The King Confers the Laureate Collective Award to Regiment ‘Alcántara’

The King places the cravat on the Colour (Photo:Ángel Manrique/Army Communication Department)

Tribute to those who have given their lives for Spain (Photo:Ángel Manrique/Army Communication Department)

Colours bearing cravate (Photo:Ángel Manrique/Army Communication Department)

10th Armoured Cavalry Regiment ‘Alcántara’ this morning has received the highest decoration that a military unit can obtain:  the Laureate Collective Award.  His Majesty the King has been in charge of conferring the Regiment’s Colour the red cravat which from now on will remember the blood of the heroes from the Light Infantry Regiment Alcántara, 14th of the Cavalry, who with their bravery and generous dedication protected the withdrawal of Spanish troops during the Battle of Annual (1921).

The Royal Palace Armoury Square in Madrid has been the scene where this solemn ceremony has been undertaken.  The ceremony has begun with the entrance of the force, led by the Royal Guard Honour Squad and Music Unit, along with the Group Command (exercised by the commander of the Royal Guard, Colonel Ramón Álvarez de Toledo). The bulk of the force has been made up by the 10th Armoured Cavalry Regiment in its entirety, from Melilla, with its Honour Squad, Command and Headquarters (with the commander of the Regiment, Colonel Juan Luis Sanz y Calabria, at the lead) and three squadrons:  Headquarters, Armoured and Mechanised.  Also falling into formation in the Armoury Square have been the Royal Guard Honours Group, a Civil Guard company and the Royal Guard Escort Squadron. 

The 10th Armoured Cavalry Regiment Colour has been accompanied by the 24 Colours that have been conferred the use of at least one Laureate Collective Award or Military Collective Medal cravate, on behalf of the units belonging to the Royal and Military Order of Saint Ferdinand.

The ceremony has been presided over by Their Majesties the King and Queen, accompanied by Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Asturias as well as Her Royal Highness Princess Elena. Also in attendance have been the presidents of the Parliament, the Senate and the Constitutional Court, the ministers of Foreign Affairs, Defence, Home Affairs and Agriculture, as well as the president of the Autonomous City of Melilla, along with the Chiefs of Staff of Defence, the Army, the Navy and the Air Force

Highlight Moment

The highlight of the ceremony has taken place when the King in person has read the formula for conferring the Laureate Collective Award: ‘Glorious Colour, in the name of Spain and to honour the Light Infantry Cavalry Regiment of Alcántara that you represent and who fought heroically under your colours, I am honoured to confer to you the Laureate cravat that you have been awarded’.  Following this, King Juan Carlos has placed the cravate on the unit Standard.

In his address, Colonel Sanz y Calabria has praised the members of Light Infantry Regiment Alcántara, 14th of Cavalry, ‘whose troop did not lose their commanders’ confidence and whose commanders continued to lead their soldiers’.  As well he has added, ‘They pursued no reward.   In their horseman spirit, fully aware of the end that awaited them and facing this with each action, in each charge, in each blow of the sabre, for several days with scarcely any food or drink due to the pace of the operations, without being able to provide the care their horses needed, exhausted under the scorching July sun on the plains of the Rif, they only sought to protect their comrades-in-arms from a certain, cruel death’. 

Subsequently, a tribute ceremony has been undertaken to those who have given their lives for Spain and the 10th Armoured Cavalry Regiment Hymn has been performed.  Lastly, the force has dislocated in order to parade before the authorities along Bailén Street.