MINDEN DAY was celebrated by the Island Army Reserve Unit, formerly the Isle of Wight Rifles.

Minden Day commemorates the battle of Minden, which took place during the Seven Years' War with France on August 1, 1759.

A line of British infantry regiments stood up to and defeated repeated French cavalry charges, and at the end of the battle, soldiers picked wild dog roses and wore them behind their cap badge — a tradition that has been kept by descendant units. The Island Army Reserves has always celebrated the tradition.

Attending the evening were members of the local Army Reserve unit, Isle of Wight Troop, 266 (Southampton) Port Squadron of 165 Port and Maritime Regiment, the Royal Logistic Corps, the Isle of Wight branch of the Royal Hampshire Regiment Comrades Association.

After each soldier and veteran were presented with the Minden roses, four soldiers were presented with medals.

Cpl Nick Gale was presented the Op Telic medal for operations in Iraq in 2008.

He and LCpl Jane Day, LCpl Mat Drake and LCpl James Wicks were presented with volunteer reserve service medals, which are awarded for ten years' efficient service.

LCpl Dan Bishop was promoted from private to lance corporal.

The unit has been following the work of one of their members, Pte Liam Skeats, who is currently deployed in the Atlantic with 17 Port and Maritime Regiment for six months as a deck hand.

The mission is focused on counter narcotics and humanitarian disaster relief, and Pte Skeats is working alongside the Royal Navy and Royal Marines on board army vessels.