Page 65 - Bugle Autumn 2014

Deputy Lord Lieutenant Major Stan Hardy (Retd) speaks to B Company as Lt Geddes watches on
Exercising the Freedom of Wakefield
Salamanca Day
This year the Salamanca Day event commenced with a presentation by Capt Bailey on the Battle of Salamanca. This was followed by various potted sports organised by the QMSI.
After lunch the gates were open for the arrival of the 3 Rifles families. With the weather holding out the day was a complete success with everyone making the effort to get involved and assist where possible.
The event was held at the front of the Officer’s Mess in Redford Barracks and the highlights included a barbecue and refreshment tent; live entertainment; raffle and tombola, Garrison BFBS Radio and a nail and beauty tent.
Another source of entertainment was an Inter Company competition run by the Gym staff which saw the use of Sumo suits as well as the inflatable assault course. Companies also provided stands with a range of activities from mini golf to “soak him in the stock”.
There was also plenty for the kids
to get involved with, such as face painting, pony rides, fun fair with children’s rides and Cobbler the Clown.
The day and efforts of all helped raise £564.59 for Freddie’s Bed supported by a visit by Chief of the General Staff General Sir Peter Wall who kindly posed for a photo with young Freddie and the fund raising team.
One week after the Tour de France rolled through the streets of Yorkshire in bright sunshine, B Company represented The Rifles under equally pleasant conditions
as we steamed through the streets of Wakefield to exercise the Regimental Freedom of the City. The number one guard from the Third Battalion were joined in the peloton by members of the Veterans Associations and Yorkshire (N&W) Army Cadets Force (ACF). Just like the previous week significant
Riflemen were able to get a reality check on operations outside Afghanistan from the large number who came to the excellent reception laid on in the cathedral after
the parade. The Mayor of Wakefield and Brigadier Richard Smith CBE addressed the assembled parties about the historic importance that Wakefield has in our regiment. Particularly poignant were
the moving letters read out by the city councillors from soldiers who had served
crowds lined the
route to cheer us on.
The Durham ACF
Band provided an
exceptionally high
standard of music
for the day with a
particularly impressive
rendition of High on a Hill. The inspection in front of a significant mass of spectators in front of the cathedral’s steps was conducted by the Mayor of Wakefield, Sandra Pickin and the Deputy Lord Lieutenant Major Stan Hardy (Retd).
Wakefield has a very strong history with The Rifles and our antecedent regiments, mainly the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and The Light Infantry. The pride of those local men who had served in these former regiments was reinforced by the great number of veterans who turned up to march or support the parade. Young
in the KOYLI during the First World War and Wakefield is putting a lot of effort into remembering all who served during this centenary year of the start of that campaign.
WO2 (CSM) Jamie Moncho CGC had drilled the men well in
the week leading up to the parade and that work back in Edinburgh had clearly paid off, as glowing plaudits were received regarding the standard of drill. In front
of the local media, Major Mark Melhorn led the parade through the city and the gathered crowds swelled as the local shops emptied to applaud. It was a great opportunity for the Riflemen to march through the town which many of them call home and chests swelled with pride.
Lt Jamie Geddes
OC 6 Platoon
...the gathered crowds swelled as the local shops emptied to applaud
THE RIFLES
THIRD BATTALION 63