Page 124 - The Light Dragoon 2024

The Regimental Journal of The Light Dragoons
for us to alight, where we waited for the Swanage train to arrive. Our friend Mike met us there and we travelled with him via Corfe Castle to Swanage, had lunch at his house and admired his excellent model railway and then returned the same way. It was a grand day out!
We have had a few visits from military bands, including cadets but the most unusual one was a group from Germany; a pianist, trumpeter and drummer – but the piece de resistance was a bagpipe recital by an elderly colonel with a waxed moustache!
David and Tom Lyall
A Day in the life of a Cavalry
Chelsea Pensioner
Us lads of the Cavalry Regiments normally get up early in the mornings, we have a shave and a shower and are breakfast at 0715. We will have sorted our kit out ready the night afore to get a good start after a really good hearty start of the day breakfast meal.
We like to get down the hangers early, five minutes before first parade which is at 0800. More often than not we are inspected by of Captain of Invalids ( C of I) who is also from the Cavalry, sometimes the Governor who is also from the Cavalry comes down to see us.
After the Parade we move the vehicles outside for a test drive, for obvious reasons
I cannot tell you what vehicles we hav, Official Secrets Act and all that entails!
When we go out driving the Locals sharp move out of our way, the rims on the wheels of our vehicles act like tin openers, especially the way we old buggers drive. Some of the older vehicles have which are really old now have wide tracks almost like some of the vehicles we used to drive in Germany.
When we get back, we use the indoor washdown the clean the vehicles off, we then get the Dreamy REME to check for vehicle faults. The REME still use a 2lb hammer and black masking tape to fix any problems, plus they still like a good moan.
More often than not we have a sports afternoon, I personally prefer Egyptian PT! Some of the lads have recently got into walking Rugby, there is also talk of starting a cricket team but that is a wee bit too energetic.
DL
Life as a Volunteer at the Guard Museum
I bought the book “Pomp and Circumstance” The band of the Coldstream Guards along with several other items from The Guards Museum” whilst volunteering there. Nowadays we have a lot of items on sale. The shop, which was located just inside the main gate on the right closed at the start of the Pandemic in 2020 and has
never re-opened. The two people had had ran the shop decided at that point to retire.
As well as the traditional type of stock on sale and display at most Regimental Museums Olivia who is the Visitor Experience Coordinator has expanded and modernised what is for sale in the shop.
I started volunteering there 2017, I normally volunteer on a Friday along with another In Pensioner, Anne Phipps, we have a wonderful time meeting lots of different people for the far flung corners of the world.
The reason for my interest in the Coldstream Guards is because my Father volunteered and joined the Coldstream Guards in 1939, his number was 2659639 Guardsman Robert Lines and I do believe he was in the Second Battalion during WW2. By coincidence another IP whose bunk is next to mine and who was a Coldstreamer has informed me his Father was also in the Second Battalion Coldstream Guards during WW2!
During the War most Guards Regiments had up to five Battalions, each Battalion about six hundred strong, about the size of my Cavalry Regiment when I first joined.
DL
In Pensioner David Lines at the Coldstream Guards Museum
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