HEREFORD and Worcester Army Cadet Force has been awarded new Banners by the Lord Lieutenant of Herefordshire, The Countess of Darnley and the Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire, Lt Col Patrick Holcroft. At their annual camp at Penally, Wales, 250 cadets paraded in front of over 300 families, friends and dignitaries.

The Battalion is unique in having been presented with Colours, the sort that are trooped every year in front of Her Majesty the Queen at Horseguards. Worcestershire ACF was first presented with Colours in 1919 by the Earl of Coventry and they were consecrated shortly before the War Office withdrew permission for Cadet Colours to be consecrated. Since then cadet colours have been unconsecrated and called banners.

The Colours went abroad twice, once to France and once to Belgium, carried by the Midland Cadet Brigade which was touring the battlefields. They were paraded before the Belgian king and were saluted with full ceremony on board a Royal Navy cruiser. They were twice paraded in the presence of the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VIII at Handsworth Park in June 1923 and in Cheltenham in 1926.

“The parade was led by the cadets themselves, a fitting end to a superb camp and testament to their abilities and confidence,” said Colonel Andy Taylor, Commandant of Hereford and Worcester ACF.

“The new Banners were funded by the Hereford and Worcester Army Cadet Force Charitable Trust. Thanks to the Trust’s generosity the Battalion can continue to display its proud and unique military heritage.”