World War 2 heroes and other former members of the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment will march through Exeter on Saturday 18 May, by kind invitation of The Right Worshipful the Lord Mayor, Councillor Rachel Lyons. The parade will also exercise the Freedom of the City on behalf of The Rifles and culminate in service in Exeter Cathedral re-dedicating the current Devonshire Regiment chapel to the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment sharing with their predecessor. The Devonshire and Dorset Regimental Chapel will become a Tri Service chapel, making this a unique re-dedication in Exeter.
The Old Comrades of the Regimental Association will form up outside the Civic Centre in Paris Street and step off at 11:30am, marching down the High Street and past the Guildhall, where the salute will be taken by The Patron of the Regimental Association, Field Marshal HRH The Duke of Kent KG GCMG GCVO ADC. He will be accompanied by the Lord Mayor of Exeter, The Lord Lieutenant of Devon, Mr Eric Dancer CBE JP and the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Dorset, Colonel Oliver Chamberlain QVRM TD. Lt Col Mike Richardson OBE, Chairman of the Regimental Association, said: "We former Devon and Dorsets always enjoy the warm reception that we get from the people of Exeter as we conduct our annual march through the City, and are thrilled that our Patron, HRH The Duke of Kent, is joining us this year. We always remember our fallen comrades, but on this occasion, uniquely, we are doing so as we rededicate our Regimental Chapel in the Cathedral. It will be a most significant and memorable reunion."
The Band of The Devon Army Cadet Force will lead the parade supported by musicians from the Salamanca Band of The Rifles, which consists of Territorial Army bandsmen of 6 RIFLES based at Wyvern Barrack in Exeter. This colourful and stirring sight will also include veterans
of World War 2 and the more recent conflicts in which the British Army has been involved. The Old Comrades of the Regimental Association are made up of National Servicemen, Regulars and Territorials who will form the 'guards' marching through Exeter. The Lord Mayor of Exeter, Councillor Rachel Lyons said "I am extremely proud to be able to welcome former members of the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment to the City and to see them exercising their Freedom of the City by marching past our historic Guildhall made even more poignant by the attendance of HRH The Duke of Kent who will take the salute. I am sure the people of this Loyal City will give a warm welcome to HRH The Duke of Kent and all who are taking part in the parade in true Exeter Style".
The parade will conclude on the Cathedral Green, after which members of the Association will enter the cathedral for a short service to rededicate the Devonshire Regiment chapel as the Regimental 'Chapel of the Devonshire Regiment and The Devonshire and Dorset Regiment'. The Dean of Exeter Cathedral, The Very Rev'd Jonathan Draper said "It is our great privilege in the Cathedral to help to hold the 'corporate memory' of significant groups in our society such as the Devon & Dorset Regimental Association, and we are delighted that we are able to re-dedicate the Chapel of St Edmund to their use. We are particularly pleased that we are able to do that in the presence of HRH The Duke of Kent, and look forward to welcoming him to the Cathedral for the service." The previous Chapel dedicated to the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment is to be re-dedicated as a Tri Service Chapel. This will be the first time a Tri Service Chapel will have been dedicated in the Exeter Cathedral.
