Page 24 - Example Journals

The Regimental Journal of The Light Dragoons 2015
Foreword by the Colonel of the Regiment
There have been, for me, three out- standing events in 2014: the Cavalry Memorial Parade in London, the 70th Anniversary commemorations on Mont Pinçon in France, and the Regiment’s Parade for A Squadron and the party that followed in Swanton Morley. These three events, all very different, epitomised all that is special about The Light Dragoons.
It was indeed a huge privilege for us all to
march past our Colonel in Chief in Hyde
Park – there were some 300 or so Light
Dragoons marching. The band had to play
our Regimental quick march twice, it took
that long for everyone to pass the saluting
dais! And later that day I shall never for-
get the atmosphere at The Paxton’s Head
as a huge crowd of us partied long into
the evening. In Normandy it was Major
General Stewart Watson who graced us all
by his presence; the only veteran of the
Mont Pinçon action in 1944 who was able
to join both serving and retired soldiers in
remembrance. Stuart brought a certain
poignancy to the day. It was a profoundly moving occasion and our hosts in France were quite simply magni cent in their gener- osity and kindness. And during the course of A Squadron’s Medal Parade in December, and afterwards in the Corporals’ Mess, I was privileged to listen to the stories of the Regiment’s year, which it seems was characterised by six overseas deployments, to Gibraltar, Kenya, Slovenia, Ukraine, Morocco and A Squadron’s ve and a half months in Bosnia. A year of great success, personal and col- lective; a year during which the utility of our new Light Cavalry role really did gain traction around the Army and Defence; and with sadness too, a year in which we lost a great Light Dragoon, Sergeant Foley, who was tragically killed in a vehicle accident dur- ing training in June. Our thoughts remain with Sergeant Foley’s
wife, Kelly, his children Emily and Hannah and their wider family and many friends.
2015 is just as busy for the Regiment. A full training year and the move to Catterick will dominate life for our of cers and sol- diers. But for me, and I hope every Light Dragoon, the signi cance of 2015 lies more in the fact that this year the Regiment is 300 years old. I wonder, did Richard Munden think in 1715 that the Regiment he raised, the 13th Hussars, would live for so long? I suppose my point is that there are few people in our country who can say they belong to an institution that is 300 years old. Indeed, to belong to something as old which has also enjoyed consistent success for three centuries, really is quite a privi- lege. And what I love so much is that while the names have changed periodically, the ethos, character and heart of the Regiment has endured. It is right that we celebrate this milestone. And as if celebrating our Tercentenary were not enough, 2015 also marks the 200th Anniversary of Waterloo;
13th, 15th and 18th Hussars were all on the battle eld. 2015 is indeed a very important year.
Light Dragoons everywhere will mark both the Tercentenary and Waterloo at a number of events during 2015. And in 2016, with the Regiment settled in Catterick, we plan to bring everyone together to celebrate both again, as well as The Light Dragoons’ arrival in the north of England, with a Parade and parties for all during the course of a Regimental weekend. We are England’s Northern Cavalry.
In the meantime, Sarah and I look forward to seeing lots of friends
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during this year.
David R-J