Page 102 - RSDG Year of 2023

100 EAGLE AND CARBINE
LONDON AND SOUTH EAST OF ENGLAND BRANCH Rupert Gather, Chairman
In the last 18 months London has been the epicentre of 2 momentous occasions – the funeral of our late Colonel in Chief and the coronation of our new Colonel in Chief. Their relevance is, of course, for the whole Regiment (and nation) and its true that we as the London and SE Branch didn’t play an active role in those two events. However, they are part of a pattern of service for our Association, London being at the epicentre of national events, and we see and feel involvement. For example, The Royal Hospital Chelsea was a logistic hub for VIP and Dignitaries from around the world, paying their respects and celebrating the King’s coronation, so George Cochlan was running from pillar to post.
For my part, in November I was honoured to represent the Regiment at The Field of Remembrance and spoke to Her Majesty The Queen. I was able to say how delighted we were that The King had graciously agreed to become our Colonel In Chief, and she was able to assure me that he was “very pleased”
On matters Royal, it was wonderful to see Crown Prince Pavlos on parade with us at the Cenotaph. The Colonel of the Regiment had asked that I lead the parade this year which was an honour and Prince Pavlos was a very smart right marker as we marched past the Cenotaph. We had a good turnout – 16 in all - but there’s always room for more! As always, it was a very moving and special day, even though it was drizzling and in true Army style there was a lot of “hurry up and wait”. Another big event with rather better weather was Cavalry Memorial Sunday in May. It was another glorious day, don’t know why it always is, and Mick Skerratt was resplendent and read the Kohima Epitaph ‘When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us And Say, For Your Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today”.
The Regimental Contingent on Horse Guards on Remembrance Sunday
The Chairman of the London Branch with Her Majesty The Queen at the Opening of the Field of Remembrance
Which reminds us all of all those we have lost this year – 39 Regimental comrades in all – and all their names are read out at The Kimberely Parade in December. We only had 5 on parade because of a combination of train strikes and freezing weather. The
parade was led by Tracey Wood and the bugler was In-Pensioner Baz King, ex 10th KRIH,
who had sounded The Reveille at the funeral of Winston Churchill! We are thinking
of moving the Parade next year
to the Spring
to try and increase turnout
– my preferred option is the nearest Sunday to Nunshigum Day on the 13th of April, but we’ll keep you posted and hope to see as many comrades and friends alike, in the very near future.
In Pensioner Mick Skerratt on Cavalry Memorial Sunday