2001 Battle Display
Farnham Park

Event Report - June 2001

The Gallant 88th overcame all possible hurdles - plague, treachery and floods - to promote the biggest Napoleonic (Cavalry) event in the UK in 2001.

Despite the Foot and Mouth crisis which initially endangered cavalry participation in the event, Waverley Borough Council finally granted a licence for the horses on 30th May, with only two weeks to go. Sadly many of the Redcoat regiments which had promised their support failed to show up and the French outnumbered the British 113 to 48 which was an ironic reversal of the situation in the inaugral event in 2000 when the British fielded 86 against 65 French. So the Brits had to work twice as hard......

The torrential rain that fell on the Friday night before the event caused no little discomfort for the participants camped in the beautiful hidden valley (Castle Combe) adjacent to the Castle in Farnham Park. The French troops from Boulogne were particularly hard hit in the mattress department - as they did not have any! The straw for their "authentic" bedding did not arrive till the next day which in retrospect was not all bad - at least it was dry. 

The torrential rain washed away the surface of the dirt road on the steep approach to the camp entrance and the organisers were in a quandary as to how to get the necessary catering vehicles into the encampment to feed the VIP guests and more importantly to get hot army rations to 200 cold & wet troops and their families. Being an Irish unit however lateral thinking (plus help from the Real Army) saved the day.

Because of their close association with the Army Benevolent Fund, the Connaught Rangers had the support of not only troops from Aldershot Garrison but also the local T.A. regiment who cannibalised the 300 sandbags intended as a barricade for Sunday's battle finale to re-surface the track as an emergency measure.

Our eternal gratitude is owed to Major Julian Ladd and his troops from Farnham T.A. unit, The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Queens and Royal Hampshires).

Despite the soggy beginnings, the event got underway and the people of the beautiful Georgian town were treated to a spectacular parade through the town before the first battle. The large numbers of cavalry and artillery present were particularly appreciated by the crowds. In all there were 31 mounted cavalry and 8 guns.

Uniformed Troops who attended (excluding non-combatants):

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