- At Europa Point Parade Ground on 17th May
1962.
Colonel Hine-Haycock, Officers,
Warrant Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and
Men of The 1st Battalion The Somerset and Cornwall
Light Infantry. It is a very high honour for me
to have been appointed by Her Majesty The Queen
to present you with your New Colours today, here
in this ancient fortress of Gibraltar which has
many and such romantic associations with our history.
As a West Countryman by birth
and upbringing, as one who has held a commission
in the Somerset Light Infantry, and as the first
Colonel of the Regiment, I am particularly proud
and happy to be here with you on this historic
occassion. And it is an historic occassion-and
a memorable occassion- because these Colours which
have just been solemnly consecrated are the first
to bear the name, the title and the badge of the
Somerset and Cornwall Light Infantry. They have
emblazoned upon them the battle honours of the
two famous Regiments which between them gave birth
to your Regiment. They represent the achievements
and the victories of the past- the foundations
on which a yet more gloroius future can-and I
am sure will be built.
It is true that in the British
Infantry the Regiment is everything, but it is
not organisation or title that count for most,
but the spirit of the Regiment, the spirit of
service to Sovereign and to Country, the spirit
of self-sacrifice, the spirit of comradeship,
the unconquerable spirit of the warrior. Those
are the things that matter-those are the things
that make a regiment. History has shown and you
have once more proved that it is the spirit that
makes a good Regiment.
From all the reports that have
reached me, from what I have been told about you
since I arrived a few days ago, and from what
I have seen for myself on parade this morning
it is quite clear to me that under the inspiring
leadership of your Commanding Officer you are
most worthily upholding the high standards and
great traditions of the distinguished Regiments
that gave you birth. And so it is with deep sincerity
that I say to you-to all of you-Well done, the
Somerset and Cornwall Light Infantry. Well done
indeed.
In years gone by when Colours
were carried on the battlefield no sacrifice was
deemed to great to carry them forward to victory
or to preserve them from capture. Today they are
the symbol of that same indomitable spirit-the
spirit of the Regiment which all ranks share and
enjoy-to which all ranks contribute and which
will never never die.
And now to conclude, I am sure
I speak for all those who have the privilege of
being here today when I congratulate you-all of
you- most sincerely and most heartily on an excellent
parade-and I am sure too that I speak for many
others who unfortunately cannot be here today
when I wish you all good fortune and good success
in your undertakings.
Guard your New Colours closely,
and may they always be to you a scource of strength
and courage, and a reminder of the great inheritance
of service in comradeship that is now yours to
hold, to enhance and to hand on.
Reply by Lieut-Colonel W. Hine-Haycock.
Field Marshal, Sir,
Today we have on parade with
this Battalion men, both National Service and
Regulars, whose forefathers have served under
the Colours which we saw marched off today for
the last time, and indeed Sir, those whose forefathers
died under them. We have therfore always treated
them with the deepest respect and the greatest
affection. I do not in any way want to make it
appear that that affection, and that respect has
died as did the strains of Auld Lang Syne this
morning. Rather it has passed to the New Colours
which, a few minutes ago, were blessed by the
Chaplain General and entrusted by you to our care,
and I can assure you Sir, that those Colours will
be guarded and cherished by every means within
our power.
Lastly, Sir I would thank you
on behalf of all ranks on parade today, not only
for entrusting those Colours to our care but also
for your words of strength and encouragement which
will remain for ever an inspiration in the hearts
of those to whom they were addressed.
|
