Page 116 - Light Dragoons 2023 CREST

As all keen Light Dragoon historians know, we have been victims of two reg- imental amalgamations and that there was a gap of seventy years between them. The 15th/19th had a lunch in the country and the 13th/18th had a lunch in the Cavalry and Guards Club organised by Toby Ward, Twiggy Wright and Willy Peto. Thanks are due to Home Headquarters for digging out all the email addresses and to Annette Donnelly for all the administration.
We assembled before lunch with the early arrivals drinking their body weight in Lanson and nibbles. With over sixty for
the lunch we decided to have one long table and try and place everyone next door to and opposite their contemporaries. At one end was General Stuart and at the other Brigadier Angus. General Stuart was just shy of his centenary and we were all very honoured that he made the lunch which regrettably was his farewell appearance with his regiment of nearly eighty years.
Prior to lunch we attempted to have a group photograph. Eventually it was taken with Simon Ledger appearing at both ends and a lot of people with eyes closed etc.
A large amount of photo shopping didn’t improve it much.
Allan Mallinson gave a spirited short talk on the 1922 amalgamation and then the noise level rose and serious reminiscing started. This continued through to the cof- fee, port and cigars on the terrace.
As always Alix, Paul and the Club team did us proud and not too expensively.
If anyone wants to see photographs, ask Willy Peto on wgpeto@btinternetcom, there are lots of them.
The Regimental Journal of The Light Dragoons
Lilywhite Lunch June 8th 2022
15th/19th The King’s Royal Hussars Centenary Lunch – Sunday 3 April 2022
One hundred and thirty former offic- ers and their wives/partners and widows gathered at Chavenage House in Gloucestershire on Sunday 3 April 2022 to celebrate the Centenary of the formation of the 15th/19th The King’s Royal Hussars. A relatively sunny spring day meant that many congregated on the lawn outside the house before the lunch greeting old friends with that everlasting bonhomie and warm assurance born of the shared experience of having served together in that great Regiment. The jokes and the leg-pulling never change. Despite the more senior external appearance, everyone lapsed into the swift repartee of their previous selves
only regulated by the sharp looks of our better halves.
The call to lunch was signalled by several blasts on the hunting horn by ex MFH Marcus Browell, which alerted even those whose hearing was none the better from too many days standing on gunnery firing points. We were served a delicious lunch of the most perfect cold fillet of beef; it cut like butter and was a sensual delight as it purred down one’s throat. There was no holding back when head caterer Joanna Gouriet came round with seconds, fol- lowed by puddings of pavlova or dark chocolate and almond torte. A variety of
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