Despatches June 2025

How are you? Wracked with nerves over current goings-on? Yeah, fair one — to be honest.

🔥 A Week of Unrest: LA Riots Resurface

It’s been a big week for global current events. The LA riots have resurged following intensified ICE raids centred on ongoing immigration tensions. Several thousand National Guardsmen, alongside 700 US Marines, have been deployed to contain the situation — marking the first such deployment without a governor’s permission since 1965.

Naturally, business owners are on high alert amidst reports of looting and criminal damage to commercial properties. Many still remember the 1991 riots, when so-called "Roof Koreans" took up elevated positions to defend their livelihoods. Since then, the concept has taken on a sort of libertarian cult status — and speculation is mounting as to whether this phenomenon might re-emerge.

They say history doesn’t repeat, but it certainly rhymes… so perhaps we’re in for a round of "Hoof Koreans". And let’s be honest — we’re quite possibly overdue for a resurgence in heavy cavalry.

⚔️ The Streets and the State

Widespread concerns have been raised about authoritarian overreach, as Guardsmen patrol the streets en masse, often with decisive force. Whether this escalates further or leads to resolution remains to be seen.

🎖️ Trooping the Colour – 14 June 2025

Closer to home, this weekend sees a very different display of military presence: the Trooping the Colour, marking the King’s Official Birthday.

At the time of writing, both the Major General’s Review and Colonel’s Review have taken place, and final preparations are well under way.

Number 7 Company, Coldstream Guards will troop their Colour in the presence of His Majesty The King, joined by over 1,350 soldiers from the Household Division and King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, and more than 300 musicians from the Massed Bands.

First performed during the reign of Charles II (1660–1685), the ceremony became the Sovereign’s official birthday parade in 1748, and has been held annually since George III took the throne in 1760.

🧥 Just In: Coldstream Greatcoats

The timing couldn’t be better — we’ve just secured a fantastic batch of MOD surplus greatcoats, primarily from the Coldstream Guards. We even put together a little video for social media, and were honoured to receive a shoutout from the official Scots Guards Instagram. A proper privilege.

👔 Father’s Day Reminder

This Sunday is Father’s Day.

If you've forgotten:

a) Sort your calendar out.

b) Don’t worry — next-day shipping is available across mainland UK on all our products. We've got you covered.

🪖 Coming Soon: Behind the Iron Curtain

In the coming weeks, we’ll be unpacking history once again — this time with a shipment from the Nationale Volksarmee (National People’s Army) of East Germany. Expect some fascinating Cold War-era gear. Personally, I’m very excited about this one.

Until next time —
Stay tuned, stay dry, and stay handsome.