The Combined Cavalry Old Comrades Association (CCOCA) is well advanced with putting in place plans to deliver some form of Cavalry Memorial Parade and Service, with contingency plans seeing ever reducing regimental representation, which of course will be driven entirely by HMG COVID restrictions in place at the time.
Further details can be found on page 2.
This week the Regiment were pleased to finally be able to place the 4th and 8th Hussar Memorials outside the RHQ building in Tidworth.
Due to some confusion with the original plans the concrete plinths on which they were to be mounted were not of the correct size and were in the wrong place. After resubmitting the plans (and some gentle persuasion from the QM) new plinths were requested and installed in late December.
In preparation for the memorials being moved to their new home the RSM provided a merry band of volunteers to clean and polish them as they had been stored in the QM department for over 18 months since they were moved from Athlone Bks in the Summer of 2019.
The 3rd Hussar flagpole memorial will hopefully be in place just after Easter this year. The delay is due to various engineering surveys that have to be completed prior to its installation.
The Membership programme for the National Army Museum is hosting a series of virtual talks for Members-only and Invited Guests.
The next series is entitled ‘From the Sea, Freedom: Falklands conflict 1982‘, which contains three talks.
Association members are invited, both serving and veterans, to these talks, the second talk of the series ‘From the Sea, Freedom: The Falklands Conflict 1982‘ is on Tuesday 26th January, 18:30hrs.
These talks are not open to the Public: and are strictly for Members-only and Guests of the National Army Museum.
They are streamed live on Crowdcast and are accessed by a unique code. Please note the first is pre-recorded.
Details of these talks, and access codes can be found on page 2.
There will be the launch of a new Railcard for Veterans coming soon.
Like other Railcards the holder will benefit from 1/3 off most rail fares but an additional companion will also benefit and up to 4 children can travel with you at a 60% discount.
The Railcard is due to launch in October for travel from early November at a special introductory price of just £21, saving £9 on the original retail price until 31 March 2021. It will then retail at £30 a year from 1 April 2021 onwards. A three year card will also be available for £61 instead of the usual price of £70.
To find out more and to check if you are eligible please visit the Veterans Railcard website, where you can also register your interest and receive updates with news on the launch.
Further to Brigadier Chris Coles’ briefing ‘Regimental Association Remembrance – A Plan For The Future’, please find on page 2 details of this years Act of Remembrance:
(The following is an extract from the Gov.UK website)
The Veterans’ recognition scheme has a 2-phase rollout. Phase 1 is complete; with Service leavers receiving a recognition card as part of the discharge process.
Phase 2 is to extend the scheme to existing veterans so that they can more quickly, easily and securely prove they served in the UK Armed Forces so they can access the services they need.
We had hoped to have this in place by the end of 2019, but due to the requirement to future-proof the scheme so that veterans can access a wider range of benefits, the need to safeguard against fraudulent use means, this process will take longer.
Information on how to apply will be released closer to the launch date.
