On
amalgamation it was considered that the following anniversaries
be worthy of permanent commemoration:-
Sobraon Day (10th February 1846)
This was essentially a Warrant Officers’ and Sergeants’
day in the 31st and East Surrey Regiment. It commemorates the gallant
action of Sgt Bernard McCabe who, when the officer carrying the
Regimental Colour at the Battle of Sobraon fell mortally wounded,
at once snatched it up and, rushing forward, planted it on the highest
part of the Sikh ramparts.
Each Sobraon Day the Regimental Colour was entrusted to the Warrant
Officers’ and Sergeants’ Mess and in the evening a Regimental
Dinner was held. This tradition was carried forward on the forming
of The Large Regiment, The Queen’s, and continues to this
day in The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment.
Ypres Day (23rd April 1915)
This commemorated the fact that both the 1st and 2nd Battalions
of The East Surrey Regiment fought in the Second Battle of Ypres
in 1915 and that the Regiment won three Victoria Crosses in that
battle.
Ypres was also a battle honour of The Queen’s Royal Regiment,
both of whose regular battalions fought there, though only the 2nd
battalion was engaged in the Second Battle.
Ypres Day was celebrated by a holiday and/or a parade and/or a major
sporting event at the discretion of the Commanding Officer according
to the circumstances at the time.
The customary exchange of telegrams on 23rd April with the Royal
Marines, whose Regimental Day (Zeebrugge) it was, continued.
The Glorious First of June 1794
This commemorated the part played by detachments of The Queen’s
Royal Regiment on board certain of His Majesty’s Ships in
the battle on 1st June 1794.
Not only was the direct link preserved with HMS Excellent,
the lineal descendant of Lord Howe’s flagship, but also The
Queen’s Royal Regiment always joined forces with the Royal
Navy on the 1st June wherever they found themselves together all
over the world.
In England the celebration normally took the form of the traditional
cricket match on or about 1st June against HMS Excellent.
It was considered fitting that The East Surrey Regiment’s
celebrations with the Royal Marines, who succoured them after the
sinking of the Troopship Kent in 1825, and their commemoration
of their previous fighting history as Marines, should take place
about the same time. This also took the form of a cricket match
against the Royal Marines, and both matches could be included in
a “Cricket Week”.
Thus
the sea-going traditions of both Regiments and their respective
liaisons with the Royal Navy and Royal Marines were preserved. The
customary exchange of telegrams with HMS Excellent on 1st
June was continued.
Salerno Day (9th September 1943)
Two Queen’s Brigades comprising six territorial battalions
of the Regiment fought at Salerno. The unique historical significance
of this event, coupled with the fact that the Territorials remained
an integral part of the Regiment, demanded that this battle should
be commemorated by a regimental anniversary.
This anniversary continued to be celebrated throughout the life
of The Queen’s Regiment. When the amalgamation with The Royal
Hampshire Regiment took place in 1992, it was agreed that Salerno
Day would be the Regimental Day of The Princess of Wales’s
Royal Regiment. This was because in addition to the six territorial
battalions of the Queen’s there was a Hampshire Brigade fighting
side by side. |