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9th-12th-Lancers - Year 1986 - Page 0084

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Regiment 9th/12th Lancers
Year 1986
Transcription THE 9TH/l2Tl-l ROYAL LANCERS REGIMENTAL JOURNAL
4. Photographs in crested frame and
the Commission of Captain H Mather<
Jackson 9th Lancers. Presented by his
daughter Mrs R Legouix.
5. Discharge Book of Mr J W Dobson
9th Lancers. Presented by his sister
Mrs Hirst.
6. The Military Medal of Tpr R S
Jackson 9th Lancers. Presented by his
sister Mrs R Bell. Mr Jackson never
applied for the War medals to which he
was entitled. We have applied to the
Medal Office so that we can add them
to his MM to complete this group of
Medals.
7. Medals of Major General 1 Greene
9th Lancers. Presented by his son J
Greene Esq, Major General I Greene
commanded the 9th Lancers from 1924
to 1928.
C. Loan to the Museum
1. Medals of TSM Thomas Kingdon
9th Lancers. Loaned by Major J H
Kingdon,
2. Set of 3 Medals and 3 photographs
SSM G W Keats 12th Lancers. Loaned
by Mr Pearson.
Extensive repairs have been made to
the Regimental Museum Room which
is also being redecorated. The Gallery
therefore has been closed. This has g'ven
us the opportunity to design a new lay-
out for the Museum which has been
planned and is being executed by Jeremy
Glenn. This will undoubtedly be a great
improvement and we look forward to
the Museum being re~opened later in
the year.
RMC
Photographed after the 1956 Cavalry Memorial Parade.
Left to Right:- Colonel Laurie, Mr Maloney. Mr Wilntot, Major
Donnley.
82
The Great Fire
of Detmold 1951
If you are a soldier, and I was a 9th
Lancer, the first time you see your
name in Regimental Orders as Com-
manding the Regiment, is one to re-
member. So instead of glancing at Regi-
mental Orders, 1 paused and admired '
the heading “Major J W Reid Com-
manding.” II was ten past six one Oct» .
ober evening and I had just arrived in
the Officer's Mess. So to celebrate I
ordered a large whisky and soda. Then,
almost simultaneously the lire alarm
went and my whisky arrived. The waiter
said “A Squadron's on fire Sir." As l
was commanding “C” Squadron, l
reckoned I had time to drink my whisky,
but then the penny dropped and | rea-
lised that it was all mine — albeit for a
short while only — for the Commanding
Officer. the second in command and the
senior squadron leader all had pressing
engagements at Newmarket! So I gulped
my whisky and ran.
As soon as I was out of the Mess l .
saw that it was not “A” Squadron that
was alight but my own “C" Squadron
tank park was ablaze. One of three
tank hangers was on fire and in it were
four Centurion tanks and six, three ton
lorries. I got into one tank. but it had
not batteries in it — into the next, but
before 1 could get it started acrid smoke
choked me so I baled out. The Regi-
mental Fire Brigade were pouring a
trickle of water on to an inferno, but as
the roof of the opposite hanger looked
as if it was smouldering I got them to
damp that down.
Very quickly most of the Regiment
came to help, and there followed a
period of organised chaos. Jock Sim-
pson my SSM was arranging the removal
of the tanks in the hanger opposite the
fire. This proved to be more difficult
than you would imagine, for after a
long season of manoeuvres the acid in
some of the tank batteries had to be
renewed and so several had been re-
moved for recharging, In those days one
could not start a tank which had no‘
battery! Perhaps you can today? So the
tanks that would start were driven
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