1965 SGT SPEAKMAN MUNSTER 1966 SGT ANDERSON MUNSTER 1967 SGT LEE MUNSTER 1968 SGT BUTLER LINGFIELD 1969 SGT LOCKWOOD LINGFIELD 1970 SGT(DMAJ) MD MALONEY LINGFIELD 1971 SGT A KNIGHT BERLIN 1972 SGT A HILL BERLIN 1973 SGT J TAYLOR BULFORD 1974 SGT A BURFORD BULFORD 1975 SGT PE MAYE BULFORD 1976 SGT AH STAPLETON WERL 1977 SGT D O`SHEA WERL 1978 SGT JH PYPER WERL 1979 SGT M POTTS WERL 1980 SGT DJ LOVELL WERL 1981 NOT ALLOCATED BELIZE 1982 SGT MJ HOLLAND CANTERBURY 1983 SGT RF WEAVER OMAGH 1984 SGT PK TIDEY OMAGH 1985 SGT RF GOODMAN OMAGH 1986 SGT AR SCULLY GIBRALTAR 1987 SGT G MEADE GIBRALTAR 1988 SGT DL FISHER TIDWORTH 1989 SGT AC IRVINE CALIFORNIA 1990 SGT TDW SULLIVAN TIDWORTH 1991 SGT W LOOSLEY MINDEN 1992 SGT MD PATRICK MINDEN |
| 1st BATTALION SOBRAON SGT 1965 - 1992 |
| EACH YEAR ON THE 10th FEBRUARY THE REGIMENTAL COLOUR OF THE 1st BATTALION WAS MARCHED THROUGH THE RANKS OF THE BATTALION TO THE WARRANT OFFICERS AND SERGEANTS MESS. WHERE IT WAS HELD FOR THE DAY ALONG WITH THE OTHER TWO COLOURS. THE ENSIGN, INTO WHOSE CHARGE THE COLOUR WAS GIVEN AT THE DOOR OF THE OFFICERS MESS BY THE COMMANDING OFFICER, WAS A SERGEANT, THIS UNIQUE CEREMONY RECALLED THE BRAVERY OF SGT BERNARD McCABE OF THE 31st (HUNTINGDONSHIRE) REGIMENT, LATER THE 1st BATTALION THE EAST SURRY REGIMENT, DURING THE BATTLE OF SOBRAON IN 1846. THIS BATTLE WAS THE FINAL STRUGGLE IN A LONG AND BLOODY CAMPAIGN TO SUBDUE THE SIKHS. DURING THE ENGAGEMENT, A FEINT ATTACK WAS LAUNCHED BY THE 2nd DIVISION UNDER COMMAND OF SIR HARRY SMITH, WHICH INVOLVED BOTH THE 31st AND 50th REGIMENTS. BOTH THIS FIENT AND THE MAIN ATTACK FAILED AT THE FIRST ATTEMPT AND IT SEEMED THAT THE BATTLE WOULD BE LOST. BOTH THE ENSIGNS OF THE 31st HAD BEEN KILLED AS HAD MANY OTHER OFFICERS, SEEING HIS CHANCE McCABE PICKED UP THE REGIMENTAL COLOUR AND RUSHING FORWARD UNDER HEAVY FIRE, HE PLANTED IT ON THE HIGHEST POINT OF THE SIKH RAMPARTS. SEEING THIS THE 31st RALLIED AND CHARGED FORWARD CARRING THE REST OF THE DIVISION WITH THEM. THE BATTLE WAS FAR FROM OVER AND THERE ENSUED A FEARFUL FIGHT BEFORE THE SIKHS WERE PUT TO FLIGHT. McCABE WAS COMMISSIONED IN THE FIELD AFTER THE BATTLE, AND MET A GALLENT DEATH DURING THE INDIAN MUTINY. THE CEREMONY COMMEMORATES A MAN WHO WAS IN COLONEL TOBY SEWELLS WORDS MORE THAN TWICE A HERO. |
| THE YEAR WHO THE SGT WAS AND BATTALION LOCATION |