A VETERAN from Barnsley was given a behind-the-scenes tour at an army barracks ahead of a historic ceremony.
Peter Ashman served in the Life Guards Regiment in the 1950s, and is a life member of the Life Guards Association.
The regiment is part of the Household Cavalry - which was formerly stationed in Combermere Barracks, Windsor for 215 years before being moved to Bulford on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire this year as part of major restructuring of the armed forces.
Peter, 84, said the move was too far for most of his old comrades to travel to the barracks’ annual Brick Hanging ceremony - a tradition which sees a brick taken from Hougoumont Farm, the site of the Battle of Waterloo, paraded for members.
But a ceremony also held at Hyde Park and Knightsbridge Barracks, Peter eagerly took his grandsons Adam and Jasem, who have each been awarded Brick Hangers’ medals.
And the three were even given a behind-the-scenes tour by commanding officer of the Mounted Regiment Lieutenant Colonel Paddy Williams.
Peter said: “It was just like a Regimental pre-Christmas party, and the regiment really has taken the two boys into the Household Cavalry family.
“Last year,they received a Brick Hangers’ medal each, and this year qualified for a bar on it.”
