9th-12th-Lancers - Year 1985 - Page 0016
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| Regiment | 9th/12th Lancers |
|---|---|
| Year | 1985 |
| Transcription |
THE 9TH/l 2TH ROYAL LANCERS REGIMENTAL JOURNAL Rome 29 August 1984 It is recorded in the Regimental history of the XII Roysl Lancers that his Holiness Pope Pius Vi granted an audienoe to three officers of the Regiment in 1793. The famous picture by John Northcott in the Officers‘ Mess hss borne witness to this event formanyyenrs.'l'hehlstoryalsorecords that in July 1944 the Regiment was in action It Gubhio in central Italy. The monastery overlooking the town wss occupied by the Germans who held hostage s number of local people snd dsred the Regiment to destroy the building. The Commanding Officer. ”Kate" Savill. through the Bishop of Oubblo. sppealed to the Pope and sent his liaison officer. Count Alfredo d1 Csrpegna. to request his Holiness's intercession. The envoy was oourteously received in Rome and brought back a rosary but no solution. Eventually the Germans withdrew. To com- memorste this link with the Papacy, and especially that unique occasion in 1793. it was decided at Mons/May day 1984 thst. through Lord Mockton's good offices. an audience should be sought with Pope John. Accordlnnly. and not unlike Lars Prosena, messengers were sent forth to summon to Rome a representative detachment from the Regiment — the Colonel. the Commmdlng Officer, the Adjutant. a Squadron Leader (Searby). a Troop Leader (Monckton) and an attached Austrnlisn officer (Dude). Lord Monckton. supported by his son Anthony. came from London with the Colonel. whilst the other serving officers made their way from Wolf‘buttel by train. All gathered at the Hotel Lloyd in Rome on the evening of 28th August. (By a strange chance the anniversary of the charge of the X11 Royal Lancers at May in 1914). The appearance of the Head of Chancery from the Embassy with tickets for the audience quietened anxieties about the mos-row. The Colonel 01' Ihe chlmenl present: a copy of 1m» Regimental History to Pope John. Rome in August is hot and crowded. The Piazzs of St. Peter's, where we arrived 9.30 a.m. was on thnt dny the end of s pilgrimage for thoussnds of people. Groups of Poles, Greeks. French. Lebanese. Americans and mmy others queued patiently to he allowed near the Papsl rostrum 1n the centre. The regimental party was in uniformandthls.piusalittleinslstaice. enabled us to get through to our reserved seats beside the rostrum. A mass of friendly pilgrims engulfed us whilst a nearby Ismaiean women’s choir kept us entertained until the Pope’s helicopter appeared overhead. His Holiness entered the square in his familiar car and drove slowly through the enormous congregation before mounting the rostrum with the usembled clergy. |
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