QRH Celebrate St Patrick's Day in Germany

As UK military units with Irish connections celebrated St Patrick's Day, the Queen's Royal Hussars maintained the tradition in Germany with a parade and the awarding of shamrocks at their Sennelager Barracks.

The tradition began on St Patrick's Day in 1762, when Irish members of the British Army that were in the United States as part of the Colonial Force marched through New York City.

Lieutenant Nick Mellis said it's a tradition the regiment looks forward to.

"The connection directly comes from one of our antecedant regiments which is the Queen's Royal Irish Hussars - It's one of the days in the year which everybody gets behind."

Lance Corporal Peter Clerkin was among hundreds of soldiers to receive the traditional shamrocks. 

“For me it's probably different from a lot of the others because I am Irish. You're being awarded the shamrock which you get to wear on the parade from the Colonel and it's a great honour to be given that.”

This is likely to be the last time the QRH celebrate St Patrick's Days in Germany as the regiment is expected to move to the UK.