Military parade through Northampton
Soldiers and ex-soldiers who have represented Northamptonshire will parade through Northampton to mark the 200th anniversary of one of the regiment's most famous victories and the final call to arms of the Northamptonshire Regiment Association.
About 100 veterans from the association will line up in their final call to arms, alongside soldiers currently serving with C (Northamptonshire) Company of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Anglian Regiment, and the Minden Band of the Queen's Division, for the parade on July 25.
The occasion falls on the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Talavera and will mark the disbanding of the Northamptonshire Regiment Association, as well as providing an opportunity to support soldiers from C Company, who last year completed a six-month tour of duty in Iraq.
Maj (Retd) Bill O'Driscoll, Royal Anglian Regiment Association area secretary, said: "This is a timely reminder to the people of Northampton and Northamptonshire of what the regiment has done for them in the past and what it is going to do for them in the future.
"It will be good to see the people of Northamptonshire turn out to support the veterans of the Northamptonshire Regiment and their successors in the Royal Anglian regiment who recently completed a tour of Iraq and didn't get the opportunity to freedom march through Northampton."
The date was selected for the disbanding of the regimental association because of its symbolism, allowing it to go out with a bang. The baton will then be passed to the 2nd Battalion, Royal Anglian Regiment, although an area association will still exist.
The parade will start at 1.30pm, when C Company's soldiers – many of whom hail from the county due to a geographic recruitment system – will leave the TA Centre on Clare Street and march along Earl Street, Upper Mounts and Lower Mounts before pausing at the top of Abington Street, where the regimental association's veterans will form up behind C Company and together will march along Abington Street to All Saints Church. From there, the group will parade along George Row to the Guildhall.
Maj Ian Chance, the commanding officer of C Company, said: "It will be a huge privilege for C Company to parade alongside the Northamptonshire Regiment Association on this historic day. "This parade will mark the day on which the Northamptonshire Regiment Association has chosen to disband, thus handing over all regimental responsibilities for Northamptonshire to The Royal Anglian Regiment. We are honoured to take part in this historic occasion and we are proud to be entrusted with the torch carried by the Northamptons so bravely, for so many years."
Local dignitaries including the Lord Lieutenant, the chairman of Northamptonshire County Council and the Mayor of Northampton will attend the parade and one end of the Market Square will be dedicated to a day of themed activities.
Regiment's famous wartime victory
It was nearly 200 years ago when the 48th of Foot, the Northamptonshire Regiment, saved the day during the Peninsular War.
During the Battle of Talavera, on July 28, 1809, Wellington spotted the decisive moment when a large gap opened in the line and ordered the 48th of Foot through.
William Napier, who observed the battle, said the French 'wavered, lost their advantage and the battle was restored'.
Later Wellington said: "The battle was certainly saved by the advance, position and steady conduct of the 48th."
The regiment's history stretches from the Peninsular War, through both world wars and in conflicts across the world for the past 200 years, most recently in Iraq last year. Infantry reorganisation has seen the name change, but the county link continues.
Maj Tom Dormer, chairman of the Northamptonshire Regiment Association, said: "Nearly every family in the County of Northamptonshire will have had some connection with the Regiment over the past 200 years and many still have today."
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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