JIM LEES

Hanover Div Sign

Chiffchaff has asked me to post this picture for him.

Some more of Pixie's Collection.

Imagine!.. When we where issued with our kit, we spent hours polishing and Bulling. Many times the Sarge was not pleased with our efforts? Now I spend much of my time adding to my collection. I'm so lucky to have an understanding Wife... I Love you Janet. Pixie191

Nothing to do...

I'm very disapointed and very depressed at the moment. Firstly my good mate, who I used to have quite fireside talks with, discussing the wrongs of the world and how he could put things right, was cold bloodly murdered by those nasty war-mongering Americans. And now my mentor of all things holy. No longer will I be able to enjoy a crunchy crystalized camel crap sandwich under the stars in Tripoli; washed down with a frothing cup of fermenting goats pee. I hope that nasty man at Number 10 is happy with what he has contributed too. I no longer have the friendship of two of the wisest individuals whoever walked upon this sorry earth.
I am truly gutted........

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS

Many happy returns of the day to William Roy for tomorrow 19th hoping you have a good one, and many more.

 With best wishes

 John Atkins

Regt Reserching

I've found some interesting Books, many Free on Google Books.

This one is very interesting: The British Army in Germany: An Organizational History 1947 - 2004 By Graham Watson, Richard A. Rinaldi.

Tip: When browsing type in The 1st Royal Dragoons 7th Armoured Brigade. There are some interesting selection of books?

Enjoy Browsing

Battle of Balaclava.

http://www.britishbattles.com/crimean-war/balaclava.htm

Whilst browsing on research of the regiment came across this. A very good account the said battle and great pic's. Many of you may have already come across  this? 

Richard (Dick) Glister

Can anyone tell me where Dick Glister came from originally, he served in the REME attached to Asqn in Sharjah in 59/60, and also what age would he have been, I am getting Emails from a gentleman who may be able to help me to contact Dick if I can give him the info.

John Atkins

Anti-Slavery Day

Start:	Oct 18, '11 01:00a
Location:	UK

Penhale camp, Cornwall

Dave Smith 118 & I were members of 10 Para White City.

Barry Wall

Please welcome Barry to the site you will find his log on name as (bulgarianbaz), I am not sure when Barry served but maybe he will fill us all in when he has got settled in and found his way around the site.

Question?

I'm putting together Uniforms of the Regt from 50's. On the BDU uniform did we display Cloth shoulder Titles or Brass.

If you have any more pics tucked away showing uniforms or Vehicle Decals, would very much like to see them.

Colin A Rixon
Pixie191

Collings Foundation Weekend Oct 9/10 2011

Just a few toys we were playing with this past weekend. all vehicles & equipment are original and in full working order.

Merry Christmas to all

Jim Brooker

Local girls

Time off

Tidworth Booze up

1954 Tidworth

New Colours

1954 Tidworth

New Colours

Korean War Memorial

I was invited to attend the rededication of the South Boston Korean War Memorial Sun Oct 1st. This Memorial was dedicated 20 years ago to the 20 Young men who never returned Home.

The Forgotten War

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

Army Cpl. Edward M. Pedregon of El Paso, Texas, will be buried on Oct. 6 in Arlington National Cemetery. A memorial service was held in San Elizario, Texas, on Oct. 1. In late November 1950 Pedregon and the Heavy Mortar Company, of the 31st Regimental Combat Team known as Task Force Faith were overrun by Chinese forces near the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea. After several days of heavy attacks, Task Force Faith was forced to withdraw, but was stopped by enemy blockades that overpowered them on Dec. 2, 1950. Pedregon was reported missing in action on Nov. 30, 1950.

In 1953, following the exchange of all prisoners of war by both sides of the conflict, no further information was gained to indicate that Pedregon had been held as a prisoner of war, and he was declared dead.

In 2004, a joint U.S./Korean People's Army team excavated several sites in the Chosin Reservoir area and recovered the remains of at least nine individuals and military equipment. The location of the remains corresponds to the positions temporarily held by elements of Task Force Faith in late November 1950.

Among forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory used dental records, and mitochondrial DNA which matched that of Pedregon's mother and brotherin the identification of the remains.

El Alamein Day (Starts at 9:40pm)

Start:

Oct 23, '11 9:45p

El Alamein Day

THE ROYAL DRAGOONS (formed in 1661)

Start:

Oct 21, '11 5:00p

THE ROYAL DRAGOONS first formed in 1661

reunion 2012

Start:	Jun 16, '12 2:00p
End:	Jun 17, '12
Location:	Fradley Arms Fine Lane, Fradley, WS13 8RD

To all those attending the reunion next year

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS

Many happy returns to Derek Robertson for Wednesday, Derek has not been well of late and let us hope that he will be feeling well enough to enjoy his Birthday.

With best wishes,

 John Atkins

JAMES BROOKER

Welcome to the ROYALS BB James nice to have a chat on the phone to you and the LADY OF THE HOUSE...James (jim)  was in C SQN 1954-1956 so lets hear more from him .i know he has photo,s of his time in the Regt and i do hope he puts them up on the BB.

REGARDS DEREK LEESE

John {Lofty} Davis

So sorry to hear that John passed on a good friend and a gentleman Our sympathies go to Christine and their family.Rest in peace my old mate.

aJohn (Lofty) Davies

I read this on F/B, Post from our Friend Paul Graver in Perth W/A. That his and lots of us good friend Lofty Davies passed away in the early hours i believe yesterday. R.I.P I have know doubt that wiil give us more details.

Fred.

Photo for denis

Denis, Doug sent me this photo and asked if I could but it up on the site for you.

Paddy, Don and any other Lulworth old boys......... just got a new Hoover. Is this still valid?

Stoppage Drills Hoover Mk1
Immediate Action
1 Hoover hoovers alright
2 Hoover stops
3 “STOPPAGE”
4 Switch off
5 Bag off
6 Shake Bag
7 Bag on
8 Switch on
9 Hoover hoovers alright
Secondary Action
9 Hoover still fails to hoover
10 “STOPPAGE”
11 Switch off
12 Plug out
13 Fuse Out
14 New Fuse in
15 Plug in
16 Switch on
17 Hoover hoovers alright

Phil

Berliner 2012

Came across this advert on page 56 of the September/October 2011 edition of The Royal British Legion Magazine (just out now!) and thought this might be of interest here? Obviously this event won't take place in the original carriages as they are now in a UK Museum, also reported here at http://1sttheroyaldragoons.multiply.com/photos/album/594 However, for those who served in Berlin, I'm sure this trip will bring back many, many memories.

Anyone remember this and any others

What I can remember of a rather cryptic posting from B Sqn Notice board Nee Soon.
It has come to the attention of the Officer Commanding that other ranks are using water in an indiscriminate way for washing, shaving and other facets of personal hygiene.
THIS IS TO STOP IMMEDIATELY.
Water is not only a precious commodity which must be closely controlled in order to accommodate the needs of the Officers Mess and Stables.
Other ranks are reminded that this abuse of water can ultimately result in the following :-
Reduction of natural oils of the skin rendering that soldier more prone to disease and that this condition could be construed as a self inflicted injury.
A “blanching” or lightning of the skin tone rendering that soldier almost impossible to conceal or camouflage, putting both himself and his pals at risk.
The possibility of creating unwanted divisions in the Squadron between the washed and the unwashed, the light and the dark.

Water for drinking will still be available but will now be issued daily behind the SQMS store to one nominated member of each Troop.

Phil Hayward

Found a Very OLD Trooper

While in the very nice Island of Jersey ,on a Family Reunion in our Seat.

I found sitting on a Bench in St Helier One Trp 22954259 James Thomas Brooker Served 1954 -1956. and best Beloved June , late of A Sqn mate of the Wop then Sgt Wartoski
For hose who would like to Contact him Lives at.100 Welbeck Road .Carshalton. Surrey .SM5 1TA.
Tel 020 8644 9806.
I am awaiting june to email me to get them on the Multiply site Here

Brass Chevron

CHEVRONS

Has anyone got a picture of the brass chevrons we had in ADEN the ones with bubbles on ?

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS

I am putting this Birthday greeting up early for our oldest member I believe, Mr Ron Darling, wishing you many happy returns of the day for Tuesday Ron hoping you have a great day with all the other gentlemen and ladies of the Chelsea Pensioners.

 With all best wishes

 John Atkins

Secretary/Wife

6 weeks ago, we decided to go away for a few days for our 52nd. Anniversary. (Lake District) 19 Sept. Booked, paid, received confirmation. The week prior we went to our static caravan in the Dales. Fri. 16th. Sept. My Secretary/Wife took a call on her mobile. The coach driver was at the pick-up point waiting for us. My wife insisted our trip was Monday for our anniversary. No insisted the driver. We advised him we couldn!t make the pick.up, and they left without us. We returned home and checked the booking. My Secretary had got it wrong.!!! I threatened to fire her. Her answer. FIRE ME,!! I will then have time to sit down and write my memoirs.

Best Regards Doug.

p.s. I hope I reach our 53rd.

Where is everyone

Since I came back from my short break it seems that everyone has disappeared from the Bulletin Board, I have noticed that there are a lot of members that have now gone on doing most of there postings on Facebook, has it now got to the stage where you are all not interested in the Royal Dragoons site any more, if this is the case do you wish it to be wound up, I have noiticed that there are only the odd one or two members that do postings on the other sites also, Derek, Denis, and myself are very disappointed that the site is not being used, I have put up requests asking members to inform me that they will be coming to the reunion next year and it seems that some members have not replied, I know that the Premier Inn has been fully booked for the 16 June but I have only got just over twenty that have informed me that they are booked in at this stage, I am doing my best to get the reunion organised and it would be a help if I knew roughly how many of you will be attending before I call in to see the new General Manager to get the costings, so may I ask you again to please inform me ASP.

John Atkins

Only here for the beer!

Oktoberfest-2011

tuzan cu by zung iang

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS

Happy birthday to PETER STRACHAN on the 14th ,hope you have a good day and the sun shines

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS

Many happy returns of the day to Sydney Salter on 11th September, heres hoping you have a good one and many more to come.

 With best wishes,

  John Atkins

Wedding Anniversary

Start:

Sep 26, '11 10:00a

Fradley Arms

I can now confirm that the Fradley Arms has been booked for the reunion for next year 16th June, I have not been able to do this until today as the venue has been taken over by a new General Manager, I will be in touch with him shortly to finalise the details and will keep you informed, I am hoping that we will be able to have the venue free of charge like we have in the past but I cannot guarantee it.

John Atkins

Germany Will Become Islamic State

With Islamic population growing so much in past years, Politicians now desperately need their Votes to get elected…! XXX A.M.

Germany Will Become Islamic State, Says Chancellor Merkel


Chancellor Angela Merkel said that Germans have failed to grasp how Muslim immigration has transformed their country and will have to come to terms with more mosques than churches throughout the countryside, according to the
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung daily. "Our country is going to carry on changing, and integration is also a task for the society taking up the task of dealing with immigrants," Ms. Merkel told the daily newspaper. "For years we've been deceiving ourselves about this. Mosques, for example, are going to be a more prominent part of our cities than they were before."

Germany, with a population of 4-5 million Muslims, has been divided in recent weeks by a debate Over remarks by the Bundesbank's Thilo Sarrazin, who argued Turkish and Arab
immigrants were failing to integrate and were swamping Germany with a higher birth rate.

The Chancellor's remarks represent the first official acknowledgement that Germany, like other European countries, is destined to become a stronghold of Islam. She has admitted that the country will soon become a stronghold.
In France , 30% of children age 20 years and below are Muslims. The ratio in Paris and Marseille has soared to 45%. In southern France, there are more mosques than churches.

The situation within the United Kingdom is not much different. In the last 30 years, the Muslim population there has climbed from 82,000 to 2.5 million. Presently, there are over 1000 mosques throughout Great Britain - many of which were converted from churches.

In Belgium , 50% of the newborns are Muslims and reportedly its Islamic population hovers around 25%. A similar statistic holds true for The Netherlands. It's the same story in Russia where one in five inhabitants is a Muslim.

Muammar Gaddafi recently stated that "There are signs that Allah will grant victory to Islam in Europe without a sword, without a gun, without conquest.
We don't need terrorists; we don't need homicide bombers. The 50 plus million Muslims (in Europe ) will turn it into the Muslim Continent within a few decades." The numbers support him.

I think the Muslims are smarter than the Europeans. Muslims will reproduce like rabbits but the Islamic Countries do not need to feed the Muslims.
Send them to European Countries and let the Europeans feed them and bring them up.

Now who is "smarter"??

My Career

When I first joined the Household Cavalry I was asked what career I would like to follow, I replied "A farrier".  My interviewer asked if I have ever shoed a horse - I replied No.....but I once told a donkey to piss off.

Welcome to Derek Hansford to the BB

May we all welcome Derek Hansford to the Bulletin Board his ID is (hankhansford) Derek doe's not have a computer so everything will be through his son, Derek served from 1959 - 1961 in CSqn, maybe we will hear from him soon and hope that he has a few photo's from his time in the Regiment.

 John Atkins 

Sammy Simpson at home

Hiya people. Here are a couple of snaps I took when i visited Sammy on 11th Aug 2011 at his lovely home in Paignton, devon. We had a great time recalling memories of Detmold and after.

Fruitfull Times (Scrumping)

When my wife Joan and I travel along country lanes in our area, we always map out the fruit trees at the side of the road. We then know the best trees to pick the apples/pears.

Driving home yesterday, thru! the estate near us we glanced across to the childrens play area. There is a small copse just on the edge. In the copse we found two of the most bountifull apple trees ever.  Juicy big red and green apples.

We picked some off both trees, took them home. Joan made some pastry and baked 2 apple pies. 1 for tea with custard, the other in the freezer.

Tomorrow we will pick more and have apple crumble with custard,  Mmmm. Yum Yum.

Best Regards  Doug  

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS

Many happy returns of the day to Terry Lyons for today the 19th, sorry it is a bit belated but have been awol for a few days and none of my assistants have put up the message for me, hope that you have had a good one.

 Best wishes

  John Atkins 

1st The Royal Dragoons memorabilia

Hiya folks.   During the course of my travels, I recently  visited Princetown, Dartmoor.   Located just behind the Old Police Station Tea Rooms is an establishment called "Pressed Men" where I managed to buy Royals cufflinks (£14) and BRASS cap badges (£4).   They also make and sell other items such as Fridge magnets, coasters wall plaques Tie pins/clips etc.  Their website is www.pressedmen.co.uk,   email:  info@pressedmen.co.uk or phone 01822890411. Hopoe you find this helpful. Tiger

Knee op

My brother Tom Smith 780 had his new knee fitted yesterday, I spoke to him today and he seems ok though I understand the can can is out for a while at least.

Moving House

Hi everyone,

Matthew and I have a last moved to Andover with out to many hitches. Although we have Lost Smudge our little Black and white Cat. The rest of the sons are still in and around Warminster.

My e-mail address has remained the same for now but all phone nos altered due to silly calls.Annoying as I knew the mobile off by heart now i have to learn a new one. Neighbours friendly and helpful if slightly noisey. But it is end of terrace and all houses quite close together so one has to expect more noise, helene

Some random snaps from Phil Hayward

B/Sqn 1st troop. One for Tom Smith, Tom how many can you name or remember !!

Me and the Fruit Bat

Eric Lane and me Dining out Brig A.Parker Bowles along with other Association Comittee members.

ROYALS JOURNALS

Who wants to make a few Quid.. put your unwanted Journals on Ebay one went today for 30 quid and another for 10 Quid
regards derek leese

The Manhattan Dolls 2

These girls have made a fan out of me.
Now thats a good song title!.

The Manhattan Dolls

WWII event in NATICK Massachusett USA

We were entertained by these 3 lovely girls.

The Manhatton Dolls

What did you do this weekend Dad....?
Spent the weekend at a Great WWII event in Natik, Massachusetts, USA
Check the vidio section, we were entertained by The Manhatton Dolls.
Having a BrenGun Carrier has its compensations.......

PICS FROM BOB KEMPTON

HAD A PINT...............

Tuesday evening appx 1930 Hrs,met up with Doug and Joan Best at the North Stafford Hotel.They were on a small coach tour and were staying there.The day they left Yarm to visit MY  CHARMING City????????Doug/Joan,emailed me asking if I was free and could I join them for a shandy or three,

Had a really good evening with them,we put the world to rights,

We spent a little time giving a history and geography lesson to a youngish student who was on the same table as us,Sept 3rd `39,were was El Elamaine,Korea Cyprus Aden Suez Malaya,Borneo, ETAL.Very well educated chap ..BUT had not a clue of why there were so many War Memorials around the world!!!!!UNREAL.

Any we enjoyed his company alongside ours.

Hope to meet up again....not so much the student but with Doug and Joan.

Bri.

Nobby Evans ( Dad )

Thank you to everyone who turned up for dad's funeral and it was very nice to meet some of his old friends from his army days, these are just a few memories of dad that will live on with us for ever 'Lest We Forget' RIP dad...

Brian Evans Funeral

Keith Shaw & Myself just back from Brians funeral.Very good turnout & a moving service.A well respected man
R.I.P.Nobby

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS

Many happy returns of the day to Keith Fairey tomorrow 29th July, hoping you have many more.

 With best wishes,

  John Atkins

WELCOME ROBERT (BOB) KEMPTON

Welcome BOB took many years to dig you out but got you at long last.

Bob was with the REGT from 1951 to 1955 he left the Army in 1962 hope he will give us more info later.come on now Bob i know you have a few tales to tell. what abt the trip to JORDAN....

hope you find your way around the BB ok.

i like the PHOTO of PADDY PAUL you put on your site

regards DEREK LEESE

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS

Many happy returns of the day to Mike DeCarteret tomorrow 28th July, this young man will be 69,hoping that you have a good one.

 With best wishes,

 John Atkins

 

This is the list of members that have informed me that have booked into the Premier Inn for 2012, I have been informed that all the rooms have been booked, those that have not informed me can they do so ASP

NAME

J ATKINS
D SOWERBY
D LEESE
T WORT
T AYLES
S FREEMAN
T LYONS
C RIXON
T SUSSEX ???
D BEST
T BRIDGEN
K MOTT
T WRIGHT
B ALLEN
C CARD
M BEST
J PANTON
J MATTHEW
J AITCHISON
A GILLARD
D SMITH
T SMITH
R KEMPTON
P PLUMB
K SHAW
G BLAXLAND
J KELLY

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS

Belated birthday greetings to two gentlemen today the 25th July, goes to Tim Connell and Stan Whitworth, hoping that you both have had a good day, many happy returns to you both,

With best wishes 

 John Atkins

350th ANNIVERSARY SERVICE TO COMMEMORATE THE FORMING OF THE BLUES & ROYALS

Photo Album 2011-07-22 #2

Regimental History, I have been asked by Mike deCarteret to put this up on the home page for him.

Regimental History

1663: Created Regiment du Roi
1791: 105e Regiment d'Infanterie (Originaly numbered 102e, however number changed by Ordanance dated 28 January 1791)
1795: 105e demi-brigade de bataille (formed from the following)

1er bataillon, 53e Regiment d'Infanterie
1er and 2e bataillons, Volontaires du Gers

1796: 105e demi-brigade d'Infanterie de Ligne (formed from the following)

9e demi-brigade de bataille (1er Bat 5e Regt d'Inf, 3e Bat Vol du Nord and 2e Bat Vol du Finisterre)
149e demi-brigade de bataille (1er Bat 81e Regt d'Inf, 6e Bat Vol de la Haute-Saone and 5e Bat Vol de l'Orne)
2e bataillon 31e demi-brigade d'Infanterie de Ligne

1803: 105e Regiment d'Infanterie de Ligne

Colonels and Chefs-de-Brigade

1791: Junot d' Attilly (Francois-Nicolas) - Colonel
1792: Stack (Jean-Francois-Antoine) - Colonel
1792: Le Royer de Chantepie (Louis-Pierre) - Colonel
1792: Levasseur (Louis-Gabriel-Pierre-Anne-Paul-Augustin-Armand) - Colonel
1795: Krammer (?) - Chef-de-Brigade
1795: Lannes (Jean) - Chef-de-Brigade
1796: Cardon (?) - Chef-de-Brigade
1802: Habert (Pierre-Joseph) - Chef-de-Brigade and Colonel in 1803
1808: Blanmont (Marie-Pierre-Isidore) - Colonel
1811: Baille (Antoine-Adaibert) - Colonel
1813: Maulmont (Francois) - Colonel
1815: Genty (Jean) - Colonel

Four of the above officers attained the rank of General-de-Brigade and above one becoming Marechal of France

Lannes, (Jean)

Born: 10 April 1769
Chef-de-Brigade: 16 June 1795
General-de-Brigade: Provisional promotion September 1796 official promotion 17 March 1797
General-de-Division: 10 May 1799
Marechal of the Empire: 19 May 1804
Chevalier of the Legion d'Honneur: 24 September 1803
Grand-Officer of the Legion d'Honneur: 14 June 1804
Grand Cross of the Legion d'Honneur: 2 February 1805
Duke of Montebello: 19 March 1808
Died: 31 May 1809 (Of wounds received at Essling)

Habert, (Pierre-Joseph)

Born: 22 December 1773
Chef-de-Brigade: 29 May 1802
General-de-Brigade: 18 February 1808
General-de-Division: 25 June 1811
Grand officer of the Legion d'Honneur: 29 July 1814
Baron of the Empire: 18 July 1811
Died: 19 May 1825

Blanmont, (Marie-Pierre-Isidore)

Born: 23 February 1770
Colonel: 28 March 1808
General-de-Brigade: 6 August 1811
Baron of the Empire: 25 September 1809
Died: 8 December 1846

Maulmond, (Francois)

Born: 11 May 1772
Colonel: 2 July 1813
General-de-Brigade: 12 March 1814
Commander of the Legion d'Honneur: 25 November 1813
Died: 22 April 1838

Colonels killed and wounded while commanding the 105e Regiment d'Infanterie de Ligne

Colonel Habert: wounded 10 June 1807
Colonel De Blanmont: wounded 22 May 1809
Colonel Genty: wounded 18 June 1815

Officers killed and wounded while serving with the 105e Regiment d'Infanterie during the period 1804-1815

Officers killed: Forty-four
Officers died of wounds: Fourteen
Officers wounded: One hundred and forty-three

Regimental war record (Battles and Combats)

1793: Lauter
1794: Trippstadt and Mayence
1795: Loano
1796: Altenkirchen, Altenbourg, Werdorf, Uckerath, Siegen, Forchheim, Sulzbach, and Vernberg
1799: Novi
1800: Villanova, Benette, Fossano, Monastero, Mille-Fourches, and Pont-di-Nava ?
1805: Embs
1806: Jena, Kolozomb, and Golymin
1807: Eylau and Heilsberg
1809: Ratisbonne, Eckmuhl, Essling, and Wagram
1812: Wilna
1813: Koenigsberg and Goerde
1813: Pampelune, Roncal, Jaca, Bidassoa, and Baayonne
1814: Hambourg, Bar-sur-Aube, and Arcis-sur-Aube
1815: Waterloo

Battle Honours

Jena 1806, Eylau 1807, Heilsberg 1807, and Wagram 1809

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS

Many happy returns of the day to Ken Buffery tomorrow the 20th July, hope that you have a good one.

 With best wishes

 John Atkins

RIP SGT NOBBY EVANS

Very sorry to report that NOBBY passed away on Friday 15th JULY this info came from his daughter Christine hope to get more details later

regards derek leese

Enjoy the Pics

Tiger,Pixie & 118

Welcome Jim Hill to the BB

Jim has joined us through his grandson, Jim does not have a computer but asked that his grandson put messages on for him and he can see what is happening and keep in touch with comrades that he served with, no doubt he will give a little more information as and when he can.

Capt PAUL ARNISON-NEWGASS

Derek, 1/1 for your persistence! I confess to finding Forces Reunited irritating and more concerned with marketing itself, so seldom visit the website.  There must be many similar and cheaper ways of establishing contact.  However, that said and without in any way wishing to seem unsociable, I am not an avid old comrade or indeed old anything!  Certainly I would welcome any old Royal Dragoon who wished to get in touch, so please pass on my email address paulnewgass@btinternet.com or if you are aware of any ex-Royals events I would like to know.  I am unlikely to look at Friends Reunited much.  Sadly fewer of us around now and for me it was a very long time ago and then only a short inconspicuous 4 years or so with the Regiment before being seconded to the Army Air Corps, then leaving the army to become a doctor.  However, I am quite proud to have served under seven different cap badges over the years, with all three services.  I have more recently engaged with others (eg UKNDA) in intense political lobbying in support of the armed services against the relentless defence cuts, now little short of a betrayal by Government.  So if you are aware of any like minded or who want to add their voice, let me know, apologies again for seeming to have ignored your messages.

 

Best wishes.

Yours,

 

Paul

WELCOME MAURICE KNIGHT

Welcome to the BB Maurice hope you enjoy looking around and find some old pals

Maurice served 1950--1957 i hope he will tell us more later

REGARDS DEREK LEESE

Photo's from reunion and the 350th Anniversary of the formation of the RHG and 1st The Royal Dragoons at the NMA

These photo's have been sent to me by Barrie Dolphin whose son very kindly came along to take them for us on the day.

Letter from Doug

This is the only way that we could post this on site

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS

Many happy returns of the day on Saturday the 2nd July to Dougie Best,  hoping you have a good one, and many more.

With best wishes

 John Atkins

Forever Young A song for Wootton Bassett.wmv

PLEASE

I have been asked by IAN TAYLOR if those that put up the reunion photos/videos on here could they PLEASE send them on to him so he can put them up on the Senior Cavalry Gentlemens Club site,as he was very busy he could not take any himself.

Either that or send them to me..brirose57@yahoo.co.uk

OR TO THE BOTH OF US,I have tried to send/copy but as per..NOWT!!! ,I admit I am HOPLESS at times .

HELP

"CHERRY BERET" BRI.

Reunion 2011

May I take this opportunity to thank everyone that came to the reunion on Saturday night and to the NMA on the Sunday, my thanks also go to Denis and Derek for all the help during the year that they gave me which made my job a lot easier, it was a pleasure for me to be able to organise the reunion and It will also be again to do it for next year that is if I am not being presumptious and thinking that there is no one that would like to take it on ???. I hope that those that were at the reunion that hope to be joining next year have booked their room for the 16th June 2012 and if so can they let me know so that I can start the list all over again. my thanks also go to Doug for the excellent result he got from the raffle that he did on the Saturday night, not forgetting his assistant Joan for all that she did in helping Doug, well done to the both of you. It was also a pleasure to welcome our guest Capt Peter Thellusson to the reunion this year, he has asked me to thank you all for making him most welcome. I have today posted a cheque for £280 to Doug to add to that which was raised on Saturday for the charity that he chose.

John Atkins

Reunion !

I just wanted to say thank you John for arranging the reunion, I had a really good time exchanging memories. It was good to see some faces after all those years !!! I have managed to post a few photographs (which is good for me ! ). We were at some point trying to identify a man in a photograph with a moustache (Think I was talking to Ted Ayles and Ted Wort at the time ) I have racked my brains and think his name was L/CPL Howles ??????? Thanks again George.

Reunion - June 18th 2011

Good Friends - Good Times !

Obituary - Lt Col George E Evans OBE ARCM psm

 

Colonel George Evans was born on 6th January I926 at the small mining town of Pontypool. He began playing the cornet at the age of seven, his elder brothers playing trombone, euphonium and tenor horn, and he played his first solo at a Festival in the Methodist Central Hall, Newport, at the age of eleven. He later became assistant solo cornet in the Coventry City Salvation Army Band. He considered a career in army music and made applications to join the bands of The Life Guards, Coldstream and Scots Guards but for various reasons decided to remain a civilian. The audition for the Life Guards was taken by Major Thornburrow of the Royal Horse Guards, whose position he was to take some thirty years later.

 

George was conscripted in December 1944, joining the Somerset Light Infantry at Colchester. At the end of his initial training he was detailed by the platoon sergeant to perform at the company concert, playing Post Horn Gallop, Zelda, and a ballad Trees, accompanied by the Band of 2nd Bn The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry under the Bandmaster, Mr Pat Taylor.

 

Private Evans was due to be posted to India but returned from embarkation leave to find that Bandmaster Taylor had arranged for him to be drafted to the band. This period included a six month tour of Palestine where he spent his 21^st birthday on railway guard duty.

 

He left the army for a while and happened to see a concert advertised in Oxford by the Band of the 3rd Carabiniers (Prince of Wales’s Dragoon Guards) by now conducted by his old Bandmaster Pat Taylor. Mr Taylor persuaded him to re-enlist into his band and he joined them at Tidworth. He played rugby for the regiment and eventually became Trumpet Major. He also at this time occupying the solo cornet chair with Morris Motors Band under Harry Mortimer, as well as taking on various big band work.

 

The band’s Kneller Hall Inspection led him being asked to become a Student Bandmaster much earlier than he had planned as the Director of Music was keen to swell the course with the best trumpet players in preparation for the forthcoming Coronation. Student Bandmaster Evans took his place with the Kneller Hall Trumpeters on the organ loft in Westminster Abbey on 2^nd June 1953 for what must have been an unforgettable musical experience with one of the best views of the whole ceremony. He later became Band Sergeant Major at Kneller Hall

 

On 12^th September 1956 he was appointed Bandmaster of The Royal Dragoons (1^st Dragoons), joining them in Germany and later serving with them in Malaya. He was commissioned on 25th January 1966 as Director of Music of the Royal Artillery Mounted Band, serving with them in Aldershot, Germany and eventually Larkhill. One of the highlights of this time was a series of “Harry Secombe and Friends" concerts.

 

Capt Evans was appointed Director of Music of The Blues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards and 1^st Dragoons) in 1973, thus returning to his earlier regiment following amalgamation. He said it was like coming home as he knew half the regiment already. He spent a month with The King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery for some individual equestrian tuition prior to joining the Household Cavalry riding course and, on completion, took part in Beating Retreat on Horse Guards Parade later that year. He was promoted to Major on 25th July 1975.

 

This was at the time when there were regular concerts in the London parks and the band became particularly popular with audiences, in no small way due to George's informative and amusing patter (and awful jokes!) particularly at the Embankment Gardens where he would often get into entertaining dialogue with the down-and-outs who would wander in to heckle. One of the highlights with The Blues and Royals was a band concert in the Royal Festival Hall comprising all Austrian music. He had a long association with the Luton Musical Pageant, being Musical Director for each pageant from 1973 up to his retirement and then returning as the commentator in 1985 and producer in 1989.

 

Early in 1978 Major Evans was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and appointed Chief Instructor and Director of Music at The Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall. Amongst the high-profile engagements in this appointment was conducting the Kneller Hall Trumpeters in St. Paul's Cathedral in 1981 at the wedding of The Prince and Princess of Wales. Another royal occasion took place at Westminster Abbey with one of the trumpeters being deputed to take George's uniform. It was only after they began to get changed at the Abbey that it was realised that an item had been left behind - George's trousers! This led to him conducting the Trumpeters in the unusual order of dress of frock coat, sword – and grey pin-striped trousers, fortunately up in the organ loft where he could not be seen. The erring trumpeter lived to fight another day and eventually became a Lieutenant Colonel.

 

He was Musical Director for the great Military Musical Pageants at Wembley Stadium in 1979 and 1981, conducting massed bands numbering well over a thousand musicians in such works Capriccio Italien and 1812, as well as a musical representation of the Battle of Rorke’s drift to mark the centenary.

 

Colonel Evans was appointed OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours of 1982 and received his insignia at an Investiture at Buckingham Palace on 4^th November 1982. He retired from the army on 6^th January 1983 but remained at Kneller Hall as Assistant Director of Music, Professor of Conducting and Curator of the Museum until his final retirement at the end of 1990 but continued very much as one of Army music's revered elder statesmen.

 

He was appointed as a Vice President of the International Military Music Society on 1st January 1980, becoming the first Branch President of the Society's United Kingdom Branch in 1998. The society benefited enormously from his valuable experience and he would regularly host the reception on the eve of the Shrewsbury Flower Show as well as always managing to secure an invitation to conduct at least one of the bands during the show itself. The dates of the show would generally coincide with his wedding anniversary so My Fair Lady was often his choice, with an appropriate dedication to Joy. Another important aspect of George's life was his numerous golfing successes including winning the Army Golfing Society's Championship Medal, the Royal Artillery Prize and the Guards Golfing Society Cup.

 

George and Joy had two daughters, both of whose husbands have been knighted, one in medicine and one in the Church - or as George put it: “One to look after my body and one to look after my soul': George died on 2lst March 2011 but will be long remembered by all who knew him.

 

Colin Dean (International Military Music Society)

 

Citation for George Evans' OBE:

 

Lieutenant Colonel Evans holds the Senior Director of Music appointment in the British Army, and as such he exercises great influence on musical training policy in the Army. He has no sewing peer in military music, and his responsibilities for wise direction and sound organisation are heavy. Lieutenant Colonel Evans works unremittingly from early morning to late at night to maintain the very high standards, both at Kneller Hall and among bands in the Army. His flair as a musician and a Director makes him well-known in musical circles both in this country and overseas. This was particularly demonstrated by the brilliance with which he organised and directed some 1.500 musicians at the Wembley Musical Pageant in June 1979 and again in 1981, when he was particularly complimented by The Prince of Wales. In July 1981he directed the Kneller Hall Fanfare Trumpeters at the wedding of HRH Prince Charles at St Paul’s Cathedral, and their performance was magnificent. As a member of DASD’s 1981 working Party during the Army Band Review he contributed wise technical counsel during a difficult review.

 

Lieutenant Colonel Evans’s 26 years as a Bandmaster and Director of Music, culminating in outstanding service to Army Music in his present unique and very responsible post, deserve special recognition.

 

Recommended by Colonel D T L Beath. Commandant, Royal Military School of Music. on 9th Sept 1981.

 

Very Strongly Recommended by Major General Langley (Major General Commanding London District) 27th Nov 1981 and General Sir John Stanier C-in-C UK Land Forces 27th Jan 1982.

 

From National Archives ref W013731178

 

A memorial service will be held on Thursday 15th September 2011 at 12.00 noon in the Guards Chapel at Wellington Barracks

 

(Re: International Military Music Society Newsletter No. 88 June 2011)

 

NMA REUNION 350 yrs. (Raffle)

The winning ticket was drawn by a very pretty redhead behind the bar in the Fradley Arms (Premier Inn).

The winner was Nick Doyle (301)

Amount raised £125 for Haig Housing Trust.( Fabulous)

Awaiting additional donation from John A.

Will keep you all informed.

Best regards, Doug and Joan

p.s. Adrian - on receipt of total amount will decide on my new model!   (lol)

 

 

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS

Many happy returns of the day tomorrow June 21st to Stuart Mackay, hoping you have a good one, (sorry you missed the reunion) 

 Best wishes

 John Atkins

Royals T/Shirts and Sweat/Shirts

I have been asked regularly by some of who have  seen photo's of members on the B/B wearing Polo and sweatshirts logo'ed' with our Royals Eagle and Royal Dragoons underneath. I used to supply the regimental shop at Windsor, but was told not a great demand for Royals was called for !!!not hard to work out lol . So i stopped doing them. Plus my good friend retired to Tenerife who manufactured them,  She is now back in the U.K and tells me she kept the Art work for the for the Royals Items ,so if i can get a reasonably price and of cause orders, wont promise but any member interested let me know, your size's and colour in the past colours were not always availible so i stuck to white or dark blue some black or  grey. & Maroon.

fred.

reunion

Plummy's Pictures 2011 Reunion & 350 Year Celebration

Blues&Royals Celebrating 350 years at the NMA

1st batch of many no doubt

Royal Dragoons badge, guidon and cap badge

Silk picture and cigarette card in a small frame found in the attic belonging to Jim. Thought you'd like to see it.

ROYAL DRAGOONS VETERANS @THE NMA

John,have we got a PLAN "B" for Sunday if the weather changes..IE large tent??

REGIMENTAL JOURNALS

I have Blue & Royal 1971 to 1992 plus Household Cavalry from 1993 to present, with few omissions.

Any ex-Royal and/or Blue & Royal can have any of the above Journals for a small contribution to my dedicated charity. (www. haighhousingtrust.org.uk). This is the charity I am supporting with a raffle at the NMA 18th June.

See you all on Sat.18th.

Regards  Doug Best and 'her indoors' Joan. 

ROYAL DRAGOONS VETERANS @THE NMA

John, thank you for putting this up in theJournal.

See you all at the W/End.

Grumps.

conservation of bumblebees

Just been reading a field guide to Bumblebees, I  always thought that a bumblebee was a bumblebee but I have discovered that there are about 25 species in the UK alone some of them are endangered ,indeed one species has ,last year been declared extinct , this is a book dedicated to conservation ! one way to identify them,the reader is told , (for scientific reasons ) is to extract its genitalia with a pair of tweezers, the bee must be dead to do this, to kill a bumblebee we are told the following is;_ "  the safest & most humane way , put the bee in a glass tube and place it in a domestic freezer for 2 hours ". 

dose the poor thing suffocate or freeze to death ?  imagine someone advocating this method for a cat or dog or even the countries that still have capital punishment using this method . what an outcry this would produce. that is a strange way of conservation,anyway what pervert needs to look at a bumble bees genitals.

Reunion

I am very much looking forward to seeing everyone at the reunion ! Its been a few years now !

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS

Many happy returns to James (paddy) Paul tomorrow 13th June, hoping that you have a good one and many more.

 With best wishes,

  John Atkins

Dining Out Brigadier Andrew Parker Bowles, a few Commitee members At Sweetings Restruant in The City.

(1) Eric Lane and Me) (2) Presentation Gift (3) A.P.B Saying thank you ( 4) Presentation on completion as Chairman of The Blues and Royals Association (5) Eric in full flow !!! (6) Port time !