Cavalry regiment parades through its north west home

Dressed in their traditional crimson trousers, 150 soldiers from the regiment paraded on two consecutive days last week through Leyland and Preston.
 
The regiment is made up of soldiers from across Lancashire and crowds of supporters braved the wintry weather to cheer on their home-grown heroes, many of whom have deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan in recent years.

While visiting the North West the regiment also showed off their huge Challenger 2 main battle tank as well as their smaller Scimitar reconnaissance vehicles to their home crowds.

Trevor Winchcombe, King's Royal Hussars HQ Squadron Leader, was in charge of the parade logistics. He said:

"The King's Royal Hussars were first awarded the Freedoms of South Ribble and Preston in 1992 and it means that we can march through the town with weapons drawn and our band playing.

"Over the past three or four years the soldiers have been involved in many tours of Afghanistan and Iraq and it is nice for them to come back to Leyland and feel a part of the community."

Preston's Mayor, Councillor John Swindells, said:

"Preston is proud of its historic links with The King's Royal Hussars. This freedom march is a really special occasion, a chance for the whole of Preston to show their support for King's Royal Hussars, many of whom are from this area and give such distinguished service to their country."

The King's Royal Hussars (KRH) have long and proud connections with North West England. Many KRH soldiers are recruited from this region and, although its soldiers are currently based in barracks in Tidworth, Hampshire, the regiment's northern administrative headquarters is based within Fulwood Barracks in Preston.

The 14/20th Hussars, which amalgamated with the Royal Hussars in the 1990s, was first given the Freedoms of South Ribble and Preston in 1992. Before last week's parades the regiment had last exercised its right to march through Leyland and Preston in 2003. Since then, the regiment has deployed twice to Iraq and once to Afghanistan.

Originally mounted on horses, the regiment is now equipped with the British Army's main battle tank, the Challenger 2, and specialises in armoured warfare.

The tradition of wearing crimson trousers comes from one of the founding regiments, the 11th Hussars, made famous by the Charge of the Light Brigade during the Crimean war. The crimson dates back to the arrival of Prince Albert in the United Kingdom and his subsequent marriage to Queen Victoria. The 11th Hussars were responsible for escorting the young Prince to London and as a result were allowed to wear his livery.