As Platinum Jubilee celebrations got firmly underway in the Cayman Islands, across the ocean, Caymanian and Life Guards Trooper Sam Wallace, 25, was prepping for the role of a lifetime.
Chosen as one of the ‘Best of the Best’ amongst the British Army’s Household Cavalry, Sam was given the honour of being in The Queen’s Retinue for the Trooping the Colour ceremony on Thursday, 2 June. It was a remarkable achievement for the son of Shane Wallace and Mandy Lawrence, who was born in Cayman and grew up in Devon, England. He joined the army in 2019 and previously had limited knowledge of all things equine.
“I had no horse riding experience prior to joining [the army],” Sam told the Compass.
“However, during training we do 14 weeks [in khaki uniforms] to learn the basics of riding and military drill movements on horseback. … We also learn how to clean and polish the horses’ kit to the standard required of a mounted dutyman. After that, we do a further five weeks of… riding in Full State kit.”
Training off the horse was as important as on – such as the methodical process of cleaning kit – which would sometimes go “into the early hours of the morning” after many hours of riding through the day, Sam said.
Once he had finished the weeks of intense instruction, Sam approached his subsequent duties with focus and drive. He joined the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and spent a year in the Musical Ride – a mounted team that performs a series of manoeuvres to music, with precise timing, coordination and dressing. Such training elevated his horsemanship, along with his presentation.
Rastafarian in the regiment
Sam is Rastafarian, yet had shaved his beard off when first signing up in order to adhere to the dress code. As a recent story about the young soldier on the British Army website noted, “[Sam] was concerned that there would be misconceptions about his faith, but he made contact with the Defence Rastafari Network which was created in 2017 to support serving Rastafarians in the military, and they helped him to write to his Commanding Officer about the style of dress and hair he needed to be able to express and maintain his beliefs.”
Sam went on to say that his CO was really helpful and understanding, resulting in him being allowed to grow his beard back.
Apparently, since the creation of the DRN, “dress regulations have been changed to allow the wearing of a full beard, dreadlocks and turban, required by some denominations”.
Best of the Best
According to the army website, an extraordinary amount of work must be done to be rewarded with the honour and responsibility of being ‘Best of the Best’ and going on to compete for the Princess Elizabeth Cup (formerly the Richmond Cup). It requires soldiers and their horses to be impeccably turned out, with no imperfection overlooked.
The eight soldiers awarded ‘Best of the Best’ status, including Sam, paraded in front of Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex on 15 May to vie for the cup, where each competitor was judged on their presentation. All eight had already won the opportunity to be The Queen’s Retinue on 2 June as part of the Royal escort, flanking the Royal Dais during the parade. This was a competition in addition to that honour.
Trooper Prince Ainuson from Ghana took the coveted trophy, with Trooper Shaun Flanagan coming second and Trooper Tevita Cava in third.
“Every part of the horse, harness and the Trooper’s uniform is meticulously checked by the judges and given a score,” the army website stated. “The level of detail and expectation of perfection in uniform, horse regalia and bearing is remarkable. Months of preparation, long sleepless nights, and genuine devotion goes into waxing the bridles, head kit, saddle, stirrup leathers and girth to a surreal standard. Every stitch is analysed and checked; every surface must be glassy smooth. The mirror-like black leather Jack Boots each trooper wears will have received 200 hours of polishing alone for this one event. The horses are prepared to look their very best. Hooves are chalked, painted and polished finer than the most elite human pedicure. Their tails are ‘banged’ (trimmed) at spirit level accuracy, their coats and beards shaved, then groomed to a high reflective polish, their eyes, docks and lips vaselined to help them gleam with health. A healthy, balanced diet and strict exercise regime means their muscles ripple.”
Trooping the Colour
When it came to the big day on 2 June, the Caymanian soldier in his gleaming kit rode out on his mount to cheering crowds. It was an experience he won’t soon forget.
“The most memorable part [had] to be seeing the huge crowd of people and hearing the cheers as we [walked] to the parade square and [got] onto it. Especially being that we [were] at the head of the parade leading the regiment in,” Sam said.
Congratulations and support have been coming in from home and abroad, as word got around about Sam’s extraordinary accomplishment.
“I have been receiving messages from friends and family both in the UK and in the Cayman Islands, saying how proud they are of me,” Sam said.
His mother, Mandy, is certainly one of his biggest supporters, saying on behalf of herself and father, Shane, “Samuel has always made me proud. The way the army has embraced and recognised Samuel for what he is capable of fills me with pride on a whole other level. I look forward to what the future holds for our son.”
What’s next?
After such an experience – being front and centre in Trooping the Colour – it was hard to imagine what Sam might want to do next. What could top such a moment?
“I am looking forward to finally being able to relax a bit and celebrate our achievements with the rest of my squadron, The Life Guards,” Sam said.
A well-deserved break indeed.
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