Page 137 - The Royal Lancers Chapka 2018

REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL LANCERS (QUEEN ELIZABETHS’ OWN) 135
Fig.10 30.5mm high, 32.7mm wide, two loops NS 22.5mm
In 2015 a further amalgamation took place between the 9/12L and the QRL, thus forming the current and only remaining lancer regiment of the British Army, The Royal Lancers (Queen Eliza- beths’ Own). The Joint Amalgamation Committee had the rather difficult task of attempting to maintain the ‘golden thread’ of all of the former lancer regiments. In recognition of the 9L they elected to adopt Queen Adelaide’s Cypher surmounted with a St. Edward’s crown, as the design for the new collar badges (Fig.10).
However, shortly after amalgamation the Regiment decided to replace the St. Edwards crown with a Guelphic one (Fig.11), which in a way brings us full circle, the cypher returning once more as a substantial piece of insignia in the 21st century, some 185 years after its original adoption.
RP
Acknowledgements:
Major Phil Watson – Assistant Regimental Secretary RL Lieutenant Colonel Robin Hodges late The King’s Regiment.
References:
9L 1715 to 1903 – Frank H. Reynard (Capt. Late 9L) Cavalry WOs’ & NCOs’ Arm Badges – Linaker & Dine. Cavalry Arm Badges – Peter Seaman
The Dress Distinctions of the 9L – B.W. Cox
JSAHR – The Sergeants Arm Badge of the 9L – B.W. Cox
Fig.11 28.3mm high, 32.2mm wide, two loops NS 15.5mmm
Return To Mons, 100th Anniversary
On a bright sunny morning in November 2014 over one hundred and fifty ex members of the 16/5L made their way to Whitehall to pay their respects to the fallen. I’m sure it was Major Howard Cross that threw down the original challenge, “wouldn’t’t it be good to go to Mons in 2018.” I thought to my- self I might just have a go at that. The day in London was a very memorable experience, who could forget being in the larg- est contingent marching past the national memorial of remem- brance with a sea of scarlet poppy wreaths spilling out onto the road and the stirring marches played by the mass bands of the of the Guards thundering so loud and vibrating through the body, along with the crowds of onlookers supporting us with their applause. Surely replicating this experience in Mons, a city so important to the regiment’s history, will also be a very moving experience, and after all we do say, “We will remember!”
Because the regiment was the last regiment out of Mons in 1914 and the first British Regiment to enter Mons in 1918 it was im- portant that the memory of the 5Ls should be brought to the forefront of any events taking place in Mons that weekend. We discovered the Canadians had taken over most of the running of various venues and were leading on the planning and arrange- ments. Being extremely good recce soldiers we slowly rearranged and stepped forward taking our proper place in the celebrations, without anyone even realising we had adjusted things. We had decided set procedure will be established at each wreath laying; Therefore, what was known about the person was read out by one of the party. A dedication given by another and a different poem at each location, written during the Great War, was read out, finally a wreath was laid. In the case of a 5L the Irish bless- ing was read out: “May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.” On some occasions a shot of Irish whiskey was taken as a toast to the fallen. (we managed to get through three bottles of Jamesons)
Return to Mons of Veterans of 16th/5L
They came from all over the England, Ulster, Wales and Scot- land and as far afield as Canada and Austria, 35 bold lancers along with their partners left Dover in the coach with others making their own way from Spain and Germany to Mons with eighteen Royal British Legion poppy wreaths. We made a ffor- midable group of 50. We boarded the coach on 10th November and travelled the short distance to Saint Symphorien Military Cemetery, the setting is unique; poignant and peaceful. Consid- ered one of the most beautiful cemeteries in Belgium, it occupies a small secluded knoll surrounded by fields. Designed and land- scaped by the German Army to resemble a rolling wooded hill- side glade in which to honour the dead, the cemetery provides a tranquil resting place for the 513 Commonwealth and German servicemen buried or commemorated here.
The last Commonwealth combat casualties of the war in Europe were at Mons and were Private George Ellison of the 5L and George Price of the 28th Battalion Canadian Infantry. Ellison and Price both lost their lives on 11th November 1918, and are be- lieved to have been the last combat casualties of the Great War. We joined the two Granddaughters of Private Ellison, Catherine and Marie and their families, there were three generations of the fam-