Exmouth’s adopted regiment lays up the colours

February 9, 2007, 11:34 am

EXMOUTH people joined the crowds to watch the laying up of the colours of the Devon and Dorset Regiment in Exeter.

Among the guests was Exmouth’s Lionel Howell, of the 531st Tribute Fund.

He said: “In 2002, Exmouth adopted this fine regiment as County Regiment, to be honoured in the same way as we adopted the Royal Marines.

“Saturday’s parade, with bayonets fixed, drums beating and colours flying, was a splendid show, whilst tinged with great sadness that the Devons (11th foot founded in 1685) and the Dorsets (39th/54th foot founded 1702) were doing so for the very last time as our own County Regiments.

“They will, as we all know, go on to do great things as The Rifles just as they did as the D&Ds, but somehow sadness will always remain that we have lost two great West country regiments.

(this article was taken from the exmouthherald.co.uk)