THE HOUSEHOLD CAVALRY -

BRIEF REGIMENTAL HISTORY OF

HOUSEHOLD CAVALRY REGIMENT

1992 . . . TO THE PRESENT DAY

The new-look Regiment in Windsor comprised two Squadrons
of Life Guards ('A' and 'B'), two Squadrons of Blues And Royals
('C' and 'D'), and a mixed RHQ and Headquarters Squadron.

The configuration of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment
remained unaltered by the changes.

Also, despite the union, each Regiment retained its separate
identity, uniforms, traditions, and standards.

The Life Guards, at this time, had embarked upon the conversion
from Challenger tanks to CVR (Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance),
tracked vehicles, and all the necessary training that this necessitated.

During 1992, a troop of Blues And Royals were detached to
1st Battalion Irish Guards, for a six-month tour in Northern Ireland,
and a troop of Life Guards was attached to 2nd Battalion Scots Guards
(in Edinburgh) before deployment in Northern Ireland - first with
1st Battalion Welsh Guards, and then 1st Battalion Irish Guards.

A mixed troop was also sent to Belize for six months.

During 1994, more than half the Regiment was serving with the
United Nations, in Bosnia, with the remainder on short notice to join
them if and when required. Indeed, as an armoured reconnaissance Regiment
within 3 (UK) Division, the Regiment could expect to be involved in any
operation in which British troops were deployed, anywhere in the world.

To this end, training included airborne and amphibious exercises,
and training to cope with all environments - from jungle training
in Belize, to freezing cold weather in Canada, and the Arctic.

The year of 1998 marked the first arrivals, in Riding School,
of women recruits to the two Bands; in addition, the Regiment saw
extensive training in Canada, where they very successfully played
the role of the enemy!

Following discussions between the Duke of Wellington
(formerly of The Blues) and the Crown Prince of Jordan, a
Bond of Friendship between the Household Cavalry and the
Jordanian Royal Guards was established in 1998.

As a consequence, a visit to Amman was sanctioned,
and this took place on 13th May 1998, when, under the command of
Colonel P S W F Falkner (LG), a representative party of all ranks
(six men from each Regiment) visited the Jordanian capital.

Also during the summer, the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment
took part in the State Visit for the Emperor of Japan.

The Princess Royal took over as Colonel of The Blues and Royals and
Gold Stick, on 1 September 1998, from General Sir Desmond Fitzpatrick.

She is the first Royal Colonel of The Blues and Royals, and also of
either the Royal Horse Guards (The Blues) or The Royal Dragoons.

To assist her, the Princess Royal appointed Brigadier the
Duke of Wellington - who served in the Royal Horse Guards
from 1939 to 1968 - to be Deputy Colonel.

The highlight of the year was the visit of the Queen to the Regiment
in Windsor, on 26 October 1998, to present the Wilkinson Sword of Peace.
She was greeted by The Princess Royal, The Blues and Royals' new
Gold Stick.

The award proved to be a fitting way to mark the end of
Colonel B W B White-Spunner's tour as Commanding Officer.

The presentation of the Sword of Peace recognised the efforts
of the Regiment in alleviating the suffering of the people of Bosnia,
and establishing good and friendly relations with the inhabitants
of the community "over and above the unit's normal role and duty".

Underpinning the work in Bosnia was the fundraising, and collecting
of clothing and other necessary items, back home in Windsor.

On 1 January 1999, after twenty years in the appointment,
Major General Lord Michael Fitzalan Howard retired as
Colonel of The Life Guards, and Gold Stick.

He was succeeded by General Sir Charles Guthrie,
Chief of the Defence Staff.

In March of 1999, the Household Cavalry Battle Group
comprised of HQ Squadron, Command Troop, B Squadron (LG)
and C Squadron (RHG/D) - along with 1 Royal Highland Fusiliers.

After completing KFOR (Kosovo Force) preparation,
'D' Squadron (RHG/D) was ordered into Northern Macedonia,
as 4 Armoured Brigade's formation reconnaissance squadron.

For a few hours, in Thesaloniki, the train carrying men and vehicles
was stoned, and graffiti applied to their vehicles.

In early June, 'HQ'Squadron, 'B' Squadron (LG), and
'C' Squadron (RHG/D) were deployed in Bosnia.

In June 1999, 'D' Squadron (RHG/D) was among the leading
NATO forces to go over the border into Kosovo, along with the Paras,
who secured the high ground. By nightfall, 'D' Squadron were in Pristina.

The Household Cavalry played a major part of the Kosovo operation
throughout 1999, until their welcome return in December.
In the summer of 2000, 'A' Squadron were placed on standby for
deployment to Sierra Leone, although this did not materialize - nevertheless,
it demonstrated just how prepared the Regiment is for
such action, being ready within a matter of a few hours.

No excuses are offered for detailing overseas deployments
during this period - as well as the invaluable assistance given by
the Regiment at home, during the foot and mouth crisis - as they all
demonstrate the Household Cavalry's professionalism and adaptability.

Indeed, many of the overseas deployments are as dangerous as
being actively engaged in a theatre of war - because the "enemy"
can so often be unseen.

Peacekeeping duties continued in Bosnia, and the Regiment was
called upon to play a key role in Operation Essential Harvest
(weapons collection) in Macedonia.

The Regiment provided detachments for both Sierra Leone,
and Northern Ireland, and was in a state of preparedness for
possible deployment to Afghanistan. Indeed, with its airborne
commitment, it is in an ever-ready state for going literally anwhere,
at any time.

The turn of the year saw the continuation of peacekeeping duties
in Bosnia, with squadrons from both Regiments deployed during 2003.
Also, the very real threat of terrorism in the United Kingdom was
highlighted by the snap deployment of men and vehicles of the
Household Cavalry Regiment, in support of the police and security
forces, around Heathrow Airport for some forty-eight hours.

The war in Iraq saw 'D' Squadron (comprising men from both
The Life Guards and The Blues And Royals) deployed to the Gulf,
to carry out duties in and around Basra.

Regrettably, during the war an officer (Lt A D Tweedie) and
two NCOs (LCoH Hull and LCpl K Shearer) lost their lives,
and a number of men were injured.

So-called Friendly Fire, when two American A-10 aircraft
attacked 2 Troop, resulted in great courage and presence of mind
being shown by members of the Household Cavalry, as demonstrated
by their subsequent awards - Tpr Finney GC, RHG/D;
Major Taylor DSO, LG; and CoH Flynn CGC, RHG/D.

Mentioned in Despatches were CoH Gallagher, LG; and
LCoH Telling, RHG/D.

In May, Her Majesty The Queen presented New Standards
and Guidon to the Regiment, in a parade on Horse Guards, which
involved two Mounted Squadrons and two Armoured Squadrons.

A most welcome surprise, and privilege, was the decision by
Her Majesty The Queen to film her Christmas broadcast in
Combermere Barracks.

CoH Bell, RHG/D was awarded the Military Cross, and
Captain C J L Speers, RHG/D was mentioned in dispatches
(both honours having been won in 2003).

The situation in Iraq following the war, with insurgents and
terrorists active on many fronts, saw the deployment in April of
"A" and "B" Squadrons. Early in the year, the regiment played
a part in a BBC programme to mark the 60th anniversary of the
D Day landings, for which it provided a Troop of four vehicles, and
men, to carry out a seaborne landing and beach infiltration in Dorset.

Also in March, the Household Cavalry contingent serving in Banja Luka,
Bosnia, were able to return home at the end of a most successful tour
of duty, for which they had been engaged on intelligence-gathering,
in respect of the illegal smuggling of food.

The rebuild of the stables at Hyde Park Barracks commenced in 2004,
and continued through 2005, so the Mounted Regiment had to resort to
temporary stabling in Hyde Park.

Early in 2005, "A" and "B" Squadrons returned from a very
successful tour in Iraq.

In readiness for training in Canada, vehicles were converted from
diesel to petrol, and exercises involving two Squadrons took place
as part of 16 Air Assault Brigade - ostensibly to enhance close fire
support between troops and attack helicopters.

Additional training was undertaken in Oman.

On 19 March, the Household Cavalry exercised their rights by holding
a Freedom of Windsor Parade, involving 4 marching Squadrons,
armoured vehicles, both regimental Bands (dismounted), and
men of the Mounted Regiment on horses. The Standards were paraded
down the Long Walk and through the centre of Windsor.

Following the Freedom Parade came the regiment's departure
for Canada, for a summer of intense training - less one troop,
which was deployed for six months to Northern Ireland.

Preparations were soon under way for the deployment of
"D" Squadron to Afghanistan. Also, the proposed relocation of
the Household Cavalry Museum - to Horse Guards - came
a step nearer when financial targets were reached.

Unfortunately, within only a few months of assuming duties in Afghanistan,
two members of "D" Squadron tragically lost their lives while in action -
2/Lt Ralph Johnson (RHG/D), L/Cpl Ross Nicholls (RHG/D), and
L/Cpl Sean Tansey (LG). Also, Tpr Martyn Compton (since promoted)
was very badly wounded.

As a consequence of the tour, a number of Household Cavalrymen were
recipients of important gallantry awards - LCoH Andrew Radford (LG) won
a Conspicuous Gallantry Cross, and Captain Paddy Williams (RHG/D),
SCpl Shaun Fry (LG) and SCpl Michael Flynn CGC (RHG/D) were each
awarded the Military Cross.

2006 saw the death - at the age of ninety - of another fine
Household Cavalryman - Major "Tommy" Thompson.

He was a fine horseman, and one of the Regiment's most
distinguished Riding Masters, having joined The Life Guards in 1933,
and served with distinction in the War - in 1952, he was the first
Riding Master to be appointed since the end of hostilities.

After 34 years in the army, he moved to Windsor to assist the
Duke of Edinburgh (notably with carriage driving), and eventually
became a Military Knight.

During May 2007, "A" and "B" Squadrons deployed to Iraq,
and October saw the deployment of RHQ, "C" and HQ Squadrons
to Afghanistan (leaving "D" Squadron to hold the fort in Windsor) -
for quite lengthy tours of duty - relying heavily upon the trained
resources within the Mounted Regiment.

The year also saw the conversion to the Bowman secure
communications system.

The Regiment suffered losses and injuries, with 2Lt R Johnson,
L/Cpl Ross Nicholls, and L/Cpl Sean Tansey (RHG/D) killed in action,
CoH Fry (LG) injured, and Tpr Compton suffering 70% burns in
the same action that killed 2Lt Nicholls and L/Cpl Nicholls.

During May 2007, "A" and "B" Squadrons deployed to Iraq,
and October saw the deployment of RHQ, "C" and HQ Squadrons
to Afghanistan (leaving "D" Squadron to hold the fort in Windsor) -
for quite lengthy tours of duty - relying heavily upon the trained
resources within the Mounted Regiment.

The year also saw the conversion to the Bowman secure
communications system.

The Regiment suffered losses and injuries, with 2Lt R Johnson,
L/Cpl Ross Nicholls, and L/Cpl Sean Tansey (RHG/D) killed in action,
CoH Fry (LG) injured, and Tpr Compton suffering 70% burns in
the same action that killed 2Lt Nicholls and L/Cpl Nicholls.