TWO HUNDRED and Twenty-Six years ago the British defeated the French at the battle of Quebec. The Royal Sussex Regiment, now the 3rd Battalion, the Queen's ' Regiment, played a vital part in the battle on the Plains of Abraham, which changed the allegiance of Canada from France to Britain. The regiment was formed by Arthur Chichester, Earl of Donegal, in 1701 as the 35th Regiment of Foot. They were among Ihe 4,000-5,000 strong British force who, on September l3th 1759, stood on the Heights of Abraham to oppose a French garrison of around 8,000. The 35th held the extreme right, of the line, silently waiting for the command to fire from General James Wolfe.

The French drew nearer and nearer, firing incessantly. The word for the British to fire was given when the French were just 35 yards away from the thin red line. Then one deafening crash, which is still said to be the most perfect volley ever fired on a battlefield, burst forth from end to end of the British line. The 35th went onto defeat the crack Royal Roussillon Regiment and took the white plume from the Frenchmen's standard which today still remains a lasting memento of the famous battle. The plumet blanc worn by the Royal Sussex Regiment in their cap badge is now incorporated in the collar badge of the Queen's Regiment.

The Royal Sussex Regiment was merged with the Queen's Surreys, Queen's Own Buffs and Middlesex Regiments under Army reorganisation in 1966, to become the four battalions of the Queen's Regiment. The final nail was hammered into the coffin of centuries-old Army tradition of naming regiments according to the counties they represent a few years later, when the four battalions dropped their subsidiary titles in 1982. In 1992 the Regiment name changed to PWRR.

The Royal Sussex Lodge 9766 was formed in 1971 when 3rd Battalion Queens Regiment on 2 years tour of N. Ireland, BallyKinler Co Down. Moving to Tidworth, Hampshire for 2 years. Then Dover 2 years, Rock of Gibraltar 2 years. Catterick (2 years) West Yorkshire. United Nations Peace Keeping Force (6 months) Cyprus. Falling Bostel West Germany 4 years.

Last tour overseas, Belize Central America (6 months) 1985 before settling within the Canterbury and District PGL Canterbury, Kent.