Page 103 - QDG Volume 9 No. 5

1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards Andrew Campbell, Charlie Byrd, Justin Stenhouse, David Warner, Johnny O’Brien, Paddy Bond,
David Sheehan, Johnnie Brooke, Jonno Beaston-Hird, Guy Briselden, John Whelan, Chris Sprake
In all, field sports remain a crucial
part of routine life in the QDG. Not only
continuing in the footsteps of many that
have gone before us and enjoying the
outdoor pursuits often associated with
military life; the skills required to shoot a
pheasant in a fast wind has undoubtedly
improved our ability to take-out an FPV
drone.
Hunting
Maj AJ Purbrick, OC B Sqn, continued
to lead the field hunting with the Cottes-
more and Quorn. A quiet year due to
operational deployments, but nonethe-
less fun. Enjoyably this year a fun half
hour chase near Ingarsby saw one of the
officers fall off, and, catching up the rest of
the field display some textbook concus-
sion symptoms by introducing himself
to the entire field one by one, including
his colleagues. Always a delight, never a
chore, truly the trail-hunting sport around
Norfolk and Midlands only continues to
refine our Recce skills.
Stalking
Whilst C Sqn continue their stalk for an
elusive wolf, B Sqn were able to also take
some stalking in the Polish forest. Moose
are seldom taken, but Red often. Always
come at the distinctly un-British stalking
risk that leaving your quarry once culled
for more than 15 minutes will see it eaten
by a wolf. LCpl Jack Nicholls continues
as the Deer Defence Management repre-
sentative for Swanton Morley and has
had a very good year with 4 good Red
Stags taken as part of a wider Defence
plan to manage our Deer population to
ensure the survival and thriving of the
most worthwhile. As always, such sport
gives our core recce skills further depth
and a new edge and helps us become
even better at our job whilst taking the
opportunity to understand our natural
environment as well.
A brief insight on the link between
Andrew Sheepshanks, friend of the The
Regiment, and the QDG.
Lieutenant Richard Hassell Sheepshanks
Born 19 Feb. 1885, son of the Rev.T. Sheep-
shanks, M.A., and Mrs. Sheepshanks,
daughter of Andrew Gleve, W.S., of Edin-
burgh. He was educated at Harrow, and
Trinity College, Cambridge, becoming
Second Lieutenant ROl~1 1st Devon
Yeomanry, ID 1904. He joined the 12th
Cavalry Indian Army, 19 Jan. 1907, as
Lieutenant: He saw active service in the
European War in Mesopotamia near Awaz.
He was mentioned in Dispatches 25 June,
1915.
The following is the record of his service
in General Sir A. Barrett’s Mention:
“Lieutenant. R H. Sheepshanks, 12th
Cavalry, attached 33rd Cavalry, was
conspicuous for his gallantry and skillful
handling of a small body of cavalry 3
No the photo is not wonky, that’s the guns
101
The rule of no use of white fleet cross
country did not apply to the MTO
March. Re–forming his troop, he repeat-
edly charged the foremost lines of the
enemy and inflicted heavy losses on them.”
The late Richard H. Sheepshanks.
Cavalry Brigade Commander wrote:
“There was no one with that force, cavalry
or infantry, who did better. His skillful
leading, energy and dash were talked
of by everyone.” Another wrote: “Sheep-
shanks has been doing wonders on the
other side of the Tigris with 22 men of the
33rd Cavalry; His last effort was when the
Arab Horse got into the guns. He charged
with eleven men, buckled his sword in an
Arab, took a heavy toss, picked himself up
although much hurt, and killed fourteen
men with his rifle and saved a wounded
gunner. Thirty-three men of a British
regiment stood, and all the guns were
saved, except one. The tales of Sheep-
shanks’ prowess are like fairy-tales, only
true.”
He was created a Companion of the
Distinguished Service Order [London
Gazette, 29 Oct. 1915]: “Richard Hasell
Sheepshanks, Lieut., 12th Cavalry, LA. For
distinguished service in the field.” He was
promoted Captain and was appointed
A.D.C. to the Viceroy of India in 1916,
whose third daughter, the Hon. Bridget
Thesiger, he married, 25 June 1919. Capt.
Sheepshanks was subsequently inva-
lided home suffering from severe attacks
of fever and neuralgia, the result of the
Mesopotamian wars.