Foreword by Colonel of the Regiment - FORTUNE FAVOURS THE BRAVE
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SUMMER 2021
FORTUNE FAVOURS THE BRAVE
Foreword by Colonel of the Regiment
In late March, the Integrated Defence ■ 1 YORKS will build on their 20 years of
and Security Review unveiled a armoured infantry experience and
blueprint for a modernised Army; an convert to a new role with operational
Army that is more effectively matched focus. Details of this role will be
to the threats, digitised, expeditionary announced in the Autumn.
and able to underwrite ambition for ■ The future of 4 YORKS will be shaped by
‘Global Britain’. Over the next 5 years, Reserve Force 2030 plan which will be
the Army will embark on significant announced later this year. Our intent is
transformation. The purpose of this to extend the reserve footprint and ■ Brigadier ZR Stenning OBE
transformation as CGS observed is ‘to shape our recruiting, training and career continued need to care for each other. With
regain operational advantage, development to better integrate our events in Afghanistan rapidly changing, it is
exploiting technological innovation to reserves into the new roles undertaken more important than ever that we take the
establish a credible advantage over our by the regular battalions. time to look out for the welfare of our
existing and potential adversaries.’ As a We will embrace the opportunities operational generation past and present. For
participant in helping define Defence afforded to us in a positive and pragmatic many, serving in Afghanistan and Iraq will
and the Army’s future strategy for the way, ensuring that our three-battalion have been a career highlight; but, for all of us
next decade, I believe that we will structure remains intact and that we it will have had a lasting impact. As a family
emerge from this transformation with a continue to progress as an agile, forward- Regiment, we must continue to support
relevant and more dangerous Army. leaning regiment, re-energised with new those who served on operations and their
The precise details of the changes roles and challenges. families, guiding them to the most
across the entire Army are still being On an individual level, every soldier and appropriate and best help available. This
developed. What I can tell you is that the Officer will retain significant opportunity newsletter and future publications will
Yorkshire Regiment will be at the for varied employment across their contain detailed lists of support and how to
forefront, helping drive a new and more careers including operational deployments access them. RHQ will remain the focal
lethal Army. This will include: and maintaining a balanced family life. point for co-ordination but it will take not only
■ 2 YORKS becoming the Army As your new Colonel, it will be an the Regimental Association, but the whole
experimental force following their return honour to help lead the Regiment through Regimental family to look out for each other
from Cyprus in Summer 2022. This is an the changes and opportunities that will and communicate the love and support that
exciting proposition and will place the present themselves. I know as Yorkshire is needed for those most in need.
Battalion at the forefront of future folk, we will grasp the opportunity to Could I ask that as you enjoy this
tactical, technical and procedural spearhead the Army’s Experimentation Summer, you stop and think of those you
development for the entire Army. The programme and we will continue to lead know need reassurance or support, those
Battalion will be reinforced by other the way in armoured and mechanised you may not have heard from in a while –
attached arms and industry and will have infantry capability, superbly supported by and that you contact them. It will make a
current and future weapons and a well recruited and trained reserve. I will huge difference. We looked out for each
equipment to experiment with. The ensure that you are all kept abreast of other and our families on operations; so,
Battalion will be based initially in Chester updates on roles and locations as they are we must continue to do this at home.
working to the Land Warfare Centre. promulgated by Army Headquarters. Thank you and best wishes to you all.
I would like to finish by focusing on the ‘Fortune Favours The Brave’
www.army.mod.uk/yorks
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1st Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment
It’s been a busy few months in many
ways for the battalion, with a spread of
activity and commitments planned, but
not all of them going ahead, thanks in
the main to a local outbreak of COVID.
Unfortunately, the Inter Company
patrols competition at Otterburn had to
be cancelled as a consequence, but
thankfully, life at Catterick is rapidly
getting back to the ‘new normal’. Earlier
in June we were privileged to host a
visit from Minister of State for the
Armed Forces James Heappey MP, a
former officer in the Rifles, followed by
some individual and Warrior live-firing
at Castlemartin. July also saw Corunna
and Quebec Coy undertake core
Armoured Infantry training on
Salisbury Plain. They were joined by
■ Min AF visit in June
Recce Troop from the Kings Royal
Hussars for the final part of the re-run of the COVID impacted Inter-Coy ARU Community 7s at the end of July,
summer battlecamp, cementing a Patrols competition, this time on beating the Royal Welsh 26-5. 1 YORKS
partnership that will prevail throughout Dartmoor in November! players also made the ARU 7s team – A
the rest of the year culminating in The opening of the rugby season has big well done to all the players.
deployment on Op CABRIT in Estonia. brought some well-earned success to Finally, congrats go to Pte Work,
We now look forward to Ex IRON manager Scotty Maunders and both the recipient of the Yorkshire Agricultural
STORM working with the KRH battlegroup Rugby League and Army Rugby Union Society trophy for 2021 and also to Pte
in October, followed by a Sniper Cadre in (ARU) teams. The Bn team were Runners Harriman, the 2020 recipient who were
the Autumn, culminating in the 12Bde up in the Army Rugby League Yeomans both presented with their trophies at the
Shooting Competition in November and a Cup and winners of the ARU North 7s and July Great Yorkshire Show.
■ Pte Work and Pte Harriman at GYS
■ Rolling replenishment on Salisbury Plain ■ 1 YORKS ARU 7s winners
www.army.mod.uk/yorks
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2nd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment
Undaunted by the rising Cypriot
temperatures, 2 YORKS has continued
to deliver its span of operational
commitments while also commencing
trials and experimentation as the
Army’s Enhanced Light Forces
Battalion. The maintenance of a
company and the CO’s Tactical HQ on
very high readiness for regional
contingencies, the continued
protection of various strategic assets in
and around RAF Akrotiri and the
provision of the Bahrain UK Naval
Force Protection Platoon have
remained key operational outputs.
In parallel, all specialist weapon cadres
have been conducted utilising the unique
training environment and assets that exist
■ Pte Baker enjoying the view while being inserted onto task by 84 Sqn RAF in Cyprus as part of
in Cyprus. Coupled with the arrival of a the Reconnaissance Cadre
suite of cutting-edge equipment such as
the new A3 rifle, the ARILLS thermal at the forefront of light-role warfighting community. Winning the Cyprus
sight, Digitalised Situational Awareness, development and are fast becoming the operational shooting competition, seeing
and Robotic Patrol Vehicles, 2 YORKS are focal point for Defence’s light-role combat off stiff international competition, has only
reinforced that interest.
This experimentation will increasingly
take centre stage with the Battalion also
due to receive Unmanned Aerial Systems,
new night vision and upgraded Remote
Autonomous Systems. As a way-marker
to the Battalion’s future role announced in
the Integrated Review as the Army’s only
Prototype Warfighting and
Experimentation Battle Group, soldiers
recognise that they are increasingly the
architects of how we will fight and win in
the future.
However, Cyprus is not all operations
and military training. Sport has returned
with 2 YORKS winning CBF’s annual Sports
Competition. The Battalion is also entering
a Nordic ski team into the Infantry
championships later this year and is looking
forward to an inter-company Boxing night
to be held outdoors later this Autumn. With
no shortage of volunteers wanting to step
into the ring, it’s set to be a fabulous
evening.
■ Putting the new A3 rifle and ARILLS thermal sight through its paces on the ranges in Cyprus. A
key enhancement of our lethality
www.army.mod.uk/yorks
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■ Ex Yorkshire Attack 4th Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment The past few months have proven to be weekend in Wathgill including hosting be hard-work and on the completion of a challenging yet exciting time for 4 the Deputy Commander of the 1st (UK) the dry phase every deployed soldier will YORKS. April saw Corunna Company Division. conduct some form of Adventure Training. run Ex YORKSHIRE PATROLS, an All three weekends were designed They will have the opportunity to take part Inter-Coy section level patrols with the upcoming Annual Continuous in varied activities including Coast- competition that tested our soldiers Training (ACT) in mind. The Battalion will steering, sea kayaking and mountain ability to move, fight, call for fires, deploy to Kirkcudbright in September on biking. On return to Yorkshire and heading manage casualties and administrate Ex YORKSHIRE STRIKE. This will provide into the Autumn, the Battalion will themselves whilst under time pressure. another stern test for the team who will concentrate on the upcoming Platoon-plus It also coincided with Brigadier plan, conduct and participate in Live Fire mobilisation to Kenya, continuing our Jackson’s last ‘field’ engagement as Tactical Training (LFTT) up to Section level terrific recruiting effort and with luck, a Colonel of the Regiment. The winning for the first time in the UK for several return to a more physical Remembrance, section came from Corunna Coy who years. We will then switch to a dry training spanning the full extent of the regimental were duly awarded the Duke of York’s phase in the Galloway Forest. It will not all footprint. Pennant. June saw a further deployment onto Feldom Training Area on Ex YORKSHIRE ADVANCE, this time hosted by Burma Company. This exercise tested 4 YORKS ability to operate in an offensive operating environment and consisted of low-level battle lessons followed by a confirmatory exercise to teach and familiarise personnel with the principles, tactics and skills required for offensive operations in a conventional environment. And only last weekend we conducted a successful range ■ Ex Yorkshire Patrol www.army.mod.uk/yorks 4
YRA News
By Maj Pat Ralph MM
The Association continues to support
the serving soldier and our veterans.
Just recently we have advertised many
‘work from home’ jobs and the
regimental family has been afforded
priority for these employment
opportunities. A new document will be
distributed to remind people of these
opportunities and the support that is
available through the YRA and this will
be distributed soon, supported by a
■ Pat Ralph, Charlie Helmn and Capt Mark Murray with HRH at GYS
photo ID card which will be useful to use
as proof of service whenever needed. service. After 51 years he certainly HRH Prince Charles who inquired about
I am sad to announce that the Vice deserves a holiday. Charlie will continue the Association and the work that we do
Chairman of the Association, Major as YRA Secretary until such times as a and he was very complimentary about us
Charlie Helmn BEM has retired from his replacement is found – this is typical of being the only county regiment left in the
post in Area Headquarters South and also Charlie and his tireless commitment. British Army. The Prince chatted to Charlie
from his position in the YRA. Charlie has Recently, the YRA attended the Great Helmn about his service and also to
done an amazing job supporting our Yorkshire Show, providing a refreshment Captain John O’Brien a veteran of the
veterans and their families and the serving stand for members of the regimental Green Howards. All in all, a successful few
soldiers. Through some very challenging family to drop in, take the weight off their days at Harrogate. Thanks to everybody
times he has worked tirelessly for feet and have a cold drink. We also had concerned, especially for the help
everyone and I thank him so much for his the honour of hosting a brief visit from provided by 4 YORKS Capt Mark Murray.
The Lasting Impacts of Afghanistan
Many of you will be following the Benevolence Flyer at the bottom of the links https://www.gov.uk/guidance/urgent-help-
deteriorating situation in Afghanistan below, which include some useful signposts for-veterans – Giving urgent help for
very closely and for some of our to sources of help. Please help to share veterans.
serving soldiers, veterans and their them widely with friends and those who
families this may inevitably bring back you think might benefit from assistance. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/support-for-
difficult memories and reminders of war-veterans – Office of Veterans Affairs
our presence and operational INTERNAL LINK FOR THOSE SERVING – Broader assistance to war veterans.
commitments during the protracted AVAILABLE VIA DEFENCE CONNECT:
conflict in this troubled region. https://jive.defencegateway.mod.uk/ https://www.army.mod.uk/news-and-
Of the thousands of soldiers who groups/ahp/pages/mental-health- events/events/twenty-years-in-afghanistan/
served with the regiment in Afghanistan, wellbeing – Army Health and Wellbeing – Army Website, Afghanistan Legacy
many will have left the Army and for (Defence Connect)
some, their families and those who were https://www.yorkshireregiment.com/
left with lasting injuries, the struggle with EXTERNAL LINKS FOR ACCESS BY news/332/regimental-benevolence –
daily pressures of life continues. BOTH SERVING PERSONNEL AND Yorkshire Regiment Benevolence
In recognition of the news coming out of VETERANS:
Afghanistan and the reminders of the https://www.army.mod.uk/people/
recent past, the YRA and the military join-well/managing-stress/ask-for-help/
charities are here to help. You can find out – Health and Wellbeing (where to get help
how by following the link to the regimental on Army Website)
www.army.mod.uk/yorks
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YORKSHIRE REGIMENT FORECAST OF EVENTS
AUGUST–DECEMBER 2021
Event Venue Date
(a) (b) (c)
Sovereign’s Parade RMAS 06 Aug
Normandy Memorial Open Day France 04 Sep
Yorkshire Regiment Association Race Day York Racecourse 05 Sep
Inter Services T20 Cricket Arundel 10 Sep
Yorkshire Regiment Officers’ Dinner Merchant Taylors 05 Nov
Regimental Church Service York Minster 06 Nov
Regimental Cross Brief Catterick TBC
Regimental Mentoring Catterick TBC
Field of Remembrance Westminster 11 Nov
Remembrance Sunday London 14 Nov
Yorkshire Regiment Board Meeting RHQ 03 Dec
Yorkshire Regiment Trustees Meeting RHQ 03 Dec
King’s Div LE Lunch York 03 Dec
Sovereign’s Parade RMAS 10 Dec
KEY ANTECEDENT REGIMENT DATES
PWO Memorial Service Beverley 21 Aug
PWO Quebec Day Service Beverley 12 Sep
GH Alma Dinner Middlesbrough 25 Sep
5 DWR Dinner Huddersfield 01 Oct
PWO Officers’ Lunch York 15 Oct
PWO Reunion York 16 Oct
GH Reunion Middlesbrough 15-17 Oct
Regimental Headquarters
RHQ Yorks, 3 Tower Street, York YO1 9SB
Tel: 01904 461019
YORKS_Regt YORKSRegt @yorksregt
www.army.mod.uk/yorks
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