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The Dragon Slayers of Hyde Park, Part I of III: RV
The 100-year-old cavalry war memorial in London’s Hyde Park depicts St George slaying a dragon. Incongruously, the vanquished beast sports a moustache as worn by the German Kaiser in the 1914-18 War, Wilhelm II (left). Wilhelm was a grandson of Queen Victoria and on 12 May, one of Victoria’s great-great-great-great grandsons, Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh (right), laid a wreath at the memorial that includes this lampoon of his cousin four times removed. Colourised picture of Wilhelm: @brettachapman.
20 May 2024
By Tim Koch
Tim Koch follows those who have won their spurs.
There is a saying in the British military that, “You may leave the army but you never leave your regiment.” One of the many events that regularly confirms this is “Cavalry Sunday,” held every year on the second Sunday of May in London’s Hyde Park.
In 2017, I attended my first “Cavalry Sunday,” properly called the Combined Cavalry Old Comrades Association Parade and Memorial Service. In my HTBS piece on that occasion I wrote that it was a “nothing to do with rowing” post made on the grounds that those who are interested in rowing history are often curious about military history as well. I continued:
Cavalry Sunday is held in May every year when former and serving members of British cavalry regiments march past the Cavalry Memorial in Hyde Park and then hold a short service, also attended by family and friends. Many of those parading carry a furled umbrella (a sword substitute perhaps) and wear a bowler hat, the stereotypical British headgear that is rarely seen nowadays. Officially, the dress is simply lounge suits with medals and decorations.
The 2024 “sponsor” or organising regiment was the Royal Dragoon Guards (RDG). It was formed in 1992 by the amalgamation of the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards (1685) and the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards (1686). The King’s youngest brother, Prince Edward, the new Duke of Edinburgh, is Colonel-in-Chief of the RDG and, as such, took the parade salute (he is not to be confused with Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, the Old Comrades’ Patron).
The present peaceful location of the memorial within Hyde Park is much more suited to dignified ceremonial and a march past than its original site abutting a busy roadway. However, in 1924 this may have been the only option. After the 1914-18 War, Sir Lionel Earle, permanent secretary at the Office of Works, wrote:
I have been inundated with requests from various regiments for sites for memorials in the Parks …In my opinion the Parks should be kept free of statues except those of the highest artistic merit and beauty and of a sylvan character… like Peter Pan or fine fountains or allegorical subjects.
Today, Hyde Park seems awash with memorials and, inevitably, some are of greater artistic and/or commemorative merit than others.
After the bronze memorial with its Portland stone pedestal was moved in 1961, the original classical backdrop was not reconstructed and the bronze plaques recording the names of First World War British and Empire cavalry regiments were mounted on a new granite screen.Reliefs around the memorial depict cavalry from countries presumably including Australia, India, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, Rhodesia and Britain. After the 1939-45 War a reference to that conflict was added. In 1975, “And On Active Service Thereafter” was further added to commemorate those cavalrymen killed post-1945. This shows the south and east reliefs.The north and west reliefs. The memorial’s sculptor was Captain Adrian Jones who, before becoming a full-time artist, was a Royal Horse Artillery veterinary surgeon. Despite this, some cavalrymen complained that truth was sacrificed to art and that the horses in the columns were too close together and that most were “reining back” when supposedly moving forward.The plaques detailing First World War British and Empire Cavalry regiments. All their names are here. Four batons represent the four cavalry officers who were promoted to Field Marshal during the conflict (French, Haig, Allenby and Robertson).The figure in full armour was partly copied from a 1454 bronze effigy of Richard de Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick. Historic England has it Grade II* listed.
“RV at your Regimental Standard by 1045hrs”
The 12 May was a warm and sunny day and Hyde Park’s Broad Walk with its long archway of shady trees was the perfect gathering spot.
The banners of the old comrades of the Royal Dragoon Guards (left) and the 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards (right).This year, each regimental association banner was preceded by its regimental standard bearing its battle honours and the revered object’s “Escort to The Colour.” This is the Colour Party for the Royal Dragoon Guards.The Standard Bearer for the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards.More Royal Scots Dragoon Guards.The woman on the left is on attachment to the Royal Lancers from Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians), a regular armoured regiment of the Canadian army and the country’s only tank regiment. The women on the right are either King’s or Queen’s Royal Hussars, I cannot remember which, my apologies.
In the scarlet coats are two “Chelsea Pensioners,” military veterans resident at the Royal Hospital Chelsea. “Hospital” is used here in the old sense of a lodging for guests or visitors.
A serving and a possibly former member of the Queen’s Royal Hussars. The dress uniforms of cavalry regiments in particular are very striking and some photographs of cavalrymen in various types of uniforms by the talented portrait photographer, Rory Lewis, are worth looking at.
The Saluting Base and Guests
Serving members of the 2024 sponsor regiment, The Royal Dragoon Guards, line the parade route. The regiment’s practice of wearing green trousers in various orders of dress (other than combat uniform) was inherited from the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards which in turn took it from one of its precursors, “The Green Horse”.
A member of the Life Guards (in red) and a member of Blues and Royals (in blue).
HRH The Duke of Edinburgh arrives to take the salute. On his right is Lieutenant-General Sir William Rollo, President of the Old Comrades, and on his left is the Association’s Vice-Patron, General Sir Richard Shirreff. The Duke is introduced to representatives of some Commonwealth countries. This year, the only uniformed guests were from Canada and New Zealand. Previously, uniformed military attachés from Australia, India, Pakistan, Fiji and South Africa have attended.The Duke, accompanied by Lieutenant-General Sir William Rollo and General Sir Richard Shirreff, make his way to the saluting base in front of the cavalry memorial.
Part II, posted tomorrow, will show the Parade of the Combined Cavalry Old Comrades Association 2024.
Hear The Boat Sing 