Page 41 - The KRH Year of 2023 (CREST Sharing)

Officers’ Mess
So begins the reforging of the Mess after 6 months apart. The long-anticipated reunion of the Officers’ Mess occurred immediately after the return from CABRIT as the Mess hosted the Colonel of the Regiment for a dinner night to bond those fresh from “the eastern front’ with those that had been sup- porting Op ALBA in the UK together before heading off on POTL, a thoroughly raucous night confirmed that the health of the Officers’ Mess was as strong as it ever was, although several months in Estonia meant that while the spirit may have been willing, the body was sorely out of practice.
Summer proved to be a game of two halves, the finest pomp and ceremony on one hand and a deployment on the first itera- tion of Ex IRON CYCLONE on the other. The coronation pro- vided mess members a genuine reason to peacock around cen- tral London (not that we ever needed an excuse) and parade at the RHC, an experience which those who took part will never forget.
After a very-dry-followed-by-very-wet exercise on Salisbury Plain, the Regiment was able to snatch a weekend in July and erect the tent for the Rundle Cup. Amid the cheers of the spec- tators and the heckling of the Polo-set, the first major social event for the Officers’ Mess took place in a damp field on a muggy Saturday in July. English Sparkling flowed and mess members renewed their acquaintance with Polo and civilisa- tion after a very long period away. The weekend flew by and in no time at all, subalterns were remounting their faithful mechanical charges to head back into the field.
Despite the best efforts of the Army to consign the Regiment to SPTA, the summer exercise season eventually gave way to the wind down for summer leave. After a glorious break, the Mess returned with its sights set on a Summer Ball – a first for many junior officers and an opportunity for the new crop of Sqn Ldrs to relive their glory days.
Lt Rothwell hosting a member of the RA Hunt
Age of Empires involved many grapes, lots of MFO boxes and a mediocre effort at a Pyramid. Despite protestations of ‘work’ the subbies were thrashed by the slave-driver-in-chief PMC to within an inch of their lives. Many would have breathed a sigh of relief as Maj Wade returned his BSc (Hons) in Engineering to his alma mater. The rest of the mess scoured the grass for any remaining grapes, a particular deadly favourite of many a furry friend, while the PMC (again) apologised to the RTR (again) for driving over their lawn (again).
The Ball marked the beginning of the much vaunted ‘summer of love’ in September, demonstrating the Regiment’s great dis- regard for the natural progression of the seasons and its love of the good life all in one. The mess was in fine form through- out with Flashman lectures, dinners, events, cocktail parties, only pausing to draw breath after Seniors to Officers and the Christmas leave period.
The Regimental Journal of The King’s Royal Hussars 41
A familiar face in the wrong trousers
Westy, what boat?