Canterbury 1983-1985

Canterbury 1983-1985

Following its lengthy period in Germany the Battalion returned to the United Kingdom, this time to Canterbury. From Canterbury it conducted operational tours to Northern Ireland and to Cyprus with the United Nations Forces and carried out Public Duties in London. In 1984 the Battalion was presented with new Colours by the Colonel-in-Chief. The old colours were cased and laid up in a chapel in Salisbury Cathedral. The new, and final, set of colours have also been cased and are now on display at the Regimental Museum at the Wardrobe. The presentation of colours was followed by another exercise in Canada, at Wainwright. 

From Canterbury the Battalion moved to Northern Ireland for another Tour. Prior to leaving for the Province they held a service in Canterbury cathedral on the 27th May. As the Regiment did not have the Freedom of the City it was unable to march to the service with its colours flying and the Regimental Band leading. However, it did march to the service in column of route with its four companies, each 100 strong, and the drum major and front rank side drummers of the Corps of Drums to keep the pace and step. 

THE CANTERBURY TIMELINE

EVENT TIME/DATE
Bn to Howe Bks Canterbury January 1983
bn boxed in UK Army Novice Boxing Finals V 3 R.R.F. winning 5 Bouts to 4 17th March 1983
Northern Ireland training  March/April/May 1983
Bn farewell to Canterbury 27th May 1983
Bn to South Armagh 4th/5th June 1983
A Coy to Crossmaglen June -October 1983
Bn to Canterbury (Block leave) 6th October 1983 
Bn to Greenham Common 11th November 1983
Ferozeshah Parade 21st December 1983
B Coy to Belize Exercise 'Mopan Rampart V111 11th January 1984
A & C Coys plus Bn HQ to Greenham Common February 1984
Bn Practice deployment to Gatwick airport February 1984
Spearhead Bn 6 weeks Feb 
Brigade Exercise Salisbury Plain April/May 1984
Bn boxing team to Germany to fight 1 Kings in Army Final April 1984
Presentation of colours parade 8th June 1984
Exercise 'Pond Jump West' Canada 12th June for 5 weeks
K.A.P.E. tour 1st Week September 1984
D Coy tour of both Counties showing new colours September 1984
Exercise 'Lionheat (Umpires) September 1984 ?
Mount Guard Buckingham Palace October 1984
Bn to Cyprus 10th December 1984
Bn return from Cyprus June 1985
C Coy to Stanford training area June/July 1985
K.A.P.E. Tour July 1985
Bn assist Dover Tattoo August 1985
bn beat retreat as farwell to Canterbury and hand over to 3rd Bn Queens Regt November 1985
Bn to Aldergrove November 1985

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