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THE
JOURNAL
OF
THE
ROYAL
DRAGOON S
THE
JOURNAL
OF
VISITS
Tapics of interest CAPTAIN C. R. TIDSWELL Readers of our 1964 edition may be interested in the following correspondence generated by the article on Major Ben Tidswell’s grave at Abu Simbel. Little Roydon. Tonbridgc. Kent. 17th July. 1964. Dear Edito:. I was much interested to read in your July issue of the discovery. at Abu Simbel. of Major Ben Tidswell’s grave. I do hope it will be secured and preserved. He died lrev fore I was bo:n. but I think the following account may be of interest to o.‘ficers and men of my generation with whom I served in the Royals in the First World War. The Regiment was involved in action behind the Hindenburg Line early in October. 1918. The 6th Cavalry Brigade (from the History of which I quote) “ was ordered to follow up the successful penetration of the redoubtable Le Tronquoi Tunnel by the Australians. starting from Maguy La Fossc. This attack did not get very far owing to a strong German counter—attack, although the Brigade, Royals. 10th Hussars and 3rd Dragoons were heavily involved. On the 15th October we withdrew." Quoting fro-m my diary for 15th October—— “Trekked all day and arrived at the village of Etricourt. Not one single building of any sort was left standing. Our horses miserable. standing out 0:: breast lines in pouring rain and feet of mud. We ourselves slept huddled together in leaky and broken remains of Nissen huts. There we cked out the rest of October in there or less continuous discom— fort while re-fitting.” This, of course, was one of the worst areas of the Somme Battlefield (1916) and during this time I and several of my brother officers of “B ” Squadron went out to look at some graves in a plot on the hill not far from our quarters. Amongst several hundred graves.
Visitors to the Regiment during the year in—
20th October. 1918. and duly reported. I should be Inost interested if you can tell me whether he was (as I suspect) a son of Major Ben Tidswell?
Yours sincerely. A. R. COOKE (The Royal Dragoons. 1917-1920)
D.S.0., A.I).(:.. General Sir Kenneth Darling. K.C.B.. our...1>.s.O..Lieut.—General Sir Charles Richardson. K.C.B.. oar. I).s.o.. Lieut— General Sir Reginald Hewetson, K.C.B., can l).S.O.. Lieut.—General Sir Richard Goodwin. K.C.B.. car... D.S.0., Majorchneral R. M. P.
Carver. C.B., one. 0.5.0.. M.c., Major—General C. H. Blacker. 0.3.3.. mo. A.I).c.. Major—
And in reply to a letter from the Editor:
General J. R. Holden. c1313., D.S.O. Green Hayes.
Westmancote.
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Brcdon.
25th July. 1964. Nr. Tcwkcsbury. Dear Major Dimond. It was so good of you to have sent me a copy of your Journal. I found it waiting for me on my return from abroad. I have been meaning to write and thank you to: it and now this morning your letter arrived. Now. about this relative of ours.
Ben Tidswell never married. brothers.
He had two
Robert and Richard. and. C.
R.
Tidswell (Morny) was Richard’s son. Yours sincerely. PHYLLIS M. TIoswm,L
TIII: KliGIMlSN'l‘Al, Ass<,>r:IA'I‘IO\' The Regiment acknowledges with gratitude two major gifts from the Association in 1965. Firstly. to mark the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo. the gift of £100 towards the purchase of a fibreglass dinghy. This, it is hoped. will be sailing on the Mohne See in 1966. Secondly, for the generous gift of an annUIl trophy to the best athlete of the year. The first award of this was made in 1965 to Lopl Black. HQ Squadron. at
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ROYAL
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Then. in May, the visit of the Commanding Olficer and Mrs. Worsley to Canada for the presentation of their new Guidon. Visitors at Tidworth. in the shape of Maj Harry Gray, Col Bomber Bateman and Capt John Beveridge. As if this were insufficient. we were further dc‘ighted to find Leo Noiles flying for the Brigade, and a frequent Visitor to the Mess. Maj Peter Wilson dropped in on the advance party on a flying visit to the Weser in January. Finally. we have just heard from Maj Watson. with Headquarters. Cyprus District. that he has made contact with the RCD Reece Squadron. presently there for a second tour. We look forward to further contacts in 1966. a
RiaoIMINI‘AL News We congratulate Lt Col R. E. Weislcy on his appefintment to command 7th Armoured Brigade in the New YCJI‘. We also congrltc— late Maj P. D. Reid on the news; that ha: is to
be the next Commanding Officer. in December. We welcome the following to the Regiment: Maj (Q.M.) and Mrs. S. N. Kent—Payne: 2Lts J. W. S. Lewis, G. R. H. Chamberlain. R. I. Smithers. I. M. D. L. Weston. C. M. F.
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LIEUT.—GENERAL SIR DESMOND FII‘ZPAI‘RICK,
K.C.B., on, D.S.O., M.B.E., M.C. We heartily congratulate The Colonel of The Regiment. firstly, on his promotion and appointment to be General Officer Com— manding—in—Chief, Northern Ireland Command and, secondly, on the award of a K.C.B. in the Queen’s Birthday Honours. *
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BRIGADIER G. T. A. ARMI'l‘AGIi. M.B.E. We congratulate Brigadier Armitage on his appointment to be Chief of Staff, Headquarters, 1 (BR) Corps in March. 1966. ‘k
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COLONEL C. A. BANHAM, M,c. We congratulate Colonel Banham. at present the Defence, Military and Air Attache. Laos. on his promotion. at
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all marked and inscribed, we came upon that
of Captain C. R. Tidswell (Morny) Royal Dragoons, attached R.F.C.. killed in action, 16th October, 1916. He had been missing since 1916. This was discovered by us about
elude: The Rt. Hon. Fred Mull.:;y. M.P.. General Sir William Stirling. K.C.B., (I.B.E..
THE
Lit—COL. P. MASSEY, M.c. (Retd.) We congratulate Colonel Massey on his appointment as Secretary to The Honourable Artillery Company on 25th June, 1965.
THE NATIONAL ARMY MUSEUM APPEAL The attention of readers is drawn to this outstandingly important appeal, details Of which appear on page 10. A cheque for £57 125. 4d. has already been forwarded by the Regiment. More money is urgently needed. *
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ENGAGEMENTS We congratulate the following on an nouncing their engagement: Lt B, H. Coode to Miss Sally-Jane Cowley; Lt D. H. Spencer to Miss Pamela Marshall; Capt J. G. R. Hamilton—Russell to Miss Alison Heard; Capt A. P. G. Stanley—Smith to Miss Penelope Maguirc. ‘k
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ROYAL CANADIAN DRAGOON News Despite our Allied Regiment being in Canada, we have been fortunate enough to make many contacts in the year. Firstly. the RCD Recce Squadron overlapped with ours in Cyprus in 1964, a reason for many well— remembered reciprocal visits.
Scott, J. P. Wrigley and Ssgt Muir. We are glad to see the following back with the Regiment after their duties away: Maj M. B. Noble, Maj D. J. S. Wilkinson. Maj W. R. Wilson FitzGerald. Capts P. T. Keightlcy. A. E. Woodward, J. M. Loyd, Lt D. H. Spencer. RQIVIS Leech. WOII Warren, SQMS Cummings. SQMS Tucker. Ssgt Thorpe. Sgts Acton. Boakes. Baillie— Hamilton. Mackay. Heller and Hayes. During the past year the following have left the Army. and we wish them all good fortune: Maj C. E. Winstanley. Capts W. M. G. Black. P. A. Arnison—Ntwgass. Lts D. S. B'Irrington— Browne. E. C. York. J. H. Lloyd. 2Lt M. A. E. Casey, RSM’s J. D. Bradley. F. G. G. Vowles, SQMS Clarke. The following have left on extra—regimental employment or have taken up other duties away from the Regiment, We wish them luck in their new appointments: Maj J. A. Dimond. M.C.. Maj B. J. Hodgson. Maj T. A. K. Watson. Maj W. S. H. Boucher. Capts A. B. T. Davey. J. J. F. Scott, B. J. Lockhart, J. A. Aylen.
C. B. Amery. J. W. L. Bucknall. Lts C. N. Haworth—Bocth. C. M. Barrie. RSM Ranson.