DRAGOON GUARDS 1ST THE QUEEN'S 2010 - 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards
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THE REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF
1 THE QUEEN’S
ST
DRAGOON GUARDS
2010
The Cavalry Regiment of
Wales and the Border Counties
(“The Welsh Cavalry”)
Sennelager 2010 Volume 8 No. 1
1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards (COEFOR) Battle Group,
Exercise PRAIRIE THUNDER 4, BATUS
Colonel-in-Chief: HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES
Colonel: LIEUTENANT GENERAL S V MAYALL CB
Commanding Officer: LIEUTENANT COLONEL J J de QUINCEY ADAMS
Allied Ship
HMS MONMOUTH
Allied Regiments
THE GOVERNOR GENERAL’S HORSE GUARDS,
(ROYAL CANADIAN ARMOURED CORPS)
THE 11 CAVALRY (FRONTIER FORCE) PAKISTAN ARMY
TH
1ST/15TH ROYAL NEW SOUTH WALES LANCERS
PANZERGRENADIERBATTAILLON 35 (AUSTRIAN ARMY)
1ST RECONNAISSANCE REGIMENT, (SRI LANKAN ARMOURED CORPS)
1ST SPECIAL SERVICE BATTALION, (SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL DEFENCE FORCE)
Affiliated Regiment
THE ROYAL MERCIAN AND LANCASTRIAN YEOMANRY
Twinned Regiment
1ER REGIMENT ETRANGER DE CAVALERIE, (FRENCH FOREIGN LEGION)
Allied Royal Air Force Squadron
IV SQUADRON THE ROYAL AIR FORCE
Affiliation
THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF THE LEATHERSELLERS
QDG 2010.indd 1 31/08/2011 14:27
2 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards
Editor: Major PLC Bond
Volume 8 Number 1 Contents Sennelager 2010
Colonel of the Regiment’s Foreword ... 3 Gymnasium ....................................... 39 A Reminiscence of the
Commanding Officer’s Foreword ........ 3 Officers’ Mess ................................... 40 First Coriano Battlefield Tour ......... 65
Honours and Awards ........................... 4 Warrant Officers’ and Sergeants’ Reminiscences of
Diary of Events 2010 ........................... 5 Mess .............................................. 41 Major Jackie Harman MC .............. 66
A Squadron ......................................... 8 Regimental Sport and Adventurous Valete ................................................ 67
Training ............................................. 44 Captain Sandip Patel......................... 67
Tactical Air Control Party – ................ 10
Alpine Ski Team ................................. 45 The Regimental Comrades’
B Squadron ....................................... 11
Nordic Ski Team ................................ 46 Association ...................................... 68
C Squadron ....................................... 15 Regimental Home Headquarters ....... 68
Snowboarding Team.......................... 47
C Squadron Adventure Training in 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards
Rugby Football .................................. 48
Canada........................................... 20 Regimental Trust ............................ 70
Welsh Army Select XV vs
Headquarter Squadron ...................... 23 Crawshays XV ................................ 49 Combined Cavalry Weekend 2010
Quartermaster’s Department ............. 26 Regimental Cycling ........................... 50 Officers’ Regimental Dinner ........... 70
Regimental Marquee ......................... 27 Powerlifting........................................ 50 Memorial Parade and Service ........... 70
Quartermaster (Technical) Ex Rhino Soldier ................................ 51 Cardiff Reunion Dinner ...................... 71
Department .................................... 28 Nijmegen March ................................ 52 Field Of Remembrance ..................... 72
Motor Transport Troop....................... 29 Mullens Cup Competition.................. 54 Obituaries ......................................... 73
Light Aid Detachment ........................ 30 Exercise Long Look ........................... 57 Regimental Gazette ......................... 78
Adjutant General’s Corps .................. 31 Armed Forces Day ............................. 58 Regimental Headquarters .............. 78
(Staff and Personnel Support) Army Language Scholarship Scheme in A Squadron .................................... 78
Detachment.................................... 31 Uruguay.......................................... 59 B Squadron .................................... 78
Regimental Training Wing .................. 35 British Festival 2010 .......................... 60 C Squadron .................................... 79
Headquarters Squadron ................ 79
Regimental Welfare Office ................ 36 RORC Caribbean 600........................ 62 Officers at ERE ............................... 80
Regimental Aid Post .......................... 37 World Pacesticking Championships.. 63 ORs at ERE .................................... 80
Padre ................................................. 38 Features............................................ 64 Marriages ....................................... 81
Catering Department ......................... 39 Beirut Revisited ................................. 64 Births .............................................. 81
© Crown Copyright. This publication contains official information. It should be treated with discretion by the recipient. The views expressed in the articles in this journal are those of the
author and do not necessarily reflect the policy and views, official or otherwise, of the Regiment or the Ministry of Defence. No responsibility for the goods or services advertised in
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permission of the Regiment and Publisher.
This Journal is published on behalf of the Regiment by: Crest Publications, 20 Moulton Park Office Village, Scirocco Close, Northampton NN3 6AQ.
Tel: 01604 495495 Fax: 01604 495465 email: Journals@crestpublications.com www.crestpublications.com
QDG 2010.indd 2 31/08/2011 14:27
1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards 3
Colonel of the Regiment’s Foreword
I hope that you will all enjoy reading this Journal, which gives democracy because
an excellent sense of what the Regiment has been engaged democracy implies
in during the last year. I leave it to the Commanding Officer choice. Choice is inimi-
to set out the full scope of The Regiment’s activities, and I cal to them because
will take this opportunity to put our profession in the context it allows individuals to
of the contemporary challenges. Recent events have shown assess information and
what a complex and dynamic world it is. A vast number of decide for themselves
people have benefited enormously from political, technologi- how to interpret it, and
cal and economic advances, we are among those, but many how to act on that infor-
others have not. Across the globe those who feel disadvan- mation and these judge-
taged, dispossessed, repressed or simply not heard, access ments. To any form of
the wider world through TV and the internet, and see what fundamentalism that is
their lot could be if things were different. a threat, and elements
of this are an important
When this discontent reaches a critical point, those who can- part of the insurgency in
not migrate rise up, and we are seeing this across the Islamic Afghanistan, where the
world. Western Europe struggled through several centuries Regiment again goes
to establish the modern relationship between the state and to play its distinguished
the individual, and between the state and religion. It was a part next year.
process marked by bloodshed and war, tension and misun-
derstanding where people of good faith and sincerity held The internal struggle within the Muslim world, as well as the
views on both sides of the argument. We cannot anticipate more obvious fault lines between the Middle East and the
that same dynamic will not apply, or that resolution will be West will challenge us all. Never have our own citizens, and
fast or easy. others who value freedom, had more need of educated offi-
cers and soldiers, prepared to put themselves at risk in highly
It is a trend that has already been seen in the Far East, South complex environments, in order to protect our own values
Atlantic, Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union, but the politi- and interests, and also those of people who strive for the
cal, religious and social underpinnings of the Middle East and same basic individual and collective rights and responsibili-
North Africa make this release of human potential very prob- ties. In our own Regiment we have such a sort of people, ably
lematic. As autocracies in Europe went under Fascism and supported by their own families, and by the wider Regimental
communism before reaching democracy, we cannot expect family. What a privilege to be part of it. My best wishes to
the Muslim states necessarily to transition from their own all members of The Queen’s Dragoon Guards, at Regimental
brands of autocracy to representative Government without Duty or ERE, serving or retired.
enormous and unpredictable birthing pangs. In addition the
more fundamentalist Islamists reject the whole concept of
Commanding Officer’s Foreword
The last year has been one of the proudest in my life and has We deployed as a
certainly re-vitalised my conviction that the British soldier, free thinking enemy
and the QDG Trooper in particular, can meet any challenge he against 3 different
sets his mind to. It is Regiment’s like ours that have turned Battle Groups from
the tide in Helmand and finally set the conditions for success within 20 Armoured
in one of the most complex and challenging environments Brigade – and convinc-
in the world. Our operational successes have only been ingly defeated them
achieved due to the foundations that have been laid over the all! The exercise was
last decade, it takes time to develop our young Troopers into extremely challeng-
credible and capable Non Commissioned Officers, and I am ing, the weather on the
glad to report that the Warrant Officer’s and Sergeants Mess prairie always catches
remains the soul of the Regiment. But we must be relevant out the unprepared, but
on the modern battlefield so that other Arms and Services was a fantastic oppor-
justify our existence and demand our presence on future tunity to get back our
deployments. After all it was the intervention of 3 Cdo Bde, core skills as light cav-
who remember the lessons of Op TELIC, that ensured CVR(T) alry and set the founda-
remains in Afghanistan. During the coming years we have to tions for Op HERRICK
develop stronger bonds with UK Special Forces and dramati- 15. There were a num-
cally increase the numbers attending selection. If we want ber of opportunities to
to keep the Brigade Reconnaissance Force (BRF) within the experience the bizarre
Regiment, with all the amazing opportunities it provides, then North American culture and over 280 soldiers took part in
we need to show the wider benefit it brings to wider Army – Adventure Training – which remains a fantastic way for sol-
and then sit back while UK SF argue our case! diers to challenge themselves with new and exciting expe-
riences. On return from Canada we immediately launched
The Regiment has completed another challenging and ourselves on internal career courses, individual courses for
rewarding year as part of our Hybrid Foundation Training Afghanistan and preparing for the Winter Sports season.
(training for a war rather than the war) which culminated in There has been no let up and as always I am humbled by the
a 3 month deployment to BATUS (Canada) as the COEFOR.
QDG 2010.indd 3 31/08/2011 14:27
4 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards
fantastic support that we have received from our families and the Commander’s decision making process. We will com-
the wider Regimental family. It really has been inspirational. mand the BRF (C Sqn QDG), the Warthog Gp (A Sqn QRH),
the Surveillance Target Acquisition Battery (K Bty 5 Regt
I hope that this year’s Journal gives you a real feel for what RA), the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Battery (10 Bty 32 Regt
the Regiment has been achieved over the last 12 months. RA) and the Electronic Warfare Squadron (EW Sqn 14 Sigs
Despite the tempo of life we have managed to protect as Regt). I hope that the Formation Reconnaissance Squadron
much of the wider aspects of being a QDG as possible – the (B Sqn QDG) will come under command but it is currently
boys continue to play hard! We do what we do very well, committed to Ground Holding on Highway 1. A Sqn will be
proven by our operational success, but as a small Regiment deployed as a Kandak Advisory and Training Team (TATT) to
every soldier really is important – we cannot carry any free- an Afghan Infantry Battalion – a fantastic achievement and
loaders. Fortunately the Regimental Recruiting Team contin- mark of approval. HQ Squadron will be split between the
ues to delivery quality Troopers – but we must fight hard to ISTAR Gp Echelon in Camp Bastion and providing the Rear
keep our geographical identity Operations Group (ROG) from Dempsey Barracks. The ROG
will ensure our families are protected and the soldiers who
Looking forward we will obviously focus on preparing to remain in Germany are properly developed and career man-
deploy on operations. We need to be mentally tough and aged. I have no doubt that the ROG and HHQ will develop a
physically robust, respected for what we bring to the wider strong working relationship.
Brigade, but never forgetting who we are. Op HERRICK
15 will see the RHQ deploy as the Intelligence Surveillance In summary, the Regiment is in fine form and we look forward
Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance Group Headquarters to another demanding operational tour where once again the
(ISTAR Gp HQ) designed to increase our wider understanding QDG set the standard.
of the situation and thereby provide insight and foresight to JJDQA
Honours and Awards
Mann Trophy: Sgt Davies 962
Queen Elizabeth Trophy: Tpr Griffiths 980
1st Queen’s Dragoon Guards
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QDG 2010.indd 4 31/08/2011 14:27
1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards 5
Diary of Events 2010
January 2010
19 Dec 2009 –
03 Jan 2010 Christmas Leave
06 Dec 2009 – Nordic Skiing, Les Diablerets, Switzerland,
05 Feb 2010 Hochfilzen, Austria & Les Contamines,
France
Alpine Skiing, Ex WHITE KNIGHT XXVII
11–29 Jan B3 Gunnery
18–22 Jan Combined Inspection Week
25–29 Jan Skill At Arms Meet–20 Armd Bde Military
Competition–QDG hosts
February 2010
01–05 Feb Collective Training 1 Live Firing
08–26 Feb CVR(T) Live Firing, Sennelager Training
Area
13–21 Feb Half-Term Leave
March 2010
08–26 Mar Phase 2 Signals course
08–12 Mar QDG Military Annual Training Test Week
08–26 Mar B3 Gunnery
29 Mar–04 Apr B3 Gunnery Live Firing, Bergen-Hohne
Ranges
April 2010
02 Apr Lt Col AS Richmond hands over command
to Lt Col JJ De Quincey Adams
QDG 2010.indd 5 31/08/2011 14:27
6 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards
May 2010 July 2010
07 May Past and Serving Officers’ Dinner, Cavalry 12–16 July Advanced Signals Pre-Course
& Guards Club 21–22 July MATTs Week Ranges
09 May Cavalry Memorial Sunday, Hyde Park 28 July Main Body move to BATUS, Canada
10–14 May C Sqn (Brigade Reconnaissance Force)
Collective Training 1, Sennelager Training August 2010
Area 08–28 Aug Ex PRAIRIE THUNDER 3 (CT4 Field
18–21 May B Sqn (FR) CT 1 Dry Training, Sennelager Training Ex), QDG as Contemporary
Training Area Operating Environment Forces (COEFOR) v
21 May Welsh Army Select v Crawshays RFC, 1 PWRR BG
Cardiff Arms Park
31 May–04 June Half-Term Leave
June 2010
07–18 June Collective Training 1; Mullens Cup
Competition, Sennelager Training Area
17–25 June CVR(T) Live Firing CT1, Bergen-Hohne
Ranges
21–25 June Small Arms Ranges, Sennelager Training
Area
18 June Waterloo Dinner Night–Officers to WO’s &
Sergeants’ Mess
26 June QDG Composite Sqn leads Armed Forces’
Day Parade, Cardiff
26 June–09 July Crew Commanders’ Pre-Course Training
26 June–16 July Summer Leave
QDG 2010.indd 6 31/08/2011 14:27
1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards 7
November 2010
08–12 Nov Advanced Signals Pre-Course Training
20 Nov Regimental Comrades Association
Reunion, Cardiff
21–26 Nov Ex RHINO SKIRMISH (AGC SPS Det CT1
Dry Training)
27 Nov Officers’ Mess Winter Ball
22 Nov–03 Dec 20 Armd Bde CAST–QDG RHQ as FIND
Cell
29 Nov–03 Dec QDG March and Shoot Competition
29 Nov–10 Dec Crew Commanders’ Pre-Course Training
December 2010
03 Dec WOs & Sergeants’ Mess Christmas Ball
04 Dec Corporals’ Mess Christmas Party
05–11 Dec QDG Bobsleigh, Skeleton & Luge Teams
30 Aug–03 Sept Combined Arms Staff Training, QDG RHQ attend Army Ice Sports Camp 1, Igls,
29 Aug–08 Sept Adventurous Training Blocks 1 & 2, Trail’s Austria
End Camp 06–10 Dec Pashto Language and Cultural Training
09 Dec Anglo-German Society Visit to Dempsey
September 2010 Barracks
3–5 Sept Britfest Paderborn 2010–Rear Party 13 Dec All Ranks Christmas Dinner; Shift to
Support Mission Specific Training
09–29 Sept Ex PRAIRIE THUNDER 4 (CT4 Field 12-18 Dec QDG Bobsleigh, Skeleton & Luge Teams
Training Ex), QDG as COEFOR v 5 RIFLES attend Army Ice Sports Camp 2, Igls,
BG and B Sqn Live Firing Austria
14 Dec Regimental Carol Service; WOs and
October 2010 Sergeants to Officers’ Mess
01–09 Oct Adventurous Training Block 3, Trail’s End 16 Dec 10 – 04 Jan 11 Christmas Leave
Camp
11–31 Oct Ex PRAIRIE THUNDER 5 (CT4 Field
Training Ex), QDG as COEFOR v QRH BG
QDG 2010.indd 7 31/08/2011 14:28
8 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards
A Squadron
A Squadron has been somewhat of
an anomaly over the last year; follow-
ing HERRICK IX when the Regiment
was forced to temporarily close down
B Squadron they have since been res-
urrected into a full sabre squadron,
drawing largely on A Squadron as it
was our turn to shrink in numbers. Once
Christmas was over and the skiers had
returned from winter sports, 2010 for
A Squadron started fairly gently. There
was a large influx of new troopers into
The Regiment, most of whom came Sgt Butch Davies learns Afghan culture via his stomach
straight into A Squadron before being
sent on to either B or C Squadrons. Sadly WO2 Wilcox left to become Coombes became the new Squadron
With Major Halford-Macleod at the safety staff in BATUS in the spring, a leader and we formed the Recce Group
helm and WO2 Jason Wilcox as SSM job he thoroughly enjoyed. Not too long as part of the Contemporary Operating
we conducted several low level dis- afterwards Major Halford-Macleod was Environment Force (COEFOR – OPFOR
mounted exercises on the local train- posted to Oman. in old money), helping to train and test
ing area and achieved huge amounts various battle groups from the Brigade.
of in-camp admin. During the summer In late July A Sqn deployed to BATUS As the Recce Group we often found our-
the Squadron took part in adventure in Canada with the rest of The selves in particularly cold Observation
training on the nearby Möhnesee for an Regiment and took part in Exercises Posts far in advance of the rest of The
action-packed week of water-sports. Prairie Thunder 3, 4 and 5. Major Dom Regiment. The bulk of the Squadron
A Sqn in BATUS as the
COEFOR Recce Group
QDG 2010.indd 8 31/08/2011 14:281st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards 9
was made up of brand new troopers
who had mostly come immediately from
Phase 2 training and as a result they all
gained invaluable experience, in partic-
ular at working on CVR(T). For new driv-
ers the terrain and environment proved
extremely challenging and over the
course of three and a half months the
improvements witnessed were stagger-
ing. Whilst in Canada we all managed
to indulge in some much needed R & R
and Adventure Training, including activ-
ities such as sky-diving, rock-climbing
and white-water rafting to name but a
few, all of which were excellent.
Since returning from BATUS the
Squadron has undergone a further
re-shuffle, this time in preparation
to become a Kandak Advisory and
Training Team (KATT) on HERRICK
XV, to work with the Afghan National
Army (ANA). A Kandak is equivalent in
theory to a Regiment or Battalion, the
CO of which will be advised by our
new Squadron Leader, Major Jonny
Hanlon. The RSM will be advised by our
SSM, WO2 Russell Kimsey. A Kandak
is comprised of 4 Tolays, each roughly
equivalent to a Company or Squadron
and these will each be advised by a
Troop Leader and Troop Sergeant from
A Squadron. The aim now is to focus
on preparing to deploy to Afghanistan in
what should prove to be a challenging,
interesting and extremely rewarding role
for everybody.
HJR A familiar face talks to a “Hat”
QDG 2010.indd 9 31/08/2011 14:2810 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards
Tactical Air Control Party –
“HONCHOs” over riding “DOBBINs”
This year has seen the QDG Tactical Air attack helicopters flying at 50’ sweeping
Control Party (TACP) standing up once the area with their 30mm cannons. The
again for operations. However, there is next two weeks went by far too quickly
one significant change: the LD officer but all FACs received what was thought
has magically disappeared and for the as the best training a FAC could have.
first time a QDG officer (Capt Robinson)
has been placed as Officer Commanding Having been set up with such good
the TACP with Sgt Whitehead as the 2ic exercises from the French it was time
and SupFAC. Although a small organisa- to let our American cousins take some
tion to start with, having only 3 FACs and of the burden. This time in the form of
1 Radio Operator Maintainer And Driver the first NATO FAC exercise in Volk Field,
(ROMAD), the task was set for QDG to Wisconsin, Ex Rammstein Rover 10.
produce a significant number of FACs 20 Bde and QDG TACP were involved
(10) for Herrick 15 that would be embed- LCpl Morgan trying in vain to persuade a jet to fly in from the start in the plans, which eventu-
the rain
ded across the Bde. Immediately there ally saw 13 countries take part. Although
was frantic trawling to find soldiers from explained to him what sweetbreads were there was an evident gap in skills between
within QDG that could be sent to RAF (caught earlier in the day by the man of those who have access to planes in their
Leeming to attend the basic FAC course the house), he was not seen again for home countries and those who don’t,
at the Joint Forward Air Controllers 3 weeks at meal times. The workload the only way of empirically gauging who
Training and Standards Unit (JFACTSU), was impressive since Col Marc was were the best was with a boat race, and
where candidates would undertake an always on the phone. He seemed never it is with great pride that I can say that, at
eight week course to bring them to the to sleep, as he was planning all hours the Runway’s Edge bar, Wales beat all 13
required standard to operate with the which meant that his staff were also – countries with LCpl Morgan embarrass-
coalition’s operational jets. In the mean- including us. However, many JTARs and ing them all and at the same time getting
time, those that were already qualified lots of presentations later, the service some amorous attention from the sisters
had to keep their currency; with required from the aircrews on board the CDG behind the bar; which he kindly passed
standards laid down in stringent rules was immaculate and would remain that to the RA while he went and slept. Come
from NATO and the US, the RAF look- way for over 3 months while we trans- September, QDG’s FACs took it in turns
ing at a depleting fleet of aircraft and ited backwards and forwards, each time to join their respective units in BATUS
the MOD’s budget not allowing those brining a new FAC down to train. where the Top Aces were utilised to great
planes that could fly to fly, it was time to effect working against COEFOR. The
look further afield for training opportuni- The culmination of the French exercises New Year brought us closer to becoming
ties. Luckily, this did not prove a drama. was Ex VIRGINIA FIST in Giens on the fully operational and only Lt ‘Godders’
south coast. What followed was the larg- Critien, Royal Yeomanry – whose father
The beginning of 2010 saw the FACs’ est maritime assault that the French had was in the QDG during the 1980s – was
fairy godmother arrive in the form of Lt seen since Mers-el-Kébir. On task was left on the basic FAC course. The rest
Col Marc Brenot of the French Navy, the CDG with 3 Sqns of Raffel and Super of the QDG FACs were then spread to
who on hearing about the training we Etendard Jets, two Army Air Corps regi- either Oman on Ex MAGIC CARPET 11,
needed, offered us the use of his little ments with Tigre and Gazelle AH and the Scotland on Ex FLYING RHINO 1/11 and
aircraft carrier the Charles De Gaulle monstrous USS Harry S Truman with her the USA on Ex FLYING RHINO 2/11. It
(CDG). Unfortunately this meant that full compliment of 76 F-18 strike aircraft. was then that Sgt ‘Sub’ Thomas rejoined
the TACP had to leave the confines This was a chance not to be missed. the Regiment and took control of all
of Germany and head south to the This exercise saw the return of Sgt ‘Sub’ FACs in 20 Bde as the Bde SupFAC.
Pyrenees where the planes were in Thomas - on loan from JFACTSU to train
reach of the carrier. Due to one of our our new FACs; Lt Jimmy ‘The Tongue’ Mission Specific Training now has all FACs
SupFACs (Cpl Williams) leaving to join Hoenich, Cpl ‘Surf Bum’ Patchett (well, training with their respective units on the
JFACTSU, we were a party of 3, and for re-train in this case) and some FACs numerous mounted and dismounted
our ROMAD, LCpl (then Tpr) ‘Bubba’ from within 20 Bde, along with our new exercises. We now have FACs with the
Morgan, it was the first time that he had ROMAD Tpr ‘Forrest’ Sudlow; who infantry (Capt Hoenich with 3 Scots),
ventured to France (and almost his last). found out that he really did not like red combat logistic patrols (Sgt Whitehead),
Now there are stories that FACs stay wine on his first night in France. Some Warthog Group (Lt Critien with QRH),
in 5 star hotels, have 2hr working days wonderful American hospitality saw a Bde HQs (Capt Robinson as WWTOC
and use the Government credit card for few of us taken by the Carrier Onboard and Sgt Thomas in the OISG) and both
champagne and loose women; secretly Delivery plane, to ‘Somewhere in the QDG Sqns being supported by our own
all of us wished that this were true, how- Mediterranean’ where we got to experi- FACs (Cpl Davies 106 in the BRF and Cpl
ever, upon arriving in Mont Fort Sur la ence an arrested stop and, after some Patchett with the FR Sqn) and, due to the
Burzon, we were in for what was going presentations and tours of the float- quality of ROMADs within the QDG, both
to be an on going theme with Col Marc. ing city, living a childhood dream of the LCpl Morgan 266 and Tpr Sudlow have
The Col had secured some local work- author, we were catapulted off the carrier been loaned to 26 RA, 618 TACP as there
ers to let us stay in their home; where the and back to land. It did not take long for is no requirement for ROMADs in QDG
hot water was poured into the shower the many tourists in Giens to realise why TACP on tour. It is going to be a long tour
tank each morning from the cooker, no there were small groups of military pax but I can say with great confidence that
TV in the house, no phone reception and around the old fort, as the first US Marine QDG’s FACs have shone above all other
no local pub. The first night saw a SSgt Corps jet relished the chance to fly below Bde FACs during training and, no matter
from the RA (who was not accustomed 250' at 500 mph over a resort, followed who they are working for during Herrick
to eating much other then McDonald’s) up by what must have looked like a 15, they will do QDG proud.
ask what was in the stew, and after we scene out of Apocalypse Now, with Tigre CR
QDG 2010.indd 10 31/08/2011 14:281st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards 11
B Squadron
be posed by the QDG’s second deploy- around the Sennelager Area. This pro-
ment to Afghanistan in 2011. vided the opportunity for the troops to
practice the low level skills and drills
B Squadron had been reformed that would be essential to our success
towards the end of 2010 during the in Canada. General vehicle movement,
post-HERRICK 9 reshuffle and the tran- both in the advance and withdraw,
sition back to normality was stewarded Close Target Reconnaissance (CTRs)
by WO2 Pawlin-Gardner. However, the and dismounted contact drills and
sound of the South Dorset Coast was casualty evacuation provided a core of
calling and the Squadron’s SSM became serials that each of the troops passed
the first change in the hierarchy this year. through during a series of small exer-
As another year draws to a close, The new RSMI at Lulworth assures us cises conducted in the local area.
B Squadron can pause to reflect on that life at the Gunnery School is as busy
what has passed. The focus of the year as ever, so much so that he is only able to As well as troop training, a number of
has undoubtedly been the three and fit in four days of fishing a week! Luckily vehicle mounted range packages were
a half months that The Regiment as a for B Squadron the second of the SSM conducted to allow the newer recruits
whole spent in Canada. An experience trinity this year to step up to the plate to obtain their crewman gunnery quali-
that provided us with some of the most was WO2 ‘Gobby Thomo’ Thomas – has fication and the all-important extra pay.
intense and beneficial training most an SSM ever been more aptly named? Whilst the conditions through January
will have experienced in recent years. and into March were far from ideal with
It has also been a year of change as The Squadron spent the first half of temperatures well below zero and deep
the Squadron adjusts its structure and 2010 predominantly occupied with low snow playing havoc with the targets
stance to face the challenges that will level CT 0 and CT 1 Training in and (and the German range staff’s willing-
ness to leave their heated huts) we were
able to achieve our objectives, including
an exponential rise in the sale of ‘frik-
kies’ and burgers.
This training period effectively cul-
minated in the first Mullens Cup
Competition to held in The Regiment
since 2004. This year’s competition
consisted of a 35km march between
a number of stands designed to test
the reaction of the troops to a variety
of scenarios from being ambushed, to
stalking the unfortunate SSgt Kimsey,
to their ability to call in artillery on an
enemy position. All involved agreed
it was a highly challenging event from
The comfortable silence following a debate on the merits of Biscuits Fruit vs Brown which everyone could take a huge
Even a rainbow failed to cheer up the Tiffy
QDG 2010.indd 11 31/08/2011 14:2812 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards
Sgt Ananins engaging a Technical in BATUS
amount of pride for having taken months away being tempered by the the middle of nowhere. The nearest form
part. B Squadron’s entries acquitted exciting adventurous training and R&R of normal life is that of Calgary 3 hours
themselves well, a notable success opportunities that the location presented. to the west. Although “Medicine-Hat” is
being Sgt Ananins of 3rd Troop man- actually the closest town it is probably
aging to gauge the reach of the new Nevertheless it was straight down to best referred to as a ‘hick’ paradise akin
Commanding Officer’s sense of humour business and a relentless pace was to something to be found in the Norfolk
with a tactfully placed smoke grenade. set with early morning PT and long fens – just less entertaining. The prairie
days putting a dilapidated vehicle fleet itself bares an amazing resemblance to
And so to Canada! The Regiment to rights. It also led to the dubbing of Afghanistan with mile after mile of bar-
deployed to BATUS in late July after a B Squadron in certain circles as the ren undulating wilderness (albeit grassy)
period of Summer leave with the aim of “Classic Tank Club”. and a strange feeling of isolation provid-
providing the COEFOR (or enemy forces) ing the perfect exercising area for vehi-
between August and October for three For those who have the not had the cle-borne troops.
consecutive exercising battle groups pleasure of the BATUS experience,
based around our fellow 20 Brigade regi- Ralston (the local “village”) is a tiny con- The accommodation in which we found
ments. The general mood was good as urbation built solely for the families of ourselves was basic to stay the least
the Squadron deployed, the idea of three the permanent staff; it is quite literally in but with the demanding programme
set out by RHQ we were not to spend
much time there – at least two to three
weeks of each month was to be spent
deployed on exercise. As mentioned
B Squadron was to form the basis of
the enemy forces for the exercising
battle groups and was subsequently
broken into several smaller sub-units,
namely the Tank, Infantry and Recce
Companies each of which we sup-
ported with varying quantities of man-
power during our time in Canada. The
vehicles we were to use in these roles
were the precursors to those we use on
a day-to-day basis in Germany but with
the addition of certain visual modifica-
tions made of wood to make sure all
could tell between friend and foe.
Our first rotation through Exercise
Prairie Thunder was to see us pitched
against the PWRR in August. Conditions
Elite tank drivers of the Samarki Islamic Guard Tprs Campos, Evans and Berry were probably at their most unpleasant
QDG 2010.indd 12 31/08/2011 14:281st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards 13
at this time with temperatures reach-
ing the mid 30s; dust everywhere and
swarms of twin-engine mosquitoes
devouring anyone who showed the
slightest bit of flesh! The battle itself
had several distinct phases, the first of
which saw us adopt defensive positions
amongst the prairies rolling landscape
and await the onslaught of an armoured
battle group. After a fairly even-handed
exchange the friendly forces (unsurpris-
ingly) triumphed and we were begrudg-
ingly forced to withdraw to our next
pre-determined defensive position
based around a mock Oil Refinery and
structure known as the “Oxo Tower”.
The securing of gravy for the next gen-
eration was clearly high on the PWRR’s
agenda and B Squadron was, for a sec-
ond time in 24 hours, assailed quite lit-
erally from all sides. A gallant counter
offensive was launched from the north Cpl Maddax, Cpl Hughes 282 and Tpr Mole wait for their after dinner mints
with Major McCulloch choosing to face
the music with his squadron – unfor- of these surroundings and the various classic and jumping into the audience
tunately the song was rather short- props was quite remarkable and it cer- for a bit of crowd surfing said, com-
lived as the attack ran into the main tainly provided the boys with a welcome pletely surprised; “oh, I didn’t think you
body of the PWRR assault and after a change of pace, if a rather annoying were going to catch me!” Many would
brief episode of “Whacky Races” little alarm clock in the form of the Mosque’s of been concerned as to why, with such
remained. Again the scripted victory of “call to prayer!” The PWRR then moved thoughts in mind, he actually jumped,
the opposition led to a step change in through a number of serials based on nonetheless, unperturbed the residence
proceedings with The Regiment mov- a more Afghanistan-centric scenario of ‘Tondoz’ made the final transition
ing into a series of extremely well con- involving interaction with the “local back to a conventional enemy force for
structed urban settlements and (adopt- community”. Unfortunately they were the final stand.
ing not-so-convincing Afghan accents unable to witness the impromptu con-
and costumes) as we took up roles as cert given by Trooper Haines who on For one last time the squadron prepared
villagers and local nationals. The quality finishing his rendition of a Celine Dion to do battle and take its part in defence
Canada boasts the largest Fox’s Glacier Mint in the
World – Cpl Patchett, Tprs Evans 880 and Randall
under the Athabasca ice sheet
QDG 2010.indd 13 31/08/2011 15:4314 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards
of their “homeland” against the friendly occupied buildings. It would be faire to tour in Canada were able to partake in
forces and as usual the Gods (BATUS say that a slight giggle could be detected one of these pursuits and witness the
script) were against them. However, the on the breeze breathtaking backdrop of the Rocky
regiment was able to inflict a bloody nose Mountains, against which all the train-
and a substantial delay on the advance September gave way to October and ing took place.
of a far more substantial force (given that the Rifles to the QRH, our Cavalry neigh-
a squadron of the COEFOR deployed). bours in Sennelager. Major McCulloch Our time in Canada finally drew to a
departed for Gloucester and the ARRC close at the end of October and it is
With the valiant demise of the COEFOR (with his BATUS room key) and by this fair to say that everyone was looking
forces came the end of Prairie Thunder 3. stage hourly stags were being mounted forward to leaving the monotony of
The whole Squadron, not least the on his baggage to stop the lads hiding Ralston and the challenges of the Prairie
Second-In-Command, Capt Mildinhall, in it to get home! He was replaced by behind. Once the laborious process of
had learnt valuable lessons. His firing of Major Paddy Bond who having just fin- handing back the equipment to BATUS
parachute illumination flares at the end ished a two-year stint on the directing was complete, B Squadron was able to
of the exercise earned him a place at staff at BATUS had a short stint to serve leave the Prairie with its head held high
the back of a very long queue back into in purgatory before gaining entrance and with a week’s leave at home to look
camp. His argument that he had simply to heaven and home. However, one forward to.
been attempting to provide some light to last battle awaited and sadly for the
work under and not just celebrating the QRH the Schnurgle Attack once again Since Canada the Squadron has spent
end of a long month was substantially proved its worth. Lt Lough (or was it its time shaping for the challenges of Pre
undermined by the fact it was three in Cpl Hughes 696....) claimed the head Deployment Training for Afghanistan.
the afternoon. of the Commanding Officer of the QRH, WO2 Thomas moved on to become
not once but twice! Ultimately though, RQMS Technical and was replaced
The pattern for the next two months BATUS dictates that only one side as Squadron Sergeant-Major by WO2
was very similar. The exercises (Prairie can win and it is never the COEFOR, Mansel. A substantial re-shuffle of man-
Thunders 4 and 5) all followed the same no matter how little of the other is left. power occurred in December across
structure, ultimately with the same result. Nonetheless, a very junior and inexperi- The Regiment and boosted B Squadron
However, having found our feet against enced squadron had shown that it could to approximately one hundred and thirty
the PWRR, September brought 5 Rifles outmatch a numerically superior force – strong as it entered the silly season of
and if August had seemed like anyone’s which had better vehicles – in every way Christmas Parties.
game the second iteration was anything and the advantage that it knew it had
but. B Squadron was able to perfect only the one iteration on the prairie. 2010 has been a year of transition.
the method that became known as the Be that between a new Regimental or
“Schnurgle” (or sneaky) attack and used Whilst Canada provided an excellent Squadron hierarchy or from a relaxed
it with devastating effect when they made chance to train the Squadron, not one training year to an intense 3 months in
it into the rear of the Rifles’ advance dur- of the boys will hesitate to point out BATUS and onto the challenges of pre-
ing their assault on the Oxo Tower. Within that the Adventurous Training that was paring for a tour. Faces have changed
an hour they barely had enough units to conducted during our time in North as have attitudes, but as always in the
continue the assault. Flashing challeng- America was phenomenal. On offer Army so much stays the same and
ers (the sign of a destroyed vehicle in the were a number of activities including the year finished as it had begun for
virtual reality world) littered a huge area parachuting, horse trekking, and moun- B Squadron – with our soldiers once
as literally one remaining Warrior APC taineering, rock climbing and kayaking. again enjoying Winter Sports.
and a handful of men tried to assault the All of the soldiers who spent the entire SJM
QDG 2010.indd 14 31/08/2011 15:431st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards 15
C Squadron
tic officer who shall remain nameless. Squadron was back on exercise in
The end result was that Cpl Huxley, the the Osnabruck area conducting Close
Squadron medic with a well known pho- Target Reconnaissance, ambushes and
bia of blood, had to get the superglue patrolling. The exercise passed with-
out and glue Tpr Willis’ ear back on. out incident apart from Lt “it wasn’t me
it was my navigator” Garland getting
It wasn’t long before the Squadron was mildly navigationally challenged on the
putting forward 4 teams for the Mullens way up to the ranges.
Cup. This consisted of a 50km tab with
Life is permanently busy within the full fighting kit, command and tactical Just prior to Summer Leave, we con-
Army due to the current operational tasks at the checkpoints en route. Tpr ducted some Dismounted Close
tempo but this year has finished in a ‘Ginge’ Gear foolishly chose to wear Combat (DCC) ranges that were organ-
whirlwind of activity. No doubt the pace boxers rather than cycling shorts for the ised by the Recce Platoon of the 1st
of life was exacerbated by the fact that Mullens Cup. The result of this was an Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment. This
we have just returned from three and even redder crotch than usual. Luckily was our first exposure to the Yorks who
a half months in Canada, are playing Lt Sambrook was at hand to cut the we later worked with in BATUS and will
catch up with career courses, des- offending underwear away and apply be working with us next year as part of
patching soldiers to the Alps for winter a whole tub of Vaseline. Lt Sambrook the BRF. Overall they were very patient
sports, preparing ourselves for Mission had previously been in the Navy and with a Squadron of cavalry soldiers try-
Specific Training (MST) in the New Year so was well versed in applying copious ing to learn advanced dismounted close
and trying to enjoy the ‘Silly’ season. amounts of Vaseline to young men. combat including Advanced Close-
For C Squadron 2010 has largely been Quarter Battle (ACQB). They were very
about preparing the Squadron to form Along the route, the CO accompanied good instructors once we got past the
the core of 20 Armd Bde’s Brigade the participating teams. To avoid the language barrier, and we have formed a
Reconnaissance Force (BRF) for Colonel’s watchful eye, 2nd Tp leader very good working relationship.
Op HERRICK 15 in late 2011. (Lt Sambrook again!) decided to make
full tactical use of a bog. The Colonel As soon as we deployed to BATUS we
Following the Regimental re-orbat at rather sensibly cut his stint with 2nd Tp shifted up a gear and the intensity of the
the start of 2010 the Squadron started short and so was unable to assist when training increased exponentially. Days
some low level training in preparation Ginge went down. No doubt crawling after arriving we were on the prairie
for the summer in BATUS. We spent through a bog really raised the moral conducting the first of our Live Range
3 days on the local area practicing among the hardened warriors that are packages under the instruction of the
our skills and drills. This was primarily 2nd Tp and must have made rubbing BATUS staff (including WO2 Wilcox, the
focused on patrolling, navigation and Vaseline into Ginge’s crotch all the more soon-to-be SQMS Gallagher and Sgt
observation posts (OPs). The Squadron enjoyable. Despite the shenanigans, Patterson). Capt Ruggles-Brise rejoined
also started a new fitness regime that the Squadron had an excellent showing the Squadron as 2ic having been out in
included combat conditioning (wres- with the four teams led by Lts Roberts, BATUS since April and looking at least
tling and unarmed combat). Everyone Sambrook, Garland and Sgt Homer a decade older for it. Over the follow-
got fully involved until young Tpr Willis coming 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th respec- ing 3 months we then had the Special
picked a fight with an over enthusias- tively. Following the Mullens Cup the Reconnaissance Wing (SRW) and 1
Cpl ‘Sonic’ Davies fits a new
lightning conductor to his vehicle
QDG 2010.indd 15 31/08/2011 14:2816 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards
C Sqn vigilance is found wanting after the enemy
get too close for comfort
QDG 2010.indd 16 31/08/2011 14:281st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards 17
Yorks out to give us further instruc-
tion. By the time 10 of the Yorks Recce
Platoon arrived in Canada we were fairly
used to conversing with North Americans
and had forgotten our Northern. It there-
fore became an interesting mix when
we added the Yorkshire men to a pre-
dominately Welsh Squadron. After the
initial “ ‘ey up’s? ” and “right butt’s?”
between soldiers who had been on
ranges together in June, the language
barrier was soon sorted and all members
of the newly forming BRF Squadron got
on extremely well. Particularly satisfying
was watching the conversion of the light
role infantry to the cavalry way of think-
ing – moving by vehicle is not only far
more pleasant, but you can take more
kit (including goodies). Whilst the bulk
of the QDG acted as opposition forces
C Squadron were generally supporting
Blue Forces which added to the compet-
itiveness as clearly we wanted to destroy
the Commanding Officer and the rest of The CO overlooks the C Sqn colouring-in contest
the Regiment and vice versa.
The Squadron’s three months in BATUS
were far from uneventful and Cpl ‘Sonic’
Davies 067 managed to add a little spark
to the whole affair when he was struck
by lightning during a live fire range. They
say that lightning never strikes the same
place twice but knowing Sonic’s luck he
is sure to put this to the test. Not to be
outdone by 1st Troop, Sgt Homer (2nd
Troop) tried to get out of the exercise
by rolling his vehicle. Unfortunately
not many saw the incident as everyone
was keeping their heads down because
they were caught in the crossfire after Lt
Sambrook placed his fire support oppo-
site his assaulting section.
The excitement was not restricted to 1st
and 2nd Troops though as even SHQ
got stuck in, embarrassingly getting
bumped by the arch-geek himself: the
RSO (Regimental Signals Officer), Capt Captains R-B and Garland instantly regret their choice of Adventure Trg
Seys, who was on a recce for a radio
rebroadcast station! The saving grace
was that, despite having sat fifty meters
away in over watch for over five hours
until the guns were online, Capt Seys
was still unable to call in an accurate
fire mission despite having a GPS. On
another Exercise PRAIRIE THUNDER
SHQ narrowly avoided being caught by
the Commanding Officer’s team again
and only managed to escape because
Tpr Willis decided to see what down-
hill gradient the Squadron Leader’s
PANTHER could manage, the scream’s
from the rest of the crew made it sound
like a fairground ride!
BATUS was by no means all work and
no play as the Squadron managed to
escape from the Prairie for a week of
Adventurous Training and then later
5 days of well earned leave. A few
boring individuals chose to return to
Europe from North America for leave 1st Troop poised for the assault; some more than others
QDG 2010.indd 17 31/08/2011 14:2818 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards
All the King’s horses and all the King’s men found they could put Humpty back together again
led by Capt Ruggles-Brise, who, in his As much as the Squadron enjoyed Rifles. L/Cpl Grills went on a one man
defence, had been in Canada since late going head to head against the rest killing spree holding up the better part
April. The remainder made a beeline of the Regiment, most fun was had of a platoon when he ended up being
for the larger cities with a few intrepid when we were fighting with the other pursued around several destroyed vehi-
explorers making it as far as Las Vegas Squadrons as enemy forces against the cles having killed numerous dismounts
and California, where the locals were Battle Groups. On several occasions as they got out of their warrior. Cpl
delighted to relieve us of our hard- the Squadron managed to distinguish Huxley took the brief that we were not
saved cash. itself against both the PWRR and the bound by the Geneva Convention to
heart when he drove the ambulance into
the centre of the PWRR Battle Group
HQ sirens blaring with dismounts in the
back. Needless to say, the PWRR were
not very happy about having their head-
quarters destroyed by a medic. BATUS
certainly tested the Squadron and during
PRAIRIE THUNDER 5 we spent much of
the time dismounted in what can only
be described as fairly unpleasant condi-
tions. Whilst Sgt Hansen and his sec-
tion were stalking B Squadron tanks
they received a fright as the Brigade
Commander appeared from nowhere
out of the wind and snow and handed
over a very welcome Bacon Butty. This
certainly spurred on Sgt Hansen whose
section accounted for one Salamander
tank and two Sturgeons with his LAW,
very nearly claiming the CO if it weren’t
for the death rattle of a B Sqn Troop
Leader coming over the net.
BATUS also saw several promotions
within the Squadron, not least of these
was L/Cpl Savarin who has only been
in the Regiment for about a year and a
half and spent a considerable amount
of time preening himself on exercise, for
whose benefit we are still not entirely
sure. The Squadron continue to try
and poach Craftsman Safell, as his dis-
mounted skills are excellent sadly he
Fall/Winter collection 2010, as modelled by Tprs Panks and Casey. So hot right now remains loyal to the REME.
QDG 2010.indd 18 31/08/2011 14:281st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards 19
The Squadron did extremely well in Afghanistan at the moment, much to Lt College Harrogate where, worryingly,
BATUS and finished Exercise PRAIRIE Howes’ chagrin. he is to instruct the next generation of
THUNDER 5 with a superb report stat- QDGs. This is probably for the best as
ing that the Squadron was competing Cpls Hartt and Lambie managed to in BATUS as the BRF Liaison Officer
with the top light role infantry compa- squeeze in a jolly to Belize where, they he discovered the radio and for weeks
nies, this sets us up very well for form- claim, they took a tracking course. on end all that could be heard on the
ing the core of the BRF in 2011 and What we do know is that they returned net was ‘Hello 0 this is 0E, radio check
every soldier in the Squadron should be considerably browner and it is believed over’. Unfortunately our Geek Call sign
congratulated. that Harty has been putting his ‘track- (Sgt ‘I own Bowman’ Worsely) was una-
ing’ skills to good use in the local town ble to get enough power for our replies
Over the past twelve months, the on nights out. to get through to Captain Jackson so
Squadron has sent a large number of we had to suffer ‘Radio Roly’ in silence.
soldiers on various courses; of particu- The year has also seen several reshuf-
lar note are those who have gone to the fles as members of the Squadron have During the dying weeks of 2010 the
Infantry Training Centre (ITC) in Brecon moved on to bigger and better things. Squadron has been preparing itself for
as we hone our dismounted skills. Sgt Capt Ben Parkyn got so comfortable Mission Specific Training (MST) at the
Brown attended the Platoon Sergeant’s behind a desk as Squadron 2ic that start of the New Year. This saw us put
Battle Course (PSBC), with Sgt Hansen, he has now moved to RHQ as Ops a third of the Squadron through Team
Cpl’s Beal, Blackburn and Cpl Lewis 399 Officer. SSgt Mansel, who has been our Medic Training, continuing with our
attending the Section Commander’s SQMS throughout has now left us for Pashtu language training and work-
Battle Course (SCBC) where they all did B Squadron where he will be passing ing on our weapon handling skills. The
well. On top of this most of the junior on all he learnt whilst working with the Regiment also ran a March and Shoot
Cpls and some L/Cpls have now com- mighty C. Capt Greaney has been back competition where again C Squadron
pleted Crew Commanders whilst the and forth, stepping in as Squadron 2ic triumphed with 3rd Troop under Cpl
rest of the Squadron has been con- and then returning as a Battle Captain. Morris 214 coming first and second
ducting weapon handling on all the It soon became clear in BATUS that he troop coming 2nd. 1st Troop are being
new Urgent Operational Requirements felt much more comfortable with the chastised for coming 4th and allow-
(UOR) weapons from HMG and GMG role of a rifleman and has since been ing the LAD of all people to beat them!
through to the Sig pistol. The Regiment reassigned to 1st Troop as Rifleman However, an area that C Squadron
now has an ETS officer attached who Greaney where his favourite role was as is not performing in is singing. The
has now taken the entire Squadron the Troop POF (point of fire) during the Padre decided to hold an impromptu
through a Basic Pashtu Course. Both live fire attacks. We have also welcomed singing competition at the Regimental
L/Cpl Savarin and Tpr Hicks have in a new Squadron Leader in Maj Justin Carol service and there is no doubt C
shown a real talent for languages, which Stenhouse and wish Maj Alex Boissard Squadron were last by miles, it was a
will be particularly useful in Afghanistan. all the best at his next posting in France, less than impressive performance by a
Unfortunately Tpr Hicks’ Pashtu living the high life. Captain Jackson is Welsh Regiment.
seems to be a little too blue for use in also now off to the Army Foundation JGES
Despite manufacturer’s claims the Pinzgauer really
isn’t amphibious
QDG 2010.indd 19 31/08/2011 14:28Comb
20 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards
C Squadron Adventure Training in Canada
After a hard time on two Exercise We had 30 volunteers who “wanted to weather was cold and wet but as that
PRAIRIE THUNDERS in BATUS it was be cowboys” although this was a short- was the norm for C Sqn we coped well.
finally C Sqn’s chance to have some lived dream and after 4 days riding defi- We spent the 3 days wandering the hills
adventure training. To prove that sol- nitely “did not want to be cowboys”. A looking for any sign of bears, but the
diers still take every opportunity to com- few lucky individuals depending on only one who saw anything alive was
plain, even when life is good, we as a your viewpoint got to have a whole day Sgt Chris Whitehead who says he saw 2
Sqn who were spending the most time of parachuting thanks to the weather live ones and spotted a dead one at the
on the Prairie also got the shortest time so spent the rest of the time relaxing side of the track. The lads all have good
conducting adventure training. Although and praying the bad weather stayed memories like Cpl Dan Morris breaking
in the grand scheme of things this was in. The want-to-be Cliffhangers had a his nose twice on branches in the Fast
fine because it was only the BBQ and good time looking at each other and group. LCpl Chunk Davies constantly
beer that we missed and that would saying how good each was at wear- falling off him horse, even when it was
have been a reason to do more PT! ing harnesses. Then there were the few static. Sgt Jack Frost’s face when at
soldiers who couldn’t make up their the top of a cliff his horse had an itch it
The Sqn had soldiers on all but the minds so did a bit of everything with needed to scratch on its back, so rolled
Ghost Run activity at Trails End camp. from “Mog’s mountain bike madness” over with Sgt Frost on its back.
(the madness being avoiding as many
mountains as John could) to canoeing. The lads on the multi activity had fun
when LCpl Damien Fisher capsized in
The horse riding was top class. We had his canoe and tried to use his head as
a 6-hour ride out to a campsite in the an anchor, and found that it was a bad
mountains that was in the middle of idea when he came up with a bleeding
nowhere. The tents where like some- face. He then ditched his canoe ran in
thing out of the American Civil War, spot the woods screaming, blowing his whis-
on for the authentic cowboy feeling. The tle for help. It was overall a great period.
Magn
Nor
Force
BFP
W
N
Fo
B
Pro-Fo
Nor
Forc
BFP
Multic
No
Forc
BFP
Even away from the Prairie the influence of the Infantry
could be felt – Sgt Drury 1 YORKS takes a knee
Pl
D
QDG 2010.indd 20 31/08/2011 14:29You can also read
