Queen’s Dragoon Guards families looking forward to Swanton Morley move

Corporal (Cpl) Joel Edwards, 23, from Merthyr Tydfil is a member of A Squadron, 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards (QDG) at the farewell parade in Dempsey Barracks, Paderborn and the QDG was presented with a Fahnenband.Photographer - Cpl Mark Webster RLC (Phot) (Image: © MOD / Crown Copyright, 2015. This image is for current news purposes only and is available for further use under the Open Gov)

The regiment, which recruits from Wales and its border counties, is moving to Swanton Morley after 12 years in Germany.

But for many Paderborn, where they are currently based, is where they have got married, raised their children and been part of the community.

They have joined sports teams, taken part in charity challenges and been a regular part of life in the area.

Some have met and married local women and will be taking their young families to live in the UK for the first time.

Trooper Robert Crowther with his family at Dempsey Barrack, Germany.Trooper Robert crowther is a member of A Squadron, 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards (QDG) at the farewell parade in Dempsey Barracks, Paderborn and the QDG was presented with a Fahnenband.Photographer - Cpl Mark Webster RLC (Phot) (Image: © MOD / Crown Copyright, 2015. This image is for current news purposes only and is available for further use under the Open Gov)

As reported in last week's Times the QDG bid farewell to Germany with a parade in front of civic and military dignitaries.

Warrant Officer Class 1 Russell Gallacher, the regimental sergeant major, said the move would be exciting for the regiment.

He said: 'They are a friendly bunch who will fit well in to the community and I am sure we will do very well in Norfolk.

'The guys are good characters, have a good sense of humour and are well behaved.

Warrant Officer class 1 (WO1) Russell Gallacher is the Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) of 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards (QDG) at the farewell parade in Dempsey Barracks, Paderborn and the QDG was presented with a Fahnenband.Photographer - Cpl Mark Webster RLC (Phot) (Image: © MOD / Crown Copyright, 2015. This image is for current news purposes only and is available for further use under the Open Gov)

'I have got a lot of friends in the Light Dragoons and I think we have got to get the crowbars out and push them out of the door because they don't want to leave.

'From what I have heard it is a very good place to be.'

The regiment are looking forward to making themselves part of the community and picking up where the Light Dragoons left off.

Soldiers of the QDG, who are keen on rugby among other sports, are likely to become familiar to many of those in local sports teams and community groups.

Sgt Thomas Hamilton, 28, will be returning to the UK with a young family in tow. His wife Laura, 27, grew up in Paderborn and when she moves to Norfolk it will be her first time living outside of Germany. They have a daughter, Mathilda, four, and a son William, one and a half.

He said: 'It is both sad and good to move.

'It is a bit complicated because my wife is studying here to be a teacher so we are going to have to spend a little while apart while she finishes that.

'I have had a little look at Norfolk, I have never lived in England either.'

Mrs Hamilton is set to continue her teacher training in Germany before joining her husband at Swanton Morley.

Sgt Gareth Roberts, 27, from Newport, will be moving with his wife Calais and his two children Kieran, 11, and Kayden, four.

He said: 'I am looking forward to Norfolk and going to the Broads and places like that.

'It looks like a really good place.

'I have never been based in the UK so it will be different.

'I have an 11-year-old son so I am looking forward to taking him to London to see the Natural History Museum and places like that.

'It has been really nice being based here. It is like a little British community and has been a nice place to live.

'I have been to see Swanton Morley and the barracks and we are really luck to be going there.'

Cpl Joel Edwards, 23, said: 'It has been good, something different and a good experience overall.

'I am looking forward to getting back closer to home.

'For the most part I think people are looking forward to getting back to the UK.

'My girlfriend lives in Suffolk so I have been there a bit and it will make things easier.'

Trooper Robert Crowther, 28, from Pwllheli, Wales, will be moving to Norfolk with wife Marcie and daughters Ruby-Lee, 4, and Daisy-May, 2. He said: 'There are mixed emotions.

'I have kids, the eldest is at school so there is disruption, my wife herself has loved it out here but I am going back home where I belong in a way and our families are there.

'I have some friends in the Light Dragoons so I have had some information about it and from what I have heard it is a really nice place to live.

'A bit like being back in Wales.'