CONTENT

The guest today is Patrick Crowley author of "Rose Castle and Crown - Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Citizen Soldiers". On this podcast we will cover the history of the British Army's citizen soldiers going back to the raising of militias in the 16th century up to the Army Reserves of the present day. We discuss the challenge and sacrifice that all military volunteers, throughout history, have had to make balancing the needs of service with family demands and their main civilian employment. It also demonstrates that reservists continue to significantly contribute to the United Kingdom’s military capabilities.

Patrick is currently the chief executive of the South East Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Association, which involves promoting reserves and cadets, tri-service, in the nine counties of the South East of England, as well as helping to connect Defence with society. He has been in this appointment since retiring from the British Army in 2014. Commissioned into 1st Battalion the Queen's Regiment in 1980, he was a Major when the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (PWRR) was founded in 1992. He served as a rifle platoon commander, mortar officer, adjutant, company commander, second-in- command and commanding officer within the regiment, commanding the regiment's 3rd (Volunteer) Battalion. Service included many tours of Northern Ireland, a period in Baghdad and numerous staff appointments, mainly related to infantry and staff training, as well as the Territorial Army and Army Reserves. Overseas roles included postings to Gibraltar and Zimbabwe. In addition, he has run many battlefield tours, is a committee member of the Military Historical Society and a trustee on a number of military-related charities. A deputy colonel of the PWRR since 2008, Patrick lives in Hampshire.

Patrick's book choice on Desert Islands Dits is anything by the historian Richard Holmes. My choice is Patrick's book "Rose Castle and Crown - Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Citizen Soldiers". Profits from the sale of Patricks book will go to the Connaught Trust which has commissioned the book. The trust is a charity that aims to promote the military efficiency of all ranks in Hampshire and the Isle Of Wight seving in the Reserves of the Army, Royal Navy, Royal Marines and their associated cadet units.

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