Page 84 - Rifles 2017 Issue No 3

THANKFULLY THE MANY HOURS OF DRILL PRACTICE UNDER THE VIGILANT EYE OF WO2 (CSM) SWIFT PAID OFF
Yorkshire Tour, 27 – 29 Apr 17, Doncaster and Dewsbury town
Applauding crowds and stormy skies were the order of the week for C Company as they marched through the streets of Doncaster and received the Freedom of Dewsbury. These towns both hold close ties back to antecedent regiments of The Ri es. The seventy men of C Company were joined by D (RIFLES) Company 5RRF, The Ri es Light Infantry and KOYLI Regimental Association, The Band and Bugles of The Ri es, Light Infantry Buglers Associ- ation and E (Ri es) Coy ACF throughout the week’s events, in a celebration of the strong bond between them all, past and present.
Led by the Of cer Commanding C Company, Major Simon Greenman, the Company proudly marched through the centre of both towns to be met by the great and good of the local area. In Dewsbury this involved a mile loop around the town centre, lined with cheering crowds and halting in front of Longcauseway Gardens. Here there was a laying of commemorative paving stones in memory of Sgt John William Ormsby and Pte Horace Waller who won their VCs for exceptional bravery 100 years ago in April 1917, making the day even more moving.
In Doncaster on the Sir Nigel Gresley Square, after the Mayor of Doncaster, Councillor David Nevett inspected C Company, Major Andrew Penny KOYLI / 2LI, the President of the Regimental Association, presented the framed 1948 Regimental Colour of 4th Battalion KOYLI to the Mayor and the people of Doncaster. The Colour was marched off parade for the last time on 1 August 1962 in Berlin when HRH The Queen Mother, Colonel-in-Chief of The Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, presented new Colours to the battalion.
Thankfully the many hours of drill practice under the vigilant eye of WO2 (CSM) Swift paid off amidst the scrutiny of the local media and abundance of military experience watching on! Freedom parades remain important and symbolic events and this was a particularly poignant week in recognition of special and close relationship between the people of Doncaster, Dewsbury and the Regiment today.
Lt C T J Davis, OC 8 PL
82 THIRD BATTALION
THE RIFLES
C Company on parade at Sir Nigel Gresley Square Doncaster
C Company exercising the Freedom of Doncaster