Regimental Histories - Year 1960-1985 - Brockbank - Page 0050
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A Short History of the filth-‘12:}: Lancers too. The events of the weekend were splendidly described by Major Collins in the regimental Journal of the year. “Two hundred and fifty years is a long time”, he wrote, “and little remains except the military spirit which inspired those two old veterans of Marlborough’s wars, Owen Wynne and Phineas Bowles, when they were summoned to raise their Regiments of Dragoons in the doubtful summer of 1715. We treasure Owen Wynne’s portrait; it alone remains as a relic of those times with his Commissions and letters. Of Phineas Bowles nothing now remains except his Regiment”. The rcvelry that followed this brilliant mounted parade was of the highest order. The organ~ isers ofthe dances deserved every congratulation but the second highlight after the parade was undoubtedly the Tattoo — a combined effort of the Regiment and its neighbours and friends the Queen’s Own Highlanders. The celebrations terminated on the Sunday with a Regimental Church Parade at the Memorial, which had recently been altered to include names of the 9th Lancers who had fallen. An oil painting of the Colonel-in- Chief’s Review now hangs in the Officers Mess. The exercise in Norway was NATO inspired and included troops from Brigade North of the Norwegian Army, American Marine and Ranger Companies and 12 Infantry Brigade Group. The Regiment provided 8 Squadron (Major Ark- wright) in an infantry role, a reconnaissance squadron (Major Maitland-Titterton) and the umpire HQ. All troops were flown from Gutersloh to Bardufoss in northern Norway in September and the vehicles went by sea. B Squadron could not start fitness training until August but they acquitted themselves with dis- tinction as the fourth company of the Highlanders. It was not their determination that collapsed after six days slogging through mountains in the rain and living very rough, but their webbing equipment, packs and boots. A ride into battle in troop-carrying helicopters later on proved more exciting. With remarkable foresight the Squadron had equipped itself with small German collapsible umbrellas which perhaps ensured that only two men were evacuated for exposure compared to one hundred and fifty from the infantry. Despite all these activities time was found to make a serious 48 |
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