It is sometimes easy to forget, when seeing the Household Cavalry processing through London in all their pageantry, or standing motionless on their ceremonial guard duty along Whitehall, that they not simply symbols of tradition but serving soldiers of the British Army. . Behind the polished cuirasses and gleaming helmets are men and women who accept the same risks and responsibilities as any other soldier. The dangers they face are not confined to the pages of history or to distant battlefields overseas. Even on the streets of London itself, members of the Household Cavalry have been wounded and in the most tragic cases, have lost their lives - the service of their country.

On Tuesday 20th July 1982, as part of its campaign targeting soldiers and government figures both in Northern Ireland and mainland Britain, the Irish Republican Army (IRA) committed two attacks on British Army personnel in London. The first attack occurred at 10:43am, when a bomb hidden in the boot of a car parked on South Carriage Drive at Hyde Park was detonated as troopers of the Blues and Royals passed while riding to Horse Guards Parade for the daily Changing of the Guard. 

The explosion had devastating consequences. Three soldiers were killed instantly, while a fourth succumbed to his injuries in hospital three days later. Seven horses also lost their lives, either in the blast itself or, because of the severity of their injuries, were humanely euthanised. The remaining members of the Blues and Royals detachment sustained serious injuries, as did a number of civilians who happened to be nearby. 

The attack left a profound mark not only on the Household Cavalry and the families of those who were killed or injured, but also on all who witnessed its aftermath. It remains one of the most poignant reminders that, even amidst the ceremony and tradition of military life in the heart of London, those who serve are not beyond the reach of violence and conflict. 

The second attack followed at 12:55 p.m. the same day in Regent's Park, where a bomb concealed beneath the bandstand was detonated during a public performance by the Band of the 1st Battalion, Royal Green Jackets. The explosion claimed the lives of six bandsmen, while a seventh later died from his injuries in hospital on 1 August 1982. Many of their fellow musicians and a number of civilians in attendance were also injured..

Lance Corporal Jeffrey Young (20), Trooper Simon Tipper (19), Lieutenant Anthony Daly (23) and Staff Corporal (SMCQ) Roy Bright (36) all lost their lives in the explosion, alongside the horses Cedric, Epaulette, Falcon, Rochester, Waterford, Yeastvite and Zara.

Lance Corporal Jeffrey Young

Originating from Glamorgan in Wales, Jeffrey Young joined the British Army in July 1979 and joined the Household Cavalry Regiment in February 1980. He quickly showed an aptitude for his mounted duties at Horse Guards, to the point he was promoted to Lance Corporal at a very young age, and was frequently held by both his superior officers and the men under him as an example to aspire to, with it being recorded by many that as an NCO, he was always willing and able to help junior troopers. He was also recorded as a keen sportsman, who represented the regiment in both its rugby and athletics teams, at one point being considered for the Army rugby team. Young was well regarded by all members of the regiment, with his superiors noting he would likely have had a long and successful career in the army.

Trooper Simon Tipper

The youngest of the four men killed in the explosion. He was only 19 and had been married less than a month at the time of his death. Simon Tipper enlisted in the British Army in June 1979 and joined the Household Cavalry Regiment a year later in June 1980. In his tragically short time with the regiment, Tipper showed a remarkable aptitude for ensuring his appearance as a mounted boxman at Horse Guards was always to the highest standard, to the point it was a comparative rarity for him not to be assigned to mounted guard duty on Whitehall. Tipper was well-liked and deeply mourned by his fellow troopers within the regiment.

This ceremonial helmet was the one that Trooper Tipper wore on the day of the explosion. It is now on display at the Household Cavalry Museum.

Lieutenant Anthony Daly

A graduate of Eton, Daly joined the Household Cavalry while they were serving in Germany in 1977 after completing officer training at Sandhurst Military Academy, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, and from the beginning of his career was recorded as having led troops with a high degree of professionalism and enthusiasm. His men deeply respected him, as seen in his service in Germany and Northern Ireland, and Daly was recorded as having held a great degree of care and empathy for the men under his command. Daly was also an accomplished sportsman, having captained both the Armoured and Mounted regimental rugby teams, as well as successfully completing the 1982 London Marathon in the months prior to his death.

Staff Corporal (SMCQ) Roy Bright

Roy Bright joined the Blues in 1964 (prior to their amalgamation) and was promoted to Lance Corporal in 1965. He continued in frontline service with the regiment after it became the Blues and Royals until 1972, where he joined the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment as a Corporal of Horse. Despite his lack of experience with horse riding, he took to it swiftly and became a proficient rider, as well as reinvigorating flagging enthusiasm within the regiment for competitions in swordsmanship, lancing and revolver marksmanship, and was regarded as an officer talented in instructing and involving younger soldiers in the regiment’s work. Bright served tours of duty in Germany and Northern Ireland before returning to Mounted Duty in 1980 as a SMCQ, a role he continued to fulfil until his death.

“A man to have by one’s side in war” - Maj. J. McM. Carr-Ellison speaking of SMCQ Roy Bright