http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/l...farewell-1.jpg http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/l...farewell-2.jpg "Monday, June 11, 1945 Armoured Guards' Farewell From R.W. Thompson 'The Sheffied Telegraph' Special Correspondent Rotenburg Airfield, Germany, Sunday. [10th June, 1945]
Field-Marshal Montgomery, escorted by a squadron of the Household Cavalry, yesterday drove up to a small white pavilion from which four Union Jacks flew beside the Standard of the Guards Armoured Division for the ceremonial farewell to armour of the Brigade of Guards on their return to take their rightful place as the cream of Britain's infantry.
With every gun at an angle of 45 degrees and every tank spotless, new painted and glinting with the wide open eye of the Guards Divisional sign, it was, despite the display of military might, more of a peacetime scene than anything else I have yet seen.
Massed Bands
Greeted by Major-General Allan Adair, commmanding the Guards Armoured Division, the Field-Marshall immediately took the general salute, and the massed bands of the Coldstream and Welsh Guards struck up.
As the Field-Marshall and General Adair took the salute the infantry of the Grenadier, Coldstream, Scots, Irish and Welsh Guards together with representatives of all support troops in the Division, marched past with the magnificent smartness of the highest traditions of the Brigade of Guards.
In a short speech the Field-Marshall said that in the realm of armoured warfare the Guards had set a standard that would be hard for others to reach and maintain.
This closed one of the finest episodes in the history of the Brigade of Guards. Their exploits in armour will never be forgotten.
It was told that the Household Cavalry would keep their armoured vehicles in the division, but a squadron each of the Life Guards and the Royal House Guards (Blues) would become horsed cavalry again in London."