Page 107 - QDG 2023

1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards
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Regimental Home Headquarters
Mark Hawtin – Regimental Secretary • Kate Cox – Assistant Regimental Secretary Mark Evans – Regimental Curator • Hannah Searle – Regimental Assistant Curator
HHQ is a team of two for the time being, myself and Kate, this is whilst we wait for the Ministry of Defence Civil Servant recruitment pause to be lifted. HHQ is still staffed Monday to Friday, however I would ask for you all to be patient if you’re trying to phone and there is no answer, either leave a message with your contact number or send us an email and we’ll get back to you as fast as possible.
2023 has seen the RCA going from strength to strength, the Branches have all held extremely successful events with black tie suppers, coronation parties, Sand Baggers BBQs and large reunions and dinners in Denbigh, Hereford, Oswestry and Cardiff. Op TELIC 1 reunions were held in March by the A and C Squadrons of 2003 with over 75 comrades attending each, a few even traveling from the other side of the world, both Sqn’s RV’d in the afternoon at the Prince of Wales followed by A Sqn dining at Leonardo’s and C Sqn in the Masonic Hall and an A Sqn Op HERRICK 9 reunion lunch was held in London on the Saturday of Cav Mem. We can look forward to numerous events in 2024 including Op GRANDBY and Op AGRICOLA reunions. We now have a Valley’s Branch, set up in the summer by Dave Evans as Secretary and Ian Moore and Neil Berryman as sidekicks, they have had great success with their inaugural events and are organising the Kosovo 25 and Christmas Party this December in Cardiff.
After many years of running the Germany Branch, looking after our comrades across the English Channel and organising the extremely well attended Wolfenbüttel Waterloo Weekend and Christmas Market meet ups Martin Ruscoe has handed over the reins of Branch Secretary to Ralph Hanning, I’d like to thank Martin for his stalwart support to the RCA over the years
Comrades attended the Royal Armoured Corp Church service in the Royal Hospital Chelsea, Fields of Remem- brance in Cardiff and Westminster Abbey and the National Services of Remem- brances at the Cenotaph in London and the Welsh National War Memorial in Cardiff, with many requesting regimental wreaths and attending their hometown Remembrance Services. There has been a lot of interest shown in having a larger marching contingent at the 2024 London Cenotaph, if you wish to take part, please give HHQ your details.
QDG and several other RAC regiments were extremely fortunate to be awarded a very generous grant of £35,000 from the Armed Forces Covenant Trust Fund and have digital App’s produced for us by the firm ‘2Viz.’ Our App called ‘QDG Connect’ went live in the Spring. This enables the regiment to reach out to QDG’s, serving and retired, especially those traditionally hard to contact; enabling us to connect and renew friendships, pool our skills and help each other; extending the comradeship of regimental service to all. I would ask you all to please support and download the App and if you have any constructive criticism or ideas on how to improve it contact the team at HHQ and we’ll pass your suggestions on to 2Viz.
I would once again like to thank all those of you who donate to our Regi- mental Benevolence Fund, via the 1 Days’ Pay Scheme or through our ‘Give as You Live’ tab on the RCA website. All benevolence grants awarded,
many of which are life changing, are gratefully received, HHQ has received many letters
and phone calls of thanks on your behalf. This past year 17 grants have been given, we have also given quar- terly, annual, fuel and Christmas grants, with
the total value
of grants
awarded by
the Regimental Benevolence
Fund for 2023
being £18,000.
We have also once
again received great
support from the ABF, BLESMA, H4H, RBL, and SSAFA. I would also like to thank those of you who have personally assisted comrades’ or their immediate families.
As you have read, your support is vital in assisting those comrades, serving and retired,
or their immediate families that find themselves in times of need.
If you know of anybody who is struggling, mentally, financially, or physically please contact HHQ in the first instance, all information is
treated in confidence and with discretion. To finish I would once again like to thank all who have supported the HHQ team over this year, it has been greatly appreciated. If you have any queries or questions, please don’t hesitate in contacting the team, or if you find yourself in Cardiff pop in for a cup of tea
and a chat.