Page 98 - The Royal Lancers Chapka 2017

96 REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL LANCERS (QUEEN ELIZABETHS’ OWN)
Barton Detachment E Company – Humberside and South Yorkshire Army Cadet Force
Iam Cadet Sergeant Hood, a senior cadet with Humberside and South Yorkshire Army Cadet Force (ACF). For the past four and a half years I have been a member of Barton Detachment, E Company, Humberside and South Yorkshire ACF who are affiliated with The Royal Lancers.
Initially badged to The Queens Royal Lancers, our affiliation changed in May 2015 following the amalgamation of the QRL and the 9/12L. Now badged to The Royal Lancers, our small detachment regularly parades around 20 ca- dets, with more on the nominal roll, as well as a steady stream of new recruits wishing to join our ranks. During my time in the cadet force I have achieved many personal heights. As well as competing in several Brigade (National) level competitions, I have had the opportunity to travel to the home of British Rifle shooting, Bisley. In addition to this, I have completed my Senior Cadet Instructor’s Cadre (SCIC) and my Cadet Leadership Course (CLM). Both courses were vital in my progression and my road to
the National Cadet Training Centre (NCTC) in Frimley Park, where I hope to successfully com- plete my Master Cadet Course (MCC) in the not too distant future. This will be the pinnacle of my cadet career.
By far my most memorable activity with the Army Cadet Force was attending the amalga- mation parade where The Royal Lancers were formed. Approximately ten cadets along with two adults attended the parade; a landmark oc- casion in both of the history of Lancer Regi- ments and of the Barton Detachment. The current cadets are well aware of the diversity and flexibility of the modern Regiment, as well as its history; from the battlefields of Crimea, the planes of North Africa and to the deserts of Afghanistan. As a detachment, we are proud of our affiliation and the heritage of both of our detachment and the regiment to which we are affiliated.
Cadet Sergeant Hood
Cadet Sergeant Hood
Stoke Detachment – Staffordshire Army Cadet Force
When I saw the calling notice from the Regimental Secretary for articles for The Chapka, I thought what most people thought: “who would want to read about our small part of the Lancers family?” Well, here is the story of how my detachment almost became Royal Army Medi- cal Corps (RAMC) cadets and how a little help from Major Watson helped us continue to be Lancers.
I joined my detachment as the Second-in-Command in March 2017 and found a scruffy looking building and some enthusiastic cadets that were wearing both RAMC and Queen’s Royal Lancers’ (QRL) head-dress. Only four members of the detachment, including the instructors were wearing the new motto. Ok, so not the end of the world, but we were only one of two Royal Lancers detach- ments in the whole of our county. No one seemed bothered about getting our cadets wearing what is arguably one of the most distinctive insignias in the British Army. The RAMC badged cadets had come from a detachment housed in an Army Reserve centre that was closing down and, sad though this was, I felt that it was important to gel as one team. As such, we needed to look the part. I had seen Stoke detachment wearing and being proud of being affili- ated to the 16/5L and then QRL since I joined as a cadet in 1990 and I really wanted us to continue that tradition.
Well, in a nutshell, the Commander of my detachment de- cided to leave the Army Cadet Force due to work commit-
ments and I took over in April 2017. I had already tried to get mottos from our Quartermaster and I just came up against a wall. Our Headquarters felt that the new motto was not obtainable. It was even suggested that we change our affiliation to the RAMC; I was having none of it!
I asked permission to reach out to the Regiment via what- ever means possible and started to check all open sources of information. In other words, I Googled Royal Lancers and quickly came across the Regimental Association. I sent an email via the site asking for help and received a reply from Major Watson, who offered to send a limited number of metal mottos for the adults and the newly produced cadet cloth version. “Result!” I thought, why didn’t I just do this earlier?
Soon after my detachment rebadged, I received an email inviting us to join the Regiment in Catterick on the 25th June 2017, for a Drumhead service. It was a big rush to sort out the logistics of getting our cadets to the Regimental Weekend, but it was worth it. I am glad to say that it has in- spired one of the cadet corporals to join the Regiment when he finishes at the Army Foundation Centre, Harrogate in 2018. Proof indeed that being around our regular counter- parts is all that is needed to help fill the ranks. If the young man in question passes out, I may be able to write about the journey from cadet to regular soldier next year!
RF