Writing the notes from the archive has been made easy for me because I have such a vast archive of regimental photographs to delve into. This month in the spirit of equality I have chosen photos from the archive of the 3rd Battalion.
The first two images show a Senior Non-Commissioned Officer (SNCO) and a private soldier in Number 2 dress. Judging by the barracks behind them they are in Tidworth probably in the early 1980s. A quick scan of the Silver Bugle from spring 1982 reveals the battalion was in the process of moving from Cyprus to Tidworth and if memory serves me right they were in Tidworth during the Falklands campaign.
I’m not sure why these photos were taken but perhaps they were used to illustrate battalion dress regulations? As with all the photos we publish, if anyone has any information which would help us identify them, please contact us and let us know.
Our final photo this month really drew my attention as it shows a private soldier and a Lt. Colonel both being awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct medal. Their uniforms indicate they were both serving in Cyprus at the time. Once again I referred to the Silver Bugle and found in the spring 1979 edition the very photo in our archive. The recipients of the medal that day were Lt. Colonel ‘Geordie’ Dee and Private Ody. This was quite a unique occasion, rarely do such senior members of the battalion receive long service medals with soldiers of a such a modest rank.
Lt. Colonel Dee and Private Ody at Saint David’s Camp Cyprus following presentation of LS&GC.
Again if any former 3LI members have any information about this unusual event or indeed about anything LI related then please contact us, we’d love to hear from you.