The SCM is not cross-eyed.
CoH Wyard at the CO's Inspection of the Squadron.
LCpl Baksh at the CO's Inspection of the Squadron.
July came around and with the inconsistent weather came an opportunity to get the horses and men out of London and into the fields of Norfolk. Summer camp was an enjoyable three weeks for all; the Squadron Leader provided most of the amusement by falling off more than once! There was ample opportunity for the soldiers to practise their riding in a different environment other than the streets of Chelsea. On the equestrian side, the Squadron seniors did well, Captain T S L Mundawarara won the senior show jumping, Captain R M P Bavister celebrated his last day in the Army by winning the open day show jumping and Captain Wren and Corporal of Horse Mount won the senior Handy hunter. Summer camp ended and leave began, and with that we saw a number of changes in the Squadron: Major Brooks left to the Intermediate Command and Staff Course; The SCM, crutches and all, moved downstairs to become RQMC. The SQMC handed his shop over to SCpl Jukes and moved upstairs to take over the big chair as SCM.
mand, found himself taking part in the State Visit of the King of Saudi Arabia as Escort Commander, a distant shout from the hills of Nowzad in Afghanistan. The two Life Guards Divisions led The Blues and Royals standard on the State Opening of Parliament, which was a relatively painless escort as The Queen only spoke for 8 minutes, meaning the Regiment was back in camp relatively quickly.
disappeared in a hazy blur! All in all it was a good year for the Squadron, everybody looking forward to a well deserved rest over winter leave.
After a well deserved leave, the Squadron had a few weeks before we welcomed back some very shaggy looking animals from grass. Some of them decided that they wanted a little more time out in the fields and refused to be caught! However, all horses were soon accounted for, clipped and back on watering order.
Most were lucky enough to hang up their ceremonial helmets until spring, however the chosen few had the mixed privilege of being selected for the Cenotaph Parade on Remembrance Sunday. While it is a great opportunity to honour those who have valiantly served in foreign fields, it also requires the marching party to stand still for up to three hours. This is no mean feet with nothing to distract the mind except the sound of falling King’s Troop soldiers. As quickly as the horses had come back from grass, they were back on the boxes and heading back out of the gates. The small respite allowed a troop at a time the chance to get up to Melton Mowbray for the winter hunting camps in November.
The year saw the Squadron say farewell to Captains Wren, Bavister and Eastwood who have all left the Army while Captain Harley moved on to become ADC to Major General B W B White-Spunner formally RHG/D. We welcome Captains Long and Mundawarara, Lieutenant E P Olver and CoH Plant. LCpl Powell was promoted to LCoH and LCsoH Partridge and Howell moved to the forge. The Squadron is eagerly anticipating the arrival in January of a Squadron Leader in the form of Major A R Tate recently back from Iraq. The Mounted Regiment is also due for a new Adjutant but it remains to be discovered if it is a case of ‘better the devil you know’ or will the ‘future be bright’ with Captain J E A de St. John-Pryce RHG/D?
The year wound down and the Christmas party season came and
Some of the troopers escaped Knightsbridge for a weeks’ adventurous training in Newquay, throwing themselves into activities including surfing, coasteering, rock climbing and abseiling at Penhale camp’s excellent facilities. The Squadron had a very successful build up, and found themselves well prepared for the 2 State parades. Captain T M R Long, newly promoted as second-in-com-
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Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment
CsoH Saunders and Mount having fun.