Local riders set to join the Cavalry’s Last Hurrah
OVER the next few weeks, servicemen, veterans and historians will be taking part in a series of events to mark the final 100 days of the First World War.
Called The Last 100 Days, The Cavalry’s Last Hurrah, it will see 22 horses and riders along with 10 bicycle riders and 10 military vehicles travel to Amiens through a number of significant battle sites to Nieuwpoort in Belgium, commemorating the men and their horses that died 100 years ago.
Guernseyman Russell Doherty, along with four other members of the Guernsey Military History Company, as well as Jerseyman Charlie Wilding will be travelling to join the contingent today on specially made period bicycles.
‘It’s been initiated in the UK but people are coming from Canada, New Zealand and Australia, including two lieutenant colonels, two majors and a wing commander. Fifty percent are either still serving or ex-servicemen,’ explained Mr Doherty.
‘One of our team, Nathan Machon, is with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, stationed with 24 Commando Engineers.
‘This is about commemorating the actions of the cavalry. On 8 August 1918, the Battle of Amiens, which became known as “the black day of the German army”, was the beginning of the Hundred Days Offensive on the Western Front and pretty much advanced the end of the First World War.’
During the four-day battle, 44,000 Allied soldiers were killed or wounded, while the German army was pushed back 11 miles and lost 75,000 men.
For Mr Doherty, the trip has been two years in the planning and the bicycles have all been made from – as near as possible – period parts.
‘They’re all single gear and equipped with bedroll and eating kit and helmet, a Lee Enfield rifle – ours are film props, not even de-activated ones – and the rest of the kit, the Patent II 60lb kit, will be carried on the body,’ he explained. ‘For lighting we have original Lucas paraffin lamps, all with new wicks. We have a night ride planned.’
As well as visiting well-known towns and battlefields of places such as Amiens, Albert and Ypres, the contingent will be visiting smaller villages where there will be commemorations, wreath-laying and reconstructions of famous photographs taken a century ago.
Along the way the contingent will be raising money for the Royal British Legion.
‘We’ll have a spare few days and we’ll head back to Ypres and we’ll visit battlefields specific to the Channel Islands,’ said Mr Doherty. ‘We will then leave France and spend five days at the Great Dorset Steam Fair. This is the 50th anniversary of the steam fair and there will be 500 steam engines from around the world, as well as Deborah II, the First World War replica tank that featured in the Guy Martin documentary, and an authentic replica Western Front trench system with original steam and historic vehicles and horse displays.’
Support for the cyclists will be a Land Rover Discovery with trailer, on loan from Guernsey Museums and driven by Jayne Shorto.
‘I’ve been doing this sort of thing for 20 years,’ said Mr Doherty. ‘I’m older and dafter now but the memories are still there. It’s great to do something for the forthcoming 100th anniversary of Armistice Day in November and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to commemorate a lot of the actions that don’t usually get commemorated.’
