Twelve years after the regiment was canceled, the yellow drivers are back, now with their own drones: ‘We have to renew and strengthen quickly’

Tradition – The word often falls on artillery shooting camp ‘t Harde, on the northern Veluwerand. Commander of the Land Forces Jan Swillens uses it in his speech for the puffing soldiers. And Superior Jan-Pieter Tiedink repeats the words of the general, when the military ceremonial is completed in the burning sun and shelter can be sought in the drop shadow of a race system. “Tradition is also combat power.”

For Superior Tiedink and his men and women this Tuesday was a “euphoric” day. After twelve years, the 11th Department of Riding Artillery – Nickname the ‘Yellow Riders’ – was re -established, with the solemn handing over the standard by General Swillens. One of the oldest army units of the Netherlands is starting a new chapter of his more than two hundred -year existence.

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The Riding Artillery Corps was founded in 1793 on behalf of Stadholder William V, to be able to sail over the battlefield at high speed by horses. However, they established their fame in French service (and therefore against the allies of the Oranges).

For example, the yellow drivers played a leading role in the Battle of Bergen (1799) where the Batavian Republic (a Vassal State of Paris) defeated a British-Russian invasion force with French help. The drivers then fought in the Grande Armée of Napoleon Bonaparte and participated in the Russian campaign of 1812. In 1815 the riders distinguished themselves at the Battle of Waterloo, just against the French emperor. Since then, the Corps Banner has been wearing the year 1815. Under that is an achievement of almost two hundred years later: ‘Uruzgan’.

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That military tradition is important, says Supreme Tiedink. “We feel the connection with the past, with our predecessors.” In the museum at the foot of sloping, the story is told of achievements from the past-an inspiration for men and women of the 21st century.

Blue hat

But the traditions are also passed on of militarily on militarily. Before he was sworn in as an officer, superior Rody Spruijt had to take exams with his unit. “In addition, they look very carefully whether you know the history of the corps and know why it is special that you are part of the Yellow Riders Corps.” In order to get married in the nineteenth-century rider eagle-a blue hussar jacket with yellow tresses and galons-Spruijt had to request written permission from the police commander.

Yellow drivers are proud of the uniform that was established in 1842 by King William II. Even now they wear their blue quartermates with yellow or golden brushes that the horse flies had to keep out of face. Former minister Hanke Bruins Slot-the most famous yellow rider in the Netherlands and after her political career back in military service-carries him while having a tight face to the public gallery. Then the hward passes on horseback: black bears on the head, pulled saber against the right shoulder.

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But not everything is nostalgia today. In his speech about Vladimir Putin, commander of the armed forces Onno Eichelsheim, about the Russian threat and last week’s NATO summit, where the allies put their signature under a huge increase in defense expenditure to 5 percent of the gross inland product.

Spectacular growth

The Dutch armed forces is also growing spectacularly. Two weeks ago, Kroon Princess Amalia Honor was in the establishment of a new tank regiment, which will bear its name. And on this Tuesday the army will receive two full -fledged artillery departments (except the 11th the 41st department of field artillery), with modern equipment. On the edge of the Appèlplaats is the Armored Houwitser 2000, a hugely driving armored cannon, each department of which has sixteen in operation. On the other side of the square is the rocket artillery that Defense has ordered in Israel. In addition: one of the new radars that the yellow drivers must give a decisive advantage in every artillery duel.

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The yellow drivers also have access to their own drones. And that is just the beginning, says Army commander Jan Swillens: “We must quickly strengthen, renew and create sufficient continuation.”

The general thus refers to the planned reserve units that can be mobilized in times of war. To make that possible, the armed forces (seventy thousand soldiers) will eventually have to grow into two hundred thousand (full and part-time) soldiers. “We have to prepare for a large and long -term conflict,” says Eichelsheim. “We must be able to cope with opponents like Russia – to prevent a war.”

How different was the atmosphere in 2013, when the 11th Department of Riding Artillery was lifted due to yet another cuts of cuts. After the tanks had to leave the field, all the remaining guns of the army was housed in a general group with the little enthusiasm ‘fire support command’. That hurt “a little hurt,” says Overste Tiedink, whose career has been dominated by spending cuts and contraction since 2003. But the name ‘yellow drivers’ was transferred to a smaller unity, so that the traditions remained. “I am grateful to my predecessors for that. The traditions of 232 years of history have never been broken.”

In fact, it was crazy to hold a military ceremony today: at the appeal site in ‘t Harde the temperature rose to 36 degrees in the shade. The shortened program is interrupted for drinking breaks, but when it has ended ceremonially, one of the members of the military chapel will be unwell. When the ambulance has been pulled out it turns out to be not too bad. Grommending and smoking, the armored hiding drivers drives off the square. On the vowels there are some silent witnesses of two centuries of military tradition: fresh horse peas.

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