It was a great pleasure and privilege to attend the Sovereigns standard parade, yesterday and to witness the presentation of new regimental standards to my old regiment, The Life Guards.
A superb occasion at Buckingham palace, followed by lunch and drinks with the old, bold and serving soldiers of The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, at Hyde Park Barracks in London.
Well done to all involved, and many thanks for the invitation to this once in a lifetime event.
God Save the King.
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The new cypher features the King's initial C intertwined with the letter R for Rex – Latin for King – with III within the R denoting Charles III, with the crown above the letters. It includes a Tudor crown adopted by King Charles – a more rounded version than the St Edward's crown worn by Queen Elizabeth II.
The start of Charles III's reign also heralds a time of change for companies that supply the Armed Forces with anything that bears his cypher – from cap badges and flags, to belts, medals, swords and sporrans. The change in monarch affects the militaries of Commonwealth countries such as Australia and Jamaica.
British Army cap badges, including those of the Life Guards, Blues and Royals, Royal Horse Artillery, Royal Engineers and Royal Military Police will be modified to reflect the new cypher. Royal Air Force cap and squadron badges will be affected. The current badges include the Queen's St Edward's crown, rather than the more rounded Tudor crown which King Charles has adopted in his cypher. Changes are expected to be gradual, rather than immediate.
A Cabinet Office spokesperson said: "Where changes can be made easily, such as digital branding, they can be made immediately. "Physical items such as signage or stationery will be replaced gradually over time as the need arises."
Regimental units will likely fly the Queen's colours for years to come. Even if they wanted to replace them – they couldn't do so any time soon. Each standard takes six months to sew by hand and, from sporrans to swords, there are likely tens of thousands of product lines to change.
Source Forces.Net
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Check out more Irish Guards KIT HERE
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Remembering Nick Hunt RIP 8 years ago today a true friend, fond memories of a BRB brother, you'll never be forgotten A True Life Guard and dear fella and pal!
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Thanks to Alex for sending a picture in of his new Life Guards Retro Hoodie. Alex said; Hoodie Came this morning. Chuffed to bits. Fantastic quality. Thank you so much.
Thank you Alex, All the best pal.
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Thanks to Diane for posting a picture of her good self modelling her Never Surrender T-Shirt. Truly stunning. Thanks Diane. :) x
BUY NEVER SURRENDER KIT HERE
]]>In Late June 2019 a team of veterans and civilians took part in a very well organised 75KM walk in 3 days in the area of Holland known as Arnhem, retracing the steps of the Arnhem hero's of 1944 in its 75th anniversary year, taking in the sights and sounds, and being briefed on the historical events of the time..
The team raised a substantial amount for Veterans Lifeline; a challenging and rewarding time was had by all involved during a walk that was blessed with 36 degree heat, and little wind. I was very proud and privileged to take part, and be around so many top top people for the best part of a week.
Well done to all and thank you for all who attended, donated and contributed in 2019. It was a true experience!
SEE THE VETERANS LIFELINE CLOTHING COLLECTION HERE
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Thanks to Andy for buying an OP BANNER VETERAN T-Shirt and sending in his picture. You can check out our OP BANNER COLLECTION BY CLICKING HERE
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An RAF (Market Garden Veteran) Mr Walter Bentley has died in Salford, Manchester, with no surviving family and only a few known friends. An appeal has been made to see if more people could come forward to pay respects to the brave man, at his funeral on Monday the 10th of December. It will be held at 1pm Agecroft Cemetery, Langley Road,Pendlebury,Salford, M27 8SS.
In 1942 At The Age of 21 Walter joined the RAF. He was posted to 570 Squadron, stationed in Berkshire.
Walters first active flight was to Fly to Arnhem on the 23rd of September 1944. He was flying a short Sterling Bomber ferrying food and ammunition to the Airborne troops fighting at the Bridge. On the way to the DZ, Walters plane was shot down near Nijmegen. He managed to crash land the plane with the wing on fire, and all 6 crew walked away from the wreckage.
They made contact with an Army convoy and were back in England within a week. They then returned straight to active service for the remainder of the war.
I will attend on behalf of the Arnhem Boys to pay our respects to another hero.
Sir, Thank you for your service.
Rest in Peace.
AG
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(Written 1st September 2017 thinking of James as always and Remembrance Day after seeing by accident soul destroying pictures of blown up wagons in Afghanistan (wagons = Jackals) which broke my heart into pieces again).
On November 7th, 1920, in strictest secrecy, four unidentified British bodies were exhumed from temporary battlefield cemeteries at Ypres, Arras, the Asine and the Somme.
None of the soldiers who did the digging were told why.
The bodies were taken by field ambulance to GHQ at St-Pol-Sur-Ter Noise. Once there, the bodies were draped with the union flag.
Sentries were posted and Brigadier-General Wyatt and a Colonel Gell selected one body at random. The other three were reburied.
A French Honour Guard was selected and stood by the coffin overnight of the chosen soldier overnight.
On the morning of the 8th November, a specially designed coffin made of oak from the grounds of Hampton Court arrived and the Unknown Warrior was placed inside.
On top was placed a crusaders sword and a shield on which was inscribed:
"A British Warrior who fell in the GREAT WAR 1914-1918 for King and Country".
On the 9th of November, the Unknown Warrior was taken by horse-drawn carriage through Guards of Honour and the sound of tolling bells and bugle calls to the quayside.
There, he was saluted by Marechal Foche and loaded onto HMS Vernon bound for Dover. The coffin stood on the deck covered in wreaths, surrounded by the French Honour Guard.
Upon arrival at Dover, the Unknown Warrior was met with a nineteen gun salute - something that was normally only reserved for Field Marshals.
A special train had been arranged and he was then conveyed to Victoria Station, London.
He remained there overnight, and, on the morning of the 11th of November, he was finally taken to Westminster Abbey.
The idea of the unknown warrior was thought of by a Padre called David Railton who had served on the front line during the Great War the union flag he had used as an altar cloth whilst at the front, was the one that had been draped over the coffin.
It was his intention that all of the relatives of the 517,773 combatants whose bodies had not been identified could believe that the Unknown Warrior could very well be their lost husband, father, brother or son...
THIS is the reason we wear poppies.
We do not glorify war.
We remember - with humility - the great and the ultimate sacrifices that were made, not just in this war, but in every war and conflict where our service personnel have fought - to ensure the liberty and freedoms that we now take for granted.
Every year, on the 11th of November, we remember the Unknown Warrior.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them.
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A friend of mine wrote this. God Bless You, you are a fine man.
I AM A GUARDSMAN
I am a guardsman through and through
I served for my country
The queen
And yes, for you
Through good times and bad
With rifle in my hand
Shoulder to shoulder
My brothers would stand
From Buckingham Palace
To Afghanistan
The life as a guardsman
Will make you a man
I am who I am
I do what I do
So, don’t dare judge me
Till you’ve done it too
Like me or hate me
I don’t really care
My brothers in arms
Will always be there
We are all Guardsman
And I mean Through and Through
In Honour and in Glory
We are Blue Red Blue
]]>This blew me away! Thanks Gerry Parks
It was the Guardsmen of the Crown
Who scaled the Heights of Tumbledown
And fought that night a bloody fight
To see victory by dawn's first light.
From crag to crag amongst the rock,
They skirmished on, numbed by shock.
Through shell and mortar fire they moved,
Till at last the ground they'd proved
Port Stanley lay there...just ahead,
As they began to count their dead.
But where the glory, where the pride,
Of those eight brave men who died?
They who made that lonely sacrifice
And through each death paid the total price
In their final and heroic act,
Did surely speed the warring parties pact.
Each one who there his life laid down,
Saved countless others from their own unknown.
So those of you who live to talk,
Let your pride hover as does the hawk.
And never let men these acts forget,
Nor the memory of our dead neglect,
But once returned across this vast sea,
Remember then just what it was to be....
A Scots Guardsman.
— "Ode to Tumbledown", Lieutenant Mark Mathewson
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Paul Lomax is the founder of the Great War Heritage Project in Morecambe a non profit museum. They have just lost the premises they had the exhibition set up in and they have nowhere to move !. Obviously next year is the centenary of the Great War and they are now homeless !. The exhibition was set up for local visitors and school visits and now just two months to go they have had to close !.
This is their Facebook page below, and they would be really greatfull if anyone can offer them premises for 2018.
]]>Sponsor this fab young lady at www.mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/casswatts1
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In February 2017 a group of former Household Cavalrymen took part in a car rally along the D-Day beaches in Normandy to raise money for charity, and sponsored by Fat Chimp, The Guards Shop, Quality Home Care, The Cambridge Cleaning Company and Lathom Motors. Nominated charities are The Veterans Lifeline and ABF the Soldiers Charity. FUNDS RAISED £1200, split between the 2 Charities.
Sponsor at; https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/teampegasus1
Thanks to TB for sharing his pictures of his new Army V Navy Life Guards Polo with extra badges.
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We were very flattered to be asked to produce a number of Polo shirts for a event in February 2017. A team of Welsh Guards Veterans will be carrying out a charity tab across 60 miles of the Island, camping out and reliving the War in honour of the fallen. Good Luck Boys. Safe Trip.
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