Page 130 - The Chapka 2016

128 REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL LANCERS (QUEEN ELIZABETHS’ OWN) Remembrance Sunday 2016
The Royal Lancers
Last year was the first year that the Royal Lancers joined the es- tablished marching contingents of the 16/5L and 17/21L and as such the numbers were low. The Royal Lancer contingent was led Major (Prince) Nick Obolensky. The contingent was a much larger and more representative group that the previous year. The parade was complicated by a very early deadline for appli- cations and a much-enhanced security system and more would have paraded had they had the chance. The parade itself is a very long parade and as such the steadiness and stamina of 93-year- old Michael de Burgh astounded everyone who was there. It was exactly 70 years since Michael’s last parade at the Cenotaph!
PAW
The 16th/5th Queen’s Royal Lancers Old Comrades proudly pa- raded last November 2016 in London to remember the fallen. Ticket places were restricted to just 36 a long way from the 150 of 2015 but the group represented us very well. Shayne Myers led the contingent, selected for his work within the OCA, and How- ard Crosse stepped forward to carry the wreath. The early start and the standing about prior and during the parade can make it a long morning but I am glad to say there were no known casual- ties. Particular thanks go to the eldest member Gerald Bennett who travelled up from Warminster that morning. We look for- ward to doing the same again in 2017.
FF
17th/21st Lancers (Death or Glory
Boys) Old Comrades
28 members of our group plus wives and girlfriends travelled to London for our annual pilgrimage. As is usual we all met on the Saturday night at the Union Jack Club for a few drinks and to meet up with old friends some of whom we hadn`t seen in a very long time. Early to bed and a very early start faced us next morning.
Sunday dawned cold but clear as we set off via free transport provided by the London Cabbies to our RV on the steps of the church of Saint Martins` in The Field off Trafalgar Square. Af- ter roll call and a toast to absent friends we then took a steady 15 minute’s walk to Horse Guards Parade where we formed up along with contingents of the 16th/5th Queen’s Royal Lancers, the Royal Lancers and old boys of the Junior Leaders Regiment (RAC) After the usual long wait and short Memorial Service we then stepped off to march past the Cenotaph back up Horse Guards to march past a member of the Royal Family (we never get to know beforehand who it`s going to be) this year it was Prince Charles and he was heard to say” well done the Lancers “as we gave him an eyes right.
After the dismiss on Horse Guards Parade we then adjourned to Chandos pub by the original RV to meet up with the 2LI con- tingent (from Munster days) who bring along their bugles and play for us. After a great afternoon renewing old friendships we each departed our own ways to remember once again the Old Comrades who had passed since the previous year.
We already have a full contingent of thirty five for this year plus a waiting list. Apart from this we also have a contingent travel- ling to Ypres this year for a Remembrance weekend organised by Keith Wade our resident expert of all things Great War We are very lucky also to have as a friend Benoit Motre The Presi- dent of The Last Post Association and who keeps us informed of all the special events over Remembrance. Our contingent is attending the Great War Remembered Concert. The Ceremony of Remembrance in Ypres Town square on the Saturday Night. Keith has also been invited on the Sunday Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate to lay wreath on behalf of those 17th and 21st Lancers who were killed in the Great War
RC
16th/5th Queen’s Royal Lancers Old Comrades
Cenotaph London