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Household Cavalry Regiment

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The Household Cavalry Regiment (HCR) is an Armoured Cavalry regiment of the British Army based in Bulford Camp in Wiltshire. It is the brother regiment of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment (HCMR) based at Hyde Park Barracks in London - both regiments together form the Household Cavalry (HCav). The Household Cavalry Regiment was formed in 1992, under the Options for Change reforms, by the union of The Life Guards and The Blues and Royals in order to preserve the distinct identities of the regiments. A precedent for the Household Cavalry Regiment has previously been set by the Household Cavalry Composite Regiment - active during the Anglo-Egyptian War, the Second Boer War and latterly during both the First and Second World Wars.

The Household Cavalry Regiment
Badge of the Household Cavalry[1]
Active19 October 1992 – present
CountryUnited Kingdom
Branch British Army
TypeHorse guards
RoleArmoured cavalry regiment
SizeOne regiment
Part ofHousehold Cavalry
Garrison/HQPowle Lines,[2] Bulford Camp, Wiltshire
Motto(s)Honi soit qui mal y pense
(Middle French for 'Shame on him who thinks evil of it')
MarchLife Guards: Quick – Millanollo
Slow – Life Guards Slow March
Trot past – Keel Row
Blues and Royals: Quick – Quick March of the Blues and Royals
Slow – Slow March of the Blues and Royals
Trot past – Keel Row
EquipmentWarrior
Ajax
Commanders
Current
commander		Lt Col Roland J. Spiller
Colonel-in-ChiefCharles III
Insignia
Tactical Recognition Flash

The HCR is part of the Household Cavalry, rather than the Royal Armoured Corps (RAC), which encompasses all other armoured and cavalry regiments of the British Army.

History

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The Household Cavalry Regiment was established as part of the Options for Change defence review in 1992.[3]

Former Yugoslavia

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The House Cavalry Regiment's squadrons served in the Yugoslav Wars on rotations over a nine-year period. Deployments to the Former Republic of Yugoslavia included tours by A and D Squadrons in 1995[4] and C Squadron in 1999[5] and 2003.[6][7] They were largely based at Banja Luka, headquarters of the Multi-National Division (South-West), for which the British Armed Forces were responsible. In 1997 two squadrons from the regiment were awarded the Wilkinson Sword of Peace for their work in "returning the lives of members of the severely damaged community of Banja Luka to conditions approaching normality, in which the seeds of long-standing peace might grow."[8] In 1999 D Squadron provided the brigade reconnaissance squadron for 4th Armoured Brigade for the occupation of Kosovo on Operation Agricola 1.[9]

Fire Brigades Union strike

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In 2002, Household Cavalry Regiment soldiers crewed fire appliances during the Fire Brigades Union strike.[10] In 2003, exceptionally, the regiment was tasked at short notice to provide additional armed security at Heathrow Airport, in response to a specific threat.[11]

Iraq

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D Squadron deployed in their function as the Formation Reconnaissance Squadron for 16 Air Assault Brigade during the 2003 invasion of Iraq.[12] The squadron led the brigade main body into Iraq before conducting a wide range of tasks, including around the Rumalayah oil fields. The squadron was unfortunate to be involved in a friendly-fire incident involving a US A-10 Thunderbolt. Lance Corporal of Horse Matty Hull was killed in the incident.[13] In a separate incident, Lieutenant Alex Tweedie and Lance Corporal Karl Shearer died when their Scimitar over-turned into an irrigation canal.[14] The squadron received various decorations for its service: Trooper Chris Finney was awarded the George Cross for his actions during the A-10 incident,[15] Major Richard Taylor received the Distinguished Service Order,[16] Corporal of Horse Mick Flynn received the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross for his actions in a battle with Iraqi armour,[17] and Corporal of Horse Glynn Bell was awarded the Military Cross for his actions shortly before the end of the tour.[18] In April 2004, A and C Squadrons deployed during Operation Telic 4 and in June 2007, A and C Squadrons again returned to Iraq during Operation Telic 10.[12]

Afghanistan

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HCR soldiers move to their exfiltration HLS at the end of a search operation during their deployment to Helmand Province, Afghanistan in 2013 during Op Herrick 18.

During Operation Herrick 4, D Squadron deployed as the Formation Reconnaissance Squadron for 16 Air Assault Brigade in April 2006.[19][12] C Squadron deployed with 52nd Infantry Brigade during Operation Herrick 7 in October 2007 and saw action at the Battle of Musa Qala to recover the town of Musa Qala from the Taliban.[12] D Squadron again deployed with 16 Air Assault Brigade, initially around Musa Qala, then east of Girishk during Operation Herrick 8 in April 2008.[12] A, B and C Squadrons deployed on Operation Herrick 11 in 2009, A and B Squadron with 11 Light Brigade Headquarters based out of Camp Bastion and C Squadron as the Battle Group North West Manoeuvre Group, initially based in Musa Q’aleh District Centre and subsequently elsewhere in the Battle Group area of operations. There was another deployment again by D Squadron in late 2010 on Operation Herrick 13 and finally, B squadron deployed with 1st Mechanised Brigade Operation Herrick 18 in April 2013.[12]

Recent deployments

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C Sqn Household Cavalry Regiment Scimitar vehicle at night during Exercise IRON SCOUT 3.

The Household Cavalry Regiment contributed to security at the London Olympic Games in 2012 and flood relief in the local area during 2014.[20]

The regiment moved from Combermere Barracks to the new, specialist build barracks, Powle Lines, in Bulford Camp in May 2019.[2][21]

Role

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In 2014, the Household Cavalry Regiment was re-designated from a Brigade Reconnaissance Regiment to Armoured Cavalry as part of the Army 2020 reforms.[22] The Household Cavalry Regiment's task is to provide timely and accurate information and intelligence to the Brigade Commander in order to enable decision-making. To fulfil this function, the Household Cavalry Regiment conducts surveillance and reconnaissance activities, mounted or dismounted, in all weathers by day or night. The regiment's vehicles enable information-gathering to be conducted whilst mobile, at pace, and whilst under fire. The change in designation from Brigade Reconnaissance Regiment to Armoured Cavalry reflects the evolving role of the Household Cavalry Regiment in preparation for Ajax (Scout SV). The Household Cavalry Regiment is under the command of 1st Deep Reconnaissance Strike Brigade Combat Team, based at Tidworth Camp in Wiltshire.[23]

Equipment

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AJAX, the Future Armoured Fighting Vehicle
  • Warrior: The Household Cavalry Regiment, like the other Armoured Cavalry Regiments, is equipped with the Warrior armoured fighting vehicle, on an interim basis, until Ajax reaches Full Operating Capability.[24]
  • Ajax: The Household Cavalry Regiment is converting to Ajax (Scout SV) - the British Army's first new Armoured Fighting Vehicle platform in a generation. Ajax will replace the Warrior by 2029.[25][26]

Commanding Officers

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Regimental Commanding Officers included:[27]

  • 1992–1994: Lieutenant Colonel P. Simon W. F. Falkner
  • 1994–1996: Lt Col William R. Rollo
  • 1996–1998: Lt Col Barney W. B. White-Spunner
  • 1998–2001: Lt Col Patrick J. Tabor
  • 2001–2003: Lt Col Marck C. Van Der Lande
  • 2003–2005: Lt Col Charles B. B. Clee
  • 2005–2008: Lt Col Edward Alexander Smyth-Osbourne
  • 2008–2011: Lt Col Henry R. D. Fullerton
  • 2011–2013: Lt Col James P. Eyre
  • 2013–2016: Lt Col Denis James
  • 2016–2018: Lt Col Edward P. W. Hayward
  • 2018–2020: Lt Col Mark S. P. Berry
  • 2020–2022: Lt Col Anthony E. Gilham
  • 2022–Present: Lt Col Roland J. Spiller

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "The Household Cavalry". British Army website. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Army Basing Programme, PAC Information Leaflet – Issue 16 October 2019". army.mod.uk. 16 October 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  3. ^ "Regimental History". Household Cavalry Foundation. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  4. ^ Watson, Fiona M.; Dodd, Tom (1 May 1995). Bosnia and Croatia: the conflict continues Research Paper 95/55. House of Commons Library International Affairs and Defence Section.
  5. ^ "QRF on guard". NATO (SFOR). Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  6. ^ "Deployments". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). House of Commons. 21 March 2005. col. 570W.
  7. ^ "British Army in Bosnia-Herzegovina, November-December 2003". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  8. ^ "Wilkinson Sword of Peace". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). House of Commons. 17 January 2000. col. 277W.
  9. ^ airbase, Chris Bird, Pristina and Paul Beaver, Slatina (12 June 1999). "Kosovo liberated". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 April 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ "No time for tea for the troops on the front line". The Telegraph. 24 November 2002. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  11. ^ "In pictures: Army patrols Heathrow". BBC. 11 February 2003. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  12. ^ a b c d e f "Household Cavalry Regiment". British Army units 1945 on. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  13. ^ "American pilot on 'friendly fire' video named". The Telegraph. 8 February 2007. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  14. ^ "Soldier died when tank overturned". BBC. 24 January 2007. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  15. ^ "Trooper who saved friend in face of friendly fire awarded George Cross". The Guardian. 31 October 2003. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  16. ^ "Iraq war soldiers awarded medals". BBC. 9 December 2004. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  17. ^ "No. 57100". The London Gazette (Supplement). 21 October 2003. p. 4.
  18. ^ "Operational honoursand awards". Ministry of Defence. 23 April 2004. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  19. ^ "The Parachute Regiment - Afghanistan 2006". www.eliteukforces.info. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  20. ^ "Duke of Cambridge hauls sandbags in flood-hit village while Duchess opens art studio". The Telegraph. 14 February 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  21. ^ "Household Cavalry parade marks departure for Bulford". Military Times. 18 May 2019. Archived from the original on 5 December 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  22. ^ "Army 2020 - British Army Website". Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on 27 June 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  23. ^ "Transforming the British Army - an update" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. July 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  24. ^ "British Army Vehicles and Equipment" (PDF). Defence Public Relations (Army). p. 21. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 November 2010. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  25. ^ "Scout SV named Ajax". Janes. 16 September 2015. Archived from the original on 4 June 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  26. ^ West, Lisa (25 May 2024). "Over £4 billion spent on Ajax programme so far". Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  27. ^ Regiments and Commanding Officers, 1960–.
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