Page 119 - QDG Volume 9 No. 5

1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards 117
Germany Branch
The RCA Germany Branch has had a few
changes made in 2024. Firstly, the Branch
was restructured with Ralph Hanning
as Branch Secretary, Roger Harrison as
Branch Accountant and Martin Ruscoe
as Branch IT & Merchandising.
During 2024 the Branch hosted several
drinks nights in the Stadt Keller Wolfen-
büttel for the local lads, needless to say
those that attended had some fantastic
evenings, astonishingly enough for
everyone was the fact that we discussed
air fryer recipes on a number of occa-
sions.
Our main event was in June where we
held our yearly Waterloo gathering in
the Stadt Keller Wolfenbüttel, this year
the fancy dress theme was - anything
French! In Total we had 42 people
attending, the majority of whom travelled
across from the UK.
We also had a Christmas Market gath-
ering where it was nice to see so many
of those living locally attend. A Special
mention goes out to Roger Harrison who
spontaneously jumped on a plane to
attend this function. During the weekend
Germany Branch Welshmen, dressed as Frenchmen, in Wolfenbüttel
we also made the draw for the fancy
dress day for 2025s Waterloo gathering
- Vikings it is!
With regards to 2025 the Branch has
several events planned. We will continue
the regular drinks nights for the locals
amongst us, but we also have dates
of interest open to all RCA members
of the Regiment that will be advertised
on Facebook. However, you can look
forward to, Waterloo Battlefield Tour 18
April - 20 April 2025, Annual Waterloo
Gathering 19 June - 22 June 2025 and
to finish off 2025 the Wolfenbüttel
Christmas Market meet up 19 December
- 21 December.
South
Wales
Branch
The South Wales Branch held its
annual Black Tie Dinner on 7th
September at the Masonic Hall in
Cardiff. This year, the Battle Honour
being celebrated was Lucknow,
with excerpts from war diaries
brought to life by enthusiastic volun-
teers (victims). Hannah Searle, the
Regimental Assistant Curator, deliv-
ered an in-depth and captivating
presentation on the battle. Having
visited Northern India and Lucknow
earlier in the year as part of her
research for an upcoming book on
South Wales Branch, Lucknow Dinner attendees
the subject, her insights provided a
vivid and personal perspective on
the historic event.
The evening featured an excellent
four-course meal with everyone
so full after pudding most of the
cheese course was left! The cele-
bration extended into the early
hours, with some of the diners even
continuing the revelry in Cardiff’s
pubs and clubs.
Looking ahead, the Branch will
hold a social event early in the year,
and the annual dining tradition will
resume in September or October
2025.
East Anglia Branch
East Anglia branch is slowly getting
members on parade, we chatted about
stronger in number over the last year
what we should be doing as a branch
with around 30 members, however it
and how we can move forward with
has been hard to set dates for all to get
dates for the rest of the member to be
together. Our first event of 2024 was
able to attend, the second drinks night
three members going over to RBSM for
was held in Lowestoft with 5 members.
the visit of the Colonel-in-Chief, it was a
We are looking at having two events
great day meeting the Regiment and the
each year with one in the West and one
Colonel-in-Chief. The Regt put on warm
in the East side of our area.
welcome. it was great to meet up with
In 2025 we are hoping to support the
the serving Regiment.
regiment on St Davids day and have
We have had two nights with drinks
the Sandbaggers over in July 2025 for a
and a BBQ, the first was in July with 5
branch BBQ on their way over to Germany.