Page 122 - The Chapka 2016
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120 REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL LANCERS (QUEEN ELIZABETHS’ OWN) HHQ Support to OCA Functions and Events
 The weekend of 19th March saw the Derby Reunion and Mu- seum day. At the Derby Reunion, the numbers again topped 220. As always, two very successful evenings and all our thanks go out to Gary Arnold and his family for putting on another great event on both the Friday and Saturday nights. Museum Day this year had a varied theme. The first presentation of the day was Major Phil Watson who covered the 9/12L’s part in Op GRANBY (The First Gulf War) in recognition of the 25 years since the event. Captain Colin Hook’s presentation this year was on the life of General Sir James Hope Grant of the 9th Lancers. Colonel Richard Charrington gave a presentation on Klip Drift and the Relief of Kimberley, and examined whether it was ‘self- destruction or justifiable risk taking’.
The Wessex Reunion took place on 9th April, moved (after much speculation over the last couple of years regarding the purchase of the site for a Superstore) from The Sherborne Hotel to the Ocean Room, Weymouth Pavilion, The Esplanade, Weymouth. We are all indebted to Liz Draper for organising this event and agreeing to continue it at the new location and this event is open to all Lancers who live in the south of England.
This year was the 92nd Cavalry Memorial Parade which took place on Sunday 8th May in Hyde Park, London. The Cavalry Memorial Weekend was a great success with a strong turnout from both the OCA and serving regiment. This year we were joined by our first rebadged (motto’d) cadets from Leicester- shire, Rutland and Northamptonshire Army Cadet Force who came to support the London ACF in escorting Old Comrades and giving out programmes. On the preceding evening the OCA held a dinner at the Headquarters of the London Scottish Regi- ment at Horseferry Road.
On the 4th September, the Canterbury Memorial Service this year saw the gathering taking place in the cloister again at the main memorial to the 9th Lancers. This year the wreath was laid by Major General Robin Searby. This was a joint event where the different OCAs of Canterbury and Maidstone laid wreaths at all the memorials to the antecedent Regiments in the Cathedral, and all joined for lunch. We were assured this year that for 2017 the Regimental Memorials currently behind the scaffolding and tarpaulins should be available for our service.
On the 8th November, we had our gathering at the Regimen- tal Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum. This year’s numbers were excellent with over 40 members of the OCA pa- rading. This was well supported by members from the RL OCA and has the potential to be an excellent OCA gathering in the Midlands for those who cannot get to London to march at the
Duke of Edinburgh meets COR at Westminster Abbey
Cenotaph. To mark the change this year we laid our wreath at the Queen’s Royal Lancers memorial, and all Old Comrades are thanked for their flexibility in helping to foster a feeling of good- will between the different Branches. Again, after the parade we retired to the Royal British Legion at Alrewas for a beer and buffet lunch.
Later in the week, on Thursday 10th November we all paraded at Westminster Abbey at the Field of Remembrance. Again, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh accompanied by HRH Prince Harry led the Dedication Service at the Field of Remembrance. This year Brigadier Andrew Hughes CBE stood front and centre to represent the OCA, and we were joined by a good cross section of OCA including In-pensioner Jack Pilkington and our two World War 2 veterans, Mr Michael de Burgh (9L) and Mr Len Gretham
   Derby Reunion 2016
LNR ACF assist at parade wearing their new ‘motto’
























































































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