horse Guard from the age of seven when he saw a colour print of a Mounted Dutyman in a book. His mind never changed and, after he drove past Horse Guards on a school visit to Lon— don, nothing else would ever do. A

tanks whilst he practised scales on his clarinet but at least he could, as a musician, wear Blues uniform which they couldn’t. After two years he reached the rank of Junior Corporal and could play the odd note on the Alto Saxophone.

had the grand piano set out with scores of all his favourite concertos only for Potential Musician Brown to tell him that he wasn’t feeling very well and couldn’t play the piano anyway. Much debate followed until a compromise was reached. The Band were short ofjunior musicians and there was no time to get Mick replaced. He would be sent to Bovington and had two years to learn to become a musician.

So, from the age of fifteen to seventeen Mick was a Junior Musician. He was jealous of his Junior Trooper contemporaries going off to learn to drive their

From then on things started to look up.

He completed the JNCO cadre course and was promoted Trumpeter LCpl in 1968 by Colonel Mark Darley. Then in March 1969 he married Shiela and, after another eighteen months of beating on doors, got himselfon a B3 radio course at Catterick in 1971 after which he was posted to 5 Troop A Sqn at Windsor in the now amalgamated regiment. It had taken him ten years but he had done it at last although he looked back on his time in the Band with great affection and never missed an opportunity to play the

trumpet.

A Sqn was the AMF Sqn and in two and a half years LCoH Brown had been to Norway, Greece and done two tours in Northern Ireland. He then did a long D&M course at Bovington and was sent to Catterick as a CoH for a two year tour as an instructor.

The whole family really enjoyed Carter» ick. They had a very nice quarter in a lovely part of the country and Mick

developed a CVR(T) track tensioning tool which is still in use today. After Catterick it was off to Detmold on Chief— tains as a Troop CoH under Shamus Olivier, the highlight of which was writ— ing and producing a Regimental Revue.

Two more Ireland tours followed, one as I/C Lt Col Hugh Pitman’s Rover Group with Jack Peck as RCM riding shotgun so everyone kept their heads down. The second tour was as a Source Handler in Major John Carr Ellison’s Int Cell which Mick described as very frightening at times and five months of the most horrendous practical jokes known to man.

On his return he was promoted to SCpl and went, again with Shamus Olivier, to The Guards Depot.

Again the family enjoyed the stability of Pirbright and bought their house in Northamptonshire, before moving to Windsor where Mick ran the Officer’s Mess. In 1983 he was promoted again and took over as SCM of The Blues & Royals Mounted Squadron.

Mick excelled in this difficult job but he will always be remembered for allegedly refusing to turn out the Queen’s Life Guard for The Duke of Edinburgh. He was telephoned at 8.30 am by the Orderly Room in Knightsbridge to be told that the DOE was passing through Horse guards in a green van at 9.00 am. Now having only been at Mounted Duty for a few weeks, to Mick the DOE was the Department of the Environment who in those days did drive around in green vans. He warned the sentries to watch out for the Department of the Environ— ment and thought no more about it until, at 8.55 the Staff Captain hit the Guardroom at 90 mph asking why the Guard wasn’t turned out for Prince Philip. The Major General, Sir Desmond Langley, arrived shortly followed by a police car with lights flashing and a green electric float with Prince Philip at the wheel.

Mick made no bones about his mistake, although he long maintained that The Queen’s Life Guard did not turn out for a milk float, regardless of who was driv— ing.

Luckily Prince Philip never noticed. The Captain of The Queen’s Life Guard, who was in bed during the whole incident, had to buy six bottles of champagne whilst Mick was carpeted in front of Colonel Andrew Parker Bowles and given a severe repritnand. “Those were the days”, he remarked.

A tour back in Germany followed with D Squadron, again with Shamus Olivier, before returning to Knightsbridge as RQMC to Captain Jack Peck as Quarter— master - his third. Ten weeks into the job Colonel James Hamilton Russell, the Silverstick, telephoned and offered Mick

a commission. Sheila was still in Ger— many and Mick returned in 1986 as Families Officer also responsible for the Rhine Army Equestrian Centre in Sennelager. Here he took up riding rather more seriously and, coached by Corporal Major Pendry, won two intermediate hunter trials in quick succession. In 1989 he became Quartermaster, returning with the Regiment for the impending union in 1990. After nine months as Quartermaster Technical he moved to Bovington as MTO. Mick and Sheila were very happy in Dorset. They bought their house ready for retirement and made many friends locally. Mick returned to Windsor as headquarters Squadron Leader and, amongst other achievements, master minded a complicated TESEX, Her Majesty The Queen’s visit and the Regi— mental Open Day. He was about to be posted to Knightsbridge as Headquar— ters Squadron Leader there when he became ill.

In Mick’s own words, “Next to my own family, the Household Cavalry has been my whole life. To have been associated with so many wonderful people and to have been fortunate enough to have worn the Household Cavalry cap badge for over thirty seven years has been all I’ve ever wanted.

I have also enjoyed my time spent with members of the Household Cavalry Association in Dorset over the past five years. their dedication is limitless and they really enjoy being involved.

I was looking forward to returning to Knightsbridge as HQ Sqn Leader for my

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105

last two years or so. However, it wasn’t to be and I am content with what I’ve had.

It would have been far removed from what I remembered of 1986 - even the DofE has been privatised since then. I wonder if he knows?”

The vicar went to see Mick before he died and asked him if he was ready to go to heaven. “Well”, said Mick, “I‘ll have smartly creased my suit trousers, have my Brigade tie on and I’ll have a slice on my shoes. That’s all that’s ever got me in anywhere before”.

Sheila, our hearts go out to you and the family but how wonderful to have enjoyed such a full, happy and often hilarious life with a man like Mick Brown.

Squadron Corporal Major George Varga

translating technical manuals and other confidential documents emanating from the Eastern block.

At this point he had just two unfulfilled ambitions, one to make a pilgrimage back to Hungary to his mother’s grave, the other to travel to New Zealand to visit his young daughter and her hus— band. The first he achieved, but as he was preparing for the second his fatal ill— ness was diagnosed.

Thereafter his health deteriorated so rapidly that with— in six months he was gone.

Late The Blues Gr Royals By: Major Lord Patrick Beresford Formerly The Royal Horse Guards eorge Varga was born in a small village called Budakeszi, just West of Budapest, on 15 November 1933. He was

the only child of an English mother who had been lady’s maid to the then Count— ess Esterhazy, and an Hungarian father.

Sadly his father died when George was

fession, especially on the technical side, and within four years had been promot— ed C Squadron Signals Corporal of Horse. By that time he had also met and

Together they somehow managed to survive the war and the brutalities of both German and Russian occupations. In 1947 however she succumbed to the same dreaded disease which 51 years later was to claim George.

Now orphaned at the age of 14, with no remaining Hungarian relatives (his much older half-brother, whom he had never known, having been killed in action near Stalingrad), George saw to his mother’s funeral and as soon as fea-

dreams — prior to embarking for Cyprus and the EOKA campaign.

Signals Officer. It did not take me long

an irresistible sense of humour, often ofa self—deprecating nature, which made serving alongside him a pure pleasure as well as a privilege.

In 1962 he succeeded in qualifying for the 18 month Russian Interpreters’

Course at Beaconsfield — a considerable sible set off, with the help of The Inter— national Red Cross and The British Embassy 7 and only the permissible equivalent of £2 sterling in his pocket across the battle-torn continent via Vienna to the Hook of Holland, then Dover, London and eventually to the

achievement, particularly for someone whose academic background had con—

sisted of just four years elementary education in occupied Hungary and two years at an Oxfordshire village school which he had entered with only a fairly

slight command of English.

stables in Oxfordshire of his mother’s elder brother.

There, having completed two years in

the local school and a further two looking after horses, he was conscripted into the Royal Armoured Corps, but when offered the opportunity of joining Her Majesty’s Household Cavalry, conscious

of the pride which this would have given his mother — and which incidentally was to remain with him for the rest of his life, he signed on as a regular in the Royal Horse Guards.

On reaching the Regiment he straight away immersed himself in his new pro-

Having completed the course, George was posted as interpreter with 247 Company RMP at the vital rail and autobahn check point in Helmstedt, a position he filled with distinction for the next four

years.

Meanwhile, in his free time, he embarked on a series of correspondence courses through the RAEC, leading to “A” level GCE’s in English, German, Geography, History and several other subjects, this as well as technical studies of radio—communications and electron— ics, in which he remained deeply absorbed.

“Au Wiedersehen, alter kumpel! Do svidania,starij drug! Tschi'russ!” That is to say, “Good-bye, old mate! Farewell, old pal! Cheeriol”

Written by Major NE Hearson fP DL formally The Life Guards and read as a tribute at St Mary’s Church, Winkfield on Thursday 14th january I 999

After returning to Combermere Barracks in 1959, George was appointed Regimen— tal Signals Corporal of Horse. This was to my eternal good fortune, for within a few months I was to become Regimental

through all that dedication there glowed

A great friend and fellow interpreter Phil Scully closed a very moving funeral tribute with the following words, and I can think of no better way of ending this obituary than to repeat them:

Late The Life Guards

married in Windsor the girl of his

to realize that here was an NCO of wide— ranging abilities with a voracious appetite for work and for learning — new equipment and instructional manuals were like cannon fodder to him — yet

To his devoted widow Doreen, and to his children Caroline, David and Therasa,

of whom he was most justly proud, goes our deepest sympathy.

Lieutenant Colonel (QM) Albert Dennis Meakin

only two, it was therefore his mother who brought him up, passing on to him her own strong religious beliefs and her passionate ideals of loyalty and service, in her case firstly to the Esterhazy family, but equally to England, her country of birth, and particularly to its royal heritage

When I heard the sad news I recall feeling an intense, almost desolate sense of loss, more akin to a family bereavement, and curiously this same sentiment was expressed by several other Old Comrades who attended his funeral on 22 May 1998. But perhaps it was not so curious, for George was ever a Blue, the truest of the true, and it was from the Regimental family as well as from his own that he had finally departed.

At the end of that tour, and prior to rejoining The Blues as SQMC HQ Squadron for conversion training from Armoured Cars to Chieftain Tanks, he was sent on 3 Drill Instructors’ Course at the Guards Depot. This was not his forte, but when the Drill Sergeant thrust the tip of his pacestick into George’s stomach and bellowed: “Do you know Corporal-Major, there’s an idiot on the end of this stick?” George still had the wit to reply: “Not at this end, Sir, there isn’t”!

When the Blues amalgamated with the Royals in Detmold on 31 March 1969, he became Intelligence and NBC War— rant Officer to the new Regiment, but not for long, for in 1971 he was recalled to 247 Company RMP in Berlin. In 1974, having completed 22 years with

the Colours, he left the Army, but continued in Intelligence Procurement for the British Services Security Organisa— tion, retiring at the age of 60 in 1993. By that time he had held for over 8 years the rank of 510 (Senior Intelligence Officer) # the Civil Service equivalent of Lieutenant Colonel.

Even then the MOD was reluctant to relinquish his talents, giving him an office in the Royal College of Military Science at Shrivenham — near his new home in Swindon ~ where he worked at

“Today, the 14th day of January 1999, here at St Mary’s Church, Winkfield Row, representatives from the numerous facets in the life of a uniquely good man have come together to recall their own memories of Dennis Meakin. We are all privileged to share this special occasion with family members and childhood friends of Dennis, amongst whom are the sister of Dorothy, the dear wife of Dennis who, before her death in 1992, adored him for over forty—four years and who was known so well by many present here to-day. Another special relative present with his family is Paul Sutton whose father Jack, a Blue, whilst serving during the early war years with the 2nd Household Cavalry Regiment in Polling— ton, Yorkshire, jointly with Dennis, wel» comed the two Hodgson sisters to the Christmas Dance.

The consequence was... two weddings! No mention of the team fielded to—day would be complete without the inclusion of Dennis’s fellow conspirator at school and subsequent lifelong friend, Joe Drew. I know that they will all be comforted in the knowl— edge of the regard in which Dennis was held by his many friends as illustrated by our attendance here to-day.

Dennis Meakin was born in Reigate, Surrey, the only child of wonderfully supportive and loving parents. He gathered around him a select collection of lifelong friends who grew up all too quickly finding themselves separated by enlistment in the three Services and carving out inevitably their separate lives. Those who knew his Mother well speak of an immensely kind and able lady who, through her work with the

Red Cross throughout the War and later, was highly regarded by the Community .

She had a very strong sense of duty, ever ready to care for others. If ever endorse— ment was required to make the case for the influence of the so—called ‘family unit’ surely this must be it.

For his part, Dennis joined the Second Household Cavalry Regiment in 1941.

In his early days he was to become Squadron Clerk in A Squadron. His talents were soon recognised by the then Adjutant, Arthur Collins, who appointed him Orderly Room Corporal ofHorse in which role he remained for the remainder of the War. The job was no sinecure . He found himself in the North West Europe campaign in the Command Vehicle, a White Scout Car, with the Commanding Officer, Colonel Sir Henry Abel Smith. I am happy to be able to tell all mutual friends that Arthur Collins, now Sir Arthur, has Written to Paul Sutton and makes the point that ‘Dennis was an absolute standby, not only for 2 HCR but also for The Life Guards whom he served tremendously well for a very long peri— od’. Sir Arthur would have made the Service to-day but ‘my legs won’t carry me out ofthe house’!

Together with other Life Guards serving with the then First Household Cavalry Regiment I really came to know Dennis in 1945 when in Goslar, Germany, immediately after the War ended, the two Household Cavalry Regiments re» formed into The Life Guards and the Royal Horse Guards. That has always been the basis for our saying that ‘some of my best friends are Blues... and now

Royals, of course!” Dennis was put in charge of The Life Guards Orderly Room with the rank of Corporal Major.

Much to the chagrin of the Command» ing Officer (not shared by the Sabre Squadronsl), the Regiment was immediately deployed into separate Squadron locations, but the situation was not to last indefinitely as, after some weeks consolidation took place initially in Wolfenbuttel and later in Berlin, where incidentally, Field Marshal Montgomery was Commandant and under whose command we came.

Some months later we moved lock, stock and barrel to Luneburg from where we understood our Army of Occupation duties were to be spearheaded. Alas, it was not to be. Before we had even unpacked our G 1098 (for the uninitiat— ed in such matters that is short—hand for everything we need for fighting the enemy!), the balloon went up (yet again) in the Middle East. We were ordered to

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entrain at Luneburg on what was known as the MEDLOC route (Mediterranean Lines of Communication) and head for Toulon embarking subsequently on the ‘Empire Batttleaxe’ bound for Alexan— dria. The main components of that all important body, the Advance Party, com» prised two cattle-trucks, one fitted out as the Orderly Room and the other for the Technical Adjutant and his staff. I have wonderful memories of Dennis together with typewriter and his Adjutant, David Hodson, also Corporal George Neale occupying one truck and intimately connected by a sliding door to mine with Mechanist Cpl Major Arthur Thomson and CoH Haughton in support. Of all of us Dennis looked the one much too dig~ nified to be on his way to his next war in antiquated foreign rolling stock! The main drama came in the middle of the night when halfway across France the

sibility Dennis held access to that well known document, the Regimental Card Christmas list. In his wisdom he judged that as we were actually residing in Kas» sasin what would be more friendly and appropriate than to send a card to our host in Egypt, King Farouk, Christmas a time for peace and good-will and all that! Perhaps his idea was that the Colonel might send a less apposite card.

I am left with two memories of this inci~ dent. The first is that before the Regiment left Egypt for Palestine a line had been drawn under the temporary embarrassment that for a time threat— ened to become an international inci— dent. My second recollection is that to my certain knowledge any connection between the return of Dennis on promotion to London and the ending ofthe Farouk dynasty some while later is purely coincidental!

two officers in charge of their respective cattle—truck woke up to an eerie silence to discover that the French authorities, believing that the trucks contained livestock, had shunted them both off into a siding presumably to await the early morning auction! My memory is play— ing tricks, but I remain convinced that only the frightening sight of Dennis wearing nothing but his drawers (woollen long) persuaded les paysans to hook us on to the next Inter-City des« tined for the Mediterranean Coast! Our destination in Egypt was Kassasin where

hopefully we were to be fitted out with Khaki Drill uniforms (it was very hot!) and brand new Daimler Armoured Cars and Scout Cars. About this time the Silver Stick, way back in London, chose fit to remind the Commanding Officer, Colonel Ferris St George, that it was Christmas Card time again. Nothing daunted, and in the spirit of the upcom— ing season of goodwill, an officer was despatched to the Officers’ Club at Ismailia on the Suez Canal to select an appropriate picture which we would

have run offlocally. I recall the euphoria which greeted the young ambassador’s return. He had actually selected and received permission to print from ‘The Moonlight Charge at Kassasin’ depicting the rout of the Egyptians by the Household Cavalry at Kassasin in 1882, both Regiments being awarded a Battle Honour which is borne on our Standards to day. There were some reservations I recall Dennis commenting ‘Yup, mmmm, very dodgy’. If his comment was based on his renowned sensitivity for the human race it was certainly coun— tered by the fact that he had assisted in that well known process of ‘getting RHQ

off our back’. Perhaps even at this late stage we could have got away with it. It was not to be. As part of his staff respon-

At the termination of his appointment as Superintending Clerk at RHQ in 1956 Dennis was due to be commissioned as Quartermaster, a promotion to which he had aspired and one which he richly deserved. On the very day that the Reg— iment became involved in the Suez expe— dition Dennis was diagnosed as having TB. Fortunately for the Regiment Dennis had scarcely handed over anything before Suez was all over and he was well on the way to full clearance and recovery.

He was commissioned in 1958 and served as QM with the Depot at Windsor and subsequently with the Regiment at Windsor, in Germany and Cyprus. From Knightsbridge he became Staff Quarter— master, Lieutenant Colonel, with the RAEC in Beaconsfield from which position he retired voluntarily in 1975. From that year until full retirement in 1986 Dennis served as an R0 at RHQ , his duties embracing those of the Assistant Regimental Adjutant with special responsibility for the indexing of the Household Cavalry archives and the development of the Household Cavalry Museum. The collection of Regimental memorabilia is now nationally acclaimed and the present plans for further expan» sion arise directly from Dennis’s earlier dedicated work.

One Commanding Officer wrote of Dennis “He has served his Sovereign, Country and Regiment for fifty—seven years.

He has inspired generations of Life Guards with pragmatic handling of personal problems”. There is no doubt in my opinion that like many others, Den— nis felt comfortable in the knowledge that The Life Guards Association rather than being a ‘me too’ Old Comrades organisation was uniquely concerned equally with supporting serving and

non—serving Life Guards alike. This single fact enabled him to express tangibly throughout his wartime and peacetime service his genuine concern for the wel— fare of colleagues who had through no fault of their own fallen on difficult times. He was no soft touch however and through the network he cultivated over many years comprising SSAFA, the Army Benevolent Fund and our own Regimental representatives he was ruth» less in ensuring that Association funds never reached those who were bent on taking their colleagues ‘for a ride’. How Dennis ever managed to get the proverbial pint into a quart bottle we shall never know. Suffice to say that the foregoing catalogue of his achievements makes no mention of his running of The Life Guards Officers Dining Club, the Guards Polo Club for fourteen years and his position as Vice Chairman of the Combined Cavalry Association. Nearer to home he took on the job of Hon Treasurer of the Windsor and Ascot Pony and Donkey Driving for the Disabled.

Dennis Meakin’s special knowledge of Regimental ceremonial and tradition as well as his intrinsic personal qualities have served no less than four Gold Sticks, more than three times that number of Silver Sticks as well as numerous Commanding Officers. By way of recognition and appreciation for these years of dedicated service Dennis was honoured in 1997 with a special luncheon hosted

by Colonel Michael. More than fifty brother officers from the two Regiments attended this very special occasion for a very special friend.

In putting together these few thoughts I have been reminded of the words of Stephen Gellett who more than two hundred years ago put into words so much of what his friends believe was Dennis’s watchword: I shall pass through this world but once.

If, therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing that I can do, let me do it now; let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.

Lieutenant Colonel Philip Feilden - Late The Royal Dragoons Cavalry ofificer whose armoured car took on Rammel’s Panzers Philip Fielden, who has died aged 79, was awarded an MC in North Africa in 1942 for an action against Panzers by armoured cars of a troop of the Royal Dragoons under his command.

After the war Fielden became a successful amateur jockey, winning the Grand Military Gold Cup at Sandown on three occasions and subsequently becoming Stewards’ Secretary at the Jockey Club, where he was noted for his insistence on high and equable standards.

On May 26 1942 the Eighth Army was holding the Gazala Line, east of Tobruk (Libya) when Rommel launched his Afrika Korps in a pre—emptive attack.

With skillful tactics and making full use of his superior tanks and firepower, Rommel pushed 15 Panzer Division deep into the British positions, which consisted of a series of strong points.

On the morning of May 28, Fielden’s troop of three armoured cars was ordered to locate the exact position of 15 Panzer, although the area was still covered with thick morning mist which under normal circumstances would have prohibited

movement.

As the mist was burnt off by the rising sun, Fielden found his troop in full view of the anti—tank gunners of 15 Panzer, who immediately opened fire. Before they hit their targets, Fielden managed to radio back to his Corps Commander the vital information on the Panzer division’s position.

Fielden’s armoured car was soon hit by a shell, which hit below Fielden’s feet, wounded him and killed his crew. With considerable difficulty he extricated himself from the wreckage, which could have burst into flames at any moment, and made his way back on foot to his squadron HQ.

Thank you, Dennis.”

He was evacuated to hospital but returned to command a new troop in the Battle of Alam Halfa at the end of August, when Rommel was lured by ingenious deception into an ambush from which he was lucky to extricate his forces.

During the set»piece battle of Alamein, which began on October 23, there was little scope for armoured cars; but on the eighth day, when British victory was almost complete, the Royal Dragoons

were chosen to break through the enemy lines, and to destroy equipment and transport. Using two squadrons, includ» ing Fielden’s The Royals pushed forward during the night, took the enemy by surprise and in a wave of wholesale destruction prevented the escape of 2, 000 Germans and Italians from the battlefield.

The next six months saw the British advance some 1, 500 miles into Tunisia, in the course of which Fielden’s troop was engaged in harassing Rommel’s rear guard.

In May 1944 Fielden was posted to the staff of General Sir Miles Dempsey’s 2nd Army Tactical HQ for the invasion of Normandy and the North West Europe Campaign.

At the end of the war in Europe, when Dempsey was appointed Commander of 14th Army in the Far East, he took Fielden with him as his Military Assistant, and retained him in that appointment when he became Commander-inChief. Allied Forces, South East Asia, and Commander-in-Chief, Middle East.

Fielden’s intelligence, tact and flair enabled him to manage a small close— knit headquarters from which Dempsey liked to conduct business informally.

After the war, Fielden served with the Royals in Germany and with the TA in London, before taking command of the First Royal Dragoons in Germany in 1959.

The same year the regiment moved to Aden here it was deployed in the Gulf and on the Yemeni border, after which it was posted to Malaya.

Philip Brand Fielden, the descendant of an ancient and distinguished Yorkshire family, was born in Warwickshire on April 2 1919 and educated at Eton and Magdalen College, Oxford.

He left Oxford early to join the Army on the outbreak of war.

He was commissioned into the Royal Dragoons, at that time still horsed caval— ry, which he joined in Palestine. After mechanisation, the regiment moved to the Wesern Desert, where they patrolled the Libyan border and were harassed by Messerschmitts equipped with four machine guns and two cannons.

On one occasion, 10 dives were made on Fielden’s armoured car (defending itself

with only an elderly Vickers Machine gun), but all failed to knock it out.

Before the war, Fielden had hunted and ridden in point-to-points, and he was able to continue his career in competi— tive racing in Germany after the war.

Back in London in 1952, he bought an eight year old chaser - Atom Bomb — from Ireland for £450, and after the horse had been trained by Cyril Mitchell at Burgh Heath, rode him to win the Grand Military in 1953.

The next year, Atom Bomb was replaced

by Roughan, and Fielden came third. In 1955 on Skatealong, Fielden won a second Gold Cup, presented by the Queen.

In 1959 he won a third Gold Cup with Golden Drop, which he shared with his adjutant and was ridden by Nick Uton of the 9th Lancers.

On leaving the Army, Fielden was employed for 10 years by the Jockey Club as Stewards’ Secretary, in which post he displayed considerable firmness at some of the lesser courses, where discipline has lapsed; and wherever powerful jockeys and owners had too much influence, he did much to remedy this situation.

A passionate fly fisherman, he returned to Norway in 1975 and then to the river Slaney in Wexford. He then ranged farther afield, including Chile, Aregentina, South Africa, Alaska and Iceland. In the winter of 1984 his wife, fishing the Cauvery in southern India, landed a 721b mahseer which proved to be a lady’s world record.

In 1991 he published his autobiography Swings and Roundabouts.

Philip Fielden married in 1955, Caroline Mary Burder, they had a son and a daughter.

E; n

\.

at 7”. it; i

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Nominal Rolls as at December 1998

Tpr Dutton A P Tpr Dibb] G

3 Troop

1 Troop

Tpr Mountford R A Tpr Looker P J

2Lt Derry R SI

Ct R Sturgis

CoH Hodder S J

CoH Horner D S

LCoH Cornoek O

LCoH Allison P T LCoH DeweJ M

Admin Troop

LCoH McCartney N LCoH Wilson D

SCpl Poynter KJ

HEADQUARTERS HOUSEHOLD CAVALRY Horse Guards

Windsor

Col P S W F Falkner OBE: Comd H Cav

Mai (Retd) AW Kersting ~ Museum Capt (Retd) R Hennessey—Walsh CDC

Lt Col (Retd)] S Olivier: Regt Adit SSgt A] Barry AGC (SPS): Chief Clerk

Reserve Officers

LCpl Taylor B: Driver

The Life Guards

The Blues and Royals

Maj C H N Graham Maj The Hon M R M Watson Capt A C Ogden

Lt S R Sporborg

Capt TC Boles Capt CMB Daly Capt MC Goodman

Capt EBS Mountains

LCoH Farrimond S P

LCpl Newton M S

LCpl Moore R

Tpr Barker P D

Tpr Mitchinson D J

Tpr Beswick C D

Tpr Hall N B Tpr Murgatroyd D J

Tpr Jackson J S

Tpr Bradshaw] D

Tpr Murray B W

LAD

Tpr Parry R G

Sgt Penfold I

Tpr Waites S D

Sgt Mew J R C

Pte Williams NJ

LCpl Johnson A E C Capt JB Poole

Capt C R F Ward-Thomas

THE HOUSEHOLD CAVALRY REGIMENT Headquarters Squadron

CoH Slingsby P D

Medical Centre

LCoH Hooper M A

RHQ

Surg Lt Col O’Kane

Lt Col P J Tabor MVO Mai G G E Stibbe Capt S A Tomes Capt J P Eyre W01 (RCM) Carpenter T M

SHQ

LCoH Taylor I A LCpl Bullman C W LCpl Robson D H LCpl Smith D A

LSgt Mumford D LSgt Southall GJ LCpl Wareing N Trg Wing

Tpr Jones W P Pte Lawrence K

Capt D Pickard

QM(T) Department

Capt C E Talbot W02 Evans] A SCpl Douglas W SCpl Freeman M A

Mai C A Lockhart

Capt] S Holbrook

W02 Grantham S M

W02 Godson N

SCpl Gray D P LCoH Turnbull PJ LCpl Lofts N A Pte Bartholomew P L

SCpl Peat A D CoH Mackenzie] G

LCoH Beulah M LCoH Elliott C M

W02 Shatliff T CoH Byrne CoH Walker P G

MT Troop

Sgt Eachus D C Sgt Jones P

CoH Foster LcoH Gillespie S A

Barnard D L Byne N K Johnson I J Nash

LCpl Averill] R CoH Robertson K W Officers’ Mess SCpl Farmer A P

CoH Thomas P J

W02 Ali M A

LSgt LSgt LSgt LSgt

Capt C P Macdonald Pte Sacco J W C Tpr Townsend

Chefs

Sgt Taylor

Families LCpl Marsh A LCpl Spares S J

LCpl Clarke D A

Provost

LCoH Jones c c

Command Troop

Sgt Shearer P Sgt Street M D Sgt Waterman P D LCoH Roberts MJ LSgt Britain S LSgt Morazzani C L

LCoH Doga M

LCpl Bateson D J LCpl Donnachie V J LCpl Garraway P LCpl Woodgate D m Pte Allen Pte Edwards M R

LCpl LCpl LCpl LCpl

Jeffery] P McCrea G Poole M Thompson M E

Cfn Seddon M A A Squadron The Life Guards

SHQ Capt W] P Simpson»Gee W02 Kitching M R CoH Hemming N G LCpl Green C A LCpl Ashton N P Tpr Amos L J Tpr Bromfield R Tpr Budd M A Tpr Wyborne S G Q

Tpr Hagan Tpr Harris S

LCpl Stables R M i

CoH Irving R Tpr Tpr Tpr Tpr Tpr

Allport Anderson S J Bickerdike C R Bryant C A Burton I P

Tpr Jones C A Tpr Macrae I E Tpr Metcalf

Tpr Corwy M A

Tpr Porter

Tpr Frampton D A

Tpr Smith B Tpr Taylor Tpr Webber

Tpr Gerrard Tpr Hall C S Tpr Harvey M A Tpr Lindsay M K

W02 Griffiths I S

APTC W02 Davidson M CoH Wells A S Admin Capt Larmour

2Lt M I. Lovett W01 O’Donnell B W02 Moore M

QM Department Capt N P Sackett W02 Harris A M CoH Birch G CoH Cox D W

Tpr McDowell S D W02 Reid T SSgt Lindsay—smith M R

Dental Centre Maj P Johnson

LCpl Crummey

SSgt Goodrich SSgt Pidhajecki S Sgt Bradbury M Sgt Brooks N A

Sgt Seabright K

LCpl Hayward S B

LCpl Haresign R H

LCoH Bestwick M P

CoH McCarley A LCoH Crighton C D

LSgt Esplin C P LSgt Titley RJ

LCoH Hooker L P

LCpl Cropper N J Cfn Barker RJ

Tpr Gledhill S D Tpr Hayden R C Tpr Sharpe J J

Cfn Curran M

4 Troop

D Squadron The Blues and Royals

CoH Smith LCoH Brown T E LCoH Goodhall D A LCoH Bell G A

SHQ

Tpr Stones RJ

Maj C B B Clee

3 Troop

Capt M P Goodwin»Hudson W02 Carney R]

Tpr Connell J W

Tpr Cane M A Tpr Delaney

LCpl Adams Tpr Collier Tpr Clarke R S Tpr Daley D P

Ct R H A Lewis

CoH McKechnie P J LCoH Anderton

Tpr Kinsey

Tpr Shaw~Brookrnan S

LCpl Lewis C K] Tpr Cane R J

Admin

Admin Troop

CoH Musgrave R A LCoH Amos R D LCoH Burton W A

LCpl Williams K D

SCpl Core] P

LCoH Bell M LCoH Jukes S LCpl Thompson K] Tpr Hanson P G Tpr Nixon P

LCoH Ward] C LCpl Anderson L J LCpl Brown S LCpl Harrison C P Tpr Buckingham] W

Tpr Watchorn P B

Tpr Eulert C A Tpr Queen E C Tpr Sharpe J J

LAD

Tpr Toomey B L

LSgt Gregory R M Tpr Imeson N J

SCpl Smith N A

Tpr Purser] A Tpr Terry

LCoH Hammond C R

LCoH Glasgow K F

Tpr Trencher C J

LCpl Darby C G Tpr Dormer M J P

1 Troop

LAD

Lt P B A Townley CoH Fermor

SSgt Snell K B

Cfn Humpherson R M

LSgt Brewis A J

Ct M P F Dollar

LCpl Smith C A

LSgt Hick A C

Tpr Illston G R I

LCpl ForsdickJ R LCpl Tiffoney T J Tpr Beech B P Tpr Birch D N

LSgt Holloway MJ

CoH Trinick C J LCoH Johnson R M

LCpl Romney N

LCoH Mackay S H

Tpr Scott P Tpr Smith A]

LCpl Taylor G M

Tpr Berry S E

Cfn Wigley A B

Tpr Tillen D N

Tpr Goddard P

Cfn Windle C J

Tpr Wood D M

Tpr Nelson S J

Tpr Brown Tpr Cassidy F Tpr Harvey] P

Tpr Scott C J Tpr Preston L A

Tpr Osbourne P N

C Squadron

Tpr Blount J H

The Blues and Royals

2 Troop

SHQ

2Lt E] Bond Col-I Kellet A P LCoH Simpson D J LCoH Smith D LCpl Greensmith M R

Mai T E Thorneycroft

GW Troop

W02 Ford H

Ct D I Scott

CoH Elliot C J

LCoH Lochrane] L LCoH Telling D J LCoH Wheatley W I

LCpl Spink S C

SSgt Wilson J J

Tpr Chinn S L

2 Troop LCoH Tennant G A LCoH Auld G D

Tpr Smith S J

LCoH Irwin J S LCpl Wood D A

Tpr Tpr Tpr Tpr Tpr Tpr Tpr

LCpl Butler S J Tpr Tpr Tpr Tpr

Alinmore V R Johnson C W Thompson M T Glaister M A

Gray D J Hughes B Mulley R T O’Dea D F Riley D M Mowatt D J Shenton M J

Sgt Hadleigh

Tpr Smith M B Tpr Whelan L F

2 Troop

Tpr Hansford R C

LCoH Hoggarth] S

Sgt Francis C J

SSgt Rogers D Sgt Bradbury

SCpl Brockhurst C R

Cfn Chambers G

Sgt Ingle] C Sgt Robson G d LSgt Boreland S C LSgt Brown G LSgt Godfree P A LSgt Hughes S M LCpl Ghafoor A

CoH Carrington D W

LCoH Reason J J

Lt A M Howard

LSgt Mayes A

LAD

LCpl Davies S Tpr Bostock P

Sgt Cook S G Sgt Dewey T R

Sgt Dixon P

GW Troop

Sgt Vietch I A LSgt Cole M A

Tpr Lidbetter M D Tppr McWhirter S M Tpr Parr M H

Tpr Timms M P

LCpl Kincaid M Pte Denton P N

Lt P R T Stucley

LCpl Freeman W C LCpl Hodgson S H Tpr Heaslip G P M Tpr Lever M

Tpr Moffat J A

4 Troop

Tpr Benfield D W Tpr Hanson A G Capt Gordon—Sawyers W01 Valentine

Tpr Williams K D

Tpr Hollman S H LCoH Carr] B LCpl Bentley R M LCpl Ireland M R

2 Troop

Tpr Webster B M

Sgt Williamson M I

Recruiting Team Capt Manning COH Carey

Tpr Ingram-Mitchell S J Tpr Mackintosh M A

Tpr Stephenson W

LCoH Gallagher R S LCoH Hitchings D J LCoH Carrington P]

LCpl Hopkins S B LCpl Mathieson J G LCpl Simpkins A d

Tpr Bullen C H Tpr Holden N J

Tpr Buckingham Tpr Holliday P A

SCpl Snell B

Sgt Osborn J A LSgt Ivonovic

LCpl Vost P A Tpr Hare P

LAD

LCpl Brooks M LCpl Ireland LCpl Park GJ

LCpl Sharpe R D Tpr Blair D C Tpr Blockley G

LCoH Findell RJ

LCpl Bushell W G L Tpr Timney

LCoH Wall S M LCpl Costain M O LCpl Plant S A LCpl Selway A C LCpl Shipp G J LCpl Williamson Tpr Gerrard

Capt] B C Butah W02 Tate A R CoH Benge S LCoH Vernon N J LCpl Close] S LCpl Fitzgerald]

Tpr Murray P

LtJ G Rees-Davies CoH Paternotte P M LCoH Swinburne R G LCoH Bassett A T

CoH Matthews S R

LCoH Hagan J C LCoH Yeomans M LCpl Clancy L LCpl Cox G

LCoH Toon C J N

LCoH Conway A P LCoH Mardon A D LCoH Smith G V

Tpr Sewell J R

CoH Stevenson D

LCoH Rogers B

CoH Ashdown C N

LCoH I’earse T

CoH Sykes] A

Tpr McCole A M

Tpr Catterall N T Tpr Dimbylow S C Tpr Finney I M Tpr Greenfield N S Tpr Hadley] R Tpr Haith B D Tpr Lerwill D J Pte Burford L Tpr Weyman D W

Admin Troop

Lt J H Blount

B Squadron The Life Guards

1 Troop

W02 Atkinson P CoH Ablott M

Pte Radford N J Pte Smith I D Pte Webb S L

GW Troop

1 Troop

LCoH Hockings C G C LCoH Hunt N J M

W0 & NCO Mess

LSgt Keogh F] LSgt Parker H LCpl Nixon M LCpl Murphy J] LCpl Johnson L M

Tpr Nolan L T Tpr Timms M P

Col—I Pickford S R LCoH Callow

Tpr Marriot A S Tpr Ship S Tpr Steed M

LCoH Fortune K LCoH Martin W LCoH Pass J LCpl James D H S Tpr Deakin R Tpr Hawser P J Tpr KaGWy R I Tpr Parker S Tpr Smith T K

LCoH Gardner A C LCoH Stainsby P I LCpl Sedgwick

LCpl Driver P LCpl Grant R A LCpl Spencer C A J

Tpr Williams G C 3 Troop

Tpr Blackburn I P

Tpr Allford A

Tpr Eastick J A

Tpr Blake M R Tpr Collier A P Tpr Heyes M R

Tpr Reeves Tpr Salina S A

CoH Barnard R D LCoH McMullen LCoH Webster»Smith K]

Nominal Rolls 110

Nominal Rolls

111

HOUSEHOLD CAVALRY MOUNTED REGIMENT Regimental HQ

Tpr Horgan D J Tpr Kidd L R

Tpr Broxholme D T

Tpr Norris L M

Tpr Carmichael] R Tpr Cooper A A S

Lt Col H S J Scott

Capt R C Taylor Capt C W G Rodway W01 (RCM) V P Maher LCOH Gilligan M A Lifeguards Squadron

Tpr Tpr Tpr Tpr

Prest W H Skingley A] Smith C R Wenn G D

Tpr Carlson S

Tpr Corcoran J G

Tpr Weyman D W

Tpr Early C M Tpr Eastick J A Tpr Edmond D J

Tpr Williams M R 3 Troop

SHQ Maj J D A Gaselee

Capt R] C Phelps

Tpr Adamson P

Tpr Gwillian ] C Tpr Porter A J H Tpr Wharton G

Tpr Bassett G S Tpr Cartwright T O Tpr Collier P A

Pte Beard J E C

Tpr Darlington L

LCpl Mackenzie A H LCpl Pettipher A P

Tpr Geer] E

Capt M Whatley

Tpr Head W J

Tpr Oley P J

Tpr Hession J A

Tpr Tpr Tpr Tpr

Tpr Litchfield A A Tpr Martin S D Tpr Tpr Tpr Tpr

Mcendoo R M 0riordan C J Reeves P J Roberts J L

W02 Atkinson L Parker] J Saffer D M Santi M A Scott A D

l Troop Lt C J Trietline

COH Miller G B LCOH Beech A J

LCOH Taylor S B LCpl Bridges K R

CoH Hadden M J Tpr Ward M A Tpr Wilson J Tpr Wright D A

LCpl Hammond D K

LCpl Knaggs] D K LCpl Pratt A D J LCpl Watkins G A Tpr Armstrong R T Tpr Clark P W Tpr Crawford J Tpr Dove J R

Tpr Tingley G H

Headquarters Squadron

LCOH Walker M K

2 Troop

SHQ

Tpr Grime D P Tpr Howell R G

Tpr Gooding M S

CoH Polley N F

Tpr Goodsman A D

CoH Welsh S R LCoH Brown L P

Tpr Stafford A D Tpr Stafford D D Tpr Stockill R] Tpr Waite N Tpr Walker L R

Tpr W’harton C

LCpl Harrison C P

LCpl Ireland P G

Tpr Tpr Tpr Tpr Tpr Tpr

Marriott A Nelson J R Ravenscroft D J Simons S J Smyth L B Stevenson V C

Tpr Walker L 2 Troop Capt A Lawrence CoH Heaton LC CoH Parkinson J C

LCOH Canning K J P LCoH Mount W H LCOH Stokoe A L

LCpl Roper R R D Tpr Abbott D B Tpr Allwood S J Tpr Bodycoat M Tpr Bovey P J

Tpr Callinan S P Tpr Crowther S G Tpr Fletcher N Tpr Game S A

Blues and Royals Squadron

Tpr Bartlett D J Tpr Blakeway L G Tpr Brown P L Tpr Bysouth A G Tpr Connell J W Tpr Gannon J S Tpr Griffiths W L

Officers’ Mess

RAO LCoH Young D P Maj T R Spry SSgt Henderson A L SSgt Wood 0 H Sgt Hunter A N LSgt Christon-Greet D LSgt Liveley P J

Pte Hall K L Pte Loddo N F

Tpr Golder L E Tpr Griffiths

WOS’ & NCOs’ MESS CoH Halfhide P J LCoH Cordwell L C

Guardroom CoH Spandley] P LCOH DeweJ N LCOH Parkinson D

Tpr Tpr Tpr Tpr

Griggs W F Hunt K J Jordan B R Knight] S

CoH COX<Rusbridge S A F

Tpr Lutherborrow D M

Tpr McKinnon C

LCOH Carrel CJ LCoH Ireton] K

Capt] E A Ings-Chambers Capt R R Philipson-Stow Capt C W G Rodway W02 Maxwell P G SCpl Hastings G K

Tpr Ramsden C D

LCOH Shaw] P

Tpr Richardson G A

LCoH Lawson D S LCoH Macdonald F A

Tpr Robinson M A

LCOH Mcgregor I A

LCOH Tate R M M LCpl Haywood S J LCpl Semczyszyn P E

3 Troop

Tpr Betts A L Tpr Waters K

Capt M P Goodwin-Hudson CoH Barrett S B CoH Overton T L LCOH Griffiths N L LCOH Short A D W

1 Troop COH Dixon D CoH Moore G P LCOH Hockings C G C LCpl Cromie D K LCpl Featherstone A R LCpl Kendle D H B LCpl Salmon P Tpr Benson R J

LCpl Ansell D W LCpl Faiers P M LCpl Goodwin R A LCpl Harrington B D M LCpl Stafferton R K Tpr Brown G] Tpr Brown W P Tpr Campbell D F Tpr Dallimer D

LCoH Middleton A M LCOH Varley N J LCpl Conroy P D LCpl Gammage S D LCpl Turner T D F

HCTW Capt C T Haywood

CoH Vaughan S D M

Capt M G Holden-Crawford W02 Pringle M J

LCpl Royston D I, Tpr Ryan J P

SCpl Coleman D M SCpl Weller] R CoH Chambers R I

Riding Staff CoH Mitchell P] Maj I Sanderson

W02 Waygood R G SCpl Hunter D CoH Jenkins D A

Col—I Wibberley M A

CoH Stewart N M LCoH Jones G E LCoH McCauleyJ S LCoH McThune l’ J Tpr Royston D R

DERA Kossovo ATR Purbright Bowman Military Trial Team HQ 81 Sig Sqn

Madrid - Spanish Staff Col Lon Dist APC Glasgow

BFPO 599 4th Armd Bde Light Dragoons

HQ 4 Div MOD London CATC

HQ ARRC Hereford CATT MOD (London) MOD (London)

JCSC

SCpl Elliott

LCoH Venables

SCpl Rendell W02 Harlow

LCpl Downing

LCOH Moore

I Regt AAC I Bn Scots Gds

LCOH Squire

C Sqn Qoy C Sqn Ry

LCpl Hodge

CATC

4 CTT S Regt AAC 7 CTT 601 TACP A Sqn Dy

CoH Gardner

SCpl Rendell

CoH Bright

SCpl Carter

LCoH Holloway SCpl Smithers

Catterick Garrison D Sqn Ry

W01 Kidd SCpl Mcguire

SCpl Bonner

W02 Kershaw

DAC

W02 Boyd

SCpl Dear

AFCO Birmingham

CoH Bye

SCpl Mills

W01 Jeram

RAC Gnry School

W02 Barry

CoH Gaddes W02 Pilchowski

AFCO Manchester

CoH Dixon

AFCO Preston AFCO Sunderland

CoH Lowe

ATDU

CoH Howie SCpl Smith

ATR Pirbright

LCpl Constain W02 S K Harris

DEF School TRT Diesel FD Team HQ I Recce Bde

LCOH Penn LCOH Plater

HQ 4 Armd Bde HQ 4 Div

LCoH Pickard LCoH Horne CoH Douglas CoH Freeman CoH Hyett LCoH Whiting SCpl Peers SCpl Bridges

Palace Orderly’s

SCpl Cross, MBE CoH Davidson LCoH W D Brown

HQ Londist

LCoH Chell

JCU N1 KOYY (L1)

LCoH Mcdowell LCoH Walbrook

Northumbrian Uotc Pm/Tracer

LCpl Harwood

QDG

LCoH D B Smith

SCpl Postance

SCpl Reade

RAC Gnry Wing

CoH Mcmillan WOlFisher

RAC Signals School

W01 Valentine

SCpl 0connor

W02 Simpson SCpl Flanagan W02 Camp

SCpl Kibble SCpl Curson

SCpl Miles W02 Maunder WOZ Flynn LCoH Adams LCpl Broom

ATR Wincester

W02 Voyce

QOY

W02 Norris

CoH Hayes SCpl Stillwell

RAC Centre

W02 Jenkins

BATUS

SSgt Hauxwell D C

Lt Col C M Stone

PJHQ Northwood PJHQ Northwood 7 Armd Bde Bosnia

Reece Bde — Wilts MOD (London) Buenos Aires

I Bn Irish Gds

CoH Moore K R LCOH Mackay I LCpl Camp I G LCpl Connor K N LCpl Wood J Tpr Brown R M Tpr Freij—Nichols A D Tpr Uglow T

Medical Centre

1 SG 22 SAS MOD HQ D&T

AYT HQ 4 Div RMAS

Captain 0 M B Bedford Captain P A Bedford Lieutenant Colonel W T Browne Major S H Cowen Lieutenant Colonel F G S Lukas Colonel H P D Massey Major G M D McCullough Captain S St M Miller Lieutenant Colonel D A O’Halloran Colonel P B Rogers Brigadier W R Rollo Captain P F Stretton Major General T J Sulivan Colonel B W B White-Spunner Major G V de la F Woyka

OTHER RANKS AT ERE

MT

Master Chef

MOD (London)

Captain J R D Barnard Captain H C B Briscoe Lieutenant Colonel A P De Ritter Lieutenant Colonel W S G Doughty Colonel J W M Ellery Major H R D Fullerton Major G W Howson Major P R L Hunter Captain T E G Kenyon Captain W R Lindsay Major A J Mead Captain A B Methvan Major C N Mitford-Slade Major E A Smyth-Osbourne Captain J S Tierney Major M C Van der Lande Major D C Waterhouse Major] R Wheeler

CoH Newman S J

Maj T P R Daniel

BLUES AND ROYALS

RMAS AGC Trg Grp

Lieutenant Colonel C S K Anderson Lieutenant Colonel] R Bayley

Maj H R G Carruthers

Sgt Tidy P R

Tpr Self D A Tpr Walsh L J

Captain C E Allerton

LCpl Ireland M R

Tpr Lindfield A

Tpr Salmon D

THE LIFE GUARDS

LCpl Galbraith C S

SHQ

LCpl Cooper M

Tpr Adamson S M

LCpl Clare] A LCpl Edisbury D LCpl Plimmer W A LCpl Stevens M E LCpl Woods M J Tpr Bond D L

Forge

Pte Byfteld L M

LCpl Flood M P N LCPL Radford A

LCpl White] Tpr Ramsay S D Gdsm Lee J

LCpl McNamara K

Tpr Jaworski M T

Tpr Johnston S Tpr Jordan A

CoH Twyman P Sgt McKee S LCoH Fearnley I M LCoH Mackenzie S I LCoH Scovell A M

Maj J T Lodge

Hogg J A Howland T] C Lindsay M P Meacher R W Perry] A Shenton N J

CoH Slingsby P D

LCoH Auld G D

Tpr Sanders R P Tpr Shearer K R

W02 (SCMl Harris P D CoH Hepple C

Tpr Tpr Tpr Tpr Tpr Tpr

Brown G R Button A A Mills T Beaumont M N

Tpr Tudball A N

Capt H F Whitbread

Tpr Gray B J Tpr Hamilton N M

SCpl SCpl SCpl CoH

CoH Goodwin M

Tpr Gibbs C S Tpr Goater S M

LCOH Weston C A S LCOH Williams C A LCpl Newell K S QM‘s Department

Tpr Malley A D LCoH Hoggarth J S LCpl lddon J J

Tpr Ledger G] Tpr Maplcsden A J

OFFICERS AT ERE

LCoH Hackman R C LCol-I Payne DJ

Tpr McGuire M

CoH Gray I N

CoH Holden T I

Donaughcc M G Gibson] W Gladish D M Holt P M

Tpr Metcalf K Tpr Newton P W

Tpr Horton T A

Capt R C Taylor W02 Lanahan P C SCpl Coles M J LCpl Every] M LCpl Jacobs S M Tpr Coupe T Tpr Dunncliffe A P Tpr Gray S F

Tpr Tpr Tpr Tpr

CoH Tovell

CoH Avison CoH Shields RM LY

SCpl Gibbons

Rsc Lichfield

LCoH Hughes

RY UNFICYP Warminster S Unit

CoH Everett W02 Kingston LCpl Lingard

BAND OF THE LIFE GUARDS Col—IO N Gook

LCpl A K Kirk

Musn M C Haggerty

MajorM] Torrent

CoHN A White

W021 Graves

LCOH N J Goodchild

WOZRM Young

LCOH N L Maher LCOH J Matthews

LCpl G] Semkin LCpl M D Walters LCpl M P Whybrow Musn B E Barnes Musn N D Bowen Musn D R M Carter Musn] E Dickenson Musn E] N Eccles

Musn V T Hinchliffe

W01T J Cooper

SCpl P D Lazenbury SCle Woodhouse

CoH R M Allen CoH BJ Dutton CoH P ] Carson

LCOH K A Pearson LCOH G W Wheeler LCpl C M Barker LCpl l’ D'Arcy

Musn Musn Musn Musn Musn

D L Isherwood P C Jarvis D] Taylor S LS Thorpe TS West

Nominal Rolls

112 Nominal Rolls

BAND OF THE BLUES AND ROYALS Mai R J Owen

W01 Brigden W02 Billington W02 Kitching SCpl Francis

SCpl CoH CoH CoH

Howe Haddock Paine Purnell

LCoH Whitfield LCoH Milne

LCpl Jones

LCoH Hughes

LCpl Kent

Musn Thomas Musn Speight Musn Ravenscroft

LCoH Gough LCoH Redman LCoH Marsh

LCpl King Musn Hodges

Musn Stroud Musn Pithers

Musn Musn Musn Musn

Musn Bishop

LCpl Collin

LCpl Thomas LCpl Groves

LCpl Sparks

Witter Tulip Screen Carnell

Musn Nicholls

The Life Guards to Life Savers

Leuven Revisited Jack Brook 8: Ian Royle of 2nd HCR, remember September 1944 recorded by Morris Midgley, LG For 3 HCR’s second outing, we decided to bypass Brussels and pick up The Regiment’s route towards the Rhine. On reaching Leuven we set out to explore the sights and find the scene of the strange fight for possession of the town and it’s bridges. As we walked towards the centre, Jack was able to set the scene. The River Dyle, not very wide

but deep and fast flowing, wanders in a

By Mr Dennis Cullen ome years ago Dennis Cullem, (LG LCoH May 75 — Aug 82), thought attending the annual Regimental Dinner would be a chance to meet old friends, have a few drinks and talk about old times.

Little did he realize the impact this would have on his personal and business life.

During his time with the Regiment Dennis had gained experience in trans— port management. Whilst a member of the Thames Valley Police he gained knowledge on escorting abnormal loads.

When planning a career change it seemed logical to put this experience to good use. He formed a company called ‘Traffic Services’, which provided the private sector with escorts for abnormal loads throughout UK and Europe. It was during this time, working closely with the Police Service, that he became aware of a niche within the NHS for transportation of donor organs and medical teams.

During the 1996 Regimental Dinner, Dennis and Trevor Aston (ex B Sqn) were having a conversation and realized

how much they had in common. Trevor is the Managing Director ofa European transport company, TWA Logistics’ Ltd, located in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire.

Trevor was interested in expanding his company, and combining their knowledge and contacts within the transport industry, they formed ‘Medi~ cal Support Services Ltd’.

The company has gone from strength to strength and has a combined workforce of 10 full time staff, 7 of whom are ex Regimental members.

Martin Coole (ex B Sqn) looks after the company vehicles and is the liaison between staff in the South and Head Office in the North. He has left his job at Heathrow Airport to take up full time work.

Other ex regimental members are: Dave ‘the Bear’ Cumming. John Tanner (ex medical Orderly) and recently Peter Ditcham (ex B sqn). With the exception of John Tanner, Peter Ditcham is the only medically qualified member of HSE. He currently works as a Station Officer Paramedic for Mersey Ambu-

lance Service. Since leaving the Regiment he has received numerous awards including The Queen’s Commendation for Brave Conduct, the Ambulance Service Bravery Medal, and recently the coveted Dr Gardener Award, for a job which featured on the BBC’s recent Lifesavers programme.

Medical Support Services provide transport for transplant units throughout the country. They have also branched out and now provided a transport service for seriously ill children from hospital any where in Europe to Great Ormand Street, London and the Children’s Hospital in Birmingham.

Why does Dennis employ so many ex regimental members? He explains, ‘In my line of work, you must act and look professional. All employees of Medical Support Services have pride in them— selves and their appearance, loyalty to each other and the company and are

dedicated to the people they work for. I believe all these qualities have been instilled into us from the day we first wore the cap badge of The Life Guards.

zig—zag course through the town. On the 4th September 1944, D Squadron, 2 HCR, was given the task of securing the bridges for the Grenadier Guards, a prelude to the thrust into Holland for the Rhine Bridges. Under the command of Lt Hanbury, 3 Troop, D Squadron, reached the outskirts of Leuven. There they were told that German tanks were in the town, the main bridges were prepared for destruction and guarded, and it would be suicide to continue. Years later Jack was to learn, from Kristof Aerts, author of “The Liberation of Leuven” that they were the lst Waffen SS Regt.

Adolf Hitler Division. So Jack Brook and his trusty driver, Ted Bateman, led the way into the narrow streets of the town at about 14.55 hrs. The SS had been busy supervising the demolition arrangements and rounding up stragglers, often at gun point, to man defen— sive blocks, with which to delay the Army’s advance. All chance of manoeu— vre was inhibited by the narrow streets, Jack moved cautiously forward followed

by Lt Hanbury’s armoured car. Almost at once they were fired on from the houses. Lt Hanbury directed his gunner, Tpr

We came to an open space between shops and houses, a few trees and bench seats, the sun shone brightly on an attractive scene. Ahead of us there was a street, rising slightly, at the head of which we could see the Town Hall, a wonderful Gothic building, bedecked with gaily coloured flags.

Beyond that another building seems to block the way forward, in 1944 it was the Banque Nationale.

Jack stopped and waved his arm, “there’s the bridge”, Ian and I looked about us but saw no bridge. Jack smiled and ”

pointed to his feet. “We’re standing on it”. Over a waist high wall, there was the River Dyle’s fast flowing waters. In 1944 Jack did not at first realise that he was on a bridge, but he saw some Germans hiding in a doorway obviously up to no good, a bren burst stopped that. Then two Germans, in a civilian car drove down the hill towards them, firing as they came. Jack’s bren blasted it. The driver, although wounded got out and staggered into the doorway, there he grappled with a Belgian, who was trying to disconnect wires leading to demoli— tion charges. It seemed the brave Belgian was losing the struggle, a burst of bren and the German dropped dead.

Jack found the bridge had been partly damaged, they crossed carefully, but it was not wide enough for the armoured

Liberaleurs and Liberated" - L to 17' Jack Brook, Mrs Paula Merckx and Moms M/dgley w '

Medical Support Serv/ces Limited - The Life Guards from 7972 to 7 998.

Dean, to fire over the head of the scout car, whilst Jack blazed away with the bren. No room to zig—zag, so easy to lob grenades from the windows above on to the exposed crew of the scout car below.

.

.

x:

avg

‘A/l my own work by Jack Brook Bu/let marks in Brusse/sestraat, Leuven.

car to follow them. They were under fire from either side and from the Banque Nationale to their front. It became a slugging match, which only improved when C of H. Tommy Thompson made his courageous left loop to cross the River up stream and was able to add his fire power to their efforts. With growing help from Belgians, armed with captured weapons, the German’s centre of resis-

tance shifted to the Banque Nationale.

Thanks to the incendiary bullets of the armoured cars, this was set alight and the day was won. Jack had fired over 900 rounds from his bren and was down to his final reserve, a 100 round AA drum.

Jack told us that in September 1984, he had met Charles Vranks, the Belgian civilian who had disconnected the demolition charges and struggled with the German in the doorway. He told Jack that one of his bullets had passed through his wrist and into the German.

It had been a fierce battle and Lt Hanbury’s comment, “we were down to pistols at one time”, seems to have been no exaggeration. But today Leuven is a prosperous University town, the home of Stella Artois beer, with only a few bullet holes in it’s brick and stone work to remind the visitor of the 4th September 1944. Once they discovered they had two “Liberateurs” amongst them, local people welcomed us and listened with interest to our recollections. Next year 3 HCR will press on towards Arhnem.

Feature 115 114

Feature

The Queen’s Bodyguard of the Yeoman of the Guard

Book Reviews Through Fifteen Reigns A Complete History of the Household Cavalry

By Yeoman john Lloyd ByjNP WATSON he Yeoman of the guard is the oldest Royal Body Guard in the world and was formed in 1485 by Henry VII after the Battle of Bosworth Field. For over 500 years it has performed its duties to the Kings and Queens of the now United Kingdom.

Yeomen ofthe Guard perform. There are currently 10 ex Life Guards serving on the active list and the exempt list com-

(Spellmount, 1997) - Since soldiers are all too often

prises 3 Life Guards, 1 Royal Horse

‘ inclined, in the present age, to

Guard and 1 member from the Blues and Royals.

lose sight of their regimental heritage.

Histories, well " brought up to date, should be readily available.

There has been no comprehensive history if. of the Household Cavalry since ' Sir George Arthur’s three»vol» f ume work appeared in 1909 and

Serving Members Until 1831 the Yeomen of the Guard were selected from loyal and trustworthy subjects of the Realm. Thanks to new regulations in 1832 CoH Charles Baker was the first member of the lst Life Guards to be appointed to the Body Guard. Farrier Major Thomas Lee and CoH Benjamin Blakley, both of the Royal Horse Guards, also joined the dis— tinguished ranks as Yeoman of the Guard. To this day members are still

drawn from Royal Marines and the

Yeomen Bed Hanger Yeomen Yeomen Yeomen Yeomen Yeomen Yeomen Yeomen Yeomen Yeomen

Neville Taylor John Henderson Gilbert Keeys BEM Colin Missenden Robert Daysmith William Henderson Tom Lee John Lloyd John Denton Barry Mills

Army with RAF senior NCO’s being eligible from 1955.

Exempt List Up until Charles II return to the throne in 1660 the Yeomen of the Guard were not only on foot but also had a mounted section which was responsible for the protection of the Sovereign in transit. In 1661 Charles II created his standing army — three troops of Royal Guards — later to be called The Life Guards, which provided all Royal mounted escorts and taking over from the mounted Yeomen.

The Life Guards: John Cawthorne RVM Donald Dodson John McNelly Royal Horse Guards: James Peart RVM The Blues and Royals: Ernest Woodman MBE RVM

The Yeomen of the Guard today is made

up of 65 active serving members and 14 on the exempt list, these being members who have reached the age of 70 and no longer take part in duties which the

Marching to Buckingham Pa/ace for me inspection

by Her Majesty The Queen — 7977

As a member of The Queens Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard we are required to carry out certain ceremonial duties throughout the year as follows:

The Life Guards cont/ngent.

1926 until this recent publica-

the Household Division.

The test is lavishly illustrated both in colour and black-and— White and contains 43 campaign and battle maps.

The history of the Royal Dragoons is woven into the narrative from the Tangier days of the 16605 onwards and there is a vivid account of their time in the Crimean war.

The author, a former Major in the Royal Horse Guards, com— manded The Blues Mounted Squadron, besides squadrons in Cyprus and Germany.

tion.

The Epiphany Service (St James’s Palace) Investitures throughout the year The Maundy Service Captains Parade and Roger Monk Dinner The Garter Service, Windsor State Opening of Parliament Reception Diplomatic Corp State Visits and other State occasions This means that we are asked to take part in approximately 8 duties per year as they are divided between all serving members.

Ex Warrant Officers and SNCO’s wishing to become members of the Body Guard can apply, in accordance with Queen’s Regulations, up to the age of55. This is usually done though before leaving the Regiment. It is hoped that in

.. , The history under review, ' ”é , which is dedicated to the Queen as Colonel»in—Chief, deals with the subject by reigns.

The chapters being devoted to the Household Cavalry’s career under successive monarchs. It begins with a foreword by the two Gold Sticks and an introduction by Major—General Sir Desmond Langley who commanded The Life Guards, the Household Cavalry, and also, ultimately, London District and

The emphasis of this book is very much on the closeness of the corps of Household Cavalry to their sovereigns, from Charles I through to Elizabeth II. It is a well-researched tome and contains much little-known information. Every Household Cavalryman should possess a copy and digest and treasure it.

The book may be obtained from: Spellmount, The Old Rectory, Staplehurst, Kent, TN12 0A2, at the special price of £27.95, including postage and packing (£29 for overseas surface mail).

Guardsmen of the Sky An Account of the Involvement of the Household Cavalry Troops in the Airbourne Forces.

By J N P WATSON (Michael Russell, 1997) -

-

The early chapters of this book take us from Colonel Burnaby of The Blues and his

An Actnunt ufthclmu \mefll n

. .

numimidtmominrheAixbumrFon-r;

the future more members of The Blues

“

and Royals will join the Body Guard and in doing so increase the Household Cav— alry presence within this unique and prestigious military body.

'

ballooning exploits at the end '.

of the last century through to

the birth of the Airborne

Forces under their comman~ der, General ‘Boy’ Browning, ofthe Grenadiers, in the early 1940s. And from there to the early SAS, the inspiration of Major David Stirling, Scots A: Guards, and the Special Oper. ations Executive, which Q. included such stalwarts as Captains The Hon Alan Hare, of The Life Guards, and David Smiley, of The Blues.

The narrative then proceeds to the raising of the Guards Parachute Battalion under Colonel John Nelson and their short-lived trials in Palestine in 1947-48. And from there to the founding of the Guards Independent Parachute Company, which lasted from its foundation on the dying members of the battalion until its disbandment in October, 1975. The closing chapter (‘Airborne Armour’) deals with the airborne element of the Household Cavalry at Windsor.

to the hisThus two-thirds of Guardsmen ofthe Sky is devoted

tory of the Guards Parachute Company, to which the author was the first Household Cavalry officer to belong. After taking part with the Company in the operations in Cyprus and Egypt in 1956, and then leading 3 Blues armoured reconnaissance squadron during the last years of the anti—EOKA campaign, J N P Watson also became the first Household Cavalry officer to command the Company.

The present Silver Stick was one of the Company officers at the time of the disbandment.

Corporal—of—Horse John McNaughton was the first of several Life Guardsmen to join the company.

The Household Cavalry is well represented in the Guards‘ Parachute Association, with Major Lord Patrick Beresford as its President and Major Sir Nicholas Nuttall (another ex—com— pany commander) and Major Watson among the vice»presi— dents. Major Paddy Kersting is a prominent member of the committee.

The book which contains a host of fascinating photographs, from the Second World War onwards, gives one ofthe best por— trayals of esprit de corps ever to appear in print.

The book may be obtained from: The Curator, Household Cavalry Museum, Combermere Barracks, Windsor, SL4 3 DN, at the special price of£18, including postage and packing (£20 for overseas surface mail).

Book Reviews 116

Feature

117

The Household Cavalry Association

PETER T WILSON 14 SYDNEY ROAD CHRISTCHURCH DORSET BH23 ZHX

North Staffs Branch Annual Report

Friday 14 August 1998-12-14

President: Lt Col] S Olivier, The Blues and Royals

On a recent visit to the Battlefields of Normandy I visited the Museum at Saint-martin Des —Besaces. The husband and wife team Monsieur and Madame Manard with the help of their children have put together a remarkable collage of the life they endured under the harsh regime of the German occupation forces. This is followed by a section on the Liberation of their part of Normandy “The Bocage”. Madame speaks with much pride and affection of the men who gave so much to liberate them.

Chairman: Mr Len Pritchard, formerly Life Guards Secretary: Mr Ian Taylor, formerly Royal Horse Guards Treasurer: Mr Harry Withington, formerly Life Guards

The centrepiece of the tour is a model of the village of Saint-Martin Des»Besaces Madame’s two sons Olivier and Jon—Christopher constructed this in their spare time.

Many special effects and a running commentary on the progress of the Battle made this a fascinating display.

“The Lone Horseman of St Charles de Percy”

On behalf of 2 HCR a copy of The Household Cavalry journal was presented to the Major Michel Leterhtur/‘et

My final destination the cemetery at St Charles de Percy I came here to lay a wreath on behalf of 2 HCR and the family of Trooper R. S. Gamble Royal Horse Guards killed in action 10th August 1944 aged 21 years.

The parade at St Charles de Percy was organised by the Major Michael Leteinturier. Also in attendance Alain Declomesnil Conseiller General, The local priest, who conducted the service of Remembrance.

The Guard of Honour was made up of some twenty—eight legionaries. These are the equivalent of the Royal British Legion. The last post was sounded banners were lowered. Reveille was followed by a slow march past all the graves. The Legionnaires headed the parade followed by the French Dignitaries, Representatives from the Brigade of Guards, many family and friends of those buried here, local people who just came to pay their respects.

We then moved on to the Mairie where speeches were made glasses were charged nice things were said, all in all an excellent turnout.

On leaving St Charles de Percy my thoughts were, “Today they did our Boys Proud”.

How you can help the Brooke Hospital for Animals You can too easily find half crippled, malnourished working animals in the East today.

Every week we give free treatment to thousands of suffering horses and donkeys and save many more from years of cruel labour.

For £25 we can provide up to 5 days of life saving hospital care. Just £2 will enable us to give an all important preventative treatment. We know how to get the best value from every penny.

Please help. Send what you can by Cheque or Credit Card to: Richard Searight, Brooke Hospital for Animals, Dept GHC36, Broadmead House,

21 Panton Street, London SW1 4DR - or call us on 0171 930 0210

he year started with our AGM in March. We were pleased to welcome our new President, Lieutenant Colonel J S Olivier, but were sad to say goodbye to the outgoing President, Major C H Waterhouse, Life Guards, who has done a splendid job for the past 10 years. The Association founder and Chairman, Len Pritchard was re—elected, Ian Taylor was elected as Secretary and Harry Withing— ton as Treasurer. Many thanks to Mr Graham Haywood who retired as Secretary after years of hard work and to Man— reen who has been such a great help.

attended his last evening service and afterwards, Major C H Waterhouse presented him with a copy of“Through Fif~ teen Reigns’, signed inside by the members. The Padre continues to be a member even though he has moved to retire— ment in Lichfield. Later in June, Mrs Ann Taylor, the wife ofthe Secretary was ordained at Lichfield Cathedral under the watchful eye of our Padre.

The Life Guards Regimental Association Dinner and Trooping the Colour was attended by several members.

In April, the North East Club held their Annual Dinner Dance and the Secretary made the trek North to represent us. The standard was as high as ever.

Our annual sponsored walk was planned for August, and despite the prolonged wet weather for some time before, the 10 mile walk through the Staffordshire and Derbyshire country» side was a great success. Starting from May is the time for the Blues and Royals the home of Capt P R V Thellusen, (forRegimental Association Dinner. A party merly Royals) in the picturesque village attended on the Saturday night and a of Alstonefields, members, wives and coach brought other members and fami— friends completed the walk aided by the lies to London for Cavalry Sunday. attendance of the ‘NAAFI’ en route staffed by Mrs Polly Thellusen with a In June, our Honorary Padre, good supply of her legendary cakes and Prebendary J G Ridyard, retired as Rectea. The day finished with a barbecue in tor of St. Giles’ Church, Newcastle the garden of Capt Thellusen. We broke under Lyme and a number of members last years record and raised a total of over £600. This year it will Major CH Wale/house present/mg Prebendary JG Hiya/d WlI/7 the book ‘Through F/fteen Re/gns upon his retirement. be divided equally between our adopted charity, Riding for the Disabled, and the Paediatric Intensive Car Unit.

The high point of the year was our Annual Dinner Dance in October. We were pleased to welcome guests from various parts of the country including the usual and very welcome contingent from the North East. There was an abundance of raffle prizes including bottles of Herforder, courtesy of the Secretary whose job has recently taken him to Ger-

many and he just ‘happened’ to be passing Herford. The fact that the Treasurer won several of the raffle prizes was not regarded as suspicious!

November found the Association well represented at the Remembrance Day Service at Fenton and afterwards laying a wreath and sharing memories with the family at the grave ofa local Life Guard killed in Northern Ireland. This short service was taken by Revd Ann Taylor.

We have made a habit this year ofhaving every third month as a social evening, members and their wives have a meal at a local hotel, no excuse now for not tak— ing the other half out! The last social evening this year was in November for a Christmas dinner when representatives of the charities were presented with the sponsorship money.

Another successful year is over, with an increase in members further afield from Devon and Yorkshire.

We extend our best wishes to the House—

hold Cavalry Regiments as we look forward to another active year in 1999.

The Household Cavalry Association 119 118

The Household Cavalry Association

‘5, :‘4.

4-5;

History of Jock

THE UNION JACK CLUB THE

SERVICES CLUB IN LONDON

by: A G Drury (Sergeant Ist Royal Dragoons) extends a warm welcome to all members of the Services to make use of our modern accomodation and facilitie s

Iwas Officer’s Mess Caterer in Balli— nasloe, Ireland in 1921.

cared to have them. I got 20 geese, 10 turkeys and 10 ducks.

In the September of that year I decided to change the diet of the Officers from the usual lamb and beef to poultry. So I attended the weekly market in the village and saw this rather large and fat goose, I purchased it for a mere song, and took him in the mess cart to Garbally Court (Lord Clancarty’s house).

I at once saw that I had no trouble in looking after this huge flock, because “Jock” took them under his wing, and was acting under my behalf. This factor decided me that “Jock” was too good to lose.

I had no experience with these creatures, but as it was fat I thought what a fine sight it would be on the table.

Well I let him wander about until I could pluck up enough courage to kill him.

But by this time he had become quite tame and had made friends with all the soldiers, but a sworn enemy to civilians, in fact, he always gave a warning cry when civilians entered the kitchen yard.

The milk boy refused in the end to even enter the yard, as “Jock” one day had him by the seat of his pants.

In the meantime, I quite liked the idea of

keeping live stock and as Christmas was only 3 months away I decided to pur— chase some young birds for anybody who

A wide choice of Single, Double and Family bedrooms, many with private bath/shower, WC and TV

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Well by Christmas my stock had all been sold, and all that was left was “Jock” and a small white duck.

These two were great friends and were always about together, nearly every evening they would parade in front of the house to inspect the new guard.

Well the time came that the Royals were leaving Ireland, and I was asked, “When was Jock going to be killed”?

Form the illustrated London News of 2 June 7925 show/Hg K/ng Georgei/ and Queen Mary With Jock at A/dershot

From Hounslow he went with the Royals to Aldershot and was presented to The King and Queen in 1925, and his photograph appeared in all the leading monthly books.

The ideal location for those visiting London, conveniently situated in Sandell Street directly opposite the Waterloo Road entrance to Waterloo Railway Station Forfiu'ther information and to book your accommodation

; With more than 300 contact:

The Reservations Office, The Union Jack Club,

Sandell Street, London SE1 8U] I approached Captain C Swire, who decided for me that “Jock” could be taken to England as a Regimental Pet, I was delighted at this and set too to make him a wooden crate, and to HOUNSLOW he went.

Here he was made a great fuss of and established himself as a Regimental Pet.

Again back to HOUNSLOW and in 1927 he left with the Royals for service in Egypt. Here he lived roaming the barracks for two years.

Telephone: 0171 928 4814 - Fax: 0171620 0565

3 , , ‘

years experience in supplying to the exacting standards of the Armed Forces of the world.

He finally died in Abbassia, Cairo in 1929, where he was buried with full military honours in the Officer’s Mess Garden.

RETIRE IN GOOD ORDER TO THE ROYAL HOSPITAL CHELSEA For a comfortable and active retirement you can’t beat being an In—Pensioner at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, a magnificent home for old soldiers founded in 1682 by Charles II and designed by Sir Christopher Wren. You’ll be well dug in, with a room of your own, and in good company with former soldiers like yourself. The setting is idyllic: 60 acres close by the famous King’s Road in the heart of London and near the Thames. Your every need will be met in a carefree life. You will eat in the Great Hall and relax in the In— Pensioners Club. There’s a billiards room, a good library of books and videos, and an Arts and Crafts Centre and a Post Office. The Royal Hospital also has its own Chapel, as well as a Roman Catholic Chapel. A splendid medical service includes an Infirmary staffed by caring doctors, a matron and nurses. In addition, there are support facilities which include a chiropodist, a physiotherapy department and a fitness centre.

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CHOOSE THE GOOD LIFE! SO DON’T LEAVE IT TOO LATE TO APPLY If you want to know more, contact The Secretary (Room 6), Royal Hospital Chelsea, London SW3 48R Telephone 0171 881 5204 Fax 0171 825 6871

120

Feature

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