Page 141 - RSDG Year of 2023

In February with half the Regiment still living in Camp BAGNOLD, Mali we received confirmation that the Regiment would have the honour of providing a marching contingent for HM The King’s Coronation. After some persuasion, I convinced the Commanding Officer that he should allow me to march. This was doubly special for me as seventy years ago, my grandfather returned from a peacekeeping mission in The Canal Zone and marched in HM The Queen’s Coronation with his Regiment, the 1st Royal Dragoons. It seemed apt that seventy years later that I should return from a peacekeeping mission in Mali to march in HM The King’s Coronation carrying my grand- father’s sword.
On 26th of April, the marching detachment set off from Leuchars in a Top Gear style race to reach our home for the next week, the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. The Commanding Officer and HQ Sqn Ldr were somewhat waylaid at 7 Bde HQ whilst the main body moved south by coach only stopping at their usual haunts on the M6 for a few succulent meals. The Adjutant flew to London disguised as a commuter for a brief in the Guards Chapel followed by a walk of the route. Upon arrival, the unit representatives were briefed that suits were the order of the day so that attention was not drawn whilst recontouring the route. Without drawing breath, the gathered repre- sentatives were then told that the guides for the day would be Household Division subalterns dressed in bowler hats and carrying umbrellas. These outfits are somewhat more conspicuous than they would have been at the previous coronation. From Guards Chapel, the contingents set off down Whitehall and were placed at their respective
starting points. Appropriately, SCOTS DG were to start at the Great Scotland Yard junction. 500 years after it was named after Scottish diplomats, a similarly fine body of Scottish men and women would wait there for their part in the King’s Coronation. Unsurprisingly, the main body had arrived at RMAS in good time and it was only the Officers falling in after dark that evening.
The following morning gave the soldiers their first glimpse of the hallowed parade squares and facades of Old and New College. At 0700hrs, the Adjutant rolled out of his bed and drew back his curtains to see the Victory College parade square filling with Infanteers who were dressed, armed, and ready for a day of rehearsals. Memories of Junior Term came flooding back to him and panic ensued. Having calmly consulted HQ Sqn Ldr who was in the next room, it was agreed that they were not late and we should stick to their timings. After a nervous breakfast, they made our way out to the parade square and were somewhat relieved to find that they were on time and that the Infantry had
OP GOLDEN ORB
Capt R D Houstoun
EAGLE AND CARBINE 139