The Household Cavalry Journal 2020

THE HOUSEHOLD CAVALRY JOURNAL 2020

The Household Cavalry Journal

Incorporating The Acorn and The

Blue and Royal

No. 29 2020

Editor: Lieutenant Colonel (Retd) R R D Griffin, The Life Guards

Colonel in Chief: Her Majesty The Queen

Colonel of The Life Guards and Gold Stick: Lieutenant General Sir Edward Smyth-Osbourne KCVO, CBE

Colonel of The Blues and Royals and Gold Stick: HRH The Princess Royal KG KT GCVO QSO

Lieutenant Colonel Commanding and Silver Stick: Colonel C A Lockhart MBE ADC, The Blues and Royals

Commanding Officer Household Cavalry Regiment: Lieutenant Colonel A E Gilham, The Life Guards

Commanding Officer Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment: Lieutenant Colonel P J Williams MC, The Blues and Royals

The Life Guards 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)

Aisne (1914)

Armentières (1914)

Messines (1914)

Ypres (1914)

Langemarck (1914)

Gheluvelt

Nonne Bosschen

St Julien

Frezenberg

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

Beaurevoir

Cambrai (1918)

Selle

Somme (1918)

France and Flanders (1914-18)

The Blues and Royals Battle Honours

Tangier (1662-1680)

Dettingen

Warburg

Beaumont

Willems

Fuentes d’Onor

Peninsula

Waterloo

Balaklava

Sevastopol

Tel el Kebir

Egypt (1882)

Relief of Kimberley

Paardeberg

Relief of Ladysmith

South Africa (1899-1902)

Mons

Le Cateau

Retreat from Mons

Marne (1914)

Aisne (1914)

Messines (1914)

Armentières (1914)

Ypres (1914)

Langemarck (1914)

Gheluvelt

Nonne Bosschen

St Julien

Ypres (1915)

Frezenberg

Loos

Arras (1917)

Scarpe (1917)

Ypres (1917)

Broodseinde

Poelcappelle

Passchendaele

Somme (1918)

St Quentin

Avre

Amiens

Hindenburg Line

Beaurevoir

Cambrai (1918)

Sambre

Pursuit to Mons

France and Flanders (1914-1918)

Mont Pincon

Souleuvre

Noireau Crossing

Amiens (1944)

Brussels

Neerpelt

Nederrijn

Nijmegen

Lingen

Bentheim

North West Europe (1944-1945)

Baghdad (1941)

Iraq (1941)

Palmyra

Syria (1941)

El Alamein

North Africa (1942-1943)

Arezzo

Advance to Florence

Gothic Line

Italy (1944)

Gulf (1991)

Wadi al Batin

Iraq (2003)

Mont Pincon

Souleuvre

Noireau Crossing

Amiens (1944)

Brussels

Neerpelt

Nederrijn

Lingen

Veghel

Nijmegen

Rhine

Bentheim

North West Europe (1944-1945)

Baghdad (1941)

Iraq (1941)

Palmyra

Syria (1941)

Msus

Gazala

Knightsbridge

Defence of Alamein Line

El Alamein

El Agheila

Advance on Tripoli

North Africa (1941-1943)

Sicily (1943)

Arezzo

Advance to Florence

Gothic Line

Italy (1943-1944)

Falkland Islands (1982)

Iraq (2003)

Crown Copyright: This publication contains official information. It should be treated with discretion by the recipient. The opinions expressed in the articles in this journal are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the policy and views, official or otherwise, of the Household Cavalry or the Ministry of Defence. No responsibility for the goods or services advertised in this journal can be accepted by the Household Cavalry, publishers or printers and advertisements are including in good faith. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the permission of the Editor and Publisher.

The Journal was designed and published by Brian Smith Associates, 145 St Pancras, Chichester, West Sussex PO19 7SH. Tel: 07770 277010 Email: brian@briansmithassociates.co.uk

Household Cavalry Regiment

Household Cavalry Sports Round-up

Preface

By Colonel C A Lockhart MBE ADC, The Blues and Royals Lieutenant Colonel Commanding Household Cavalry

In the last Journal I reported on the significant change that the Regiment had or was about to undertake. How foolish of me for not anticipating what was around the corner. I think it’s fair to say though that no-one could have predicted the year we have just had. Whilst in some ways it could again be described as one of change, I think it more accurate to label it as unstable. That said I am going to try and use the ‘C’ word as little as possible although impossible to completely ignore. ‘C’OVID has changed all our personal lives and the Army and the Household Cavalry are no different. We have all adapted to new ways of working, become proficient in Teams, Zoom, Skype, Webex or whatever your chosen platform. And yes, very sadly, we have even lost members of the Association to the Virus. However, by the time you read this, one would hope that our lives will just about be starting to return to a better norm.

I will touch on the standard subjects of each Regiment, the Band and the Foundation later but thought that I would also cover some topics which don’t always get an airing. There is (or again by the time you read this, has been) an Integrated Review. What I can be sure of is that we will still have two Regiments – each made up from two Cap Badges – but the size and shape is currently not known. Regardless of the outcome we must continue to play the hand that we are dealt! It was therefore probably timely that 2020 saw the introduction of The Household Cavalry Council with its first meeting held in May. Prior to this point,

we had continued with each Regiment having their own Council and they are still able to do so. However, with a combined Council it is hoped that such issues of the day can be discussed collegiately (regardless of Cap Badge) and advice given to the Lieutenant Colonel Commanding and the Commanding Officers. The standing members include both Gold Sticks, Silver Stick, Commanding Officers and Association leads with others being co-opted as required. It would also be remiss of me not to mention the Household Cavalry Museum which has had to be closed throughout the year. As a result, and very sadly, one member of staff has had to be made redundant. The Museum will however survive, despite the constant changes in restrictions. The Museum staff are now focussed on how best to go forward, one of the main efforts will be improving the online offering through the shop and digitisation of the archive. The Museum itself will reopen as soon as it is able and plans to exhibit Sergeant Styles’ Waterloo Medal – the tale behind the procuring of this artefact is a whole different story. Please visit it when you can.

At the time of writing my notes I have just read The Blues and Royals Regimental Association update welcoming the court’s award of substantial damages of £715,000 in the case of Sarah Jane Young, daughter of LCpl Jeffrey Young who was murdered in the IRA bombing of The Blues and Royals Queen’s Life Guard in July 1982. The award was made against IRA bomber John Downey who was described by the court as an ‘active participant’ in the bombing. It has been a long and emotional journey for the families of those murdered by the IRA in Hyde Park to seek justice albeit through the civil courts. I am sure you will all collectively join me in welcoming this news.

I must mention that we continue to be able to recruit some of the finest officers and soldiers. In 2020 we have been blessed with an embarrassment of riches with some notable achievements; we had two prize winners earlier in the year at Sandhurst. Firstly, 2Lt Lizzie Godwin won the Sword of Honour and 2Lt Sholto Hanson won the State of Kuwait Defence and International Affairs Prize. Not to be outdone Ct Fergus Lupton and LCoH Cuthbertson came top of their Troop Leaders and Crew Commanders course respectively. And finally, Lt Charlotte Lord-Sallenave

won the RAC David Render Prize for outstanding performance as a Troop Leader. In the way that we have become used to living recently, she received her prize remotely from Colonel RHG/D whilst Her Royal Highness was attending the Cavalry Colonels’ AGM – again remotely and electronically. There will be many more achievements which I have not covered but well done indeed to those that I have mentioned here.

Finally, before starting with each Regiment it is worth noting that towards the latter part of the year we have said goodbye to both Commanding Officers. It is especially pleasing to see that they have both left on promotion but couldn’t bear to be parted and have found themselves serving together in Iraq! I wish them all the best and thank them for holding the reins over what has been an exceptionally challenging couple of years. Equally we welcome Lt Cols Anthony Gilham LG to Bulford and Tom Armitage LG to Knightsbridge.

Individually you will read what the Regiments have been up to later in the Journal but as a brief overview I will start with HCR. The Regiment has faced the juxtaposition of constantly changing timelines for the arrival of the AJAX fleet whilst being able to finally feel some real stability and settling into their new home in Bulford. And whilst many of the buildings needed work on them to be completed, this has slowly been done throughout the year. The final parts of the technical accommodation have now been handed over. The LAD building opened in the summer and is superbly equipped. The SQMCs have moved out of their ISOs and into their newly built hangars with ample storage space. The finishing touches to both messes have been made with contracts renegotiated to provide a service that better suits the way we prefer to operate. Despite disruption to courses over lockdown, career courses and routine training have still been possible and it appears that Close Target Recces are now done using Zoom!! Finally, while there is a pause in the mounted training cycle, the squadrons have been getting back to basics and running some great dismounted training in all environments.

The primary output of the Mounted Regiment has clearly been interrupted. There has been no State Ceremonial and Public Duties have been altered significantly with horses and soldiers undertaking a month-long duty at Horse

Guards in order to reduce the churn. While preparing for the Major General’s rehearsal the Regiment was notified to send almost all the horses out to grass. This also meant ceasing any training at Combermere Barracks. With horses out to grass the Regiment was ready to be tasked by LONDIST. Initially they provided a COVID Support Force Sqn and then an enlarged TEMPERER (support to the Police) commitment. The Regiment was also involved in large test sites for key workers followed by mobile testing around London. Those in Barracks took part in a Public Health England study, the results of which have helped to shape understanding of the virus. When mounted training restarted, in order to assist the Armour Centre clear the backlog, the Regiment was asked to undertake their own Initial Trade Training and thus take soldiers straight from Phase 1 Training. This was a huge challenge, met head on, with some 90 soldiers subsequently trained in a short space of time. Normal service has now resumed with Household Cavalry recruits going via the Armour Centre. Despite these challenges HCMR have managed to take part in a 3-peaks challenge with a group completing Ben Nevis, Scarfell Pike and Snowdon in just over 24 hours. In terms of military training they have supported a

Editorial

Iamsure that all agree that 2020 has been a year which few would have predicted. Unprecedented change and turmoil has become normal. Plans at every level have had to change multiple times and dealing with the unknown an almost daily occurrence. However, it is in this fog that the Household Cavalry has thrived. The following pages demonstrate the flexibility and imagination that are needed to adapt, to learn, to experiment and to communicate. Junior commanders have been given a freedom of action to lead in different ways, and endeavouring to lead, whilst dispersed at home, has given challenges of command not experienced since the 17th century when our forbearers were billeted in the pubs of Whitehall. (So much easier if the pubs are open).

There are a number of Household Cavalry projects underway which may interest you. There is a strong move to republish (with updated mapping) Roden Orde’s History of 2 HCR. For those unfamiliar with this fantastic read, it tells the story of transformation of the Household Cavalry from horse to the finest recce regiment in 30 Corps

training team in The Cayman Islands, and exercises with the Welsh Guards, The Royal Military Academy and Counter-Terrorism Forces in London. The Regiment is now in furious preparation hoping for a return to normal jogging in 2021.

The move of the Household Cavalry Regiment from Combermere coincided with the roll out of the ‘Military Music Optimisation’, which found the Band concentrating on the transition to integration with the Household Division Bands Regiment. Under a new Commanding Officer, many of the musicians have become involved with projects across the Household Division which includes the Director of Music as Second in Command of Household Division Bands. The Band has also found themselves providing support to the fight against COVID. Along with the Coldstream and Welsh Guards they provided the bulk of ‘A Coy’. During this period, they undertook G4 and driving duties whilst carefully planned musical activity went ahead. The Band have continued in their support to the HCF and have even expanded their charitable endeavours by supporting a joint Household Division recording, again with profits going to central Charities. They have still found time to

support a number of events throughout the year including an appearance during the Festival of Remembrance performing Boys of the Old Brigade with Alfie Boe and Michael Ball, recording of ‘Happy 70th Birthday’ to HRH The Princess Royal and most recently playing the National Anthem prior to Her Majesty The Queen’s Christmas address.

A complete Foundation report can be read later in the Journal. I think the headline is that due to the tireless work by the Director and due to the generosity from our current and new donors we have continued to sustain a manageable inflow of funds. These continue to be distributed according to our Objectives. I suppose my overriding message would be to encourage people to make use of the Foundation – we, along with the Associations, are here to help.

So rather counter-intuitively in a year where we have been largely forced onto the backfoot I have managed to exceed my wordcount – apologies, but despite not being able to undertake our primary role at either Regiment there has been a significant amount of positive work to report on. We can but hope for a return to a semblance of normality during 2021 which allows for our routine to be unhindered.

(according to Gen Horrocks) and it is the finest regimental history of the Second World War (according to Winston S Churchill). It remains relevant to the crewmen of today as it was 70 years ago. If you are in a position to help sponsor this project, please let HQ Household Cavalry know.

Please read the article on the acquisition of the Styles Medal, recently purchased by the Museum. It would be even better if you could travel to London to see the Styles Medal and the original 105 Eagle “reunited” in the Museum.

For many years the Blues and Royals have been distinguished by their regimental tweed. I am delighted to inform you that Colonel Life Guards has recently selected a new tweed for The Life Guards. A mill has been commissioned to weave bolts of cloth for both Regiments and tweed should be available to purchase from 1st July 2021. Further details will be promulgated via adjutants and the Associations for those who may wish to purchase lengths of tweed. This will also include a guide for the amount of material required. A picture of the new Life Guard tweed is

below.

Lastly, for the second year in a row, I have assembled this Journal without the benefits of an office or hard copy. Therefore errors and omissions are solely mine and I will again seek to correct them in next year’s Journal.

Household Cavalry Regiment

Foreword

(January to July) By Lieutenant Colonel M S P Berry, The Life Guards Commanding Officer, The Household Cavalry Regiment

When I wrote this foreword for the 2019 Journal, the Household Cavalry Regiment was only weeks into establishing itself in Bulford. Images of the Regiment’s Freedom Parade through Windsor from Combermere Barracks were still fresh in our memories. COVID-19 was not yet a phenomenon. Most of the buildings which we now call home had not been completed. The Regiment was working from temporary accommodation. The vehicles we were using would have been familiar to soldiers serving in the Falklands: many of the CVR(T) in use today would have employed on operations by some of those reading this journal.

The greatest achievement in the first part of this year has been the way in which our soldiers have established the Regiment in Bulford. The exciting start to a new chapter in the Household Cavalry’s history was quickly overtaken by challenges. Delays in the construction of the camp and in the delivery of the new vehicles characterised the year. These challenges were compounded by COVID-19, and the necessary measures to disperse from our new home just as it was nearing completion.

Where others may have lost morale in the face of these challenges, the Household Cavalry has met them with determination, and our soldiers leaned into dispersed training with imagination and enthusiasm. Classrooms, parade squares and offices stood empty, while computer screens, telephones and online group work provided the only way of training together, and even resulted in some magnificent group physical training sessions. Soldiers drew lessons from our dispersed work which will be as valuable to future operational posture as it was in guarding against COVID. Younger generations, more familiar with online tools, educated the senior levels of the Regiment to improve familiarity with modern communication tools. The character of the Regiment was preserved and strengthened even in dispersal.

We have been lucky enough, again, to have an operational tour to focus on. While some of our soldiers held operational readiness to deploy in the UK in support of the government’s response to COVID-19, others prepared to deploy to Bosnia and Kosovo on a reconnaissance operation. This proved a fascinating

deployment, our soldiers learning valuable new approaches to reconnaissance in a very different arena.

Throughout, the Regiment has developed valuable bonds with other units in Bulford and with the local community. The effort made by all ranks has been both inspiring and humbling. Collectively soldiers have worked incredibly hard to ensure the Household Cavalry integrates seamlessly into the garrison. Soldiers have proudly upheld the standards and traditions established by our forebears but maintained the humility to learn from their professional peers around the garrison. Our only regret of this year is that we have been unable to show off to friends, families, supporters and former members of the Household Cavalry the new home of which we are so proud. On behalf of the Regiment, I thank you for your patience, particularly those whose scheduled dinners or meetings in Powle Lines were cancelled or postponed. We look forward to welcoming you to Powle Lines at the earliest opportunity.

Lt Col M S P Berry LG and WO1 (RCM) Allwood RHG/D

(August to December) By Lieutenant Colonel A E Gilham, The Life Guards Commanding Officer, The Household Cavalry Regiment

It goes without saying that it is an immense honour to have been chosen to take command of the Household Cavalry Regiment, and my thanks go to all those both in Bulford and the wider regimental family that have made me feel so very welcome. Colonel Mark handed over the Regiment in fantastic shape, and with some superb opportunities on the horizon.

For many readers, this Journal will be of particular interest as the first glimpse of the Household Cavalry’s future. AJAX is the Army’s newest armoured vehicle since Challenger 2 in the late 1990s, and the most expensive equipment programme the Army has ever delivered. I was delighted that the first variants arrived in Powle Lines prior to Colonel Mark’s departure at the end of July. These platforms signify the beginning of a new epoch for the Regiment and its soldiers - they are a significant new capability for the British Army, and it is a privilege for the Household Cavalry to lead the charge.

Less well known, but equally important, is the simulation centre at Upavon in which soldiers will learn the majority of their AJAX skills. This world-leading equipment will transform the way in which our Regiment trains. Soldiers will learn foundational skills in vehicle handling, weapon drills, and communications by working not on Salisbury

Plain, but in full-motion driver trainers, electronically enhanced replica turrets, and on sophisticated computer systems. The effect will be to drill crews so thoroughly in the simulators that by the time they arrive ‘on the plain’ for live exercises, their core platform skills will be second nature. Exercises will not be about learning armoured reconnaissance drills, but about developing armoured reconnaissance skills. Squadrons will thus be able to dedicate deployed training time to more advanced tactics, and to developing novel, and more offensive, options.

Of course, as with any programme of this size, there have been some delays. After training the initial C Squadron crews, the conversion programme has been paused while some safety issues are investigated. Similarly, the requirement for all the simulators to be proven utterly safe before being handed to us has delayed the commencement of some of the simulated training. However, we remain on track to complete the conversion of the Regiment by the end of 2022, including not only the individual training needed to operate the platform, but also exercising up to squadron level on Salisbury Plain and firing 40mm and Self-Defence Weapons at Castlemartin.

Looking to the future - and noting that the Army’s commitments plot is often quite flexible - we have been warned

off for numerous operations. We are scheduled to: become the Divisional Reconnaissance Battlegroup at readiness in 2022; send a half-squadron to Kosovo at the end of that year; deploy the battlegroup on operations in Estonia with AJAX in 2023; and deploy the third sabre squadron on operations in Poland immediately after. This will be a fantastic period for the Regiment, allowing us to be the first unit to take AJAX away, and for all our soldiers to gain valuable operational experience.

Regardless of the short-term challenges we face as I write, the future for the Household Cavalry Regiment is as bright as ever.

Lt Col A E Gilham delivering his first address to the Regiment

Lt Col AE Gilham LG

Diary of Events

2020 for the Household Cavalry Regiment, as with the rest of the country, has been an unusual year. However, despite lockdowns, tiers, takeaways, and face masks, the Regiment has made a strong start on its bold course towards being the Army’s first operational Ajax formation.

Return from Christmas leave in January saw a large contingent representing the Regiment in various winter sports: alpine, cross-country, and Cresta. Back home, A Squadron deployed on a dismounted BCS to kick-start the year in our new back garden, Salisbury Plain.

In February RHQ deployed to CFB Kingston, Canada in support of Ex UNIFIED RESOLVE, acting as Divisional recce for the 1st (CDN) Division. An earlierthan-anticipated backbrief to the GOC saw the Ops Offr and RSO gifted a free OJAR moment. D Sqn provided OPFOR for WESSEX STORM against the QDG battlegroup, and also the ANGLIANS, demonstrating the Regiment’s prowess in operating on its feet. On the sporting front, the Regimental squash team was foolishly invited to the Foot Guards’ competition, which they promptly won.

As we moved into March whispers of a pandemic had grown into shouts. The country was locked down and the Regiment reorganised into a number of COVID Support Forces. In keeping with the finest Regimental traditions, we proved once again our mental and physical agility; in a matter of days, we were ready to deploy across the country. Whilst at readiness the Regiment dispersed to protect the force and maintain combat effectiveness.

As it was, we were not called on to work directly with the national response.

Instead, the squadrons put their innovative mindset to the test, and generated new ways to keep fit and effective whilst dispersed. Squadron PT became zoom classes, and navigation and AFV recognition lessons were taught online. Our junior commanders led the way in taking the initiative and coming up with new ways to stay sharp, despite the constraints.

During dispersal the Regiment deployed an element to Kosovo and Bosnia on Op ELGIN 6. These teams have, despite the constraints, performed to the highest standards and enhanced the reputation of the Regiment in the eyes of Defence and our multinational partners. Meanwhile, in the Solent, the summer saw a number of sailing trips led by D Sqn Ldr Maj Chishick.

In July, the Regiment bade farewell to Lieutenant Colonel Berry, deploying overseas on promotion. We wish him the best of luck and thank him for his service. We welcomed Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Gilham LG (formally KRH

& RTR), who assumed command, fresh from ACSC.

The late summer sun of September saw the long-awaited start of ARES conversion. C Squadron, the Initial Operating Capability (IOC) Sqn, immediately took advantage and eagerly began their forays onto Salisbury plain in the shiny new vehicles. Not to be outdone, A Sqn deployed on CVR-T for the venerable workhorse’s last hurrah in advance of their conversion beginning in January 2021. This was not only an opportunity to practice mounted soldiering, but a bittersweet (mostly sweet) farewell to the vehicle that has served the Regiment and the Army so loyally for the past half-century.

In October, D Sqn deployed to Scotland, taking on the SAS on Ex CARRIER STRIKE. D Sqn soldiers positively identified a number of SF Snipers, before being mauled by their military working dogs. Perhaps 22 would appreciate some tips from B Sqn? Elsewhere in the country, HQ Ldr Maj Robson led a number of soldiers and officers on Ex PEAK18, successfully climbing 18 peaks in 11 days, at a total height gain equivalent to Mt Everest (29,062ft) over 150 miles.

In November, a good number of the Regiment of all ranks deployed in a socially-distanced, quarantined manner to ‘tent city’ in Warminster in support of Ex CERBERUS. Thereafter, C Squadron completed the first ever ARES BCS, while D Squadron hosted a mental health week.

Christmas promised to be a more sedate affair than usual, as brickhanging was thwarted by Coronavirus, but with conversion now firmly in train, spirits remain high as we look to 2021 and the road to CABRIT in 2023.

Regimental parade with COVID-19 social distancing applied

ARES

A Squadron

Squadron Leader: Major M D de B Wilmot, The Blues and Royals Squadron Second-in-Command: Captain E A Martin, The Life Guards Squadron Corporal Major: Corporal Major J Ashford, The Blues and Royals

It has been an extraordinary year for A Squadron and our families, dominated by a varied forecast of events and a worldwide pandemic, which has seen our way of life challenged. Importantly, we have achieved a lot; deploying members of the Squadron on operations overseas, squadron-level exercises, ranges, AJAX trials and some challenging PT. The Squadron has come through this period stronger and with a new determination to develop our cohesion.

On return from Christmas leave, the Squadron began preparations for Ex IRON GRAPPLE, a two-week dismounted exercise designed to give our junior commanders and opportunity to test newly developed skills in the field. The Squadron adopted the structure of an infantry platoon for the exercise, with Ct Harry Sayer in command. Sections were put through a series of excellent lessons including navigation, Close Target Reconnaissance (CTR), section attacks, harbour areas, mine clearance and first aid – all delivered by LCoH Marchant, CoH Richardson, CoH Chalklin, Cpl Relf and Sgt Townshend. Simultaneous CTR’s took place across the plain, which contributed to target ‘back briefs’ to the Commanding Officer and the RCM. The exercise culminated in a dawn attack on Bakes Barns followed by a gruelling casualty evacuation.

In February, the Squadron put troops

through a week of Unit Based Virtual Training (UBVT), a computer-based training system, which allowed the Squadron to exercise in our future platform, AJAX. Critically it presented the opportunity to practise troop-level drills, our bread and butter, something the Squadron has not been able to do whilst waiting for conversion to AJAX.

In March, the Squadron said farewell to Corporal Major Eade, who took up the post of Regimental Quartermaster (Main) and welcomed Corporal Major Ashford. March proved to be a volatile period as the ever-looming threat of COVID-19 drew closer. Despite this uncertainty, A Squadron remained busy, with Tpr McNally passing P-Coy and the Squadron deploying Tprs Rook, Sprekley, McNally and LCpl Oswell to be part of the APOLLO and ATLAS vehicle trials. Meanwhile, the remainder of the Squadron worked hard on the Regiment’s fleet of CVR(T), in preparation for their being moved on from the Household Cavalry to make way for AJAX. Towards the end of March, as the country moved into COVID lockdown, the Squadron was stood up as a COVID Support Force in preparation to assist the Government in its fight against the spread of the virus. The Squadron, and Regiment, dispersed from camp at the end of March for Easter leave. This was to be one of the stranger leave periods, confined to our homes and on standby to support government taskings, but

importantly with our families.

As it turned out this was the beginning of our time in dispersion, with the Squadron remaining dispersed until mid-July. During this period the Squadron developed a varied and challenging training program, which had to be deliverable via video link. Initially the Squadron concentrated on MATTs, PT, military skills and time for personal development; which saw members of the Squadron complete online courses including Coding, University Degrees and short courses. We also ran a series of talks and presentations, covering subjects such as; ‘How Russia has modernised its militarily and whether they are a credible threat to the West?’ delivered by LCoH Kelly and Tprs Hunt and Makenzie. The series finished with a number of talks based on interviews conducted with former serving members of the Regiment. These proved to be popular, expanded knowledge of Regimental history and importantly allowed junior members of the Squadron to grow in confidence at presenting to their peers.

The Squadron returned from dispersal in July, just in time to go on summer leave. The leave period also saw a changeover of Squadron Leader from Major Lukas, who moves on to Army HQ, to Major Wilmot.

Sgt Townshend RE, assisted by LCpl Rawlinson and Tpr Greenaway, deliver lessons on the construction of model pits Weapon Handling Tests

Normality seemed to return with the new September term. LCpl Hawkshaw deployed on OP ELGIN, joining SCpl Wincott, CoH Chalklin, LCoH Marchant and Tprs Abott and Purcell from A Squadron. The remainder of the Squadron deployed on Ex IRON DAWN, a mounted and dismounted exercise on Salisbury Plain and potentially the last outing of CVR(T) for the Household Cavalry Regiment. The Squadron was faced with the challenge of operating on a tired vehicle fleet throughout the exercise. This was no bad thing as it presented a real-life challenge for the Squadron to tackle – remembering that adaptability and agility are a key tenant of the STRIKE ethos. Ultimately, it was a tangible demonstration that the time is right to bid farewell to CVR(T).

As autumn trundled on, we saw the physical prowess of A Squadron across all ranks, with Tpr Smy being accepted into the Army Road Cycling Team, LCpl Evans winning the Andover marathon,

LCpl Barnes completing Pathfinder selection, and Lt Wood passing P-Coy. LCpl Evans, LCpl Singh, LCpl Flaherty, LCpl Rawlinson, LCpl Collins and Tpr Greenaway deployed as a mixture of DS and enemy on Ex CHASING SHADOW, a Royal Yeomanry exercise. Such was the professionalism and performance of the A Squadron team that they were each awarded a Commanding Officer’s coin at the end of the exercise. And we also said goodbye to some of our people, with LCpl Wilson, LCpl Purcell, Tpr Abbott and Tpr Slater moving to B Squadron’s new-look JAVELIN Troop. Tpr Gorrel and Tpr Rigg moved to B Squadron’s Sniper Troop. And Tpr Turner moved to B Squadron’s SQMC department. As B Squadron takes on a new ORBAT in preparation for operations in 2022/23, where possible A Squadron has sought to send keen volunteers to boost their numbers – and we have made the final decision on the principle of sending our best, in order to set the new look B Squadron up for success.

In November, the Squadron deployed on Ex IRON MINE, an opportunity to introduce soldiers to Close Quarter Battle (CQB) and subterranean warfare, whilst concurrently testing their basic soldiering skills. The exercise was designed to test all ranks, but particularly JNCOs, given the challenges of communicating and maintaining situational awareness in a subterranean, pitched black, environment. CQB should be considered a fundamental part of our trade as Armoured Reconnaissance soldiers – particularly as strategic trends point towards the future operating environment looking more urban and where, if we are establishing OPs, we must know how to fight our way in or out, if required. The nature of training underground, in the dark, also serves as a good platform for developing all tenants of the STRIKE ethos. The exercise was a huge success, challenging and enjoyable in equal measure and we will look to do more training in the caves beneath Bath in the margins of our conversion to AJAX.

A Squadron stacks up ready to start a Close Quarter Battle lane on Exercise IRON MINE

Exercise IRON MINE: CQB training in the caves beneath Bath

Exercise IRON DAWN: the sunset of CVR(T) as the Household Cavalry conducts its final ever exercise on the vehicle platform

Preparing CVR(T) for its final farewell

At the time of writing the Squadron has been put at readiness to support COVID-19 surge testing in the North of England. We are excited about the possibility of deploying as a formed subunit in support of something that will have a real impact on the nation. In the new year we will start our conversion to AJAX and look forward to a new chapter in the Squadron’s and Regiment’s history of mounted reconnaissance.

B Squadron

2 Lts S Hanson and J Hodsall and said goodbye to Maj S Lukas to Army HQ, Lt C Lord-Sallenave to HCMR and Capt P Flay to the J-HUB.

Over the year, the Squadron has welcomed Maj M Wilmot, Capt E Martin,

by Major D A N Marsh, The Life Guards

Despite the onset of the dreaded ‘C’word, which shall be mentioned in this article no more, B Squadron’s activity over the last 12 months has remained productive: assuming the Op TEMPERER commitment for the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), in March; development of the Information Activity (IA) Cell; creation of the HCR Anti-Tank Troop; and deployment of personnel on Op ELGIN (Kosovo), have all featured in what has proven to be a unique and busy year.

March saw B Squadron take over the AWE commitment; the role being standby force for the security of the Burghfield Site. When SHQ got over the fact they were unlikely to be asked to, ‘fire the nuclear weapons!’, a quick estimate identified areas requiring swift action for readiness. Thanks to the concerted efforts of SCM WO2 Bateman, and new Squadron 2iC, Capt Tom Stewart, B Squadron, with HQ Squadron backfill, were ready inside the space of a week: this was just as well; the diminishing numbers of MoD Police, owing to sickness, meant that, at one point, the Squadron were on the verge of a call-out. The task was handed to A Squadron in June, giving B Squadron a well-earned opportunity to take belated Easter leave.

April 2020 saw LCpls Short, Jones, Edwards, and Caton-Hewings deploy to Kosovo, on Op ELGIN, under the capable leadership of the other Captain Stewart – Ruaraidh, no relation to Tom; they don’t even look similar. Tpr

Fish deployed in August, replacing LCpl Jones who went on to mentor the Royal Lancers during PDT – he gained exceptional feedback for his contribution to their training. The Team applied themselves admirably during the tour, and were routinely recognised for their effectiveness, high-level of understanding of the in-country situation, tact, and aptitude for Human Intelligence (HUMINT). They recovered back to the UK in October.

Whereas dispersion, in general, was viewed as disruptive, it proved to be an opportunity for the IA Cell; funding finally becoming available for remote training. Focussed on delivering operational effect through digital influence and Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) –digital recce – the Cell has been training and learning on-the-job, through digital activity. Designing campaigns on Face-

book, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube; using skills such as: target audience analysis; audience segmentation; managing digital risk; product creation; measurement of effect, are just as applicable to operations as they are domestically. Under Capt A Wood, arriving from RACTR in May, Tpr Williams, LCpl Jarvie, LCoH Muirhead, and LCoH McRitchie – as well as Sabre Squadron IA Reps –conducted OSINT training with Blackstage Forensics; digital marketing with Shebang Digital; the Defence School of Photography Advanced Course; OPUS OSINT training; a Military PsyOps workshop; and a University Short Course in OSINT at Exeter University. This has set them up to deliver a revamped HCR digital strategy for 2021, and future deployment to Ops ELGIN and CABRIT.

Although still few-in-number, the Re-

Hand launching RPAS

LCpl Jarvie on the DSOP photography course

LCoH Cuthbertson during a leadership exercise with British Athletics

motely Piloted Air Systems (RPAS) Troop – drone or UAS in old money - are now routinely flying RPAS out to 2000m from the operator. LCoH Hookham has been central to this, ably backed-up by LCoH Bridger, LCpls Davies, O’Reilly, and Robinson, and Tprs Clarke and Wraight. With the Military Aviation Authority (MAA) stating that HCR are, ‘leading the way in developing Class 1b RPAS operation in the Field Army’; and Comd 1 Bde delegating responsibility to HCR to lead RPAS development in the Bde, the future looks positive. An exercise in August integrated RPAS operators and systems with the Sniper Troop, proving the tactical benefits of doing so; it also identified technical weaknesses that make the case for more capable equipment. At the time of writing, the Troop are preparing to support 4 RIFLES during a dismounted capability development exercise, followed by integrating with the Sabre Squadrons dur-

ing ARES and AJAX BCS in 2021.

In October, the formation of the ATk Troop in B Squadron started the development of a specialist troop, tactically and technically trained in the deployment of ATk weapon systems: key is their employment as a BG asset. Leading with the development are Lt Pete Westcott and CoH Duffill, as Tp Ldr and Sect Comd, respectively. The first ATk section will be followed next year by a second.

The Sniper Troop has a new leader. Following Captain Ruaraidh Stewart’s deployment on Op ELGIN, Capt Ben Foster conducted a silent coup. In addition, LCoH Sheppard returned from BATUS and, in cooperation with WO2 Bateman, set about preparing students for the HDPRCC Sniper Cse in September. At the time of writing, LCoH Muirhead and Tpr Teasdel are doing well,

and will hopefully ‘badge’ in December. The Sniper Tp welcomed CoH Jackson from C Squadron, in October, and, with the ELGIN returnees back in work in Jan 2021, the Troop looks set to be close to full, doctrinal strength. Congratulations go to LCsoH Cuthbertson and Massey, who, in September, became fathers for the first and third times, respectively.

The unsung heroes of the Squadron remain SCpl Sedgewick and LCoH Backhouse, who, despite a lack of adequate G4 infrastructure until recently, have moved the B Squadron SQMC Dept from a shipping container and into its new, purpose-built building. An uplift of manpower for the Dept, in October, makes a thankless job a little bit easier.

Following the activity of the last 12 months, B Squadron looks well-set for future development in 2021.

RPAS Troop practice indoors

The Squadron 2iC and LCpl Robinson demonstrate RPAS for the Brigade Commander

Sniper Pair and RPAS Operator Integration

C Squadron

As with the entire country, this has been an unusual and challenging year for the Squadron but one that has been gripped with two hands and I’m pleased to report C Squadron has delivered and continues to deliver.

The start of the year began in earnest with L7 GPMG firing on Bulford Ranges. Our new home in Bulford enables us to use small arms ranges far more regularly than before when we were based in Windsor. This has enabled the Squadron to train more regularly with our integral weapon systems. Our marksmanship skills have steadily improved and when access to ranges is not possible, the Squadron has made regular use of the Dismount Close Combat Trainer in Tidworth.

LCpl East and CoH Jackson took advantage to escape the damp dreary weather of the UK to deploy to the Ukraine. LCpl East deployed as the DComd’s driver and CoH Jackson as part of a Short Term Training Team to instruct a company from the AFU 56th Motorized Bde in support of the RDG. His role was to instruct on the Combat Survivability module which included him teaching counter sniper drills, C-IED and defensive trench lessons. As expected, CoH Jackson demonstrated all the qualities of a SNCO in C Squadron and was requested to remain in theatre to instruct on the next STTT extending his four-week deployment to three months.

In March, the Squadron deployed on Ex PRIMARY LODESTAR a low-level dismounted exercise on Salisbury Plain Training Area (SPTA). The exercise was an opportunity for the Squadron to hone their dismounted skills in an environment that enabled each troop to plan and execute their own training programme. From six-man battle drills, day

and night CTRs, defile crossing, C-IED, positioning and priming claymores to the delivery of orders, model making and medical training, the Squadron did the lot and more. The exercise proved that there is no substitute to living in the field and for the more junior element of the Squadron it proved beneficial in preparing them for their Potential NCO cadre that occurred later in the year.

March ended with the Squadron as the Regiment’s lead sub-unit to support the Government’s response to COVID-19. To fulfil this task, the Squadron’s manning increased by 25% and reverted to an infantry orbat of three platoons. This was quickly reduced when D Squadron was stood up to be the reserve. Following numerous planning meetings, kit checks and ROC drilling our anticipated deployment to a COVID testing centre, the Squadron was stood down in favour of preparing for conversion to ARES. A disappointment that was shared across all ranks but one that

could be understood as the lead squadron for ARES conversion in the British Army.

With the disappointment of being stood down from readiness the Squadron entered lockdown. With the country entering a period of uncertainty, the Squadron took the enforced rest as an opportunity to be innovative with its training. CoH Harrison-Shaw demonstrated his versatility creating fantastic training programmes that could be used in conjunction with video. Reorganising his kitchen in order to practice fire missions using a ‘battle ships’ style game and recording CTRs that could be used for his troop to watch and practice writing CTR reports. Not to be undone, Lt Hutton displayed his conceptual skills, inviting his troop to write their thoughts on how STRIKE could be implemented into the Regiment. The thoughts and ideas were superb and were collated into a STRIKE handbook. PT remained a valued companion during lockdown with the Squadron opting to conduct a series of inter-squadron challenges; a virtual run from Land’s End to John O’Groats and taking inspiration from Capt Tom’s 100 lap garden challenge, the soldiers ran a virtual 100 laps of SPTA. The least popular challenge designed by Lt Petit saw the Squadron ‘climb’ Mount Everest. The limitations of only counting the elevation gained through cycling, running and press ups made this event particularly unpleasant. LCpl Gurung displayed his determination and endeavour finishing the event in record time.

The end of lockdown saw the squadron tasked with planning and executing Ex BRASS KNUCKLE, the largest PNCO cadre in several years. Lt J

LCoH Huxtable delivering CTR orders on Ex PRIMARY LODESTAR

Mount Everest PT Challenge Poster

The ARES D&M course enjoying the mud on the Driver Training Area

Bushell supported by an inspired set of SNCOs and JNCOs executed an excellent training event. Deploying initially to Westdown Camp and then two weeks in the field on SPTA, saw our most junior soldiers’ complete arduous physical events and overcome mental fatigue with at times unpredictable weather and challenging dismounted serials.

The year has ended with the Squadron beginning conversion to the ARES vehicle in preparation for AJAX conversion in February 2021. The ARES is a fantastic platform and superior to the CVR(T). From the electronic architecture, to how it handles at speed, the

vehicle continually impresses the soldiers. Training is tailored to each crew position ranging from three weeks to six weeks. SHQ has planned four troop level exercises on SPTA and are looking forward to providing the Army with feedback as to how it can be used in our evolving doctrine.

Sport and AT has continued within the constraints of COVID-19 with various multi activity weeks in Brecon. When not in London, Lt T Muir can be found in St Moritz representing the Regiment at Cresta. LCoH Coventry led a group of eight soldiers parachuting and LCpl Bishton represented the RAC at football.

LCoH Baker and Ct Lupton both finishing as Top Students on Crew Commanders

The Squadron would like to congratulate Ct F Lupton and LCoH Baker for finishing first on their respective Crew Commanders courses. An excellent result and one that proves that C Squadron remains in good shape heading into 2021.

The Squadron would like to welcome Capt F Howard-Keyes, Ct F Lupton and the new draft but say farewell and best of luck to Lt F Petit, SCpl Doran, CoH Jackson, LCoH Huxtable and LCoH Foster who leave C Squadron on posting.

2Lt Bushell with the DS and students on Ex BRASS KNUCKLE

D Squadron

It has been an unusual year for the Squadron, as much as for other members of the Regiment. After a good start to the year with low-level BCS exercises on Salisbury Plain with the Warrior fleet, which we were using as surrogates for AJAX, the Squadron deployed an enhanced Troop on Ex WESSEX STORM led by Lts Camm and Kaye as OPFOR for the R ANGLIAN Battlegroup. The weather was hardly favourable for the troops, but it proved a good run out in the Warriors. So effective were the Troop against the largely Light Role BG, that they had to be regularly held back or ‘EXCON-killed’ to prevent them running amok through the entire Battlegroup. While this was frustrating for the Squadron, it is indicative of their efficacy and gave a good opportunity to understand the capability of Warrior over CVR(T) and perhaps gave an insight into the enhanced capabilities we will look to see with the arrival of AJAX. Cross country performance and power traverse were assessed as ‘game changing’ by the crews.

Following this, we started to prepare for the final handback of any remaining CVR(T) and the Warrior fleet in preparation for the arrival of AJAX and ARES, as well as participating in the Zandvoorde Cup, the inter-squadron tests, and in particular, a challenging Navex around SPTA organised by CoH Darty. A few members of the Squadron managed to get away for a week of AT onboard the Household Division yacht, Gladeye, in early March before Coronavirus struck and all events were put on hold.

The Squadron dispersed in late March under Regimental direction, but on

standby as part of the COVID Support Force attached to 3rd Divisional Signal Regiment. Despite considerable planning, the Squadron was not called upon to support the Government’s response to the COVID pandemic. However, we did try to find means to keep the Squadron occupied during ‘Lockdown’. This included regular Zoom PT sessions under Sgt Newton, LCpl Annetts and Tpr Brown. In addition, each member of the Squadron was included in a competition to see who could travel the greatest distance running, tabbing and cycling (counting for 1/3 of the distance of other two) as part of their daily PT, with screenshots from Strava and other apps sent in to the SCM. LCpl Bancroft was the winner, by cycling an

impressive amount daily, with SHQ winning the overall competition with an impressive number of miles clocked up over the course of the stand-down. The Squadron submitted a bid to the innovation fund to buy some FitBits to experiment with more dispersed PT and enable soldiers to better understand heart rate training zones and how to train more efficiently, which continues to go well. Trials from the REME of remote fault-finding and repair, in line with Strike practices, were also used –enabling soldiers to consult REME using Zoom and other applications whilst conducting maintenance. This sort of capability will be key to us when we move to the Strike model of dispersed operations.

Some particularly delightful weather during Exercise WESSEX STORM in Warrior

LCpl Annetts leading Zoom PT during Lockdown Fire and manoeuvre practice

We brought elements of the Squadron back to work in a controlled manner in June and July for some essential vehicle maintenance and low-level training, with a return to more ‘normal’ working practices in early September after a decent summer leave block. One of the tasks the Squadron undertook, under the tutelage of LCoH Day, was the restoration of the Daimler Scout Car. The team did an outstanding job, and the car can be seen in front of RHQ. The Squadron then conducted MATTs training and ranges in preparation for their assumption of the AWE standby task, as part of Op TEMPERER. Low level training has taken place throughout, trying to improve our dismounted skills and drills, with lessons from CoH Southall-Owen and LCoH Parker on CQB amongst other things. We have been making the most of our proximity

to the training area and the freedom that having no vehicles on the squadron strength to maintain has given us. This has meant that we have been able to take up last minute opportunities and assist with wider Army training. In early October, we sent two Troops up to Scotland and the north east as part of Ex JOINT WARRIOR in support of UKSF, playing dismounted enemy. This proved incredibly rewarding and a great shake out. In late October, elements of the Squadron deployed to Thetford as OPFOR for the Scots Guards and the command elements deploy on Ex CERBERUS in Warminster, the divisional level Command Post Exercise.

Despite restrictions we have tried to get soldiers engaged in extra-curricular activities throughout the year. A number of soldiers went on AT with three trips

on Gladeye, leading to a good number of Competent Crew qualifications. LCpl Dilley organised a dispersed event for the London Marathon in April, where the Squadron was invited to take part in a ‘2.6’ challenge, raising over £1,000 for the HCF; this comprised anything from 26km tabs carrying 26kg, to 26-mile bike rides or 260 burpees. Similarly, Lt R Camm, 3 Tp Ldr, organised a series of marathons running around the Officers’ Mess garden raising £5,100 for Children with Cancer UK. Both have been admirable achievements.

The Squadron are scheduled for conversion to Ares in April 2021, so in the meantime, we will focus on our dismounted skills and look to try to organise fun and challenging exercises for early 2021.

CoH Southall-Owen and LCoH Parker conducting demonstrations of CQB drills

LCpl Thomson, LCpl Homewood and Tpr O’Connor conducting simulated room clearance in the assault course

Lt Kaye suited up to be mauled by SF attack dogs on Exercise JOINT WARRIOR

LCpl Pountney and D Sqn members working on the Daimler Scout Car

Headquarters Squadron

by Warrant Officer Class 2 (SCM) S Dimbylow

Aftera year of many changes and challenges, Headquarters Squadron finds itself settled into its home in Bulford. All departments are now in their new hangars and offices, with plenty of real estate to get the job done. We have seen a few personalities move in and out, from the Sqn Ldr to other key personnel.

The first major exercise for 2020 was RHQ and Command Troop; deployed to CFB Kingston, Canada. For three weeks they were tasked to assist in a Divisional planning exercise with the Canadian Army, they were sent to a location that was bitterly cold and was challenging for all those involved, albeit it was an indoor exercise. BGHQ from Maj down to LCpl were all playing the part of OCs, again highlighting the quality of soldiers in Command Tp. They did manage to get some downtime and went to Niagara Falls and the CN tower.

The biggest change was at the top, when in March the Squadron Leader Maj D Hitchings handed over to Maj D Robson. Maj D Hitchings is now the SO2 RAC soldiers at APC which is a great result for HCav PLC (hopefully). Maj D Robson handed over the QM department in good order to Capt S Mansfield and is now firmly at the helm for his tenure.

The Sqn said farewell to WO2 (now Capt) S Martin after two years as SCM he is now the Unit Welfare Officer providing much needed support to the families of the HCR and attached arms community. His replacement is the newly promoted WO2 S Dimbylow who after three years as the assistant to the RCMO is now HQ SCM.

Since the last column in the Journal the

Squadron had a relatively quiet start to the year, Maj Hitchings managed to see out his last exercise in our new back garden, Salisbury Plain. This five-day exercise was a series of stands including, troop level recovery, navigation by day and night and a very good SERE package by WO2 (AQMS) C Brooks. We entered a squadron harbour and occupied it for two days, this was a good test for the departments that find little time to get out on the area and get back to basics. The Squadron was in pretty good shape when COVID-19 struck, resulting in some members being dispersed and working from home. A point of recognition; we as a squadron are the firm base and key enablers for the Sabre squadrons, meaning that our Catering Platoon, MT Tp and QM’s Dept were all in work during lockdown, maintaining operational effectiveness. For those dispersed we had to adapt and become innovative in the way we delivered online training. As a Squadron we have many talented instructors and individuals who came up with ways to deliver training whether physical or academic. This remained the case for three months

and until restrictions were slowly lifted in the July.

A big well done to the G4 and LAD teams who were fully compliant across the board on all audits for the Logistical Support Assurance and Inspections this year.

The training wing under Captain B Wood (RTR) and WO2 D Cox has been worked hard over the last six months as CoH Darty and CoH Thompson had deployed on OP ELGIN (Bosnia and Kosovo). Both CsoH have done excellent work whilst away and did the Regiment proud in a region familiar to the Regiment’s historians (and older soldiers!).

We have tried to get back to the old routine and the Squadron was poised to carry out some concentrated training, including adventurous at training at Pennally Camp. However, an email was received from the Home Office stating HQ Sqn, HCR could not conduct training at Pennally. The reason being was to free living space for clandestine entrants to the UK while their asylum claims are

LSgt Frederick receives his award from the Commanding Officer for his efforts in the field kitchen catering competition

HQ Squadron Leader casts his critical eye over the potential NCOs’ cadre

Command Troop. ‘Back a bit….back a bit…’

being processed. This pretty much sums up 2020 for us as a Squadron, Regiment and the wider Army. We continue to remain positive and see every obstacle as a challenge to overcome.

Other personnel to depart the squadron are CoH Broxholme, after 24 years’ service he has now transitioned to civilian life. He played a big part as the unit welfare SNCO especially during the unit move. He has since handed over to CoH B Scollick. The RAWO WO2 Daley has also served her time with the Army and we wish her all the best in civilian life.

SCpl Waisele and SCpl Lewis swapped roles; the aforementioned, assigned to The Life Guards Squadron in London as the SQMC and the latter as the unit JAMES administrator. CoH Chaplin followed SCpl Waisele from the same department QM (T) to 1 Tp RHG/D HCMR. Notable promotions in the Squadron were LCoH Kennedy and Hodges who both promoted to CoH. CoH Kennedy is now the MT CoH and he has a new MTO/Sqn 2IC to lean on, Capt D Prince-Wish who successfully transferred into The Life Guards from the AGC.

HQ SQMC ‘Hanging out’

CoH Darty and Thompson (centre left and second right) Operation ELGIN

A moody start to HQ ranges in Bulford

Sgt Ralulu, LCpls Asquith and Francis display improvised cooking devices

SSgt Shrimpton No 2 for CoH Kennedy ... ‘Have it!’

The Light Aid Detachment

by Captain Adam Allchin REME, OC HCR LAD

This year has been one of exceptional change for the Household Cavalry Regiment Light Aid Detachment (LAD). It has seen major changes to the Regiment’s armoured fleet, the activation of the LAD’s new workshop, and the arrival of the first REME variants of the AJAX platform.

2020 started at pace for the LAD, only days after returning from Christmas leave its tradesmen were working hard to prepare the fleet of Warrior armoured vehicles, used by the Regiment for Strike Experimentation, for handover to another unit. While the vehicles had proven popular amongst the Regiment and LAD for their versatility and relative ease of maintenance the LAD was able to breathe a sigh of relief once they were handed over as it was a clear sign that the withdrawal of old vehicles had begun. Shortly after this the LAD’s focus shifted to preparing the majority of the unit’s remaining CVR(T) fleet for sale to the Latvian Defence Forces. Retaining just a few CVR(T) for crew training purposes meant the LAD could focus on

activating the new workshop when construction was completed in the summer, conveniently just a few weeks after the end of COVID-19 dispersion.

The new workshop, shared with 5RIFLES LAD, is a huge improvement on the facilities in Combermere Barracks and is among the most modern and advanced facilities in use in the British Army. This is just reward for the patience of the LAD’s tradesmen who were often called on to work outside in horrible conditions while awaiting delivery of the workshop.

With the old fleets handed over the LAD’s focus has shifted to AJAX conversion. This has seen multiple LAD personnel complete driver or commander training and the arrival of the first APOLLO and ATLAS variants, used for repair and recovery respectively. It has also seen the LAD deploy a small team to support the inspection of AJAX platforms rolling off the production line at General Dynamics in Merthyr Tydfil. These advanced vehicles are a step-change in terms of technology and capacity from the REME CVR(T) variants and the LAD’s tradesmen are looking forward to getting hands-on experience with them. Although trade courses have not been finalised yet tradesmen have been able to gain experience by shadowing General Dynamics Field Support Representatives who have been

embedded with the LAD to support the rollout of the new platform.

2020 has also seen the handover of some key roles in the LAD. WO1 (ASM) Fitch has left the LAD on promotion to Capt in 5REME, he has been replaced by WO1 (ASM) Turner who joined the LAD from Army HQ. SSgt Beddow, C Sqn Fitter Section Commander, has also been posted out of the LAD and been replaced by SSgt Cope, who joins us from his Artificer Training Course.

Following the major upheaval of 2019, it is fair to say that 2020 has also presented its own unique, and unexpected, challenges but the LAD has also been able to establish itself in its new home. As it works to establish best practices in its new facilities and bed in its new battle rhythm the LAD is also looking forward to further refining how equipment support is delivered to Strike and learning to work on and with the exciting new fleet of vehicles.

The St Eligius Day engineering challenge

ARES in the new LAD workshop

General Dynamics tradesmen, embedded with the LAD, complete the first ARES pack lift

LSgt Gwilym learning to drive ARES

Quartermaster’s (Technical) Department

by Captain John Dove, The

Life Guards

This has been a busy year for the Quartermaster Technical Department, including relocating from temporary offices into our highly anticipated G4 fulfilment centre alongside the QM(Maint) dept. This has provided a more efficient G4 support solution to the Regiment. This has begged the question - why haven’t we always done this?

The beginning of the year saw us host a delegation team from the Latvian Defence Force who are purchasing CVR(T)’s from the British Army. After frantic preparation, the sales pitch by the QM(T) and his team had the desired effect as the Latvians decided to purchase 19 of our vehicles. Unfortunately, COVID-19 delayed the tear-jerking collection of these until August when the majority of the Regiment were on annual summer stand down. This event involved ten 40ft ISOs, a very large crane and a dedicated RQ(T) to ensure that the fleet loaded without the usual CVR(T) hiccups.

COVID-19 and dispersion affected the Regiment though the G4 support continued, including supporting those further afield with no let-up in what we do. The physical development of our soldiers returned with gusto post dispersion, with the Senior and Junior NCOs finding invigorating ways to make us sweat including SCpl Parker’s game of cards circuits. Never have I hated seeing an ace appear before now! The more

traditional Friday morning excursion on to SPTA to ‘enjoy the views’ seemed almost tame.

Before losing a majority of the CVR(T) fleet to the Latvians, we received the very much waited for first 5 ARES platforms into POWLE lines from Merthyr Tydfil. This occasion rightfully attracted attention from senior members of the Army as the highly technologically advance vehicle rolled through the gates and into its new home at Bulford, ready for the next generation of reconnaissance soldiers to convert and put it to the test. We have also taken delivery of two REME variants, Apollo, and Atlas, the repair and recovery assets.

As is the norm, we had to say goodbye

QMs conducting a TAB on SPTA,

to some familiar faces this year, Capt B Gibson departed the Regiment for a more sedate life as Mr Gibson, before doing so he passed the mantel of QM(T) to his ‘padawan’ Capt J Dove. We wish him and Gilly all the best in their next chapter. SCpl Waisele and SCpl Lewis completed a Job swap between Life Guards SQMC in London and JAMES unit Administrator role, SCpl Waisele will be sorely missed educating soldiers on the proper utility of JAMES. We welcome SCpl Lewis with open arms into the G4 fold. We said goodbye to CoH Chaplin who has returned to London as a Tp CoH in The Blue and Royals Squadron. CoH Hodges has now taken over the reins as EE SNCO and has the bit firmly between his teeth.

Quartermaster’s (Maintenance) Department

by Captain S M Mansfield,

The Life Guards

This has been another busy year for the Quartermaster’s Department at HCR which has included us moving into the new facilitation centre in Powle Lines, Bulford. This has seen a change

of approach with the Maintenance and Technical departments being housed under the same roof leading to a much improved and more collaborative way of dealing with the logistical needs of

the Regiment. This is one of several infrastructure projects that have come to fruition in 2020 alongside the vehicle hangars, SQMC building and last, but by no means least, the LAD workshop

SCpl Waisele educating CoH Hodges on the finer points of the JAMES Management System

The first ISOs unloading ready for the collection of 19 CVR(T) destined for their new home

CoH Savage leading the march

- leaving the Regiment now fully settled in our new home.

As ever there has been unavoidable turbulence in manning across the board with Captain S Mansfield taking over from Captain (now Major) D Robson who has moved onwards and upwards into the role of Headquarters Squadron Leader. WO2 RQMC(M) Chris Nicol passed the gauntlet to WO2 RQMC(M) Chris Eade after he was posted on promotion to the Army Leadership Team at RMAS. Sadly, we had to say goodbye to SSgt Vassell (RLC) as our Level 1 logistician and welcomed with open arms (and minds) SSgt ‘Uncle Joe’ Ngwira into that role.

Although COVID-19 and dispersal has had an impact on the Regiment, the G4 department has continued to

deliver with very little change in pace. The physical development of our soldiers has still been a focus with Senior and Junior NCOs taking the lead, each bringing their own areas of expertise to the table. LCoH ‘Fish’ Jordan’s rugby circuit having left a few members of the team with slight abrasions! Similarly, LCoH Foran’s boxing workout has seen many happy faces turn red-pale-green whilst being thoroughly enjoyed by all.

To keep us on our toes we have also been managing the G4 requirements of Op ELGIN (Balkans), which has been no mean feat. To be perfectly honest the accounts in both Bosnia and Kosovo were not in a good place when we took over the role in May 2020. It has taken hours of consolidations and constant liaison with PJHQ and 6 (UK) Division to make this right. RQMCs Eade and

The QM saying farewell to RQMC(M) Nicol

Snoxell are to be fully commended for their tenacity and patience to get the job done.

The future focus for the department is now AJAX and the transition to STRIKE which comes with its own G4 complexities. We have been knocking our heads together to come up with some innovative and sustainable solutions to keeping the force replenished at distances of up to 2,000km - this is a work in progress and will require a fundamental change in how we do our business on the battlefield.

Day 1 in the new facilitation centre

LCoH Jordan imparting G4 knowledge to the PNCO cadre

AGC (SPS) Detachment (Det)

by Sergeant J E McCafferty AGC (SPS)

The AGC Det has new personalities from the soldier and officer cohort, with only a few members of the team remaining who had experienced regimental life in Windsor.

Although there has not been a Regimental deployment for the HCR, members of the team have supported exercises and deployments. WO2 Daley deployed to Canada with the higher echelon of HCR. LSgt Asumadu deployed to Belize on a six-month deployment, which actually turned into nine months; LSgt Morris has now replaced him. The majority of the Sqn MPA’s have also supported the Regiment by acting as exercising troops or directing staff.

As well as supporting the Regiment on exercises and deployments the Det has been responsible for administering the Regiment. During COVID-19 the Det experienced an extremely challenging period, both personally and professionally. Whilst dispersed, LSgt Anton-Wilson became an SME on Microsoft Teams and pushed out direction and instruction for all ranks, this proved vital when working from home was introduced. This tool was used to communicate virtually with all ranks and a platform to upload isolation diaries and achieve tasks set by the CoC. During the initial peak of COVID-19, the SNCO cohort picked up the daily administration of the Regiment utilising previous skillsets and experience.

Our team has fully immersed themselves into Regimental life, getting involved with everything the Regiment

AGC SPS detachment conducting the AFT

does. Members of the Det have delivered MATTs training - including BCD, CBRN, SERE and acting as range safety staff. The Det has completed numerous fitness challenges this year – we collectively ran and cycled from Land’s End to John O’Groats, which was organised by the author. We also participated in a running competition with other AGC (SPS) Detachments in 1 (Armoured Infantry) Brigade - this was organised by Sgt Mweemba. Our Det achieved first place in this competition. LCpl Thapa conducted a challenge which involved collectively climbing the elevation of Mount Everest - the team raised £630 for the SSAFA Charity.

Capt Prince-Wish, LSgt Anton-Wilson, LSgt Simon-Emmanuel and LCpl Okindo have all welcomed new babies into

the world during 2020.

There have been promotions and recognition within our team too. LSgt Asumadu received recognition for his efforts whilst stepping up as the Systems Coordinator during the move from Windsor to Bulford; he was also selected for promotion to Sgt. LCpls Thapa and Osei were also selected for promotion to LSgt. Our newest arrival to the team, Pte Leboutillier-Lewis received the ‘best student’ award whilst conducting her Phase 2 training at Worthy Down.

Capt Prince-Wish was also successful on transfer to the Life Guards, HCR. He has now taken over as the MTO HCR and the detachment wishes him good luck in his new role.

LCpl Thapa preparing for promotion to LSgt

Bidding farewell to Captain Prince-Wish

Warrant Officers’ and Non-Commissioned Officers’ Mess

by Warrant Officer Class 1 (RCM) S J Allwood, The Blues and Royals

The Warrant Officers’ and NCOs’ Mess said goodbye to 2019 with the first Brick Hanging ceremony to be conducted in Bulford. Major (Retd) J Holbrook had the privilege to hang the brick which came from the old Mess in Windsor. We entered 2020 in high spirits. We said a fond farewell to WO1 (RCM) Horton to civilian life after 24 years of service. Mr Horton was also later awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his exemplary service. The new Governor of the Regiment, WO1 (RCM) Allwood has the honour to assume this prestigious position.

Members of the Mess quickly found themselves deploying overseas, with the RSWO and his team of elite communication specialists, better known as Command Troop, deploying to Kingston, Canada in support of a Canadian led divisional exercise. An NCO heavy cohort from the Regiment also returned to the Balkans on operations in Bosnia and Kosovo. There were plenty of events lined up for the Mess in 2020 with the Commanding Officer addressing the Mess on the State of the Nation dinner, Epsom Derby and numerous formal and social occasions. Unfortunately, due to the global pandemic of COVID-19, the Mess was closed in March 20 with the Regiment continuing to operate in dispersed working conditions in order to protect the force.

This did not deter the few single living-

Major J Holbrook formerly of The Life Guards (and former RCM HCR) hanging the Brick in the new WOs’ and NCOs’ Mess, under the watchful eye of WO2 (RQMC) Nicol and SCpl Dimbylow

The new inner sanctum where every soldier should aspire to sit

The Governor, WO1 (RCM) S Allwood standing at the pearly gates of Powle Lines

Command troop wondering how to get comms whilst going over the falls at Niagara

in mess members from ensuring the Mess was kept up to standard. WO2 (SCM) Elliott and SCpl (SQMC) Archer turned their hands to refurbishing the RCMs desk, while CoH Minto conducted a thorough first parade of the lawnmower and ensured the Mess grounds were blessed with regimental lines and a spot of weeding. The Mess reopened briefly in July only to close again as the Regiment stood down for the summer leave period. With current force health

protection measures in place, it is difficult to predict when any sort of functions will be able to resume. It is hoped that at some point we will be able to formally welcome the new Commanding Officer, Lt Col A E Gilham, to the Mess and bring the Mess members together to hold our traditional functions to include welcoming our extended families.

The senior Mess members are: WO1 (RCM) S Allwood, WO1 (ASM)

B Turner, WO2 (RQMC) C Eade, WO2 (RQMCT) D Snoxell, WO2 (SCM) S Dimbylow, WO2 (SCM) J Ashford, WO2 (SCM) E Bateman, WO2 (SCM) K Ottaway, WO2 (SCM) J Elliott, WO2 (RSWO) A Wilkinson, WO2 (TWWO) D Cox, WO2 (MTWO) D Ridge, WO2 (RAOWO) E Daley, WO2 (AQMS) C Brooks, WO2 (AJAX WO) N Turner.

SCpl (SQMC) Archer auditioning for the 60 Minute Make Over show

CoH Minto conducting Ground Mounted manoeuvre tactics with the mess lawnmower

Smiles all around from those deployed on Operation ELGIN

The Household Cavalry Recruiting Team (RET)

by Captain Mark Jaworski, The Life Guards, OC RET

The Household Cavalry Recruiting and Engagement Team (RET) has seen some dramatic changes this year. 2020 has been, and continues to be, a testing time globally, the RET has had to find new ways and initiatives of recruiting due the constraints implemented by the COVID-19 Pandemic. All physical recruiting events ceased towards the end of March 2020. Schools, Colleges and all Public Events were cancelled indefinitely. This, however concerning as it was, created space for the RET to try new ways of recruiting. The digital space became our new focus, this would be where we hunted for our potential Household Cavalry Soldiers.

Working closely with Major A Galvin LG, HCR Regt 2IC, on new digital initiatives created some exciting new ways of reaching out. Work with LadBible on a ‘Life Swap’ production was completed. A Female Civilian (Social Media Influencer) swapped places with Trooper Dent (HCR) for a day’s life swap. This had gone live on Facebook and YouTube in October 2020. Social Media is a very powerful tool as we know and the RET are exploiting this with the support of HCR RHQ and B Squadron Media Cell to its fullest.

The team did get out to Northern Ireland earlier this year to the Caffery Equine & Agricultural College. It has been a long time since HCR had a presence there, this was a good result being able to get in and spread the word. They also conducted recruiting surges in Milton Keynes, the Midlands and hosting visits to HCMR.

Work with the RAC Corps Engagement Team (CET) continues. The RET have been conducting live Q&A events via

Adobe Link. These virtual events are a joint initiative between CET and the RET. The events have massive reach and produce a huge amount of interest.

There is a joint initiative with Recruiting Group (RG), RET and the CET to conduct Schools and colleges Adobe Link events being generated. Up to 5 schools can be invited to join at the same time via a link sent to them. Potentially reaching up to 1500 and 3000 students in one half hour sitting. The Q&A session follows the virtual tour and instant feedback given. Definitely a digital win, proving the future of recruiting sits firmly in the digital space supported by the physical element.

The RET will continue to create new

ways of closing the gap in the workforce shortfall across both Regiments. This is something we should all be involved with as members of the Household Cavalry family. Please spread the word and sell our brand at every chance you get.

Challenges on the recruitment roadshow

Using challenges to identify the future Household Cavalry soldier

Recruiting team doing their thing

On a visit to HMS Sherwood

Goodbye My Friend

by Lieutenant George Lane Fox, The Blues and Royals

The cold wind is whipping my face as my Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked), (CVR(T)) Scimitar moves across the open ground east of Imber village. As I stand on my commander’s seat and look out over Salisbury Plain, I wonder how many hundreds of others have stood in my place over the last half century. This vehicle could well have provided fire support on Mount Tumbledown or Wireless Ridge. It could have deployed to Cyprus, Kuwait or the Balkans; led the invasion of Iraq; or gone toe to toe with insurgent fighters in Afghanistan. A daunting service history for a newly commissioned Cornet to comprehend.

It’s February 2018 and I am on the last phase of my Troop Leader’s course. I know what many of you are thinking… ‘crow’. But, for someone on their first mounted exercise this vehicle is like a spaceship! It’s fast, agile, and mounts a Battlegroup Thermal Imaging (BGTI) sight capable of picking out enemy thousands of metres away. Better still, it weighs very little and is not much bigger than a modern SUV. So why are these vehicles being retired?

As we pull onto a track and the driver accelerates there is an ominous noise from the engine. ‘I’m losing power, boss’ my driver says over the intercom. As I look down toward the engine bay, white smoke begins to billow from the covers. This is a situation that I’m sure anyone who has served on CVR(T) will be familiar with. The vehicle was originally designed in the early 1960s, around the same time that my grandfather, also George, was a squadron leader in the Royal Horse Guards. Three generations, four Lane Fox’s, and over half a century have taken their toll on the CVR(T) vehicle fleet.

By their last kinetic deployment in the latter stages of the conflict in Afghanistan, CVR(T) 2 had been through three major upgrades (Armour ‘78, Engine ’88, Hull ’12) and many other smaller modifications. Despite these, the vehicle was struggling to keep up with the rapid development of modern weaponry.

The majority of CVR(T)’s life, however, is a very different story. When the first Spartans and Samsons rolled off the production line in early 1972, the programme was ahead of schedule and had been kept to a strict budget. A feat practically unheard of in the modern day. The first turreted Scorpions (so named due to the rear mounted turret looking like a scorpion’s tail) were delivered to The Blues and Royals in early 1973.

By 1986, my grandfather had given way to my father, Nick, and the CVR(T) had become a staple of the armoured

battlegroup. In all, the British Army had taken delivery of 1,863 CVR(T) across seven variants. Service with B Squadron The Blues and Royals in the Falklands had proven the vehicle’s manoeuvrability - its lightweight armour and 18-inchwide tracks provided a ground pressure of only 5 psi meaning the CVR(T) were able to tackle the tough terrain of the islands and provide essential FIND and FIX capabilities. This was a vehicle perfectly suited to formation reconnaissance. Over 30 years it played an essential role in operational deployments to Cyprus, Kuwait and the Balkans. It even enabled one Lt James Blount, of The Life Guards, to take Pristina airport during the NATO intervention in Kosovo.

Perhaps CVR(T)’s finest hour came in 2003 with D Squadron, Household Cavalry Regiment. As they led the coalition advance across the Iraqi border, they were met with fierce

Scorpions of B Squadron The Blues and Royals crossing the challenging terrain of the Falkland Islands, 1982

A British Scorpion leading the advance during the liberation of Kuwait, 1991

Household Cavalry CVR(T) on patrol during Operation TELIC

resistance from the T-55 tanks of a full Iraqi armoured brigade. These 36 tonne monsters with their 100mm main armament would make short work of the lightly armoured CVR(T)s. Luckily, the D Squadron crews were experts in their trade. As they engaged the advancing armour with their 30mm cannons, they used their superior agility to great effect, rapidly jockeying in and out of different positions. The T-55s, enraged by the audacity of these pokey little vehicles, moved into open ground in an attempt to swat them away with their much heavier guns. This was their undoing. As the first Iraqi tanks moved out into the open, the D Squadron crews unleashed hell with a combination of artillery and air power reigning fires down on the now exposed enemy armour, stopping the brigade dead.

As the Iraqi’s tried to re-group and continue their advance they were again engaged with the 30mms of the CVR(T) s. Not satisfied with their success, and without waiting for the support of the coalition heavy armour, the Squadron were advancing. As they made their way through the carnage in front of them the D Squadron gunners kept up an intense rate of fire while the commanders continued to call in artillery and air power. At the end of the day the entire Iraqi brigade had been defeated and the vehicles of D Squadron were in serious need of an ammunition resupply.

This success, however, was the beginning of the end for CVR(T). By the time of this action, it had seen another unification, another Lane Fox, my uncle Ed, and was really starting to show

its age. CVR(T)’s chief failing was the aluminium armour which left crews horribly vulnerable. On 28th of March, 2003, two CVR(T) of the Household Cavalry were mistakenly engaged by an American A10 Thunderbolt jet. LCoH ‘Matty’ Hull was killed and five others were badly wounded. Subsequent hard fighting throughout operations TELIC and HERRICK saw CVR(T)s exposed to RPGs and heavy machine guns, both of which often caused catastrophic damage to vehicle and crew. The IEDs of insurgents across Iraq and Afghanistan got bigger and smarter and the CVR(T) couldn’t keep up. If the aluminium hull was not pierced by a blast, then the flat underside would transfer the shock wave through the vehicle causing serious injury and sometimes catapulting occupants hundreds of feet. Outgunned by both conventional and insurgent

forces the CVR(T)’s time had come. In 2015 the MoD signed a deal to retire the fleet.

As I enter my third year of service in the regiment, it is humbling to think of how many before me have served on CVR(T). This year we have begun the conversion to the new, state of the art, AJAX vehicle fleet. But we must not forget the huge debt we owe our war horse of the last 60 years. It has carried Household Cavalrymen and women millions of miles, protected us from countless dangers, and provided the platform on which we have built the formidable reputation we hold today. Over decades, we have laughed and cried, fought and died, in CVR(T)s. Now, it is time to say goodbye.

D Squadron preparing their CVR(T) for patrol during Operation HERRICK

CVR(T)s flanking by their replacement, ARES, July 2020

PEAK18

by Major Danny Robson, The Blues and Royals

PEAK18 was a long time coming. Originally planned for March 2020, I was forced to postpone due to COVID-19 and planned again for June 2020. How foolish I was! With the pandemic raging on, I was forced to postpone yet again. A glimmer of hope finally appeared in October 2020. I stood firm and thankfully, by the skin of our teeth, PEAK18 commenced.

PEAK18 was born from a book I had read called Everest England. Essentially the ascension of 18 peaks over 11 days, stretching the length of England, from Devon to Northumberland, equating to the height of Mount Everest. The expedition would be challenging in many ways. It would test both our mental and physical resilience, our navigational skills, personal administration, communication and our sense of humour. But more than this, the expedition was primarily about mental health and PTSD awareness. I wanted it to enable us all to have conversations, as we trekked in the day or relaxed in the evenings, about the difficult experiences and issues we all face in our lives. Ultimately, encouraging the team to open up and realise that it’s absolutely fine, and not embarrassing at all, to talk.

8th October: St Enodoc Church, Bronn Wennili and Yes Tor - 2,787ft

Navigator: LCpl Adam Wilson

It was a very windy and narrow drive from our night-time location in Wyvern Barracks, Exeter to the pretty fishing village of Trebetherick. We were presented with a bikini clad welsh lady walking out of the sea, Daniel Craig style, claiming that the water was a balmy 15 degrees. Brea Hill (St Enodocs Church) was a ‘cheeky little warmer in the bank’ for the team and really got our hearts and lungs working, preparing them for what was to come. Then came Bronn Wennili, on the wilds of Dartmoor. We finished the day with Yes Tor and very wet feet! An abundance of ‘babies heads’ and boggy ground greeted us on our descent to the Meldon Reservoir, but we ended the day in fine fettle, ready for a welldeserved meal in Exeter.

9th October: Great Hangman and Holdstone Down – 2,172ft

Navigator: SCpl Ace Saurara

With Smooth FM keeping our vocal cords in tune(ish), we headed off to the

first peak of the day, Great Hangman, which sits on the north Devon coast. Conditions were steep and very wet. Next we headed off to Holdstone Down. Taking in glorious views of the coastline and nursing well worked calves, lunchtime was followed by a very useful lesson from Capt Pady Ireland - aligning a compass with a trig point and how to use a prismatic compass. Tired teddies, we headed back to Wyvern Barracks, Exeter for the night.

10th October: Glastonbury Tor and Cheddar Gorge to Beacon Batch –2,855ft

Navigator: SSgt Dan Savage

The majority of the team was mortified to find themselves inside a vegetarian café on Glastonbury High Street, for a spot of brekkie prior to ascending the Tor. Although the Tor was short and sweet compared to the other peaks, it still got the heart and lungs working. We were joined by LCoH Matakibau, who stayed with us for the whole day. Cheddar Gorge to Beacon Batch was a tougher and longer affair. The ascent to the top of the Gorge was taxing but extremely rewarding, in terms of the view at the summit. We were joined this time by SCpl Sabatini and his family. The trek, which incorporated Beacon Batch, was a highly pleasing ten-mile loop, with panoramic views of Somerset and beyond.

11th October: Crickley Hill and Cleeve Hill – 1,722ft

Navigator: Tpr Mathew Nicholls

The sun was shining and the first peak on the agenda was Crickley Hill, which commanded fantastic views over towards the second peak. It was a testing route for the navigator assigned, with lots of twisty turns and the added complication of the farmers ‘signage sabotage’. However, we were helped by a group of very friendly and happy pigs that seemed to be laughing at us, which indicated that we were on the wrong track! Slightly behind schedule, but still good for time, we headed for Cleeve Hill. Less said about the comedy parking situation the better, but we very quickly discovered that four different people giving parking advice to one driver, doesn’t work. Cleeve Hill had an extremely steep section, which the team relished, and we reached the top in good form. The Hilton Puckrup Hall Hotel, in Tewksbury, was a very welcome treat indeed.

12th October: The Malvern Ridge –3,313ft

Navigator: LCpl George Westlake

The route was around 16 miles and we started to realise that this whole challenge, was no joke. It’s a real test of resilience, endurance and stamina. There

were many steep climbs, but moral was still intact and the views spectacular. We were joined by WO1 (RCM) Si Allwood, with his umbrella (The Longest Day sprung to mind) and WO2 (AQMS) Chris (SEAR) Brooks, so the pressure was on to show them what we were made of. A day on PEAK18 wouldn’t be right without an injection of surrealism or comedy. As we got to the top of one of the highest summits on the ridge, we were met by a spiritualist blowing through a deer horn, across the valley in the drawing mist. He questioned what we were up to, wishing to cleanse us all and mend our souls. Capt Paddy Ireland and Tpr Dell ‘tentatively’ embraced his request and set about being blessed… As we descended yet another slope, we spotted the minibuses. A sigh of relief from the team was short lived, as we walked past the minibuses and headed up the final and steepest slope of the day. A test of mental resilience.

13th October: Caer Caradoc and Pole Bank – 2,715ft

Navigator: LCpl Graham Jarvis

After another picturesque drive, we started to ascend Caer Caradoc. An initial tough steep climb, all was going very well until we cut our ascent short by 20 metres. Choosing to go around the edge of the peak, until turning right and ascending again to the top. What a mistake to make. We should have continued on the original path. As a consequence, we ended up walking along a very narrow and slippery sheep track, on what is now known to the PEAK18 team as ‘Comedy Ridge’. It wasn’t pretty. No matter, we made it to the final ascent point without any injuries. A Jacob’s Ladderesque climb to the top, it was photo time and we were joined by a very friendly sheep who took a shine to young Tpr Dell. Pole Bank was less painful and LCpl Jarvis, as the days’ navigator, having not carried out any significant PT for around two years following an operation, did a sterling job and showed impressive determination and resilience.

14th October: Kinder Scout – 2,051ft

Navigator: CoH Kennedy

Feeling like we were on the set of All Creatures Great and Small, we parked up in the idyllic village of Edale. As we looked up the re-entrant to what lay ahead, I heard mutterings of “you got to be kidding me?”. This was more akin to a rock climb, than a pleasant trek up a hill. As we headed on up, it was just a matter of taking one boulder/rock at a time and trying not to look down. As we got into our stride, it started to become

enjoyable - extremely rewarding and confidence building. At the summit, we were treated to some of the best views of the trip. Locating the actual spot of Kinder Scout was a test of real compass work from CoH Kennedy, as the landscape was desolate and wet. The wind was brutal, and lunch was a matter of snuggling in-between large boulders for shelter. The descent of Jacob’s Ladder was tough on the knees, but we were rewarded by a very welcome, socially distanced, pint of local ale at the bottom.

15th October: Haworth to Hebden Bridge and Hedben Bridge to Stoodley Pike - 2,017ft

Navigator: CoH Savage

We were now at the height of Mount Everest’s base camp. This is as far as most people go, but we were not leaving anyone behind on PEAK18. All will make the summit. This was the homeland of the Bronte sisters. It was a long slog down into Hebden Bridge, which looked to be a grey and dreary old mill town, on the approach. In fact, it turned out to be a thriving little town, with more independent shops than chains. With 13 miles done, we had four more to go to reach Stoodley Pike. We were joined by Byron Gibson, who now lives 20 minutes away. The 15th October is the anniversary of the passing of Tpr James Munday. We held a short remembrance service, with a 2-minute silence and laid some flowers at the summit. A total of 17 miles walked and our legs were getting very tired now.

16th October: The Calf and Pavey Ark – 4,026ft

Navigator: Maj Stacey Webster

The highest of all the peaks. First up, The Calf. It was the steepest slog so far, one slip and it’s all over. We looked up and spotted a tiny orange fluorescent dot, just above the waterfall in amongst the rocks. We just didn’t understand how this person got there, but there must be a way. Maj ‘mountain goat’ Webster, who had joined us as med cover for the trip, was very laissez-faire about the whole thing. She even took a phone-call halfway up. This one was a challenging ascent, but feeling good about ourselves, we ate our lunch on the way to the second, similar, peak of the day. We all knew that this next one was going to test us even more. There was a surreal lake named ‘Stickle Tarn’ at around 1000ft. Although very tempting, a swim was out of the question, as remaining daylight was slipping away. We needed to push on. Maj Webster’s navigational skills got us safely down from two very arduous but rewarding peaks. Not bad

for a Doctor.

17th October: Scafell Pike – 3,221ft

Navigator: Tpr Dell

Everyone’s legs and knees were really feeling it, following The Calf and Pavey Ark. The steep rocky steps on the descents seemed to be the killer on this challenge. There was no point in complaining. We needed to focus on the days’ peak. Scafell Pike was the tallest single ascent of PEAK18 (tallest in England). A continuous 3-mile steep climb, with limited opportunity to take in any views, unless you stop. But this peak is a procession of people, not dissimilar to Mount Everest in recent years, so we cracked on. This was hard going and very tough on the heart and lungs. The team was stretched out and Tpr Dell did a great job in ensuring that everyone ascended the safest way. The clouds and mist were moving rapidly on the summit and we identified a gap. The way down was not pleasant, following the testing descents the day before. However, we all made it down safely…..to be welcomed by parking tickets on both minibuses. Hey Ho!

18th October: The Cheviot - 2,093ft

Navigator: LCpl Westlake

Absolutely awful terrain, all the way. It was extremely peaty and wet, resulting in everyone’s feet being soaked from the outset. Moral still intact; we knew this was the final push, so it was heads down and get on with it. Everyone loves a false crest and the final stretch up onto the summit of The Cheviot, was not short of these. A test of willpower. The summit was an eerie place. It was very cold, and we started to feel it immediately. Any possible view was obscured by clouds. The large slabs laid in the peaty water leading to the trig point, seemed like the stairway to heaven.

A huge effort all round and I am proud of the entire team. The night prior to deployment on PEAK18, was spent in separate little groups with those we knew and served with. However, from Tpr to Maj, relationships have been forged throughout this trip. Whether it be a simple friendship or a POC for advice and guidance, as we all try to navigate our way through life.

PEAK18 has been good for the soul.

Climbed: 29,062 ft

Trekked: 150 miles

Burnt: circa 58,042 Kcal

Steps: 3,112,700

Team Endurance ‘Sniper School’

by Lance Corporal of Horse Alex Massey, The Life Guards

Team Endurance is a collective of coaches, physiotherapists, doctors and enabling staff, who provide Olympic endurance athletes with the ability to give 100% to their given discipline in all aspects of life, allowing them to achieve a performance level that most of us can only imagine. Not only this, but they will reduce the athlete’s performance-decline across the period of competition.

Team Endurance approached B Squadron (Sqn) and asked us to develop and deliver a safe yet strenuous training environment, in which Team Endurance could iron out their weaknesses, allowing them to gain a competitive edge on their rivals in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. The team have had their individual vulnerabilities observed and recorded by human behaviour experts, who specialise in identifying weaknesses, and developing methods to get past them. The points identified fitted very well into a test exercise environment, the Army do this stuff all the time, we knew exactly how to help.

B Sqn decided to use a sniper exercise, because the dynamic within a sniper pair is very similar to that in elite sport: the sniper pair is comprised of a shooter and a spotter, the spotter gives the shooter all the technical data they need to make a successful shot, the shooter applies all that data and takes the shot, parallels between a sniper pair and the athlete/coach dynamic where striking; for example a sniper pair is on the range and the shooter makes a good shot, he has done a fantastic job, the shooter makes a bad shot and it’s a bad call from the spotter. This is much the same in elite sport, the shooter being the athlete and the spotter being the coach.

But what it ultimately comes down to is both working together for a unified goal, the gold medal, that high value target, the podium finish.

B Sqn started the event in the Household Cavalry’s shiny, new training wing, with some briefings from the team in charge of the coaches’ development; giving us profiles and matching them to the sniper pairs as closely as possible; getting them started with some form of common ground. Once this was done we went through a quick kit issue, just the minimum required to get them going: combats, webbing, back pack, food, water, wet and warm clothes, followed by a very brief introduction to the employment of snipers, as well as weapons and equipment they will be using in the next 24 hours.

Onto the training area and, as if we had

booked it, the weather set in, with light rain that quickly turned into a torrential downpour, all the soldiers within the Sqn gained eye contact and grinned, enough to say, ‘welcome to soldiering!’. Following this the Snipers went through weapons training and then into some fire and movement, being very conscious of the fact that team endurance would never be firing without a trained soldier with them. Once everyone was happy with the level of weapon handling and movement, we moved off. Now team endurance and the snipers were merged into a makeshift platoon, and moved into a Platoon Stalk. At this point we were starting to lose light but none the less carried on, a great deal of nervous excitement was in the air as these people who had only seen snipers on TV or on games were about to do it for real.

We stalked in at dusk pushing forward as sniper pairs, moving into Final Fire Positions (FFP) and set up observing the target, once in position a coordinated shoot was organised and executed with great success. The troop re-organised at a pre-arranged location, received a set of quick battle orders and moved onto the next task, an ambush. The weather again against us, but this time strong winds cut through us. This mission, like all the others, was a very condensed version of the real thing, but none the less very testing. Coming from this the troop moved to a barn area and settled down for an hour of sleep.

The troop commander now wrote orders for a standoff recce, a way of looking into an area using the range of the

LCoH Massey introduces Team Endurance to the .338 calibre sniper rifle

Moving towards the final shoot

sniper rifle to stay safe. It was believed the now-fleeing enemy were planting improvised explosive devises, to aid in their escape. We found no such evidence, thus showing the newly formed soldiers that sometimes it doesn’t work, you just get cold and wet looking at nothing: in reality this is 90% of the job, however still providing good intelligence we now know they’re not here, there’s only one other way they could have gone.

The final operation was going to need to be a deliberate strike at range with a hasty extraction. Intelligence provided by higher command had shown that two High Value Targets (HVT) had been flushed out, they were meeting before evacuating the area, and again the battle rhythm spools into motion: command elements writing orders, simultaneously troops move off into a secure location to build a model, where they will receive orders for the fabled dawn attack.

Orders received, rehearsals done, ready to roll out, the troop now moving and acting like professional soldiers, they

head off and start stalking onto the target. As they get eyes-on and set up their FFPs communications with troop command is lost; at this point mission command sets in, the operation goes off without a hitch, and both of the HVTs are eliminated, but now the troop are extracting and being aggressively followed up by the enemy. The troop breaks contact but, in the process, sustain a casualty, now they have to coordinate the safe extraction. A time-bound exchange point is located and the race is on to get the wounded soldier to safety, a shining white combi van on the horizon, the exchange point is 800 meters away along a loose dirt track climbing a ridge line, everyone digging in and doing their part, when they hand over the casualty it’s not over, a quick ammo water and wounded check is done and their back out into over watch; and only then is end of exercise (end ex) called. Just to show it’s not over until the ‘fat lady sings’.

The normal end ex administration commenced - they weren’t getting out that easy - making sure everything is there

HCR Officers’ Mess 2020

by Major P J R Chishick, The Life Guards

I

n March, Maj S Lukas RHG/D handed over as PMC to the author, after having overseen the Officers’ Mess during the move from Windsor. The subsequent few months have seen significant change in the Mess due to COVID-19, with a core of Officers isolating in the

Mess for the duration of ‘Lockdown’. This provided a fixed and underemployed workforce with which to finish off a lot of the outstanding tasks in the Mess.

During Lockdown, the Subalterns

and cleaned, then getting it all handed in, but once all that was completed, they had the chance to get cleaned up and have some rest. Everyone was invited to the Mess for ‘tea and medals’. This gave a fantastic opportunity for all personnel involved to relax, have a drink and exchange knowledge, not only about the last 24 hours, but so much more; with a video of events leading up to that moment produced by the Information Activity cell playing in the background.

So many lessons learned and some even greater experiences had everyone leaving with a smile on their face. Postevent feedback from British Athletics transmitted the sentiment that this was not your run-of-the-mill team-building event; and all participants had their expectations surpassed by a significant margin. They deemed it to be a unique and challenging event, which pushed them to their limits and built team cohesion, through shared-experience, helping them to identify methods to cope with areas of vulnerability.

tackled the garden, with Lt J Hutton RHG/D and Lt J Bushell LG spearheading the charge. Trips to B&Q for essential supplies enabled the construction of a raised bed for growing vegetables and the digging and planting of several new flowerbeds in the garden.

Mission Accomplished - the Team at EndEx

Additionally, the Subalterns sanded down and repainted the rusted iron bench which has not looked as good for over fifty years and restored the teak garden furniture.

Internally, Lt H Sayer has led the charge on the silver, having reorganised the Silver Room making it easier to account for our silver. With the help of copious amounts of silver polish, elbow grease and our Gap Year Officer, ‘3Lt’ B Humphries LG, he has restored a myriad of trophies that have been hiding upstairs in Windsor for decades. These pieces are now on regular display in the mess and seen on a daily basis. Future plans involve the restoration of the stunning Grand Military Gilt cups.

Lt J Bushell LG has led on the cataloguing and accounting of the mess pictures, and after considerable delay, we now have the correct transformers to enable the picture lights to be fitted to the paintings (having operated off a different circuit in Windsor). The

portrait of 2Lt Dunville VC, which had been languishing in an Eton framers for five years, has been recovered and now hangs above the main staircase of the Mess. A painting of a drum horse that has been on loan to the Royal School of Military Music since the 1980s has been retrieved prior to its closure. We now also have a very smart set of Life Guards and Blues and Royals flags for the front of the Mess, further staking our claim on

our new patch.

The PMC applied his prep-school carpentry skills to a new project, the creation of a library in the room formerly known as the ‘Bar’. Despite taking up a lot of time during lockdown, this has considerably enhanced the atmosphere in the Mess and provides an opportunity for officers to donate books to the Mess on leaving.

Plans are still afoot for further improvements in conjunction with the Quartermaster, principally, the construction of a hedge around the front of the Mess, extension of the fence and installation of further gate guardians from Windsor.

Events and functions have inevitably been curtailed, however, livers-in have managed to maintain a bit of mess spirit with some socially-distanced outdoor dining in the summer months and an outdoor BBQ for the ‘dining out’ of Lt Col M Berry LG. Hopefully COVID restrictions will start to lift in the new year and we will be able to invite those at ERE and retired officers to see our new home.

The Mercian’s Sgts Mess Bar - before and after

The Ante Room in the new mess

The Dining Room - before and after

Lt Hutton employing an unusual watering can

Former Staff Corporal Minter at the Head Up Charity

by Lieutenant Jeremy Bushell, The Life Guards

It is with ever-alarming clarity that the 21st century world recognises the toll mental health conditions are taking on people from all walks of life. The British Army, for all the billions that it spends on state-of-the-art armoured vehicles, is equally at risk. It is understood in Britain that one in four will be affected by a mental health issue in a given year, and it is estimated that the cost of mental health disorders amounts to £99 billion a year. These shocking statistics are mirrored in the military with a recent survey of 10,000 regular soldiers, showing that 19.7% reported a mental health disorder, not including the 4% who reported having PTSD. Whilst the British military is making moves towards spreading understanding and support for these conditions, it is with heart-wrenching regularity that we hear of service personnel taking their own lives.

For many these statistics simply represent a sign of modern times and a need for greater awareness and willingness to talk about mental health issues. For SCpl Paul Minter, however, it represented a call to arms. Following a distinguished 18 years’ service with the Household Cavalry, which saw him deploy on HERRICK 4, 13 and 18, TELIC 10, and TORAL 5, SCpl Minter left the Army on 27th November 2020. His goal on leaving is clear in concept: to create a charity to support military personnel from all services that are struggling with mental health difficulties. To actually achieve that goal, however, is a task of

monumental proportion.

Founded in July 2020, the result is ‘Head Up’, a charity intended to help service personnel who are suffering with mental health disorders. The aim is to create a retreat which, following treatment, will allow personnel time away from a military environment in which to readjust, and crucially learn how to condition their mindset in a more positive way. Central to this will be training in positive thinking methods, meditation, nutrition, fitness, manipulation of hormones, being in nature, socialising, affirmation, visualisation, breathing techniques, journaling, and much more. Paul Minter’s inspirational end goal however requires support and funding. In order for this dream to be realised and for greater support to be provided to service personnel, SCpl Minter has set the target of raising £100,000.

In order to reach this target, and to mirror the effect mental health conditions has on all corners of our country, SCpl Minter has challenged himself to run the perimeter of the British Isles, including Northern Ireland. In total this amounts to 5,800 miles and will be completed in 200 days, which equates to a staggering 29 miles a day. Starting in February 2021, ‘UK Run Head Up’ will set off from Newcastle, South Shields heading south, clockwise around the coastline. SCpl Minter will be tracked for the duration of the challenge and can be followed on his daily blog, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. It is testament to the family nature of our Regiments that SCpl Minter has already received a great deal of support, however we must do more. Support can be provided in many ways; financially through his Go Fund Me page: gf.me/u/ x9mnyh; physically by running parts of his journey with him or providing accommodation along the route; and morally by sharing his funding page, social media sites,

and most importantly his story with as many people as possible.

Mental health conditions represent one of the biggest challenges the British military currently faces, and we must all work together to tackle the issue, spread awareness, and improve willingness to seek help. If our goal is to be achieved, individual efforts such as SCpl Minter’s must be supported in every respect.

If you are able to offer any support to SCpl Minter’s campaign, please contact info@head-up.org.uk

For any further information regarding the charity, social media, or ‘UK Run Head Up’ please visit www.head-up.org.uk.

Former SCpl Minter whilst serving with the Household Cavalry

Training for the big run

Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment

Foreword

by Lieutenant Colonel P J Williams MC, Commanding Officer

We started this year with a forecast of events rammed with State Ceremonial activity. The first Windsor State Visit in four years was due in May to welcome the Emperor and Empress of Japan, and it would have tested our new relationship with 1st Battalion Welsh Guards to the maximum now Combermere Barracks is under their control. We would have then left the Musical Ride in position to immediately take on the Royal Windsor Horse Show, while the remainder of the Regiment returned to London with only a week before the first rehearsal for the Queen’s Birthday Parade. Two more State Visits would have rounded off the year in October and December respectively, with a myriad of other activities undertaken in the margins.

However, 2020 has not been like any other year in the Mounted Regiment’s history since the Second World War. In March, instead of conducting Regimental Drills in preparation for the new Major General’s Inspection, he ordered nearly every single horse be turned out to grass to allow our soldiers to re-role and deploy on Op RESCRIPT (Defence’s response to the pandemic, in aid of other Government Departments). Seven horses remained in HDiv stables to carry out continuation training for Foot Guards Officers in the event they were mounted on any form of smallscale parade through the summer, and six horses remained at Queen’s Life Guard.

As you all know, Queen’s Life Guard is at the very core of the Household Cavalry’s identity and there was no doubt in my mind, the General’s mind or the Palace’s mind that the country should still see horses and soldiers at the entrance to Horse Guards as well as bearskins in front of the Royal Palaces as a symbol of steadiness and continuity in largely unprecedented times for our generation. We extended a Queen’s Life Guard from 24hrs to three weeks in order to minimise the risk of transmission and therefore subsequent isolation of an entire guard force and their roommates, an aspect that we realised would render the Regiment inoperable very quickly. The 4 o’clock parade was not public, but each day the Captain of Queen’s Life Guard would inspect his troops to ensure standards and tradition remained. I was delighted to receive a letter of thanks acknowledging how

impressed HQ Household Division were by the maintenance and standard of turn out and bearing by each Guard force throughout their three-week stint, and that is a credit to each and every young soldier that took part.

When not on Queen’s Life Guard the Regiment were re-organised and subordinated as company groups to the Welsh and Grenadier Guards in order to carry out COVID-19 testing across London. The work was challenging at times, mundane at others but mainly rewarding and had the benefit of getting us all outside over a summer where that was challenging for a large proportion of the country.

At the time of writing we are fully focused on preparing for 2021. With no parades in 2020 we will have a far larger contingent of soldiers and horses

riding on parade for the first time, and we must now use every day we have to mitigate the risk that brings. We are a Regiment that has earned a reputation for excellence that must not be lost, and I have every faith in my training team that we will arrive at the Major General’s Inspection 2021 in good order and well prepared. That does not mean that training excursions outside London can’t still happen, and it has been wonderful to see a variety of organised rides from Essex beaches to various estates in addition to excellent range packages and military skills days.

This is my final foreword as Commanding Officer of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment. It has been a huge honour to command as my first posting to the Mounted Regiment, and I wish Lt Col Tom Armitage the very best for his tenure.

The Commanding Officer and General Officer Commanding LONDIST at a Kit Ride Pass Off Parade. Photograph: Michael Patrick

Diary of Events

by Captain James Faire, The Blues and Royals, Adjutant HCMR

The Commanding Officer has described already how strange 2020 has been for the Mounted Regiment and trying to write this piece after a year with no Parades, the Army dispersing home for several months and a featureless diary to review is challenging!

The year started with a unique planning conference between HCMR, 1st Battalion the Welsh Guards and the Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery to figure out how to conduct a Windsor State Visit in early May from Combermere Barracks. This parade hasn’t been held since 2016, and much of the knowledge is therefore fading from memory or in the case of the Welsh Guards is non-existent! Once they recovered from the shock of hearing how their gym was required for accommodation for two weeks and that almost every car parking space in the barracks was likely to have a temporary stable built on it for nearly a month, they couldn’t have been more helpful and cooperative. Although the State Visit for Japan did not go ahead, a solid foundation has been laid for the future.

In February and March HCMR invited Nijmegen Company (Public Duties Incremental Company for 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards) and No 7 Company (same for 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards) to leave the safety and comfort of Wellington Barracks and visit Hyde Park Barracks for a morning. At 0515hrs on two separate days 30 Guardsmen duly paraded on the Wellington Barracks square under a few bleary-eyed Officers and NCOs, and by 0600hrs they were all in various Tp stables in Hyde Park Barracks with a broom or fork helping to muck out. They were then given a demonstration

of kit cleaning required for a Queen’s Life Guard and a riding lesson. The Company Commanders each reported afterwards that there had been a noticeable decrease in complaining from their Guardsmen about their preparations for Queen’s Guard!

Preparations for the Major General’s Inspection continued right up to midMarch until we were ordered to push all horses (less 6 for QLG) to grass and re-org into two Squadron Groups, 1 to fall under the Grenadier Guards as part of the London District COVID Support Force, and the other as a hugely bolstered Op TEMPERER force at 24 hours’ notice to move. At the start of May the Regiment was dispersed (sent home) alongside the rest of the Army, less those directly involved in COVID testing and QLG. Rotations through these tasks were set and the Regt continued in that manner through ‘lockdown’ and into Summer Leave, with the added task of taking on all Household Cavalry Phase 2 training from the Royal Armoured Corps Training Regiment in Bovington from June to November.

By September the focus had moved on to ensuring the Regiment would have sufficient time to prepare for the State Ceremonial Season 2021, training both horses and soldiers. Given the length of time the horses had spent at grass (some had been in work for only a few weeks between the end of winter turn out and the spring dispersal), the Commanding Officer directed that every horse should have been through 12 weeks of work before Christmas 2020, and that all those remounts and soldiers whose training had been interrupted by COVID become the focus of the Regiment’s

Capt Hockram (RAO) covered in DP10 having demonstrated incorrect CBRN drills

efforts for the remainder of the year. The Riding Staff had a year’s worth of training to get 30 remounts through in 6 months, and the Household Cavalry Training Wing had over 130 recruits to push through Khaki and Kit Ride.

October saw the Squadrons rotate through a very well put together MATTs camp, with many young soldiers conducting a navigation exercise for the first time outside basic training. It appears only the author of this article struggled with the route. Having raged at the instructor that the grid references for two checkpoints must be in the wrong place as they weren’t where the map said they should be in relation to a lake, the instructor calmly informed him that the lake had in fact moved by 300m as it had been re-dug the previous year

The Commanding Officer testing himself for COVID-19

LCoH Raravisa inspects recruits carrying out Ph 2 training in Hyde Park Barracks

and the map was out of date, and that he should have listened to the brief as this point had been covered! The author duly went to check with a GPS and returned embarrassed and apologetic!!

The Commanding Officers conducted

their hand over around a heavily subdued Christmas Week. Gone were the normal festivities of Brick Hanging, WOs and SNCOs to the Officer’s Mess and the Trooper’s Christmas Lunch, but at least the Padre managed to put on a very entertaining carol service. In

The Life Guards Squadron

by Captain Felix Pagden-Ratcliffe

During this unprecedented year, the Life Guards Squadron have continued to provide State Ceremonial Public Duties (SCPD) whilst also fulfilling a Regimental commitment to Operations RESCRIPT (support to COVID) and TEMPERER (support to The Police). The Squadron has also welcomed several new members of the Squadron and bid farewell to numerous others.

2020 began full of hopes for a busy ceremonial season, with State Visits in Windsor and London, a potential second State Opening of Parliament, and of course the Queen’s Birthday Parade. COVID-19 erupted on the scene shortly before the Regiment began rehearsals for the Major General’s Inspection, though, and we were ordered to disperse.

The Queen’s Life Guard (QLG) was retained in order to provide a visible thread of continuity in the heart of the Capital whilst the nation underwent an unforeseen lockdown: Lt C Onslow RHG/D led the first of several 28-day guards comprising a mixture of LG and

RHG/D Soldiers and NCOs.

Meanwhile, the dispersed members of the Squadron continued to work from home, with daily Zoom PT sessions followed by language and military training delivered by the Troop Leaders. Although a quiet period in hindsight, the Squadron was on readiness throughout to support Civilian Agencies in the guise of Ops TEMPERER and RESCRIPT.

The proverbial balloon eventually went up in April with London District rechristened Joint Military Command London (JMC(L)) subordinating to Headquarters Standing Joint Command (HQ SJC) under OP RESCRIPT. The Operation saw 23,000 military personnel from the Regulars and Reserves tasked to support civilian public services. HCMR stood up a COVID Support Force (CSF) Company comprising Life Guards and Blues and led by Maj T Seccombe LG. Under the Command of 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, HCMR CSF ran testing centres across London. Manning dispersed and isolated

the New Year the Regiment said a fond farewell to Lt Col Paddy Williams MC RHG/D, and welcomed in his place Lt Col Tom Armitage LG. We wish Colonel Paddy every success in his next job in Iraq.

locations, this task saw our Tp Ldrs and CsoH operate in multiples, leading small teams in a new and, at times, challenging role. Garnering praise from the Major General, our teams demonstrated that even our youngest, least experienced, soldiers continue to perform to the highest standards wherever they are asked to serve and are a credit to the Household Cavalry as a whole. July brought an end to the Squadron’s deployment, and a well-earned split Summer Leave block.

Throughout, Capt Leishman LG spearheaded a new Phase 2 Training course for Household Cavalry Soldiers. With the closure of RACTR during Lockdown, HCMR took on the burden of training those of our Soldiers who had completed Phase 1 Training but were unable to progress to the next phase. Capt Leishman’s team fused dismounted ceremonial training with the regular RAC training which they would otherwise have received at Bovington. In recognition of his efforts, Capt Leishman was awarded the 2020 prize for the best

LG Sqn personnel pose in front of Blenheim Palace

Troop Leader in the Regiment.

Returning to HPB in September, the Squadron concentrated on re-training our herd of Military Working Horses (MWH). Having been sent to grass at the start of Dispersal, our steeds were in dire need of a return to training in order to ensure they didn’t revert to being wild animals. A concerted 12-week build up programme through the autumn saw several ‘spicy’ watering orders and School sessions. Benefiting from the reduced burden of SCPD (QLG continued with week-long rather than 28-day rotations), the Squadron conducted a series of hacks and equine training events in various locations across the country.

Non-equine military training continued apace throughout the year. Life Guard Troopers attempted P Company,

unfortunately with no passes due to a high injury rate despite placing in the top third of the Household Division preparation course. Whilst a disappointing result, this testifies to our Soldiers’ desire to be ‘the best of both’, and their commitment to their own physical preparation in the lead-up to that course is credit to their professionalism. Capt Bryan RHG/D led a composite Troop to thwart the best efforts of 1st Battalion Welsh Guards during their PDT in Otterburn; Capt Leishman LG led a HCMR Platoon to victory as OPFOR on Ex DYNAMIC VICTORY on STANTA, supporting the recent batch of cadets at RMAS.

The Squadron‘s operational commitments were not limited to the United Kingdom: SCpl Lewis LG, the valiant SQMC, deployed in September on Op BROADSHARE, an STTT to the Cayman

Islands to train their nascent Defence Force. Under the Command of a Royal Marine Major, SCpl Lewis served as the Company Corporal Major.

The Squadron bid farewell to the Squadron Leader, Maj Seccombe, on posting to 3 Div HQ in Bulford. Maj Bond has now taken up the mantle as ‘Red 1’. SCpl Lewis posted to HCR in Bulford and was replaced by SCpl Waisele. Autumn saw the draft of several Troopers to the Sabre Squadrons at HCR, and the arrival of a Troop Leader, Lt Long and a fresh crop of JNCOs and NCOs, including CsoH Perkins, Raiwale and Selby. CoH Lovelace left the Army to start a new career as Willy Wonka, working in product development at Hotel Chocolat. We wish them all well in the future and welcome our new arrivals to the Squadron for what is likely to be a busy year.

Acrobatics in the Indoor School

Lt Edwards and Capt Leishman learn to restrain aggressors on annual API training

SCpl Lewis demonstrating Littoral Raiding techniques in the Cayman Islands

The Blues and Royals Squadron

by Major Jack Barnes, The Blues and Royals

Despite 2020 turning out to be one of the most unique in living memory due to COVID, The Blues and Royals Squadron still found plenty of ways to exploit opportunities away from our core business-as-usual. Tpr Gorrel performed so much better than he anticipated at the RAC Alpine Ski Racing in Verbier that he was selected to remain out in the Alps to race for the Regiment at the Army Championships. LCpl Fairbarn, LCoH Tonkin and Maj Barnes deployed to the Swiss Alps to represent The Blues and Royals, The Household Cavalry and the British Army by winning the Inter Regimental Army Cresta races and forming one third of the victorious Inter Services Army team for yet another year.

Newly kit-ride-qualified Tpr Kattenhorn was unfortunately denied his first race(s) under rules (twice) with the double cancellation of the Royal Artillery Gold Cup and the Grand Military Gold Cup at Sandown Park in February and March respectively due to weather. Capt Charlesworth flew out to Zurich for the annual Swiss Army Weekend Visit exchange and Capt Lye deployed to Saudi Arabia to teach Counter Terrorism under Op MONOGRAM after leading a successful Telemark skiing trip.

Following the contested reversal of the ‘Troops to Divisions’ trial, the Regimental wide attempt to train as we parade, the Squadron did however experiment with week-long Queen’s Life Guards to make more efficient use of Squadron resources. This enabled the completion of a consolidated MATTs week culminating with Tpr Pennington leading an impressive Squadron presentation and discussion on Iran following

the US terminal strike on General Qasem Soleimani.

Once all of our horses returned from winter grass, Nijmegen Company Grenadier Guards and No 7 Company Coldstream Guards visited for ‘a day in the life’ experience at Hyde Park Barracks, and to hopefully recruit some more Guardsman for Household Division Stables, since it is also now part of The Blues and Royals Squadron. Horses, soldiers and all kit and equipment in the Squadron were then cleaned and prepared ahead of Regimental inspections under the watchful eye of SCM (WO2) Salmon and SQMC (SCpl) Morgan just before COVID halted the Major General’s Inspection along with most other State Ceremonial plans. It therefore demanded some very quick and dynamic re-tasking.

The whole Regiment took part in a couple of early rounds of COVID case study testing for Public Health England. The Blues and Royals Squadron found itself fragmented, dispersed and re-organised into various other dismounted tasks. Our NCOs formed the backbone of the COVID Support Force Squadron, COVID testing the public all over London. Others with the right qualifications and competencies joined the Op TEMPERER Squadron on standby to support the Police if and when required. Some found themselves at Horse Guards for much longer than they would have usually expect for a Queen’s Life Guard, whereas others enjoyed rides to Belvoir Castle and Blenheim Palace during their time as Grass Grooms with the horses at Melton Mowbray. A final handful found themselves shielding at home and looking after vulnerable family members. Newly-promoted SCpl Cowen started training brand new Household Cavalry soldiers straight from Basic Training as RAC Training Regiment had reached capacity in Bovington. Although initially seeming an insurmountable challenge, the fruits of his labour has meant some of the best manning figures the Squadron has seen for many years despite an extensive draft of manpower to HCR in Bulford for Potential NCO courses and AJAX conversion training.

Not only have we seen more Household Cavalry soldiers in the Squadron, but plenty of Guardsmen have now also been recruited to bolster the corporate equine knowledge and experience required for their mounted State Ceremonial involvement. Throughout,

LCoH Tonkin Maj Barnes and Lpl Fairbarn leaving the Life Guards and the rest of the Army in their wake

Tpr Gorrell racing downhill in Verbier

all soldiers used the dispersal time wisely to improve their Armoured Fighting Vehicle Recognition, learn new languages using the DuoLingo App and individual fitness using Strava; a handful of our fittest Troopers have capitalised on the time without horses to work on their fitness with a view to attempting P Coy and potentially filling the Guards Parachute Platoon in 2021 and beyond.

Unsurprisingly, most of the usual events in the forecast were cancelled but a few unique opportunities like the 3 Commando Brigade Falklands Dinner for The Blues and Royals Squadron will hopefully be back in the calendar next year. Luckily, a unique Queen’s Birthday Parade still went ahead at Windsor Castle, although there was no equine involvement. The only Blues and Royals representatives were HM The Queen’s Equerry, the Staff Captain and Silver Stick.

Although our horses have luckily had more time off than they would normally enjoy, there has still been a core group remaining in Hyde Park Barracks. They continued watering orders around SW7. These horses have brought a very calming and cheerful sight to many during a time of such unsettling uncertainty is a strangely deserted London. Moreover, one of our newest potential chargers, Tabor, even exploited the opportunity to be immortalised by an artist whose work was being shown in a Motcombe Street Gallery. Strangely it has been purchased by a former Life Guard, clearly looking for inspiration!

September saw Maj Tom Mountain become the new Squadron Leader along with a selection of SNCOs returning from HCR and other ERE appointments. With the last full scale mounted ceremonial parade being the State Opening of Parliament in October 2019, this new influx of experience has been crucial in guiding those newly qualified through their mounted training and work towards The Queen’s Birthday Parade in 2021. This will be led by The Blues and Royals Squadron with our Standard pride of place. This hotly anticipated decision has been further justified by Tpr Eden winning the Princess Elizabeth Cup for the Best Turned Out Trooper. The Blues and Royals won the overall squadron competition as well, once again turning The Life Guards from red to green.

With an unexpected second lockdown looming, the Squadron kept hold of our horses and avoided a repeat of the retasking from the summer, thus ensuring minimal mounted skill fade. After the second lockdown, Squadron Trumpeter Tpr Foster sounded his Trumpet with great style and panache at the reopening of The Goring Hotel, and with our own catering contractors taking full advantage of the Rishi Dishi Eat Out to Help Out month of August, there were plenty of soldiers with a little bit of extra cash and time for good causes. One such recently retired Blues and Royals soldier, SCpl Paul Minter has set up a Charity ‘Head Up’ and will be running 5800 miles around the entire coast of the UK, which works out around 30 miles

a day for nearly 200 days, he is due to start in early 2021 as COVID restrictions stopped the start of the run in 2020.

During 2020, we have bid farewell to Beatrice and Jupiter. In 2021 the Squadron hopes to welcome back our great Civilian Support Riders, whose presence has been sorely missed as well as the wider Squadron family. Hopefully the COVID situation will allow this to include social and fundraising events too; not least of which The Blues and Royals vs Life Guards Boxing Night now rescheduled for a second time to November 2021, but also The Roast Beef Club Lunch still planned for St George’s Day, all in aid of The Household Cavalry Foundation.

SCpl Minter training in London during Lockdown

SHQ visit Motcomb Street so MWH Tabor could see his new portrait painted by Miss Clementine St John Webster

Headquarters Squadron

by Major Sean Fry MC, The Life Guards

2020, I think you would agree, has proved to be one of the more interesting and unique ceremonial seasons for many years. The Squadron’s focus has, as always, been to effectively support and administer the Regiment.

Preparations for the new season started in earnest early in January, with FOE and planning meetings to confirm what supporting tasks HQ would be involved in for the up and coming year. The projection was yet another busy year ahead with the catalogue of planned ceremonial events, exercises, training and wider Army supporting tasks all in the offing. The SCM, WO2 Privett, began the thankless task of juggling manning to meet with the demand for these responsibilities, ensuring that all members of HQ Squadron knew well in advance what was going to be required from them on an individual basis.

The QM’s department under RQMC WO2 Warren began the G4 tasks, unsealing the armoury and ammo bunker followed by the routine weapon and G4 stores checks, all of which were completed without a hitch.

February was soon upon us. A small window of opportunity presented itself within the diary to allow for the mandatory Military Annual Training Tests (MATTS) inclusive of ranges and further Op TEMPERER training, thus keeping the Squadron up to date ready to support the Met Police in London when and if called upon.

March saw the return of the horses from grass; all departments readied themselves to support the mounted squadrons in getting the ‘roughed off’ horses back to their ceremonial standard. CoH Solis the Forage Master completed the onerous task of planning ahead for the

uplift in the feed and bedding to meet their return. The Farriers along with The Riding Staff and MT were all waiting in the wings to start the return and the build-up training.

In true Cavalry fashion, every HQ department pulled together, as per previous years, to ensure we were in time to meet the first panned commitment: The Major General’s Inspection at the start of April.

However, all of this meticulous support and planning literally changed overnight when an unexpected direction was received from London District. The COVID pandemic was taking hold of the country and the Regiment now found itself on an operational footing to support London District’s contribution to the growing pandemic.

HQ commitments to the pandemic were scattered; numerous ORBATs and nominal roles were created with the Squadron soon spread to the four winds. HQ Squadron’s directed task was to be the Op TEMPERER lead squadron. This commitment grew in size dramatically to cover units dedicated to the COVID Support Force (CSF) in London including The Blues and Royals Squadron attached to 1st Battalion Welsh Guards. At the same time the Squadron still continued with its real-life support (RLS) role to Hyde Park Barracks, QLG, Training Wing-Windsor and Melton Mowbray as well as filling gaps within the other two squadrons when needed. Most, if not all, of the Squadron found they were now double if not treble hatting responsibilities.

The horses were also directed to return back to grass at short notice, to free up personnel to ensure the Regiment could support the current commitments and

priorities. The farriers were now taking off the shoes from the horses that had only been shod over the last couple of weeks. MT also had the arduous task of organising the transportation of the horses, within two days of receiving the direction, the horses were back to grass, with the exemption of QLG and HDIV under the control of WO2 Scholes and his small team. This was only achieved by the support of all available drivers at HCMR.

Ceremonial and supporting events began dropping from the FOE. The QM, Capt Pete Ireland and his department began the process of securing the barracks to meet the Government’s COVID guidelines. New demands were initiated not for horses, stores or ceremonial equipment but for hand sanitizer, face masks and the like with numerous hand-washing stations soon appearing around the barracks.

Then followed an unprecedented

API training in a soggy Aldershot

A COVID socially distanced PT Session

distanced Operation TEMPERER Kit check

order never before heard, those of the Squadron not committed to essential duties were to be dispersed to work from home to protect the remaining work force from COVID and to ensure that there were personnel fit and well in reserve to deploy as needed. Those that remained at work continued to support G4 RLS, guard teams as well as grass support in Melton under the control of the Riding Master Capt ‘Skip’ Nicholls, who volunteered his services.

The new normal now included daily check-ins with members of the Squadron working from home and daily Skype conferences calls from our home addresses. Daily orders still continued

to be issued including, on line training packages, MATTs courses and even Squadron daily PT sessions under LCpl Gough, HQs resident PTI, via Skype.

Camp fell eerily silent!

April, May and June came and went. This period, normally being the busiest of the year with build up for Her Majesty’s Birthday Parade and the annual move to Thetford for Summer camp all fell victims to the pandemic. This also sadly included the Squadron’s adventure training trip to Cyprus, much to the displeasure of the SCM.

Our focus in July and August was to

ensure the Squadron enjoyed some uninterrupted leave as was unknown if the opportunity would present itself again. The Squadron organised its self into leave plots so we could also maintain the directed commitments.

At the beginning of September things seemed to return to some form of normality as everyone returned back from leave. The COVID measures previously in place were eased allowing some tasks to go ahead, within government guidelines. The squadrons focus now, was to get soldiers away on career courses that were cancelled earlier in the year and getting away on supporting tasks to London District exercises or training.

LCoH Drummond with some fine shooting for HCMR Shooting team in an Army Competition

Shooting Team. Left to Right: SCpl Wilkinson (HCTW SQMC), LCoH Joyce, CoH Baker, LCoH Drummond and SCpl Jones (Farrier Major)

LCoH Scheepers, and HQ Clerk Sgt Whelby managed to get away to the Cayman Islands for two months to instruct basic military skills to the Cayman Island Reservists which I am sure came as a much-welcomed break from London.

October and November were our busiest months of the whole year. We were afforded time to ensure the entire Squadron had now completed further

MATTs training, to complete our range packages bringing us all up to date, to complete numerous G4 and Health and Safety inspections (all of which were passed without issue) and still managed to complete several supporting ORBATs to London District. We also sent soldiers to support Exercise DRAGON FURY as dismounted OPFOR to 1st Battalion Welsh Guards for their Battle camp in Otterburn and Exercise DYNAMIC VICTORY, CIVPOP to Officer Cadets from RMAS in Thetford on their final

Quartermaster’s Department

by

Captain Peter

Ireland,

The Blues and Royals

As my time as Quartermaster draws to a close, I am sitting here thinking where has the time gone and what on earth has just happened! COVID-19 has really tested our G4 resolve, we have broken from the norm and now satisfy demands for hand sanitiser, protective screens, wash stations, face coverings and vitamin D. Our main effort has been to provide real life support to those troops on COVID testing, a small contingent of troops at DAC Melton Mowbray and a new look QLG.

The Master Chef, SSgt Owusu continues to manage the civilian staff well and is getting the most out of them. His culinary expertise and catering knowledge continue to put the fear of god into them!

With the pressures of Project Rose removed, the infrastructure is slowly improving. The aim has been to make the barracks more welcoming. The ceremonial gates have been painted, the en-

trance lobby of the guardroom has been given a whitewash and Mr Douglass is extremely pleased with his shiny new mess door.

Much needed development work should start on C Block, junior ranks accommodation, in the next financial year, and we are a month into the design phase of a 1.8-million-pound project. This will see all rooms decorated, new ablutions, sanitary fittings, blinds on windows, floor to ceiling lockers and bed spaces reduced to give the residents more space. Water ingress remains a bone of contention especially in the stables; a very expensive detailed survey will be carried out on A block, as previous surveys have been substandard and not found the issues. The huge boilers beneath the Peninsular Tower have had all the ancient parts removed and replaced. This extensive work has come at a cost and unfortunately temporary showers were needed on two occasions; I would like to thank everyone for their

exercise.

With the year drawing to an end, December was certainly a different affair with all of the normal social events cancelled. All that was required now was to complete the normal administrative tasks, close down accounts and move the final horse to grass, under the watchful supervision of the Vet, Major C Bullard and FCpl Major Jones, for the winter before departing on Christmas leave with a clear head.

patience with the boilers, especially the families in Waterloo House. Peninsula Tower flats on floors 5, 6, and 33 have now been refurbished. The old nursery on the 5th floor has now been turned into the Burnaby Conference Room, kitted out with the latest IT and a recently French polished conference table brought back (liberated?) from the Germany trip last year.

I am indebted to all the Quartermaster’s Departmental Staff for all they have done this year. It is down to their hard work and dedication which has resulted in us passing all audits and inspections with flying colours. Take a bow RQ WO2 Warren, CsoH Elder, Solis, Henderson, LCsoH Bremner, Rastrick, Hughes, Marsh and Tpr King, your seamlessly executed G4 administration has ensured the operational effectiveness of this Regiment.

A pensive LCoH Rastrick thinks only of accommodation

The Quartermaster’s Department try out the new Conference Room table

The Riding Staff

by Corporal of Horse Evans, The Blues

Needless to say, 2020 has brought many challenges to the Regiment. The ceremonial calendar being abandoned caused a considerable change to our training regime and output regarding men, horses and parades.

The Riding Staff were not spared when it came to manning Regimental taskings. The Riding Master himself along with SCpl Lacey and LCoH Joyce went to Melton Mowbray to help maintain and care for the entire Regiment’s equine population. Those still at HPB or Windsor were then divided between various and varied roles across London.

The gap in training presented an excellent opportunity for a change in the way the Riding Staff operates within the Household Cavalry Training Wing (HCTW). The Riding Master implemented a structure wherein the senior JNCOs would take up roles as HCTW training NCOs/Instructors. This has given the rides continuity as they embark on their journey at the start of their Household Cavalry career. The change has presented new challenges for the cadre especially in the G1 world, but it has enhanced their man management skills which will make them more rounded SNCOs.

All Military Working Horses pass out once ridden successfully on a parade. Due to the lack of ceremonial occasion, a backlog was now in place which needed to be considered when training

and Royals

recommenced. A total of 56 remounts were waiting in the fields at the Defence Animal Training Regiment, hatching and plotting imaginative ways to get LCoH Watkins off their backs on their return, and that they did.

To ensure that there is a greater and quicker pass off rate in 2021, two groups out of the 56 which hadn’t commenced their training, came in pre-Christmas to be triaged into groups for the January

Remount bribery works sometimes! push. Due to no clear parade date for their end of training, it was a welcome change to the rush that can set in when under pressures of the ceremonial season. The whole team including new editions of LCpl’s Gerrish and Pacey, along with Tpr’s Bedford and Bayliss, could afford a different approach focusing on desensitisation, and creating robust remounts.

Working under CoH Evans the team

9007 also known as ‘Bond’ warning LCoH Watkins of things to come

LCoH Watkins getting help with his morning PT

amassed their training arsenal of traffic cones, road signs, barriers, plastic sheets, poles, logs, dressage boards, water trays, and anything else that could possibly scare a young horse in development, the training commenced! This was blended with lots of patience and of course carrots and apples, the aim was to lower the horse’s anxiety levels and increasing their confidence and coping response by reducing the natural flight instinct. The results were fantastic and

both batches of horses progressed better then expected, this has given the training team huge confidence in the system and they are all looking forward to the ceremonial phase of training in early 2021.

We have welcomed back CoH Glass from RMAS who has been replaced by CoH Bishop and we wish him well. LCpl Allison is looking forward to his first posting to Northern Ireland, which

see’s LCoH Martin back on remounts again. 2021 will be a big test for the Riding Staff, none of the trained horses are getting any younger so the training success rate needs to be as high as possible by the time we hit the Queen’s Birthday Parade, so the older horses can hand over some of the their work load to their new stable mates as they look forward to pastures new.

Getting used to busy environments with lots to look at

Remounts and competition horses enjoying a day out cross-country schooling

The drum horse doing its best to ignore the Riding Master

Winter Training Troop 2019-20

by Captain Edward Martin, The Life Guards

‘“Tally-o-back!”

He bawls, and swings his thong with volleying crack, — All the clean thrill of autumn in his blood, And hunting surging through him like a flood In joyous welcome from the untroubled past; While the war drifts away, forgotten at last.’

With such memories Siegfried Sassoon comforted himself in the trenches before ‘zero hour’. A member of the Household Division Winter Training Troop would be forgiven for entertaining similar such memories, of days in Leicestershire’s Elysian fields, as he stood in a leisure centre car park marshalling a queue for a COVID-19 Mobile Testing Unit.

After a late start due to the autumn State Opening of Parliament, Winter Training Troop established at Melton Mowbray on 16th October 2019. Many of its troopers had sat on a horse for the first time barely a year before, whilst for a number of its horses, a cross pole in the manege, let alone a blackthorn hedge, proved a seemingly insurmountable challenge. Under the tutelage of the WTT riding instructor, FLCoH Hansford, however, significant progress in man and horse was made.

Early in the season four members of the Regiment competed in the Yeomanry Ride, a challenging two-and-a-half-mile course of fences around the Badminton estate. Particular mention must go to Tpr Smith, whose fearless riding resulted him finishing second in his division and winning the Johnny Hills Memorial Plate for best-placed novice.

Later in the season, four members of WTT travelled to Yorkshire for a day with the Middleton. A beautiful meet at Aldby Park was followed by a cracking day following hounds. The evening brought a hugely enjoyable ball, save for a rather expensive misunderstanding from a certain NCO about the rules of an auction. My thanks go to Mr and Mrs Oliver Smith for hosting us during our visit.

The 2019-20 season will live long in the memory nationwide as the wettest winter in decades. Culminating in the twin menaces of Storms Ciara and Dennis, it created numerous challenges from bogged in horse lorries to endless hours brushing mud off filthy coats. The conditions meant a good number of days were lost but the enthusiasm of the troop remained undiminished and WTT played host to 33 visitors from Tpr to Col over the course of the season. Among the visitors were, for the first time, contingents from the Swedish Life Guards and Danish Guard Hussars, who were shown two extremes of life at the Mounted Regiment; the Parade Square in Knightsbridge and the Leicestershire hedge.

My particular thanks must go to FLCoH Harris, my second in command, without whom WTT quite simply would not have happened and LCpl Reuter, the admin NCO; also FLCoH Hansford, FLCpl Chew, Tprs Albiston, Ashcroft, Booker, Richards, Smith and Tagg for their tireless work on the yard; Maj Bates for keeping our horses in one piece; Etta Madocks Wright for her hospitality and encyclopaedic equine knowledge; and of course, the Joint Masters and Staff of the Belvoir, Cottesmore and Quorn

Hunts who welcomed us so warmly and gave us a truly memorably five months in the Shires.

Winter Training Troop continues to offer a welcome change of scene for both the soldiers and horses of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and an unrivalled training opportunity. I will look back on it as one of the most enjoyable and rewarding periods of my army career. I can do little better than to quote Xenophon, the great warrior and horseman, who said of hunting: ‘the advantages that those who have been attracted by this pursuit will gain are many. For it makes the body healthy, improves the sight and hearing, and keeps men from growing old; and it affords the best training for war’.

Capts Charlesworth and Faire visiting Winter Training Troop

FLCoH Harris and Quaker tackle the infamous Walton Thorns

Tpr Smith receiving the Johnny Hills Memorial Plate from Brig (Retd) Andrew Parker Bowles

RVO

by Major Caroline Bullard BVetMed MRCVS, The Blues and Royals

2020 has been a strange year, however where there are Military Working Horses, there will always be Military Veterinary Officers and Veterinary Technicians in post. Ut semper, the veterinary department is changing every two years. Captain Imogen Walker was posted in January 2020 to 1 Military Working Dog Cyprus Squadron, we would like to wish her all the luck for her future postings. However, Captain Emma Peal RAVC has joined the team. Capt Peal is highly experienced in equine veterinary medicine. Before joining the military, she completed an equine internship at The Dubai Equine Hospital and as a consequence she has a keen interest in equine medicine. Her previous posting was at the Defence Animal Training Regiment as the Referral Veterinary Officer, so she has a rounded understanding of the MWH and the expectations expected of the MWH. She comes accompanied with the young fox red Labrador, Safari.

The veterinary technicians have also changed and we have said a sad farewell to LSgt Laura Perry, who has left the military and we wish her all the luck for her future life as a civilian. However, Sgt Monique Fort RVN RAVC has joined the department and with it bought a wealth of experience in all aspects of veterinary medicine. She holds a diploma in emergency and critical care veterinary nursing and a special interest in wound management. However, our congratulations are sent to her as she is recently had a baby girl, Eviline Rose. She will also be joined by Sgt Kerrie Moore EqRVN RAVC early next year. Sgt Moore is currently posted with the Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery, so will bring a wealth of

Londist Ceremonial Knowledge across with her. Since the previous publication, my predecessor, Major Harriet Telfer, has also had a baby girl; Emmiline Telfer. We would like to wish them all the luck for the future.

The knowledge of the veterinary team is ever growing and as a consequence hopefully the treatment. My thanks and appreciation must be mentioned to the clinicians from Nottingham University Vet School. They provide referral level care to the MWH at cost neutral to defence. Their expertise helps the veterinary officers of the department to continue to learn and develop, striving to ensure that our MWHs receive gold standard treatment in accordance with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. They also allow elective

surgeries to occur in a timely fashion and extensive investigations into tricky medical cases.

However, without the MWHs, there would be no veterinary team. The following horses have retired from service and I would like to wish them all the best in their new homes/life and retirement:

Retired From Service

• Military Working Horse Falcon 8179 happily retired from old age

• Military Working Horse Embassy 8099

• Military Working Horse Brickhanger 7947

• Military Working Horse Nighthawk 8541 retired due to a chronic veterinary problem

MWH Envoy and Nijmegen with their haynets packed ready to retire to a new home

Playing with friends in the field

Tpr Winter Captures a quiet word between two retiring MWHs before they head off to their new homes

• Military Working Horse Fortress 8173 retired due to

• Military Working Horse Blenheim 7981 happily retired due to old age

• Military Working Horse Rouke 8661

• Military Working Horse Casanova 7980 happily retired due to old age

• Military Working Horse Nijmegen 8559 retired due to chronic navicular disease

• Military Working Horse Envoy 8090 happily retired due to old age

• Military Working Horse Reconnaissance 8786 retired due to concussive laminitis

• Military Working Horse Jutland 8365 retired due to chronic veterinary pathology not suitable for military work

There is also a sad aspect to looking after horses, the following MWHs paid the ultimate price and were sadly lost in service:

Died in Service

• Military Working Horse Norfolk

8516: Euthanised Dec 2019 following rupturing ligaments surrounding the pastern joint

• Military Working Horse Giselle 8214: Euthanised Feb 2020 post unrepairable tendon injury

• Military Working Horse Hannibal 8244: euthanised Mar 2020 following diagnosis of a metastatic and aggressive cancerous tumour in her nose and sinus.

• Military Working Horse Hotspur 8255; euthanised April 2020 following pneumonia and associated systemic disease.

• Military Working Horse Sussex 8865; died Jul 2020 in the field following a massive fatal cardiac event.

• Military Working Horse Lashkargah 8448; Euthanised Aug 2020 following fatal kick in the field

• Military Working Horse Philip 8668; died Nov 2020 in the field following a massive fatal cardiac event on bonfire night.

• Military Working Horse India 8319; died Nov 2020 in Khaki ride following

Forge and Veterinary Department

by RVO Major C Bullard, The Blues and Royals

The beginning of 2020 appeared to be a normal year with the annual incoming flux of circa 200 HCMR Military Working Horses returning form Leicestershire following their Christmas Holidays over the course of 3 days. The speed and expertise required to shoe this many horses in a sensible time, in order to allow vital road fitness programs to begin, is no mean feat undertaken by the Master Farrier – Staff Corporal Jones AWFC and his team of farriers and apprentices. However, with over 800 feet shod and pounding the streets of West London, Coronvirus,

COVID 19, was about to deliver one of its many cruel blows: Lockdown 1.0.

The uncertainty as to what this novel virus was to everyone was soon ruled out by the solid decision from London District Headquarters that all ceremonial activities and their preparations were to cease and all Military Working Horses within the vicinity of the M25 to be turned out. This was to enable the following:

• Reduce the population density within Military Camps and

a fatal cardiac event

Hopefully, the big horse shoes left by the above will be filled with the remounts, which sadly were unable to pass out due to COVID-19, but hopefully should pass out ceremonial season 2021.

As with all animals and livestock, they keep us all on our toes and employed, however, their employment, management and welfare is upmost and this cannot not be maintained without the exceptional work from the all soldiers of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment. From trade personnel, G4 through to the troopers in the squadrons, my gratitude and thanks extends to them for looking after all of our horses so well. To close, I would like to quote one of our great Prime Ministers Sir Winston Churchill; ‘When you are on a great horse, you have the best seat you will ever have’; bonum faustum 2021

hopefully reduce the risk of transmission.

• Enable soldiers to be re-deployed throughout the country

• Reduce any unnecessary risk of soldiers (and officers!) falling off on Rotten Row and increasing the burden on the NHS.

From a population close to 400 MWHs within the London area, within five days of the lockdown being announced, only 12 MWHs remained in Knightsbridge to continue one month long modified Queens Life Guard and 24 MWHS remained in at the Kings Troop Lines. This again, sounds like a simple task: remove 1600 shoes, some of which had been freshly nailed on. However, combine that with ensuring all 400 MWHS have the correct military numbers on their feet, with three numbers in different orders (all the MWHs numbers start with either 8 or 9 making up the 4th number), there are 400^3 different number combinations: google reliable informs me this is 64,000,000 different number combination – i.e., definitely not a day to have a ‘bad numbers day’!

The forge were, as usual, highly adaptable and made the best out of every crisis! They re-employed their ‘green’ skills, running testing centres though out the south east, some were pivotal parts of the QRF and maintained their skills making shoes in a socially distanced forge. The remaining 12 MWHs

A farrier’s work is never complete until the Numbers are on

in Knightsbridge were afforded the upmost care with handmade shoes on all four feet at every shoeing and foot balancing radiographs to ensure perfection was achieved, the human equivalent of near Prada’s (other brands are available) every four-five weeks! The 400MWHs at grass also required trimming every six weeks, and so the luxury of a four coke forge was reduced to a muddy field in the deepest darkest depths of Leicestershire with rain pouring down their backs – character building in the upmost sense!

However, on the cessation of the Lockdown 1.0, courses were able to be continued. This is a vital aspect of being a military farrier, as although COVID-19

has suspended 2020 for a lot of us, the farriers are required to continue to learn, develop and practice their expertise. CoH Cooper, recently promoted, and LCoH Ashurst excelled themselves, striving through COVID adversities and although the course had a four month interlude, they both managed to gain their ‘Associationship’ of the Worshipful Company of Farriers. LCoH Healey Potter was hot on their anvils and passed his Diploma at the end of the year. The apprentices have also been put through their paces, regularly being set tasks by the Master Farrier and his 2IC, Staff Corporal Pettit, including making the tricky Ice shoe also known as the ‘slip and grip’ shoe, which may come in handy for the Knightsbridge winter!

This is a shoe which takes great craftsmanship as it has a 90-degree ledge with divots banged into it to help increase grip. We are also welcoming three new apprentices into the forge from the Squadrons in April to start their basic Military Farriery Course, so are looking forward to developing new skills.

Without forgetting the veterinary Department, we have also had a couple new exciting additions. It gives me great pleasure to announce that the HCMR Veterinary Technician, Sgt Fort, had a healthy baby girl, Eveline Rose, and we wish the young family all the best as they start out. We are also greatly looking forward to having Sgt Fort back at Knightsbridge to sort out the carnage two vets are able to create when left unsupervised by a veterinary technician! We had a sad farewell as Capt I Walker, London District VO, was posted to sunnier climates, Cyprus Military Working Dog Squadron, and we wish her all the best. However, our fantastic new London District Veterinary Officer, Capt Peel, arrived in February along with her Labrador puppy, Safari. Needless to say there is never a dull moment in the vet department. We are also gaining another friendly face in the form of Sgt Moore in January 2021, who is currently the Veterinary Technician for the Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery.

Looking forward to a New Year of uncertainties, I hope that in a year’s time I can report back that we have some new AWFC and new Diploma Farriers, bolstering an already highly successful forge and veterinary department.

LCoH Ashurst and LCpl Hansford prepare for Remembrance Sunday

LCoH Blake honing his navigational skills preparing to deploy into the field for an exercise

LCoH Forster shoes into the night with a sedated young horse

Watch and Learn; SCpl Jones demonstrating to the apprentice Farriers

Household Cavalry Training Wing

by

Captain Martin Ireland, The Blues and Royals

Iassumed post as Officer Commanding the Household Cavalry Training Wing in early February 2020, to say it has been a busy, diverse and challenging period would be an understatement. We have re-organised the training system of delivery with the use of world leading horse simulation, re-invigorated cavalry drill, incorporating live learning at Horse Guards parade. We have started to incorporate QR code links to YouTube for our soldiers to use as a means of blended learning to get ahead of their lessons and for revision purposes. If this had not been challenging enough, we then hit the COVID-19 pandemic with a full riding school of trainees and horses.

Before the pandemic we had implemented a new method of instruction within the training wing called ‘options for change’, the method we have now employed to great effect was to essentially run the delivery of training like an old-fashioned training depot where the instructors were responsible for all aspects of training, in our case, riding, equine lectures and kit cleaning. This allowed the instructors to hold increased levels of responsibility for the ‘finished article’ of trainee performance. It also benefits the trainees as they see an increased level of continuity. They

build a better rapport, feel more comfortable and therefore fully engage with the training.

In March, as part of the British Army’s COVID-19 response, all mounted training in Windsor ceased. The horses were sent out to grass and we switched focus to becoming the Op TEMPERER reserve. With all mandatory training complete, all staff and trainees were ordered to disperse. A personal development programme was developed via Defence Learning Environment (DLE), a

fitness programme was introduced, and we spread to the four winds. We then just waited for the call to return.

This happened at the beginning of June, and we launched into the thick of it. Horses and trainees were brought back and staff resumed training. Due to the level of training, the trainees were not yet qualified to build up the horses… Our saviours came in the form of volunteers from HCMR and the Regimental Band. All were instrumental in our return to training and we are incredibly

Big enough to cover all your needs, small enough to relate.

Experienced enough to know the jargon, skilled enough not to use it.

Technical enough to enjoy the numbers, human enough to look beyond them.

A Life Guard embraces the new ways of learning on the simulator

Capt Titman on Kit Ride with Arras Ride and LCoH Alden as Kit Ride Instructor

grateful for all of their help. We also could not have done this without our trusted SEI, SCpl McGrath.

Next came another fastball. As a result of other training establishments closing, there was a serious backlog of Household Cavalry soldiers that needed to finish their training. We were asked to set up a new training establishment within Hyde Park Barracks, design a training programme, and get over 90 recruits fully qualified. This task fell to Captain Leishman as the Officer in Charge, and CoH Baksh to oversee. To hear how they got on, read Capt Leishman’s article Household Cavalry

Foundation Course. Needless to say, the team smashed it.

Whilst the Foundation Course was going on in London, we were also being overran by trainees in Windsor. The backlog meant that we made the decision to reduce the course by two weeks, hoping that the ‘options for change’ package would already increase general riding ability. Deficiencies would then be caught up by the squadrons. At least this finally gave us a little room to breathe.

It has not been all work for the Training Wing, I am pleased to say we managed

to have a permanent staff ride out to the Copper Horse in Windsor Great Park and a staff social that evening at GoGo’s in Windsor Marina. This provided the team with some well needed down time and a chance to blow off some steam, however no shapes were busted out on the dance floor due to the restrictions, which I am sure is a blessing in disguise. We even had a chance to represent the Regiment at Clay Pigeon Shooting with CoH Baker LG, currently without profile due to his coach horses having an extended sabbatical, placing on his second hat as the Regimental shooting SNCO. CoH Baker entered us into a competition at Bramley, LCoH Drummond LG was the shot of the day from our team but to be honest it was just nice to get out of the training environment for the day, regardless of scores.

We did, unfortunately, have to bid farewell to two stalwarts from the Training Wing; SCpl Wilkinson RHG/D to be RHG/D Sqn SQMC, and WO2 (SCM) Bassett to civilian life after 24 fantastic years of service. We wish them both well and all the best.

To conclude, the future is bright for the Training Wing. We now have a system of delivery that is working extremely well, we have developed our methods of delivery incorporating simulation and modern ways of working and have shown that with the right individuals and mindset our Household Cavalry soldiers are still the best around.

The Commanding Officer, Lt Col P Williams MC, presents Tpr Patterson RHGD the award for best student in Dettingen Ride

The Training Wing on Exercise TROJAN HORSE

HCMR AGC Detachment

by Corporal Charlotte Whelby AGC SPS

As this unusual year draws to a close, the RAO’s Department has still managed to get involved in some of the most unique, challenging and varied roles HCMR has to offer. The SPS Det decided to begin the year with a departmental challenge, immerse themselves into the Regimental culture and find out what makes HCMR so… HCMR! This started with every member getting involved with the morning routine; checking the horse over with the rest of HQ Sqn. In these hours we learned the basic care a horse needs such as grooming, feeding, yard work and mucking out the stables. It is such a privilege that can be often overlooked, we are perhaps the only SPS Det that get to have the experience of working so closely with horses – one I’d wager most would envy. With the exception of Cpl Manka, who still won’t go to the stables without some backup!

This year we are hoping to get everyone in the SPS Det on top of a horse to gain the confidence and experience required to pass their riding assessment. So far LCpl Cassandra has been taking riding lessons from the Life Guard stables, and Pte’s Sutton and Boison have booked in to start riding. A SPS Det morning ride with coffee could be on the horizon sooner than we think!

I had the amazing opportunity to go on a Short-Term Training Team (STTT) to the Cayman Islands with 1st Bn Welsh Guards to help form a Defence Force in August 2020. It was two weeks of long days, with fifty-five brand new recruits

turning up on day one. The real highlight was having the honour to be part of the formation and pass out parade for the first intake of the Cayman Island Defence Force. After the ceremony we were invited to the Governor’s house where we were all presented with a Cayman Regiment plaque. This has been one of the most amazing experiences in my military career so far; being able to help, support and be part of the development of another country’s Regiment

Warrant Officers’ and Non Commissioned Officers’ Mess

is something I won’t forget in a hurry.

The integration of the SPS Department into the challenging roles of those at HCMR has been a massive success, it’s seen members of the department foster greater mutual respect within HCMR and embodies the SPS Ethos –Soldier first, Pursuit of Excellence and Comradeship.

by Warrant Officer Class 1 (RCM) C G Douglass, The Blues and Royals

After a hugely successful 2019, serving mess members of the WOs’ and NCOs’ Mess came together in early 2020 to plan for the forthcoming year. The principle aim of this was for the Mess to carry on being a central hub of activity (both formal and informal) for all members. The results saw a tier system being introduced for mess meetings which acts as follows: senior members to meet prior to a formal meeting in order to outline the forthcoming months; a full meeting with all members be called to discuss said plans which culminates with a focus on mess improvements. This format ensures that planning, communicating and the betterment of the mess remain at the forefront of all

activity.

A very successful State of the Nation took place at the beginning of the year which saw the Commanding Officer speak on his career, his views on the unit’s future and advice on how us, as NCOs, can succeed in our respective careers. His message, reiterating the importance of NCOs on his career, highlighted the need for a strong relationship between ORs and officers and echoed the mass influence that NCOs have. Unfortunately, once the effects of COVID-19 on Regimental life became clear, plans for the remainder of 2020 were put in jeopardy. However, these uncertain times reiterated a need for

morale and consistency more than ever. With most of our members on dispersal, QLG or the ROG - Zoom became our new Modus operandi. The ability to see ‘friendly’ faces proved more important than ever and ensured that our mindsets remained positive whilst allowing us time to do something almost unheard of in the Army. Plan! In 2021 we intend to see at least one function a month in order to maintain the Mess as a social hub which all members want to play a part. Additionally, the introduction of a monthly or fortnightly Sunday lunch which will be open to all members plus their families are just some of the plans which will see the Mess remain a place where people can get together to talk,

Cpl Whelby and Wellesley

relax or simply let their hair down.

This year has also seen us wave goodbye to some of our most loved members, whilst also welcoming new and returning friends. WO2 (SCM) Bassett has moved on to civilian life to be replaced

WO2 (SCM) Morgan at HCTW. Who in turn has moved on from his role as RHG/D SQMC to be replaced by SCPL Wilkinson. Additionally, we bid farewell to WO2 Moore and welcomed with open arms the new RAOWO WO2 Potter from the Logistics school.

I’d like to say thank you to all of you that have supported the WOs’ and NCOs’ Mess throughout the last 12 months. Hopefully we will catch up in 2021.

The Band of the Household Cavalry

by Corporal of Horse Wootten

The Band of the Household Cavalry began 2020 with a continuation of Christmas public duties into the New Year, and looking forward to meeting the challenges of a very busy forecast of events for the coming year. Two very successful musical outreach workshops with Hurstpierpoint College and Herefordshire Music Services provided a welcome change of scenery in January and early February, respectively.

In late February, the Director of Music, Maj J Matthews retired from the Army after 29 years of service, and we welcomed our new Director of Music, Maj P Collis-Smith back to the Household Cavalry after previously serving as Bandmaster of the Band of the Life Guards from 2007 to 2011.

On the 12th March, the brass quintet, consisting of SCpl Roberts, CoH Jackson, LCoH Hubbard and Musns Robinson-Plain and Wheeler deployed as a Short-Term Entertainment Team to the British High Commission in Islamabad, Pakistan. Although the quintet had initially been given a very busy itinerary, the onset of COVID led to some hastily changed plans and a return flight booked before Islamabad International Airport closed. This meant that the only engagement to fulfil was

a dine-out for the Defence Advisor, attended by the High Commissioner and foreign diplomats and military staff from embassies within the diplomatic enclave in Islamabad. Needless to say the dinner was a huge success, and the brass quintet transforming into an impromptu dance band in the High Commissioner’s bar afterwards was much appreciated by all.

Whilst the brass quintet were in Pakistan, the remainder of the band continued to support State Ceremonial, and carried out their last Windsor Castle Guard Change of 2020 on the 19th March before receiving notification that all musical support for public duties was to be suspended from 20th March.

Whilst busy preparing for possible mobilisation as part of Op RESCRIPT, it was crucial that the band should remain at a state of musical as well as physical readiness. The band’s PTI, LCoH Sherriff provided excellent and exhausting morning HIT workout sessions via Zoom, and a great deal of creativity from the Senior Management Team ensured that musical standards were maintained throughout.

Despite the suspension of public duties, a socially-distanced band were able to

The Director of Music, Maj P Collis-Smith

perform at the Royal Hospital Chelsea for their Founder’s Day celebrations in June, and then again in July for the visit of HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, whilst in August, the band formed up in a socially-distanced fashion on the Officer’s Mess lawn at Combermere Barracks to film a musical sequence

The Commanding Officer and Warrant Officers loitering at the State of the Nation Dinner

marking the birthday of HRH The Princess Royal. Later in August, CoH Stringfellow, LCoH Sandford, LCoH Crofts, LCpl Lee and LCpl Marshall formed part of the combined Household Division Orchestra performing on Horse Guards Parade for a BBC1 broadcast commemorating VJ Day.

In November, the band returned to the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, to film a sequence with Michael Ball and Alfie Boe for the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance, with the State Trumpeters filming inside the Royal Albert Hall for the same event. COVID restrictions meant that there was no band involvement in Remembrance Sunday, however a number of the band’s trumpeters were able to support several socially-distanced remembrance services.

With six new band members starting the Household Cavalry Equitation Course in November, the band provided a

Ride NCO for the first time ever. LCoH Witter, who usually plays cornet and trumpet, was appointed Ride NCO to Italy Ride and will be giving the students the benefit of more than 20 years experience, so we expect them all to do well. Welcome and good luck in riding school to SCpl Evans, LCpls FuentesMoreno and Hicks, and Musns Ballard, Buchan and Lamstaes.

Band members continue to excel in sport cycling and are certainly worth congratulating on their achievements. SCpl Danckert finished as the fastest Army team rider in both the National 25 Mile TT and National Closed Circuit event, and a band team consisting of two married couples (LCpls Marshall, LCoH Sandford and CoH Sandford) finished an impressive third place in the Minor Unit Army Cycling Road Race. Congratulations are also due to LCoH Swindles, who completed the Virtual London Marathon in 4 hours 17 minutes by running a 26.2 mile route via Broom

Farm and Windsor Great Park on a very rainy 4th October, and raised £350 for the Royal British Legion.

As always, with new arrivals to the band, there are inevitably some departures. In 2020 we said farewell to BCM and band stalwart, WO2 Sewell-Jones, who moves on to a post at Regional Bands HQ after more than 25 years as a Blue and Royal, and is replaced as BCM by another band stalwart - WO2 Screen. CoH Stringfellow moves on to CAMUS HQ after more than 18 years as a clarinettist with the band. LCpls Clarke and Roberts leave the Army to pursue civilian careers in horticulture and teaching, respectively. They will all be sorely missed and we wish them the very best for the future and look forward to seeing them at one of our regular band association reunions as soon as COVID restrictions allow.

CoH (Trumpet Major) Sandford sounds the Last Post for the Allied Rapid Reaction Force on Remembrance Sunday

LCoH Witter (centre) with Italy Ride (L-R) LCpl Hicks, LCpl Fuentes-Moreno, Musn Ballard, Musn Lamstaes, SCpl Evans, Musn Buchan

SCpl Danckert in action for the Army Cycling Time Trials Team

LCoH Swindles running the Virtual London Marathon in Windsor Great Park

Exercise DRAGON’S FURY

by Captain Arthur Bryan, The Blues and Royals

Stalking slowly forward to peer over the baby’s head grass mounds, it became apparent the Household Cavalry section had flanked a re-org position completely unnoticed. A little tired after a self-described ‘jog-trot’ through the dead ground, the section sprung their surprise attack on the Welsh Guard’s flank, and after a stiff resistance, valiantly sacrificed themselves for the ‘Atropian’ cause.

Swapping their spurs for Gortex socks, an officer and eight soldiers from the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment headed to Otterburn to join the OPFOR for the Welsh Guard’s battle camp of Exercise DRAGON’S FURY. The composite section, formed from all three Squadrons, rose formidably to meet the challenge of ‘green’ soldiering after over a year of solely ceremonial service for most members and were validated by the high praise from Deputy Commander LONDIST and the Commanding Officer 1 WG.

Lt Col Llewellyn-Usher WG, challenged the battlegroup to test itself both through training and assessing itself, normally a task for Collective Training Group, but also through his expectation of a dynamic and intelligent

enemy. Not wishing to look a gift horse in the mouth, the HCMR section fully exploited the opportunity to operate free rein through unexpected counterattacks, well concealed flanking positions and the concealment of surprise grenades on wounded Atropian soldiers.

The first set piece attack faced by the soldiers was the defence of a key bridge, a challenge relished by LCoH Scheepers and LCpl Holder who deployed a Command Launch Unit thermal sight, which has a x12 zoom, to maximum effect against the 1 WG Recce Platoon.

No 2 Company attack a HCMR dug in position

Right to left: Tpr Ross, LCoH Scheepers, Tpr Adams, Capt Bryan, Tpr Rohse, Tpr Lock, LCpl Holder, Tpr Ellis

Successfully identifying a patrol from the platoon, an OPFOR clearance patrol was deployed and successfully engaged the recce patrol, much to their mortification. The co-location of an L118 Light Gun battery from 3 RHA less than 300m from the bridge added an element of hyper realism to the serial, as the booms from the live firing punctuated the long stags.

Following the seizure of the bridge by 1 WG, the HCMR detachment, became SMEs for anti-ambush drills. Not content to simply walk down a road to die in place, over three ambushes the Household Cavalry tested the 1 WG response to a mobile, counterattacking enemy that was prepared to use

Adventure Racing

asymmetric tactics and ruses de guerre

Spurred on by their successes, the troops visibly grew in stature as their confidence developed over the exercise, and despite having spent most of their careers so far with horses, the HCMR soldiers clearly proved their aptitude for dismounted soldiering. It also confirmed on of my long-held suspicions: that rigours of mounted ceremonial duty instil the discipline, attention to detail and work ethic necessary for dismounted soldiering. Sometimes it feels strange trying to justify how polishing a piece of leather for hours can lead to a good section attack, but in this instance, the result was clear enough.

by Major C Bullard, The Blues and Royals

One of the joys about Adventure Racing is that you never know where you will end up in the world or which mountain range you will be scaling at dawn, or which expanse of ocean/sea you will watch the sunset from. Adventure Racing comes in all forms: from races consisting of five hours of fell running and mountain biking whilst orienteering, up to 1,000 km expedition races in mixed gender teams of four involving a range of sports from kayaking (sea, lake, white water and pack rafting), mountain biking and mountaineering through to climbing, caving and skiing (both desert or snow).

Before the world was turned upside down by COVID-19 the Regimental Veterinary Officer managed to squeeze some international races in towards the close of a busy ceremonial season. She had a top 10 finish in a 600km race in the

limestone mountains lining the coast of Croatia racing with an experienced team from Ireland. With cloudless nights and cool days up in the mountains, it was an adventure racers’ Mecca. However, the contrast to the following race with the Spanish Team Columbia Vidaraid ranked number 4 in the world, one month later in northern Scotland was extreme! There is a strange ‘character building’ quality that only the north of Scotland can offer and it delivered in spades. The race started with a 40km sea kayak finishing at the Glenmorangie distillery, there was sadly, no time for a ‘wee dram’ before mountain biking across to the west coast and kayaking to the foot of Mount Suilven and catching the sunset 730m above sea level at the summit. By the time the first dawn came, the team had paddled, hiked, biked, crossed a country and notched up over 180km. The team finished the

600kms in four days, although sadly an accident to the lead navigator cost the team a win and automatic qualification to the World Championships

The tactics involved in adventure racing are huge. The clock never stops and it is the first team over the line to win. Aspects such as route choice, navigation and sleep are crucial. In an average race teams will aim to sleep between 48-72 hours into the race, with factors such as weather playing a huge role. There is little point sleeping 48hrs in if everyone is feeling fresh, the navigation is easy and the weather is good allowing teams to continue to move quickly. However, there is equally little point in stopping to sleep if it is raining and cold, as it is well known whilst on exercise, sleeping in the rain under a bush / tree is not always the best. Adventure Racers will tend to remember races on places where

LCoH Scheepers operates the Command Launch Unit to spot the enemy through a thermal sight

40km sea kayaking later; it is good to feel solid ground again

Biking through the stunning hills of mainland Croatia

all obstacles...’

they have slept, for example, under some eucalyptus trees in Portugal, dry warm and smells nice, through to in a cave in Southern Patagoinia, dry and out of the wind, comfort was debatable! In this race, the first time the team slept was

The only way is up; RVO in Expedition Patagonia about to deploy the crampons and ice axes

72 hours into the race having covered over 400km and ascended over 10,000m of mountains. Hallucinations and deja vu are normal and teams will perfect the art of sleeping whilst moving. Team Vidaraid completed the 600km course in 4.5 days with 4 hours of sleep captured in the later stages of the race.

With the prospects of Lockdown 1.0 fast approaching, the RVO managed to squeeze the last Expedition Adventure Race in before the lockdown. The Patagonian Raid Adventure Racing World Series qualifier was held in the picturesque adventure town of Sans Martin De Los Andes, south east Argentina. In the general scheme of expedition racing, it was a relatively short race of only 400km centred around Lago Lacar. This time racing with a Polish team, there was a whole new challenge to try and overcome, the Polish language. However, I am sure after a couple more races, I will be able to change my JPA competencies to include ‘Adventure Racing Polish’.

Again, it was a fast and furious race with the top teams challenging for the lead positions. The conditions were dry and with perfect weather during the day and night alongside a full moon the team was able to push through the stages completing the 400km course in 58 hours (0hr sleep) finishing 3rd and 2hrs ahead of 4th place New Zealand team. This great result meant that the team had qualified for the World Championships which were due to be held in Spain in October, but were sadly postponed.

With a small hint of normality possibly returning next year and with international travel slowly opening, the Regiment are hoping to get some soldiers and officers out onto the UK Adventure Racing circuit with the aim of competing in an European Adventure circuit. It is a fantastic sport testing mental and physical endurance as well as being, in the well-known army term, ‘character building’.

Burghley International Horse Trials 2020

by Major C Bullard, The Blues and Royals

One day, an HCMR eventer will ride round Burghley International Horse Trials again. However, 2020 was sadly not going to be the year. However, the RM, RVO and CoH Glass managed to represent HCMR on the British Eventing circuit.

CoH Glass had a very successful season, riding for the Army Eventing Team for the third year running. His horse, MWH Mabel, has gone from strength to strength and had multiple double clears around some tricky Novice tracks. The successful pairing is hoping to go Intermediate next year with a 1* and possibly a 2* run. However, this greatly

‘Cross

The RVO having swum across a river mid race in Croatia

To hell and back. The RVO caught mid trekking in the Andes, Argentina

CoH Glass and MWH Mabel flying round a tricky British Eventing Novice Track representing the Army and HCMR

depends on the Ceremonial season.

The RVO has had a couple of outings on MWH Revenge RHG/D at BE 90, and the pairing look promising for the future. They are aiming to go Novice before the RVO is posted in September 2021.

The RM has had success at BE80 with his young RMT MWH Valkyrie, and they are hoping to move up the levels next year having spent the winter months doing dressage and show jumping training in HCTW and HPB.

The RVO and Tpr Hinton LG have been asked to attend the Army Team Selections, with Tpr Hinton taking his civilian horse to try for the Army Show Jumping Team and the RVO for the Army Development Team.

Next year looks an exciting year for HCMR riders on both the military competition scene as well as the civilian circuit: hopefully, we will avoid Lockdown 3.0.

The Royal Equerries’ Command Appointment Change

by Captain Edward Keith, The Blues and Royals

For the past year, The Blues and Royals have enjoyed being the only military unit to have two Royal Household Equerries: LieutenantColonel Nana Twumasi-Ankrah, MVO, Equerry to HM The Queen (T-A), and Captain Keith, Temporary Equerry to HRH the Princess Royal. As the pandemic unfurled its evil wings in the early part of the year, Joint Military Command London (JMC(L)) was stood up under Op RESCRIPT to coordinate the military response within

the Capital. The ceremonial units in LONDIST were rapidly transformed to COVID Support Forces (CSFs). JMC(L) was quickly backfilled by personnel from Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC), with most notably the brutally effective Captain J Kjellgren, LG Aide de Camp to Lieutenant-General Sir Edward Smyth-Osbourne (Colonel LG) being among them. With the Royal Family moving to form bubbles around the country, the new augmentees found themselves with an opportunity to swap

the ardours, self-deprecating and unenviable roles within Buckingham Palace for a chance to participate on the frontline and as such, were also assigned to HQ JMC(L).

With social distancing being the flavour of the month, JMC(L) adopted a split HQ; Horse Guards as Main and Wellington Barracks as Alt. HM’s Equerry was quickly appointed as MA to The Major General, whilst Capt Keith was given the equally glamourous role

RVO and MWH Revenge RHG/D go clear at Stafford Horse Trials

Colonel TA conducts his own PDT in Buckingham Palace

Command appointment change…. Royal Household Equerries with The Major General

Desperate times call for desperate measures. Colonel TA is thankful that Tpr Croaker had a career prior to the Army

of SO3 G3, AKA Ops (C). The split HQs were forced to adapt to the norm of conference calls and other non-face to face communications as the very real threat of the virus only increased. JMC(L) managed to do so with effortless ease, a testament to the versatility and adaptability of all those involved. As the effects of the first wave began to amplify,

the requests for Military Aid to Civil Authority (MACA) came in thick and fast. Service Personnel were deployed all over London and Liaison Officers were embedded with various civilian organisations. Considerable efforts were taken to predict and pre-empt both the MACA requests and other military taskings. Some of the more notable requests included; Personal protective equipment (PPE) delivery, conducting testing and preparations for the NIGHTINGALE hospitals.

After the peak of the first wave passed in early April 2020, COVID testing became the focus for JMC(L). Her Majesty’s Government declared testing was ‘ramping up’ and announced a target of 100,000 tests a day by the end of April. To give context, under 10,000 was the average daily capacity in early April. Clearly, a monumental task lay ahead. Three Regional Testing Centres (RTC) were set up. Within a month, Chessington World of Adventures had transitioned from ‘Britain’s Wildest Family Adventure’

to ‘Britain’s Worst Family Adventure’ as it became a focal point for administering tests. Each RTC soon had Mobile Testing Units (MTUs) which headed to predetermined hot spots in order to conduct tests. The RTCs and MTUs all put their reports and returns through JMC(L) so the Ops room was running nearly round the clock and the glossary of abbreviations was becoming larger.

The Soldiers and Officers involved in the testing done by the CSFs made a real difference to bring the virus under control. The majority of the testing in London was conducted by Service Personnel from the Household Division. It is thanks in large part to those individuals that London has gone from being the worst infected part of the UK to remaining one of the lower areas throughout the remainder of the pandemic.

Household Cavalry “Foundation Course”

by Captain Bruce Leishman, The Life Guards

As the world began to deal with the impacts of COVID-19, the British Army took many precautions to ensure it remained a fully prepared and effective fighting force. Part of this included the temporary shut-down of its training regiments, including the Royal Armoured Corps Training Regiment based in Bovington. As a result of this there were over 90 Household Cavalry recruits that were passing out of basic training with nowhere to go. The

solution to this dilemma was obvious, we would take the opportunity to train the soldiers ourselves! In true Household Cavalry fashion, we took on the task at very short notice and formed a small team of our best instructors.

Less than a week later the team had a training programme in place which focussed on learning drill, signals and physical training. On top of this the team were frantically reading up

on the various pieces of policy which are required to train junior soldiers. With all in place the team had nothing else to do but nervously await the first batch of recruits. They arrived, starry-eyed on the Sunday afternoon, ready to start their training bright and early the following morning.

Drill-Ride. A rite of passage for any Household Cavalry Soldier. This is four weeks of learning how to march

Relaxed but in control, Capt Keith poses for a new MODNET profile

Still unhappy with his MODNET profile picture, Capt Keith gets extreme

in formation, perform ‘sword-drill’ and clean the ceremonial kit. This is an extremely demanding course and requires the utmost in self-discipline, mental resilience and physical stamina. By the end of this phase the change in the recruits is remarkable, they were well on their way to becoming highly confident and capable soldiers.

The next challenge involves learning how to use the Army’s communications equipment (BOWMAN radios). This was a mixture of theory-based lessons where they were taught the correct voice procedure and hands-on time with the equipment, learning how to set up and use the radios. At the same time the recruits are also exposed to rigorous physical training sessions every day to prepare them for the new Physical Employment Standards, a group of arduous tests that all soldiers must be able to pass. This includes a 4-kilometre TAB (Tactical Advance to Battle) carrying 40Kg which is immediately followed by a 2km ‘best effort’ run carrying 25Kg. They are also tested on their upper body strength as well as explosive power.

As a final step the soldiers get a head start with their equine training by using the Cav Black horse simulators (imagine a high-end cross between a bucking

bronco and an immersive video game). This is valuable experience as many have rarely seen horses before, never mind ridden them. At this point, the riding staff take over and the training team get a couple of days respite before re-cocking an starting the process again.

At the time of writing the team are

going through their final close-down week as RACTR is back up and running. The team qualified over 90 soldiers split over seven separate rides. They have fundamentally added to the security of the Household Cavalry’s future by investing so heavily in these young men and women. For that we are incredibly thankful.

CoH Baksh presenting Cambrai, Dettingen and El-Alamein rides to the Regimental Corporal Major, WO1 Douglas, for his final inspection on Drill Ride

The training team. Left to right: LCpl Gough, CoH Baksh, Capt Leishman, LCoH Crossland, LCoH Raravisa

HCMR COVID Support Force Squadron

by Major T L Seccombe, The Life Guards Squadron Leader

The Life Guards and The Blues and Royals Squadron underwent an amalgamation of sorts when they joined forces to become the COVID Support Force Squadron. The majority of Officers were from the Life Guards and all the Senior Non-Commissioned Officers were RHG/D, with two of the three troops drawn from RHG/D. To add to the muddle HCMR were put under the command of our dismounted Grenadier Guard cousins, to be reorganised into three thirty-strong platoons - similar to an infantry company. However, we kept the name Troop and Squadron as the totality of the rebranding exercise proved impossible to tolerate. We adopted our new popular moniker of Mustang Four Zero when answering on the net.

COVID-19 created huge problems for an organisation that parades, works and learns in close proximity to each other. Necessity is the mother of invention and it was the younger generation who were quick to offer new ideas and ways of working. Troops were organised so that soldiers that shared rooms were now in the same troop. Our vehicle fleet was designed around section sized teams and the nine-seater combi-van

Queen’s Life Guard

was chosen as the ideal vehicle. Military Annual Training Tests were conducted so that every solider had the same start state and could be switched to our other Regimental commitment, Op TEMPERER, if the need arose.

At the beginning of the crisis the elements of the squadron were deployed to Regional Testing Centres at Wembley and Chessington. They tested key workers and aided the Government in achieving its one hundred thousand tests per day target. As the crisis developed the Army, along with Public Health England, designed and invented the concept of Mobile Testing Units. The CSF Sqn soon took on this new task and were working seven days a week at multiple testing sites in and around London. The sites would change every two days and each MTU was serviced by a permanent testing site such as Chessington or Twickenham. This meant very long days as sometimes the testing site would not align with the nearest permanent testing centre. There were also teething issues with driving as the troops living in central London did not own their own cars and certainly

by Captain Charlie Onslow, The Blues and Royals

As a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, in consultation between HQ Household Division, HQ Household Cavalry and Commanding Officer Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, it was decided that The Queen’s Life Guard would undertake a ‘modified guard’ for 28 days rather than the usual 24 hours.

had no experience with driving larger 3.5 ton vans. One of the teams were stopped by the Police for driving over the Chiswick flyover, fortunately they were let off with a warning and no harm was done to the bridge, which incidentally can trace its heritage back to the Royal Engineers.

Whilst COVID 19 has thrown up some challenges it has been a crucible of working from home and learning at reach. The squadron has been able to function, remain combat effective, and deliver on the tasks it has been set.

After seven weeks of testing our mobile testing units were taken over by a civilian company providing a contracted solution to the Government. As I write this article in November 2020 the unit has been warned off again to help with national testing during the second lockdown, however this time we have kept more horses in camp to keep our riding skills current. Hopefully a vaccine is on the horizon and as the Prime Minister said the ‘toot from the bugle is louder from the scientific cavalry’. More yet.

Under Capt C Onslow, Staff Corporal Lewis and Corporal of Horse Cowen, 12 Troopers (six Life Guards and six Blues and Royals) and two NCOs (including a farrier), packed a lorry full of kit and moved into the Queen’s Life Guard accommodation at Horse Guards for a whole month. We handpicked six of the Regiment’s most easy-going horses and settled into our new routine.

Direction was issued to advise that no

LCpl Halfhide and LCpl North prepare to test a member of the public for COVID-19

Tpr Plumridge conducts COVID-19 tests on a member of the public

ceremonial events could take place which would draw a crowd so the usual 4 o’clock inspection happened behind closed doors. The 4 o’clock inspection or ‘punishment parade’ routine began in 1894 when Queen Victoria found the guards drinking and gambling in the afternoon instead of tending to their duty. She proclaimed that they would be punished by a 4 o’clock inspection daily for the next 100 years. This proclamation and punishment officially

expired in 1994, but it was decided that the inspection would continue.

Although 28 days was a very long time to be confined to small premises, we were treated to delicious food, a welfare fund from the Commanding Officer, Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and several kind donations including an extremely large pizza delivery from a Household Cavalry Officer in 22 SAS. The letter which accompanied the

pizza mentioned that he would ‘pass on reports of our endeavour to the crew here (Hereford) as an example of the high standards the Household Division is maintaining in the face of COVID-19’!

The watering orders (exercising the horses around London) were a particular highlight for us because the roads were deserted. It was the first time I had ever managed to ride through the City, across Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square and even through Blackfriars tunnel on the way to Tower Bridge! A great opportunity to explore whilst keeping our horses fit.

Throughout the 28 days we had a couple of birthdays, managed to completely redecorate the guardroom and corridors in the small hours, organised regular ‘pub quizzes’, virtual Grand National sweep-stakes and other interesting presentations to keep ourselves busy as well as CoH Cowen being promoted to Staff Corporal – many congratulations to him.

Since the initial lockdown, the Queen’s Life Guard has been reduced to 7-day guards with The Blues and Royals and Life Guards conducting an ‘admin’ guard change behind closed doors once a week. The situation will be reviewed in January, but everyone is keen to resume normality as soon as possible.

Capt Onslow leads a Watering Order across Tower Bridge

Chinatown completely deserted other than the Household Cavalry’s early morning watering order

SCpl Lewis and LCpl Nawari get stuck in to redecorating the QLG Guardroom during lockdown

HCMR Medical Troop

by Major Will Wall, The Life Guards

Themedical team at HCMR have had a busy and more varied year than anticipated; everyone has worked hard in sometimes difficult circumstances to overcome the medical problems 2020 has produced. The global COVID-19 pandemic started to affect HCMR in March; we had a number of sick soldiers with symptoms of a generalised viral illness which we started to isolate; without access to testing in the early stage of the pandemic it was difficult to know what was causing the illness but after speaking to local public health officials we got some of our patients tested - and a number came back as positive for COVID-19. We then quickly organised a large-scale testing of the entire barracks; on 30th March we tested 302 soldiers, civilians and family members who made up the Hyde Park Barracks community; we tested another 193 volunteers 36 days later. The investigation showed that 34 people tested positive for COVID-19 either as a nose/throat swab or antibody blood test on the first visit; on the second visit 25 participants still had COVID-19 antibodies. An interesting finding was that those with neutralizing antibodies did not have infectious virus isolated, suggesting that these antibodies prevent COVID-19 from spreading. The results of the study helped Sage provide advice to the government and the investigation has been submitted to the Lancet for possible publication.

Although dealing with possible COVID-19 cases increased the medical team’s workload, the lack of horses substantially reduced the number of injuries we had to deal with; until they all

Chaplaincy

by Padre Gary Scott

As I watched the RCM singing Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer in a Christmas jumper at least one size too small, I realised that no matter how much experience we think we have, the Army can always come up with something new! Following the move of the Armoured Regiment to Bulford it became clear last year that the previous arrangement of having one chaplain to cover both armoured and ceremonial was no longer viable. A plan was proposed to appoint a Reserve chaplain to The Household Division with particular responsibility for HCMR. So, having left the Army as The Household Cavalry’s regular chaplain some years ago, I found myself back at Knightsbridge in December 2019

returned in the autumn. The combination of horses that had been at grass for months with troopers that hadn’t ridden for months resulted in a significant spike in trauma cases, fortunately most of these were minor fractures although two soldiers suffered broken vertebrae but without any nerve damage.

We also had to adapt to the new way of working from home and consulting patients via a telephone or seeing patients in person wearing masks, visors and gowns. Remote consultations had some benefits; no shavings, dung and tan being trampled through the med centre, but I think everyone is now looking forward to getting back to the old-fashioned system of seeing patients face to face and sweeping up after them!

The medical team at Hyde Park still consists of Epi Addison on reception, Jane Baynham Jones the practice nurse, and medics Cpl Hamilton and LCpl Kilbey. The practice manager Sgt Forbin is now leaving the Army having worked very hard throughout his career especially at HPB where he helped the medical centre get an Outstanding CQC rating at the end of 2019. He has been replaced by Sgt Qarau who joins us from Woolwich. Surgeon Major Wall LG is also leaving the Army after 10 years as RMO with HCMR/HCR but is being replaced by Surgeon Lt Col Lewin RHG/D who will continue the tradition of regimental surgeon to the Household Cavalry for the next few years.

conducting the Christmas carol service with Mr Douglass and his offensive (?!) jumper.

If I’m honest, my time with the Regiment since then has been no less dramatic. Finding a rhythm which allowed me to get round our various sites and fit with the restrictions of a Reserve Commission has been a real challenge. Now, a year later, I have a ‘battle rhythm’ which sees me at Hyde Park Barracks one afternoon and staying over to the next morning each week. I visit the Training Wing in Windsor on a Wednesday after the official training programme has finished and call in at The Queen’s Life Guard over the weekend. The arrangement isn’t perfect but within the parameters

of what’s possible and it works pretty well. I have even managed to visit the Remount stables in Melton Mowbray every few months.

The big challenge of the year has been dealing with COVID and the lockdown. Keeping in touch with a dispersed Regiment was done through the programme outlined above as well as inevitable individual visits and Zoom calls as required. Sadly this included a number of funerals. Not for our own soldiers but for family members and others with previous attachment to The Household Cavalry. In these circumstances it came as no surprise to see the great care with which the Regiment looked after the wider

Handover Roll Call. Left to right: Sgt Qarau, Ms Jane Baynham Jones, Surg Maj William Wall, Surg Lt Col Jedge Lewin, Cpl Hamilton, LCpl Kilbey

Household Cavalry family.

Despite restrictions we had a number of regimental weddings and Baptisms. The Guards’ Chapel could have seemed a little bleak with only a handful of guests, but Zoom came into play again and on one notable occasion a wedding took place with ten people in the chapel while another hundred or so joined in from around the world. The lesson was read from New Zealand and the Bride’s father gave her away from Edinburgh. Regardless of location, all guests were dressed for the occasion, took a full part in the service and joined in a champagne toast at the end. For some, the limit on numbers in the congregation was seen as a positive advantage. One groom remarked at the rehearsal that he had saved enough to buy himself a season ticket at Anfield. However, having foolishly said this in ear-shot of his new bride, it was clear his plans would not survive first contact!

Exercise DYNAMIC VICTORY (RMAS)

by Captain Bruce Leishman, The Life Guards

In November 2020, the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment were asked to provide soldiers to play the part of the ‘civilian population’ for the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. The exercise that they were conducting was Ex DYNAMIC VICTORY- the final summative exercise for Commissioning Course 201. The cadets on this course have had a particularly tough time at the academy due to COVID-19 as throughout the course they had been ‘gated’, not being allowed to leave the confines of the camp.

Their exercise was originally designed to be conducted in the area of Grafenwoehr in Germany, but this was then changed to Thetford in Norfolk. For HCMR this

was a great opportunity as the area is our usual summer stomping ground, where we take the horses every year for Summer Camp.

On arrival, we were greeted by Capt Danny Hinton of the Irish Guards (the father of our very own Tpr Hinton of the Life Guards). He gave us the brief of the exercise, the layout of the land and directed us to our accommodation. After an even earlier start than usual we were all very much looking to a few hours of down-time. That afternoon, Col Dennis Vincent from the Communication and Applied Behavioural Science (CABS) unit met with us and broke us down into the four families that we would then play for the remainder of the exercise.

These families had deep conflicting issues and all wanted different political outcomes as well as having very different opinions of British Armed Forces. This provided the building blocks for a set of complex interactions that the cadets would have to weave through, forming part of what is called ‘stability operations’. Most of the commissioning course focuses on either offensive or defensive operations, but this exercise incorporates another group of people and tests a very different set of skills, those of communication and empathy.

Each of the three companies rotated through our 48 hour serial. It all stemmed from Key Leadership

The Padre pausing for a rare photo opportunity

Enjoying a spot of cricket on a beautiful afternoon. At this time we were waiting for the patrolling cadets to join us for a match (HCMR were thankfully victorious)

The members of the ‘Berduli’ family getting ready for their early morning public order serial

Tpr Norton getting into character, establishing the new village Uber service

Engagements between the elders of the families and the military commanders. Depending on how well the cadets performed in these meetings would decide on whether they would get a pleasant and relatively simple 36 hours, or a busy and stressful day. As expected, we experienced the full spectrum, but overall were incredibly impressed by the cadets, they were just enjoying interacting with some different people for a change.

At the end of the exercise the cadets get to have their famous ‘Champagne breakfast’ and are allowed to wear the

Cayman Islands STTT

by Staff Corporal Lewis, The Life Guards

In late June, LCoH Scheepers, LSgt Whelby and I, along with eight members of the Household Division and two Royal Marine Commandos, were deployed to the Cayman Islands on Operation Broadshare. We were tasked to form and conduct initial training with The Cayman Islands Regiment (CIR) complete with its first fifty-one recruits, a new force intended to assist the Cayman Islands and surrounding British Overseas Territories (BOT) in the event of a natural disaster.

After 14 days in isolation the Team had to establish a Head Quarters, G4 Logistics based out of the Customs Department and a method of Kit issue to a Regiment who at this point didn’t even have a capbadge. The programme was compressed and intense, with brand new recruits covering Basic Navigation, Drill, Medical Training, Communications, Glock 17 Weapon Handling and Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR) all on top of the basics of kit husbandry and fieldcraft.

PT sessions came as something of a

Beret of the regiment they will be joining. This is always an incredibly enjoyable moment celebrating all of the highs and lows that have been experienced over the last 12 months. Overall, it was a great opportunity for our soldiers to see some of the training that their Troop Leaders have to go through, and for some, even go on to themselves.

shock to many recruits, ranging in age from 18 to 49. There were even several former US and Jamaican service personnel who struggled with the load carrying and CasEvac drills in the humidity, however much to their relief, the air conditioning units were recently serviced in

all classrooms for their light relief from the relentless

The programme culminated with a 48hr field exercise covering a range of HADR scenarios. The Cayman authorities were keen to support the Regiment, with two

LCoH Scheepers using Local Int to find the main nightclubs during a Basic Navigation lesson

SCpl Lewis captivates the recruits with a dip stick joke during a Stop & Search and VCP lesson

The Cayman Islands STTT pre-pass off Parade, including members from 45 CDO Royal Marines, HCMR, 1GG, 1WG and The Royal Welsh

heat.

Police Helicopters, Ambulance, Armed Police, The Red Cross and a Hazard Management Team to add realism to the exercise, given the multi-agency nature of any disaster response. The recruits performed well, establishing Vehicle Check Points and completing search and rescue taskings. This was followed by a formal pass out parade

in which the Cayman Islands’ Premier His Honourable Alden McLaughlin and His Excellency Governor Martyn Roper inspected the recruits. The hectic day concluded with an evening with The Governor at his Residence.

Once the training was complete the team were given five days to explore

Exercise GALLOPING PEAKS

Three Peaks Challenge 2020

by Lieutenant William Long, The Life Guards

In October 2020, 18 Household Cavalrymen (fourteen walkers and four drivers) departed Hyde Park Barracks to climb the three highest peaks in Great Britain: Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon. Due to COVID-19 restrictions this proved as much of a logistical exercise as it was a physical one.

After all three combi-vans successfully arrived in Fort William, Scotland, the team had dinner and prepared to depart the next day. With the weather holding strong, the climb was perfectly timed with stunning views to match the climate. Additionally, LCoH Faulkner maintained morale by embracing his best Bill Oddie impressions whilst teaching the group about the local wildlife (specifically his interest in eagles). However, as with all weather plans rain was expected and it arrived shortly after we reached the summit. Suddenly, our pace quickened in order to reach the warmth of our vehicles and to start our journey south.

After countless service station stops and coffee refills, we arrived in Cumbria to climb Scafell Pike. The tight roads surrounding Scafell proved as much of a problem as the climb itself which highlighted to the team that perhaps we were not alone with our attempt. This

the splendours of Grand Cayman and the Caribbean. Unfortunately, COVID restrictions meant only ‘moderate’ fun was had, which included a private chartered catamaran to swim with stingrays, jet skiing and a trip to Hell, a local volcanic formation located on the Island.

Ben Nevis summit

Descending Scafell Pike

Lloyd Scott having a well-earned break

The Life Guards climbing contingent was emphasised when we stumbled across Lloyd Scott, a man whose efforts put any aching muscles or bad thoughts firmly in the background. Mr Scott, 58, was mirroring our attempt with one subtle difference; he was doing all three suit. Having been humbled by his story, with difficulties put into perspective, we completed Scafell Pike just as the sun rose over Cumbria, providing exceptional views and reminding us how beautiful Great Britain is at a time where

It was clear to see that the stars were aligning in our favour as despite fears of Wales moving into a national lockdown, Snowdon and its surrounding regions provided a clear pass to complete our challenge. We arrived knowing that we had to be off the mountain prior to last light. Aching legs were matched with the hardest of our three climbs due to a mixture of weather, light and unsure footing. Despite this our team carried on and with an abundant supply of Percy Pigs we made steady progress. As the weather once again made a turn for the worse and, questioning why we did not simply take the cable car upon seeing its tracks when reaching the top, we completed our Three Peaks challenge. With light fading we made our way back to the car park where the drivers had shown great initiative by finding (and tasting) the local fish and chip shop in order to share with us their recommendations.

Ex GALLOPING PEAKS proved a great success with a chance for all members to be away from Hyde Park Barracks whilst developing both our mental and physical resilience. It provided great memories and is something which

GORDON’S SCHOOL

acting as emergency box driver

Lieutenants J N D Bruce-Crampton (RHG/D), J I B Edwards (LG) and A J Bryan (RHG/D) in three orders of dress following a kit ride pass out.

Capt Nicholls (RM) and Maj Bullard (RVO) riding in Australia

Wordsworth Union Jack Stay Strong Spring 2020

Capt Mansfield, former RCMO, in Morocco

Paighton celebrates her birthday with a request to meet soldiers during lockdown, visited by Lt Charlotte Lord-Sallenave and Tpr Agnew of HCMR

D

after the MWH escaped, this is his weekend attire whilst on standown!

‘Form Troop’ ready for a walking charge across Belvoir castle grounds

Mercury meets Teddy, Olympia December 2019

Musical Ride Olympia December 2019

Tpr Yardley on her Pass Out Parade of Kit Ride at Hyde Park Barracks, who also won Most improved Trooper of the ride

Cavalry vs King’s Troop stand off

Members of QLG go behind the scenes at the Royal Mews

TORNADO - CoH Healey

The Queen’s Life Guard turn out on Armistice Sunday

The ARES being trialled and tested on the Bulford training area, whilst demonstrating its capabilities to Brigadier Humphris, Strike Brigade commander

KRH centenary parade virtually attended by the Princess Royal at Royal Hospital Chelsea

This years PNCO cadre, conducted from Bulford Camp with a large number of personnel from both HCR and HCMR Rocking the ‘Tina Turner’ of the Officers’ plumes

Household Cavalry Sports Round-up

Alpine Skiing 2019

by Lieutenant William Long, The Life Guards

In a world before COVID-19, thirteen Household Cavalrymen deployed on Exercise WHITE KNIGHT 36 as part of the Regiment’s Alpine Ski Team. Unlike previous years where soldiers of the Regiment had blitzed, wowed and inspired the racing scene in Verbier; ten of our team had never seen a slope before - let alone skied. Indeed, under the tutelage of Lt Jamie Bruce-Crampton the team were convinced that confidence and looking good were the key to racing well. The term ‘all the gear no idea’ had never been so apt.

Upon arrival in Switzerland, and after one vehicle decided to take a more scenic route, the team were eager to get going. The commitment shown by all members was admirable both on and off the slopes and improvement was obvious after only a few days. The bravery and positivity of the soldiers was clear to everyone as they found themselves conducting multiple front and back flips, not all intentional, as well as an impressive standard of powder skiing after one of many heavy snowfalls. Soon enough Christmas arrived along with the annual trip to the snow park and whilst other teams decided to attempt tricks to impress the surrounding audience the rigidity and pride of the Household Cavalry shone through as Troopers Dunbar, Howes and Wilson decided to ski in perfect unison with their swords (poles) in the carry position whilst giving an eyes right to the Exercise director. This mood continued into New Years with the annual Household Cavalry party being a

resounding success with fireworks, ice bars and good music galore.

Soon enough the time for celebration was over and our comfortable skiwear was replaced by tight aerodynamic lycra. Lt Bruce-Crampton stole the show with an impressive 2nd place whilst Trooper Howes and CoH Hinchley finished as some of the top novices. The improvement shown by the entire team was a testament to their attitude and determination to improve throughout. Additionally, their popularity with all members of the Exercise as well as the residents of Verbier emphasised the good will and professional reputation of the Regiment.

After Ex WHITE KNIGHT finished five of the team travelled to Serre Chevalier, France to compete in the Divisional

championships. Social evenings were quickly exchanged with waxing and edging sessions with long days competing on the slopes. We were suddenly competing alongside Team GB skiers and in disciplines that were brand new to our team. During the downhill competition speeds of up to 60mph were not unheard of with skiers being in the air for upwards of 30m. It was an impressive and admittedly slightly terrifying sight with the first 10 skiers receiving a standing ovation for simply completing the course from the audience. During this time, we received a visit from the Commanding Officer (HCR) and the Regimental Corporal Major (HCR) which unsurprisingly coincided with a string of impressive results. Lt BruceCrampton finished an overall 12th in the individual combination whilst Trooper Wilson won best novice.

Lt Bruce-Crampton taking the racing line

Tpr Wilson winning Best Novice

A triumphant team photo

After a great ten days in France only Lt Bruce-Crampton qualified for the Army championships and, whilst the rest of us departed for the UK, he stayed in France in order to continue flying the Household Cavalry flag. From an initial

thirteen skiers, ten of whom had never skied before, the team finished with awards at both Corps and Divisional level, developed 13 competent skiers and provided memories which will last a lifetime. The alpine skiing develops

participants both physically and mentally whilst providing a positive atmosphere to socialise with other members of the Cavalry. For anyone reading this who may be interested in partaking next year, do it.

Exercise NORDIC GUARDIAN Household Cavalry Nordic Season 2019-20

by Lieutenant Charlotte Lord-Sallenave, The Blues and Royals

Nordic Skiing is regarded as one of the most intense sports in the world. It pushes competitors to the limits of physical and mental endurance, requiring an emotional maturity that can aggressively hunt opponents on the course and switch instantly to a measured calm demanded on the range; enviable soldiering qualities. I had the privilege of leading the team of ten Household Cavalrymen who were up to the challenge.

Unsurprisingly, preparing the largely novice team for the rigours of competition would require a testing training camp. We ventured to Sonthofen in Germany for three weeks to learn how to do the basics well. Our typical ten-hour training days kicked off with a run before breakfast, followed by a three-hour ski or range session either side of lunch, and an evening devoted to waxing skis and dry-firing drills. Despite our ambition, much of the first week’s energies were devoted to staying upright. Nordic skis are very different to alpine skis; only two inches wide with a shoe resembling a trainer, when combined with sensitive edges make a perfect storm for acquainting your face with the snow. This difficulty is compounded by the need to learn two separate disciplines, classic and skate (used for biathlons), each requiring a different set of poles, skis, boots, and obviously technique. This is before we even contemplate the dark art of waxing… However, the expert coaching by LCoH

Massey (a previous member of the GB development squad) proved invaluable, and soon enough confidence snowballed as individuals pushed themselves harder on the trails and more boldly on the point.

In biathlon, the aim of each shoot is to hit five targets at 50m; 4.5cm wide in prone, and 11cm in standing. The threat and thrill rests in an athlete’s marksmanship, as each missed target rewards a further 200m on an icy penalty loop, meaning more mileage in lactic legs and distance gifted to your opponents. The mental game is therefore crucial to success, much of which rests in having confidence in one’s zero. Many training hours were committed to slick drills on the matt, committing movement patterns to muscle memory to breed consistency in shooting and indifference towards missed shots. Time on the Nordic ski tracks was dedicated to getting miles in our legs at altitude and building muscular endurance and lung capacity, burning up to 5000 calories a day. The dichotomy of enduring the full body burn of a hill sprint with the almost meditative rhythm of the techniques on the flat characterised each session. Despite the long hours, no one let their individual frustrations get the better of them, and all looked forward to the evening meal where morale would be recharged as we recalled the highlights of the day. Two days before Christmas, we returned to the UK for a well-deserved break to recover for the

competition phase.

The New Year saw us journey to Austria for Ex WHITE FIST, the RAC, RA and AAC Nordic Championships. Nestled in the idyllic Tyrol valley is the punishing and highly technical course of Hochfilzen, which would offer our first taste of competition in a World Cup circuit feared by the professionals. We anticipated our skiing technique to be lesser than most due to unkind weather gods during our training camp, though we remained confident in our shooting and looked forward to the contest. Throughout the week, everyone displayed impressive determination in attacking the endless ascents and embracing the precarious downhills pitted by craters of fallen racers. We came away from the week feeling proud and excited to take on the Divisional competition, Ex SPARTAN HIKE in Serre Chevalier, France.

Serre Chevalier offered flatter courses, which all but masochists welcomed. The stakes were far greater however, as teams jostled to qualify for Ex RUCKSACK - the Army and British National Championships. The poorer snow conditions worked in our favour against those who were used to training on pristine courses in Norway, and we revelled in the two classic and two biathlon races that the week offered. The highlight was the military patrol race, the biggest test of team work and performance. Donning 10kg patrol sacks

Tpr Davoudi focuses during an Ex SH biathlon

The Military Patrol Team

and SA80s, Capt F Pagden-Ratcliffe led a patrol of four along a 20km course testing navigation, command tasks and shooting. Unfortunately, our improvements were not enough to push the team forward for qualification. Lt C LordSallenave qualified as an individual and represented the Regiment for two further weeks of competition under all natures of race conditions, from melted sludge to hail storms, at the Olympic course in Ruhpolding, Germany. Knowledge gained during this final competition was invaluable, and will be reinvested to take future Regimental teams from strength to strength.

A massively rewarding season, particularly given the inexperience of the team, which all are very grateful to have had the opportunity to embrace. A sincere thank you to all who supported us in doing so.

HCR Football Team

by Corporal of Horse J Hinchley,

In what has been a strange year for sports across the Army, the HCR Football Team has been relatively fortunate as they were amongst the first sports that could resume in line with government guidance. This saw the Regimental team conduct training and several friendly matches before Lockdown 2.0 was announced and put a pause to competitive football once again. The team is looking forward to resuming competitive matches, having signed up to two leagues and three cup competitions.

The team entered the United Services Football League, a tri-service league which the regiment was invited to for

The Life Guards

the first time this year. Army League South West Division 3, and the Army League for major units. Additionally, the team looks forward to competing in the Army Cup, Army South League Cup and the Cavalry Cup.

Taking advantage of a suite of brandnew training equipment, the Regimental Football Team has conducted training sessions twice a week and has been an all-inclusive environment trying to get as many new people involved as possible. So far, the team has 33 players, and each training session has 18 to24 players at a time.

Sharing responsibility, JNCOs and

senior Troopers have been given charge for kit husbandry and management which will help their administrative skills. They have also assisted the coaches in taking training sessions. This they have done with excellence, lifting the pressure on the Team Managers and Coaches.

Looking forward, this will be the team’s busiest season to date with a minimum of 24 games to be played. This totals two games per week and the squad will need rotating. This means more people will have the opportunity to represent the Regiment whilst playing sport.

Left to right: Cfm Hall, Tpr Broughton, LCpl Barnes, Tpr Teasdel, Cpt Pagden-Ratcliffe, Lt Lord-Sallenave, Tpr Lugg, Tpr Baker, Tpr Davoudi, LCoH Massey

Training evening at Bulford

Tpr Gamston conducting hurdle training using the Regiment’s new equipment

HCMR Football

by Warrant Officer Class 2 (SCM) Martyn Privett, The Blues and Royals

Hard work and dedication from the HCMR football coaching team and players has set a high standard within the squad of 20 enthusiastic Players, formed for the 20/21 season.

WO2 Martyn Privett and SCpl Lee Pettit continue in the roles of joint manager with LCpl Nick Jackson as Kit manager and CoH Mark Barber in the role of Chairman, secretary and Captain. CoH Barber ensured that the team is now fully registered within the Army FA in Division 3 and the Minor Cup.

We welcomed some new players to the squad in the form of Tpr Roberts, LCpl Gough, LCoH Greenhow, Sgt Evans (QMSI) and Sgt Kodi (SPS). The influx of new manpower into the squad has enabled Sgt Evans to continue to play for both the Corps and Army Teams, a fantastic achievement. It has also been announced that LCpl Spencer, LCoH Greenhow, Tpr Newbury, Tpr Roberts and Tpr Eden will attend a RAC football trail, exposure at this level will only continue to enhance the capability and performance of the Regimental team.

Our football tour to Cyprus in June

2020 unfortunately did not go ahead due to restrictions, but the uncertainty of our ceremonial commitment due to COVID-19 has given the team more opportunity to commit regular players to training and some local games once the Army FA gave the all clear to play competitive football. The Management and team players have worked hard to ensure all COVID-19 safety precautions were put in place to ensure that all players and spectators were always safe.

The only fixture that we have managed to play this season was solely down to the effort of LCpl Nick Jackson who promoted the HCMR football team within the local community. The fixture was played against a very strong, organised and undefeated Saturday

Cycling

by Captain J Dove, The Life Guards

The Regiment has a keen cycling fraternity both road and off-road, and at the start of 2020 there was much anticipation of attending the Army training camp in Capel Curig North Wales and progressing onto more adventurous and arduous activities including a proposed trip to the Badlands of the USA, unfortunately COVID-19 put a halt on all of this.

Not wishing to sit idle, the road cyclists embarked on a virtual road race series put in place by the Army road cycling committee and the uptake was astounding, with member of HCR donning lycra and taking part. With lock down and dispersion in full swing the events got rolling with Capt John Dove, LCpl Andrew McAuley and Tpr Jack Smy put in a number of hard shifts on their turbo

team, Old Windsor FC Reserves who play in Division one, East Berks league. This was supported by many locals of all ages and was a great effort from HCMR considering they had only one training session. A harsh decision from the opposition linesman ruled out a potentially equalising goal in the 90th minute, but the game ended with a 3-2 win to Old Windsor FC. A welcomed appearance out of retirement from Capt Ireland, HCTW OC assisted the team bringing with him vast experience and an organisational prowess only enhanced by his booming voice which carries across the entire pitch. The match was a great success and enjoyed enormously by both sides, so much so this will become a permanent fixture in the HCMR calendar.

It has been a very slow start to the season, but the squad is in a strong position and we look forward to the rest of the season and the possibility of an end of season tour to Cyprus at the end of July 2021.

trainers in sheds, houses or gardens, racing with over 300 members of the army from as far afield as Australia. In doing so, competing to gain points for the Regiment and RAC. Over the two series Capt Dove managed a respectable 983 points, Tpr Smy only raced in one but delivered a mighty 753 with LCpl Macauley contributing 132. The effort and dedication was fantastic.

HCMR conducting a warm up under number 16, QMSI Sgt Matt Evans, PTI Corps

HCMR vs Old Windsor Reserves Community engagement, 8th September 2020

It was noticed early the promise and ability of Tpr Smy who was quickly snapped up into the 2020 Army cycling development squad and competing at National level once the restrictions allowed. He has been selected to represent the Army in the 2021 race season, which is a fantastic achievement for Tpr Smy and the Regiment. The RAC are now represented by three soldiers in the Army Cycling team.

Mountain biking did not have the luxury of virtual activities; and with the training camp and trip to USA’s Badlands cancelled, it was a slow start to the year, less individual training. Once the cohort were back in the saddle, they took advantage of the late summer weather and explored the plain under

Field Sports

by Staff Corporal J M Archer, The Blues and Royals

It has been a year of trials and tribulations for all of the regiment, and the field sports arena has not been immune from this. The Army Sports Control Board was quick to stop all sports at all levels in the interest of Force Health

the watchful eye of the EME Capt Adam Allchin and AQMS WO2 Chris Brooks on a Wednesday afternoon.

Once facilities opened post lock down, a group of HCR soldiers travelled to the Wind Hill Mountain Bike park. After some tuition from the EME, the soldiers were put to the test in endurance, guile and rapid descents along with some airtime thrown into the equation as well.

Both Disciplines hope for a more adventurous year in 2021, attending the Army training camp, competing in the Army Cycling Road Race Series and the Mountain Bike cross country series along with adventures further afield. We will also be keeping a keen eye on the progress of Tpr Smy.

Protection, and rightly so. This has not perturbed members of the machine that is the Household Cavalry Field Sports Club!

With Army target shooting league

events cancelled and shooting grounds across the country closing their doors, it is safe to say there are some very clean shotguns and rifles in the homes of many a shooter. All that has been left to do from the safety of isolation is plan for the future, what that would look

Capt Dove enjoying the draft before dropping the hammer

Tpr Smy competing as part of the development squad on a very soggy circuit

LSgt Needham navigates a berm on the Wind Hill trails

Cfn Schofield exiting the pump track section of the technical trails at Wind Hill mountain bike park

Capt Dove’s Turbo set up, in preparation for one of the races on Zwift

like, no one could be sure. With communications via SKYPE and email the club managed to secure funding from the Household Cavalry Foundation for another two spaces on the Bulford/ Tidworth Garrison pheasant shoot. This will provide officers and soldiers a fantastic opportunity to participate in this usually expensive pastime. At the time

HCR Sailing 2020

of writing, LCoH Hackett and LCpl Gilbert had a fantastic day out on the shoot, taking home some delicious freerange meat. Once the peak of COVID lockdown measures passed the shooting grounds re-opened and we were able to represent ourselves and the regiment once again at clay target shooting.

Many members of the club also have permissions to conduct pest control on SPTA within their own time. This has also opened up other pest control opportunities including the potential of Army Training Regiment Winchester tasking in the latter part of the year.

The Household Cavalry Sea Anglers have also managed to get out and about this year. They have conducted some shore fishing in the August sun on Bridport beaches in preparation for next year’s Army shore championships. Although the weather for this was fantastic the fishing was not so good. This did not stop CoH Bradbury from still having a smile. They also managed to conduct some offshore predator fishing. This saw some fantastic catches including Tope and Bull Huss which are from the shark family. LCoH Van Der Walt also managed to catch a Porbeagle shark which was the day’s biggest catch.

CoH Bradbury being the keen angler he is managed to utilise his spare time on the B3 Gunnery course in Castlemartin to conduct some further shore fishing catching some sizeable Seabass.

by Major P J R Chishick, The Life Guards

2020 was set to be a busy year for HCR sailing, with teams entered for the Combat Regatta at Seaview and the HDYC regatta in June, however, the inevitable hampered all plans as of March. Nonetheless, we have still

managed to get some soldiers out on the water.

In early March, Lt Rufus Camm RHG/D led a small crew of soldiers, largely from D Squadron, onboard Gladeye

Looking into 2021, the Field Sports club is looking to continue its diversification to encompass more sports as well as developing soldiers in their current pursuits. With the MTO also being a keen angler, we will look to get soldiers on days fly fishing with the service dry flyfishing association as well as the potential to look at deer stalking trips alongside their new neighbours 5 Rifles who also have a keen field sports fraternity. Dependant on further restrictions the club will be looking to conduct an overseas training event competing against our foreign counterparts and clubs.

for a week’s competent Crew and Day Skipper course under LSgt Stevens, Gladeye’s permanent bosun. Amid mild conditions, the crew were put through their paces and fully tested. Tprs Moorby LG, Bentley RHG/D and Wraight LG all passed their Competent

LCpl Gilbert taking a shot at his quarry

LCoH Hackett awaiting the next drive

LCpl Gilbert (L) and LCoH Hackett (R)

CoH Bradbury all smiles despite not catching any fish!

LCpl Kay showing off his catch

HOUSEHOLD CAVALRY BOXING DINNER

Thursday 18th November 2021

This evening extravaganza is the inaugural Household Cavalry charity boxing dinner and will feature exclusively boxers from the British Army’s most senior regiments to help raise funds and awareness for the Household Cavalry Foundation

The Household Cavalry Foundation is the official charity for the Household Cavalry and its Soldiers, Operational Casualties, Veterans, Horses and Heritage

Venue and Timing:

Leonardo Royal Hotel London St. Paul’s, 10 Godliman Street, London EC4V 5AJ 18:30 hrs - 23.30 hrs

Tables:

Ringside Table (£2,500) or Run-of-Room Table (£1,500) - each seating 10 people, or individual tickets (£150). Included is welcome drink, three-course dinner, wine, coffee and petits fours

Dress: Black Tie

Two further sailing expeds were scheduled onboard Gladeye for June and July but sadly these were scuppered by Coronavirus. However, we were able to delay them and managed to get back on the water in September.

In mid-September, the author and five members of the regiment took part in Ex WEST EXPRESS, a pan-Household Division exercise on the South Coast. This was the first exercise to take place in the new Corona-environment, so with a number of additional measures in place, we were fortunate to be able to resume Adventurous Training. Each regiment in the Household Division

was represented on its own yacht, borrowed from the Joint Services Adventurous Sail Training Centre (JSASTC) in Gosport. The Household Cavalry were on Gladeye, the Household Division yacht, and were fortunate to have LCpl Raats LG onboard with his drone, capturing some amazing footage of the boat sailing along. Conditions were relatively benign at the beginning of the week, with almost Mediterranean temperatures – ideal conditions for inexperienced crew members. LCpl Goodfellow of the RAP was our sailing novice onboard, and quickly found her sea-legs in the first couple of days.

An initial sail out to Lymington on the

first day saw light winds of 6-8kts for the majority of the sail, enabling us to get the ‘all-seeing-eye’ spinnaker up, which elicited admiring looks from the remainder of the fleet and a few extra knots of boat speed. After a short pause at Newtown Creek for a swim in the sea at anchor, we met up with the rest of the flotilla in Lymington. The following day, we set off from Lymington to Studland Bay for lunch and then into Poole for the night. Conditions remained light for the sail across and the following day for the sail back, with an early start to make the tidal gate at the Needles. Wednesday night was spent in Yarmouth with the rest of the flotilla, when the wind got up in the night to around 30kts.

Tpr Moorby at the helm in March on the Competent Crew course

LCpl Raats, LCoH Scheepers, LCpl Goodfellow (RAMC), Tpr Spreckley and Maj Chishick on Exercise WEST EXPRESS

Gladeye sailing upwind in a force 4-5 on the final day of Exercise WEST EXPRESS with LCoH Scheepers at the helm Crew courses.

HCMR Golf 2020

A blustery day on Thursday, with a couple of reefs in the sail, we battled wind over tide with a bumpy beat upwind. All the crew managed to battle through it, without succumbing to seasickness (as some of the guardsmen did) reaching Beaulieu for lunch on a mooring. Tpr Spreckley and LCoH Scheepers RHG/D were put through their paces in preparation for their forthcoming Day Skipper courses as we tacked all the way up the Beaulieu river to get out of the narrow river entrance to our evening destination, Cowes.

Gladeye then moored in the Royal Yacht Squadron for the night, which was something of a novelty for the majority of the crew. The original plan had been for a BBQ at a yacht club in Cowes with the Major General and all the crews together, however, the COVID regulations meant that this was no longer practical. The flotilla then sailed back

by Corporal of Horse S A Henderson, The Life Guards

Finally, after months of lockdown as a result of COVID-19, the HCMR Golf team were able to assemble at Old Thorns Golf Club to play against the AGA(SE). The team consisted of WO2 Moore, CoH Henderson and Pte Sutton. We would like to thank the organisers for adding the 30-degree heat to the difficulty of the course; the author’s fair skin just about held up!

The team then moved on to the Household Division Championships, played on the 30th September at Worplesdon Golf Club. This was important for us, knowing that the best players would be put forward to the Colonel-inChief’s Cup the following week.

Luckily for the author’s skin (this time),

the Championships brought a particularly cold and wet day. With two rounds of 18 holes ahead of us, with a superb three-course meal to follow, we knew it was going to be a truly great day! The Household Cavalry were extremely well represented not just with serving members, but by the likes of Lt Col (Retd) ‘Dougie’ Douglas and Maj (Retd) Les Kibble.

The morning pairs competition saw LCpl Jackson and Pte Sutton win the round! Following lunch, conditions turned, making the afternoon a far more technical course. Due to the skill and experience of both players, they still managed a 1st and 3rd place finish respectively. These placings led to a win for the team, the first time that this has

to Gosport for boat handover and final admin. Ex WEST EXPRESS was a great success and an exercise we should look to support next year. With relaxation of social distancing regulations, it will provide a great opportunity to interact with other members of the Division. There are also potential plans for a Gladeye expedition to Northern France next year.

In October and November we managed to run another couple of Day Skipper/ Competent Crew courses, on which two soldiers were awarded their Day Skipper qualifications. Despite a challenging year all round, HCR have managed to get a good amount of time on the water and look forward to further opportunities next year. Capt Hunter takes over as Sailing Officer for 2021.

happened in as long as I can remember. It put us in a great place for the Colonelin-Chief’s Cup.

For the cup, we decided to join forces with HCR and enter a joint team. It turns out that this was a great idea as we finished in second place, narrowly missing out to the Irish Guards. A well fought battle, but all played extremely well and learned a lot from the experience.

Going forwards we obviously hope 2021 will bring far more golfing opportunities. Players of all abilities are welcome along to any match, please get in touch with the Golf reps for more information.

Gladeye with spinnaker up, photographed by a drone

2nd place trophies

CinC team

Household Cavalry Polo: Horse Guards v Hong Kong in aid of HCF, ABF, Tusk, etc

by Major (Retd) P R L Hunter, formally The Life Guards

For the last three years, we have been having an annual polo match between the Horse Guards and Hong Kong. This has been set in more pleasant circumstances than currently pertain. The idea has been to bring different communities together and help the Hong Kong Association achieve that. This remains important because there are still huge business, commercial and cultural exchanges taking place between the UK and Hong Kong, even though it is now part of China.

Over the last three years we have had a variety of players including Martin Young and Cameron Bacon both formerly Blues and Royals. This last year the teams were as follows:

Horse Guards (Blue

Lt Hugo Hunter LG / OCdt Evan Sidwells -2 2 chukkas each 2Lt Rufus Camm RHG/D 0 Simon Chamberlain (Ham player) 1

Major Peter Hunter (formerly LG) 0 -1 g Total

Reserves:

Major Lord Milo Manton (formerly LG) 0

Lt Arthur Bryan RHG/D (played last year) -2

LCpl Jakob Reuter LG (played last year) -2

LCpl Jarman HCMR -2

As a result of generous sponsorship from our supporters, Park Lane Management, Aquila and CarsConnections, a sum of £600 each was raised for the Household Cavalry Foundation, the Tristan Voorspuy ( formerly RHG/D ) Conservation Trust in Kenya, The Lord Mayor’s Appeal for the Army Benevolent Fund and Tusk.

The match usually takes place in September at Ham Polo Club and if you look at their website you can see when it will take place in 2021. Everybody is welcome to bring a picnic or just to watch.

The Horse Guards v Hong Kong Polo 1st September 2019

Left to Right: OCdt Evan Sidwells, Lt Hugo Hunter LG, 2Lt Rufus Camm RHG/D, Simon Chamberlain, Major Peter Hunter( formerly LG), Umpires Will Healy and Michael Ventura, Andrew Leung, Lawrence Geung, Kwan Lo, Freddie Ventura (Ham Polo Club)

Photo: Nicola Beretta

The

Barbour shirts)

Foreword by Colonel Commandant Royal Armoured Corps, Lieutenant

General Sir Edward Smyth-Osbourne KCVO, CBE

It was reputedly the Chinese who came up with the curse ‘May you live in interesting times’ – a curse because ‘interesting’ in this context means something between ‘turbulent’ and ‘terrifying’ – so it is ironic that the interesting times stemmed ultimately from China. However, the Royal Armoured Corps have risen to the challenges and as always have stepped up to assist in this time of national crisis. We have supported Op RESCRIPT widely, including staff support in HQs, running Testing Centres and units on standby for COVID support forces; we have worked from home without diminishing our operational output and whilst there is always further to go, have become used to doing

e-business. As Armoured Commanders we all endeavour to master the ability to monitor two nets, read a map, write a SOC, and direct a gunner all whilst the turret is facing the opposite way to direction of travel. These traits have been tested to new levels as we juggle the multiple technological modems that we find ourselves currently tied to.

This is not to say, of course, that remote working will become the rule across the board in the future. We remain a people organisation and remote working is a reversionary mode. The camaraderie of the Royal Armoured Corps, as of the British Army in general, is one of its most precious assets. But much as we enjoy this camaraderie, we are not inward looking. We are all linked by social media; smart phones enable instantaneous transmission of footage from anywhere in the world. We must be fully integrated with this, and exploit the opportunities offered by social media in a way we have not been able to before. Our plan is to harness our growing social media feeds to improve our message and extend its reach and by so doing, improve both recruiting and retention.

Having mentioned recruiting; our manning is generally good, though there is more to do. But as a Corps we should certainly be attractive to those thinking of joining us. There are opportunities to deploy our capabilities – in Mali, Estonia, the Balkans and Poland. There is convincing evidence that we are a popular choice of Arm, with five

candidates for every single RAC place at Sandhurst. Those that we do accept have vindicated their selection by their outstanding performance. Recently, the top ICSC(L) student was an Armoured Corps officer, as was the Sword of Honour winner at Sandhurst in the Spring. The quality of those we recruit is as good as it ever was. These are all positive factors, but I am conscious that we may well need to change as a result of the Integrated Review.

The lessons from COVID show the impact to a country if not fully prepared for a threat. With ever growing numbers of Russian armour in the Western Military District, we must maintain a sovereign and credible military capability, with the power to deter our enemies and inspire confidence in our allies. Having recently returned from Gotland, Sweden where I was fortunate enough to see newly delivered and highly impressive Leopard 2A5s; one could not be more struck by their approach to Total Defence. With both the Swedish and Norwegians increasing their investment in Armour, its and therefore our importance cannot be forgotten. This is a matter of balance to enable an allDomain capability throughout the spectrum of conflict. We ‘combined arms’ and embraced jointery to leverage capability that, as the Israelis found, was wanting during the early hours of the Yom Kippur War. We need a nationally credible armoured capability as part of that balance and can ill afford to be found wanting.

News From The Associations

The Life Guards Association

Annual Report 2020

Patron: Her Majesty The Queen

President

Lieutenant General Sir Edward Smyth-Osbourne KCVO CBE

Chairman: Colonel J D A Gaselee

Honorary Secretary: Mr K W Robertson

Treasurer: Ms B Eves

Trustees of The Life Guards Charitable Trust

Colonel J D A Gaselee

Lieutenant Colonel (Retd) W R Lindsay OBE

Lieutenant Colonel (Retd) H S J Scott

Major (Retd) J S Holbrook

Captain J J Dove

Captain (Retd) B K Gibson

Captain (Retd) C J Trietline

WO1 A G Slowey

WO2 (SCM) D D Stafford

Mr I M Fearnley

Mr P J Richards MBE

Minutes of the 86th Annual General Meeting on Saturday 3rd October 2020 (Virtual Zoom)

The Chairman, Colonel J D A Gaselee, opened the meeting at 1100hrs by welcoming everyone present and thanked them for their attendance in these extraordinary times.

Apologies were received from Ms Bev Eves (Honorary Treasurer) and Mr Ian Fearnley (trustee).

The Minutes of the 85th Annual General Meeting are published in the current 2019 edition of the Household Cavalry Journal the Chairman asked for them to be proposed and seconded as being a true record of the proceedings of that meeting.

Proposed by: Mr Derek Underwood

Seconded by: Mr Paul Richards MBE

Honorary Treasurer’s Report 2019/2020

The Chairman informed the meeting that unfortunately the Honorary Treasurer Ms Beverly Eves had a family bereavement recently and was unable to attend the AGM therefore not being able to provide a statement of account.

The Chairman informed the meeting that the annual accounts for the year ending 2019 are as published within

the Journal. There were no concerns raised during the annual audit carried out in May 2019, which was conducted by independent accountants.

The Chairman further explained the accounts are healthy considering the COVID-19 situation and asked if anybody had any questions.

No questions were asked.

The Chairman and the trustees would like to thank all members of the Association for their generous donations.

Chairman’s Report

The following report was given by the Chairman Colonel J D A Gaselee.

The Chairman thanked the Treasurer Ms Beverly Eves for her continued support to the Association.

The Chairman confirmed that currently 2088 Association members are registered with Home Headquarters (HHQ). He acknowledged that there were many more not registered with HHQ and he asked if any Members did know of any Life Guards that are not registered with HHQ to ask them to do so. A good indicator if someone was not registered

with HHQ was that they did not receive emails from the Association or the annual Household Cavalry Journal. Registering with the Association had now been made easier with an online presence where the form can be completed. Of the 2088 Association members on the database, there were currently 1903 on the email system which was the preferred method of communication.

The Chairman informed the meeting that due to COVID-19 all Life Guard Association events had been cancelled to date and as soon as the situation changes, new dates would be published for 2021.

The Chairman announced that since January 2020 35 Old Comrades had sadly passed away. Their names were all on the Association website. Of these three had been identified as COVID-19 related deaths.

The Chairman stated that from 20192020 the Association had supported 37 cases for benevolence with an average spend of £644 per application. The applications were varied; the types of cases range from brown goods, white goods, mobility scooters, wet rooms, house adaptations and food vouchers. Surprisingly, this year despite

COVID-19 the Association had not yet seen an increase in cases.

The Chairman wished to thank the Regional Representatives for their hard work throughout the year and emphasised how much it was appreciated that they were there for the membership. If members would like to become an Area Representative, they were to contact the Honorary Secretary.

The Chairman thanked all Association members who had sent in donations throughout the year. He stressed how important these donations were to the Association. He assured all members that all monies donated were put to good use.

The Life Guards Association Dinner 2021

The Honorary Secretary confirmed that the Trustees had taken the difficult decision to delay the 85th Life Guards

Association Annual dinner until 2022. The hope was that by 2022 the HCR would have fully functioning AJAX on site along with some of the other variants.

National Memorial Arboretum

The Chairman explained that a new life time maintenance contract was being put in place to maintain the Household Cavalry plot in The National Memorial Arboretum. The cost was approximately 30K and would be split between both Associations.

Household Cavalry Website

The Honorary Secretary informed the meeting that improvements to the website now allowed Association members to purchase Christmas cards, diaries and note books on the website. The improvements would also allow Association members to update their Association details.

Mr Paul Lewis MBE

The Chairman wished to express his thanks to Mr Paul Lewis MBE for his 10 years’ service as a trustee and wished him well for the future.

Any Other Business

Lt Col (Retd) H S J Scott asked if it was possible for the Honorary Secretary to be able to visit both the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and the Household Cavalry Regiment as soon as the guidelines allow. The Honorary Secretary agreed to visit both Regiments when CV-19 allows.

Mr Ian Swain asked if it was possible for the Association to promote The Old Oak Tree (TOOT) the Chairman asked the Honorary Secretary to promote TOOT on the next Association circular.

Year 2019

£2,287.00 0.00 0.00

£2,287.00

Year 2019 0.00

£4,284.00

£50.00

£8,000.00

£12,334.00

to No 2

Account

Total

Year 2019

£75,727.23

£37,229.04

£847.47

£0.00

£10,267.74

£2,485.42

£4,921.26

£4,622.45

£0.00

£0.00

£1,030.45

£4,305.00

£0.00

£0.00

£2,133.35

£143,569.41

and Wreaths*

Diaries & Notebooks Battlefield Tour GPF Transfer of Funds

Year 2019

£56,416.78

£0.00

£1,000.00

£25,628.99

£0.00

£5,691.56

£2,465.20

£10,549.86

£4,025.00

£994.93

£0.00

£5,198.20

£8,992.27

£0.00

£0.00

£0.00

£7,560.00

£128,522.79

HCR Childrens Fund Grants*1

Donations Postage*1 Christmas Cards Dinner Transport Wreaths & Poppies* Memorials Battlefield Tour GPF *1

£104,724.67

Notes on the Accounts 2018

1. For ease of presentation the Life Guards Association Charitable Trust Account and The Life Guards Charitable Trust Account No 2 have been combined in accordance with Charity Commission guidelines governing the presentation of accounts. Payments and receipts from and to the Restricted account are marked with an asterisk.

2. A total of 31 grants have been paid out of the Life Guards Association Charitable Trust No 1 Account to date. Reasons for assistance include: Accomodation, White/ Brown Goods, Property maintenance or adaption, Clothing,

The

Membership

All serving Life Guards and nonserving Life Guards are members of The Life Guards Association. All Association members are requested to introduce Association members who are not in communication with Home Headquarters (HHQ) to do so. If an Association member is not in communication with Home HHQ this does not mean that they forfeit any of the benefits of someone who is in communication with Home Headquarters.

To register with the Association either call 01753 965290, email homehq@ householdcavalry.co.uk or search Household Cavalry Old Comrades and go to The Life Guards Membership page and complete the online form or use the following link: https://householdcavalry.co.uk/thelife-guards/membership/

Communication Correspondences for the Association should be addressed to:

The Honorary Secretary

The Life Guards Association Home Headquarters Household Cavalry Combermere Barracks Windsor Berkshire SL4 3DN

Telephone Home Headquarters: 01753 965290

Email homehq@householdcavalry.co.uk lg.regsec@householdcavalry.co.uk

General Living Costs, and Funeral Expenses.

3. Donations continue to be recieved into the Life Guards Association account. The Total of Donations received was £12,554.74 for 2019 and £15657.25 for 2020.

4. Honorarium for both 2018/19 & 2019/2020 paid within the 1 financial year.

Claire Taylor Honorary Treasurer

Life Guards Association Notices

Website https://householdcavalry.co.uk/

Change of contact details

All are requested to inform HHQ of any changes to their contact details. This will also ensure that you receive your annual Journal. The most efficient way to change your contact details is via the website using the membership form.

The 87th Annual General Meeting

Due to the uncertainty of the CV-19 pandemic the date and time of the 87th Annual General Meeting of The Life Guards Association has not yet been confirmed. When the time and date has been confirmed this will be emailed to all Associations members.

Ordinary

Business

• To receive the Annual Report by the Chairman

• To receive the Annual Report by the Treasurer

• Any other business and closing remarks

The 85th Annual Dinner

Due to the uncertainty of the CV-19 pandemic The Life Guards Association 85th Annual Dinner which was due to take place on the 29th May 2021 has been cancelled. This decision was not taken lightly but it was felt by the trustees that this is the right thing to do.

A date for the 2022 dinner will be confirmed as soon as is possible this dinner which will also mark the 100 years of The Life Guards in its present form.

Annual Zandvoorde Battlefield Tour

The annual Zandvoorde battlefield tour will take place from the 29th October–31st October 2021. If you would like any further information regarding this event contact the Honorary Secretary.

Subject to CV-19 travel restrictions.

GDPR Statement

Home Headquarters of the Household Cavalry (HHQ) retains personal information that you have provided to the Household Cavalry Association’s, this data is held and dealt with in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). The data is held on the Association database at Home Headquarters and is used in assisting the maintenance of contact between members of the Association and the wider Household Cavalry family, by telephone, post or email. We will retain your personal data whilst you are a member of the Association. Upon leaving the Association we will continue to hold your name and relevant details to support the Household Cavalry’s historical records. If you require any further information regarding your information that is being held at HHQ please contact the Honorary Secretary.

Christmas Cards, Diaries and Notebooks

Christmas cards, diaries and notebooks may be ordered using the order form that is inserted within the Journal. The order form may also be emailed to you upon request. To request the order form email HomeHQ@householdcavalry. co.uk. These items can be purchased online also.

The Life Guards Association Regional Representatives

Regional Representatives of The Life Guards Association are volunteers that have agreed to have their details published in the Household Cavalry Journal and on this website in order that they may be contacted by other Association members in their area. Initially the Regional Representative will provide contact with Home Headquarters for those who have served but have lost touch with the Regiment. Additionally, they may be asked to represent the Association at funerals of departed comrades, visit former members of the regiment and circulate Regimental information to those in their area. If you would like to be considered as a Regional Representative for the Association please contact Home Headquarters.

ENGLAND

Bedfordshire

Mr A W D Sims

SANDY alan.wdsims@btinternet.com 07596 024893

Berkshire

Mr M Stay BRACKNELL mjstay@hotmail.co.uk 07772 438 630

Mr S O Farrar BRACKNELL

Spike6511@talktalk.net 07967 412148

Bristol

Mr N S Hoon BRISTOL nickhoon712@icloud.com 01454 416522 / 07941 254340

Buckinghamshire

Mr S R Carter

MILTON KEYNES stephen.carter5@virginmedia.com 07722 135854

Cheshire

Mr S J Rochford

ELLESMERE PORT steven.rochford@ntlworld.com 07977 834092

Mr K J Thompson WARRINGTON kjt5144@gmail.com 07940 243906

Cornwall

Mr R Barry WADEBRIDGE robertbarry5@btinternet.com 07915 812127

Mr R E Jewell FALMOUTH rejewell@hotmail.com 01326 312546

County Durham

Mr D Flynn DARLINGTON p.flynn205@btinternet.com 07718 195212

Maj (Retd) A Tate artate@btopenworld.com 07783 586 900

Cumbria

Mr R Swinburne KENDAL roger.swinburne@googlemail.com

Derbyshire

Mr S Wass BELPER simonwass49@hotmail.com 07446 839054

Devon

Mr D Murgatroyd PAIGNTON davemurgs@hotmail.com 07512 729141

Dorset

Mr B T Erskine SWANAGE bterskine01@btinternet.com 07912 681349

Major (Retd) J T Lodge BROADSTONE jlodge76@hotmail.com

East Sussex

Mr Eric Reed HAILSHAM ericreed84@hotmail.com 07938 858896

East Yorkshire

Mr G B Miller HORNSEA guygbm@aol.com 07715 522443

Essex

Mr J K Stanworth OLD HARWICH jstanworth19@gmail.com 07830 173227

Gloucestershire

Mr J McCauley FAIRFORD jaskel1993@talktalk.net 07747 180110

Greater Manchester

Mr A Lister RADCLIFFE alan-lister47@alanlister1.plus.com 0161 725 9851

Hampshire

Mr L Cordwell GRAYSHOTT

lee.cordwell@hotmail.co.uk 07769 694830

Kent Mr J Dean AYLESFORD 07736 033962 jezdean101@msn.com

Mr D H Underwood FARNINGHAM dubigd@aol.com 01322 866334

Lancashire

Mr R L Mather LANCASTER 07818 828286

Lincolnshire Mr I Wild MABLETHORPE ian_wild@hotmail.co.uk 01507 441293

Mr D I Savage SLEAFORD david.i.Savage@icloud.com 01529 488575

London South East

Mr J A Denton johny.denton@googlemail.com 07852 815559

Norfolk

Mr A J Gook NORWICH jimgook@btinternet.com 01603 484336

Mr A D Nichols WATTON cala4uk@gmail.com 07391 225665

North Yorkshire

Mr H Stangroom SKIPTON harrystangroom@aol.co.uk 01756 709121

Mr G M McInerny FYLINGTHORPE gm.mcinerny@btinternet.com 01947 880298

Northumberland

Mr B Erskine BLYTH erski1448@gmail.com 07585 598921

Nottinghamshire

Mr B W J Reece CLIPSTONE VILLAGE brianreece2@gmail.com 07795 842 592

Mr I Sanderson MBE RETFORD janeandsandy@googlemail.com 07831 899918

Oxfordshire

Mr S English DIDCOT steve_english@btopenworld.com 07500 948176

Shropshire

Mr Jack Shortman OSWESTRY jackshortman@outlook.com 01691 680537

Somerset

Mr J J Judge YEOVIL johnjjudge@hotmail.com

Mr B R Kelland WELLINGTON brnkll@hotmail.co.uk 07882 969 032

South Yorkshire

Mr W A Loftus DINNINGTON loftusalive@aol.com 01909 518405/07956 478238

Staffordshire

Mr D McKenzie STAFFORD dm3347@yahoo.com

Suffolk Mr S Smith HAVERHILL stevesmith0588@hotmail.com 07947 210658

Surrey

Mr T G W Carrington 01276 36384

Mr T Morgan-Jelpke WEYBRIDGE t.morgan897@ntlworld.com 01932 854935

Sussex

Mr K J Dry EASTBOURNE kdry@sky.com 07534 188889

West Yorkshire

Mr M P Goodyear HUDDERSFIELD mikegoodyear@live.co.uk 01484 605888

Wiltshire

Mr J Postance SALISBURY johnnyp38@hotmail.com 07769 906391

Mr J M Steel ROYAL WOOTTON BASSETT jon@steel65.com 07931 818513

Worcestershire

Mr M P G Southerton STOURPORT-ON-SEVERN 01299 823882

Yorkshire

Mr W H Graham YORK

harvey.graham1@googlemail.com 01904 766870

SCOTLAND

Angus

Mr S Smith DUNDEE stu.smith@btinternet.com 01382 562554

Fife

Mr D Cumming KENNOWAY thebear89@gmx.com 07921 515150

WALES

Powys

Mr A T Prynne BUILTH WELLS at.mprynne@btinternet.com 01982 552296

ISLE OF MAN

Mr T Bougourd bougourd@manx.net 07624 453168

REST OF THE WORLD

AUSTRALIA

Mr G Coleman REYNELLA coleman839@gmail.com 0061 8381 2074

Mr R Barnes TASMANIA rbarnes@tassie.net.au 00 6103 6429 1227

Mr D Moxom YASS dalemoxom@gmail.com

CANADA

Mr C Grant MEDICINE HAT ALBERTA crgrant@telus.net +1 403 527 2982

Mr C Ludman SICAMOUS BRITISH COLUMBIA c.ludman@hotmail.co.uk +1 250 253-5562

GERMANY

Mr A Cobb HERZEBERG +49 5521 987 592 acobb30963@aol.com

NEW ZEALAND

Mr J Bell TORBAY 0064 021 619 514 jigjag1@hotmail.com

USA

Mr K J Frape COLUMBIA SOUTH CAROLINA frpkth@aol.com 001 (803) 787 1244

Mr R J G Kay PLATE CITY MISSOURI rjgkayusa@yahoo.com 001 816 872 6161

Mr A D Richards HAMILTON NEW YORK andyrichards62@gmail.com 001-540-808-5752

SWEDEN

Mr M Woods YSTAD woods969@googlemail.com +46 70-810 77 00

VIETNAM

Mr R Pugh HO CHI MINH CITY pughr48@gmail,com +84 7650 25 686

Members of The Life Guards Squadron making the most of the Indian summer on Hayling Island

LG Sqn take tea at Claridge’s

The Blues and Royals Association Annual Report 2019/20

President Chairman

Honorary Secretary

Honorary Treasurer

Mr E L Lane

Mr D A Chamberlain

Mr P Storer

Major (Retd) A M Harris

Mr N Hemming

Mr D Claridge

Aims and Object

HRH The Princess Royal KG KT GCVO QSO

Colonel (Retd) J P Eyre

Captain C J Elliott

Lieutenant Colonel (Retd) M A Harding

Committee Members

Mr S Gillingham

Mr P B Lawson

Maj (Retd) L Kibble

Mr I Thompson

Captain (Retd) C J Trinick

Mr W Foster

and all serving Warrant Officers of The Blues and Royals at Regimental Duty

During the past year the Association has continued to maintain its aims and objectives as laid down in the Constitution and Rules. Specifically, the sum of £9,990.43 has been distributed from funds to applications for assistance from a total of 49 cases dealt with by the committee. The Annual Dinner was held at Combermere Barracks on Friday 29th March 2019, with 345 members attending. The Annual General Meeting was held prior to the Dinner, and the minutes of this meeting are set out in the following pages. Due to the Dinner being held before the end of the Financial Year the following financial statement is for the year ending 31st March 2020.

Summary of Financial assistance given during the year:

Applications received 49

INCOME

One Days Pay

Dividends

Bank Interest

Subs and Donations

Annual Dinner

Christmas Cards

Grant Refunds

Wreaths/Memorials

Diaries

Postage received for Cards

Miscellaneous

TOTAL

CASH and BANK

Cash in Hand

Current and Deposit Accts

Total Cash and Bank

Debtors

Creditors

Total Funds

Grants/Donations made 30 (incl 4 grants to In-Pens) Applications referred to other funds 27

Reasons for assistance

The following is a summary of the main purposes for which grants / donations were made during the past year.

Accommodation Cost 6 Clothing/Food Vouchers 3 Brown/White Goods 8 Invalidity / EPV 5 Financial Assistance 3 In-Pensioner Grants 4

Property Maintenance 1

Income

Income and Expenditure was £73,884.21 of which £19,467.02 was either contributed by serving officers and soldiers under the ‘Days Pay Scheme’ or received

Financial Statement

2018-2019

£19,310.42

£0.00

£0.72

£7,425.79

£12,493.19

£6,495.88

£1,740.00

£0.00

£1,838.00

£516.27

£13,511.99

£63,332.26

2018-2019

£0.00

£69,749.39

£69,749.39

£0.00

£0.00

£69,749.39

2019-2020

£19,467.02

£18,881.81

£1.20

£5039.32

£1,871.00

£3,937.00

£3,918.91

£1,234.00

£1,832.00

£270.07

£8,881.25

£65,333.58

2019-2020

£0.00

£73,884.21

£73,884.21

£0.00

£0.00

£73,884.21

EXPENDITURE

Grants in Aid

Wreaths/memorials

Postage incl Cards

Annual Dinner

Christmas Cards

Regt Journal

from membership subscriptions and donations. Interest on bank deposits was £1.20. The Dividends received for our investments amounted to £18,881.81 for this financial year.

Expenditure

Expenditure for the period totalled £75,877.31

Miscellaneous costs were £37,156.07, however £8,881.25 was recovered so administrative costs amount to £28,274.82. The Miscellaneous column includes the cost of Honorariums, transport and hotel costs for BFT and other various smaller events as well as such admin costs as IT Support, insurances, memorabilia and NMA Maintenance.

Misc (Admin, Honorariums, BFT, Tpt)

Transfer to Investments

TOTAL

Investment Portfolio

2018-2019

£20,577.33

£3,373.98

£1,208.53

£18,297.49

£2,770.80

£0.00

£21,560.41 £0.00

£67,788.54

2019-2020

£13,909.34

£2,722.73

£2,182.98

£17,375.39

£2,530.80

£0.00

£37,156.07

£0.00

£75,877.31

The total investment portfolio currently sits at £5,710,817.00. The RHG/D Association Investments make up 19.29% of this total thus making our share of the portfolio at £1,101,620.00.

Report of the Independent Examiner

I have examined the Balance Sheet and the Income and Expenditure accounts and report that, in my opinion, these accounts give a true and fair view of the Association’s affairs as at 31st March 2020 and the excess of income over expenditure for the year ended on that date.

Mr F Hovell FCCA Director

Perfect Accountancy Services Limited Westwind Management Solutions Limited

Aims and Objects

The Blues and Royals Oliver Montagu Fund Annual Report 2019-2020

During the past year the Association has continued to maintain its aims and objectives as laid down in the Constitution and Rules. There have been requests for assistance which have amounted to £2,803.99.

Income Dividends

Interest

Grant Refunds

Adjustments

Totals

Income

Income was £20,129.60, the majority of which was from Dividends. Interest from bank deposits amounted to £1.20.

Expenditure

Expenditure for the period totalled

Financial Statement

2018-2019

£0.00

£0.06

£0.00

£0.00

£0.06

2019-2020

£17,779.95

£1.20

£0.00

£2,348.45

£20,129.60 Expenditure

2018-2019

£7,470.00

£0.00

£11,806.62

£0.00

£19,276.62

Cash in Hand

Debtors

Creditors

Totals

£2,803.99

£0.00

£18,054.85

£0.00

£20,858.84

Investment Portfolio

The total investment portfolio currently sits at £6,389,449.00. The RHG/D Oliver Montague Fund Investments make up 18.08% of this total thus making our share of the portfolio at £1,154,952.00.

Report of the Independent Examiner

I have examined the Balance Sheet and the Income and Expenditure accounts and report that, in my opinion, these

The Chairman opened the meeting at 1000 hrs with 26 Members logged into Zoom, he welcomed the decision made at the end of the 2020 in the courts regarding the IRA bombing in Hyde Park in 1982. He also congratulated Capt (Retd) Danny Kinahan for becoming the first NI Veterans Commissioner.

The Chairman explained that the RHG/D Association had conducted a Mental Health Awareness Course taken by Mr Jim Evans (RHG/D) to set up a Mental Health Signpost System within the Association. The RAC are looking at what we are doing to use as best practice across the Corp.

Minutes of the Last Meeting

Copies of the previous AGM minutes were in the latest edition of the Household Cavalry Journal and were emailed to all attending the virtual meeting.

£20,858.84.

Administration costs over the last 12 months were £11,806.62.

2018-2019

£0.00

£40,472.77

£10,075.62

£0.00

£0.00

£50,548.39

2019-2020

£0.00

£45,250.55

£12,695.30

£0.00

£0.00

£57,945.85

accounts give a true and fair view of the Association’s affairs as at 31st March 2020 and the excess of income over expenditure for the year ended on that date.

Mr F Hovell FCCA Director

Perfect Accountancy Services Limited

Westwind Management Solutions Limited

After no points were raised the chairman asked for a proposer and for a second.

It was Proposed by Maj (Retd) Harris and Seconded by Mr P Young.

Accounts

The Hon Treasure read out a statement of the accounts.

No points raised

The Chairman expanded on the investment which are sat inside the HCF portfolio, he explained the HCF have been reviewing the annual returns and have moved 20% of the overall investment to another company.

The Combined Cavalry Parade

I can confirm that they are well advanced with putting in place plans to deliver some form of Cavalry Memorial Parade

and Service, with contingency plans seeing ever reducing Regimental representation, which of course will be driven entirely by COVID restrictions in place at the time. There will be some form of Cavalry Memorial taking place this year, even if it is a YouTube type production as per last year. Understandably, given the ever-changing goal posts, CCOCA do not wish to make any decisions too early, and therefore they will be sticking with a Decision Point in mid to late March.

Association Dinner 2021

The Annual dinner was due to be held at the Castle Hotel on the 28th March 2020 but due to the lockdown did not go ahead. The hotel still holds our deposit of approximately £2,000.00, we are still looking at holding the Annual Dinner at the same hotel but still feel we need to wait to see what the situation is like mid-year. If all is looking in our favour a

date in October could be announced, as I am sure a lot of other social events will be aiming for the back end of 2021. On the next committee meeting a decision will be made, it could also be pushed back to March 2022.

Social Events 2021

The Chairman explained that HHQ and the committee are totally aware we are missing the touch points with our Members, as soon as we feel it is safe to do so the Regimental Secretary will start to publish dates for the Area Dinners and the Battlefield Tours.

Mr S McCormack announced that the Norfolk Dinner is planned for July 2021 with 150 people showing interest, hopefully dependant on restrictions this event can go ahead. A review will be carried out at the end of May.

The Hon Sec is informed that the Zandvoorde Battlefield tour will be hopefully taking place at the end of October 2021, email confirmation will be sent out to the Association.

National Memorial Arboretum

A new life time maintenance contract has been put in place to maintain the Household Cavalry plot in The National Memorial Arboretum. The cost was approximately 30K and was split between both Associations. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the North Staff Branch in particular Mr Ian Taylor and Mr Ken Healy for all their

hard work they have done on our behalf over the many years since its inception

The Chairman explained the Association had been approached to assist with renovation costs of the Lord Haig Monument as he was the Gold Stick for 10 years after the First World War. There has been an agreement on the last committee meeting to support this renovation.

The HCF will be producing a policy document explaining who is financially in charge of what monument, the main ethos will be Men before Memorials.

Thanksgiving Service

The Hon Sec announced that a Thanksgiving Service at Trinity Church, Windsor would be held once restrictions are lifted. The thought process behind the service is to remember all our Members who passed away during the Covid Pandemic. Due to restrictions and limited availability of people attending funerals we were not in a position to say farewell to our Members. The Regt Sec will publish more information once we have the details.

Any Other Business

WO1 (RCM) C Douglass gave a update on the Mounted Regiment covering: Manning of the RHG/D Sqn, men and horses ,Drill pass out parade ,Training Wing having 7 rides including the Kit Ride, 27 remounts, all pre ceremonial inspections still taking place, Richmond

cup 15th April, RCM invited any members of the Association to write an article which can be added to their welfare letter so the current soldiers could read them, HCMR will nominate one SNCO to assist all area dinners, Summer Camp (Exercise Copper Horse) all Association Members attending will be invited to the WO’s & NCO’s Mess tent, HCMR Mess will be hosting a Sunday Roast once a month Association Members will be welcome.

The Chairman congratulated Lt Colonel Jonny Pass on his recent promotion.

The Chairman welcomed Colonel Paddy Williams MC who logged on from an Op Tour in Kuwait.

Mr G Jones explained that in conjunction with the Hon Sec and Mr P Storer (Archive Curator) he will be interviewing our members to create Pod Casts capturing all post WW2 stories stating with the Queen’s Coronation up to Afghanistan. These Pod Casts will be made available to all our members and stored in the archive for future generations.

Next AGM

The date of the next AGM is to be confirmed.

Close of Meeting

The meeting was closed at 1027 hrs

The Blues and Royals Association Regional Representatives 2020

Regional Representatives of The Blues and Royals Association are volunteers that have agreed to have their details published in the Household Cavalry Journal in order that they may be contacted by other Association members in their area. Initially the Regional Representatives will provide contact with Home Headquarters for those who have served but have lost touch with the Regiment. Additionally, they may be asked to represent the Association at funerals of departed comrades, visit former members of the Regiment and circulate Regimental information to those in their area. If you would like to be considered as a Regional Representative for the Association please contact the Honorary Secretary at the address shown within the Association information.

ENGLAND

South East

Essex

Mr T J Young 01702 351228 timkim.young@btinternet.com

Hampshire

Mr G Demmellweek-Pooley 07920 131093 Tomdp3546@icloud.com

Kent

Mr A Gaddes 07842 624724 alexander.gaddes453@mod.gocv.uk

Mr N G Sargeant 01732 355259 nevsargeant@gmail.com

Mr E Lane 07827 328760 ericllane@icloud.com

Middlesex

Mr M Perry 07753 603080 2444mp@gmail.co.uk

South London/Surrey

Mr J Dickens 07715 539141 Johnny.dickens@btinternet.com

Surrey

Mr N C Lewis-Baker 01372 456025 ma2da@hotmail.co.uk

West Sussex

Mr M Bray 07738 565830 mathewbray@yahoo.com

South West

Cornwall

Mr B H Coode 01726 882488 bhcoode@btconnect.com

Mr A Baldwin 07792 581344 alangbaldwin@yahoo.co.uk

Dorset

Mr C Jones 01202 512416 Carl.deb@hotmail.co.uk

East Anglia

Norfolk

Mr S McCormack 07738 939051 spencermccormack@hotmail.co.uk

Mr A Featherstone 07876 401021 Andrfeath@aol.com

Suffolk

Mr A Davies 07741 310459 andy635@me.com

Mr G Kingham 07766 001919 Big_gray@hotmail.com

Midlands

East Midlands

Mr S Davies 07791 585 144 studava42@mail.com

Hertfordshire

Mr C Seddon 07846 662352 cjseds1@yahoo.co.uk

Leicestershire

Mr C Payne 07782 341089 sales@ce-consumables.co.uk

West Midlands/Staffs

Mr I M Smith 07525 128475 Ian.imsmith@yahoo.co.uk

West Midlands/Walsall

Mr B J Pyke 07983 058364 bjpyk@aol.com

Northamptonshire

Mr T Uglow 07775 639876 tomuglow78@gmail.com

North West

Liverpool

Mr K Hancock 07809 573956 kevinhancock2010@gmail.com

Mr R Spakman 07936 678383 robbiespackman5@gmail.com

North East

Newcastle

Mr D Horsefield 01912 665440 davidhorsefield52@gmail.com

Rockingham

Mr P Smith 07897 656825 p.smith@rockinghamcaslte.com

Sheffield

Mr P Harding 07875 620685 paul_harding@btinternet.com

Yorkshire

Mr A Mardon 07824 468843 limerick123@aol.com SCOTLAND

Renfrewshire

Mr S Newman 07983 533436 stephennewman@hotmail.com

Dumfries & Galloway

Mr I Munro 07724 207321 ianmunro443@hotmail.com

Highland Mr B Oakley 01381 620968 brianoakley44@gmail.com

Maj Mountain and WO2 Salmon lead The Blues and Royals Squadron past the Cenotaph

WALES / IRELAND

Merthyr Tydfil

Mr N Hardwidge 01685 841335 07845 539180 rafafan@aol.com Nigel.hardwidge@ssafa365.org.uk

Northern Ireland

Mr P Young 07710 613033 dpaulyoung@hotmail.com

Ireland

Mr P Hopkins 086 3477315 Paulhopkins777@gmail.com

OVERSEAS

AMERICAS

Canada /Nova Scotia

Mr Bruce Snell 1-902-3080713 brucesnell@live.com

Central USA

Mr P Scott 262 852 5205 scottphilip@att.net

Eastern USA

Mr Rixon 001 781 237 6970 crixon@verizon.net

AUSTRALIA

Mr T Dyson tonydyson2439@msn.com

EUROPE

Cyprus

Mr Duffy 00357 963 92341 dufftech@live.co.uk

Cyprus (Turkish Part)

Mr Seager +905338823935. clive.seager@gmail.com

Germany

Mr M Binks 05231 5614909 01726 041459 mike.binks@web.de

Spain

Mr M Holt 0034 9525 20260 kandmholt@yahoo.co.uk

Sweden

Mr P Young 0046 768 83 60 95 young.paul.c@gmail.com

HONG KONG

Mr J Dewe +85298 660 936 johndewe@outlook.com

THAILAND

Mr D Rushforth Raggytash3302@gmail.com

TANZANIA/KENYA

Mr J Corse +255 753 353 760 jamcorse@gmail.com

MAURITIUS

Mr H Sutherland harry.sutherland@me.com

Household Cavalry Foundation

by Lieutenant Colonel (Retd) Giles Stibbe OBE

The Household Cavalry Foundation (The HCF) is the Household Cavalry’s official charity.

‘The HCF supports all members of the Household Cavalry “family”; our operational casualties, serving soldiers, veterans and their dependants.

The HCF also supports our heritage and the welfare of our retired horses.’

www.hcavfoundation.org

Charity Commission Registration Number 1151869

Company Number 08236363

Introduction: During this reporting period our planet’s nations have faced peacetime challenges that are unprecedented for at least a century if not throughout recorded history. So, it is reassuring to record resilient and loyal support both to and from our Household Cavalry family as all four of our antecedent regiments mark their 360th anniversaries.

Welfare: Despite COVID-19, 2020 saw continuing progress in helping our beneficiaries, namely our operational

casualties, serving soldiers, veterans and their dependants by securing donors to support our regimental ‘family’ of c.10,000 via legacies and gifts.

Our regimental ‘family’ exemplifies this in London, Bulford and Windsor, and also via our annual regimental dinners matched by an increasing number of similar regional events; and, above all, by our ‘mission critical’ nationwide postcode-based network of Old Comrade volunteers who are our welfare frontline. Their invaluable work usefully links to other Household Cavalry veteran volunteers working for SSAFA or the Royal British Legion. For example, a recent Operational Casualty, living in Wales, has started a University course that will enhance his proposed future career.

Support is also often immeasurably enhanced by Household Cavalrymen working in the Ministry of Defence Recovery Capability’s nationwide network of Personnel Recovery Centres (PRC). There serving and veteran soldiers mentor each other and boost morale as they face the challenges associated with the transition from military

to civilian life. PRC have been partially funded by tri-service Help for Heroes where The HCF has proven and successful links. These are exemplified by the triumphs of operational casualty double-amputee Corie Mapp. He is the first Briton to claim a European Parabobsleigh title. Our overall bronze winner in the 2019 World Cup started the 2019-20 season by winning four Gold and a Silver Medal: ‘… the culmination of an amazing year of sliding …’

As he sets off for a new socially-distanced season, Corie Mapp, now a policeman, is featured on the cover of the February 2021 edition of The Royal British Legion’s Journal

Moreover, established Household Cavalry links have confirmed their tenacity to other tri-service charities such as the Royal British Legion, Haig Homes and SSAFA, the single service Army Benevolent Fund, and specialist charities BLESMA and Blind Veterans UK.

Our Donors’ loyalty and generosity has ensured financial resilience. It has been especially reassuring to receive funds

and pledges from both our serving and veteran communities.

Both show an increasing awareness of HCF’s two key priorities that remain:

1. To prepare for the gradual emergence of latent Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

(Research by King’s College, London University claims 88/1,000 (9%) deployed will suffer future PTSD). During 2020

The HCF helped five Household Cavalrymen; all of them had been on operations during the past thirty years. Paul Minter’s Head Up is a superb initiative.

2. To ensure the continual quality of prosthetics for our Wounded, Injured and Sick (WIS):

The HCF’s key fundraising message remains ‘every little helps’

Last year’s CastleTrek set a superb example, and it is wonderful to see new initiatives, such as StrengthWorks, linked to both serving soldiers and veterans emerging. Examples include ‘Charlie’s Challenge’ Twisted Barbell, and Carwash at HCR, ‘3 Bar’ at HCMR; and, by veterans, Head Up and The Guards’ Veterans’ Mountaineering Club.

This new venture is pioneered by former Household Cavalrymen led by Al Galloway. Al climbed Mont Blanc in September 2020 for The HCF and other charities.

All these projects have been enhanced by two more factors: the Stock Market’s recovery and legacies. Every three weeks, on average, since March 2020 our Donors have been sent an update based on Household Cavalry current and historic achievements.

Financial resilience, underpinned by our Donors, has enabled continued support for what the HCF has done as policy since April 2016: focus on securing more donors.

This is less risky than events, which, while popular, never provide guaranteed income. However, two specific fundraising events have moved forward to 2021: the annual Beefsteak lunch at Hurlingham and a Household Cavalry Boxing Dinner in The City (18th November).

The former is shared with The Queen’s Royal Hussars through shared ‘special’ links.

The latter is an innovation inspired by renewed pan-HCav interest in pugilism derived from P Company ‘milling’ and OC HCav Training Wing’s time as the RAC’s Corps RCM! This Boxing March’s impresario is Brian Smith, our publisher and The Guards Magazine’s

It’s hoped HCMR’s links to The Knightsbridge Group will ensure The Motcomb Street Party resumes as genuinely positive community engagement by keeping the Army in the public eye. We also enjoy and value our links to Royal Windsor Horse Show, Burghley Horse Trials, the Civil Service Riding Club, Essex Agriculture and the Cabdrivers’ charity.

It was extremely kind of our Band to donate royalties from the sale of their superb first recording as a joint band: Shining Sword. We also hope to renew our work via our Band with joint ventures involving the Orion Orchestra, Rick Wakeman and Heropaws.

HCR is thanked for its Fun Runs on Armistice Day and during the Festive Season through Bulford’s Married Quarters; and D Sqn for its help via Lockdown PT.

Pan-HCav fundraising activities’ focus remains Marathons planned in London, Northampton, Lulworth and Bexhill, and runs throughout the year by stellar HCav wife and mother Mel Barnes.

This reporting period’s Lockdown confirms a ‘Donors first’ policy is correct and prescient.

We are especially grateful to our institutional donors, The Worshipful Company of Grocers’ who this year have joined our other long-standing supporters from the Saddlers, Farriers, Loriners, Broderers and Cutlers Livery Companies. The Ascot War Horse Memorial Charity’s first ‘Scholar’ is an Operational Casualty, and in return the HCF is helping with their wooden horse project due next July at The Guards’ Chapel. We also received generous individual anonymous donations and three legacies.

Our education support initiative tops up Personal Learning Credits and contributions. These credits are helpfully flexible because they can be used by all serving soldiers and veterans who are eligible. Most recently Household Cavalry versatility has been proved by a young sniper who has started a degree to help towards his proposed second career.

Our deliberately short Welfare and Educational Support Guides

(respectively two pages with a one-page pictorial flow chart, and one-page) have proved to be user-friendly.

Both these Guides are deliberately unclassified to ensure the widest possible distribution.

Both also link to Operation Gideon. ‘This is the Household Cavalry’s new programme to help, educate, reiterate and express the importance of mental health.’ Its founders are RCM HCMR and RAO HCR who state ‘This encompasses all our soldiers and officers in the HCav no matter their position in the regiment or in the world. We are after all a family. Why Gideon? Well much like the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae, Gideon has become symbolic of military success of a small elite force against overwhelming numerical odds. This basically sums up the HCav in one sentence. As we are a small family which sits firmly on a high pedestal within the military and country. Whether it’s tactically on operations or ceremonially on horseback, we are well regarded on the international stage.’ Please note current and past digital editions of the Operation Gideon newsletter can be found on the Defence Gateway and on the Facebook HCMR Welfare Information Page.

Heritage: The Household Cavalry’s Bulford home is called Powle Lines, named after 2HCR Troop Leader Dicky Powle MC; and so it seems entirely appropriate to republish Roden Orde’s iconic History of 2HCR in World War 2 Indeed Sir Winston Churchill is quoted as saying ‘The best regimental history I have ever read.’

20% of the necessary costs have already been raised to date and my thanks go to the project team of Jeremy Harbord, Simon Doughty, Roger Field and Brian Rogers

Funding continues for preserving our Gate Guardians. Our Saladin is now resplendent outside HCR RHQ in Powle Lines. It flanks the Operational Casualties’ Monument along with our Daimler Scout Car. Despite the fact it still displays camouflage reminiscent of the RHG/D Beaufort tweed, our Daimler has been rechristened Druid to acknowledge its new location near Stonehenge. Next to return to ‘showroom condition’, in time for the 40th anniversary celebrations of its capture, is Mark Coreth’s Falklands’ War trophy Panhard.

HCF donated, jointly with both Household Cavalry Regimental Associations, to The Guards’ Parachute Association’s new memorial at the

National Memorial Arboretum. With its Foot Guard equivalents, The HCF is contributing to The Guards’ Chapel Organ rebuild. The HCF has also supported the restoration of the monument to a former Gold Stick RHG, Earl Haig, at Montreuil, France. HCF also funds the iconic Zandvoorde Memorial’s annual maintenance.

Public support for the Household Cavalry was affirmed by the invitation to The Queen’s Life Guard who voluntarily cleaned Whitehall statues after a riot, to go on a free return Pullman ride from Darlington to Liverpool donated by the Tornado locomotive Trust.

The Serving Officers’ Trust (part of The HCF since 2016) has dynamic plans for rationalising and conserving its pictures, silver and albums and is most grateful for some very significant support from retired officers and their families. The HCF has offered similar conservation support to both WOs’ & NCOs’ Messes.

‘Best of both Worlds: Operational and Ceremonial’ a photographic project by globally iconic Ripley continues; these photographs will be sold to support The HCF.

Please contact me if you would like to help; all contributions will be most welcome.

Horse welfare: Key links remain to the Defence Animal Centre, World Horse Welfare, the Stirling Trust, the Horse Trust and Raystede Horse Sanctuary; and welfare was quickly coordinated on the two occasions during this reporting period when help was sought.

A ‘Horse Sense’ (Monty Roberts’ horsewhispering) course for some of our operational casualties is rescheduled for later this year at our Mounted Training Wing in Windsor. It is also good to record that our ‘family’ helped to find a replacement Cleveland Bay horse for one of our veterans after its predecessor was stolen and killed last summer.

Governance: The HCF’s Trustees remain:

Chair: Colonel Crispin Lockhart.

Deputy Chair: Lt Colonel Jim EyreRHG/D Museum and Oliver Montagu Fund.

Lady Jane Grosvenor - mother, wife and descendant of Household Cavalrymen.

Welfare: Colonel James GaseleeHousehold Cavalry Museum and LG Association.

Finance: Captain Edward Goodchild. Secretary: Lt Colonel Ralph Griffin (Regimental Adjutant)

I remain Director, ably supported by Mary Edwards our Finance Administrator.

Finance: Despite COVID-19, The HCF continues to have an annual turnover of c.£330K divided as follows: 3/7 to Operational Casualties and Veterans and their dependents; 2/7 to Serving Soldiers and their dependents; 2/7 on Heritage, Horses and support costs such as audit, legal, insurance, staff and this annual Journal. This is confirmed by our annual Report and Accounts that are filed at the Charity Commission and Companies’ House.

Investments. Readers are reminded that Restricted Funds can only be used for purposes that the Trustees sanction.

The seven Restricted Funds in our Investment Portfolio of eight stakeholders are: Operational Casualties, The Blues & Royals’ Association, The Oliver Montagu Fund, HCR, HCMR, our Children’s Fund and the Serving Officers’ Trust. So The HCF is the eighth and only Unrestricted Fund.

A mandatory Periodic Review of Fund Managers resulted in 20% movement of funds to Waverton’s charity fund. The balance remains with Cazenove’s Charity multi-asset Fund. This is viewed as a risk reducing measure. Stakes held in both funds remain proportionate to original and subsequent investments.

The Review panel had five members:

Chair: Lt Colonel Jim Eyre, Members: Rupert Fryer and Anthony Scott, both former RHG/D; Guy Davies and Edward Goodchild, both former LG and HCF’s two most recent Financial Trustees.

Internal Financial Governance. Annual reviews ensure our audit, banking and insurance costs remain very competitive.

Gift Aid is applied whenever possible.

The majority of The One Day’s Pay Scheme (paid voluntarily by serving officers and soldiers) is paid to both Regimental Associations.

All retail activities remain coordinated by our Household Cavalry Museum’s shop.

The only exceptions are some specific uniform items supplied via Quartermasters, and cards and diaries from our Regimental Associations.

Welfare payments. The LG Association and HCF work incredibly closely to ensure that all welfare cases are

considered in a pan Household Cavalry light and that there is equity of treatment in similar cases. Interestingly The HCF and the LG and RHG/D Associations all contribute similar annual amounts to welfare. Furthermore, two former officers have very generously endowed Quick Reaction Welfare Funds.

Finally, readers are asked to remember how user-friendly and easy the process is to fund-raise for The HCF and both our Regimental Associations:

Entry fees and kit can be subsidised and turn-out is guaranteed to be both smart and robust in the best HCav tradition. This is because former Household Cavalryman Matt Pellett’s Troop Logos has all relevant badges, colours and insignias. Matt is congratulated on gaining hard-won and rare MoD approval for his kit and thanked for giving discounts to our personnel and donations to our charities.

Serving soldiers are asked to apply to The HCF via their Chain-of-Command, and Veterans either directly or via the Home HQ of their Regimental Associations.

Household Cavalry Foundation Accounts 2019-2020

Charity Registration Number 1013978 Company Registration Number 08236363 (England and Wales)

Financial Years 2019 and 2020

Income and Expenditure

Income from:

Donations and legacies

Investments and interest receivable

Total income

Expenditure on:

Raising funds

Charitable activities

. Assisting service personnel and dependants

Total expenditure

Net (expenditure) income before investment gains

Net gains on investments

Net (expenditure) income for the year

Transfers between funds

Net movement in funds

Fund balances at 1st April 2019 Fund balances at 31st March 2020

assets Debtors Cash at bank and in hand Liabilities

Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Net current liabilities

Total assets less current liabilities

Creditors: amounts falling due in more than one year

Total net assets

Represented by:

The funds of the

Restricted funds

Unrestricted funds - General funds - Designated funds

Household Cavalry Museum

The Eagle is Landing; New Waterloo exhibition coming to the Museum this summer by

For the first time in 200 years a Napoleonic Eagle captured on the battlefield at Waterloo is being reunited with the medal of the man who won it.

This summer the Waterloo Medal of Serjeant Francis Styles of the 1st (Royal) Dragoons will be displayed at the Household Cavalry Museum together with the actual Eagle of the 105e Regiment d’Infanterie de Ligne that he captured during that fateful battle.

At 2pm on 18th June 1815, Serjeant Francis Styles charged with Wellington’s Heavy Cavalry against the massed ranks of French infantry who were attacking the allied position. Styles and his Squadron Leader, Captain Alexander Kennedy Clark, found themselves in the midst of desperate fighting where they seized one of the two Eagles captured at Waterloo, writing their names into legend.

Styles’s medal was lost to the Regiment after his early death in 1828, when it disappeared from the record until 2020. Last year it reappeared on EBay for sale by a vendor in the United States. Luckily this was spotted by CoH Richard Hendy and flagged to the Museum who purchased it with the support of numerous kind donations from across the Regimental Family.

In June 2021, thanks to the generosity of the National Army Museum, the Eagle so iconic to members of the Blues and Royals today will be reunited with the

Alice Pearson, Museum Director

medal of a man whose memory should shine brighter in our Regiment’s history. On reopening this summer, the Museum will remedy this by putting on a programme of activity around Styles, his Eagle and the heroes of Waterloo he rode with.

This will include special Waterloo walking tours, activity trails and special events. Featuring the long-lost Waterloo Medal of Sjt Francis Styles, a new exhibition trail will explore the courage, carnage and controversies of Wellington’s cavalry at the battle that secured almost a century of peace in Europe.

Colonel (retd) James Gaselee LG, the Museum Chairman, said: ‘CoH Hendy’s discovery couldn’t have come at a better time. The Museum has been hit hard by the successive lockdowns and having the medal join our collection, with the loan of the 105 Eagle, will hopefully draw visitors back to Horse Guards once more.

The story of Styles is an epic one and I know the Museum will do him justice

this summer through an engaging programme and with a plaque unveiling at the church he was buried at in Clerkenwell. I encourage our wider Regimental family of all ages to get involved, visit the Museum or follow the Museum on social media to show your support in these difficult times.’

The Museum will reopen fully with the Styles story from 21st June and looks forward to your support. As well as preserving over 350 years of heritage, profits from the Museum contribute to the Household Cavalry Foundation each year and go towards supporting Household Cavalrymen past and present.

Find out more about the Household Cavalry Museum at:

Instagram: @householdcavalrymuseum

Facebook: @HCavMuseum

Twitter: @HCavMuseum

LinkedIn: @hcavmuseum

To help celebrate, we’ve partnered with Horse Guards Gin.

Using code MUSEUM21 at the checkout not only gives you a £5 discount, but also makes a £5 donation to the Museum on your behalf.

LORD UXBRIDGE ‘RIFF ON A GIMLET’

50ml HG Gin

3 basil leaves

2 slices cucumber

12.5ml fresh lime juice

25ml celery syrup

1 egg white

5ml St Germain

Legend has it that Lord Uxbridge was close to the Duke of Wellington when he was struck by cannon fire, ‘By God, sir, I’ve lost my leg!’ – to which Wellington replied, ‘By God, sir, so you have.’

Refreshing and vibrant with a tart but silky mouth feel, feels almost ‘Healthy’.

JOHN ‘BEAR’ SHAW ‘GIN PUNCH’

50ml HG Gin

2 slices cucumber

4 pink peppercorns

25ml fresh lemon juice

50ml fresh grapefruit juice

12.5ml Elderflower syrup

12.5ml Aperol

Elderflower tonic

ICorporal John Shaw, a bear of a man, was a celebrated boxing champion at home and abroad. At over 6ft tall and weighing 15 stone, Shaw challenged every man in England and dutifully beat every single opponent.

Vibrant fruit and spice with a fresh lingering but mouth-watering palate.

Household Cavalry Museum (Archive)

have to admit that in common with much of the population and all the heritage sector I am scratching my head about what I can possibly say, politely, about 2020... and the Coronavirus pandemic is far from over at the time of writing (early February 2021).

Having gone into full lockdown in March 2020, Sue and I continued to work from home as far as was possible without any access to the physical collection or paper records, attending the archive at least once every week to carry out essential security and environmental checks on the building. We returned to work in July as restrictions eased after the first wave of COVID and spent over a week ensuring that the building was

by Peter Storer, Curator

Sue working from home during the first COVID lockdown

The Household Cavalry historic vehicles being removed from Windsor en route to the new home of HCR at Bulford

Heroes of Waterloo Cocktails

thoroughly cleaned and all possible social distancing measures were put in place and signposted before we invited the volunteers to return to work in early August.

For a short time over the summer things began to return to something approaching normality although given their age profile and underlying health issues it came as no surprise that some of the more mature volunteers remained shielding by choice.

We had slowly worked up to about 50% of normal working and were considering how best to reopen the archive to small, socially distanced groups (the guided tours being our main income generator) when the new tiered lockdown was imposed at the beginning of November and, apart from a slight relaxation over Christmas, the ongoing tight restrictions since then have effectively returned us to square one. Sue and I are once again working from home and the volunteers are either shielding or unable to travel for what is by definition not ‘Essential Work’. The recent vaccine rollout has provided some hope for a phased return to work in due course and many of us have already received at least the first dose so we have our fingers and toes

firmly crossed for a phased reopening in the late spring or early summer of 2021, by which time we will have been closed to the public for over a year.

Normal archive work did not come to a complete standstill however and in late summer last year we received via CoH Hendy, HCR a sighting on the US

version of eBay of a Waterloo medal for sale by a dealer in Minnesota which proved to be of considerable interest to us. The medal is that issued to Serjeant Francis Styles of the Royal Dragoons. I’m sure the vast majority of our readers will be aware that Francis Styles was the then Corporal who assisted Captain Kennedy Clark in capturing the Eagle of the French 105eme de la ligne at Waterloo and who then carried the Eagle off the battlefield.

The asking price for the medal was not unreasonable and after carrying out what checks we could and seeking advice from several acknowledged experts in the medal field it was agreed that the medal should be purchased. It was and in due course it arrived in Windsor where it is now held in the archive for future display in the museum.

We now await with a mixture of anticipation and trepidation the next government announcement on reopening the economy and in the meantime, we continue to explore ways that we can improve our digital offering in conjunction with the museum in London to raise our profile as we enter the post lockdown world.

It will no doubt take some time for us to recoup the income that we have lost during the last year and staff cuts and a reduction in purchases loom in the short to medium term, along with a reduction on our spend on digitising the archive. We remain committed to preserving and improving the Household Cavalry collection and maintaining it for the benefit of the Regiments and the wider public.

The archive laid out for one way movement and social distancing during Summer 2020

Volunteer Bill Wheeldon, delighted to be back at work, however briefly. August 2020

Anne getting to grips with the one way circuit

Obituaries

The Life Guards

It is with much regret that the Honorary Secretary announces the death of the following Old Comrades announced in the last 12 months. The Life Guards Association offers their sincere condolences to all members of their families. May they Rest in Peace.

O Ever-living God, King of Kings, in whose service we put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation, grant we beseech thee that The Life Guards may be faithful unto death, and at last receive the crown of life from Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

445019 Lt M W Cuddigan LG

Served from November 1955 to February 1957

Died Unknown

23412331 Tpr B A Crowhurst LG

Served from August 1957 to August 1959

Died 5th October 2017, aged 81

23789953 Tpr A D Butcher LG

Served from April 1960 to November 1962

Died 7th March 2018, aged 79

22556062 SCpl K Bowden LG

Served from August 1952 to August 1974

Died 12th July 2018, aged 84

23215912 Tpr T E A Dennis LG

Served from January 1959 to January 1965

Died post August 2019, aged 78

SCpl J Dodge LG

Served November 1947 to April 1953

Died 3rd March 2019. Aged 89

23672317 Tpr J C Bailey LG

Served November 1958 to January 1963

Died 7th December 2019, aged 79

23324285 Tpr M Cole LG

Served from July 1956 to July 1958

Died 6th August 2019, aged 84

295792 Tpr F W (Bill) Devonshire LG

Served September 1941 to November 1948

Died 7th January 2020, aged 97

24253326 LCpl L Timson LG

Served August 1971 to January 1975

Died 17th January 2020, aged 66

296711 CoH F T Harrison LG

Served from July 1946 to January 1953

Died 1st February 2020, aged 91

23559263 Tpr B J Lester LG

Served May 1958 to May 1960

Died 10th February, aged 1981

23341445 Tpr J F Sawyer LG

Served January 1953 to December 1956

Died 1st March 2020, aged 81

24076599 Tpr R Barrett LG

Served from August 1967 to August 1970

Died 16th March 2020, aged 70

22556037 Tpr M Knight LG

Served from July 1952 to July 1955

Died 20th March 2020, aged 85

24358693 LCoH T Ladkin LG

Served August 1975 to December 1982

Died 30th March 2020, aged 61

23953109 CoH V Diamond LG

Served 1966 to 1990

Died* 31st March 2020, aged 74

23726506 Tpr T A Upton LG

Served August 1961 to August 1970

Died 21st April 2020, aged 76

296817 Lt Col A Jackson MBE LVO LG

Served June 1947 to June 1984

Died 27th April 2020, aged 91

23770938 K A Leadbeater LG

Died 28th April 2020, aged 71

22214483 SCpl A J Henslet LG

Served March 1949 to September 1947

Died 28th April 2020, aged 95

24448800 LCoH M Stanley LG

Served 1979 to 1990

Died* 30th April 2020, aged 57

23215566 LCoH AH Matthews LG

Served September 1957 to September 1982

Died* 3rd May 2020, aged 80

23215566 SCpl A Millar LG

Served September 1949 to October 1971

Died 6th May 2020, aged 88

19188973 Tpr W C Donovan LG

Served July 1947 to July 1947

Died 6th May 2020, aged 90

24096767 CoH I S Mullin LG

Served January 1969 to May 1984

Died 24th May 2020, aged 66

24656312 Tpr R West LG

Served September 1984 to July 1990

Died 24th June 2020, aged 52

23215048 Cpl F E Bloomfield LG

Served June 1955 to June 1958

Died 25th June 2020, aged 83

22556626 CoH T S Franklin LG

Served February 1954 to January 1967

Died 10th August 2020, aged 86

25045987 Tpr K J Lancaster LG

Served October 1995 to October 1999

Died 11th August 2020, aged 41

14471999 Tpr R T McCully LG

Served October 1945 to December 1946

Died 25th August 2020, aged 94

24510457 Tpr A Trinder LG

Served June 1981 to June 1986

Died 27th August 2020, aged 55

228013 Lt L Bruce-Lockhart LG

Served March 1942 to November 1945

Died 7th September 2020, aged 98

14929386 Tpr H Murdoch LG

Served September 1944 to January 1948

Died 12th September 2020, aged 93

24021530 LCpl J R Henderson LG

Served August 1965 to August 1974

Died 28th September 2020, aged 77

23969383 LCoH J Palmer LG

Served February 1965 to July 1976

Died September 2020, aged 72

23215417 LCpl G S Short LG

Served January 1957 to January 1960

Died 18th October 2020, aged 83

23576321 LCpl A James LG

Served August 1958 to August 1960

Died October 2020, aged 83

22205397 CoH S J Hunt

Served August 1949 to March 1969

Died 31st October 2020, aged 88

296215 Tpr J Hayter LG

Served January 1944 to September 1947

Died 4th November 2020, aged 94

486824 Captain G Lister LG

Served February 1948 to December 1971

Died 5th November 2020, aged 90

24393407 LCpl O A Airey LG

Served September 1976 to December 1982

Died 13th November, aged 60

23215590 Tpr R B S Ivin LG

Served October 1957 to May 1970

Died 15th November 2020, aged 82

22556484 LCoH V Thompson LG

Served August 1953 to May 1969

Died 25th November 2020, aged 85

24259537 LCpl A Seale LG

Served September 1971 to October 1978

Died 5th December 2020, aged 66

4977214 Cpl D K Heathcote LG

Served June 1939 to July 1946

Died 10th December 2020, aged 98

24096607 LCoH P V O’Brian LG

Served August 1967 to June 1974

Died 18th December 2020, aged 70

22205616 SCpl T Singleton LG

Served August 1946 to April 1968

Died 14th December 2020, aged 94

The Blues and Royals

22556896 Cpl D E Sole LG

Served November 1954 to November 1961

Died 25th December 2020, aged 84

296206 Cpl W Pywell LG

Served January 1944 to October 1947

Died 31st December 2020, aged 95

It is with much regret that the Honorary Secretary announces the death of the following Old Comrades. The Blues and Royals Association offer their sincere condolences to all members of their families. May they Rest in Peace.

O Lord Jesus Christ who by the Holy Apostle has called us to put on the armour of God and to take the sword of the spirit, give thy grace we pray thee, to The Blues and Royals that we may fight manfully under thy banner against all evil, and waiting on thee to renew our strength, may mount up with wings as eagles, in thy name, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

24358662 Tpr I Greenwood RHG/D

Served from 1979 to 1981

Date of Death 26th January 2020, aged 60

455763 Col E York OBE TD DL FRAgS

Served from 1958 to 1964

Died 14th January 2020, aged 80

23567302 LCpl B Allen 1RD

Served from June 1958 to May 1960

Died 16th January 2020, aged 82

22556531 LCpl S Dodson RHG/D

Served from October 1953 to March 1970

Died 19th January 2020, aged 83

346126 Major General P Reid CB

RHG/D

Served from April 1945 to September 1981

Died 22nd January 2020, aged 94

14600651 WO2 L Young RHG

Served from April 1943 to August 1967

Died 29th January 2020, aged 98

Tpr J Little RHGD

Served from 2009 to 2014

Died 16th February 2020 aged 28

433057 Lord P Beresford RHG

Served from 1954 to 1965

Died 18th March 2020, aged 85

22556624 Tpr G Frosdick RHG

Served from 1953 to 1957

Died 20th March 2020, aged 85

452312 2Lt M Russell RHG

Served from September 1956October 1958

Died 25th May 2020, aged 86

23879599 WO2 T Whennell RHG/D

Served from September 1962 to February 1988

Died 5th April 2020, aged 74

22342882 SSgt F Brooks 1RD

Served from March 1948 to June 1968

Died 11th April 2020, aged 85

22556250 Cpl J Johnson RHG

Served from December 1952 to January 1956

Died 15th April 2020, aged 85

23991195 WO2 B Wall RHG/D

Served from March 1964 to December 1991

Died 7th May 2020, aged 73

22205290 Cpl G Manners RHG

Served from January 1949 to January 1954

Died 7th May 2020, aged 90

306556 Cpl J Lurcook RHG

Served from July 1944 to December 1947

Died 11th May 2020, aged 93

24448116 Tpr K Matthews RHG/D

Served from August 1966 to August 1978

Died 29th May 2020. Aged 57

23378621 LCpl D Croft RHG

Served from March 1957 to March 1959

Died 20th July 2020, aged 84

Musn B Diffey RHG/D Band

Served from April 1974 to March 1982

Died 6th August 2020, aged 62

23879693 Tpr M Fry RHG/D

Served from February 1963 to February 1972

Died 17th August 2020, aged 71

24299757 Tpr D Crowley RHG/D

Served from August 1972 to April 1977

Died 18th August 2020, aged 65

22026779 SCpl D Preece RHG/D

Served from March 1949 to September 1993

Died 30th August 2020, aged 70

22205471 CoH D Gilbert RHG

Served from December 1949 to January 1966

Died 4th September 2020, aged 88

21000144 Tpr D Harrison RHG

Served from December 1947 to January 1952

Died 07th September 2020, aged 80

23327977 Cpl P Mellors RHG

Served from August 1956 to August 1958

Died 10th September 2020, aged 82

14929386 Tpr H Murdoch RHG

Served from September 1944 to January 1948

Died 12th August 2020, aged 93

22619677 Tpr M Coward 1RD

Served from December 1951 to December 1953

Died 25th September 2020, aged 87

306770 WO2 (BCM) R Middleton RHG

Served from December 1945 to June 1975

Died 2nd of October 2020, aged 90

23215102 LCpl J Brown RHG

Served from August 1955 to October 1967

Died 2nd October 2020, aged 83

472500 Capt J Bucknell RHG/D

Served from December 1961 to August 1972

Died 6th October 2020, aged 77

23720595 LCpl A Kennedy RHG/D Served from January 1959 to January 1971

Died 7th October 2020, aged 76

23559262 Cpl D Kent RHG

Served from August 1958 to March 1969

Died 24th October 2020, aged 81 years

23828563 LCoH R J Johnstone RHG/D

Served from October 1962 to October 1971

Died 30th November 2020 aged 77

23215206 Tpr D Ware RHG

Served from February 1956 to February 1959

Died 11th December 2020, aged 84

Alexander George Thynn 7th Marquess of Bath

Late The Life Guards

by Christopher Joll

Regimental Historian of the Household Cavalry

23175698 Tpr D Blood 1RD

Served from September 1955 to September 1957

Died 23rd December 2020, aged 83

23215596 Cpl P Hallam RHG

Served from October 1957 to October 1963

Died 24th December 2020, aged 92

354967 Capt R Bucknall 1RD

Served from January 1947 to January 1958

Died 27th December 2020, aged 94

If an unblemished private life, a distinguished military career and an absence of eccentricity were the sine qua non for inclusion in this section of the magazine, the Editor would have little with which to fill the available space. Fortunately, for readers with an interest in human foibles, they are not. That the late Alexander Bath, who died on 4th April aged 87 after contracting the COVID-19 virus, was the total antithesis of the first and last of these virtues, should not debar him from his recognition as a former Life Guard; even if his only claim to fame as a National Service officer was winning the Army Officers Boxing Championship in the welterweight category.

As other obituarists have noted, many of Alexander’s ancestors would also have struggled to meet such editorial exclusion tests and, indeed, scored highly when it came to personal eccentricities. Even his father had the dubious distinction, despite gallant wartime service in the Royal Wilshire Yeomanry, of being such a cheer leader for Adolf Hitler that after the war he amassed the largest collection of the depraved dictator’s artistically meritless paintings.

Alexander’s own adult reputation as a flamboyantly dressed aristocrat who advocated polygamy, polyandry, pantheism, pornography, a polymorphous society and separatist politics was not, however, prefigured by his upbringing and education which, whilst unhappy, were largely conventional. After Ludgrove, where he had a reputation as a bully, Alexander went to Eton, where he was President of Pop and Keeper of Boxing. Following an interval for National Service with The Life Guards, Alexander ended his scholastic education at Christ Church, Oxford, where he read PPE, was President of the Bullingdon Club and had the reputation of being the bestlooking man in his year. Thereafter, following a period at an art school in Paris and to the growing alarm of his father, his

Unknown Number Tpr M Findlay 1RD

Served from January 1953 to December 1955

Died 28th December 2020, age unknown

23799037 Tpr D Baker 1RD

Served from June 1960 to June 1962

Date of death and age unknown

22988035 Tpr P Cook RHG

Served from February 1954 to February 1956

Date of death and age unknown

life took a distinctly bohemian turn.

Nonetheless, in 1964 the 6th Marquess transferred Longleat House and its 10,000-acre estate and safari park to Alexander. However, unlike other aristocrats, such as the ‘dancing’ 5th Marquess of Anglesey who spent his way through a vast fortune and died bankrupt aged twenty-nine, Alexander took his responsibilities seriously. This did not stop him from covering the walls of the west wing with his own attempts at pornography, nor from housing a growing collection of his girlfriends (known as ‘wifelets’) in some of the estate cottages. Whilst this behaviour was considered by the media to be eccentric in a peer, it pales into insignificance with that of another Life Guard, the reclusive 5th Duke of Portland, who emptied Welbeck Abbey of all its furnishing, painted the entire interior pink and constructed a vast underground ballroom which he never used.

The pornography, wifelets and hippy appearance notwithstanding, whilst Alexander’s reputation as a sexual libertine and sartorial disaster area grew, so too did the commercial success of Longleat – although from the mid-1970s until 1992, when Alexander inherited the marquessate, the house and its attractions were run (on the orders of his father) by his brother Christopher, who had also served in The Life Guards. On the death of the 6th Marquess, Christopher was summarily sacked from this job and ordered off the estate. Nevertheless, Longleat continued to prosper and it would seem that, behind the raffish exterior and the unconventional life style, Alexander Bath was every bit as astute a Thynne as his late Tudor-ancestor, Sir John, who had amassed the estate and built the house in the seventeenth century whilst evading execution, despite several sojourns in the Tower of London.

Captain Sir John Margetson

Late The Life Guards

With acknowledgement to The Daily Telegraph

Sir John Margetson, who has died aged 93, was an accomplished diplomat who survived a spell as speechwriter to the mercurial Labour Foreign Secretary George Brown to become Britain’s ambassador in Hanoi, deputy head of mission at the United Nations, and finally ambassador to the Netherlands. As Head of Chancery in Saigon from 1968 to 1970, during the Vietnam War, Margetson was less confident than his ambassador, Murray MacLehose, that the Communists would be defeated – particularly after seeing American troops at a showing of M*A*S*H applaud an enlisted man’s assault on a US officer.

In 1978 he was sent as Ambassador to Hanoi, by then the capital of the unified Vietnam, a posting regarded in the FCO

With thanks to Pinterest

as the toughest in the world. There, he alerted the Foreign Office to Vietnam’s imminent split with China – something it had considered unthinkable. His sources were non-aligned ambassadors, with whom the country’s rulers were more open – notably Egypt’s, with whom Margetson took up yoga classes.

The Vietnamese accepted Margetson, despite his having served in Saigon, because they hoped for British aid. But London cut this off when, at the end of 1978, Vietnam invaded Cambodia in support of the Khmers Rouges. Margetson earned a reputation among FCO staff for getting things done. Arriving in Hanoi to find morale at rock bottom because of rat-infested accommodation, he arranged for Britain to buy two of the flats being built by Sweden for its own diplomats. His wife had to do the cooking at the Residence (a former brothel), after the cook was electrocuted and the Foreign Ministry refused a replacement.

John William Denys Margetson was born on 9th October 1927, the younger son of the Very Rev WJ Margetson, provost of St Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh, and the former Marion Jenoure.

He boarded at Blundell’s School and was a choral scholar at St John’s College, Cambridge, under the composer Herbert Howells, reading Anthropology and Archaeology.

In mid-course he was commissioned into The Life Guards for National Service. Having signed on for an additional six months, he was sent to Palestine for the final months of the British mandate. He commanded scout cars escorting potash convoys to Jerusalem from the Dead Sea and patrolling the Jaffa road. Coming up from Jaffa one day, his car was ambushed by guerrillas and blown clean off the road. Years later, an Israeli diplomat with whom he was talking turned out to have been the Haganah commander who ordered the attack. They became firm friends, despite the shock having caused Margetson to lose all his hair.

Completing his degree in 1951, Margetson joined the Colonial Service and was appointed a district officer in Tanganyika. He spent most of his time up-country, always with his clavichord – exactly a head-load for a porter – on which he played Bach outside his tent in the evenings.

Margetson resigned from the Colonial Service in 1959 and joined the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS, or MI6). David Cornwell (John le Carré) joined at the same time and became a friend. Margetson learnt the spy’s ‘tradecraft’ – including running agents, using firearms and how to kill with a single blow.

Once on the strength, Margetson found Rudolf Hess’s long-forgotten trousers in a secret safe as MI6 moved its headquarters. He was posted to the Hague in 1962, boarding Soviet ships at Rotterdam at night to obtain photos of Russian port facilities. Two years on, he resigned from MI6 (as did Cornwell) and took a late-entry exam into the Diplomatic Service.

At the Foreign Office, he soon found himself writing George Brown’s speeches. Before making one, Brown would gather the relevant senior officials, with Margetson recording the discussion then crafting a draft.

However, the system broke down because Brown’s reputation for drunkenly humiliating his staff made such meetings hard to convene. So instead Brown huddled with Margetson and the permanent under-secretary, or just left the task to him.

In 1970, he spent a year on the FCO’s Indo-China desk, then was seconded to Burke Trend’s Cabinet secretariat, briefing the Prime Minister (Edward Heath, then briefly Wilson) on foreign affairs, and servicing the Cabinet and its defence and foreign policy committee. He found taking minutes difficult, as Sir Alec Douglas-Home, Heath’s foreign secretary, always had a ballpoint pen in his mouth which rendered him inaudible.

With the liberal Tory Home Office minister David Lane, Margeston co-ordinated the settlement in Britain of Asians with UK passports expelled from Uganda by Idi Amin. He also worked up with the future Conservative MP Michael Mates, then a colonel at the MoD, contingency plans for a major terrorist incident involving British subjects. One scenario they planned for was the occupation of an embassy. Their work proved invaluable a decade later during the Iranian embassy siege.

In 1974 Margetson went to Brussels as Head of Chancery in Britain’s delegation to Nato. Next, in 1978, came Hanoi, and in 1981 a quieter billet as senior civilian instructor at the Royal College of Defence Studies. Then, in 1983, he became No 2 to Sir John Thomson at the UN. Margetson proposed to General Secretary Perez de Cuellar a plan to end fighting in the Lebanon by using UN observers to monitor crossing points between the rival factions’ territory, and tried with Perez to break the deadlock over Cyprus created by the Turkish North declaring independence.

Margetson presided over the Trusteeship Council, by then responsible only for Micronesia, a former German colony administered by the United States. He oversaw its progress to independence as three separate countries, personally supervising two plebiscites.

His final posting, from 1984 to 1987, was to the Hague, where he concentrated on convincing the Dutch that Britain was a reliable member of the EEC. He hosted visits from Margaret Thatcher and senior ministers and kept Ruud Lubbers’s government on side as Britain orchestrated progress toward the single market.

Margetson retired in July 1988, and settled at Woodbridge, Suffolk. From then until 1994 he chaired the Royal School of Church Music, the Yehudi Menuhin School and the Joint Committee of the Royal College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music.

He was appointed CMG in 1979, KCMG in 1986, and from 1992 to 2002 served as Gentleman Usher of the Blue Rod.

John Margetson married Miranda Coldstream, younger daughter of the painters Sir William Coldstream and Nancy Spender, in 1963. They had a son, Andrew, a film director, and a daughter, Clare, an editor on The Guardian

Sir John Margetson, born 9th October 1927, died 17th October 2020.

Lieutenant Colonel Alec Jackson MBE LVO, Late The Life Guards

by Lieutenant Colonel R J Morrissey-Paine formerly The Life Guards

Alec Jackson, a legendary Riding Master of The Household Cavalry, died in 2020. He was born in Goole, Yorkshire, in November 1928, and spent his earliest childhood years there. Alec could remember seeing German aircraft returning from bombing Liverpool dropping their remaining bombs on Hull.

He came from a large family of ten and money was tight to the extent that Alec and two of his older brothers were sent to work on local farms after school in exchange for board and lodging. Alec worked alongside Italian Prisoners of War from whom he acquired a love of Italian food though not the language. It was on the farm that he first learned to ride on the shire horses then used on farms.

A mounted display in Yorkshire kindled Alec’s ambition to join The Household Cavalry and he enlisted into The Life Guards in June 1947, the year of one of the coldest winters on record which resulted in severe economic hardship in Britain. After initial training he was posted to the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment where his formal equitation training commenced and his ability and work ethic were soon recognised by the redoubtable Major ‘Tommy’ Thompson DCM, the then Riding Master who made Alec his groom. Then, as now, The Household Cavalry helped in civil emergencies; in 1953 it was with flood relief work on the East Coast. But 1953 is remembered chiefly for being Coronation Year for which Alec rode in the Sovereign’s Escort.

Alec’s subsequent career encompassed service not only at mounted duty but also tours with The Life Guards at Windsor where, as Squadron Quartermaster Corporal (SQMC) of C Squadron, the Squadron was despatched, at 48 hours’ notice, on an emergency tour in Cyprus in 1963 under command of 16 Parachute Brigade, to contain a severe conflict between the Turkish and Greek populations. The administrative burden of such a tour falls largely on the shoulders of the SQMC and Alec rose to the challenge, remaining calm and in control of all the supply issue and challenges for an independent squadron. Alec was subsequently promoted to Squadron Corporal Major of the new Household Cavalry Squadron at the Guards Depot.

During his tours at mounted duty, Alec completed two riding instructor courses which consolidated his riding skills and marked him out as not only a fine horseman but also a gifted riding instructor who expected nothing less than the best from everyone.

On the retirement of Major Tommy Thompson DCM in 1966, the Household Cavalry was fortunate in having two contenders to succeed him as Riding Master, one from each regiment of The Household Cavalry. Alec was selected while Jock Ferrie of The Blues went on to be the Team Coach for Irish Eventing on his retirement from The Army. Alec was commissioned as Lieutenant and Riding Master in April 1966 on promotion from Warrant Officer Class 2. Alec was to serve as

Riding Master for 18 years. Apart from The Queen’s Birthday Parade, The Garter Ceremony, State Visits, and The State Opening of Parliament, there were also Royal Weddings, The Investiture of The Prince of Wales, escorts in Scotland, The Queen’s Jubilee, and many others, the success of which bore testament to Alec’s attention to detail and his ability to train both men and horses to the highest standards. This, in outline, are the salient events in Alec’s early life and military career, but there was much more to the man. From being selected as groom to the then Riding Master, and only the best were, to SQMC of a Squadron on an emergency tour, and finally as Household Cavalry Riding Master, Alec demonstrated a tremendous work ethic but it was his personality that shone through. He demanded the same standards that he himself lived by but Alec was by nature quiet and understated with a beguiling sense of humour. He had a reputation for bark but his bite was by no means worse. Fierce in Riding School and on parade, in private and off parade he was the most charming and considerate of men. Fiercely loyal to his Regiment, his Riding Staff and above all to the many Commanding Officers that he served, he set an example to everyone. A long-time member of his riding staff wrote, ‘my son was named after him and he was present at wedding and christenings; I think that shows what I thought of him’. Stories are legion but one Alec told of himself was when he was preparing the Foot Guard officers for The Queen’s Birthday Parade, including the Major General, John Swinton. He shouted, ‘General, get your leg in’ which had no effect and caused Alec to thwack the offending leg with his long whip. There was a sound like a pistol shot, horses and riders went in all directions. Alec was mortified to learn that the leg was wooden, the original being lost in Germany in 1945. The Major General’s only comment was, ‘that fooled you’. Alec’s mere presence in the Riding School always enlivened proceedings and concentrated the mind of students, instructors, and horses.

Mounted Ceremonial apart, Alec was a keen competitor in show jumping competitions and competed as part of the Household Cavalry team at one of the first team chases initiated by Douglas Bunn at Hickstead that were to become a popular equestrian sport. Alec’s lasting legacy to The Household Cavalry, however, was the reintroduction of the Musical Ride now not only a major feature of agriculture shows up and down the country but also overseas. Notably, shortly after Alec became Riding Master, with the Queen’s Guards Tattoo in the USA, the Musical Ride stole the show in Philadelphia, Madison Square Gardens, and Boston. In 1975 Alec formed a quadrille, a feature of which was the ‘lying down of the horses’. HM The Queen Mother asked to see a demonstration of this as HM The Queen had told her she had seen it at the Royal Tournament. Both the Musical Ride and Quadrille continue to this day and as recently as last year gave performances in Morocco at the instigation of the British Defence Attaché. Alec’s legacy lives on and the Musical Ride and Quadrille continue to be significant contributors to showcasing the best of Britain. Alec was a great supporter of the Weser Vale Drag Hunt which had been cofounded by his friend Major Bill Stringer

when Quartermaster of The Blues and Royals in Germany. Alec ensured that the most suitable horses were sent to the stables in Germany, suitable not only for riding school but also for hunting.

On retiring from the Army in 1984, having progressed from Trooper to Lieutenant Colonel and in the course of which he was appointed to be a MBE and later LVO, Alec did not hang up his spurs as so many would have done, but became Secretary of The Royal Tournament under its Director, Colonel Iain Ferguson, Scots Guards, a post he was to fill for twelve years. It was a truly family affair as his wife Alma ran the box office. In this role Alec was a personality to all three Services of the Armed Forces. He dealt with their myriad problems calmly and with great humour. Many an insoluble problem became soluble in Alec’s hands.

With contingents from many countries taking part, Alec was the soul of tact and reason. On one occasion, on being asked where a contingent from Jordan could pray, he led them to the roof which was perfect but he was only briefly stumped when asked in which direction they should pray. Inspiration came with the lights of the Mecca Ballroom coming on. The Royal Tournament gave Alec the chance to travel widely in the search for new acts and, having caught the travel bug, in retirement he and Alma continued to travel widely.

Alec finally retired in 1999 when The Royal Tournament was discontinued. Having lived in married quarters throughout most of his married life until leaving the Army, he and Alma bought a house in West Harrow where they lived until increasing frailty resulted in them being unable to continue to live on their own and they moved into a care home. Alma died in 2019, having been a mainstay of Alec’s life. They were both justly proud of their son Kevin’s successes from Cambridge University and beyond. Alec died on 27th April 2020.

Traditionally, all ranks of The Life Guards are addressed as ‘Gentlemen’. Alec was straight as an arrow and totally without side, the epitome of a Gentleman of The Life Guards and a most illustrious Household Cavalry Riding Master.

Logie Bruce-Lockhard Late The Life Guards

by Matthew Vallance

Logie Bruce-Lockhart, who has died, aged 98, after a short illness, was a distinguished member of a great Anglo-Scottish family.

His grandfather relocated from Beith, North Ayrshire, to England and Logie followed his father John and elder brother Rab – a future Headmaster at Loretto – into teaching, and playing rugby for Scotland. Another brother, John Junior, was a distinguished soldier, diplomat, spy and businessman, while his other brother, Patrick, was a distinguished obstetrician, who also fenced for Scotland.

Logie was born in Rugby, while his father was a master at

that school, then, when his father obtained the Headship at Sedbergh, Logie was Head Boy at that institution when war broke out in 1939.

He spent six months working on a farm, before going to Cambridge, St John’s College, to read Modern Languages. He joined up on his 18th birthday and headed to Sandhurst and was commissioned into the Sherwood Foresters, before transferring to the Life Guards of the Household Cavalry. While returning to his regiment in 1944, he got on a train at Oxenholme, where he found himself sitting opposite Josephine Agnew. It was love at first sight, based on a shared admiration for the works of Rupert Brooke. They were married within weeks and would go on to enjoy 64 years of married bliss, before Jo’s death in 2009.

As the Allied pushed out from Normandy towards Germany, Logie frequently found the armoured unit he led in the forefront of the advance. He was one of the first soldiers into the Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp, so had first-hand knowledge of the Nazi’s ‘Final Solution’. He was also, for a time, commandant of a refugee camp, right on what would become the Iron Curtain; 5000 desperate refugees in a camp designed for 600.

There were brighter moments, such as his decision, taken in Hamburg on VE Night, to requisition a Dutch barge moored in the harbour. The cargo of Pomerol wine and apricot brandy allowed Logie’s troops to suitably celebrate the end of hostilities.

On demob, he turned to education, obtaining a choral scholarship to study French and German at St John’s College, Cambridge. Here he won the Graham Prize for Modern Languages, the Larmor Award for his all-round contribution to college life, obtained a double first – later upgraded to an MA– and won his Blue in rugby and squash.

There was no doubt, he would go into the family business of teaching, his first post as an assistant master and rugby coach at Tonbridge School, where his first unbeaten XV included future England and British Lions lock David Marques, and the future Lord Colin Cowdrey of cricket fame, who played fly half. He took Cowdrey’s wicket in the 1948 Masters v Pupils match.

He had joined London Scottish and would go on to captain the club, on coming down from Cambridge and had a victorious introduction to the Scotland team, when capped at centre for the 1948 Calcutta Cup match at Twickenham, where Scotland’s 6-3 win saw them capture the trophy for the first time since ‘Wilson Shaw’s Match’ a decade previously. It is argued that Bruce-Lockhart was Scotland’s outstanding stand-off of the immediate post-war period, however, he was branded ‘inconsistent,’ mixing brilliant breaks with sloppy handling. He had to wait until 1950 to be rid of the ‘One Cap Wonder’ tag, via another victory, over France, at Murrayfield. He scored his only points for Scotland, a conversion, in this match. After an inconsistent display against Wales in the next international, in Swansea, he was cast into the international wilderness until recalled for the Irish and English games at the 1953 Five Nations. These were games 10 and 11 of the notorious run of 17 straight defeats, so, with the selectors in full panic mode by this time, and Bruce-Lockhart in his thirties, they marked the end of his international career. At his death, he was Scotland’s oldest internationalist.

Aged just 33, he took on the Headship of Gresham’s School in Norfolk. The alma mater of WH Auden and Benjamin Britten was in serious need of a young and progressive Head. In 27 years at the helm, he brought about major changes, overseeing

the building of a new science block and introducing girls as he turned Gresham’s into a co-educational school. The initial intake of 20 girls included 19 who would go onto obtain university degrees, five of them from Oxbridge. Bruce-Lockhart was an educational visionary, placing the production of wellrounded individuals above examination success.

His pupils went on to win Olympic gold medals, international rugby caps and have successful careers in finance, industry and the Arts.

He was active in Headmasters Conference affairs, being Chairman of its East Region, where he instigated closer ties with the Girls Schools Association. He also enabled future inventor James Dyson to remain at the school after his father died suddenly. This decision paid off, when the now multimillionaire Dyson funded a new science block.

Throughout his active career, and on into retirement, although notoriously absent-minded, he was a prolific part-time journalist, writing on education, fishing and general sports and wildlife. He contributed regularly to Country Life and Rugby World

He also played piano and was an accomplished artist, illustrating his book on bird watching, which was mainly intended for his grandchildren, with his own watercolours of the various birds. He and Jo also enjoyed summers in their cabin in Provence.

He wrote seven books: Trois Aveugles et Autres Contes (1954); The Pleasures of Fishing (1981); Stuff and Nonsense: Observations of a Norfolk Scot (1981); Dick Bagnall-Oakeley, a Tribute to a Norfolk Naturalist; Now We Are Very Old (2012); Now and Then, This and That (his autobiography) (2013); and British Bird Watching for Beginners & Enthusiasts (2018).

He and Jo had five children: Jenny, Rhuaridh, Fiona and Duncan, known as Bede, who followed the Bruce-Lockhart tradition by winning Scotland B honours at rugby. They survive him; their other child, Kirsty, was killed in a car accident aged seven.

Writing about Kirsty’s death years later, Bruce-Lockhart said it made him realise: ‘I had not left enough time for the things that really matter, having a happy home, being with the children, sharing outside interests with my wife.’

Paying tribute to him, current headmaster Douglas Robb said: ‘Logie was Gresham’s longest-serving headmaster of the modern era and he clearly had a huge impact on rebuilding the school after the Second World War. A polymath who clearly excelled personally in everything that he did. Logie had that real passion for young people which is the sign of a true ‘schoolmaster’. Soldier, sportsman, botanist, musician, linguist, author, but more than anything a schoolmaster, family man and friend.’

Brigadier Jack Thomas

With acknowledgement to The Times and his son.

Jack Thomas used up the first of his many lives by abseiling down a rock face to rescue a Canadian commando during a training exercise in Scotland. The Canadian jumped for Thomas’s rope, sending his rescuer falling 30m down the mountain. Astonishingly, Thomas emerged with only bruises. His next brush with death came during parachute training when his equipment failed to open and he plummeted to the

ground in what is known as a ‘Roman candle’. This time he suffered two broken ankles.

While in British-Mandate Palestine in 1947 he was the sole survivor from a Jeep carrying three people that drove over a landmine on the Ein Shemer airfield. ‘All I saw was a red flash and all I felt was a nasty taste in my mouth,’ he recalled. ‘I woke up in hospital.’

The damage this time was more psychological than physical. He did not speak for a year and when he did his voice had changed so much that he became known as Squeaky Jack, a nickname that lasted for the rest of his military career.

Six years later he was shot in Korea and an X-ray revealed a 6mm gap between his collar bone and his shoulder. Subsequent surgery meant that he never again made it through airport security without setting off alarms.

Later, while serving with the Royal Military Police (RMP) in east Africa, his Jeep was charged by a rhinoceros. On another occasion he returned home to be greeted by a pride of lions on the doorstep, who hung around menacingly for an hour before moving on, and once a suspicious lioness kept him and his wife pinned against their Chevrolet as he struggled to get the children inside to ‘unlock the bloody doors’ without antagonising the predator.

A tall man with a broken nose and a rugby player’s cauliflower ears, Thomas went on to become the head of the RMP in Northern Ireland, with a title, provost marshal (Northern Ireland), that dates back to the 13th century; later he became provost marshal (Army).

The one regret of his military career, he said, was helping to provide Idi Amin with a platform from which the ‘butcher of Uganda’ terrorised his country in the 1970s. ‘I was a member of the commissioning board that decided that Amin, who was then a sergeant major, should be commissioned,’ he admitted.

John Francis Thomas was born in Margam, near Port Talbot, south Wales, in 1926, the son of John Henry Thomas, an Old Contemptible who had served in the Second Life Guards, and his wife Dorothy (née Gregory).

He was educated at Sandfields school, describing himself as ‘an ordinary Aberavon boy who went to school with patches on his trousers’, before moving on to Port Talbot County School, where he was a contemporary of Clive Jenkins, the trade union leader, and Richard Burton, the actor. ‘I’ve not been as successful perhaps as Clive or gained as much recognition as Richard,’ he reflected. ‘And I’ve certainly not become as rich.’

From there he was apprenticed to GH Page, a local joinery business, where he acquired the practical skills that would serve him well in later life. At 17 he followed his father into the Life Guards and learnt to drive a Humber Scout armoured car, recalling that he quickly mastered its tricky gearbox because whenever he crunched the gears he received a bang on the head from a coal shovel wielded by the Corporal of Horse.

He missed the Normandy landings because of a traffic accident but proved talented at rugby, playing at club, county and army level until the age of 38, including taking part in the army’s first postwar tour to Japan in 1952.

He was also useful with a pair of boxing gloves, something that, according to family folklore, earned him his commission: having ‘boxed the ears’ off the barrack room bully, he was marched in front of a far-sighted Squadron Leader. Given the option of military jail or the officer cadet training unit he chose the latter and at 18½ was selected for an emergency commission. He joined the Commandos (badged to the Welch Regiment) and after basic training was assigned to No 6 Commando. On their disbandment in 1946 he was assigned to 1 Para and was sent to Palestine. Not long after recovering from the landmine blast he met Dorothea Williams, who was still a teenager. They were married in 1953, when she was 21. The car that was supposed to collect him on his wedding day failed to arrive and he made his way to the church perched on the handlebars of a bicycle, still wearing tails, with his best man pedalling furiously.

Unusually for a military wife of her generation, Dorothea worked throughout her husband’s career, specialising in remedial and dyslexic education. She survives him with a son, John, who is a retired army officer, and two daughters; Marie, who works in public relations, and Karen, a doctor.

After seeing action in the Korean War in the early 1950s, during which he frequently wrote home about his struggle to receive new army issue underpants, Thomas remained in the Far East. He was promoted to major and in 1959 joined the RMP, serving with them in east Africa, West Germany and Wales. Wherever he was posted he endeavoured to learn the local language, acquiring a working knowledge of Cantonese, German, Russian and Spanish.

In 1970 he was posted to Northern Ireland, overseeing the RMP in a new civil policing role, ‘protecting life and property, preventing and detecting offences and preserving public order’. The introduction of internment without trial and rising violence and attacks against the security forces required more military police and a new regiment of the corps was formed under his command.

After that he undertook a series of desk jobs in London before retiring from the army. In 1983 he was appointed executive director for a defence consultancy and later became director of security for the National Diamond Mining Company in Sierra Leone.

His first car, a grey Armstrong Siddeley Whitley, remained part of the family until recently, playing a significant role in their milestones, from births to weddings, and on one occasion was driven to Germany. He loved repairing it, especially when it meant visiting a scrapyard — he built his eldest daughter’s first car, a Ford Anglia, entirely from salvaged parts.

He remained in touch with the Commandos and in 1989 became chairman of the Commando Benevolent Fund. He also remained fit, having taken up windsurfing in his fifties. At the age of 91 he climbed the 332 steps to the top of Salisbury Cathedral spire.

His eccentricities did not weary with age and his family grew accustomed to welcoming unexpected guests, including a group of Austrians who Thomas found looking lost on the Aldershot ranges. As a grandfather he had a somewhat alarming line in bedtime stories for his eight grandchildren, invariably involving gunfire, explosions and, no doubt, some blood and guts.

A keen photographer and film-maker, he accumulated thousands of photographs and hundreds of yards of cine reels. His other great passion was for animals. As a subaltern he had an Alsatian called Prince, who would ride pillion on Thomas’s motorcycle with his paws on his master’s shoulders. Prince ‘earned his wings’ by once making an unaccompanied parachute drop.

In Hong Kong Thomas kept a litter of 14 Alsatians, a cocker spaniel and a large ginger tomcat, while in east Africa he kept numerous horses. One of his favourite animals was Hector, a rescued Alsatian/Great Dane cross who, according to Thomas, ‘weighed nearly 150lbs and stood 6ft 4in in his stockinged feet’. Hector’s party trick was ‘singing’ along to his master’s harmonica, an experience that was once heard on BFBS Radio. One Christmas, Hector and Fred, a large beagle with a divergent squint, came home with two chickens they had stolen from the Naafi. Thomas insisted that he had no option other than to dust them off and feed them to his family.

This peripatetic menagerie travelled the world with him, eventually settling at the family home in Aldershot, where they lived for nearly 40 years surrounded by Thomas’s oil paintings. One later arrival was ET, an African wood owl he had rescued as a chick in Sierra Leone. He secured permission to fly ET home on British Airways, though objected to being charged for the bird’s inflight meal. ET found a home in the family’s inglenook fireplace, bathed in their bidet and watched television perched on Thomas’s head. He had thought ET was a male and was taken by surprise when ‘he’ laid an egg.

Brigadier Jack Thomas, CBE, was born on 25th June, 1926. He died of COVID-19 on 29th January, 2021, aged 94

Thomas leading a parade on horseback in Chichester, West Sussex, in 1981

Lance Corporal Oscar Airey

Late The Life Guards

by Franco Gasparotti, formally Coldstream Guards

Oscar Airey was born in the town of Salerno in southern Italy on the 13th July 1960. His Mother Angela Maria Gasparotti relocated to the City of Bradford, West Yorkshire in the early 1960s in pursuit of a better life for both herself and her son. Oscar was a popular figure amongst his friends growing up whilst also shouldering the added responsibility of being a father figure to his younger brother Franco.

Oscar enlisted into the Army in 1976 and after completing his basic training with the Household Cavalry Squadron ARRAS 7 Platoon he then joined B Squadron The Life Guards in 1977.

Oscar soon established himself whilst serving with his Squadron based in Windsor and the United Nations Cyprus Tour of 1979. He also saw service in Germany, Canada, Northern Ireland, Cyprus, and the Life Guards Mounted Squadron at Knightsbridge.

In 1983 Oscar unfortunately had to leave the Army due to his mother’s battles with cancer as his younger brother needed caring for. Oscar took on the responsibility with real purpose and set about transforming his younger brother into a potential soldier by training and preparing him personally for a life in the armed forces. He and Franco spent three years serving together with the Territorial Army’s 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Volunteers mentoring his younger brother in preparation for enlistment into the regular Army where he then joined the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards.

With his mother recovered from cancer and his younger brother firmly established as a Guardsman in his Battalion, Oscar re-joined The Life Guards in 1987 where he then served with the Household Cavalry Mounted Squadron until his discharge in 1990 after ten years’ service in the Regiment.

Sadly, on the 13th November 2020, Oscar aged sixty years old lost his short battle with lung disease and was given a military style send off by his younger brother and fellow Life Guards at Southport Crematorium. RIP Oscar.

Lord Patrick Beresford

Late The Blues and Royals

With acknowledgement to The Daily Telegraph

Lord Patrick Beresford, who has died aged 85, was a well-respected army officer and a keen and accomplished equestrian. He played polo to a high standard, hunted regularly and won more than 50 point-to-points and steeplechases, including the Past and Present Hunter’s Chase and the Past and Present Handicap Chase at Sandown’s Grand Military Meeting. He also took part in four Grand Military Gold Cups.

One of his achievements was to set up the Guards Polo Club in 1955, for which he was granted regimental leave for six months. He was something of an escort to Princess Margaret, identified by the press when he stayed at Windsor Castle for Ascot week in 1957.

He wrote lyrically of his love of polo: ‘It would be an ungenerous soul that did not warm to the sights and sounds surrounding [Smith’s Lawn’s] No 1 ground on a fine summer afternoon. Above the stands the flags of many nations fly proudly in the breeze. In the pony lines, gauchos from Argentina, seises from India and cowboys from Texas mingle with the English girl grooms, whilst out on the field an ever-flowing tide of men and horses surge backward and forward in a kaleidoscope of colour and action.’

He considered there was no parallel to polo, one of the fastest games in the world, with ‘that small but alluring element of danger without which no pastime is wholly satisfying’ (Beresford himself hurt his neck in a fall and broke his right leg below the knee). He knew of a sign in the Himalayas from which

Oscar Airey on Chieftan, Detmold

polo had emanated: ‘Let other men do other things, The King of Sports is still the Sport of Kings.’

For Horse and Hound he described a visit by the Windsor Park high-goal team, including Prince Philip, to Mexico in 1970, writing of receiving exceptional hospitality in ‘the most beautiful house’ in Acapulco, without mentioning that it belonged to the actress Merle Oberon. He also played at Pebble Beach in California and was excited to be able to report in 1971 that the magazine’s ‘correspondent’ had scored the winning goal in Hawaii.

Patrick Tristram de la Poer Beresford was born on June 16 1934, the second son of 7th Marquess of Waterford, premier Marquess of Ireland, who died in September that year, aged 33, in a shooting accident in the gun room at their 3,500-acre Irish seat, Curraghmore in Co Waterford.

The Beresfords were a distinguished Irish family, originally from Kent, and before that Derbyshire; George Beresford, 2nd Earl of Tyrone, was created Marquess in 1789. The 1st Marquess also inherited the Barony of de la Poer from his mother, this ancient family being established in Ireland in 1179.

Two Marquesses came to grief due to hunting accidents, while the 6th Marquess escaped being eaten by a lion only to drown in a river on his estate. Patrick’s elder brother, the 8th Marquess, also a noted polo player, was a member of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Windsor Park team for 12 years.

Young Patrick was educated at Eton, being a noted games player and gaining consistently good marks in exams without notable exertion. In 1952 he enlisted as a trooper in the Royal Horse Guards, and was ‘hardworking, rather quiet but with a good brain’.

He passed 5th out of 243 cadets at Sandhurst and received the Sword of Honour from Field Marshal Lord Alexander of Tunis, following which he was commissioned into the Royal Horse Guards. In the course of his military career, he served as second-in-command of A Squadron, the Royal Horse Guards in Cyprus, between 1957 and 1959, during the height of the EOKA troubles, and along with his soldiers he saw considerable action.

He then spent four years in England and a later spell with the British Army on the Rhine in Germany. He saw further action in Cyprus in 1963 and as an intelligence officer in Sarawak in 1964 during the Confrontation with Indonesia.

In 1964 he married Julia Carey, the former wife of Captain Darel Carey, of his own regiment. As a result he resigned his commission, prematurely ending a promising military career. The marriage was dissolved in 1971. Brother officers remember him as a first-rate natural leader, clever, efficient and brave, albeit intimidating and difficult to know.

He was popular with all ranks. At one time he penned a spoof Jennifer’s Diary, as if written by the humourless Betty Kenward, reporting from the Borneo jungle.

In 1965 he was granted a commission in 21 Special Air Service Regiment (Artists) TA. After joining ‘R’ Squadron 22 SAS, he served in the Middle East and Far East until he retired in 1974 in the rank of major. He became president of the Guards Parachute Association, retained many links with the Royal Horse Guards and was a stalwart supporter of veterans’ charities.

From 1965 to 1975 he worked for the Anglo-Irish Bloodstock Agency. He subsequently established Beresford Bloodstock

Services. Then in 1977 he joined KMS Ltd, a private security firm set up by ex-SAS officers, and led a close-support team guarding Sheikh Yamani, the Saudi minister of petroleum who had narrowly escaped death as a hostage in 1975.

In 1985, Beresford became chef d’équipe and selector for the British senior eventing team. At his first European Championships, at Burghley, Britain fielded a team of highly experienced riders on well-proven horses and won the team championship by 181 points.

They had further successes at Gawler in Australia, in Poland, at the European Championships in Germany in 1987, and at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Team golds were won in the 1989 European Championships at Burghley, at Punchestown, Ireland, in 1991, and in the 1994 World Equestrian Games at The Hague. From 1993 to 1998 he was equestrian tour director for the travel company Abercrombie & Kent, leading groups of riders on treks in many countries.

Patrick Beresford is survived by his son and daughter.

Lord Patrick Beresford, born 16th June 1934, died 18th March 2020.

Colonel Duncan Boyd Late The Blues and Royals

Colonel Duncan Boyd died on the 9th June aged 88 following a brief illness.

Duncan joined the Royal Dragons in 1952, aged 21. During his time in the Royals he served in Egypt, Malaya, UK and BAOR covering various posts from MTO, Signals Officer, Ops Officer, Adjutant and Squadron Leader. During the amalgamation of the Royals with the Royal Horse Guards, Duncan was serving at the Armoured Trials and Development Unit (ATDU). From here he was posted to The Life Guards as Regimental second in command with particular responsibility for their conversion to Chieftain Main Battle Tanks (MBT). This tour which was regarded as a great success as The Life Guards had never worked on MBTs before and Duncan’s input was critical to a successful conversion.

In 1971 he moved back to ATDU and was promoted Lt Col, working as Project Manager on various aspects, technical and doctrinal of AFV design. He was a senior player in the development of both Chieftain and Challenger in particular the Weaponry aspects of the turrets. He was also heavily involved in the conversion from Chieftain to Challenger 1 as a Lt Col and later (from 1981) as a full Colonel.

Duncan retired from the Army on 15th April 1987. Our deepest condolences go to his beloved wife Anne and their family.

Captain R C Bucknall

Late Coldstream Guards and 1st The Royal Dragoons

by his son Lieutenant General Sir James Bucknall KCB CBE, Coldstream Guards

Robin Bucknall was one of a number of Guardsmen who joined their regiments at the end of the War and subsequently transferred to the Cavalry in the restructuring following the disbandment of the Guards Armoured Division. He lived a wonderfully full life and died peacefully at home on 27th December, aged 94, the last man standing of his January 1945 intake at the Guards Depot.

Robin was born on 16 December 1926. He attended West Downs Preparatory School, as did his father and his three sons, before going to Winchester. He thrived there, representing the school at cross-country running and playing Winchester Football for the Old Tutor Houses XV.

His early life was not easy. He did not see much of his parents for long periods, partly because his father was posted to the Canadian Staff College in the 1930s, taking his mother and sister with him, and partly because of the War – his father commanded 5th Infantry Division in Sicily and Italy and 30th Corps on D Day and in the early months of the Normandy Campaign. He and his brother, Jeffrey, were brought up to a large extent by their grandparents. His mother died when he was 17; he subsequently lost his brother, killed in action in Korea.

He reported to the Guards Depot, Caterham in January 1945 and was commissioned into the Coldstream in September, joining the 1st Battalion then serving as part of 5th Guards Brigade near Cologne, subsequently moving to Schleswig Holstein. This was an army of occupation, in the twilight zone of war and peace, guarding prisoners of war and governing local regions, a very different experience from the hard fighting of only a few months before. On a combined live firing exercise with the 5th Battalion, Robin recalled the evident reluctance of the veterans to dig in following an assault; so, the decision was taken to bring in mortar fire to within yards of the position which soon had the Guardsmen burrowing like miners. His service with the 1st Battalion included a deployment to Berlin where the officers were a little surprised to be descended upon by an audit team to inspect the Mess accounts, which at that time comprised a blackboard, some illegible chalkwork and a number of IOUs stuffed in a drawer.

Robin had many close friends in the Coldstream but had always harboured a penchant for armoured soldiering and he transferred to the Royal Dragoons in 1947. Much of his service was again in Germany: in Wolfenbuttel, Wesendorf, near Celle, and latterly in Herford. He deployed to the Canal Zone with the Regiment in 1951, the Regiment’s armoured cars being impounded by customs on arrival at Cairo docks following the discovery of copious supplies of whisky concealed in the ammunition bins. He served as the Regimental Gunnery

Officer and as Adjutant of the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry in Fife. These were happy days with great friends but he decided to retire in 1958.

He was a soldier through and through. If the Coldstream were his head, the Royals were his heart. He remained very close to the Royals and was a leading light for many years on its dining committee. He was hugely proud that his sons and grandsons followed in his footsteps, Charlie into the Blues and Royals and the remainder into the Coldstream, five in all. Diana simply observed that all the family had ever done was to breed cannon fodder for the front.

On leaving the Army, Robin joined British Seagull, based in Poole, as overseas sales director, selling their iconic outboard engines across the world. He subsequently joined the Game Conservancy based in Fordingbridge. Serving as its Membership Secretary for many years, he drummed up support and funding for a cause he believed passionately in, doing much to restructure and galvanise the organisation.

Robin fitted a huge amount into his life. He fenced and played Polo in the Army, skied, hunted with the Ledbury; he shot and latterly had many happy years picking up – he loved his Labradors and they only had eyes for him; he fished for salmon in Scotland, painted remarkably well, had a passion for steam railways, and for sailing. He was an ocean racer, completing the Fastnet race many times. Every summer, the family would spend a fortnight sailing in the Solent. This was always an adventure, including running aground in virtually every port on the South Coast - once off Brownsea Island on the highest tide for 300 years, stuck on the mud for 12 hours, after which Diana, of a non-seafaring persuasion, famously pronounced: ‘I don’t care if I never see you or your bloody boat again!’

Robin was enormous fun; he had an extensive fund of jokes and stories, which usually had him laughing uncontrollably well ahead of the punchline. He was always engaging, always interested, always with a twinkle in his eye. He loved a party: a dance, a hunt ball, a Regimental dinner, or a long, well lubricated, family lunch. Things were done in style – generally glass in hand. He and Diana organised many happy trips with their friends to Egypt, India, Africa, taking boats down the Danube or the Rhine.

Diana was the rock in his life. He fell in love after meeting her at a party for the Queen’s Coronation in 1953, proposing three weeks later (‘I will think about it’ came the shrewdly, hardto-get reply). She was the perfect foil for him for 66 happy years, perpetually by his side, keeping his feet on the ground, challenging gently, leading and supporting him. Together they were a wonderful team.

Robin was proud of his family, his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He loved sharing in their successes, supporting in their disappointments, and rehearsing some of his oldest jokes on them. He was not one to show emotion – he never talked about his mother, and he

simply bottled up the grief of Charlie’s, his oldest son’s death, who died in the saddle as Master of the Percy three years ago.

Robin lived his life to the full; a doer, with immense style and enthusiasm. He was a gentleman, even when dementia set in and his memory started to let him down. A wonderful grandfather, father and husband; a great friend to many.

Captain James Bucknall

Late The Blues and Royals

by Lieutenant Colonel Robin Bucknall RM

JamesWilliam Legg Bucknall died peacefully in his sleep at home on 6th October 2020 aged 77. Born on 6th January 1943 to Bertram and Wendy Bucknall, he grew up in Somerset and Devon and was educated at Hawtrey’s Prep School and Radley (1956-1961).

On leaving school, James was persuaded by Captain Robin Bucknall (the son of Lieutenant General Gerard Corfield Bucknall) to join the Royal Dragoons, principally he claimed because the Regiment would allow him to have his horse with him: a primary consideration in many of his life decisions. He commissioned into the Regiment on 21 December 1962.

The Royal Dragoons had just returned from Malaya to Tidworth and spent much of the following year converting from Saladin and Ferret armoured cars to Centurion tanks and in October 1963 the Regiment exercised their privilege to march through the City of London. Rising tensions and intercommunal violence between Greek and Turkish Cypriots necessitated the reinforcement of the British Forces in Cyprus to keep the peace and C and A Squadrons quickly reconverted back to Ferrets and deployed to RAF Akrotiri in February 1964.

Shortly after their arrival, the role of keeping the peace in Cyprus was handed over to the United Nations and for a period James wore the blue beret of the UN before returning to UK in early April. Later that year an unfortunate incident on Salisbury Plain, which occasioned the Adjutant’s mangled Land Rover to emerge from under the front of his reversing Centurion tank (much to the amusement of the Gurkha soldiers riding on the back deck), short-listed Lieutenant Bucknall ‘to a cast of one’ for a 2-year secondment to the Sultan of Oman’s Armed Forces. Following a 3-month intensive Arabic language course in Aden, James joined B Company the Northern Frontier Regiment under Maj Hamish Emsley MC (late Royal Marines) and took command of a mixed platoon of Omani and Baluch soldiers.

Initially based for some 6-months on the remote Jebal Akhdar (the epicentre of the 1954-59 uprising and accessible only on foot) James then participated in the second-ever wheeled transport crossing of the Omani interior from Muscat to Salalah, over 650 miles, at a time when Oman boasted just 3 miles of Tarmac road between Muscat and the port of Muttra. This latter part of his secondment saw B Company deployed on operations to tackle the emerging insurgency in the Dhofar,

where sadly, on 24th May 1966 Maj Emsley was killed, whilst on patrol, in a Rocket Propelled Grenade attack on his Land Rover.

In 1967, James married Anne Woolcott, whom he had met in Aden. After a short period in Germany with the Regiment, they were posted to the Royal Military College of Science, Shrivenham to complete an in-service Degree in Applied Science, which remained a source of enormous pride throughout his life. By this time, the Troubles in Northern Ireland were in full swing and on completion of his degree in 1971, he was posted to Antrim as a plain-clothes Intelligence Officer, complete with flared trousers and large sideburns. He fondly recollected being roundly chastised by the President of the RAF Aldergrove Officers’ Mess for having archly observed in the suggestions book ‘that swede is not an officers’ vegetable!’

James retired from the Army on medical grounds in August 1972, whereupon he returned to his beloved Devon and bought a small farm on the edge of Dartmoor National Park, which was to be his home for the remainder of his life. In October 1974 James married his second wife Susie Willmott and together they set about building a life around farming, raising a family and a shared love of horses. To supplement the sporadic income from various ‘optimistic’ farming enterprises, James became a semi-reluctant Estate Agent and proficient, (if idiosyncratic) builder, carpenter, hedge layer, plumber, dry stone waller and self-sufficient jack of all trades.

In retirement, James rekindled his love of the Arabic language and re-visited Oman in 2010. On a visit to the Jebal Akhdar he was delighted to discover the storehouse hut he had commandeered as his accommodation some 40 years previously remained standing in a barracks that had changed little in the intervening period.

James was a dedicated member of the South Devon Hunt and would ride out as often as he could, whatever the weather, frequently being one of the last to return. He took immense pleasure in being invited to be Field Master and dedicatedly served as a well-liked and respected member and Chairman of the Hunt Committee for several years. James continued to hunt, much to the admiration of the field, at breakneck speed and with the reckless daring-do of a man half his age until the week before he died. A countryman at heart, he was never happier than when rounding-up stray cattle from the Moor astride his home reared horse ‘Splash’ in the company of his beloved collie Jake.

He is survived by Susie and his children Robin (a serving Royal Marines officer from his first marriage), Kate, Sarah and Harry.

Jack Charlton OBE World Cup winner with England

With acknowledgement to The Daily Telegraph

Jack Charlton was a pivotal member of England’s World Cup-winning side of 1966. Jack, 6ft 3in, was the robust central defender.

John Charlton was born at Ashington, Northumberland, on May 8 1935, the eldest of four sons. Bobby would be born two years later. The boys’ father, Bob, was a quiet, determined coal miner and spent his entire working life underground (even missing the 1966 World Cup semi-final for fear of losing a day’s pay). The household was dominated by their mother, Elizabeth (née Milburn), always known as Cissie.

Jack Charlton

CREDIT: Stewart Fraser/Colorsport

Crucially, Cissie Charlton ensured that football ran in the blood of her sons. Her great-grandfather, grandfather and father had all played for top-ranked Northumberland sides, and all four of her brothers played professionally.

Jack grew up wandering the countryside around Ashington, trapping small animals and fishing, a passion that would endure his whole life. He was, he later said, ‘always getting into scrapes. I was the best fighter in the street.’ ‘Jack,’ his mother confirmed, ‘was full of devilment.’

He was educated at Hirst North Primary School and went on to Hirst Park secondary modern. On the pitch he was already being wholly outshone by his younger brother, who played for England schoolboys and was courted by a host of clubs.

Jack was not even in the frame for his county side, let alone his country. Rather it was his size, strength, and family ties to the club that tempted a Leeds scout to approach him after a game for Ashington YMCA.

But, warned off by Cissie, who did not think him good enough to become a professional, Jack turned the offer of a trial at Elland Road down. Instead, as his school career ended, he headed for the coal pits. Initially his work kept him above ground, but as soon as he was sent into the mine itself he realised that it was not the job for him. After a single day underground, he resigned. ‘I’ve seen it, I’ve done, I’ve had enough,’ he told his colliery manager. ‘I don’t know what I’m going to do with the rest of my life, but it won’t be that.’

He was on the point of joining the police when another offer of a trial arrived from Leeds.

Having seen the realities of coal mining, Jack Charlton was quick to accept this second offer, anything was better than being a 6ft-plus miner. He started on the ground staff weeding the pitch. He would eventually make 773 appearances for the club.

Leeds were then in the Second Division and, as a 16-year-old in the third team, Jack played in the Yorkshire League, often against miners whose tackling was fearsome. This toughening regime, he would later say, was the making of him.

The day after his 17th birthday he was offered a contract, £14 a week plus a £10 signing-on fee. He played his first game for the first team on 24th April 1953, against Doncaster Rovers.

His league career was almost immediately interrupted by

National Service, which he did with The Royal Horse Guards at Windsor. Just a Trooper, he was nonetheless made captain of the Army team, and had his first taste of management, organising training and securing fellow players ‘cushy’ jobs and winning the Cavalry Cup in West Germany. But his success in the Army ensured that the diligent young man who had left Leeds returned over-confident. Charlton took to dressing down team-mates on the pitch.

Part of the problem was that training was non-existent, consisting solely of running up the long side of the pitch and walking the short, before a seven-a-side game in the tarmac car park. ‘Nobody taught you anything, and nobody learned anything,’ said Charlton. ‘It was ridiculous and I got bloody fed up with it.’ Despite this, Leeds won promotion to the First Division in 1956. Leeds struggled in the top flight and when the team played Manchester United, Jack was forced to defend against his fleet-footed brother. On one occasion, at Elland Road, Bobby nutmegged Jack, who turned with the words ‘come back you little bugger’.

Leeds were relegated in 1960, and the following year appointed Don Revie, a centre-forward who had joined in 1958, as playermanager. In his first season in charge the club only avoided relegation on the last day of the season. But over the next two years he transformed the team’s fortunes, founded on a solid central-defensive partnership between Charlton and Norman Hunter.

Under Revie’s stewardship training routines became more sophisticated. The players became fitter, their tactics better. Jack Charlton blossomed from bruiser to on-field organiser. In 1964 Leeds were promoted back to the First Division, and over the next decade they never finished out of the top four. Jack Charlton was finally part of a club that could rival Manchester United.

In 1965 Leeds beat United in the semi-final of the FA Cup, and after the game the news came through that Alf Ramsey had picked Jack Charlton, then almost 30, for the England squad. He became recognised as the finest centre-half in the country alongside Bobby Moore, tough and particularly strong in the air. His job for England was simple: win the ball at the back and give it to Moore.

The Charltons were the first siblings to play for England since Frank and Fred Forman had taken the field together in 1899. A 1-0 victory against West Germany cemented his place in the World Cup squad. Bobby Charlton ignited England’s 1966 campaign with a blistering shot against Mexico in the group stage, then the team edged 10-man Argentina in a deeply unpleasant quarter-final. After the whistle, with England in the last four, the Argentines threw a chair through the door of the England dressing room. ‘Send them in,’ Jack shouted as the police arrived. ‘I’ll fight them all.’

The semi-final against Portugal was a contrast for the brothers. Bobby ran the game and scored both England goals; Jack handled a Torres header and gave away a penalty. But the side held on to claim a place in the final, and then the tournament itself. At the moment that England won the cup, Jack sank to his knees and buried his head in his hands. ‘I don’t think I actually said a conscious prayer. It was just relief at the end of two hours of football. I was knackered.’

His club career began to echo that international success. In 1967 he was named Footballer of the Year; the following year Leeds won the League Cup and Fairs Cup. In 1969, the club were First Division champions.

After the World Cup he played on for three years with Leeds,

adding an FA Cup-winner’s medal in 1972 to his haul of honours. The following season, after struggling to recover from injury, he retired aged 38.

He moved immediately into management with Middlesbrough. Having led the club to promotion to the First Division he put defence first to keep them there. Despite success and a growing reputation, he was frustrated by the team’s inability to challenge for a major trophy and resigned in 1977.

He returned to club football with the Third Division side Sheffield Wednesday, who he soon helped to promotion. He left in 1983 for Middlesbrough, briefly, then Newcastle. In 1985 he resigned. Within months he had been recruited by the Irish FA.

Charlton remained with Ireland until 1996. His first major scalp was beating England in the 1988 European Championship in West Germany. It was the first of many giant-killing acts to come. At the celebration that followed the 1-0 victory Charlton allowed the players to let their hair down ‘with a few pints’. At the 1990 World Cup in Italy, Charlton led his talented squad to a quarter-final, which they lost 1-0 to the hosts. To get so far was an unparalleled success for the Irish national side, whose players and manager were hailed heroes on their return.

In the subsequent World Cup, in 1994 in the US, Ireland beat Italy in the group stages, losing to a talented Dutch side in the second round. In the same year Charlton was awarded the Freedom of the City of Dublin.

In retirement Charlton’s involvement in the game was limited to television appearances. He devoted himself to the passions of his childhood, fishing and the outdoors. A statue of him at Cork Airport features him in his fishing gear.

He was appointed OBE and made an honorary citizen of Ireland, and in 2019 was made a Freeman of Leeds. Jack Charlton married, in 1958, Pat (née Kemp), with whom he had a daughter and two sons.

Jack Charlton, born 8th May 1935, died 10th July 2020.

With thanks to the Dorset Branch of the Association

The winter of 1946/47 was one of the worst on record, ice, snow and sub-zero temperatures for days at a time. Combine this with the austerity of two post-war years of rationing and restructure, there was little to be upbeat about. However, born 14th May 1947 at Brighton Hospital to Winifred and Walter Triggs was their second son – John, brother Phillip being born five years earlier.

Early years saw John schooled not 100 yards away from his front door in Hove and he said that was why he was always late for things, even HM The Queen once –but he got away with it. Due to his mother’s health the boys spent a lot of time in Dorset at their Aunt and Uncles village

of Rampisham where Uncle Ollie was the Farm Manager. This wetted John’s appetite for farming and when the opportunity came up to attend selection for an agricultural boarding school in Rye, he jumped at it and was successful. Three years there taught him the digestion system of pigs, cows and chickens, the rotation cycle of crops and how to race tractors and finally how to make and smoke roll-up cigarettes.

Come 1963 it was time to leave school and with a well wasted Grammar School education he achieved a B pass in GCE Agricultural Science – and nothing else. School finished on the Friday and on the Monday, he started work on his Uncle Ollie’s new farm near Battle in Sussex. After three years life seemed dull, boring, poor and uneventful when a chance meeting in Brighton one day with an old school chum got him thinking about service life. Within a month at the ripe old age of 19 and a half, he took the ‘Queens Shilling’ into the 1st Royal Dragoons as a tank driver – whatever that was. Off to Catterick for training and then to Germany with the Regiment. It was almost like being back at school but better food, money and factory-made cigarettes. Mucking about on tanks of assorted types and roles saw John progress to Lance Corporal and the pleasures of the Corporals Mess.

Amalgamation came and went and at 23 years old he met Sandra in Germany when she was visiting and they married in 1972. Postings and promotions followed as did their children. Timothy, Joanne and Mark and with promotion concluding in Warrant Officer Class 1. An interesting and instigative posting into Army Personal Selection Group and based at Corsham Wiltshire started off his routine of posting and somewhere along the line he was awarded the BEM while at his first tour of the RAC Signals School. Little jobs here and there in Jamaica, Canada, Middle East and UK occupied him some of the time with him wiggling wires, codes, control rooms and mugs of tea, while the family stayed in quarters. The final five years saw the family in Dorset with John fulfilling the best job he ever had, as RCMI at the Signals School and the family living in their house in Poole.

1990 the Walls were tumbling down in Europe and despite being offered more continuance of service, he decided after 25 years’ in the Army to join the real world. With the family home well established in Poole, he initially worked for Cluttons, surveyors, as an urban estate manager in London, but the daily commute was just too much, so he resigned and found himself working for Dorset Police. Again, he was in a comfortable environment with like minded souls and life was good. The early demise of regimental chum John McEvoy saw him take up the role of Treasure of the Household Cavalry Association - Dorset and then later the Secretariat too.

Life rumbled on and the option of early retirement came up in 2007 which John gladly took with a view that Sandra would also soon retire, and they could share their time between England and Germany, where daughter Joanne and families now lived. They bought the house next to them and started to renovate it back to a habitable standard.

John was a social people person who enjoyed seeing people enjoy themselves, a lively imagination saw him design and raise £22000+ for charities over the years by way of annual auctions within the Associations. He started the Waterloo Dinner for ex-Royal Dragoons annually in London and drove up the Wintle Dinner, another annual dinner based in London. He said he had to keep mentally busy, especially when the cancer started to bite. Family was epicenter to his life and with children around the world, and next door, there are some 14 grandchildren he loved to tease and tickle, and as they got older – engage with about life and their futures.

John Triggs BEM

An invited to a ‘Well Man’ medical at his local GP surgery in 2008 identified some potential problems and further investigation saw the start of a long journey with cancer in its various forms. Without the love and support of Sandra and the ‘Trigglets’ he readily admits it would have been an impossible journey.

With acknowledgement to The Daily Telegraph

Michael Russell, who has died in Norfolk aged 86, was a publisher, wit and author, especially notable in the latter capacity for writing the spoof memoir Fly Fishing: Memories of Angling Days (1991), by J R Hartley.

The genesis of this book was a series of television advertisements for the Yellow Pages telephone directory during the 1980s. In them a charming old man searches in vain for J R Hartley’s mythical masterpiece, until finally his daughter advises him to consult Yellow Pages, in which all local bookshops are listed. After that, of course, no trouble.

It was the publisher Roddy Bloomfield, then at Random House, who came up with the idea of making the fictional J R Hartley’s non-existent book a reality. And it was an additional inspiration that he should turn to his brilliant friend Michael Russell for the fulfilment of this plan.

Certainly Michael Russell, drawing on childhood memories of fishing holidays in Yorkshire, was able to adopt the perfect tone for J R Hartley’s reminiscences.

Yet the air he conveyed of relaxed and gentlemanly ease was deceptive: the company, after all, survived 43 years. In truth, Michael Russell possessed extremely shrewd judgement as to which books would sell in which shops.

Furthermore, as he explained in Good Moments (1992), his delightful memoir about the business, he understood that ‘the cost of producing a decently laid-out book is more or less the same as producing something that looks a mess.’

Of course, there were hitches. Michael Russell delighted in the van driver who returned to base with a full van load of books, protesting that he had been unable to find London. Russell christened him ‘Pathfinder’: ‘He’d got to Staines, so he was getting warm.’

Michael Russell Publishing, by contrast, kept firmly on the right track. By 2020 the one-man company had produced more than 500 books.

Among these were two productions involving the Duke of Edinburgh: A Windsor Correspondence (1984) and Survival of Extinction (1989). Other notable works included Paul Theroux’s Sailing Through China (1983); and Diana Holman-Hunt’s The Artist and the Autocrat (1988), a biography of George and Rosalind Howard, Earl and Countess of Carlisle.

Richard Spitzy’s How We Squandered the Reich (1997) contained a memorable description of Hitler in top hat and tails, ‘like a cross between a head waiter and a chimney sweep.’

Michael Russell also had a shrewd eye for likely re-issues, such as, in 1984, Freya Stark’s Alexandra’s Path; in 1999 Diana Holman-Hunt’s My Grandmothers and I; and in 2003, James Lees-Milne’s Another Self

The younger of two brothers, Michael Russell was born on 30th May 1933, the son of a solicitor in Bournemouth. He crested the hurdles of education with ease, winning scholarships to Rugby and Christ Church.

At Oxford, however, academic ambition deserted him, as he registered an Aegrotat in Mods and a Fourth in Greats.

This was partly due to bad health. In truth, though, the study of Latin and Greek had been annihilated by the excitements of the Turf. Michael Russell developed a spasmodically successful betting system, which enabled him in prosperous periods to drive a Rolls-Royce and pay tribute to elegance: shirts from Turnbull & Asser; shoes from Poulsen Skone.

After Oxford came National Service. Michael Russell was commissioned in the Blues and served in Cyprus, where for some time he fell seriously ill.

On the Turf, however, he progressed from betting to ownership, achieving a notable triumph when his horse Jacintha won the Ayr Gold Cup in 1957.

In London, however, reality impinged, as Michael Russell attempted to establish himself in publishing. For a while he was an agent with London International Press; later he set up on his own account.

In 1973 Michael Russell joined the printing company run by Julian Berry at nearby Compton Chamberlayne, in order to develop a publishing business under the name Compton Russell.

Their output included The Collected Letters of Freya Stark, edited in five volumes by Lucy Moorhead; William Beckford by James Lees-Milne, and A Year of Birds, poems by Iris Murdoch illustrated by Reynolds Stone.

In 1977, however, the creation of Michael Russell Publishing betokened sole and undivided command. The difficulty now was that expenses at Wilton had mushroomed after the expiry of the original lease of the Chantry in 1984.

In 1991, flush with royalties from J R Harling’s Fly Fishing, as well as with an inheritance from Minty Russell’s father, the family and the business moved permanently to Wilby Hall, near Thetford in Norfolk.

Michael and Minty Russell (who died in 2011) had a daughter and two sons. Lorna is a publisher; Alexander Chief Executive Officer at the London Clinic; and Francis runs his own design company.

Michael Russell, born 30th May 1933, died 25th March 2020.

Michael Russell

Russell: an air of relaxed and gentlemanly ease

NOTICES

Information for members of both The Life Guards and The Blues and Royals

Communication

Correspondence for both Associations should be addressed to:

The Honorary Secretary (LG or RHG/D Assn) Home Headquarters Household Cavalry Combermere Barracks Windsor, Berkshire SL4 3DN

General Office: 01753 755290

E-Mail for Home HQ is: homehq@householdcavalry.co.uk

E-Mail for Secretary LG Assn is: lg.regsec@householdcavalry.co.uk

E-Mail for Secretary RHG/D Assn is: rhg-d.regsec@householdcavalry.co.uk

Recruiting and Admission procedures for In-Pensioners Royal Hospital Chelsea

The Royal Hospital Chelsea are currently reviewing their recruiting and admission procedures as they now believe there may be some senior citizens with military experience who might be eligible to become InPensioners but who are not aware of the eligibility criteria or what being a Chelsea Pensioner means. To be eligible for admission as a Chelsea Pensioner, a candidate must be:

• Over 65 years of age

• Either a former non-commissioned officer or soldier of the British Army; or a former officer of the British Army who served for at least 12 years in the ranks before obtaining a commission; or have been awarded a disablement pension while serving in the ranks.

• Able to live independently in the sheltered accommodation (known as Long Wards). The Royal Hospital does not usually accept direct entries in to the Infirmary.

• Free of any financial obligation to support a spouse or family.

If you are in receipt of an Army Service Pension or War Disability Pension you will be required to surrender it upon entry to the Royal Hospital. Please note that if your Army Service or War Disability Pension does not meet a minimum threshold you will be required to ‘top-up’ to that amount,

providing it does not place you in financial difficulty.

If you have access to the internet more information can be found here: http://www.chelsea-pensioners. co.uk/eligibility-how-apply

Or you may ring for more information on 020 7881 5204

Data Protection

Changes to Data Protection laws require individuals to grant permission to Home HQ to store personal data. If you have yet done so, please call Home Headquarters so that they may guide you through the process.

Change of Home Address

Members are requested to inform us, through Home Headquarters Household Cavalry, of any change in your address. Every year both Associations lose touch with a number of members who have failed to notify us of those changes. Any correspondence returned will result in that member being placed in the non-effective part of the database.

Your E-Mail Addresses

Notification of changes to your E-mail address is as important as changes to your postal address. Please keep us informed of these also.

Regimental Items for Sale

PRI shops at Powle Lines, Picton Barracks, and at Hyde Park Barracks only hold stock for serving soldiers. Various items with Regimental Cyphers are available from the Museum at Horse Guards. It is recommended that enquiries are directed to the Household Cavalry Museum Shop at Horse Guards which may be contacted on 020 7930 3070 or you can visit their web site at: householdcavalrymuseum.org.uk. Should you be unable to find what you want, contact Home HQ for further information.

Websites

The MoD official Household Cavalry Website can be found at: https://www.army.mod.uk/ who-we-are/corps-regiments-andunits/royal-armoured-corps /household-cavalry.

lg1660.proboards.com A web

Associations

site for former members of The Life Guards. To register follow the link above.

The Household Cavalry Associations website is: householdcavalry.co.uk

The Queen’s Birthday Parade and Reviews

The Queen’s Birthday Parade is being planned to go ahead however many options are being considered and all will depend what COVID-19 restrictions are in place nearer to the dates already published.

Combined Cavalry Parade and Service

The 97th Combined Cavalry Old Comrades Association will take place on Sunday 9th May the format for the parade is still TBC and will depend on COVID-19 national guidelines.

Helpful Contacts

The following is a list of organisations which members may find useful for future reference.

Veterans-UK (0808 1914 2 18)

The Ministry of Defence’s Veterans UK helpline provides assistance on many issues including benefits, housing and welfare.

Veterans UK helpline

Veterans UK Ministry of Defence

Norcross Thornton Cleveleys FY5 3WP

Email: veterans-uk@mod.gov.uk

Freephone (UK only): 0808 1914 2 18

Telephone (overseas): +44 1253 866 043

Normal Service 8.00 am to 4.00 pm Monday to Friday

When the helpline is closed, callers in need of immediate emotional support will be given the option to be routed to The Samaritans 24-hour helpline.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

They have an excellent website which can be searched using basic details, for information about the final resting place of war dead at home and overseas. Their site can be found at www.cwgc.org

Officers’ Association (OA) and OA, Scotland

Helps ex-officers in financial distress, provides homes for disabled officers and families, and operates a residential home in Devon. It also assists ex-Officers to find suitable employment after leaving the Service. To make an Employment enquiry in England call 020 3761 6343 and a Welfare Enquiry call 020 7808 4175 alternatively visit their website at: http://www.officersassociation.org.uk in Scotland call 0131 550 575 or visit their website: https://www.oascotland.org.uk/

The Royal British Legion (TRBL)

TRBL is the UK’s largest ex-service organisation with some 570,000 members. One of its objects is to promote the relief of need and to promote the education of all those who are eligible, their spouses, children and dependants. If you need help, you can contact the local TRBL branch near you (number in the local phone book), or the national Legion help line on 0808 802 8080 or visit their website at: www.britishlegion.org. uk/about-us/who-we-are/get-in-touch

SSAFA Forces Help

SSAFA-FH exists to help, according to need, all men and women serving, or who have served at any time, in the Armed Forces of the Crown, their families and dependants. Local branches of SSAFA Forces Help can be found in the local phone book or from the Citizens’ Advice Bureau or contact the Central Office at: 020 7463 9200 or visit their website at: www.ssafa.org.uk.

SSAFA Forces Help - Recruitment

SSAFA Forces Help need more volunteers from each Association to be Casework Supporters who are visitors, treasurers, administrators and fundraisers. 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 out-of-pocket expenses are paid. Job satisfaction is guaranteed. If you can spare a little time for a ‘comrade’ please contact:

Branch Recruitment Office

4 St Dunstan’s Hill Billingsgate London EC3R 8AD

Email: volunteer.support@ssafa.org.uk Tel: 020 7463 9200

Haig Homes

Haig Homes have some 1500 homes throughout the country for letting exclusively to ex-regulars and their families on assured tenancies. For details of where properties are located and application forms contact them at 020 8685 5777 or through www.haighomes.org.uk

The Ex-Services Mental Welfare Society (Combat Stress)

For nearly 80 years it has been the only organisation specialising in the care of men and women of all ranks discharged from the Armed Services who suffer from injury of the mind. The Society has three short stay treatment centres that specialise in providing treatment for those who need help in coping with their psychological problems. For more information and full contact details for regional offices telephone the Head Office on 01372 841600 or visit their website at: www.combatstress.org.uk

The British Limbless Ex-Servicemen’s Association (BLESMA)

The object of the Association is to promote the welfare of all those who have lost a limb or limbs, or use of limbs, or one or both eyes as a result of their service in the Forces and to assist needy dependants of such Service limbless. It will also help those Ex-Servicemen who lose a leg after Service. For more details contact them on 020 8590 1124 or visit their website at: www.blesma.org

Blind Veterans UK

Blind veterans UK, formerly St Dunstan’s, cares for Ex-Servicemen who have lost their sight for any reason (even after leaving the Service). For more information contact 0300 111 22 33 or visit their website at: www.blindveterans.org.uk

Regular Forces Employment Association (RFEA)

Provide employability and employment support to working age veterans in the UK. To provide support to veterans throughout life including those who have served for a short time and are in the 18-24 year old age range, through to older veterans. The over 50’s are increasingly recognised as facing greater challenges in finding employment. To find out more contact 0121 262 3058 or at www.rfea.org.uk

Veterans Aid

Previously known as the Ex-Service Fellowship Centres (EFC) whose

aims are to relieve distress among ex-servicemen of all ranks and their widows or widowers who, at the time of application for assistance, are unemployed, homeless or for reasonable cause in need. They can be contacted at 020 7828 2468. Their website is at: www.veterans-aid.net

Ministry of Defence (MOD) Medal Office

There is now one Medal Office, which covers all three Services and they be contacted as follows:

The Ministry of Defence Medal Office Innsworth House, Imjin Barracks Innsworth, Gloucester Gloucester GL3 1HW

Email: dbs-medals@mod.gov.uk

Fax: 0141 224 3586

Free Phone: 0800 085 3600

Overseas Civ: +44 (0) 141 224 3600

For additional information about medals visit: www.veterans-uk.info

Cyprus GSM Clasp – 1963-64

As a result of an Independent Medal review conducted by Lt Gen Sir John Holmes a General Service Medal is available for those qualifying between 21st December 1963 and 26th March 1964. This is relevant to some Household Cavalrymen.

Veterans Badges

Men and Women who enlisted in HM Armed Forces between 3rd September 1945 to date are entitled to a Veterans Badge. There is no qualifying length of Service. You can download a form from the Veterans Agency Website at https://www.gov.uk/apply-medal-orveterans-badge

Army Personnel Records and Family Interest Enquiries - Historical Disclosures

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) keeps the records of former members of our Armed Forces for administrative use after their discharge. A Subject Access Requests (SAR) form needs to be completed in order to access records for all ranks in the Army that served after 1920. The following address should be used for ex-soldiers wishing to access their personal records:

Army Personnel Centre, Disclosure 2, Mail Point 515, Kentigern House, 65 Brown Street, Glasgow, G2 8EX Tel: 0845 600 9663

The following address should be used for family members wishing to access records of deceased soldiers:

Army Personnel Centre, Historical Disclosures, Mail Point 400, Kentigern House, 65 Brown Street, Glasgow, G2 8EX

The following personnel Service records have been transferred to the National Archive (formerly the Public Record Office) and are available for public access.

• Army Officers commissioned prior to 1920

• Army Other Ranks that enlisted prior to 1920

Service records which pre-date those held by the MOD have been transferred to the National Archive and are freely available for public access. However the National Archives is not resourced to carry out searches. Enquirers are instead welcome to visit, or hire an independent researcher - see the National Archive website for further details at http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ militaryhistory/

The Veterans Oyster Photocard

You can travel free at any time using your Veterans Oyster photocard on:

Bus - Travel free at any time on buses within London Tube, tram, DLR and London Overground showing the TFL symbol

You can apply for a Veterans Oyster photocard if you are:

• Receiving ongoing payments under the War Pensions Scheme in your name (this includes widows, widowers and dependants)

• Or receiving Guaranteed Income Payment under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme in your name (this includes widows, widowers and dependants)

Transport for London will not issue a Veterans Oyster photocard if you live in London and are eligible for the Freedom Pass. Visit: https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/ free-and-discounted-travel/veteransoyster-photocard or Oyster photocard team on 0845 331 9872 for further details and application.

Household Cavalry Charities

We are always extremely grateful if past and serving members of the Household Cavalry wish to make donations or leave legacies in their Wills to our principal charities.

To help you decide which of our charities you may wish to benefit, and how, please read the following summaries of the objects and payment details of the main Household Cavalry charities.

If you have any queries please ask the Secretary of your Regimental Association.

Household Cavalry Foundation (HCF) (Charity No 1151869)

www.hcavfoundation.org

HCF is now the umbrella organisation for all Household Cavalry charities and funds. The origin of the Foundation lies in the Household Cavalry Central Charitable Fund (Charity No 1013978), whose Declaration of Trust for this Fund was made on 10th February 1975. Its primary function then was to build up funds to deal with major regimental casualty incidents, and major events such as the Standards Parade. With the union of the two Regiments in 1992 the Declaration was re-issued on 6th August 1992.

Its primary source of income is from The Day’s Pay Scheme (formerly The One Day’s Pay Scheme) into which Household Cavalrymen voluntarily contribute (less musicians). A minimum of 51% of this income is passed to each Assn (LG and RHG/D) and that must be spent on the ‘welfare’ of retired members and their dependants who are in need. The HCF is here to support all the Household Cavalry family in times of need or distress with five noted pastoral care objectives:

1. Support for serving soldiers. The HCF aims to help serving Household Cavalry soldiers by providing funding for additional training, sporting activities, life-skills or educational opportunities with the assistance of the Regimental Welfare Officers external to those already provided by the Armed Forces. This will help to ensure that our troops remain motivated and dedicated to their careers within the Regiment or assist them in the transition to civilian life.

2. Caring for our casualties. Building on the excellent work of the Operational Casualties Fund,

Household Cavalry personnel who suffer either physical or mental injury during their service can rely upon the HCF to provide them with the best possible support. This help extends to families and dependants too, and can take many forms. Our core aim is to ensure that our personnel and their families are aware of and have full access to all possible existing welfare provision. Where these welfare systems are found to be insufficient, the HCF will provide funds and physical support to ensure that our casualties can confidently either return to their regimental duties or move into civilian life with the reassurance that they will be supported for as long as they may require it.

3. Welfare support for our Veterans. The HCF works closely with both The Life Guards and The Blues and Royals Associations, which both continue to conduct business in the usual way. We are extremely fortunate to benefit from the excellent communication networks and goodwill provided by the two Associations and thanks to this the HCF is able to increase the levels of help for former members of the Regiment in time of financial need or hardship. We look forward to continuing to liaise with Home Headquarters staff in ensuring that all of our veterans remain an integral and well supported part of our Regimental family.

4. Helping maintain our History and Heritage. The HCF is extremely proud of our Regimental history and ethos. The Household Cavalry Museum boasts locations at Horse Guards and Windsor, the latter acting as an educational source and additionally housing the unique archives, both of which will be of benefit to the HCF. The Charity will seek wherever possible to promote our Regiments’ unique heritage to a wider audience and help to maintain our physical artefacts and memorabilia for generations to come.

5. Horses remain at our heart. The Government does not provide funding for our horses in their retirement years. The HCF will help and work closely with external charities and individuals who ensure the welfare of our horses post service. In addition the Charity will provide, when necessary, funding to provide training for soldiers to ensure the highest levels of equitation and horse welfare are maintained.

Household Cavalry Museum Trust Limited (Charity Reg No 1108039)

Objects: to educate members of the general public and Household Cavalrymen about the regimental history of all regiments that now constitute the Household Cavalry, to preserve regimental memorabilia, and to operate the Museum at Horse Guards and the Archive at Windsor. In addition there is a trading fund, the Household Cavalry Museum Enterprises Limited (HCMEL), which handles the Horse Guards Museum trading as well as incorporating the stock for internet sales and in due course regimental PRIs. Items for military personnel would not be sold to non HCav personnel.

HCMEL is trading at a profit: profits from the Museum will go towards helping past and serving Household Cavalrymen and their dependants who are in financial hardship.

The Life Guards Association Charitable Trust (Charity No 229144) from 25th October 2010

This charity, established by a Scheme dated 25th October 2010, was formed from the previous three LG Association charities, namely the Helping Hand Fund, The Life Guards Charitable Trust and the Sir Roger Palmer Fund.

The objects of The Life Guards Association Charitable Trust are:

1. To relieve members or former members of The Life Guards (‘the Regiment’) or their dependants who are in need by virtue of financial hardship, sickness, disability or the effects of old age by:

a. making grants of money to them, or

b. providing or paying for goods, services or facilities for them including education or training, or

c. making grants of money to other persons or bodies who provide goods, services or facilities to those in need.

2. To promote the efficiency of the Regiment in any charitable way as the trustees from time to time may decide including, but not limited to:

a. maintaining and promoting contact between serving and former members of the Regiment and providing for social gatherings for them;

b. fostering esprit de corps, comradeship and the welfare of the Regiment and perpetuating its deeds and preserving its traditions;

c. providing and maintaining a memorial or memorials to those members of the Regiment who have died in the service of their country;

d. advancing the education of members of the Regiment;

e. promoting the advancement in life of members of the Regiment by the provision of assistance to enable such persons to prepare for or to assist their re-entry into civilian life.

The objects of the Association and the Charitable Trust are identical. They have separate legal identities for the purposes of clearer lines of

responsibility, especially important for management of the Trust’s funds. The new Trust’s objects were expanded to include all the reasons most regiments have a regimental association, including now also the overall object of promoting the ‘efficiency’ of the Regiment which simply means that the Association can support the serving Regiment more closely if it ever wishes to. Hitherto, the Association’s charitable trusts had no legal power to support the Regiment. The priority for any cash grants by the new Trust remains to help members and former members who are in need because of hardship.

Also, although the new Charity rules allowed the three old charities to be merged, the existing funds in the three charities were ‘ring-fenced’ so that they can only ever be used for hardship cases. This means, for example, they can never be used to pay for a memorial or a social function: only new money received after the establishment of the new Trust can be used towards any of the new ‘efficiency’ objects.

The Blues and Royals Association (Charity No: 229144)

The Blues and Royals Association is itself a registered charity reformed in 1968 after the amalgamation. Its aims are very much similar to those of LG Assn.

The Blues and Royals have two charities, The Blues and Royals Association (Charity No. 259191) and the Oliver Montagu Fund (Charity No. 256297) which have similar, but not identical, objects to The Life Guards Association Charitable Trust. The Oliver Montagu Fund has less restriction on how its funds may be spent. Also subsumed in RHG/D funds is The Rose Fund.

Belvoir Castle Exercise

President

Household Cavalry Association - Dorset

www.dorsetsquadron.co.uk

Email: Dorsetsquadron@aol.com

Facebook: Household Cavalry Association - Dorset

Lieutenant General

Sir Barnabas White-Spunner

formally The Blues and Royals

Chairman

Lt Col (Retd) Stuart Sibley MBE

formerly The Blue and Royals

Secretary and Treasurer

John Triggs BEM

formerly The Blues and Royals

Assistant Secretary

Mrs Ruth Appleby

Committee

Martin Batchelor

formerly The Blues and Royals

Fred Kemp

formerly Royal Horse Guards

Veg Kingham

formerly The Blues and Royals

Brian Murray

formerly The Blues and Royals

Bill Stephenson

formerly The Blues and Royals

Barry Woodley

formerly The Life Guards

As all the other Associations, Dorset Squadron was looking forward to an enjoyable and rewarding 2020. However, fate intervened and we were lucky to have been able to enjoy our first (and final) event of the year – our Spring dinner and dance in March at the Hotel Celebrity. We just managed a great weekend in Bournemouth before the whole of Europe went into lockdown (all except the UK at that time). As far as we can tell, no-one who attended succumbed to, or passed on, the dreaded virus although there were one or two who thoughtfully self-isolated with what turned out to be nasty colds.

Sixteen souls arrived on Thursday 12th March, full of expectation. On Friday, our numbers had swollen and 44 sat down to dinner, to the accompaniment of our regular Disco, the traditional quiz which put £30 in the Association coffers, and an exciting raffle. Saturday saw the main event in the evening with 61 members and guests attending, those who had long distances to travel wisely taking precautions and staying safe at home. Our regular Winter Warmer draw featured this evening, and 3 prizes were awarded including annual dinner

tickets, and short breaks at the hotel. After the departure of the majority on Sunday, the 13 members who just didn’t want to go home dined, slept and breakfasted prior to being ejected from the premises on Monday morning.

Let’s all hope that this serious and threatening situation with the Coronavirus doesn’t prevent our next planned celebration in March 2021. Stay safe everyone!

It is regrettable that the Coronavirus pandemic has prevented so many activities this year, in particular the remembrance parade at the Hyde Park memorial. As we enter 2021, let us try to put this year into perspective as a learning opportunity – not to take anything for granted, and to value our friends and comrades even more than we do now.

To end on a final note in every sense, it is with deep regret that we mark the passing on 26th November 2020 of a stalwart of the Dorset Squadron. John Triggs was, for many years, Treasurer and Secretary and his huge personality, invaluable and irreplaceable contributions to its success will be sorely missed.

Household Cavalry Association North Staffs Branch

President:

Lt Col (Retd) R R Griffin formerly The Life Guards

Vice President:

Capt P V R Thellusson formerly 1st Royal Dragoons

Chairman:

Mr B A Lewis formerly The Royal Horse Guards

Secretary:

Mr I J Taylor formerly The Royal Horse Guards

Treasurer:

Mr R Adams formerly Royal Horse Guards

Who could have imagined how the world has changed over this past year?

So many people’s lives have been changed, as has the work we do and the way we live.

In our case, much has changed at Branch

and Regimental level, with our social evenings being put on hold, as other Branches, and Regimental dinners and events put on hold or cancelled.

As our biggest event of the year, our annual Christmas dinner is not held until November, we hoped that by that time, we would be out of the woods, but that was not to be, and we left things until as late as possible before we had to cancel that too.

The Chairman and Secretary have been contacting members every few weeks to check on their wellbeing, and we are pleased to report that to date all of our members are observing the recommended precautions to the Coronavirus, it has been likened to being ‘Confined to barracks’!

Despite the inability to have our get togethers because of the social distancing, we managed to carry out a couple of duties. Although Remembrance parades had been put on hold, we manged to have a Remembrance service at our local cenotaph, observing social

distancing of course, and our Secretary was able to lay a wreath.

After the devastation to our memorial due to flooding at The National Memorial Arboretum, when all the name plaques had to be rescued, some replaced, and new plaque holders manufactured, a couple of our members were able to visit early in the year to make good the damage before the NMA had to close.

The NMA was only closed for a few weeks before it was open again but with limited numbers allowed to visit.

The Regimental Associations have agreed a contract for the NMA to be responsible for the maintenance of our memorials, which should take some of the work off the shoulders of our members. However, the maintenance contract does not include care of the name plaques, which could be an ongoing task.

Although the Remembrance service at the NMA had been cancelled, the

Secretary was able to make a visit, albeit a couple of days early to lay wreaths on both Regimental memorials.

By this time, the NMA maintenance was under way and our site looked quite tidy, as shown in the pictures.

Our serving colleagues on the armoured side have had a busy year, while having to contend with the Coronovirus situation, they are coming to terms with

their new location and new family of vehicles.

We wish our serving colleagues, both mounted and armoured, success in what they do best, and good health in these troubled times.

Any serving or former member of The Household Cavalry wishing to know more about us, contact: ianandann.taylor@btinternet/com

Household Cavalry Association North West and West Yorkshire

President

Lt Col The Hon R C Assheton TD DL

Chairman

Mr John McCarthy

formerly The Life Guards

Vice Chairman

Mr Kevin Lambert

formerly The Blues and Royals

Events and Treasurer

Mr Kevin Thompson

formerly The Life Guards

Secretary and Standard Bearer

Mr Rob Mather

formerly The Life Guards

Standard Bearer & Sub-Committee

Mr Lenny Key

formerly The Life Guards

Sub-Committee

Mr Peter Ditcham

Several Household Cavalry veterans and members of the branch took part in a charity walk around the Arnhem Battlefields and landmarks in Spring 2019, raising much needed funds for the charity Veterans Lifeline, which is

run by an ex Irish Guards WO2 Nick Perry. The event was well organised, and attended by a number of veterans and civilians from various backgrounds. Representing the Household Cavalry were Mark Bridgen (RGH/D), Charles Payne (RHG/D), Ian Allan (The Life Guards), Jules Hoggarth (The Life Guards), Rob Mather (The Life Guards),

Members of the Arnhem Charity event 2019

and Stephen Lord (RHG/D).

The walk spanned five days, and we based ourselves in a campsite near to Arnhem, covering approximately 92 miles to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the battle for Arnhem. The event was fun and enjoyable, despite a mini heat wave, and it was great to catch up with some old friends, and make new ones along the way. It was acknowledged that the only allied troops to make contact with the besieged at Arnhem were our forebearers in 2 HCR.

In December 2020, it was the branches sad privilege to attend the funeral of the late Oscar Airey (The Life Guards). Rob Mather, along with Lenny Key, proudly attending as the Standard Bearers. He was a lovely guy and true gentleman.

Please see obituaries section.

Future

Plans

In spring 2022 a large group of veterans (five HCR Veterans) will be taking part in the Hadrian’s Wall Challenge which involves walking with a professional guide company, the full breadth of the country along the famous wall route. This will be done in memory of Oscar Airey, but also to raise funds for the Household Cavalry Families office.

A personal message from the Branch Secretary

With the 30th anniversary of the 1st Gulf war, I would just like to say how proud I was to serve with such

an outstanding group of men, in A Squadron. Attached are two pictures to stir the memories, SHQ and the whole of A Squadron. Hope everybody is keeping well, and looking forward to the anniversary dinner in London in September 2021. In addition, I will be donating two Challenger 1 Cast Bronze tank presentations to the Household Cavalry Museum in Windsor later in 2021.

Finally, if you would like to get in touch with Household Cavalry Veterans from the Life Guards or The Blues and Royals who are based in and around the North West of England or wider a field for whatever reason, please contact us below, or join our Facebook page.

Rob Mather Branch Secretary

Tel: 07818 828286

Email: orders@fatchimp.co.uk

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ groups/Householdcavalryarmoured

‘Once a Household Cavalryman always a Household Cavalryman.’

Standards Bearers attending the funeral of Oscar Airey.

Left to right: Mark Hubble (LG), Lenny Key (LG), Rob Mather (LG), Franco Gasparotti (CG), Trevor Ashton (LG)

A Squadron The Life Guards - Gulf War 1

A Squadron The Life Guards - SHQ - Endex Gulf War 1

Summit Mont Blanc – Mission Accomplished!

7th February 2021

Last year Captain (Retd) Alistair Galloway, formerly The Life Guards, planned an expedition to climb and summit Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Europe and the Alps, to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis UK, St Joseph’s Hospice, The Household Cavalry Foundation, and the University of St Andrews.

Despite planning and training for most of the year through a pandemic, and a postponement from June to September 2021, Alistair, the Guide, and his team eventually stood on top of the Summit of Mont Blanc at 4,810m (15,775 ft) above sea level. It was an absolutely memorable achievement, after weeks and months of preparations, including the physical training, mental focus and skills development required.

After three days acclimatisation above 3000m, based at the Rifugio Torino Hut, which included treks and ridgeline scrambles of the Aguille d’Entreeves and the Eastern ridge of Aiguilles Marbrees. The team undertook the 7 hour climb to the top, and a 3 hour descent of that formidable mountain, Mont Blanc.

Alistair describes, ‘The beauty of the landscape, and the experience of climbing high into the mountains will stay with us forever. We had early starts with long days, walking and climbing in

our helmets, harnesses and crampons, attached to each other by a rope and carrying a trusty ice axe.

The team witnessed the beauty of the panoramic views, the awe of the glacier, crossing the Grand Couloir at 3,340m, scrambling up the steep rock faces between the Tete Rousse Hut and the Gouter Hut. The team marvelled at the amazing transition of colours from green in the valley, to brown up the mountainside, to grey and white on top of the summit.

The climb to the summit was by no means guaranteed, the weather forecast was poor and we faced the prospect of a vicious storm if we arrived too late. Temperatures of -11c at 4,800m, exacerbated by windchill which reducing the temperature to -20c meant for a freezing experience. After a few centimetres of snowfall overnight, we started summit day with the prospect of thunder/lightning and further snow and high winds of 20-40km/hr. Accordingly the team decided to proceed to the Vallot Refuge Hut at 4,300m and make a decision on whether to continue.

At the top of Mont Blanc we were able to admire the 360 degree views above the

clouds, and the nearby mountain peaks. Under the clear blue sky Alistair said a few words to camera to thank the supporters, donors, and sponsors, for their fundraising contributions which helped the team reach just over £12,000 to be split between four main charities.’

Alistair is pleased to have raised some awareness for the charities, and particularly proud to have contributed to the Household Cavalry Foundation, and was grateful to another former colleague, HRH The Duke of Cambridge, for his note of encouragement and support before the climb.

Alistair is currently planning for a series of high-altitude climbs, possibly

in Australia and is looking forward to sharing details of progress on these adventures, once the lockdowns are lifted and travel is permitted.

In the meantime, Alistair has joined a group of Veterans and Guards Mountaineers, all former members of the seven Regiments of the Household Division, who have united to form a new group seeking adventure in the hills and mountains across the UK, using the hills to provide support and camaraderie, and focussing on how to cope with mental health issues. If you are interested to find out more the group can be found on Facebook, or please ask your Regimental Headquarters for more information.

Mental Health – The Associations’ Approach

The Associations’ plan is to develop a national network from within the Association to support, guide and SignPost individuals with potential Mental Health (MH) issues and enable them to access the best and most appropriate care to assist their long term recovery.

MH is becoming an increasing issue and regularly becomes the theme of most charity conferences, with evidence of a growth of PTSD related issues as a consequence of combat operations and potentially increased by COVID19 isolation. In recent years Home HQ has been approached by Members informing us of individuals within the Association who maybe or are suffering from MH issues, caused either prior to their military service, as a consequence of their military service or because of their current life situation. This, coupled with a growing number of welfare cases that are received from SSAFA/ TRBL via the Case Management System mentioning MH issues as a key factor, have acted as a catalyst for action.

The Regimental Secretaries are also regularly approached via social media or direct phone calls reporting that certain individuals are suffering from MH. Whilst HHQ can act as a Sign-Post for the best course of action to be taken, it makes sense to expand this knowledge throughout the Associations network to build capacity and provide support on a wider basis. Mr Jim Evans (ex RHG/D) a qualified Trainer & Consultant for MH & Wellbeing has previously provided training to all HHQ staff, and has now provided further training to a broader cohort of Association Members.

The training is not designed to create therapists or counsellors, but is about

educating and ensuring all the attendees understand the support structures, how they are accessed and how to SignPost individuals needing assistance to them. It also provided an invaluable forum, to help review and refine the Associations approach, in harmony with the Regiments, in providing the best and most appropriate support to our members.

Below is a list of Association Members who volunteered to take the training and to act as a Sign-Post should any of our members need assistance, although our Members are listed in areas you can contact any of them for advice.

The Veterans Gateway is a great service which is provided via the internet, these links can be found on the Association Website: https://householdcavalry.co.uk/ the-blues-and-royals/welfare/

Association Sign-Post Network

South East

Mr Les Kibble leskibble@aol.com 07934 764932

South West

Mr Chris Trinick chris.trinick@gmail.com 07970 801513

Wiltshire

Mr Mick Norris norris.mj@hotmail.co.uk 07717 840977

London

Mr Benny Harris benny.harris@royal.uk 07710 376649

Scotland

Dave Culton djculton1@gmail.com 07789 933551

South Wales

Neil Jones plod1759@yahoo.co.uk 07792 647768

North Wales / North West

Kev Lambert kevinlambert290@btinternet.com 07598 576898

Northern Ireland

Paul Young dpaulyoung@hotmail.com 07710 613033

North East

Jay Lochrane jaylochrane34@googlemail.com 07809 874706

Norfolk

Spence McCormack spencermccormack@hotmail.co.uk 07738 939051

Midlands

Stan Smith ismith@firmin.co.uk 07525 128475

WFeatures

East Belfast 1972

by Captain Adrian Cherrington, formerly The Life Guards

hen I read the Obituary of Peregrine Worsthorne who was a journalist employed by the Daily Telegraph from 1953 until appointed as the editor of The Sunday Telegraph in 1986 I was reminded of one of his reports published in the Telegraph in 1972. I do not apologise for any possible historical or other errors; they should be attributed to him – not me!

Back in the muddier, bloodier, trenching days of the Great War, there was a brief period, military scholars recall, when the Household Cavalry dismounted from their great black horses and fought alongside the infantry. Then in 1944, hard pressed riflemen were helped by The Life Guards and the Royal Horse Guards, who, they recall, ‘parked our armoured cars and struggled up some hill or other with the PBI’. (Poor Bloody Infantry)

And now, in Northern Ireland, for only the third time in their 300 years of glorious history, The Life Guards, senior regiment in the army, first in precedence though not in age, the grandest in uniform and the smoothest in style, a corps d’elite if ever there was one, are back again in a humble infantry role. To be exact, they’re in Mountpottinger Police Station, possibly the scruffiest of all the RUCs squat barrack blocks in Belfast. There live the Etonians, the polo players, the wealthy huntsmen, the men who protect Her Majesty’s person, and wear plumes made of spun whalebone and white leather breeches as they do so. And in the mean streets close by they work at the thankless task of keeping rebellious Catholics from embittered Loyalists so that the people in the middle can get some peaceful sleep at night.

The Life Guards have come to Ulster from Dortmund, the German brewing town (in fact as we all know it was Detmold) where they keep their tanks, six and a half couples of bloodhound and their families – 40 odd REME experts who keep an eye on the Tanks and three cavalry officers who look after the hounds and their half dozen puppies.

Muted Colour

A 100 or so of their number are in London, of course, providing the Guards squadron for the Queen’s Life Guard in Whitehall or the Sovereign’s Escort at the Trooping and other ceremonials. They, as any visiting Milwaukeean will tell you, are those splendid and gallant fellows who dress up in cuirasses and black jackboots, white crossbelts, and red flash cords, brass ornamented Albert pattern helmets, with gold and scarlet shabraques and black bearskin saddle covers on their horses – military knickerbocker glories to delight every visiting Nipponese and enchant every wondering child.

Across in Northern Ireland the colour and style of this celebrated unit is more than a little muted. The men, as distinct from the officers that is, are only a little different from the average infantryman, though this is not apparent at first sight and hearing. They have to be thus, The Life Guardsmen will tell you, they have to be a minimum of 5ft 9ins tall, they have to reach an intelligence test minimum of 59 (cleverer than most Greenjackets, but less clever than most Signallers) and, as they are part of the Army’s ‘teeth arm’, can have positively no hammer toes or cross eyes. The Royal Corps of Transport or the Catering Corps can have them, thank you very much.

The officers, too, are just a little apart – no less charming and debonair than officers from any other unit, but with their accents just a little plummier, their chat perhaps a little more redolent of saddle soap and good tobacco. Horse and Hound lies on top of the Illustrated London News in the cramped little office they call the mess here, and it would probably not be too difficult to find a good Hardy rod propped up behind a door, or a snapshot of a recent regimental polo victory on some desk.

Old Etonians

The Army List tells the story in its own way. It shows us there are

Haworth-Booths, Cochrane-Dyets, Imbert-Terrys, and Morrisey-Paines among the officers – and there’s a Lloyd with only one ‘L’, but sadly no ffrench’s at all.

The Commanding Officer fits the bill with glittering precision, Lieutenant Colonel Simon Bradish-Ellames (Bradish from the Irish bogs, Ellames from Ulster, so I’m told), son of an officer in the Eighth Hussars, an Etonian, a Bespectacled grey-haired man with 21 years in the Royal Horse Guards, three years in the Blues and Royals and a year as The Life Guards commander behind him. Of the 50 odd officers in the whole unit here in London and in Germany, at least half a dozen are Old Etonians and the same number are Wykehamists. All the others are public school men, though strangely the universities have contributed few officers. In Mountpottinger only Oxford, Cambridge and Dublin are represented.

But on the terrible little streets of Ballymacarrett, though a little taller, a bit brighter, and with smoother sounding men to lead them, The Life Guards seem little different from the rest of the soldiery. A Provisional sniper probably won’t know or care to know that the man with three stripes and a crown is in fact a Lance Corporal of Horse and not a Sergeant, or that the ordinary lance corporals are allowed into an NCOs Mess, or that The Life Guards can recruit their own doctors straight from Wimpole Street, or that the Sabre Squadrons have been called Rifle Squadrons for this trip to Ireland, or that each man has more than twenty changes of uniform to go back to, when he is again ordered to drive his tank or protect his Sovereign. In the ‘scope sights he’s just another soldier, and the style and panache of this unashamedly elitist regiment of cavalrymen will matter less than whether, for a single tragic second, he will stay still between the crosswires.

Field Marshal Earl Haig

by Lord Astor of Hever, formerly The Life Guards

My grandfather, Field Marshal Earl Haig, was Gold Stick & Colonel of The Royal Horse Guards (The Blues) from 1919 to his death in 1928.

He was Commander-in-Chief of the British Army on the Western Front from December 1915 until the end of the First World War.

A striking equestrian statue dedicated to him in the main square of the northern French town of Montreuil-sur-Mer, which served as the location of the combined British Armies’ GHQ from the Spring of 1916, is now in need of repair. The project has the blessing of the town’s mayor who is keen to highlight the crucial role played by Montreuil in assisting British Forces and their Commander-in-Chief in achieving the final victory.

The little walled town of Montreuilsur-Mer was close to the front line, but also within easy reach of Channel ports. Situated on the main London to Paris route and near the huge transit and training camp at Étaples, Montreuil benefited from strong defences with strict access control, thus reducing the risk of espionage.

Between 1916 and 1918 nearly 2,000 soldiers were working at GHQ within the town’s walls with a further 3,000 working in other war departments in the town; and it became the military, diplomatic and logistical nerve centre for the largest army Britain had ever had to mobilise. The population of Montreuil warmly welcomed the ‘Tommies’ as a further demonstration of our two nations’ Entente Cordiale. Sustaining an army of nearly two million men on foreign soil was a colossal commitment, not least in the final weeks of the war when Haig’s Divisions were almost constantly on the move.

After the war, both the British and the French erected equestrian statues in memory of the close co-operation between their military leaders and armies.

A year after his death in 1929, a fine statue of Marshal Foch, the French Supreme Commander, was erected by the British in London’s Victoria.

The following year, France returned the compliment, recognising Haig’s decisive and critical support of his French counterpart. Commissioned and funded by the town of Montreuil together with French veterans’ associations, the statue was unveiled in June 1931 with statesmen and military leaders from all over the world attending.

The sculptor was Paul Landowski, who also created the Christ the Redeemer statue on the Corcovado Mountain overlooking Rio de Janeiro, and Marshal Foch’s Memorial Tomb in Les Invalides. Haig is seated on Poperinghe, a stalwart companion on the Field Marshal’s visits to his troops across the battlefields

of France and Flanders, and through the London streets for the 1919 Victory Parade. It was also the horse which, at my grandfather’s funeral, followed his coffin with his master’s boots reversed in the stirrups.

In July 1940, in an act of vengeance, invading German troops destroyed the statue, leaving a solitary plinth. After the war, again through the generosity of local veterans, the statue was recast from Landowski’s original mould, which had been kept under lock and key in Paris throughout the Nazi occupation. Three tons of German bronze were poured into the mould as a reparation levy. The restored statue was unveiled in another grand ceremony in 1950.

Notably, Haig is the only British military leader honoured with an equestrian statue in France. In the last seventy years, time has taken its toll on the bronze and this elegant memorial now needs urgent attention. A restorer has been selected to undertake the work, and all relevant authorisations have been obtained. A Restoration Committee has been established to raise the necessary funds and we are well on our way towards meeting our target. Also on the committee is Dr Charles Goodson-Wickes, formerly Surgeon Lieutenant Colonel, The Life Guards. His great grandfather, Sir Frank Fox, was on the Staff at GHQ and afterwards wrote GHQ (Montreuil-sur-Mer).

The restored statue will be unveiled on 19th June 2021, the date of the Field Marshal’s birthday. It will be a very special occasion, and we are planning a full and varied programme of events over the weekend. After the unveiling and wreath laying at the War Memorial on Saturday the Mayor of Montreuil will be

giving a reception for our guests, as will the Mayor of Le Touquet on Sunday. In addition, donors will be invited to a black-tie and mess kit dinner in the Chateau de Montreuil on Saturday evening.

In Haig’s obituary in the 1928 Summer edition of the Brigade Magazine the Editor wrote, ‘Nothing pleased him more than watching cavalry at work, and I remember so well the almost boyish pleasure and joy that he experienced when he took hold of the Blues in Windsor Park and drilled them. Few honours attracted him as much as the Colonelcy of the Royal Horse Guards’.

Whilst Colonel, in 1924, he unveiled the Household Cavalry Memorial in Zandvoorde, a duty which meant a great deal to him as his brother-in-law, Lord Worsley, RHG, had been killed in action there in October 1914; Worsley’s family paid for the land on which the Memorial is sited.

In the famous painting by Munnings of the 1927 Presentation of Standards, which hangs in the Household Cavalry Regiment’s Officers’ Mess, Haig and George V take centre stage.

Less than a year later, in February 1928, eight stalwart Royal Horse Guards carried my grandfather’s coffin on their shoulders to the gun carriage for its last journey to and from Westminster Abbey. Directly behind the gun carriage marched a further detachment of The Blues; the funeral procession was witnessed by around a million people standing in the cold London streets.

One of the pallbearers was Marshal Foch who was overcome with emotion; ‘we saw eye to eye completely’ was all that he could articulate as the tears rolled down his cheeks.

The British Ambassador to France has accepted our invitation to attend the

unveiling, as has the President of the Royal British Legion, established by my grandfather 100 years ago when he became its first President.

The Lieutenant Colonel Commanding has also accepted the invitation, and along with SNCOs and Trumpeters will be representing The Blues and Royals.

The three other Regiments of which Haig was Colonel, and his first Regiment, will be represented by senior Officers along with veterans. In addition to The Blues and Royals contingent we expect to have Hussars, Lancers, Scottish Borderers and the London Scottish, all in full dress uniform with bands and pipers. The Mayor has promised to put on a good show and I’m confident that it will be a magnificent occasion. And I hope that many former Household Cavalry Officers and veterans will attend.

Lt Col Gordon Chesney Wilson MVO, Royal Horse Guards

‘Life is a city of crooked streets Death is the market place where all men meet’

Lt Col Gordon Chesney Wilson, the Commanding Officer of the Royal Horse Guards, was killed in action near Zillebeke on 6th November 1914, towards the end of the First Battle of Ypres. It came as no real surprise to anybody who knew him that Gordon Wilson died leading his beloved regiment into a counter attack, on foot, wielding a rifle and bayonet to recover some trenches recently captured by the advancing Germans. When his personal effects were recovered and returned

to his wife a piece of folded paper was found in his wallet and this quote was later carved onto his gravestone.

Gordon Wilson was born on 3rd August 1865 in Wimmera, Australia, the eldest son of the rich Philanthropist Samuel Wilson who travelled backwards and forwards between Melbourne and the UK and was elected Conservative Member of Parliament for Portsmouth between 1886 and 1892.

He was educated at Eton and it was while he was studying there in 1882 that he first came to the notice of Queen Victoria (and the Press) when

with another Eton boy and his trusty umbrella he tackled a would-be assassin of the Queen, a mentally deranged man by the name of Roderick McLean who had fired two rounds from a revolver at the Queen, and assisted in detaining him. The press in 1882 being fairly similar in terms of sensationalism to the red tops today Gordon is depicted as the young man in a top hat laying hands on McLean as he aims another shot at the Queen. McLean was detained and later the same day Gordon and his friend Murray Robertson were presented to The Queen at Windsor Castle.

Having completed his education at Eton

Gordon took a place at Christ Church College, Oxford where, as a talented scholar and excellent sportsman he was expected to complete his degree. In 1885 Gordon joined the local militia, the 3rd Battalion, Duke of Wellingtons Regiment, as a 2nd Lieutenant and although still a student he served with them for nearly three years until in 1888 he left Oxford without completing his

degree and was commissioned into the Royal Horse Guards. The young officer continued to live a life of privilege and comfort as befitted a member of his class and background during the late Victorian era. On 10 March 1890, along with Algernon Burnaby of RHG and A Trevor Hill and Walter de Winton of 1 LG, they took part in the famous Melton Midnight Steeplechase

to celebrate Lady Augusta Fane’s birthday. Steeplechasing on a pitch dark night over Leicestershire hedges was not for the feint hearted!

On 21st November 1891 Gordon married Lady Sarah Isabella Augusta Spencer-Churchill the youngest daughter of the 7th Duke of Marlborough and aunt of another up and coming young

Lt Col Gordon Chesney Wilson and his officers of the Royal Horse Guards, Hyde Park Barracks 1912

Lady Sarah during the siege of Mafeking

The Roderick McLean assassination attempt at Windsor Central Station in 1882

officer by the name 0f Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill. The wedding took place at St Georges Church, Hanover Square, the Archbishop of Canterbury officiating and the then Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII being among the invited guests.

A talented horseman and a hard rider, in 1892 Gordon owned and trained the winner of the Grand National ‘Father O’Flynn’ which came in at 20/1 ridden by Captain Roddy Owen.

This hugely privileged life came with certain obligations and in 1899 Gordon Wilson, then a Captain, was seconded as

an ADC to Colonel Robert Baden-Powell (the founder of the Boy Scout movement) who was then the Commanding Officer in the town of Mafeking which, shortly after the start of the Boer War, was besieged by the Boers for 217 days.

Lady Sarah had travelled to South Africa to be with her husband and as the Boers closed in on the town she was asked to leave. She did so but was promptly captured by the Boers who obviously found this formidable lady more than they could comfortably deal with and exchanged her for a convicted Boer horse thief. She soon returned to

Mafeking. Before the siege Lady Sarah had been recruited as a war correspondent by the Daily Mail and she spent the period of the siege reporting on the situation and, in her free time, helping with nursing in a convalescent hospital. She was slightly wounded there when it was shelled by the Boers in late January 1900.

There are persistent, but sadly unsubstantiated, rumours that Lady Sarah was involved in espionage during her sojourn in Mafeking but there is no real evidence to support this theory. She was certainly a real patriot who was more than prepared to put herself at risk for what she believed in.

During the siege of Mafeking Captain Gordon Wilson was Mentioned in Dispatches twice and was appointed a Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) on 28th May 1901 for distinguished service and gallantry.

After his return to the UK Gordon continued to serve in the Blues. He was promoted to Major in 1903 and to Brevet Lieutenant Colonel four years later. In 1911 he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and took command of the Royal Horse Guards vice Lt Col Arthur Vaughan Lee.

Shortly after the Great War broke out

Lady Sarah Wilson in ‘sporting’ mode Lt Col Gordon Chesney Wilson MVO

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in August 1914 Gordon was sent with his regiment to Belgium and after fierce fighting during the first Battle of Ypres in October, including having the Blues machine gun section under Lt Lord Worsley wiped out with their brothers of The Life Guards at Zandvoorde on 30th October, Gordon Wilson paid the price of his privileged life in full when

he was killed in action.

He was buried in the churchyard at Zillebeke, just outside Ypres, in a small plot which contained several other Household Cavalry and Guards officers and which accordingly became known as later as ‘The Aristocrat’s Graveyard’ where he lies today.

Lt Col Gordon Wilson is commemorated on several memorials including a window at Trinity Garrison Church, Windsor and at Eton and Christ Church College, Oxford and on the Household Cavalry Memorial at Zandvoorde.

Waterloo Medal to Sergeant Francis Styles, 1st or Royal Regiment of Dragoons

During the summer of 2020 in the temporary period of ‘almost normality’ between the first and second peaks of the Coronavirus epidemic, CoH Richard Hendy, HCR, flagged up to Pete Storer in the Household Cavalry Museum archive the fact that a Waterloo medal of considerable interest to the Regiment had appeared for sale on the US eBay site Although at first glance a fairly unimpressive artefact the medal, to Serjeant Francis Styles of the Royal Dragoons, had not been seen or heard of since the demise of its recipient in 1828 and its appearance created something of a stir.

This is an important medal to the Royal Dragoons, The Blues and Royals and the Household Cavalry, in fact with the exception of the John Spencer Dunville VC, which is already held in the Household Cavalry collection, and possibly the Kennedy Clark Waterloo medal, I would go so far as to say it is probably the single most important.

After consulting with our resident medal experts Messrs Jim Lees and Jonathan Holl, both senior members of the Orders and Medals Research Society (and museum volunteers) and the Trustees of the Household Cavalry Collection led by Colonel James Gaselee and advised by General Barney White-Spunner and others, it was felt that we had no choice but to make a bid for the medal. This was done, we were successful and after a few discussions with HMRC and some additional expenditure, the medal duly arrived in Windsor.

The story of the capture of the Eagle of the French 105th Regiment de la Ligne at Waterloo on 18th June 1815 is possibly not as well-known as the capture of the Eagle of the 45th by the Scots Greys during the same charge but its significance in signposting the final defeat of France and Napoleon after over 25 years of warfare and its iconic status as a symbol of our Regiment should not be

underestimated.

Their Eagles were hugely important to French regiments having been presented to them by the Emperor himself and men could, and often did, die in their defence. Despite the fact that the French Army disintegrated at the end of the Battle of Waterloo, only two Eagles were captured by British units during the course of the battle, those of the 45th and the 105th. Their captors, Sergeant Ewart of the Scots Greys and Captain Kennedy Clark and Corporal Francis Styles of the Royals were acknowledged, at the time and since, as heroes.

All three men were subsequently promoted in recognition of their bravery. Captain Clark later became a General, Sergeant Ewart was granted a Commission and Corporal Styles was first promoted to Sergeant and later also Commissioned. There is little doubt that had there been any gallantry awards available in 1815 all three men would have been prime candidates to receive them.

The two captive Eagles were brought back to London in Triumph and laid at the feet of the Prince Regent as a symbol of Victory.

Francis Styles (or Stiles)

Francis Styles was probably born in 1785 and joined the 1st or Royal Dragoons on 21st May 1804 at the age of 19. By June 1815 he was a corporal in Captain Paul Phipps’s No 5 or F Troop, when he charged with the Union Brigade at Waterloo.

On 25th June 1815 he was promoted to sergeant soon after the battle, probably for assisting Captain Kennedy Clark in the capture of the Eagle of the French 105th Regiment of the Line. On 11th April 1816 Styles was commissioned as an Ensign, in the 6th West India Regiment, as a further reward for his services at Waterloo but due to the reduction of

the Army at the end of the Napoleonic Wars he was placed on half-pay on 28th December 1817, aged 32.

He went to live in Holborn and apart from his half-pay it is not known how he made a living. We believe that he was married on 29th April 1818, at St Andrew’s Church, Holborn to Mary Ann House of the Parish of St James, Clerkenwell. It seems that after their marriage the couple went to live in the parish of St James, Clerkenwell, which is where Francis died in January 1828. At the time of his death, he was living in Gloucester Street, now renamed Gloucester Way.

Francis Stiles was buried in the Georgian Church of St James, Clerkenwell on 17 January 1828, aged 43 years. His entry in the parish burial register records the following:

Captor of an Eagle at the great Battle of Waterloo.

There is now no evidence of his burial in the churchyard which has since been paved over, although we know that the bodies were later removed from the churchyard and placed in the church crypt, where he presumably still lies. It was suggested, and agreed by the Church authorities some five years ago, that a suitable plaque or similar monument to commemorate Styles should be placed at the entrance to the crypt this will take place shortly.

Corporal Francis Styles and the capture of the Eagle, the Clark letter..

Captain Kennedy Clark wrote to Lord Uxbridge on 10 June 1817: ‘I did not see the eagle and colour (for there were two colours, but only one with an eagle) until we had been probably five or six minutes engaged. It must, I should think, have been originally about the centre of the column, and got uncovered from the change of direction. When I first saw it, it was perhaps

about forty yards to my left and a little in my front. The officer who carried it and his companions were moving in the direction of ? with their backs towards me, and endeavouring to force their way into the crowd. I gave the order to my squadron ‘Right shoulders forward, attack the colour’, leading direct on the point myself. On reaching it, I ran my sword into the officer’s right side a little above his hip joint. He was a little to my left side, and he fell to that side with the eagle across my horse’s head. I tried to catch it with my left hand, but could only touch the fringe of the flag, and it is probable it would have fallen to the ground, had it not been prevented by the neck of Corporal Styles’ horse, who came up close to my left at the instant, and against which it fell. Corporal Styles was Standard Coverer; his post was immediately behind me, and his duty to follow wherever I led......I called out twice together ‘Secure the colour, secure the colour, it belongs to me’ This order was addressed to some men close to me, of whom Corporal Styles was one. On taking up the eagle, I endeavoured to break the eagle from the pole with the intention of putting it into the breast of my coat; but I could not break it. Corporal Styles said “Pray, sir, do not break it”, on which I replied “Very well, carry it to the rear as fast as you can, it belongs to me.”’

In conclusion, it becomes clear that the capture of the eagle of the 105th was a matter of close co-operation between the two men, Captain Kennedy Clark cutting down the bearer so that the eagle fell on the neck of the horse of Corporal Styles who actually grabbed it and took

it to the rear on the instruction of Kennedy Clark.

The Medal

The subsequent movements of the Francis Styles Waterloo medal are unknown. After his early death in 1828 it effectively disappeared from the record until this year (2020) when, without any fanfare, it appeared on eBay. There is no record of the medal having been on sale in the past and its travels, ending up in Minnesota USA in 2020, must remain a mystery. All efforts to clarify its provenance have proved fruitless. The medal is not in good condition but its weight, hallmarks, engraving style and details of the recipient as shown are all consistent with other Royal Dragoons Waterloo medals of the period. The fact that the old spelling of Sergeant as Serjeant and its abbreviation of Serj on the medal are also consistent with other Waterloo medals adds to its veracity, as does the fact that although Francis Styles was a Corporal at Waterloo he was promoted a week later and was a Serjeant when

the medal was issued in 1816.

Given the difficult financial situation that the museum has been in during the pandemic lockdowns, an appeal was launched for funds to assist with this purchase via both The Life Guards and The Blues and Royals Associations. This was a great success and the Museum thanks all those who have generously donated. The surplus money raised will be used to install the plaque at St James Church.

The medal will be on display in the Museum when it opens this year.

The Bank details if required for a donation are: -

The Household Cavalry Museum Lloyds Bank Account Sort code 30-11-75 Account number 00370128

Rear Front

Edge

The Psychology of Horsemanship by Claire Lilley

Reviewed by Captain S R A Nicholls, The Blues and Royals, Riding Master

As a former Commanding Officer used to remind me, no one knows everything about the horse. Horsemanship is about a lifelong journey of observing, learning, experimenting and adapting. We need to use all our senses to help fully understand what a horse is thinking, feeling and contemplating. However, part of the process

of gaining this understanding is also to understand ourselves.

I commend to you Claire Lilley’s excellent book on The Psychology of Horsemanship. This publication draws on Claire’s experience with her horses over a number of years. The book is broken down into three logical and easily digested parts; understanding the horse, understanding yourself and understanding the partnership between yourself and the horse.

I suspect that the book is aimed primarily at the experienced rider who would use the book as a means of a top up and honing of understanding and skills. However, for military riders this book has wider utility. I would expect the riding staff to understand the content, to allow it to shape their thinking and assist them in making themselves better instructors (for both the human and equine recruits). The troop leaders should devour this book, adding to their wide understanding of leadership, stable management and indeed human

psychology.

As this publication proves to be easy to read, the non-commissioned officer will pick up tips about leadership and wider equine and human welfare. When behavioural issues arise with either a horse or human, a quick glance through Clair’s pages may provide a path to a solution. The last group who I believe may find this book useful are the more mature military riders who are coming to equitation later in life. Many will have commanded vehicles and may think that the horse is a piece of agricultural machinery. For them, this book will explain that this piece of machinery has it own thought processes, feelings, hopes and fears. A lack of understanding of the part the rider plays in the relationship often leads to a cavalry black expressing a sense of humour and hitting the eject button! In summary, every reader will be wiser at the end of this book, but you still will not know everything! Keep learning.

ISBN: 9781908809896

Household Cavalryman Takes On The World’s Toughest Ocean Rowing Challenge

The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, billed as the world’s toughest row, is a 3,000 nautical mile, unsupported rowing race across the Atlantic Ocean from La Gomera in the Canary Islands to English Harbour in Antigua & Barbuda. The race starts in December, when the trade winds are at their most supportive for a crossing from east to west and varies in duration depending on conditions and the number of rowers per boat (there are boats with solo rowers all the way up to five-person teams).

This year, retired officer Jono Mawson (RHG/D) took part in the race as part of the four-man team, Latitude 35. Jono and his teammates Dixon Mcdonald, Todd Hooper and fellow former officer Jimmy Carroll (QDG) departed on Saturday 12th December from the Canaries in their 28-foot boat Crusader, built by Rannoch Adventure, based in Burnham on Crouch in Essex.

Although conditions initially looked favourable, the weather quickly turned against the rowers after just a few days

The Latitude 35 team Left to right: Jimmy Carroll, Jono Mawson, Todd Hooper, Dixon Mcdonald

The marlin bill protruding firmly into the stern cabin

at sea. During the course of the crossing, the Latitude 35 team was frequently lashed with wind and rain and found themselves battling 30-foot swells, at one time watching in horror as a wave snapped one of their oars in half with ease, nearly capsizing the boat in the process. The team were forced to deploy a sea anchor on two occasions to prevent the wind and waves from rolling the boat and to provide some muchneeded respite.

There were further issues during the race also. An early morning total power outage on day four rendered all of their navigation, steering and communication equipment useless. With the autohelm and GPS powerless, the team hand-steered as best they could, with only a compass for direction, trying not to lose too much ground in the race, while they fully re-wired the batteries. Over the course of the day they were able to restore power and confirm that none of the electronics had suffered any damage.

As well as the weather, the team faced seasickness, dehydration and general exhaustion as a result of the punishing routine of two hours on the oars and two hours off for eating and sleeping, which had to be maintained 24 hours a day until the crossing was complete. Whilst the team had done their best to mentally and physically prepare for this gruelling daily schedule of life at sea, as well as other possible eventualities such as capsizing, injuries or even collisions with a commercial vessel, the Atlantic Ocean showed them there were problems that they could never have anticipated.

With nearly 900 miles to go, the team were in second place and gaining ground on the leading boat in their class when they were thrown to the deck by the force of a sudden impact. Shouted messages quickly discovered that some sort of spike had penetrated the hull of the stern cabin, narrowly missing Jimmy’s leg as he lay resting. It was later confirmed that this was the bill of a marlin that had rammed the boat and then swum away, leaving the severed spike firmly embedded in the fibreglass hull.

While the stern cabin steadily filled with water, Jono and Jimmy set to work sawing the bill down into a makeshift bung and plugging around the hole with epoxy as best they could, frequently pausing to pump out the incoming flood. After several hours work, they had succeeded in reducing the leak to a small trickle as the epoxy began to dry and bind. Jono tethered himself to the boat and entered the water to make similar repairs to the outside of the hull and after a few hours the team returned to the oars hoping that their work would hold for the remainder of the race.

Fortunately, it did, and despite all the challenges the team completed their crossing, pulling into English Harbour on Sunday 17th January after 35 days, 5 hours and 10 minutes at sea, watching the deep blues of the Atlantic Ocean snap into the turquoise of the Caribbean as they crossed the finish line holding burning red flares aloft. Despite the power problems and a marlin bill still protruding from the hull, the team finished second in the race class and were third overall.

The row was without a doubt one of the hardest physical and mental tests of resilience and endurance that the team has ever encountered, but the experience was unmatched, from rowing alongside pods of dolphins to battling waves and surfing swells. As they stepped off the boat in Antigua there was no doubt in their minds that they had given it their

Jono sporting blue-red-blue after sighting Antigua on the final morning

The Latitude 35 team celebrate completing their 3,000 mile crossing all and left everything out on the ocean.

About the Not Forgotten Association

Jono is keen to continue playing an active role in the Armed Forces Community and chose to raise money for the Not Forgotten Association who have been supporting veterans since 1920. The Not Forgotten combats the causes of isolation and loneliness amongst the injured and disabled Armed Forces community through social activities, challenges and

the provision of televisions, television licences and computer tablets. They are an incredible charity that makes a very tangible difference to the everyday lives of members of the Armed Forces community, combatting isolation and loneliness, ensuring that no veteran is forgotten and that no one is left behind.

Jono is within touching distance of his fundraising goal and every donation will make a difference. The fundraising page remains open, if you would like

to show your support for this amazing organisation please visit: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ jonoatlanticchallenge

Latitude 35

For more information on the Latitude 35 team and coverage of the race itself please visit the Instagram account: lat35atlanticchallenge2020

Reflections on Operation INHERENT RESOLVE with a US SOF Task Force

by Major Christopher Murphy

I

n August 2020, I returned from a sixmonth deployment on Op SHADER, the UK’s contribution to Op INHERENT RESOLVE (the US-led Coalition’s fight against ISIS). I had been working with a US Special Operations Task Force in the Tri-Border region of Iraq, Syria and Jordan. As the only Brit in the otherwise all-American FOB, my experience was dominated by the cultural comparison this presented. Though my operational purpose there was clear and fascinating, in this article I hope to draw some

more general observations. Firstly, about working across the ‘special-relationship’, and secondly, concerning the value of operational experience – noting that this is an increasingly rare commodity for Young Officers in the Household Cavalry.

Over the last 20 years, the British Army has been involved in several large campaigns, sometimes as much for the sake of maintaining the special relationship than reasons of pure national interest.

Indeed, we (UK Defence) are increasingly of the view that operations in the future will be combined; fought with multinational allies. Understanding the cultural nuances of our closest partner is therefore important, to the significant extent that we hope to work together in the future and to which mutual understanding is a foundation for effective collaboration. My first observation is that if we didn’t share a language, perhaps we wouldn’t consider ourselves such close partners. In most aspects, we

are far more European in outlook than we might initially consider – especially when appraising the UK-US relationship in relation to other NATO partners. My experience as a lone Brit amongst 200+ Americans was a much more full-on cultural experience than I was expecting. In some ways this was good: the openness of the American spirit is refreshing, their lack of understanding of our class system holds up a valuable mirror, and they are much more into weight-lifting than running! But it has other aspects, which I found harder to deal with, or which were best avoided. Topical issues such as gun control, abortion and the bipartisan nature of US politics are definitely not dinner time conversation. Extreme respect of the Office of the President is to be encouraged, regardless of one’s personal views on the occupant at any given time. Of

course, these are broad-brush remarks and don’t apply to many of my American friends. The point remains, we have less in common than we might think and a shared language only goes so far.

There are also some significant differences in the organisational culture of the US Army. During this deployment, my experience reaffirmed impressions I had made elsewhere. First, I find the US Army to be more reverent of its chain of command than we are. There is even less of a challenge culture, using first names up the chain of command is completely inappropriate, a 2Lt will salute a Lt before calling them ‘Sir/Ma’am’, and the overall dynamic of inter-personal interactions is much more serious. Secondly, I find that Officers in the US Army place much greater emphasis on professional knowledge. This is not to

say that we are all bluffers, but professional study seems to be ingrained into their culture in a different way than in ours. It is a matter of personal and professional pride to know precise details of ‘battlefield geometry’ or the ‘physics of war’. We have a greater tendency to lean on the expertise of others (such as our NCOs), accepting that as long as we know where to find the right information, that is generally sufficient. Perhaps learning from the American approach here would make us better, more professional officers. Lastly, and unique to my deployment with this US SOF organisation, I observed enormous benefits to an organisation which is run more bottom-up than top-down. Though this only works when certain wider conditions are present, there may be lessons here for the HCR as we transition onto AJAX and into the Strike Brigade. When the prevailing wind of organisational structure runs bottom-up, initiative is valued and empowerment is more than a buzz-word. Creativity flourishes because the best ideas are rewarded and resourced, in turn inspiring others to contribute. Once direction was given, I often heard commanders asking questions such as ‘what else can I do to support you?’, ‘what do you need from me to achieve your aim?’ It seems that we are getting better at this in the HCR, but there is always room for improvement. Again, this is an overly-simplistic analysis and the system wasn’t as perfect as the image I’ve described might portray. However, if we are to use our new platform effectively against a peer/ peer+ adversary in an increasingly confused and complex political context, the role of the leader is best supported by encouraging engaged and supported

31st July 2020: Promotion Day in the Desert. The author becomes Major Murphy with a rank-slide provided by Lt Col T-A and flag loaned from Capt Flay

A break from the office - working on marksmanship skills at the range

Yet another break from the office

followers, who have a say and whose voice we genuinely listened to.

Lastly, a brief comment on the value of operational experience. It is self-evident that there are benefits to employing trained skills for real. It is undeniably valuable to personally experience Clausewitz’s ‘fog of war’ and to experience the ‘friction’ that can make even the simplest tasks difficult. There is also benefit to understanding regional themes and issues through the lens of practical experience rather than books or lectures. However, with all that being said, during my deployment I was a staff officer in a headquarters. The tools I used on a daily basis were Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Word and Power-point (oh boy – the Americans love a powerpoint slide). Yes, I was doing work that contributed to operational output, and

2I derived value from that. Yes, I had access to opportunities and a view into the machinery of international security operations that I didn’t from my desk in Picton Barracks. But I was doing a similar kind of work as I had been doing as Operations Officer – planning and executing operations, communicating with different stakeholders, managing expectations and trying to ensure that the people delivering the effect had everything they needed. An operational deployment gives currency and confidence, but the currency only lasts so long and there are many ways to build confidence. The types of operational experience we are now likely to get, are not the kinds of experiences that my generation grew up idolising and romanticising. There is a danger associated with putting those TELIC and HERRICK experiences on a pedestal, and operations are

not the only path to credibility. They are valuable, enjoyable and rewarding; the ultimate function of our organisation. But they are not the be-all and end-all, and we should not chase them for their own sake.

Despite, or perhaps partly because of, some cultural and organisational differences, I enjoyed my experience immensely and would wholeheartedly recommend similar endeavours to others. I am grateful to have had the opportunity and have learned a lot from it. I would just offer a gentle caution to those seeking an action-packed, medal-earning deployment. My experience was not that, it was a fascinating insight into a conflict I now know much more about and from which I hope to extrapolate transferrable lessons. I suppose, having just got back, that’s easy for me to say….

Guards Parachute Platoon

by Captain Fred Wellesley, The Blues and Royals

020 has been an extremely busy year for the Guards Parachute Platoon. In this year alone I have been lucky enough to deploy to Kenya on ASKARI STORM 20, parachute into Ukraine on Ex JOINT ENDEAVOUR, qualify as a Fast Rope and Heli-Abseil team leader, as well as conducting Company level Urban and Public Order training in the UK.

Ex ASKARI STORM 20; the 3 PARA Battlegroup exercise to Kenya began with a Non-Combatant Evacuation Operation (NEO). Some 200 paratroopers of the Battlegroup were to jump at night into Archers Post training area to secure an Airfield and facilitate the remainder to come in by Rapid Air Landing (RAL) in a C130 Hercules Aircraft. Once the airfield was secure, Company Groups would push out to gather ‘British nationals ‘and escort eligible civilians to the airfield for extraction’. An exciting CT4 exercise that was supported by almost 400 local Kenyans.

This phase was followed immediately by Live Fire Tactical Training (LFTT), working from Individual Fire and Manoeuvre to Section level training on the Laikipia training area. Much less hot and with considerably more wildlife, it was a well-received change from the heat of Archers Post. With over 180-degree arcs of fire and a 200 mils safety angle (the Battlegroup received clearance to use the pre-deployment safety angle) the LFTT was unparalleled.

With Platoon attacks complete, the

Combined Arms Live Fire exercise (CALFEX) began. After a 10km insertion tab at night, B Coy moved to clear a village supported by Machine Guns, Mortars and 105 light Gun. The attack featured both 105mm Light Gun fired in the direct role as well a danger close fire mission to a distance of 250m from friendly troops.

After Kenya and a stint at home during lockdown, B Company took over Very High Readiness. This was soon activated and on 14th September 2020 250

paratroopers were sat at Brize Norton bombing up magazines and applying cam cream in readiness for the largest British Airborne drop in decades. The destination was southern Ukraine, to support the Ukrainian armed forces and deter the build-up of Russian forces only 20km south in Crimea. With each paratrooper hitting their maximum all up parachute weight of 160kg, there was no space for any creature comforts such as sleeping bags or warm kit. Instead bergens were packed with ammunition, mortar barrels, anti-tank weapons,

Ex JOINT ENDEAVOUR- The Platoon about to conduct an Air Assault onto a bridge 20km north of the Crimean Border

Ex JOINT ENDEAVOUR- Crossing back to the Battlegroup Assembly area after conducting the Heli Air Assault, Platoon Commander seated 3rd from left

water and rations. Ahead of the force, almost 48hrs earlier, a patrol from the Pathfinder Platoon had already jumped in and were on the ground, sending back details of the Drop Zone (DZ) and grids for rally points.

Once on the ground, the Battlegroup linked up with the Ukrainian 79th Parachute Bn and conducted joint training and exercises. This included some live fire of Ukrainian weapon

systems. I was lucky enough to fire the main armament on a BTR80 and the 12.7mm DushK machine gun. During the exercise phase the Guards Parachute Platoon were tasked as one of the Heli Air Assault Platoons and mounted in a Mi8 Ukrainian Helicopter, had to seize a bridge to allow the Ukrainian mechanised infantry to cross the river.

It has been fantastic to command soldiers from every cap badge within the

Qualifying as a (Troop Insertion and Extraction System) TIES Team Leader from an RAF Puma

Household Division including a number of Household Cavalrymen who have adapted to the role of Airborne Infanteer with characteristic flexibility and initiative. None more so than one of my former Tprs who has now passed the jungle phase of SBS selection and is currently undergoing his continuation training at Poole.

Members of the Guards Platoon at the end of ASKARI STORM

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Our Stein’s at Home menu boxes serve two and include three courses of Rick’s classic dishes to enjoy at home. Our chefs have done all the hard work so you’ll just need to simply finish at home.

Our Stein’s at Home menu boxes serve two and include three courses of Rick’s classic dishes to enjoy at home. Our chefs have done all the hard work so you’ll just need to simply finish at home.

We deliver across the UK and use sustainable sheep wool liners and chill packs to keep everything cool.

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