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Regimental Histories - Year 1960-1985 - Brockbank - Page 0079

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Transcription A Short History of the 9th/IZIlz Lancers
bore witness to years of devoted service to all ranks and WiLh
his wife Marion no party was complete without him. Major
Collins had been the first Regimental Secretary when the post
had been established at the Home Headquarters of the Regi—
ment in Leicester, Joining the 12th Lancers in Italy in 1944 he
served after the war with the Regiment in Palestine, Barnard
Castle, Malaya and Germany before retiring (for the second
time). His great knowledge of all aspects of regimental history
and his unstinting labours on behalf of the Old Comrades
Association made him an ideal occupant of the post which he
had held for eleven years, He was relieved by Captain Peaperr
Other changes brought Major Thornton to HQ Squadron,
Major Price to Command Squadron and Major Wilkinson
to relieve Major Barrington as Second-imCommand, Major
Barrington’s skill as a rider and knowledge of horse man-
agement had been of the greatest help to the Regiment during
his tour of duty. It was a pleasure to welcome Lady McCreery
with the Colonel of the Regiment at Mons/Moy day in October,
Some of those who actually stayed at Detmold or visited it for
fleeting moments during the year took every opportunity to
ride in the full programme of horse shows and events organised
in BAOR. Regimental Polo became impossible though the dates
of the skiing season made it feasible to turn out strong teams
for downhill, langlauf and the bob as well as operating an all
ranks ski»chalet in Bavaria. Mention should be made of the
party under Captain Searby that stole away in July to make
another attempt on Mount Demavend in Iran This time it was
conquered.
As has been noted there had now developed in BAOR a very
much more strenuous pattern of regimental life which was
showing some stresses The Army invented the word “over-
stretch“ to describe itl It was aggravated by a shortage of
soldiers, family and leave problems, the inability to practice
the armoured role, manning constraints for duty in Ulster, —
(Major Firestone and those soldiers under 17; years, for
instance, were not allowed to serve there) — lack of sporting
activities and so on, The Regiment felt all these but, as was to
be expected, soldiered on. Most people liked a busy life and
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