The briefing News from across Army Cadets

Ex WAR HORSE

Thanks to generous grants from South East Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Association and The Connaught Trust, cadets from Hampshire and Isle of Wight ACF travelled to Flanders, Belgium, at Easter for Ex WAR HORSE – a unique tour of the First World War battlefields of the Western Front.

The County's Dettingen Music Band led the trip (supported by band members from Derbyshire ACF and Gwent and Powys ACF), which incorporated visits to war cemeteries and culminated in a poignant drumhead service at Tyne Cot Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery, and a moving parade and performance at the Menin Gate.

'I am immensely proud of the hard work and dedication of our cadets and CFAVs who ... put on a string of great performances and acts of remembrance in and around Ypres, Belgium,' said Col Tim Hope MBE, Commandant of Hampshire and Isle of Wight ACF.

Royal celebrations

While some cadets had the once-in-a-lifetime privilege of being involved in the splendour and pageantry of the coronation of King Charles III in London (see June's issue), others marked the occasion in different ways.

Cambridgeshire ACF commemorated VE Day alongside coronation celebrations by serving afternoon tea to the community at the Royal British Legion's Chatteris branch, taking part in memorial services in Ramsey and Newmarket, and demonstrating Cadet activities at a recruitment stand at Newmarket Coronation Fair.

Two lucky cadets from Cumbria ACF –Cdt Cpl Jasmine Bell from Longtown and Cdt LCpl Ziva Scott from Kendal – were among attendees of the Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle. They were awarded the tickets (donated by the former Lord-Lieutenant of Cumbria, Mrs Claire Hensman CVO) as prizes for being top cadet and most improved cadet in the skills of fieldcraft at their recent camp.

On April 30, D Company (Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland ACF) were invited to attend Choral Evensong at All Saints Church Northampton in the week of prayer leading up to the King's coronation.