9th-12th-Lancers - Year 1960 - Page 0005
Image details
| Regiment | 9th/12th Lancers |
|---|---|
| Year | 1960 |
| Transcription |
THE lX'Xll ROYAL LANCERS RetilMle 1A1. JOURNAL 7 EDITORIAL VIALGAMATION is dealt with elsewhere in the Journal, so it is sufficient to say that all went well. and it was a lovely sunny day 7 which was, [LI thttse who, like the Editor, bow to magpies and look for an. icious omens, vastly encouraging. The first notable event occurred on the move to Ireland, when the baggage part}. dropped the bux containing half the “Rogues Gallery” 7 photographs of former Command ing ()l'hcers — into the bottomless Mersey mud, thus threatening the carefully contrived and intricate balance between the two amalga» mated Regiments The Adiutant, if he had done his tub, should have seen that the boxes were packed with representatives from both 9th and thh Lancers so that they could have shared this unpleasant {are together. But he had not dune so. and one Regiment lost a good proportion at their Commanding Grocers in ,l watery grave. We were cut down [U s c on the boat when the only comment heard from civilians travelr ling was "then: seem to be quite a few Military on the boat tonight". I'Iowcver. spt ts revived next day when we were welcomed by Brigadier Wheeler and by the band or the Royal Sussex playing “God Bless the Prince of Wales” a tune which has strong Orange connections in Northern Ireland and which tutcotded in raising a ragged cheer than some of the dockers. The Colonel disembarked twice, once solely for the benefit of Ulster TV We then enjoyed a rather alfresco breakfast, (plates seemed to be distinctly scarce in Ireland and our arrival was duly noted by "an Illegal Organization" before we entrained tor ()nlagh and Lisanelly Camp. The appropriate adjective {or Lisanelly Camp at that time of year would be “grim” It was also suffering from that well known Army dEfeEt oi being just about tu be re»huilt and therefore not worth wasting money on. Anyway it wasn't anything like what [hC Recruiting Sergeant had led us to believe would be our lot. Since then it has improved considerably. through hard work by Squadrons and by the Quartermaster Soon after our arrival, the Royal Ulster Constabulary visited us in force, and put us wise to the local situation. Since then we ha seen a lot of them, patrolling dtlwn on the Border. Amongst the novelties that greeted us at Lisanelly Camp were the Guard Dogs, These noble beasts are the pride and iov of their handlers, who delight in setting them on their friends and on the nannies from the “Patch". only restraining them at the last moment and then not always successfully. tlct sinnally they escape and the most dignilied figures are teen running lot safety at unaccustomed speed Our energ' s have been mainly devoted ttt settling down as a Regiment. rather than making our mark lot-ally, hut we have managed to do reasonably well in toothall, hockey and hasltst hall. going a) for at the Army finals in the latter. In small-bore rifle shooting, an “A" Squadron team Came second in the Northern Ireland Command Lumpett- tion. During the coming year WL‘ Ittlpt to do even better In the 5 Zing world 1/14 R. A. Monte gorntrie has certainly made his name and an account of his triumphs is given later in the Journal, In the spring. General Sir Richard McCreery handed over, as Colonel oi the Regiment, to Colonel Gerald Grosvenor. We are all deeply appreciative of what General MCCreery has done for the Regiment, and consider ourselves particularly fortunate to have had his help and guidance at such an important stage in the Regiments History, To all members of the Regiment he has provided an example of what one should strive to be, not only from the point of view of his brilliant career as a soldier and sportsman. but also by ltis exempliiication of those rather rare attributes oi modesty, sincerity and sense of duty. We welcome Colonel Grosvenur and hope that his tenure as Colonel will he a happy one, In spite of the discouraging appearance at Lisanelly Camp, Ontagh has proved to he a good station, and particularly so for us, whose first need has been to be allowed to Sctllt’ down and get to know each other. away from other military distractions. Local people have proved to he most friendly, and all ranks have met with the greatest kindness, and have made many friends. It will he a sad day when \se hnally have to leave for foreign parts once more, but it is more than likelv that, if things continue as they have begun, we shall be taking some of the inhabitants of Omagh along ttith us. |
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