Page 38 - QDG Volume 9 No. 5

36 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards
Padre – ‘Pro rege pro patria’
As I sit here reflecting on the year, 2024,
I find myself inundated with emotions as
I prepare for my final year with 1st The
Queen’s Dragoon Guards. The expe-
riences we’ve shared, the challenges
we’ve faced, and the camaraderie we’ve
fostered resonate deeply within me. This
regiment is not just a unit to which I have
been assigned; it has become my family,
and it is hard to convey the gratitude I
feel for the time we have shared.
The year began with an undeniable
sense of purpose. The world felt tumul-
tuous, and our duty as soldiers went
beyond the call of sheer military action;
we served our nation while embod-
ying the values of empathy, resilience,
and faith. Throughout the months, we
engaged in crucial training operations
and exercises as well as full squadron
deployments, sharpening our skills and
consolidating our bonds as a tight-knit
family. Each day in the field, or on the
ranges, was not merely an exercise but
an opportunity to support one another in
our spiritual journeys.
My main effort for 2024 was OP
CABRIT(P), firstly ensuring A Squadron,
out in a freezing Poland, where well
supported. Throughout 2024 I was
unable to deploy which I found incredibly
frustrating but working with the OC Maj
James Brockless and his leadership team,
we sought together to deliver chaplaincy
in a different way and remotely - and
this worked well! I was able to support
several soldiers and families whilst I
remained in the UK.
Upon A Squadron’s return home in
early Spring, B Squadron where already
in full preparation to replace them and
travelled to much sunnier and warmer
conditions. And the treadmill continued
with C Squadron resuming the cold
punishing winter tour of duty when they
embarked on their journey in October.
I am sure that our participation on OP
CABRIT, apart from being vital, brings
squadrons and ultimately the regiment
together as well as bringing us closer to
the communities we serve to support and
the partner countries we serve alongside.
The sincerity with which our soldiers
engage with all is heartwarming. And I
witnessed this firsthand on the couple
of occasions I was able to visit INTER-
FLEX and our troops at Whathgill Camp.
I saw how each handshake and shared
story built bridges of understanding and
compassion - even through language
barriers – demonstrating and reinforcing
the profound relationship between the
British Army and her allies.
This connection, I believe, is one of
the cornerstones of our existence as
members of the armed forces.
As I reminisce about the different
School delivering a talk Alex Pedley Baptism with Padre