WelCom, September 2024
Charles Ropitini
A rare military flag has received much needed conservation work from the Carmelite Sisters at Christ The King Monastery in Christchurch. The flag is the Regimental Guidon of the 9th Wellington East Coast Mounted Rifles of WWI and is paraded by Queen Alexandra’s Mounted Rifles (QAMR) based at Linton Military Camp, near Palmerston North.
The expertise of the Sisters was sought to repair and conserve the Guidon [flag] before being formally retired from active service. The work required deconstructing and reattaching the delicate textiles to an inserted fabric designed to hold the whole piece together. The occasion was an opportunity to view up-close the historic Guidon, made in 1935 to carry the regiments WWI Battle Honours. The Sisters expect 300 hours of handwork would have constructed the Guidon and although it will no longer be paraded, the conservation work is important for ongoing remembrance.
QAMR have a unique tradition dating from 1959 where the Guidon is held in custodianship of the Mayor of Hastings for public display in the District Council Chambers. As required the regiment retrieves the Guidon for formal occasions and then returns it to the Council for safekeeping.
The Guidon was last retrieved in November 2021 and was returned to Hastings District Council with a handover ceremony on 8 August this year.
Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst acknowledged the Sisters during the ceremony with the blessing conducted by Fr Marcus Francis, Parish Priest of Hastings.