Page 8 - RSDG Year of 2021 CREST

6 EAGLE AND CARBINE
PREFACE
The Colonel of the Regiment
Welcome to our 2021 Eagle and Carbine. This is the first Preface I have written, it is therefore appropri- ate that I highlight the incredible care and attention that David Allfrey put into his tenure as Colonel of our Regiment. In October 2021 he handed to me a well ordered and smoothly running ‘office’. On behalf of you all, I thank him and Fiona for all that they did to support the Regiment over almost six years. He was most bowled over by the kind gifts given him and has already both explored the fishing, and put paint on canvas, so both were thoroughly appropriate.
There rarely seems to a year in which one does not find oneself reflecting on how unusual or challeng- ing it was; 2021 is no different. This year the Eagle and Carbine captures the wide range of tasks that the Regiment has undertaken. What it does not always do is to explain the intense pressures caused by multiple short notice taskings. It does not bring out how hard it is to retain a spirit of kinship and teamwork when the entire Regiment is forced to either work remotely, or restrict how and when it meets. It has not explained enough to those of us not facing the daily reality, the frustrations felt across all ranks, and especially our more junior ranks.
We are out of the woods now, and I could not empha- size enough how well every man in the Regiment has done to stick with it. The nation has truly benefitted from everything the Regiment has turned its hand to as we battled through the COVID years and I for one am extremely thankful. Well done every single one of you at Regimental Duty.
Among all of that commotion the Regiment has man- aged to continue to uphold the things we hold dear. You can read about it right through the magazine, but I would highlight one or two articles. For excellence in sport turn to the Nordic Skiing article; to read about distinction in the field read about Exercise Khanjar Oman; to take heart from our ability to turn out well on grey horses then turn to the Equitation article; and to catch up on a Regiment that continues to get the very best out of what Scotland offers then enjoy read- ing about Stalking or Spean Bridge.
Where ever you dip into this excellent magazine, you will read of the resilience, loyalty, determination, humility and humanity with which our Regiment undertakes every challenge thrown at it. And more widely you will be pleased to read about the individual contributions of staff serving at ERE. Across the piece everyone is living our motto; Second to None.
I congratulate every single one of you.