HHQ News
June 2025 E – Update
Dear Association Member,
Please find a summary of information, events, and articles that you may find of interest.
D-DAY TO VE DAY – THE ULTIMATE GRAND TOUR BY JEEP
IN SUPPORT OF THE LIGHT DRAGOONS CHARITABLE TRUST
Phase 1 complete – We’re home now after the very successful completion of Phase 1. Many of you followed our progress on Facebook as we reached over a thousand followers, take a look to see what we got up to. We’re now refining the plan for Phase 2 which starts on Monday 29 September to Tuesday 07 October. There are still seats available for Phase 2 of this unique and epic journey.
Phase 1 by numbers – To give you a flavour of what we achieved in Phase 1 here’s a summary by numbers: 15 days in Europe, 13 days of driving our 80 year old jeeps along 1,075 miles of 13th/18th Royal Hussars’ combat route across France, Belgium, and The Netherlands. 39 acts of remembrance conducted and wreaths laid at 36 cemeteries and 3 memorials for the 164 fallen soldiers of the 13/18H & 15th/19th Kings Royal Hussars who were all honoured with a cross of remembrance on each grave. Four Mayor’s receptions, 11 hotels, 150 gallons of fuel drank by the jeeps and only one quickly repaired breakdown. All, bar four, of the 36 day seats were filled by 19 guests (which included the Colonel of the Regiment and also three Troopers from the serving regiment) who had a unique experience following in the tank tracks of our forebears, remembering their individual sacrifices and raising funds for the Light Dragoons Charitable Trust. Visit the website to see our Phase 1 photo album
Phase 2 – 29 Sep to 07Oct – The auction is open for Phase 2, don’t miss out on this epic experience, enter the auction, buy a seat. Join us in Sep & Oct as we retrace 13/18H’s route in the closing six months of WW2: another 700 miles to travel as we follow the initial attempts to break through the Siegfried Line, clearing the west of the Rhine, fighting in the Reichswald, eventually crossing the Rhine and the final slog into Germany and to Bremen and VE Day, finishing with the cemeteries around Hohne, Celle and Hannover and a visit to Bergen-Belsen. The full programme is on the website. Don’t miss out.
What you get – This a totally unique value-for-money event, for your ticket price you get a full day travelling in a WW2 jeep (usually 100 miles) escorted by a battlefield guide, and along the way visiting battle sites, museums, memorials, conducting acts of remembrance at regimental cemeteries; a picnic lunch, one night’s hotel accommodation at the end, with breakfast and executive transfer back to your start point the following day. A complete package. You can choose to join us for just one day or you can travel with us across Europe for longer.
Interested? If you are interested in joining us for our military grand tour by jeep, please register on the website at https://ddaytoveday.com/ and bid for a seat, or get in contact with us to discuss options around the tour. Please see the website for testimonials from our Phase 1 guests.
We can tailor the event to suit you, we’re willing to negotiate around the “buy it now” price, and we’re now able to offer “day tickets”, without the hotel stay, at a much-reduced rate should you wish to make your own arrangements.
Don’t miss out, join us for phase 2, and in so doing, raise money for our charity
Upcoming LD Association Events of Interest:
21st June Military v Cancer Rugby Event
The Armed Forces Day Rugby Event, taking place at Kingston Park Stadium, Newcastle, on 21 June 2025. This event will showcase the UK Armed Forces Rugby teams against the North Select XV men’s and women’s teams, celebrating our military community while raising vital funds for those members of the Armed Forces Community impacted by cancer.
Tickets for the game are already available via:
Defence Discount Service (for serving and veteran personnel including family): https://www.defencediscountservice.co.uk/offerdetails.php?cid=22774
Newcastle Falcons (all other personnel): https://www.eticketing.co.uk/newcastle-falcons/Events
27th June North East Golf
We have now found a new venue to freshen the event up a little, the new location will be Durham City Golf Club, Association members attending will meet at 0900hrs for a bacon sandwich before Tee off at 0930hrs lunch will also be provided. We have distribute a separate letter to golf playing Association members. However if you would like to attend then please fill out the MS Form North East Golf
1st – 3rd August Barnsley Smoker
The annual Barnsley Smoker Event will take place over the first weekend of August, Steve Fretwell has booked the weather, the event appears to grow in popularity year on year. Please try to attend all or any part of the weekend, even if you just pop in for a brew and a chat you will be warmly welcomed.
9th August Durham Smoker
New Venue, this event will be held in the Dunelm Club, 55 Old Elvet Durham DH1 3HN, please note this event will take place on a Saturday starting at 6 pm, a buffet will be provided, and a small charge will be taken at the door. Numbers last year were a little down on previous years so please try to pop in and support.
Assaye Dinner Saturday 20th September
This year’s Assaye dinner will be held at the County Hotel Newcastle upon Tyne. The new committee look forward to welcoming all Association members to the event to remember “Assaye” When asked by a friend to recall his greatest military achievement, the Duke of Wellington simply replied, “Assaye”. A three-course meal will be served at a vastly reduced price and the location cannot be better directly opposite the Central Station. To attend this dinner please fill out the Assaye Dinner
3rd OCTOBER BARNSLEY GOLF COMPETITION
This year’s Barnsley Golf Tournament will be held at Silkstone Gold Club on Friday 3rd October at Silkstone Golf Club:
Home :: Homepage for Silkstone Golf Club
All those wishing to attend should complete the MS form below approximate timings are meet at 0900 hrs for a Bacon sandwich before Tee off at 1000 hrs. A lunch will also be provided at the venue. The cost of this event will be £10 per person. We look forward to welcoming as many Association members and serving Regiment as possible. Barnsley Golf
Barnsley Dinner Dance weekend 3rd – 4th October
This year’s Barnsley weekend will take place of the weekend 3 – 5 October. Normal locations for the gold and the dinner dance, Des and the Barnsley committee look forward to welcoming all Association and serving members to the event. To register for this event please use LD reunion Barnsley
Royal Hospital Chelsea RAC Church Service Sunday 12th October
The annual RAC Church service will take place on Sunday 12th October. Those wishing to attend are to book in through HHQ. Start timings are form up 0915, then there is a small Parade followed by the Church service in the Royal Hospital Chapel, dress, suits, blazers, regimental tie, ladies equivalent. Afterwards there will be an opportunity for a drink in the Pensioners Club.
Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph on Whitehall 9th November
We have been allocated 20 tickets for this year’s event registration is controlled by our POC. If you would like to attend, then please email Michael.Reed120@mod.gov.uk who will then send a invitation for you to register.
Miscellaneous
July 2026 Presentation of the new Guidon
The presentation to the Regiment of the new Guidon will take place over the weekend of 24-26 July 2026.
Association members are encouraged to support this memorable once in a generation event if they can do so. The presentation will take place in or close to Catterick Garrison and will comprise of a full weekend of activities and events with the highlight on the 25 July being the Guidon Parade itself.
More details to follow in due course, however we will be sending out a form for Association members to complete to gauge numbers likely to attend.
Association Website
We have been working to refresh the Association website, all information on all upcoming events and how to book can be found on this site, it is also used to send out updates on the news page the website can be found at:
The Light Dragoons Regimental Association
Please contact HHQ if you have any suggestions on how we can continue to improve it.
On Afghanistan’s Plains
Brigadier Allan Mallinson has recorded in a book the Regiments tours of Afghanistan. The book puts into historical context the reasons why the British Army found it there again, in a geopolitical sense why we had to be there and what things were like on the ground for those deployed there. The book is available to Association members for a cost of £10 From The Light Dragoons Regimental Association website.
Notifying HHQ
When an Association member sadly passes away, we kindly ask that those from the Association who may have known the deceased or who are in contact with the family of the deceased contact HHQ and inform us of the sad event, this can be done via The Light Dragoons Regimental Association website now under the Association tab at “Report a death”
Light Dragoon Peer Support Group (LDPSG)
LDPSG offers a confidential listening service to all our Veterans and Association members, they can be contacted on 0330 1077 467 Monday to Friday 8am – 8pm The aim of the LDPSG is to help those who are struggling in any areas of their personal lives.
They are not psychologists or clinicians – we are ex Light Dragoon soldiers who have served and lived alongside you, with an understanding of the obstacles in life after service, this service is open to all who served with the Light Dragoons and our antecedent Regiments.
Op Courage
The first call for help takes courage. If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health or wellbeing, expert help is available from Op COURAGE: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service.
If you are due to leave the Armed Forces, just left the Armed Forces or left many years ago, Op COURAGE is there to help, to access information please follow the link below:
Mental health support for veterans, service leavers and reservists – NHS
Leafyard
Science-backed mental fitness that works. Our users experience 76% reduced stress within 3 months, building resilience through evidence-based techniques and daily practice. Join thousands transforming their wellbeing.