The Queen’s Gurkha Engineers and 36 Engineer Regiment and supported by 70 Gurkha Para Squadron of 23 Para Engineer Regiment and the Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas, had the honour of exercising the Freedom of their hometown by taking part in the Freedom of Maidstone and Civic Parade on the 21st of May 2022.
Freedom of the town is an honour bestowed upon those residents to Invicta Park Barracks by Maidstone Borough Council an event which saw the marching contingent parade through the town, it also signifies the new Mayor, Councillor Derek Mortimer taking office.
The parade was formed up under the watchful eye of Regimental Warrant Officer (RSM) Malone (Royal Engineers (RE)) before handing over command to the Regimental Second-In-Command, Major M Johnson RE, the parade then marched past Maidstone Town Hall to offer the salute to the Mayor of Maidstone and Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel M Hendry MBE.
With thousands of local residents cheering and clapping after a gap of two years when the parade could not take place, it was a great spectacle and solidifies the bond between the Regiment and the people of Maidstone.
