Page 69 - Journal Compilation

1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards 55
making sure everyone was in step. Some would say the RCA were the smartest on the day, either way it was a joy to see them on parade with heads held high proving you’re never too old to ‘get on the heel’ with your ‘neck in the back of the collar’ etc etc. We leave continental Europe with our heads held high after being awarded the Fahnenband, one of the highest military honours Germany can bestow on allied forces. Michael Dreier, the burgermeister of Paderborn also thanked the regiment for its work in the community and wished us luck for the future.
Joining us on parade were the Band and Bugles of The Ri es who provided a stirring accompaniment to proceedings. Whilst we would never criticise the musical accompaniment we have for any of cial parade the occasion would have been so much nicer if we still had our own band, which sadly is long since gone...but not forgotten.
The day didn’t end after the parade, a small lull in proceedings allowed some of the RCA to take to the road and visit Detmold and other areas around
...one of the highest military honours Germany can
bestow on allied forces
Sennelager. It wouldn’t be a proper RCA visit if they didn’t try out a few of the local German hostelries, nobody was arrested and everyone made it back for the all ranks party being held in the NAAFI bar on camp. The decision to open some of the Sqn bars once again proved a hit with the RCA, yet again proving it doesn’t matter when you leave you still hold an af liation to a particular Sqn, even though we all know A Sqn are the best one (author and editor bias naturally).
The parade and social activities of the weekend seemed a tting tribute to our time in Germany. Although as we close the chapter of our history there it doesn’t mean the end, it merely means we open a fresh chapter in Norfolk our new home for some years to come.
TRJ
.