Page 34 - Cavalry Regiment

6 The Regimental Journal of The King’s Royal Hussars
Foreword by The Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Angus Tilney MC
2019 has been a varied and engaging year for The King’s Royal Hussars: our second year held at high readiness and prepared to respond to the unexpected. For the bulk of the Regiment this has seen more time in Estonia as part of NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence (eFP). C Squadron started the year in Estonia as part of the 1 YORKS battlegroup until relieved by The King’s Royal Hussars battlegroup, whose eight-month rotation began in March. Throughout these deployments, the Regiment has per- formed superbly on Operation CABRIT with a contribution that has been well recognised by our Estonian hosts, NATO partners and British hierarchy alike. Meanwhile, B Squadron, who com- pleted their eight months last year, have been in the UK main- taining their skills while waiting to be called as part of the British Army’s Lead Armoured Battlegroup (LABG). And so, we have spent the year operating at the forefront of Defence outputs, per- petuating the Regiment’s image as a respected and highly profes- sional unit whose armoured capability remains in high demand.
As 2019 comes to a close, and with commitments to Estonia completed for the time being, we celebrate being together as a Regiment for the first time in over two years: reunited for Ramnuggur celebrations, mess balls, Christmas parties and carol services. 2020 promises a great deal too. Next year will see new challenges as we cover public duties in London for the first time and with countless opportunities for training abroad. Looking further ahead, we will remain on Challenger 2 main battle tanks for the foreseeable future, certainly through another training and readiness cycle that takes us to the end of 2023, before a planned conversion to the new and sophisticated AJAX medium weight fighting vehicle. The projected future is bright: both platforms are hugely capable and relevant to British capability going for- wards. Against Army plans, we will remain in Tidworth perma- nently, allowing people to grow roots in the Salisbury Plain area with geographic certainty ahead.
The pages that follow recount the many tales of 2019 and bear witness to the extraordinary opportunity and variety that char- acterises life in The King’s Royal Hussars. But beyond the vivid images of lovable rogues in action, there lurks a more enduring story of a Regiment’s culture whose foundations stretch back 305 years, and counting. You will no doubt read of the Regiment’s enterprise and resourcefulness, the imagination that creates opportunity, and the willingness to take judicious risks in pursuit of worthy gains. You will sense the determination and creativity that makes us trusted to fashion something great from nothing much; usually prioritising the Regiment’s good name over the burden of delivering the best result, rather than a satisfactory one. You will recognise the tangible sense of aspiration and the success that it breeds: I refer you to achievements recognised by
rank alone in the ERE lists at the rear of this journal. Through it all, there remains a sense of fun, inclusivity and welcome, be it in embracing the opportunities of military life, or in the macabre humour that sustains those more challenging moments, such as survival training in a -20°C Estonian winter. These characteris- tics are the same ones that were prevalent at Vittoria, Ramnuggur, Balaklava, Medicina, Granby and our many other engagements, recognising that with more battle honours than any other British cavalry regiment the examples are plentiful.
I hope you enjoy the tales of another great year in the Regiment’s rich history.