Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment Foreword By Lieutenant Colonel G V de la F Woyka, The Blues and Royals Commanding Officer, The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment I well recall addressing the Regiment on day one of my command. One of my themes was that we must learn to live with uncertainty; that we must see it both as a challenge and an opportunity. At that time, we faced a move into temporary stables, a total shut down of the barrack water supply, poor manning levels set against continuing arduous operations in Iraq and a BATUS deployment for HCR in Windsor. Although the Regiment’s natural focus has been State Ceremonial, these challenges have made for a demanding and, at times, unorthodox year. Although the Regiment’s temporary stabling served it well, it did place constraints on the number of horses stabled at Knightsbridge at any one time. As a result, the annual inspection by the Major General Commanding the Household Division took a different form this year. With insufficient horses in London to mount the Regiment and double band, the decision was taken that the officers, warrant officers, training wing staff, coach troop and mounted bands only would form up on the review line for the Major General. The inspection over, in time honoured fashion, they set off to prove what experience and sartorial elegance can do in walk, trot and canter. This was achieved with both Messes managing to remain on speaking terms, but I suspect few orderlies would like to repeat the experience. The Regiment was strongly represented at the Royal Windsor Horse Show. The Riding Master, Captain Richard Waygood LG, distinguished himself in the Services Team Show Jumping competition on Her Majesty’s Peter Pan winning Best Individual Rider, a new prize for this year. Captains James de St John Pryce and Alex MacEwen RHG/D lead Tprs Newstead RHG/D and Kleinhans LG to a respectable fourth place in the tent pegging competition. The Princess Elizabeth Cup was won by Tpr Waisele LG. After an early general election in May, we appreciated the warm summer sunshine as opposed to November’s usual wintry blasts as we waited, silently, to escort Her Majesty back to Buckingham Palace after the State Opening of Parlia-
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ment. WO2 (SCM) Parkinson LG carried The Life Guard Standard on The Queen’s Birthday Parade. The period was rounded off by the rare opportunity to escort Her Majesty to Horse Guards Parade for the moving and memorable VE/VJ celebration concert. In July, with the summer ceremonial season over, we deployed to Bodney Camp for annual training whilst, uniquely, continuing to mount The Queen’s Life Guard in London. This meant that, on return, we were able to hand over The Queen’s Life Guard to The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery and stand down, less the barrack guard, for summer leave. This proved hugely successful, popular and retention positive with everyone, particularly parents. In September, with the stables refurbishment and block leave complete, life began to return to normal. The Regiment was able to catch up on individual and adventure training run by Major Mike Whatley LG and Captain James Thomson LG. Particularly popular was the coastal steering in Cornwall. This involved leaping off cliffs into the cold September Cornish waters, being buffeted by the swell, clambering over rocks, exploring underwater caves and swimming with seals. More conservatively, nine members of the Regiment enjoyed a fortnight’s sailing off the coasts of Spain and Portugal. On a slightly larger scale, LCpl Holiday RHG/D and Tprs Kemp and Hill LG and Pte Ashton AGC, joined our affiliated ship, HMS Westminster, in Tenerife for her return trip to Portsmouth. Captain Richard Moger RHG/D led this year’s team to Spruce Meadows in Alberta, Canada, to act as mounted escorts for the International Masters Show Jumping Tournament. The end of the summer saw a return to full yards in preparation for the Royal Visit of Their Majesties The King and Queen of Norway and the State Visit of the President of China. The Royal Visit was to have been the first escort from Millbank, and the Adjutant and Riding Master surprised everyone by striding purposefully up and down outside Tate Britain conversing in hushed tones while trying to come to terms with this new challenge. Sadly, it was not to be, and we
Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment
returned to the more familiar setting of Horse Guards. Next came the President of China. Whilst some horses took a distinctly Anglo-Saxon view of crowds and colourful dragons by refusing to settle, the escort, although tested, returned intact. The Blues and Royals Band flew to Sarajevo to play for the EUFOR Change of Command ceremony between the British and Italians only just making it back in time to lead the singing at the spectacular Household Cavalry Celebration of Christmas held in the Guards Chapel. At which point, I would like to return to my opening statement. We have been challenged by a busy ceremonial season and major building works within barracks. We have made the most of every opportunity, challenging convention and routine where appropriate, whilst balancing the demands of our environment and ceremonial duties. As a reward, we now have new stables, an improved working and living environment, and we achieved full manning in August. I am acutely aware that I have only scratched the surface, however, I believe the Regiment has done well, and we should be proud of our achievements and the good we have managed to effect. I hope you will find that these themes come out in the pages ahead