Contents

Editorial Team Battle and Civic Honours 1 Battle and Civic Honours 1 Captain Oliver Keith Foreword from the in Chief 2 Miss Charlotte Varty Foreword from the Colonel of the 3 Regimental Headquarters Regimental Ethos 4 The of ’s Royal Regiment 1 PWRR 6 HM Tower of EC3N 4AB 2 PWRR 28 Tel: 0203 166 6908 3 PWRR 50 E-mail:INFHQ-QUEENS-PWRR- [email protected] B , The London Regiment 72 Royal Military Academy Sandhurst 76 Printing Battle School (Brecon) 78

D Isom (Printers) Ltd Queen’s Division Courses (Fire Team Commander’s Cadre) 80 Stanley Road, Herne Bay Officers’ Training Corps 82 CT6 5SJ Royal Marine Exchange Programme 84 Tel: 01227 363866 Email: mail@isomprint PWRR Skiing Teams 86 The Royal Life Guards - 88 PWRR Copyright 3 (Fighter) Squadron RAF 90 This journal contains official HMS Excellent 92 information. It should be treated The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada 94 with discretion by the recipient. 35 Regiment D’Infanterie - 96 The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not Friends of the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment 98 necessarily reflect the policy and Affiliated Livery Companies 100 views official or otherwise of The Princess of Wales’s Royal Middlesex and Northwest London ACF 102 Regiment or the Ministry of South West London ACF 104 Defence. Advertisements are Surrey ACF 106 included in good faith and no responsibility for the quality of Epsom College CCF 108 the goods or services can be Caterham School CCF 110 accepted by the publishers or Kingston Grammar CCF 112 printers. Regimental Headquarters 114 Ordering a Copy Op TELIC IV () Commemoration Service 116 The Tiger, Journal of The Princess The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment Association 118 of Wales’s Royal Regiment, is an TigerRec 120 annual production. It is priced at The Road to Recovery 122 £10 per copy which includes free postage within the UK. The Queen’s Regiment Association 124 The Royal Regiment Association 126 If you wish to receive a copy of The Tiger contact the Financial Queen’s Own Buffs Regimental Association 128 Secretary on: Association 130 [email protected] The Association 132 Acknowledgements Kohima Battlefield Tour 134 Regimental Museums 136 Thank you to Mrs Debbie Moody, Regimental Heritage 138 Mr Paul Senter and Maclean Arthur at RHQ PWRR for Obituary 140 their assistance in producing Regimental Gazette 142 this journal. THE TIGER 2014 JOURNAL OF THE PRINCESS OF WALES’S ROYAL REGIMENT

Colonel-in-Chief Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark

Colonel of the Regiment Brigadier Richard Dennis OBE

Deputy Colonels of the Regiment Brigadier Doug Chalmers DSO OBE Colonel Patrick Crowley Colonel Charlie Sykes

Honorary Colonels

3rd B Company The London Regiment Colonel Algy Cluff DL Colonel David Mogg TD BATTLE HONOURS

BATTLE HONOURS TO BE BORNE ON THE QUEEN’S COLOUR Mons, Retreat from Mons, Aisne 1914, Ypres 1914, 15, 17, 18, , 1916, 18, Albert 1916, 18, Arras 1917, 18, Cambrai 1917, 18, Hindenburg Line, 1917-18, Dorian 1917, 18, Landing At Helles, Suvla, Gaza, Jerusalem, Palestine 1917-18, Kut al Amara 1915, 17, Mesopotamia 1915-18, North West Frontier India 1915, 1916-17, Dunkirk 1940, Normandy Landing, Caen, Rhine, North West Europe 1940, 44-45, Abyssinia 1941, El Alamein, Tebourba Gap, Hunt’s Gap, Lomgstop Hill 1943, North Africa 1940-43, Sicily 1943, Salerno, Anzio, Cassino, , Italy 1943-45, 1940-42, Malaya 1941-42, Hong Kong, Defence of Kohima, Burma 1943-45

BATTLE HONOURS TO BE BORNE ON THE REGIMENTAL COLOUR Tangier 1662-80, Namur 1695, 1704-05, Blenheim, Ramillies, Oudenarde, Malplaquet, Dettingen, Louisberg, Guadaloupe 1759, Minden, Quebec 1759, Belleisle, Martinique 1762, Tournay, Seringapatam, Maida, Corunna, Talavera, Barrosa, Albuhera, Alamarz, Vittoria, Peninsula, Afghanistan 1879-80, Punniar, Moodkee, Sobraon, Inkerman, Sevastopol, Lucknow, Taku Forts, Pekin1860, New Zealand, Nile 1884-1885, Burma 1885-87, Paardeburg, Relief of Ladysmith, 1899-1902, Korea 1950-51 CIVIC HONOURS Freedoms Arundel, Ashford, Barnet, Basingstoke and Deane, Belfast, Brighton and Hove, , , Chichester, Christchurch, Crowborough, Eastbourne, Eastleigh, Folkestone, Guildford, Hastings, Kingston upon Thames, Lewes, Maidstone, , Ramsgate, Reigate and Banstead, Romsey, Rushmoor, , Southwark, Test Valley, Tonbridge and Malling, Tunbridge Wells, Waverley, and Worthing

Privilege City of London, Jersey

Bond of Friendship Epsom and Ewell Regimental Motto ‘Unconquered I Serve’ 1 Colonel-in-Chief Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark

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Colonel of the Regiment Brigadier Richard Dennis OBE

The Regiment has had another busy and successful become an active member, to be routinely following the year – much of which you will find described in the Friends social media sites, to actively support Friends pages that follow. The 1st Battalion has established events across the South and to spread the word to itself as one of the most broadly accomplished sporting those who have not yet heard it. Secondly, at last year’s units anywhere in the Army while getting to grips with Evening with Heroes, Sergeant Jay Baldwin spoke very armoured conversion and hosting a highly successful movingly about his battle with the traumatic visit by the Colonel-in-Chief. The 2nd Battalion amputation of both his legs in Afghanistan but his completed a demanding tour in London District and determination to make a successful second career returned to where the recent upsurge in violence beyond the Regiment – to embody that vital shift from across the has seen them take on an victim to victor in the face of extraordinary adversity. The operational focus that few could have imagined this only thing holding Jay back at present is the limitations time last year. Meanwhile the 3rd Battalion has earned imposed on him by prosthetic legs – they don’t work for a reputation as “Best in Class” of the new breed of Army him - so the Friends will be funding Jay to the tune of Reserve , forging very tight links with 1 R £75,000 to receive ground-breaking surgery in Australia ANGLIAN and leading the charge on recruiting. which will fit him out with new legs which I very much hope will allow him to walk on to the stage at this year’s The other good news story that I want to highlight here Evening with Heroes which will be held at The Tower on is that of The Friends of the Princess of Wales’s Royal 29 October 2015. So – as well as welcoming you to this Regiment which came of age this year and which now year’s edition of The would also ask you to make goes from strength to strength. Born out of a this the year when you join the Friends if you have not determination to see the Regiment better placed to already done so and give them your wholehearted weather the inevitable storms ahead by broadening our support. ability to raise funds for our soldiers, to increase our recruiting appeal and to provide a soft landing for those Tigers returning to the civilian world, it has achieved all those things - and more. Thanks to the outstanding support of Arcadia Consulting and the hard work and dedication of Brigadier Matt Maer, Nick Goble and Brian Wood, The Friends held an Evening with Heroes in Covent Garden in October which raised some £50,000. This was a tangible demonstration of the extraordinary influence that the Friends have begun to exert across our entire Regimental community: those serving with us, those no longer serving, those that aspire to serve, our wider Regimental family in the cadet movement, the Regimental Associations and those companies and individuals across our recruiting area who simply wish to be more closely identified with “their” Regiment.

This year the Friends have two very specific challenges which I would ask for your help with. Firstly, we want every member of the Regiment and all those that I have described above to

3 Regimental Ethos

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The Tigers are a fighting regiment - we soldiers. Our robust approach combines thrive on complex, tough operations. an informal and light touch with incredibly high professional standards. We are the senior English Regiment of Comfortable with change and the Line. We are forward looking, yet innovation, we are a learning fiercely proud of our famous forebear organisation, constantly seeking to whose fighting spirit and improve and educate. traditions thrive in today’s Regiment. We train hard to fight hard, and pride Our inspirational officers lead by ourselves on our courage under fire. We example, forging a close bond with their are a tight-knit meritocracy and soldiers, based on mutual trust and inclusive family regiment of Cadets, respect. This relationship is rooted in a Reservists, Regulars and Veterans. We thorough knowledge of their men, honed maximise links with our recruiting through arduous training and confirmed heartland in the South East of , in battle. We are supported and whilst encouraging diversity in our encouraged by combat-proven, ranks. Self-confident yet modest, we are relentlessly professional and utterly genuinely welcoming to others - loyal Warrant Officers, Sergeants and developing real bonds of friendship that Junior NCOs. We rely unconditionally on stand the test of time and conflict. our dependable, capable and spirited

Fierce Pride

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Lieutenant Colonel Andy Flay Commanding Officer

It has been another outstanding year of achievements 2015 will see the Battalion further develop our skills in for the First Battalion. The early part of the year was armour, with our deployment to BATUS as OPFOR very much focused on the deployment to Afghanistan providing a golden opportunity to prepare ourselves for by elements of A, Y and HQ companies on Op HERRICK our first test exercise as armoured infantry in Canada 20. Heavily focused on securing forces in theatre, A in 2016. As I ready myself to now leave command I Company soldiers as part of Op GLANCE, and Y would like to thank the Battalion for their steadfast Company soldiers as part of the Brigade commitment, tireless efforts, amazing achievements Reconnaissance Force together enabled those and wish them the very best for 2015 and beyond. concentrating on the drawdown in Helmand to focus fully upon that complex task. Augmentees from across the Battalion attached to the drawdown effort were instrumental in ensuring that the last months of Camp Bastion’s existence went smoothly. All of those deployed displayed the highest professional standards, and further added to the Battalion’s contribution to the Afghan mission.

For those not deployed on operations, the year has been just as busy. B Company was selected to represent the UK in the annual NATO Balkans exercise in , Ex SABER STRIKE. The exercise this year was conducted in the midst of increasing tensions with Russia, and there was extra investment and media interest in the exercise from the outset. B Company conducted the exercise with the highest standards of professionalism and tactical skill, routinely overwhelming opposing forces superior in both numbers and equipment. A Coy deployed to the Falklands on Ex SOUTHERN WARRIOR and enjoyed resounding success in developing their junior commanders’ leadership qualities in one of the most testing environments available for training.

One of the year’s many highlights took place in September, when the Battalion had the great honour of hosting a visit from the Colonel-in-Chief, Her Majesty Queen Margrethe the Second of Denmark. The Battalion greeted Her Majesty with a Guard of Honour upon her arrival, and she spent the day meeting the men and families at a number of receptions and stands.

More recently the Battalion has been pro-active in embracing our imminent conversion to armoured infantry. It has set itself on a strong footing ready for the main conversion concentration next year, qualifying many vehicle crews and instructors early to set the conditions for success in the future. C Company have been the most active in this area, and at the time of writing have just returned from a joint exercise with the Queen’s Royal Hussars, developing their skills in the combined arms battle ready for their supporting role at the Land Warfare Centre next year.

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WO1 (RSM) Lee Bilner Regimental Sergeant

As with last year, 2014 has been a very busy year for us Sporting achievements have also taken the spotlight all once again with a multitude of different tasks which this year. I do not want to steal any thunder or glory from the Battalion has embraced wholeheartedly and which any of the authors of subsequent articles in the journal, have tested us in all our disciplines. but I wanted to mention it to show that with all of the tasks, training and deployments, with just over 40 This year has seen the Battalion fractured across a members of the Battalion deployed on Op HERRICK 20, number of tasks starting with B Coy in the first quarter all of whom have returned safely, that we are an deployed to Castlemartin on Ex PASHTUN TEMPEST extremely versatile and dynamic Battalion that can turn supporting Mission Specific Training – an unenviable its hand to almost anything and produce outstanding job but undertaken with professionalism and gusto results in everything it does. which provided an excellent reputation for all those deployed and for the Regiment. 2015 will be another busy and challenging year for the Battalion which will no doubt be embraced producing It was also a very sombre start to the year with two of platinum results as it has done this year demonstrating our SNCOs: Sgt Barry Young and WO2 Stephen Marsh that we are a multi-functional, capable and highly passing away. This saw both the Battalion and the respected organisation. Regiment showing its colours in real Tiger spirit, when in very difficult and emotional circumstances it embodied the true ethos of us being a family Regiment and that Fierce Pride we can all pull together even though we are geographically separated.

The Overseas Training Exercises continued in full swing in the late spring with an extremely challenging exercise for A Company in the Falkland Islands, Ex SOUTHERN WARRIOR and B Company deployed once again, this time onto a multi-national exercise in Latvia, Ex SABER STRIKE, which saw the Company Group operating alongside the Baltic Nations under command of the Pennsylvanian National Guard; a testament of successful interoperability between the different nations.

Also throughout the year, two Companies began Armoured Infantry conversion on both the Warrior and Bulldog platforms focussing towards tasks ready for 2015. Interspersed with this training, the Battalion readied itself in early September for a visit from the Colonel- in-Chief, Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark. 2 weeks (and weekends) worth of arms drill paid dividends as the Battalion showcased itself on the square along with an Honour Guard for Her Majesty; something that was outside most of the soldiers’ comfort zones. However, the hard work paid off and the Battalion in full No.2 Dress conducting collective foot and arms drill was a spectacle to behold and the whole day was an outstanding success.

7 A Company

Exercise SOUTHERN WARRIOR – Lt Tom Scriven-Baker In April 2014, A Company and elements of Y Company After a brief admin period back in Mount Pleasant embarked on a 30 hour journey to Britain’s South airbase, we deployed back to Onion Range for a 5 day Atlantic stronghold. It was a challenge to gear A demanding TES Exercise. This was the first time A Company up in the preceding months while in , Company had operated in a full company framework as we had 1 concurrently preparing and without 1 Platoon. The Company’s focus was on deploying to Afghanistan, leaving a very junior and conventional operations including the threat of CBRN. relatively inexperienced Company. We used the first few This was a good shakeout before our second exercise days in preparation for heading out onto Onion Range, which was held afterwards, and the Company which is a huge expanse of open, undulating land performed well, helped by the experience that Y bordered by mountains, peppered with rock fields and Company brought with them. not a single tree in sight. In the space of a week, A Company conducted our build up training from The Company learnt a great deal from our time in the individual live firing through to section level attacks Falklands, it provided the perfect opportunity to finally culminating with us donning our respirators for full work as a Company group away from the everyday tasks scale Platoon attacks. This was supported with Typhoon of Battalion life. It gave the opportunity for A Company fighter jet air cover provided by our RAF brethren. This to develop our own identity. With 1 Platoon deployed, was also a good opportunity for us to become well soldiers and junior commanders had to step into new acquainted with the knee deep bog which covers the roles and harness their own leadership skills. The majority of the range, an entity which we became overly progress of these individuals over the exercise was very familiar with over the coming weeks. evident and, as budding JNCOs, they will shape A Company’s future as an Armoured Company. Mount Tumbledown provided the backdrop for a conceptual exercise which allowed the company to retrace the steps of the 2nd Battalion on the 13th June 1982. It was humbling to experience even a minute fraction of what the men who were there in 1982 had to endure for months on end. This was a fantastic opportunity and it was well received by all who took part.

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Maj S Garmory

OC’s Introduction

A Company launched into 2014 with two key objectives: grew a very young, and relatively inexperienced group of prepare 1 Platoon for deployment on Op HERRICK 20 soldiers through adversity to become a highly effective and the remainder of the company for deployment on light role infantry company. No mention of Ex Southern exercise in the Falklands Islands. Although it was not Warrior would be complete without recognition of the easy to keep these two plates spinning; the Company, Fire Support Group, who not only proved their worth as as ever, proved it was more than up to these challenges! a force multiplier but set an excellent example for my soldiers to aspire to. Furthermore, specific thanks go to Throughout January and February, 1 Platoon conducted CSgt James Gadsby who led the Permanent Range their Collective Mission Specific Training, where they Team which really put us through our paces. proved to be a great success and more than ready to deploy on operations. Meanwhile, 2 and 3 As 2014 draws to a close, we prepare to welcome back reinforced by the Fire Support Group from Y Company, 1 Platoon whose last six months have been spent at the led by Captain Steve Gibbs and CSgt John Peart, cutting edge of UK operations in Afghanistan. The deployed to the snowy ranges of Bergen-Hohne to start Platoon has dealt with a higher tempo of operations the continuum of training which would prepare them for than their predecessors but have not been fazed in the a demanding, fledgling exercise in the Falkland Islands. slightest. They are commended on their The preparatory training for these two events was professionalism and formidable ability in the most crucial and yielded great results. demanding of conditions.

Ex Southern Warrior in the Falklands was a resounding success. The greatest result of this exercise was that it

9 B Company

OC’s Introduction

Although a cliché for regimental journal articles, it’s Other points worthy of note are the Cambrian Patrol true to say that it was a busy 12 months for B Company, team, who achieved a bronze medal: a significant feat with a number of tasks and deployments. given the particularly bad weather and the Battalion’s other commitments; they also won the brigade CBRN It started with a 3 month deployment to Castle Martin competition as part of their preparation for the event. ranges in Wales to support Mission Specific Training Half of the Company deployed on a battlefield tour of (MST) for units deploying to Afghanistan. Although not the World War II Western Front, which is covered particularly glamorous (tasks included clearing elsewhere in the journal. On the sporting front, there ranges) it was important to get right a key component was success for the boxers in the Army championships of force generation for Op HERRICK. and for Lt Griffiths who won several trophies for sailing, including the Combat Arms Sailing Regatta. Following the support to others’ training, which included augmentation to A and C Companies’ The next 12 months will see the emphasis switch from exercises, B Company deployed to Latvia on a 3 week dismounted training to armoured infantry, with overseas training exercise (OTX). This was part of a conversion starting in January. The focus for 2015 will large multinational exercise, SABER STRIKE, aimed at be on deployment to BATUS as the opposing force developing the military capability of the Baltic states. (OPFOR) in July, which will set the company up for success in 2016 as we reach full operating capability in the new role.

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Maj R Dobson

Exercise SABER STRIKE – Lt Dave Heads

B Coy group 1 PWRR travelled to Latvia in early June to This phase provided a good opportunity for the take part in the multinational Exercise SABER STRIKE. company to get used to being back into the field with the ability to learn lessons from other units. The end The exercise brought together a number of infantry result was a successful defence of a number of bridges units and support arms from different nations with the across a water feature against a Norwegian light role focus being on interoperability. In layman’s terms company, a stalemate as we advanced to contact interoperability refers to the ability for units from against a delaying Latvian company and a successful different nations to cooperate to achieve mission (if bloody) defence of a feature in dense woodland success. This is an essential skill as we increasingly against the US armoured infantry company operating work in conflicts that require multinational political and in Bradley AFVs. military cooperation. Other emphasis was placed on strengthening the US and British relationship with the The second phase of the exercise split the nations down Baltic states, particularly important in the current into two battlegroups. The Baltic nations (, political context, and a focus on conventional war Latvia and ) formed our enemy battlegroup as fighting. we teamed up with the American Bradley Company and the Norwegian light role Company, with an The exercise itself was split down into two very different American/Canadian airborne company attached to phases. Phase one of Ex SABER STRIKE involved four whichever battlegroup was attacking. single day force-on-force infantry company level exercises back-to-back. In this phase the OC would This second phase tested the company in its ability to receive his orders early in the evening and the company send information up and across in a battlegroup would go through the orders and estimate process at environment, whilst incorporating different assets such every level. Full battle procedure was then conducted as fast air, engineers and overhead fires. before deploying onto the area the following morning to tackle a unit from another nation. This process was Overall the exercise did challenge B Company and repeated for each mission. provided a welcome opportunity to operate in a new environment. It was also extremely useful to be able to work with the sniper pairs, Javelin detachments and Mortar Fire Controllers that were attached from Y Company.

11 C Company

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Maj A McLannahan

OC’s Introduction This year C Company has become the first of the became our first Top Gun after he too excelled, Tigers to get their roar back. In July 2014 the first of placing first amongst a cohort of 30 gunners. Pte the Battalion's Warrior Armoured Fighting Vehicles Payne received his certificate from Commander Land were taken onto account and C Company were able Forces himself when he visited the Company gunner to begin the process of returning the battalion to its ranges. He also kindly presented Marksmanship Armoured Infantry role. badges to the first batch of the 18 soldiers in the Company who passed their rifle ACMT at the higher The conversion process is a painful one. Fortunately standard, sadly too many to mention here, the price of C Company has benefited from some cool heads to high performance becoming the norm. Also worthy take the heat out of the conversion. Capt Ian Wicks of note is Cpl Twyford for coming first on his joined the Company from 2 PWRR having been Regimental Instructor Gunnery Cadre, a great transformed from burly RSM to energetic Captain achievement that has seen him rewarded by a move through three months with his feet up on the to 7Pl as their Warrior Sgt. Armoured Infantry Platoon Commanders Course. Furthermore, he passed with a distinction in telling Not everything has run smoothly but the trials have war stories to ! Also freshly on-board added to the spirit of achievement. Anyone with was WO2 Tarrant who has returned to the Battalion experience of Warrior will tell you that it works best for a nine month cameo role as a Warrior Sergeant when it is used often and well loved. Receiving 14 Major. Between them they have hatched a plan to Warrior that had been in storage for anywhere turn broad sweeping hand movements across a between one and seven years was therefore never calendar into a detailed conversion programme that going to be easy. CSgt Stewart has had the trials and has taken us from zero up to collective training as a tribulations of bringing this rough fleet up to company group. standard. He has been ably assisted by first Cpl Wilson and then Cpl Dutton. There have been some outstanding successes along the way too. Pte Whitelock was awarded the best After a very busy year, C Company look forward to driver award from a cohort of 20 who attended the 2015 and the new challenges ahead. driving and maintenance phase, whilst Pte Payne

Real Life Support to Exercise PASHTUN DAWN – Capt Chris Trezise C Company received orders to deploy to Salisbury The men of C Company dug out blind, working up to Plain Training Area (SPTA) in order to assist with the 16 hour days for the benefit of troops deploying to final exercise for 20 Brigades deployment to Op Afghanistan. They did get an insight into mission HERRICK 20. It was not the most glamorous tasks, specific training and it allowed the newer members but we were forward leaning in all aspects of this of the Company to get a first hand look at kit and exercise and the assistance we provided far equipment used whilst on operations. C Company surpassed what was expected of us in the Initial enjoyed being back in the UK. Often less than an hour Orders. from home, this was a real insight into our Battalion’s move back to the Plain in years few. All ranks from the Company deployed under OC HQ Company. Major Dickie Phillips went to Westdown Camp to understand the tasks they were about to undergo. The priority was building ‘Camp Bastion’ on the plain and establish 2 other camps that mimicked Lashkar Gah and Kandahar Airfield. This required upwards of 250 tents to be built as well as feeding, washing and briefing/ops areas. Secondary tasks, which took a lot of our manpower, were to guard the transit accommodation in which the Afghan role players would be housed and carrying out crossing parties for large moves across the Plain as Camp Bastion was shut down.

13 20

In May, 1 Platoon deployed to Kandahar Province, techniques. It also gave us time to explore Kandahar Afghanistan, to work with a UK Task Force for six Airfield and make use of the excellent US facilities, months. The deployment followed seven months of such as the Astroturf Football Pitch and the PX. Mission Specific Training (MST), which was conducted by the platoon in both Germany and the UK. The tempo stepped up in July to nine operations a week on average. Like all infanteers, we were more After a short stay in Bastion for Reception Staging and than happy to get out of the door and increase our Onwards Integration (RSOI), we flew to Kandahar presence on the ground. However, increased Airfield to join up with the UK Task Force that we were operations came with the cost of increased pattern- supporting for the next six months. After a handover setting, which meant that we began to get targeted by with the previous unit, 4 SCOTS, we integrated IEDs from an increasingly-confident insurgent force. ourselves into the Task Force and adapted to the way During this period of time, our All Arms Search Team they operated. With an initial break in operations, we and diligent Counter-IED training during MST proved conducted two reconnaissance operations within our to be highly valuable. After utilising the capability of Area of Operations (AO) in order to get a feel for both an All Arms Search Team on operations, I cannot the ground and the locals. recommend the course highly enough. I also cannot recommend the work of my own team highly enough. It The AO was vastly different to what the majority of the takes a great deal of personal courage to confirm an platoon had experienced on previous tours of IED by hand. Afghanistan, on HERRICK 15 and HERRICK 8/9. Irrigation ditches and compounds were replaced by a We altered our operating methods and reviewed our very busy tarmac highway that was a major supply previous patrols in order to combat the threat. route for insurgent forces. Diligence and experience from the vehicle crews meant that we were spotting threats and insurgent On previous tours, vehicles and personnel would observation screens quickly; which allowed us to take standoff at a distance from UK or ISAF forces; however the initiative on the ground. August was similar in in Kandahar province we had to deal with large terms of tempo to July, but with higher temperatures. amounts of traffic that would recklessly cut in between our convoy of vehicles on the highway. The At the time of writing, we are continuing to deploy on pressure plate Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) of operations in Kandahar Province but with an eye on HERRICK 15 had been replaced by a new threat: the leaving theatre and bringing all our equipment home. Suicide Vehicle-Based IED. The R&R plot is nearly over, which will signal the beginning of the end for us. The challenge has Throughout May and June, we conducted one to three now shifted to remaining vigilant and operations each week in our AO. This gave us attentive for the last stretch and plenty of training time to develop our ensuring that we continue to operating procedures, tactics, and retain the initiative each time we put our boots on the ground.

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Lt J Barker

15 Brigade Reconnaisance

Operation HERRICK 20 saw a small contingent from Y, Afghanistan National Security Forces (ANSF) Recce B and C Companies of the 1st Battalion deploy as part troops. These highly skilled soldiers allowed for a of the Brigade Reconnaissance Force (BRF) to unique level of local national interaction when Helmand. The BRF Squadron’s command for Op deployed outside the safety of Camp Bastion. Herrick 20 (H20) belonged to the Queens Dragoon Throughout the deployment the BRF denied the Guards (QDG). With one , 7NCO's and a senior Taliban large quantities of lethal aid including Pte provided by 1PWRR, the Regiment was well weapons, ammunition, and bomb-making equipment. represented. The BRF for Op H20 sat under the overall In return, we experienced a number of small arms command of the 5 Rifles Battle Group. For the majority, engagements, resulting in no friendly force casualties- the attachment to the QDG had lasted nearly two a credit to our training and individual professionalism. years, and we operated alongside them in Kenya, Throughout, where possible, the BRF facilitated the Canada and during Mission Specific Training. The ANSF's successfull detainment of a number of Taliban reconnaissance nature of the deployment allowed insurgents. both the Cavalry and Infantry, each with their own unique variety of recce skills, to be deployed with great With the ever-changing battle space dictating both the success. type and area of operations, Op H20 was not without its difficulties. The need to respond to a fluid and ever- The BRF mission brief for Op H20 had been primarily changing Taliban threat, often on an hourly basis, focused on disrupting the threat to Camp Bastion in required a great deal of consideration, careful planning depth. With the continuing drawdown and retrograde and flexibility. All this allied to the changing appetite of Camp Bastion, Leatherneck and Shuraback for risk at the political level. Despite this, and to their complexes, the need to continue to project a force great credit, the BRF NCO’s and soldiers stayed true outside the wire was imperative. Unlike previous BRF to their Recce roots. Continuously adapting as the deployments the H20 BRF would only deploy in the deployment developed, with both good humour and dismounted Helicopter Assault Force (HAF) role. The total professionalism. HAF role allowed for rapid insertions and extractions from target areas by using both the RAF's CH47's The BRF's HAF role was not without its perks. Often Chinooks and the Americans CH53 Sea Stallions. The 6 called the Princess's of the 5 Rifles Battlegroup, a month deployment saw the BRF mount operations nickname derived from landing into a target area for a both by day but more usually by night to disrupt the short period of time before lifting off in fast- moving insurgency. The BRF partnered themselves alongside helicopters, for a relatively short trip back to base. The

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Force Lt T Knowles

BRF chalked this 'banter' up to nothing other than simple soldier jealousy. We enjoyed the relative comfort of both Bastion in the early months and, in the closing two months, Kandahar airfield. With the retrograde of Camp Bastion in full swing, Op H20 resources and facilities were not quite what they used to be, but it was certainly comfortable. Gone were the days of the famous 'Pizza Hut', however multiple cookhouses and a decent NAAFI provided a welcome facility to unwind and relax from the heat and dust of the field, and a secure welcome bed after a long and often grueling night time op.

In down time, when not planning or training for the next operation, inter-Troop competitions of Football, Touch Rugby and Volleyball were organised. These tournaments, whilst aways carrying a slight risk of injury, helped alleviate some of the downtime boredom and frustrations which is so often a factor of Operational Deployment.

Ultimately the BRF's Op H20 deployment was executed in an exciting, challenging and ever-changing battlespace. Two years attached to the QDG has left us with strong bonds of friendship, and a mutual understanding of both the infantry and cavalry’s different but highly complementary reconnaissance skills. Those who deployed as part of the BRF take back experiences that will aid them enormously in the future of both their own careers and the soldiers under their future commands, together with memories and friendships that will last a lifetime.

17 Y Company

The Anti-Tank Platoon and Javelin Live Fire – Capt Steve Gibbs

Over a year ago, in October 2013, we heard what at utilise that asset. Following on, MGs were first we thought an ill-timed April Fools joke - we integrated immediately with the fire team attacks were getting four missiles. This turned out to be building up to a section of MGs supporting the live genuine, to the delight of all those who are very Anti fire Platoon attacks. During the TES phase the any sort of Tank. Platoon played two roles, a section supporting the Company Group, and the other providing an enemy The Anti-Tank Platoon has had a very busy and force to test A Company’s skill. demanding year, supporting Ex Desert Falcon in the UAE with C Company, Ex Southern Warrior in the In Latvia the Platoon deployed a section in the Anti- Falklands with A Company and Ex Saber Strike in Tank role. This was in order to ‘beef up’ a Light Role Latvia with B Company. It was a challenging period Company in an exercise where they would be facing for the Platoon that saw us deployed constantly Armoured or Mechanised Infantry from across throughout the year. Europe and the United States. The Anti-Tank boys had an extremely good time, made very welcome by The Platoon in the UAE provided the Company B Company, and had ample targets to engage and Group with a Machine Gun (MG) capability. The destroy for the company. increased weight of fire, switching of targets and utilising tracer to mark targets greatly increased Anyway, back to the missiles. This was the first live the Company Groups overall ability to conduct firing of Javelin for nearly six years in Germany. The operations. This also provided an excellent Platoon, as it likes to do, thought it was a perfect opportunity to develop a mutual understanding opportunity to show off. Over 230 guests arrived between the Rifle and Support Company Platoon. from the Paderborn Garrison, including Brigade MGs were integrated at all levels developing the Staff and the Brigadier, to several Paderborn based understanding down to fire team level culminating CO’s. in a Company Group live fire range package. The pressure was on, however all the missiles were Much the same was conducted in the Falkland successfully fired and achieved a good strike on the Islands. The Platoon took the opportunity to put on targets (2200m away). The four missiles allocated a fire power demonstration. The rates of fire, the to the Platoon was a very nice treat to reward the types of fire and our ability to manoeuvre was lads for their hard work and dedication to the shown to A Company so they had a better working Platoon and Battalion over the last year. knowledge of MGs and understood how to best

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Maj J Rands

OC’s Introduction Of course Y Company were less than pleased when have provided teams to multiple exercises, they heard that they would not be deploying on the impressed the Queen of Denmark on her visit and final HERRICK tour. Nonetheless, a handful of even sent LCpl Little to where he taught lucky personnel from recce platoon did deploy as the host nation army. part of the BRF. They will tell their owns tales better than I can, but they worked hard through a Closet drill-pig Sgt Bramhall has stood out among busy three months before moving back to a more many Y Company personnel for his role in the reserved pace of life as the last British troops in Freedom Parade in Brighton and other ceremonial Helmand Province fell back on Camp Bastion. It tasks, supported naturally by the drummers was their luck to be part of a significant moment in including Privates Miller, Kelly and Jacques (who history. also represented the company in the boxing ring, entering to the theme from Django Unchained). I It was a very different twelve months for the am not sure if we have mentioned it often enough majority of the company left in Paderborn. In a around the battalion, but we also retained the sense Y Company has not been very busy this year, Salerno title. but every individual man in the company has been working incredibly hard. Y Company itself has not This has taken place against a backdrop of a deployed but elements of the company have battalion converting to armour. Y Company NCOs supported or taken an active part in every exercise such as Sgt May and Cpl Owen have been the battalion and its sub-units have been involved instrumental in enabling the rifle companies to in. We have had Fire Support Groups (FSGs) and meet their timelines. With such a busy schedule mortar teams deploying far and wide from the cold it’s fair to say the only person having a relaxed time and wet of the Falklands to the heat of the desert in is the OC. Dubai. Snipers led by Cpl Lewis for most of the year

19 Brighton and Folkestone

Over the summer, Support Company 1PWRR, was spread word of their local county regiment. Due to the handed an ideal opportunity to represent the Battalion short nature of the stay, the Company only had two and wider Regiment back in the UK. The Company hours in town before departing back to Germany. The jumped at the chance to get back home and gain some Company disappeared into town to spend this time extra time with friends and family, and show ourselves with friends and family, or making new friends in the off in our Regimental Counties. We were to exercise our local bars. Freedom of Brighton and also take part in the Step Short Parade in Folkestone. The Step Short parade was an event falling under Op The entirety of Support Company, minus those Reflect in association with deployed or on courses, were privileged to exercise the the Step Short Committee Freedom of Brighton. Unfortunately with the Battalion in Folkestone. Members of and Company committed heavily it was to be a very the Anti-Tank Platoon and quick visit. We departed on a Thursday to arrive in Mortars were selected to Maidstone where 36 Regiment kindly attend. The parade was to put us up in their gym. The key personnel including the commemorate 100 years Parade Commander, Colour Party and the RSM since nearly 10 million conducted the recce on Friday to get a feeling as to soldiers from across what was expected. It was going to be a long parade on Britain and the Empire the sea front, just under two miles in No 2's and Blues deployed to France for the colour party. With the expected high summer from Folkestone during temperatures, it was going to get uncomfortable. the Great War, many never to return. One Despite the summer heat, the huge amount of public Hundred years ago, support soon meant that the sweat dripping down our these soldiers deployed backs was forgotten, with everyone enjoying the from Shorncliffe incredible atmosphere. The parade went extremely Garrison to the harbour well and was enjoyed by all. The Company also took the in town to await their opportunity to spend some time with the public and troop transports. In

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Parades Capt S Gibbs

Travelling down for the week the boys met up with an old friend, GSM White, who took the opportunity to drill his former Battalion for three days before the event. With HRH Prince Harry taking the salute and inspecting the men, he went to great lengths to ensure that the Regiment performed to the highest of standards.

After three days of 'marching up and down the square', with some exploration of Folkestone in the early hours, we were raring to get on parade. We knew the parade and what was required, we just needed to perform, and perform we did. The parade went without a hitch and we all felt very proud to have received the salute from His Royal . Several members of the company also got to meet Prince Harry during the inspection. The day was enjoyed by all, and with thousands upon dedication to their memories we were going to thousands of visitors, it was hard not to enjoy follow that route, including the march down the occasion as they clapped and the steep incline to the awaiting ships, cheered the entire length of the where commanders famously commanded march. the men to ‘Step Short’.

21 The Visit of The Colonel

In mid-September, the Battalion had the honour of whom it was a pleasure to welcome back to his home receiving a visit from the Colonel-in-Chief of the Battalion. Regiment, Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark. In her first visit to the Battalion since Following the parade, the Colonel-in-Chief was hosted autumn 2009, Her Majesty was welcomed on the in the Officers’ Mess by a contingent from the Queen’s runway of Paderborn Airport by the Commanding Regiment Association, who had travelled to Paderborn Officer, the Colonel of the Regiment, Brigadier Dennis, especially for the visit and, of course, also had strong the Danish Ambassador to Germany, Mr Poulsen- ties to Her Majesty from her time as Colonel-in-Chief Hansen and the Regimental Secretary, Colonel Harber. of our forebear Regiment. While that pleasant serial The party then travelled the short distance to Barker was progressing nicely, the Battalion, having just Barracks in a fleet of VIP vehicles with an escort marched off the square were being organised into the provided by the German State Police. grandstand ready for the official photograph. With superb timing, the last few officers were finding their The Queen was greeted by a Guard of Honour and seats as Her Majesty’s vehicle brought her to the stage parade upon her arrival onto the parade square. From ready for the photographer to record the occasion for the dais she overlooked the formed ranks of the longevity. It was at this point that Her Majesty Battalion and subsequently inspected the Honour addressed the men and women of the Battalion as a Guard who were proudly flying the Battalion’s Queen’s whole, thanking them for their service, and warmly and Regimental Colours. Accompanied by the conveying her fondness for the Tigers. The Battalion Battalion Second-in-Command, Major Simon Doyle, replied whole heartedly with three rousing cheers for she met the men of the Honour Guard who had been the Colonel-in-Chief. relentlessly drilled in the weeks leading up to the visit. Great credit must go to the RSM, WO1 Lee Bilner, and The Royal Party, having enjoyed an exquisite lunch HQ Company CSM, WO2 Ian Page, who were meticulous blessed by the Padre Justin Bradbury in his most in their planning and rigid in their attention to detail of excellent Danish, then embarked on a tour of the all aspects of the ceremonies. Also present at the Barracks. Displays and stands were put on by each of parade, was Johnson Beharry VC, the Companies, showcasing their activities over the

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- in-Chief Capt J Frampton

previous year as well as numerous sporting achievements. Her Majesty remained impressed throughout, and was enthusiastically and confidently briefed by soldiers from across the Battalion, who were a credit to themselves and their departments. The tour culminated in a demonstration of a ‘gun-run’ over the assault course and a display by a Javelin detachment of the Anti-Tank Platoon operating from a Warrior IFV.

With the visit drawing to a close, there was still time for Her Majesty to spend some relaxed time with the families of the soldiers and officers of the Battalion in the Tigers’ Den. Here, the Colonel-in-Chief was greeted by children waving Danish flags, or Dannebrogs, and Union flags. Inside, afternoon tea was provided for all, and Her Majesty was appointed the official judge of the cake contest, and returned to with a tier from the winning sponge! With that, the memorable day entered its final stages, and the Battalion lined the route from the Tigers’ Den in the direction of the guardroom ready for the Royal motorcade to depart. Her Majesty used the opportunity to wave farewell to her Battalion from her vehicle, with rounds of applause and cheering offered in reply by the assembled ranks.

23 Exercise Western Tiger

During remembrance week, the battalion conducted a the advancing Germans, though not without severe four-day battlefield tour to a number of WW1 Western casualties to themselves. Because of their tenacity, the Front sites: Ex WESTERN TIGER. Fifty soldiers of all Germans erected a memorial to the 4/Middx at the ranks deployed, including 2 members of 3 PWRR. While nearby St Symphorien CWGC cemetery in 1917, which is the development of the conceptual and physical where a service of remembrance was held. This is also components of fighting power was important, there was the resting place of Pte Parr of the Middlesex Regiment, a strong emphasis on the moral component. Based out the first British soldier to be killed in the war. of Arras, the study included 7 of the regiment’s recipients, including visiting the graves or For day 2 we moved north to the Ypres salient and memorials of four. The actions of our forbearer focussed on the battles of 1915-17. It started with short regiments were used where possible. In particular, the commemorations for 2Lt Hallowes VC MC and 2Lt war diary of the , which is an Hewitt VC, at Bedford House CWGC cemetery and the excellent primary source and includes detailed maps Menin Gate respectively. The morning was spent at Hill and is available on the Queen’s Royal Surrey Regiment 60, an important though not particularly famous action. Museum website. The Royal West Kents attacked and captured the hill for The first day concentrated on the early actions of 1914: just 7 casualties, though heavy fighting ensued in the British Expeditionary Force’s (BEF) initial meeting extremely close terrain. The 1st East Surreys conducted engagement with the German Army at Mons and a relief in place and held the position against repeated subsequent withdrawal. At Mons we studied the German counter attacks, with three Victoria Crosses actions of the 4th Battalion The Middlesex Regiment at awarded over a 2 day period: Lt Roupell, 2Lt Geary and Obourg railway station, who inflicted heavy losses on Pte Dwyer

The final day concentrated on Cambrai 1917 – the first significant combined arms attack from any nation as we would recognise it today. Having visited the Louverval Memorial to remember Capt McReady- Diarmid VC, who was killed repelling the German counter attack, we were fortunate enough to visit ‘Deborah’ – a tank from the battle that was recovered by a local tank enthusiast.

The battlefield tour ended by following the 7th East Surreys assault on the Hindenburg Line and subsequent defence on the right flank. The war diary provides an excellent description and map, which enables the day’s fighting to be retraced down to company level.

Overall, the exercise was a success in learning about the first world war and debunking a number of myths, in remembering the actions of our forbearer regiments and Victoria Cross recipients, discovering the origins of our current doctrine, and finally in fostering relations with the local French inhabitants – various soldiers went beyond the call of duty on this front.

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Maj R Dobson

25 WW1 St Symphorien

The St Symphorien military cemetery is a First World War burial ground 2 kilometers East of Mons in the Belgian province of Hainaut. It was created and maintained by the German Army, and it contains the graves of 229 Commonwealth servicemen and 284 German soldiers. The cemetery is overlooked by a granite obelisk some seven metres high, commemorating the dead from both sides in the August 1914 as well as a Commonwealth Cross of Sacrifice. There is an additional German monument to the dead of the 4th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment from the same battle. John Parr is buried here, who is believed to be the first Commonwealth soldier killed in action during the First World War.

Most of the British and German dead from the Battle of Mons were buried in civilian cemeteries in Mons and surrounding villages. Subsequently, the German Army decided to move and re-bury the dead in a single location. A site was selected near Mons but its owner, Jean Houzeau de Lehaie, refused to sell the land to the Germans but permitted its use as a burial ground on the condition that British and German dead were buried and commemorated as equals. This was agreed to by the German authorities and the burials happened in November 1915; it was finally finished on 6 September 1917 with a ceremony attended by important German figures, including Rupprecht, Crown Prince of Bavaria and Albrecht, Duke of Württemberg, something that was unheard of at the time but was well thought of around the world.

I was extremely proud to be chosen not only to represent my Regiment, my Division but effectively the Army and the country as a whole at this remembrance of the Great War. It was especially a proud moment because of the soldier I had the honour of remembering personally. Frank Agger a soldier of the Middlesex Regiment, one of our forbearer Regiments.The reading was conducted by myself and Frank’s cousin, also named Frank Agger. He had only recently found out about the whereabouts of Corporal Agger as he had emigrated to Australia many years ago.

St Symphorien is a one-of-a-kind war grave. To have the honour to be part of such a huge milestone in the remembrance of the First World War is an experience I will keep with me for life. Many of the Middlesex Regiment died there along with many other commonwealth soldiers and it is a spectacular and fitting final resting place for them all.

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Rememberance Sgt S Jones MC

27 2 PWRR

Lieutenant Colonel Chris Davies MBE Commanding Officer

For the 2nd Battalion, 2014 has been a rollercoaster The RSB 1 role, which will reside with the ride of diverse, challenging, complex and often Battalion for 18 months (Nov 2014 to May 2016), competing activities. The first half of the year was provides a much sought after ‘operational edge’ and dominated by Mission Specific Training in readiness leaves us well placed (operationally and for assuming the role of Op HERRICK Theatre Reserve geographically) to support contingency operations in a Battalion (TRB). After an exceptional performance by particularly unstable part of the world. Indeed, the all ranks, the focus quickly shifted to the Battalion’s second half of the year, including the period of time relocation from Woolwich to Dhekelia, Cyprus, ready to immediately after arrival in Cyprus before becoming commence a 3 year tour. RSB 1, has been dominated by support to Operation SHADER (UK’s contribution to countering the ‘Islamic During this period it was decided that the State of Iraq and the Levant’ (ISIL)). The Battalion has longstanding ‘TRB’ task was no longer required to met these challenges, and others linked to Cyprus support UK operations in Afghanistan. This news Security Duties, in an extremely professional manner, created a sense of uncertainty across the Battalion thereby forging a strong reputation with Headquarters and in many cases, severe disappointment. However, British Forces Cyprus, PJHQ, across Defence and high spirits quickly returned with an announcement overseas in Iraq, where training teams have been that we were going to form a new, Extremely High building the capacity of indigenous security forces in Readiness force called the ‘Regional Standby order to defeat ‘ISIL’ - we must now protect it. Battalion 1’ (RSB 1), tasked with conducting Crisis Response and Defence Engagement tasks across the In addition to the major events outlined above, Middle East and North Africa. members of the Battalion have worked hard to exploit training, sporting and other personal development opportunities, as well as looking after the families and deepening the sense of community spirit. Enhancing the ‘professional and personal offer’ during our tenure in Cyprus, whilst striking an important balance between the two, will be key to maximising operational effectiveness, maintaining morale and sustaining full manning. Some of the initiatives, such as significantly enhancing the Battalion’s Water Sports Club, have been enabled by grants from RHQ and the wider Regimental family, for which we are very grateful; they make a tangible difference to the lives of the soldiers and their families.

Finally, it would be remiss of me not to thank Lt Col Oli Stokes for handing over the Battalion in such good order, and secondly, to state how impressed I have been with the way in which all ranks have made me feel welcome; their approach to challenges and general professionalism has been impressive. Enough from me. What follows is a range of modest articles from the companies which I hope you will find interesting, informative and in some cases, amusing.

28 2 PWRR

WO1 (RSM) Eamon Regimental Sergeant Major

I was excited to be stepping into the arena (literally) as As the new Resident Infantry Battalion in Cyprus we the RSM in April 2014 as Master of Ceremonies for the have much to prove, and to protect; there exists both semi finals match of the Inter Unit Boxing Competition. real and reputational risks to the credibility of a Fighting I can say without equivocation that this has been one of Fit Light Role Infantry Battalion. That said this is also a the busiest periods for the Battalion in living memory. place of great opportunity - regardless of prior ability or wealth there is something for everybody here, you just Building on our excellent reputation among 20 need to go out there and find it. The climate and terrain Armoured Brigade during HFT we spent the first half of here are perfect for maintaining a fighting edge that 2014 getting amongst the numerous demands of London could simply not provide, we have already seen Individual and Collective Mission Specific Training. The more soldiers conducting their own PT after hours than culmination exercise ‘PASHTUN DAWN’ involved 5000+ I can remember. We will hone and develop our infantry troops on Salisbury Plain and the results vindicated the basics on island and also with the help of three hard work the troops had put in throughout the year. The fantastic overseas exercise locations – Belize, Jordan focus then changed to the hand over of our barracks at and the Falklands. The future for the Second Battalion Woolwich to our Divisional Battalion; 1 Royal is bright. Anglian. Everything received a thorough clean and polish to make it as usable as possible for the new residents. The fact that all this was conducted under unrelenting demands on manpower and equipment is a testament to the professionalism of the G4 chain.

A unit move is never easy, anyone who says that has clearly not experienced one as a married man with children; but the Battalion performed an almost faultless transition into sunny Dhekelia in time for the families to have the summer holidays in Cyprus. With a new barracks comes a new role, that of Regional Standby Battalion. The job description is much the same however, Extremely High Readiness with an operational focus on the Middle East and North Africa. The return to Cyprus brings with it a chance to regenerate the feeling of a Battalion family inside the wire that the setup in London did not support; we are a much more close knit community here, single soldiers and the families, and I look forward to building on that through future events.

29 A Company

Cyprus Security Duties 1 – Troodos Outstation Sgt P J McIntyre

Cyprus, one of the great sun-shine postings of the With the Battalion getting ready to assume the role of and soon to be the last permanent Regional Standby Battalion (RSB) the platoon also overseas base; a place where everyone wants to be deployed with section and platoon weapons, including posted for sun, sand, sea and fun, however it’s not all Glock Pistols, ASM’s, GPMG(SF) (General Purpose windsurfing and banana boating. On top of normal work Machine Gun, Sustained Fire) and all sight systems. This and guard duties that need to be carried out there is the enabled the platoon to ensure that all soldiers were Cyprus Ops commitment. Three high value sites that cross trained up to WHT (Weapons Handling Test) need to be protected at all times. In October it was the standard on all weapon systems as well as enabling turn of A Company to provide security. some pre-training on GPMG(SF) in preparation for the machine gun cadre at the end of November. Of all the sites that we have to guard it is Troodos that everyone wants; situated 6000 ft up in the mountains, it represents an ideal posting for a month. The chance to At the culmination of our time in Troodos, the do some altitude training is the most obvious advantage platoon were ready to return to camp. Four and with that comes the stunning views, much better weeks is a long time isolated from civilisation than staring at the walls of the gyms at the other sites. and on top of missing their wives and It is also a welcome break from the heat which even in girlfriends, cabin fever was on the verge of October can still reach the high 20’s and being pretty setting in, a potentially dangerous isolated you are usually left alone – it was therefore no combination. So with the task complete, surprise that 3 Platoon were happy when we were we handed over duties to 2 YORKS and tasked to guard Troodos. headed back to camp in Dhekelia and on to our final OPTAG (Operational Training and Advisory Group) training before we took up the mantle of RSB, all hopeful of a future deployment.

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Maj R Sanchez

OC’s Introduction

The last 12 months have absolutely flown by with barely a pause for A Company to catch its breath. A busy Mission Specific Training (MST) period crammed with back to back exercises merged seamlessly with the unit move to Cyprus; day one of work in Cyprus and A Company were deployed in support of the humanitarian and force protection requirements of Op SHADER, followed almost immediately with deployments to Troodos, Ayios Nikolaos and Akrotiri.

As we approach the end of 2014, the Company has just finished a series of range packages which included the GPMG SF Guns Cadre, Sharpshooter ACMT, LMG ACMT and an Army HQ task to assess the benefits of suppressors on infantry weapon systems.

In short, the lads have not stopped and as they approach a well deserved period of leave they can do so in the knowledge that their hard work has not gone unnoticed and that they have put the Company in great to shape to be able to take over the Battalion’s Lead Company Group commitment early in the New Year.

31 B Company

with his fists and came off second best! Nevertheless, OC’s Introduction the training provided an excellent opportunity to exercise controlled and disciplined aggression and At the back end of a busy and varied year of MST, a unit appeared to be enjoyed by all. move and Cyprus Security Duties, B Company were the first sub-unit to move on to high readiness in the On 4 November, B Company moved on to high Public Disorder and Riot Control (formerly Public readiness as the first Regional Standby Battalion Order) role. (RSB) Lead Company Group. Aside from the potential requirement to conduct Crisis Response and Defence This initially saw the Company trained for use in Engagement tasks, part of the Company’s remit was to Cyprus in support of the Base Area provide the Public Disorder and Riot Control capability authorities. 2 YORKS provided instructors to prepare anywhere in the Middle East/North Africa region. With the Company for platoon level operations. For many, a significantly higher threat level in these areas, OPTAG this was their first introduction to this world, but fully provided an additional training package; platoon staff equipped in the modern ‘Robocop’ protective were sent to gain the Exercise Control Officer (ECO) equipment, there was no shortage of confidence or and Instructor qualification. Amongst their number enthusiasm. This was particularly apparent when Cpl was OC 5 Platoon, Lt Alex Mangion. Newland took on a Vixen (formerly Snatch Land Rover)

Exercise SUNBURNT TIGER April 2014 Lt T Wilson

The thought of going on a Regimental Expedition to from a perfectly functioning aircraft! jump out of a perfectly functioning aircraft may not appeal to everyone. However, I never thought I would The learning progression is fast paced and requires a have the opportunity to do so and I felt it would be a lot of patience and commitment. By Jump Eight, challenging break from a busy period of Mission following checks, you’re exiting the aircraft by yourself Specific Training. Less than one percent of the world’s in any imaginative way you can think of. At this stage population have experienced the sensory overload you you notice the lift up is filled with less fear but more get when in free fall, and there were 20 Tigers ready to confidence and most importantly banter. The join that small group. following 10 jumps are “consolidation jumps”, there for you to practice everything you have learned previously, Exercise SUNBURNT TIGER was the first Adventurous by yourself. This is when you really confirm everything Training Expedition attended by members of all three your instructors have taught you and when under Battalions of The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment. canopy you have time to appreciate the fantastic views The expedition was to take place at Perris Valley of Perris Valley and nearby Perris Town. Skydiving Centre in Southern California, a place renowned around the world for its perfect skydiving The Tigers Free Fall Team have now successfully conditions and excellent facilities, both military and qualified more than 130 Tigers to solo skydive and the civilian. best part is that all can now present their licences at any skydive centre worldwide and continue with the The route to your ‘A-Licence’ starts, as you would sport, which many members of 2 PWRR are now doing imagine, with the very basics. First, you go through the in Cyprus. free fall itself, canopy handling, hand signals and wind judgment. These are revised every morning before jumps start for the day. By day two, following a thorough equipment check, you find yourself at 13000 feet stepping into the doorway of ‘Shark One’, one of three planes at Perris Valley. It is at this point, with your goggles completely fogged up, helmet wonky and the straps from your parachute rig cutting into every part of your body, that your mind suddenly goes blank. The next thing you know you are falling down ‘The Hill’ - a clear pocket of air made by the aircraft. Once stable you find yourself going through all the drills instinctively, and then its time to enjoy the ride and soak in what you have actually just done - jumped 32 www.pwrr.org.uk

Maj R D Smith

Exercise CAMBRIAN PATROL 22 – 24 October 2014 Lt T Wilson

The Cambrian patrol is an annual 48 hour long-range section patrol exercise held in the heart of Wales and is considered to be one of the most arduous patrol competitions in the world. It focuses on basic infantry skills over a number of stands which an 8 man team navigate between.

The number of teams entered in 2014 was vast and included overseas teams from , Jordan, Denmark and Australia. This year 2 PWRR had the privilege to host a team from the Jydske Dragoon Regiment, Danish Army in order to maintain our strong relationship with our Regiment’s Danish counterparts.

On the first morning the 2 PWRR team were given an The patrol finished in Cellini village with a thorough kit hour to build a detailed model and compile a set of check and a detailed de-brief. Throughout the patrol we patrol orders before we set off on the gruelling two day had been drip fed small pieces of information including foot march. The team’s first task was to complete a names of people, places, equipment and problems. Our close target reconnaissance which involved an insertion memory of all of this was now put to the test. It was over 10 kilometres of undulating terrain. From here we then time for tea and medals. Unfortunately, having lost moved on to a stand where we had to deliver a CBRN two members, the team was not eligible for a medal this lesson to some foreign forces simulating a real time year, but the sense of achievement at completing it was challenge faced by many members of 2 PWRR on reward enough. current operations. The third stand focused on medical drills and casualty evacuation drills. The Cambrian Patrol is arduous and will test any enthusiastic soldier, irrespective of rank. However, it is Just before last light we reached the river-crossing by no means impossible to finish and in fact should be stand where we lost two members of the patrol due to within the skill set of any fit, well prepared and well injury and were required to share their kit out among the rehearsed team. The sense of achievement, remaining members. We moved off and continued for comradeship and self development that comes another 15 km across the Black Mountains to following completion is huge and for those reasons I Sennybridge Training Area. The final stands were a two would recommend it to all. kilometre ammunition carry, an artillery observation stand and a section attack lane involving captured persons.

33 C Company

might add) we were in a serious contact and what had OC’s Introduction been a carefully synchronised isolate, strike and material and personnel exploitation operation rapidly As a Rifle Company we were all zealously guarding our became a rapid approach, house assault and future experiences on MST: whether an actual clearance task. This set the tone for the coming days. deployment came or not we knew that we would receive some of the most highly tuned, realistic and We recovered and planned the establishment of an operationally focussed training that the British Army Emergency Patrol Base (EPB) from which we could could provide. We were set to be challenged and we dominate an important route utilised by coalition liked the idea of this. members to extract back to Bastion. It was a superb event which required us to employ all the skills of the What came was pretty significant and saw 2 PWRR re- previous 6 months of training all within six hours: role a light role infantry company with less than five planning, war gaming and rehearsing led by Capt days notice from the first of the 2 highlights of the MST Buckley; a PM approach under Sgt Wall; KLE (Key calendar: Exercise PASHTUN PANTHER on STANTA in Leader Engagement) and negotiation to occupy the March - set on testing us as a Company Group on all EPB; rapidly establishing a credible Forward Operating Land Tactical Actions with a heavy emphasis on Base (FOB) from which we could survive and fight individual skills, drills and TTPs (Tactical Training under WO2 (CSM) Donaldson; launching a route Procedure); and Exercise PASHTUN DAWN on SPTA clearance with Sgt Dane and the Company’s Search (Salisbury Plain Training Area) in May – where all 20 Team and then a Relief-in-Place for securing key Armoured Brigade assets were fused together to Vulnerable Points during the hours of darkness with conduct operations (or the most likely operations the Guns Platoon. And of course the enemy had a vote: encountered) in the closing stages of an eight year snipes, attempted ambushes (thankfully intercepted combat mission in Afghanistan. by Cpl Arthey in a superbly situated Reactive OP); walk- ins and Insider Threat serials; Civilian Casualty PASHTUN PANTHER was a superb experience – albeit (CIVCAS) ; Indirect Fire (IDF); a Vehicle Borne Suicide a little short and sharp – and OPTAG certainly gave us Improvised Explosive Device (VBSIED) and breach of no quarter. As the last unit arriving to undergo the trial the EPB which necessitated CQB in order to clear it. and, for nearly all of us our first time operating with We were superbly served by the Ops Room, MASTIFF in any tactical scenario, we were strangely commanded by Capt Buckley, and attachments from straight in to planning a Helicopter Assault Force (HAF) Battery (LBdr Smith) and the Desert Hawk Det operation to strike a target only a few hours later. We commanded by Sgt Crouch RA – a one time section could have become easily fazed by the shear mass of commander in 1 PWRR who more than made up for his new assets thrown at us but kept to a simple transfer through his determined acquisition of any approach: the means of movement (be it by foot; imagery and strike assets available. MASTIFF; or CH47) were but an asset to get us in the right place, at the right time to achieve the right effect; Mission completed it was time to recover to BSN and an effect delivered by a switched on and mission assume responsibility for routine Force Protection. It focussed Infantryman. This approach served us well was here that MASTIFF came in to its own: we had as within seconds of hitting the LZ (not the right one I

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Maj S Brooks

instant depth on call and were routinely able to project PASHTUN DAWN was operationally a far more force in a timely and aggressive manner to keep the challenging event which demanded less tactically, in enemy on the back-foot. We then received orders to terms of quantity, of us. It did however provide an partner with ANSF and conduct a joint operation to unparalleled level of immersion in terms of our strike a key target in an adjoining town. We planned, employment being linked directly to the wider and liaised, rehearsed and launched a discreet operation developing operational picture. A Company were to invest in the area on foot with the ZULU Group on selected to provide a Convoy Support Centre (CSC) as call for almost instantaneous support: it was quickly a node for logistical extraction with B Company needed as a Victim Operated Improvised Explosive providing BSN FP. C Company Group, again in PM, were Device (VOIED) caused a number of casualties during coupled with a RLC Transport Troop for which we the clearance of the target. What followed was a truly provided the offensive capability: given that anything demanding scenario where we continued to exploit a due for extraction would either be high-priority for target, extract casualties and suppress opportunistic recovery to enable post redeployment capability or insurgent attacks. We were considered and deliberate items of a sensitive nature that could not be gifted nor in our exchanges with the enemy: constantly at the denied in situ, then every move was deemed mission fore of our minds were the consequences of reaction critical. Throughout we were heavily conscious that and counter-action. Although we targeted effectively the exercise was pitched to rehearse the final acts of a we often chose not to engage with Air Delivered defining moment in UK military history and foreign Munitions: ‘could I’ was almost always satisfied as an policy. We needed to ensure we were ready to finish engagement criteria but we spent much more time the job and close the narrative on our own terms. We analysing the ‘should I / must I’ question set in the sought to dictate the situation to the enemy as context of where we could be in late December 2014 in opposed to be subjected to it. Having 131 Infantrymen Helmand. In the majority of cases we chose to isolate mounted in 14 MASTIFF made a significant difference. discretionary targets in favour of focussing on the task in hand – we had examined this carefully throughout C Company Group, for there were numerous MST and were determined to draw the distinction attachments and a true whole Battalion effort to equip between ‘Contact’ and ‘Troops in Contact’: in the final and man us effectively, reaped significant experience stages this paid dividends as an opportunistic PKM from these events and were ranked consistently the team drew in a high-priority ‘Dushka’ and IDF assets to best sub-unit in 20 Armoured Brigade. our perceived inability to identify them – they were wrong and quickly neutralised. At the time of writing UK Combat Operations in Helmand have closed with no need for the deployment Overall the exercise provided an excellent arena in of C (PM RESILIENCE) Company Group: the tactical which to rehearse and refine our casualty evacuation situation did not warrant it. Irrespective, we gained procedures in the light of a reduced Medical much experience and affirmed, once again, the Emergency Response Team (MERT) Support Helicopter inherent flexibility demanded of and provided by the (SH) footprint and then pushed us to all be able to work Light Role Infantryman. ‘1 Up’ at all levels.

35 Op SHADER

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Maj S Brooks

Building Partner Capability (Kurdistan): C Coy Group, make good on the general intent to better prepare the Op SHADER, in Northern Iraq 2014/15 Pesh for their task. We found, through the help of others, a unit (1 Special Support to the Secretariat Trouble Comes: Switch Fire… Brigade) which were described as ‘up-for-it’; had a proven track record for being a tactical force multiplier; Having spent the last 18 months focussed on and were welcoming of the idea of UK Infantry training. achieving Mission Readiness for the closing stages of Short, sharp and effects-heavy OSW was received and Combat Operations in Afghanistan, C Company had the Company deployed via C-130 in the dead of night to our attention drawn to the growing number of a location near Sulamaniya in the mountains travesties in a not too distant past theatre of the bordering ; from recollection it all happened within British Army – Iraq and the growing threat of Islamic 20 days which also included fusing a training platoon State (IS) and in particular within Iraq and the Levant from our Regimentally affiliated Danish Royal Life (ISIL). Our mindset was broadened through a growing Guards who arrived in Cyprus only a matter of days emphasis on becoming the Regional Standby before the deployment. I know little of the detail as to Battalion (RSB) as opposed to the former Theatre how this really happened: I was already forward within Reserve Battalion (TRB) which had been traditionally 24 hours of the orders being received and so the heavy slaved to Operation HERRICK. We had already made lifting and delicate synchronisation fell to the some small contributions through Flight Line Security Operations Officer, Captain Marcus Buckley, and WO2 at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus and watched Coalition fast air (CSM) Frampton; thorough, determined, always and military air transport make routine flights of both working within the intent (and on the axis) - they were humanitarian aid (HA) and lethal aid (LA) to the Iraqi unflappable and superb throughout. Kurds, and an organisation known as the Pesh-merga (translated as ‘those who face death’) who were Now There – What to Do. engaged in suppressing IS in the northern region of the country. Isolated from the Company it was apparent that the actual business of training was going to be relatively Orders: Get Out There and Do It To Them… simple albeit demanding: the Pesh had no real concept of training beyond that of basic induction on International resolve to act decisively grew steadily enlistment, had virtually no resources and spent the with the fall of Mosul (Iraq’s second city) in June and vast majority of their time on the front line. It was clear increased significantly once Erbil (the Kurdish primary that training needed to be ruthlessly prioritised and city) was threatened in late summer. C Company utterly focussed on the real operational demands on Group would find themselves at the very heart of the Pesh at individual, section and platoon level based Coalition efforts in the region and as a further proof of on the premise of ‘doing it’ with what they had the concept of future employment of Infantry immediately available. Battalions: Building Partner Capability or Capacity; Military Capacity Building; Upstream Intervention – CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE ... > call it what you will we were to train the Pesh-merga (known as the Pesh or simply Pesh). As part of international efforts to Train, Advise and Equip (TA&E) there were two real roles in Northern Iraq from now on: fighting IS or training others to fight IS: the Pesh were to take the lead on combat and we were selected for their preparation for this ranging from holding the front-line (real trench warfare – quite fitting given the centenary) through to fast moving, complex operations in urban areas ahead of a planned assault on Mosul.

Acting on Intent and the 2 Big Questions: Where are They; Who are They?

It is difficult to describe, due both to the complexity of expeditionary operations and the security sensitivities surrounding them, how we actually found ourselves as a Company Group living amongst the Pesh, training them and operating in near complete isolation some five hours distant drive from the small UK HQ in the region. At this early stage of the operation there was energy in abundance but precious few personnel to

37 Op SHADER

How to Do It: A Good Lance-Jack, a Model Pit and 60 Identifying the Depth Target: Setting the Conditions Minutes of Enthusiasm… for (their) Future Success…

I will be unequivocal that the easiest part of the Although heavily conscious of our operational remit operation has been the training of the Pesh: for those (and freedoms) we have sought to ensure that who fear the modern generation of soldiers and NCOs’ everything taught (Marksmanship; Infantry Skills & ability to ‘make it happen’ without modern comforts Drills; OBUA; Counter IED; CASEVAC and First Aid; HMG then rest assured we had nothing and not only and weapon integration; command and leadership; survived but lived well and trained hard. Innovation tactical planning etc.) is not only achievable within the was the order of the day: to a man (and woman) we all Pesh’s resources but also their professional instructed in our areas of experience. They were able capabilities. As such we are now seeking to expand students and incredibly keen to learn. Throughout, all operations both in terms of formalising BPC training were heavily conscious that the last range of the and also in terms of Train-the-Trainer (T3) cadres for Thursday of the course would mark the return in a the wider Brigade’s Training Wings. It is important to matter of hours for the vast majority to the front line. note that the Pesh do not recognise training as an Serious stuff delivered with humility, humour and deep organic capability and rely heavily on lessons-learned respect. We were certainly the better for our time with on an individual level on the front line – something we the Pesh – as I believe they are for our input. are working hard, and steadily towards, reversing. We very much hope to be part of embedding this ethos and whole-life-commitment to training in the Pesh psyche before mission end: it would be a worthy legacy to leave in this troubled and contested part of the world.

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Maj S Brooks

39 Z Company

Tigers transferred from 2 RRF (on disbandment), OC’s Introduction meant that we needed to conduct cadres for our specialist platoons. Time pressures were a big In times to come when the men of the 2nd Battalion consideration, as we had to ensure that all our new look back at 2014, I hope they feel proud of what additions were qualified in role prior to assuming they accomplished and how they responded to a RSB 1 responsibilities. These cadres dominated the myriad of challenges. company’s time from September to November and a huge amount of work was put in by the relevant The year began with Mission Specific Training (MST) platoon commanders and NCOs in preparation for assuming the Regional Standby Battalion 1 (RSB 1) commitment in the autumn. This In the final few months of the year Zulu Company saw the separate support weapons platoons split personnel find themselves once again broken down down and provide detachments to each rifle into constituent parts, fully supporting Battalion company, in order to enhance their organic commitments. Firstly, we are deployed in a couple capabilities in terms of fire power and Intelligence, of guises in support of Op SHADER. At present this Surveillance, Target Acquisition and is most prominently in the Flight Line Security role Reconnaissance (ISTAR). As the Battalion bounced at RAF Akrotiri, but with more dynamic taskings from exercise to exercise the men of Z Company hopefully to follow! Zulu Company personnel are became more and more integrated with their rifle also seconded at detachment strength from each companies, and by the Confirmatory Field Exercise platoon to the lead RSB Rifle Company. These (CFX) and Final Training Exercise (FTX) they had members of Zulu are ready to deploy alongside the become an indispensable part of their ORBAT. A lead company wherever they may go, in whatever number of Company HQ also supported at the Battle role they are sent. The operational climate is an Group staff level during these challenging exercises, exciting one as we enter 2015 and we are ideally all to good effect. situated both geographically and in terms of preparedness to exploit any On the successful conclusion of MST we went into opportunity that comes the G4 maelstrom that is an overseas unit move. along. Thanks to the hard work of the CQMS and his party, it proved to be relatively painless. A significant influx of new blood, from both our rifle companies and new

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Maj S J Hunt

Last minute call for the last Op HERRICK tour Cpl Butcher

In December 2013 Cpl Butcher, LCpl Vincent and LCpl Beal of Second Battalion, The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment had completed a period of ‘guest instructing’ at the Infantry Battle School Sniper Wing. There they had helped to instruct a number of students on the principles and realities of sniping before moving on to marksmanship, range theory and practice. Having performed well they moved back to the Barracks Woolwich, in order to enjoy some well earned Christmas leave before joining the Battalion on Mission Specific Training (MST). It was then that they received a surprise call to inform them that they were to deploy on the final Op HERRICK tour with the Brigade Reconnaissance Force (BRF).

When the call came in from OC Sniper Platoon informing myself, LCpl Vincent and LCpl Beal that underestimated. The 2 PWRR snipers were utilised the CO had requested three snipers to deploy with at every opportunity. We deployed on every the Brigade Reconnaissance Force (BRF) on Op operation conducted by the BRF, providing HERRICK 20, I was pretty surprised. When we were protection to their troops and real-time then told to be ready to move in forty-eight hours, information ‘feeds’ on enemy movements. All this we moved fast! Within a day and a half we were on was done whilst concurrently maintaining the a flight bound for Dempsey, headed up by The Squadron Surveillance and Target Acquisition Plan Queen’s Dragoon Guards (QDG). We were then (STAP) and providing accurate and timely quickly put through our paces; having to plan, information to the Officer Commanding BRF. prepare and execute a sharpshooter course whilst completing Mission Specific Training (MST). Just Such a pace of Operations ensured that we had to from the training and specific skills that were utilise every element of our sniper skill-set; focused on we could see that HERRICK 20 was constantly learning, developing and practicing new already shaping up to be a tour unlike those that tactics and techniques; whilst, at the same time, had preceded it. documenting marksmanship data in the complex environment of Counter Insurgency. The BRF, and The three of us deployed mid-May to Camp therefore the 2 PWRR sniper attachments, actively Bastion where we were astonished by the changes operated against the insurgency in Helmand that had been made since our last tour. The Province all the way through the final phases of process of collapsing Camp Bastion was well Camp Bastion’s closure and indeed, even for a little under way with open land stark and bare, while after the camp was formally handed over. discoloured and ringed by roads where tented This saw us operating out of Kandahar, rather than accommodation had once stood. Most of the Bastion, for a substantial period of time. It was a infrastructure had already been broken down and tour like no other and greatly exceeded our a feeling of a return to austerity prevailed. The BRF expectations. on HERRICK 20 was tasked with the DISTURB and DISRUPT of the enemy in depth to Bastion, in order LCpl Beal, LCpl Vincent and I rejoined the 2nd to provide the freedom of movement that was Battalion as quickly as we could, following required for the closedown operation. This was decompression on Cyprus. We were met with a conducted by means of Helicopter Assault Force home coming party arranged by Reconnaissance (HAF) with the CH47 airframe as our ‘horse.’ and Sniper Platoon and our families. It was a good opportunity to tell some stories and enjoy a drink All the snipers were put to the test throughout the or two. We brought back with us the evidence and tour. The diverse environment and testing climate, collective information that we had compiled of combined with an ever-evolving role to put large sniping in difficult terrain and just as importantly, amounts of pressure on each sniper individually the pride of finishing the last Op HERRICK tour and the importance of the task could never be representing our . 41 D Company

OC’s Introduction and along the ‘top corridor’ within D Company. Completing MST and preparing and executing the We also welcome our very new First Line necessary administration for a very complex arms Suppliers from the RLC who now work integrally plot move to Cyprus has been an enormous within the Quartermaster’s Department and challenge for D Company which should not be alongside their RLC catering colleagues who we underestimated. What is more impressive is the have inherited since moving to Cyprus. As way D Company have enabled the necessary always, the welcome has been warm and it is preparation for the fighting Companies in support obvious that there is a very strong spirit within of operations and Cyprus Security Duties in such a the Company. very short period of time. From ‘Welfare to Warfare’, busy and non stop, D Company has an array of Now fully committed to our role as the Regional talented enablers who work extremely hard to Standby Battalion (RSB), D Company face the provide a valuable service. new challenge of balancing our commitment of soldiers in support of operations, enabling the We very much welcome those soldiers from 2 RRF forward and home base activities whilst striking and other battalions within the Queens Division who the correct work life balance to enjoy Cyprus have chosen to serve with the Battalion, all of whom and exploit the travel opportunities. bring fresh talent into the technical departments

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Maj M D Hollis

Unit Move Maj M D Hollis

The unit arms plot move to Cyprus involved the The movement of single soldiers, their property movement of three major units, all manoeuvring and the Regimental property was a joint venture into locations to fit the army’s re-basing plan and shared between the Quartermaster’s future 2020 structure. In short – 1 R ANGLIAN Department and the MT. In particular, the MTO from Bulford to Woolwich, 2 PWRR from was responsible for planning and executing the Woolwich to Dhekelia and 2 MERCIAN from movement of all sea freight which included the Catterick to Bulford. movement of all unaccompanied baggage and public property. Forty 20 Foot ISO containers Appointed as Unit Move Officer (UMO), I was to were successfully packed, transported and be the single point of contact to provide direction delivered to Cyprus to meet the requirements of and coordination between the unit and the many the soldiers on arrival Cyprus. agencies involved in all aspects of the Unit Move (UM). Planning started one year ahead of the UM It is not possible to name all of our team but I feel by initiating early contact with Staff Assistant it is important to single out a few for their Movements (SA Mov) at HQ Support Command endeavours. Our recently departed in Aldershot and also the Movement Support Quartermaster, Major Tony Panayi, was Services (MSS) at Abbey Wood. Early instrumental for the execution of the movement engagement with 1 R ANGLIAN at this very early of both sea and air freight as well as the stage was also essential and we quickly handover and takeover of all accounts. Ably developed a very rudimentary plan based purely assisted by Jones & Jones, two very bright and on dates and the Forecast of Events. hard working RQMSs, and WO2 Paul Burnett, the acting MTO. Capt Angie Carusso (FDC) was the In total, the Army had eight major and five minor lead on flights and movement through Brize unit moves during the summer of 2014 which Norton and Capt Ned Miller (UWO) provided the would significantly test the commercial overall sanity check of all families’ movement contractor appointed to coordinate and execute and married accommodation. It was always our the ‘pack and move’ of entitled families. This part intention to provide the soldiers and families of the move was delegated to the Unit Welfare with a unit move to ensure the very minimum Office who would liaise regularly to define the disruption and smooth transition between requirement and amend accordingly to meet London and Cyprus. How we have performed as with the needs of the individual families. This a unit thus far in our new role is testament to a particularly challenging piece of the UM was very successful UM – a job very well done. supported by forward mounting a G1 activation party to Cyprus in order to have continuity forward as well as in the UK.

43 A Rifleman

OC’s Preamble - I met Pte Richardson in January 2014 just as the Company was entering the high tempo phases of Collective MST: he was a new arrival who came with the most remarkable, yet understated, narrative of his life. In my short time as his OC I have watched him volunteer time after time: he has just completed the 2014 CAMBRIAN PATROL and deployed to Northern Iraq on operations only a few days later (he got his wish); and as you will see he has run, swum and biked thousands of miles – some times for work, sometimes for charity, sometimes for sport and sometimes just because he can. I requested that he wrote his story down for several reasons: firstly, that it was quite remarkable. Second, as it serves as a reminder that we all are never too old, too ill or too limited to do something new or push ourselves that little bit further.

44 www.pwrr.org.uk of the Second Pte S Richardson

Having joined the British Army last year at the age of I was determined that this disease would only change 30 I was nervous to the fact that as one of the older my life for the better and would not stop me from private soldiers I would be questioned on my desire joining the Army. I passed out of ITC Catterick as the and hunger to achieve success in my new career. I fittest recruit at the age of 29 and haven’t looked back have proved in my short time in the Army that my since. desire to achieve success has never been so high. I want to win: here is the story of my life so far and what When I joined Battalion I was straight into MST: this I believe it takes to succeed. was a very demanding five months to be thrust into as a private solider straight out of training but I strive to I grew up in a quiet town in East Anglia in with be the best in whatever I do. The Battalion soon saw my parents and identical twin brother and sister. After how fit I was and allowed me to motivate younger completing my A levels I decided I wanted to go private soldiers. I got a gang together to compete in travelling to Australia. Looking back now, this trip the ‘Paras 10’ in Colchester in June 2014 although we would change my whole life and would very nearly cost had only just come off a major exercise the day before. me my life by the end of it. This ‘short’ time travelling I achieved a 9th place finish out of the 900 ended up lasting 6 ½ years and took me to 32 different competitors, averaging just under 8-minute miles countries including India, Tibet, South East and despite carrying 25 Kg in 28oC. All the time during MST Africa. I worked in some unforgettable jobs; Search I have been learning: using new weapon systems and and Rescue in Colorado, USA, being a high altitude equipment, new lessons about tactics and how routine tracking guide in the Himalayas and security work in works on operations. It has been tough to start with . During this time I have lived with some amazing but I grasped it quickly and worked as hard as I could. individuals and families along the way from all I remember being on stag on top of a MASTIFF on different races, religions and backgrounds opening my Salisbury Plain in the sleet and rain with very little eyes to the world. Money is not the only thing that can sleep and thinking to myself “I have to stay awake for make you happy: having spent two weeks living in the the protection of the Platoon” and it was in this slums of Mumbai where they had nothing but the moment that reality set in. This is what being in the clothes on their backs but always had a smile on their Army is all about and you have to be mentally resilient faces. and show newfound levels of determination and learn Joining the British Army which was a life long dream to carry on as the needs of your fellow soldiers must of mine: I passed all the requirements, running the 3rd come first. quickest PFA time on record at selection (07;23) and was given my joining date. However, I began to feel I am now currently in Cyprus waiting to take over the unwell and although I did not think much of it at the RSB role. I recently found a new challenge by joining time things then became very serious. I went to a the local triathlon club and have won the first three doctor with flu like symptoms and he seemed very events. Cyprus has huge potential as far as concerned that I had been travelling intensely for the Adventurous Training goes. I pride myself on being one best part of the last decade. I was sent to my local of the fittest men in the 2nd Battalion and it makes it hospital for a chest x-ray and will never forget that day even more satisfying that I can do it at the age of 30 as along as I live. I was sat down in a quiet room and whilst missing 20% of my original lung capacity. told that "I regret to inform you but you have TB in your Despite my obvious passion for sport and raising left lung". I had to have him repeat it. I was put into money for charity I believe the biggest challenges in my isolation for three months after which I was on a life will be linked to deploying on operations. cocktail of drugs (34 tablets a day) and was then told I had a drug resistant form of TB and the drugs were not I have not joined the Army simply as a job: I have joined working. This resulted in me being put onto a second to make a career out of the vocation and lifestyle the set of treatment: it was at this moment that I needed to Army can bring. My next ambition is to get promoted set myself a goal to keep motivated. I challenged and become a leader of Infantrymen. I know age is not myself to raise money for a TB charity called TB Alert by technically on my side but I believe I know what it takes rowing the whilst still undergoing to become a winner in my head and I will achieve the treatment for this life threatening disease. I raised goals I have set myself in the future. £4000 and was the first person to complete this challenge whilst still undergoing serious treatment. It is now my tradition to do a charity event for them every year. In 2014 I have done two: running the London Marathon (2:58); and biking from John o' Groats to Land’s End (1658 km) raising a further £3000.

45 Unit Welfare Office

As we closed the door on a busy 2013 another one the grass problem in Cyprus by having artificial grass opened very quickly in 2014. The soldiers were faced laid in the garden. After the summer holidays it was with two main areas of focus: putting together all the back to school for the kids which gave the mums a bit hard work they had done throughout 2013 in order to of respite and back to work for the lads (which also get the seal of approval on the MST final exercise, gave the mums a bit of respite!). whilst at the same time ensuring that all of the families moved across to Cyprus in good order and Since being in Cyprus and forming a good partnership with everything in place for a smooth transition with the Dhekelia Station we’ve run some great events, overseas. one of the highlights being a visit from the cast of The Inbetweeners. In addition, a brilliant Halloween party The soldiers’ superb performance over the past year led by CSgt Robinson and the team was also greatly will have been written about extensively throughout appreciated. The standout highlight so far has to be the journal so I’m concentrating more on how well the the effort that took place to get Santa to tour the families preformed and adjusted to the unit move and housing estates in Dhekelia (on the back of a life in Cyprus. A unit move within mainland UK is no flatbed truck!), bringing much joy to all the easy feat, so having to move some 2500 miles away children who waited patiently for his arrival. from loved ones was a very hard and emotional time He even made a special stop at the for all concerned. The Battalion had just enjoyed four Guardroom and WOs’ & Sgts’ Mess, years in Woolwich where we had easy access to handing out sweets and telling everyone relatives and friends. Cyprus would bring new about his famous reindeer. Padre challenges and also new opportunities. The move Peter also did an excellent job in itself started some 10 months earlier in November 13 ensuring that whoever stayed in and the preparation was under way to move 130 Cyprus over the Christmas period families from Woolwich to Cyprus over a three week had plenty of activities to get period at the back end of July 14. One of the hardest involved in, including a times was telling the families they would be without German style Christmas some key items of furniture for up to six weeks due to market, alongside several the shipping time to Cyprus. Once the move was in full traditional church activities flow the families spent a couple of nights in the and services – all first class Novotel in Greenwich where some lucky families had events and very well the pleasure of having a few drinks with darts legend received. Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor. From the hotel we moved the families to Brize Norton the night before their flight I would like to finish by and everyone was treated to a one night stay in the saying that it has been Gateway House, which will no doubt live on in another busy year and I’m everyone’s memories for many years to come. Then it sure 2015 will be pretty much was the flight to Cyprus which has improved vastly in the same. We send our best recent years, with plenty of space on board. wishes to C Company and Nevertheless, when you’ve got young ones and have attachments who are currently been up since 0600 to check in five hours early for the conducting a fantastic job in only flight that leaves Brize Norton that day, the task Northern Iraq and wish them a safe remains a challenge. After a night spent in the hotel in and speedy return. My biggest Cyprus it was then time to ‘march in’ to new homes and, thank you goes to everyone who was the next day, receive much longed after furniture. This involved with the Unit Move; the was a fantastic effort made easy by a number of single soldiers for once again agencies working together throughout the move, but a making everything happen, and to big thank you must go to the families who have shown the families for showing great patience throughout some testing times. patience and getting to grips so enthusiastically with the Cyprus On arrival in Cyprus we were helped by the Housing lifestyle. Officer and his team who welcomed 2 PWRR and set about ensuring the families’ needs were being catered Everyone now knows why this is a for. After a number of on-island briefs it was time for famous saying: THIS IS CYPRUS MY the families to have some down time and get settled FRIEND in. With temperatures soaring in to the high 100’s on a daily basis (a bit of a contrast to sunny Woolwich!), the Let’s see what 2015 brings………….. only place to find the families was down at the beach. One other thing the some families did well was to solve

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Capt N Miller

47 Dhekelia Water Sports

Dhekelia Water Sports Centre (DWSC) and Beach Bar DWSC is crewed from soldiers within the Battalion. It are located immediately adjacent to Alexander has a Sgt Chief Instructor, Sgt Horn, whose adventure Barracks and are managed, manned and maintained training qualifications and experience are invaluable. entirely by soldiers from 2 PWRR. The centre provides The remainder of the team come from across the water based activities and courses for all 2 PWRR Battalion on a 6 month internal posting as a reward for soldiers, their dependants and the wider Dhekelia their hard work within the busy companies. In doing so Service community. All water sports for 2 PWRR they get a number of qualifications and an insight to soldiers are free, courtesy of the very generous PWRR another way of military life which provides a very Benevolent Fund annual grant for Adventure Training important professional function for young soldiers through RHQ. Other generous grants have been posted away from the UK. released from the Surrey Regiment Association which have provided the centre with fantastic paddle boards, The Beach Bar is the informal social club for all an up and coming water sport that is very popular with members of the Battalion and their dependants. It is the lads. Further funding as part of a Nuffield Trust extremely popular and used for all different grant has also been agreed by RHQ, which will seek to celebrations and gatherings. Entirely self-funded, it replace a very old speed boat and acquire some Starter provides soldiers and dependants with an idyllic Wind Surfing rigs to further enhance the wind and seaside venue for children's birthday parties, sports paddle power activities that the centre provides, team post match drinks and a whole host of informal especially in the afternoon when the wind is ‘up’. gatherings. Again, it is an extremely important part of Battalion life here in Cyprus as it really is a welcoming and versatile venue for everyone.

48 www.pwrr.org.uk

Centre Maj M D Hollis

49 3 PWRR

Lieutenant Colonel John Baynham Commanding Officer

As I sit in Val D’Isere visiting our Battalion Ski team at Following on from Captain Andy Layzell’s MBE in the the Infantry Championships, it gives me a great deal of 2014 New Year’s Honours List, Major Gerry Long was pleasure to reflect on the last year, which has been also awarded the MBE in the 2015 Honours List for his hugely demanding and highly rewarding for 3 PWRR. exceptional contribution to recruiting and training over The Battalion moved early into our A2020 geographical a period spanning 10 years with Battalion, and also for lay down and all significant moves are now complete. his success as OC A Company; both awards were Battalion HQ remains in Canterbury along with HQ thoroughly deserved. Company and the Regimental Band. We have rifle companies in Rochester, Farnham and Brighton and On a more somber note, we assisted 1 PWRR with the recently established a platoon outstation in funeral for Sgt Barry Young in Canterbury Cathedral Eastbourne, formerly 56 Sig Sqn. In April we re-roled D who passed away on Christmas day 2013 and we sadly Company in Portsmouth which became 679 Sqn Army lost WO2 Steve Marsh after a brave and stubborn fight Air Corps; which sadly resulted in the loss of our against cancer in May 2014. Regimental footprint in Hampshire, although we still have a presence in Surrey, Sussex and Kent. Following 2015 and beyond promises to be equally challenging; the Army 2020 restructuring we have re-subordinated we will deploy on Ex IBERIAN STAR 6 – 20 June to take following the loss of HQ 2 (South East) Brigade to sit part in the Spanish High Readiness Mountain Bde under command of 7 Infantry Brigade in Chilwell, exercise. We will also play a large part in the Armed alongside our paired Battalion. Forces Day National Event, which will take place in Guildford on 27 Jun 15. It has been an absolute honour The following articles will give a flavor of some our and a privilege to command the 3rd Battalion but sadly activity in detail, including Ex Askari Storm and Op all good things must come to an end, I hand over to Lt Tosca, so I won’t discuss them here. All I will say is that Col Andy Betts in the summer, I wish him and the it has been an eventful and challenging year and I am Battalion all the very best for the immensely proud of what we have achieved as a future. Battalion. In terms of Operation FORTIFY, we are well placed and are looking to be at just over 100% of our Army 2020 establishment by mid-2015, with a trained strength of approximately 80%. After significant recruiting effort we are one of the best manned units across the Army Reserve and many of our processes have been shared across the Reserves as best practice. As a result we have received a number of senior visitors, including Lt Gen James Everard, Commander Land Forces, and the Minister for Reserves, Julian Brazier MP.

A personal highlight for me this year was Armed Forces Day, where the Battalion exercised the Freedom of Guildford. I was also invited to be the Parade Commander for the Step Short Parade which commemorated the start of the 100th anniversary to the day of the start of World War One. The parade was tri-Service and the Army representation was made up of two guards from 1 and 3 PWRR. Prince Harry was the Inspecting Officer and hosting him for the walk around was an honour and a lot of fun!

I would also like to use this introduction to make a few special mentions. I would like to congratulate Captain Drew Reed who whilst completed the gruelling Devizes to Canoe Race in a very respectable time. I would also like to congratulate Major Alex Cherry who has just become the Infantry Alpine Skiing Champion, with the Battalion ski team being placed third out of Reserve units at the competition. 50 3 PWRR

WO1 (RSM) Garry Jackson Regimental Sergeant Major

My opening paragraph in the 2013 Tiger journal stated it marched down The Road of Remembrance was given that there would be plenty of challenges and reward the order “Step Short”. The parade finished at the ahead, a truer word could not have been said. A2020 harbour with Prince Harry releasing 600 white balloons has meant the tempo of activity has been particularly bearing poppies, each representing a name on the busy, the restructuring of Regular Infantry Regiments Folkestone War Memorial. ORBAT with the integrated pairing of a Reserve Infantry Battalion and Op FORTIFY- recruiting for the Army My time as the Regimental Sergeant Major is passing Reserves. very quickly. During my tenure I have seen a massive step change in the way the Reserves operate and how Next to operations, recruiting for the Army Reserves is they are perceived by their Regular counterpart. I have the main effort. Particularly important for 3 PWRR as it no doubt that 3 PWRR in its current condition and the is currently the only PWRR unit in the UK, meaning we uncertain climate we all operate in will continue to meet are responsible for recruiting to the three Battalions. the demands and challenges set upon them. Along with the numerous recruiting events, 3 PWRR has seen a lot of employer and community engagement It has genuinely been a privilege to have served as the activities, recruiting and spreading the Regimental Regimental Sergeant Major 3 PWRR. name far and wide. Op FORTIFY is an enduring activity, less the name itself, the time and effort it absorbs, it is not likely to change.

Integration for us is already in full swing, starting in the main, at the beginning of the year with a fully formed Platoon deploying to Kenya with A Company 1 R ANGLIAN on Ex ASKARI STORM 5; the details are covered in a separate article. The integration’s real ‘press to test’ will be the current Force Generation, Mobilisation and subsequent deployment of a fully manned Platoon to Kabul on Op TORAL. Known as 4 Platoon, they will deploy with A Company 1 R ANGLIAN in early 2015. The experience within the Platoon is wide-ranging from the newly trained recruit to the operationally experienced ex Regulars. Recently the Platoon Commander, Lt Bignold, not long into MST returned from Brecon, having just completed the Regular Platoon Commanders Battle Course and did so with a highly competent grade, placed in the top third of the course. The Platoon Sergeant, Sgt Warren, whilst in the Regulars with 1 PWRR completed the Platoon Sergeants Battle Course with a ‘Distinction’. 4 Platoon’s confidence and morale is high and rightly so - they are a very capable group of soldiers.

This year has seen its fair share of parades; most notable was the ‘Step Short’ parade in Folkestone as part of the centenary anniversary of WW1. The name ‘Step Short’ comes from when soldiers leaving Folkestone harbour heading to the Western Front, in hob nail boots would march down Slope Road, now known as The Road of Remembrance. In order to shorten their step down the steep hill were given the order “step short”. The parade began with a march down The Leas, an inspection and unveiling of a plaque at the Memorial Arch by his Royal Highness Prince Henry, commonly known as Prince Harry. Each detachment as

51 A Company

OC’s Introduction

The last year focus for A Company continued to be Op FORTIFY based on enhancing recruiting, retention and reenergising the training base. The Company also welcomed back those who mobilised for Op TOSCA (UN commitment to Cyprus), and preparing and mobilizing personnel from across the Battalion for Op TORAL (Kabul Support Battalion), the highlight of the year was undoubtedly taking part along with Battalion in the Freedom Parade through Guildford. Additional commitments included the deployment to Kenya with our paired Regular unit 1 R ANGLIAN and support to many recruiting events across the region including Armed Forces Day celebrations and sending out representatives across Surrey and Hampshire to support Remembrance Sunday.

The Company at Farnham continues to be a focal point for Community Engagement (CE) in the County and beyond. Many of the Company took the opportunity to join in the UK/US Exchange programme which saw members of the Company deploy throughout the United States with various National Guard Regiments. In return the Company hosted members of numerous National Guard units on the Battalion Annual Training Event (ATE) in Cyprus.

The Company was the lead for the Battalion Training Weekend at Copehill Down, which saw all elements of the spectrum of the Reserves and Cadets and our paired Regular unit taking part in the arduous terrain

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Major G Long

of the FIBUA Village. This weekend culminated in the Battalion Christmas lunch which ended the Training Year 2013.

Recruitment recovered well under the new guidelines, the Company has been at the fore with the developing of all recruits (and increasingly pre-Attestation Candidates) and ensuring the life blood of the Regiment is mentored through the training pipeline. The Battalion are recognised as best practice for this process throughout the reserves, focused on the Battalion RRMT based in Farnham. A Company has also been the centre for the Battalion’s ‘Look at Life’ programme aka Look At the Making Of a Tiger, (LAMOT) this continues to be a success and builds on the Battalion’s impressive ability to adapt to the ever changing recruiting process.

A full year of operational commitments and training beckons with our Regular battalion, 1 R ANGLIAN this will see not only soldiers mobilized for Op TORAL but joining exercises in training throughout the year. The Company stands along with the Battalion at the fore of integration into Army 2020. With a focus on quality training and continued recruiting we look forward to the new training year and the challenges it will bring on operations and in training opportunities.

53 B Company

units, doing all they can to recruit. The company have OC’s Introduction been as proactive as possible on the recruiting front and continually look to exploit community engagement It has been another busy and demanding period for B and PR events as well as providing the additional Company. We have continued to provide manpower for instructors for Battalion and external recruit and operations, with 10 deployed on Op TOSCA, 12 recruit training activities. preparing for Op TORAL and a couple on Commonwealth Games security. Company personnel Changes brought about by Army 2020 saw B Company also deployed on Op PITCHPOLE, the support to gaining a platoon outstation in Eastbourne. Due flooding operations, where their maturity and mainly to the hard work and effort of Capt Layzell and professional skill set demonstrated the added his team, the centre has been transformed into “Carter dimension of the reservist compared to his regular Barracks”, which will be officially opened in 2015, with counterpart. B Company personnel on Op REFLECT, the a vibrant and keen critical mass of both recruits and Great War Commemorations participated in the Step trained soldiers. With the support of an additional PSI, Short Parade, Soldiers into Schools campaign and a Sgt Akinson and a new OC Eastbourne, Maj Jonny small delegation attended the 1 PWRR sponsored Laws, things are looking up! battlefield tour Ex WESTERN FRONT. The Company reputation for supporting Battalion The pairing of the Battalion with 1 RANGLIAN has led to training events is as strong as ever, with B Company increased training opportunities which have included regularly providing the largest contingents on deployment to Kenya on Ex ASKARI THUNDER, and weekends and on this year’s ATE (Army Training training activities closer to home on Salisbury Plain. Exercise). This was reflected in the Battalion awards with best recruit going to Pte Burgess, Kohima Cpl was This comes amidst the biggest single change to the Cpl Downs and Sobraon Sgt was Sgt Walisko; Cpl Reserves in a generation, with Op FORTIFY front and Hewes and Cpl Hall were both recognised in the centre and B Company, in line with all other reserve prestigious Lord Lieutenants awards.

This has been a real team effort and would not have been possible without the hard work and effort of both the regular staff and reservists.

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Maj J Craig

55 C Company

care Unit at Darent Valley Hospital and that helped OC’s Introduction raise awareness of the Battalion. It has a permanent showing at Bluewater and attends the majority of C Company conducted multiple tasks in line with the large events at the Kent show ground, just Battalion training programme. As well as the down the road near Maidstone. The integration with our paired Battalion, 1 Royal Anglian, Company has continued its attendance at we invited C Company down from Woolwich on a Remembrance Sunday Parades training evening and had a very productive meeting focusing on Canterbury with the OC, CSM, 2 Pl Comd and Pl Sgt. Our visitors Cathedral. Officers, SNCO’s conducted training and rounded it off with a curry and JNCO’s also attended 10 where Maj David Robinson spoke to the assembled other parade locations in throng and introduced his team . Kent.

Through the year the Battalion deployed a composite C Company is also in the Company on Op TOSCA, where four members of C process of receiving a Company formed part of a Platoon and conducted Reserve Unit many aspects of both military and adventurous who will use part of our training for the six month UN tour. All came back after facilities as their new a thoroughly enjoyable learning experience. location. Throughout this change it is important that we The Battalion also sent a composite Platoon on are aligned with FR2020. C Exercise ASKARI STORM in Kenya with our paired Company is also focusing on re- battalion. Members of the Company played their part generating the Assault in the Battalion role which is now used as a model for Pioneers capability integration. within Infantry Platoons. The Company also deployed on Exercise LION STAR. Our Junior commanders especially impressed and produced what I thought was a well trained Company, on par with a regular Infantry Unit. The exercise was well planned and executed comprising of a full company of 110 in the field. We also had support elements from 2 PWRR, who assisted us with the use of a Recce section, as well as a Javelin section that enabled us to use them as an ISTAR asset.

The Company is now growing in number and recruiting is our main effort in a competitive geographical area due to the RE, Med and RLC Reserve Squadrons also in the local area. However the Battalion reputation is persuading a number to move across and once they see the standard of training and quality of building and equipment on offer, dispelling the myths of old ‘’Nissan hutted TA units’, they stay in good numbers. More importantly they are retained through the training process and are welcomed into the PWRR family. The next battle for the foreseeable future is further promoting the Battalion as the Home Infantry Regiment of Medway.

The Company recently lead a Community Engagement day at Dartford to raise money for The Little Buds Baby

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Capt D Richmond

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57 Exercise Askari

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Storm WO1 GD Jackson

For me, it all began when I arrived in post in July 2013 order to familiarise the troops during the force as the RSM for 3 PWRR. My first interview with the generation. Due to the allocation of equipment and Commanding Officer started with a project. Due to the time constraints, familiarisation was limited to hands- Training Major being committed to Op TOSCA as the on training by those who had used it before. In-country, Mobile Reserve Force Commander in Cyprus, there was 4 Platoon was furnished with a full suite from their a command gap for the force generation of a platoon parent Company. from 3 PWRR. This was to be a pilot integration project with 1 R ANGLIAN, who had recently moved to Due to a very rigorous 1 R ANGLIAN policy, 4 Platoon Woolwich and were to be our paired Regular unit. As very quickly learnt to adapt and streamlined their part of HFT (Hybrid Foundation Training) they were to equipment carriage and adopted the principles of deploy to Kenya on Ex ASKARI STORM 5 (AS5) in ‘Fight Light’. January 2014, with the formed 3 PWRR platoon as the fourth platoon within A Company. Integrated Training

Manning Integrated LFTT (Live Fire Tactical Training) started in November 2013, with a one week live firing package in In order to ensure the ORBAT for 4 Platoon was fully Warcop with A Company. Despite the promise for a manned, we had a large resilience pool of personnel in strong attendance, 4 Platoon could only manage a case of any withdrawals. There were times when reduced number. That meant adding more LFTT clarity on individual Reserve commitment made it training weekends to an already busy programme, problematic to predict the ORBAT. The campaign for creating more friction for the soldiers’ families and volunteers started with 54 names on the list. Nearer work commitments. However by doing this we the time, it started to dwindle rather quickly, either lessened the burden for the Permanent Range Team on through private or work commitments that would not the exercise and it displayed commitment to meet the allow them to deploy. As well as having a fully formed required start standards. Due to lack of LMG, UGL and platoon, we also deployed extra male and female 60mm Mor, 4 Platoon could only reach start standards soldiers in enabling roles: 5 medics, 2 drivers, 1 vehicle on the rifle and LSW. mechanic and 2 signallers. Within the platoon was a spine of ex-Regular soldiers. Despite the varied Integrated dry tactical training comprised of a experience with the platoon, the ex-Regulars helped to weekend in December 2013 with 4 Platoon operating deliver and offered valuable advice to the platoon, with A Company in Salisbury Plain, who had organised particularly at the junior level. a bespoke weekend of training in lieu of a well earned long weekend. Because of this, maximum attendance Equipment was strongly emphasised. Concurrently to this 3 PWRR was conducting OBUA training in Copehill Down, where It was vital to ensure that the Reserve soldier (less TRF, 1 R ANGLIAN had made a section available from their Regimental badges), was equipped to the same level Support Company to assist in training both Regular as their Regular counterpart. 3 PWRR at the time did and Reserve soldiers. To get two sections (-) on any not have the scaling for Dismounted Close Combat training serial, was seen as a real success. Future Integrated Solider Technology (DCC FIST) equipment, meaning our ‘Fight at Night’ capability was Summary severely reduced. 1 R ANGLIAN provided a small pool in Ultimately the pilot was a success, but not without its problems. 4 Platoon hit the ground running and settled rather quickly. A lot was demanded of them; the CALFEX is a strenuous exercise and they coped comfortably. Full integration of Reserve units partnered with Regular units for training and operations is key to the delivery of Army 2020. It took a forward-leaning approach, significant planning and execution by both parties. 3PWRR and 1 R ANGLIAN continue to drive this integration forward.

59 A Section Commander

“Who fancies going to Kenya with the Regs for a couple As the week went on we took part in some basic of weeks? was the question posed to us one Wednesday acclimatisation marches, some TTLFTT and a lot of night in 2013. What for? What regular unit? More familiarisation with the new FIST equipment. We also importantly, when? got to work as part of a larger Company Group which for our junior soldiers was a real eye opener. At first you Going on exercise with a regular battalion was nothing could see the difference in the way we did things as new for a few of us who had been on ops so fitting in as Reservists to the way the Regulars did things but the an individual replacement would be pretty straight longer we were there those differences started to fade forward; But this time the exercise would be different. away. By the time we hit the second week they had all This time we where going as a fully formed Reserve but disappeared. Platoon, to test the scenario that FR2020 posed; Could we as Reservists operate as an individual Platoon The second week of the exercise was more of what we alongside our Regular counterparts? had expected. We set up harbour areas, were eating rations and each LFTT shoot was laid out more like a Upon arrival at BATUK we were given the necessary proper patrol rather than a static range. This was what safety briefs and then told that we deployed the very we had come for and the Platoon was relishing this next day. Straight into the field without even so much training opportunity. Drills were becoming slicker, the as a walk around camp. I was delighted as I find camp command chain was learning about any skill gaps there life pretty boring and the purpose of us being there was were between us and the Regulars and more to be on exercise so I wanted at it. I was pleased to see importantly, how to fill them. We even had the Regular that not a single one of the lads showed any doubt and Range Safety Team admit that we weren’t that far away apart from the odd drama with kit packing they were in terms of tactical understanding from the Regular ready to go early o’clock the following day. guys, which was a massive confidence boost.

Travel in Kenya is not 5 star and a 3 hour trip across the The final test of our exercise was to take part in a training area on the back of an SV was a real “Welcome Company level CALFEX which was extremely to BATUK” kind of greeting. When we arrived at our first challenging. Not only the tactical side, but also the harbour location we where blown away by what we physical side. It was an extremely hot day and all found. Camp cots, razor wire, hot food, toilets and of us where ploughing through water like it was Locally Employed Civilians (LECs) were a real surprise going out of fashion. We were tasked with the to us as we had been expecting a more basic affair. This first and last positions and apart from one harbour as we later found out was there to help us hiccup which involved a heat casualty we took acclimatise and things would soon start to go back the both positions with no fuss and were waiting for way we had expected. But we made the most of it whilst more. When we departed from the area the we could. The G4 chain there was really good and the Company commander of A Company 1 Royal guys from 1 Royal Anglian really showed us what a well- Anglian told us that without hesitation he would oiled and rehearsed supply chain can achieve which take us to war with his Company any time. was the first lesson we took away from our trip. So, “Could we as a Reservists operate as an individual Platoon alongside our Regular counterparts?” Yes, it turns out we can.

60 www.pwrr.org.uk in Kenya Cpl A Turner

61 UK/US Exchange

The UK/US Exchange programme has been running for Ex IRON TORCH many years and is seen as a successful element in The 2nd week’s (2-6 Aug) training saw Ex IRON TORCH, exposing both reserve forces to each host nations a Battalion level exercise with Brigade operational capabilities and doctrine. As a member 3 PWRR from support (Brigade HQ deployed and ran all elements of 26 Jul – 10 Aug I was privileged to take part in the the Brigade through the AT but at varying timeline) in exchange programme and spent two weeks with the direct warfighting role against a designate Opposition Iowa National Guard (NG) joining the 1-133 Inf Force (OPFOR) (the OPFOR throughout was provided by (IRONMAN) Battalion, and taking part in their Annual Regular Forces). All training was conducted against an Training Exercise (AT) at Fort McCoy Wisconsin (WI). OPFOR with a conventional mission statement reflecting the move away from COIN operations. Over The aim of the programme is to develop cultural 50% of the 1-133 Inf had been to either Iraq or awareness and assist bilateral Security Cooperation, Afghanistan, if not both, one of which tours in Iraq had developing Level 2 Interoperability, enhancing military lasted 2 years. This experience gave the Battalion and ability and professional knowledge of exchange depth of talent which was reflected in the high personnel in order to gain practical experience and standard of training and staff work. insight into the structure, organisation, equipment and operational doctrine of the Armed Forces of the host The 1-133 Inf, took over 550 personnel on their AT, their nation. Rifle Company’s manning ranged from 100-70 personnel on the AT, this was brought about by an The training took part at the Total Force Training Centre aggressive recruiting policy (that sees College fees, Life at Fort McCoy WI; this like most of the training estate in and Medical Insurance at subsided cost that would be UK bears the scars of a dozen years of operations in unattainable by most of its personnel outside the Iraq and Afghanistan. The training area is scattered Guard). In turn this aggressive recruiting policy aimed with numerous FOB’s and buildings displaying the largely at College students is reinforced by an equally outward sign of Middle East promise, with domes, aggressive retention policy. This retention policy sees minarets and sand coloured paint. As, like ourselves, large bounties to re-enlist (in excess of $10,000, or the US military moves beyond the recent operations, around £7,500). Training is as per the UK norm of one these symbols of the last dozen years cast a shadow weekend a month followed by an annual AT of 2 weeks. over the units as they attempted to move back to All Guardsmen when under Federal orders for training training for conventional war fighting. The training area are protected by Federal Law, most employers are is not unlike Salisbury Plain and of similar size, with supportive and a National Guardsman if deployed on Fort McCoy, filling in for Westdown Camp. Operations (even for up to 2 years) knows on his return 1-333 Inf is a Light Role Inf Battalion (in the 34 Inf Div). any civilian promotion or wage increase due to him Its ORBAT has 3 Rifle Company’s Alpha (Assassin) must be made or the most strident sanctions will be Company, (Barbarian) Company and C applied by the US Federal Government. The training of (Commando) Company, Delta (Dagger) Company the recruit is through the Regular Army Training contains a Heavy Machine Gun Platoon and Anti-Tank infrastructure and training estate and places no Platoon, Echo (Eliminator) Company, MT, and Logistical burden on the Guard. In support of this a College Support, HHC (Highlander) Company, Mortars, Scouts, Student (akin to a University Student in UK) will have Snipers and Battalion/Company HQ personnel. 1-133 90% of his tuition fees paid by the State and Federal Inf training focused on Company/ Platoon level government and will be paid as a member of the NG operations under a framework of the Battalion with during his education this is around $80,000 which at Brigade assets and role play to assist. The Battalion is current exchange rates is worth £136,000 to a student on a similar Operational readiness cycle as ours and is in education. on standby for deployment next year and will take part in an AT at Fort Polk for 3 weeks in purist of the The 1-133 Inf tactical training reflected a broad church readiness cycle. The first week training was broken of understanding of operational level employment. down into 3 Phases: Phase 1: Platoon level Offensive Platoon drills evolved through an extensive After Action Operations; Phase 2: Platoon level Defensive Review (AAR) process which saw the soldiers assessed Operations; Phase 3: Platoon level Live Fire Exercise. and assisted with lessons learned through Observer Controllers (OC’s) and Exercise Support provided by Phase 1 saw a two day Platoon advance to Contact and XCTC. This support came in the form of the OC deliberate attack lanes. Phase 2 saw Platoon level personnel giving one to one debriefs and the use of deliberate defence conducted with support from video and MILES kit to enhance performance review. Support Weapon’s, UAV’s and Engineer Support. Phase At the end of every serial an extensive debrief took 3 was a Live Fire Ex (LFX), based around an explosive place with full participation at all levels; this was then breach of wire obstacle by Engineer Support, and Delta followed by the units own AAR process. No stone was Company in direct Fire Support (US term, Support By left unturned in the desire to improve performance and Fire, (SBF)) and indirect Fire Support from Battalion build on success, or in the language of the OC’s Mortar Platoon. ‘SUSTAIN’ or ‘IMPROVE’. This heavyweight evaluation 62 www.pwrr.org.uk

Programme Maj G Long

process allowed no rank to hide and no level of reflects the very best of the US citizen-soldier command to absent itself from assessment. This tradition, the Guardsman is bound by the central aim rigorous process of navel gazing allowed an extensive of serving his country. This service is reflected in a approach to lessons learned allowing rapid and sense of patriotic duty which it very much wears on its dynamic process of deployment of unit SOP’s. sleeve. Its Guardsmen have a thirst for knowledge and a willingness to learn. Exchange at any level is of benefit to all UK personnel to better understand and integrate with the USNG, They are infantrymen of recent wars which can be seen with regards its operation-focused training and tempo. in the host of Combat Infantrymen Badges (CIB) worn In the case of the 1-133 Inf this was observed from on their uniforms. The 133 Inf Battalion reflects the squad all the way to Brigade level operations. The 1- qualities that the nation it serves has shown in times of 133 Infantry is drawn from the heart-land of the Mid- need, enthusiasm and commitment to the task in West of America; although a cliché it is very much a hand. The title IRONMAN is a deserving adornment for farming community with a deep sense of duty. This their undoubted ability to meet that task.

63 Exercise LION STAR 7

X-Ray Company Group, 3 PWRR deployed on Ex LION The construct of the exercise aimed to test the ‘gold STAR 7 (Ex LS7) from 13-28 Sep 14. The exercise was standard’ of Reserve integration options; a standalone conducted in the Western Sovereign Base Area of Reserve Company with Regular Support Company Cyprus, training on locality areas, with a main assets integrated. To maximise training impact and administration hub in Radio Sonde Camp. Deploying exercise standards, the scenario played the exercise 177 (Regular and Reserve personnel) on the exercise as a short-term reinforcement deployment to WFE ensured fully-integrated CT2 training, proving our overseas. ability to achieve A2020 initial, verging on full, operating capacity , plus a Company HQ and Battle Two days of RSOI, conducting mandatory British Forces Group (BG) MAIN, over two years before the stated Cyprus briefs, receiving essential issue and training on requirement. the DTES suite and kick-starting battle procedure was just enough time to prepare the Company Group for movement to a tactical holding area. 36 hours of the exercise was given back to the Company for further Chain of Command led training – taking cues from early exercises on Ex ASKARI STORM, real value can be seen in the development of Junior Commanders by allowing them their own training time and focussing on their perceived areas of improvement.

The exercise started and finished at CT2 level – a real breakthrough for the Battalion. The Company Group gelled quickly with its attachments and became used to manoeuvring with extra assets, calling for fires through the ‘FST’ (DTES enabled IDF simulation), dealing with a larger, unknown enemy force, all in an extremely arduous climate . The training had to focus on a ‘narrow but deep’ set of objectives, based around offensive and transitory operations.

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Lt Col J Baynham

the training opportunities to use any equipment that has, during dry training, any fire effect. Such was the improvement and impact this equipment had on our training, it is the Battalion’s recommendation to Director Training that not only should Reserve Units be allocated DTES more frequently, but in some cases take priority over Regulars (Reservists only have limited opportunities to train).

The Battalion was fortunate enough to receive a number of high profile visitors, including Commander 2 Brigade, Assistant Commander 1 Division and Assistant Commander Support Command, with significant regional media attendance, co-ordinated by Army Media and Communications.

The FTX was seen as an overwhelming success with our Reservists inspired by the complexity and difficulty of the exercise, buoyed by complimentary comments from our paired Regulars. To enhance the

The limited time the AR have to train makes it essential that training objectives are not broad in nature. To increase complexity (and interest), further Joint on-island support was sourced through the generous allocation of 84 Sqn RAF (in ISTAR and SH role) and the Military Working Dogs. Whilst enhancing the exercise tactically, it should be borne in mind that Reservists volunteer for exercises and deployments and it is beholden on the training providers to ensure we provide the attraction, variety and diversity of training activities, to not only inspire and retain our Ex LS experience, it is essential that Reservists have soldiers, but provide examples for recruiting. the opportunity to take part in adventurous training and are able to experience the country they have As the exercise progressed through Company Group visited. A compressed, high-tempo two day package advance to contacts, reconnaissance patrols, quick of adventurous training was devised with mountain and deliberate Platoon and Company attacks, and biking and hiking at Mount Troodos and Scuba Diving Company ambushes, a number of recurring themes at RAF Akrotiri (beach activities were enabled at were noted. Areas of development that were Tunnel Beach). improved were the accuracy of communication, knowledge and application of the grouping system, To conclude, Ex LS 7 achieved a number of key aims. utilisation of Company Group tactics and low level Not only did the exercise demonstrate the capability skills. The average Reservist is a motivated, and capacity of a Reservist-led, integrated Company committed individual who genuinely wants to improve Group, but it proved the ‘gold standard’ of the his skill set. Therefore the use of the DTES AAR Integrated A2020 model can be achieved almost capability (delivered by SAAB analysts and ex immediately at CT2 level. Ex LS 7 was an example of directors) was absolutely pivotal in our ability to an exercise where no easy option was taken – the clearly display improvement areas and communicate training targets were ambitious – but it proved that this to our eager learners. The simulated fire effect the Army Reserve are ready for the challenges ahead. provided by the worn equipment (direct and indirect) 3 PWRR are at initial, almost full, operating capacity which, for the first time, was allocated to a Reserve (with a self generated BG MAIN in addition) two years unit, was a revelation in training enhancement. It early and the Battalion will continue to drive made our soldiers consider low level tactical skills in integration forward to be at the vanguard of Infantry a way not previously seen, as they simply do not have Integration. 65 Tiger Sharks

CHANNEL SWIM

In the early part of 2014 an email came out from the QM Englishmen and even some French tourists decided to 1 PWRR, Maj Steve Wall for any competent swimmers tell my wife that I must have something wrong with me to take part in a Channel swim. Having done a bit of to swim at that time of year. swimming for my main sport I replied that if the rest of the Regiment drowned then I would do it as a last resort. It was then back to the pool until April 2014 when the Seconds later I received an email saying I was in; which team met up in Dover to swim in the Channel for the first makes me presume that the drowning statistics for a time as a team. The balmy waters of swiftly certain demographic was sky high for the month of vanished as we dipped our toes into the 12 degrees February 2014! waters of Dover harbour and then I knew what cold meant. As the TIGERS are spread over the world the initial part of training was under individual responsibility. I spent Despite having a better body “build” for this type of many hours in the Kingsmead Swimming pool in activity I still was shivering two hours after the swim Canterbury (apart from the week of swimming I got in and that was the case for the next three days. At the while in Portugal on holiday). This is where I had my first end of the camp we had to complete our 2 hour inkling that this was going to be more difficult than I qualifying swim which involved swimming between the imagined. The water temperature there was 15 degrees two piers at Bournemouth. The first leg went in a flash which left me shivering on the beach while the but on the homeward leg we were against the tide and Portuguese walked past muttering about mad swimming for 90 minutes and only made about 500

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Lt Col J Baynham

metres which was a bit dispiriting to say the least. Once add to the difficulties, the whole team were weakened that was over I continued to do lots of open water by laying a trail of shark bait out the back of the boat- swimming to acclimatise until it got to the stage where although in my case it was a matter of returning the I enjoyed getting into the cold water and swimming, so Channel back to its original location where I had much so that I’m still doing it today. swallowed some much of it because of the waves!

Admittedly, this could also be masochism on my part, or For two of us, the other problem was jelly fish. I did find stupidity as my wife prefers to call it. After much it scary swimming into a swarm of them, especially training our slot finally arrived. The channel swim is run when the stings finally took effect once I had defrosted. by the Channel Swimmers and Pilots association and Dawn arrived, and as the sun came up, we could see they give you week slots, ours being 19 – 26 July and the that we were so close that there was no chance of us weather, although sunny and hot, was windy. It wasn’t not finishing. Once we got within 500 metres of the until the 25th that, despite the misgivings of the boat’s coast we all jumped in and swam the last bit together, skipper, we started our attempt at 1800 hours. completing the crossing in 16 hours 21 minutes. I’m glad to have played my small part in helping the Tigers Despite heavy swell we battled our way, covering very complete this fantastic achievement. little distance until about midnight when at last the sea died down and we managed to make some distance. To

67 Operation Pitchpole and

Op PITCHPOLE - FLOOD SUPPORT Most people really wanted sandbags to help barricade their homes, places of work, etc so the TCV loaded with The Command Centre was set up in a local school and 100 sandbags helped. As the task progressed, moving housed many of the coordinators tasked with ensuring about the area to which our task group was assigned, both we and the resources we provided were efficiently we realised most people were really appreciative utilised. seeing the British Army. Regardless of the role we all had, reserve or regular, the public viewed us all as one We were split into task groups, with individual groups team, there to support them when they really needed responsible for a specific area within Surrey, Slough or it. I met a few families who were worried about people the Thames. Each group of approx 20 troops was taking advantage of the situation, such as looting, but made-up from the different regiments attending. the moment they realised the British Army were there These included, within my group: Paras, and they felt more at peace and openly said so. This I found PWRR. Other Corps and Regiments were also in encouraging, it was nice to help out and demonstrate attendance. the many facets of being a member of the Armed Forces. My task group was led by Captain Barker and our mandate was to reassure the affected community of One member of the public stands out to me - an elderly Slough that we were there to help in any way possible. man who had almost run out of his medication. He had Our presence allowed us to interact with the public, the been trapped in his house for over a week due to the families that were stranded, the elderly and those that weather. Our task group along with the fire brigade were vulnerable. were able to assist him out of the premises and to the paramedics where he could then receive the treatment It became evident immediately upon arrival that the he desperately needed. Just helping that man made enormity of the task ahead was not to be taken lightly. me feel that the whole operation was worth it! Unlike Op HERRICK, this was a very different operation to many for which we have trained. In this case the Most young families were keen to get pictures with us. ‘enemy’ was in fact the power of nature. The flood In a way it was a morale boost to the kids and the waters were up to knee high and in other areas,the only parents too and despite the exhaustion, I really felt access was by small boats. The flood water was very humbled to have done my bit. deep and in some parts the sewage system was overwhelmed, with raw sewage adding to the problem.

68 www.pwrr.org.uk Capt G Waterfield Operation Fortify Pte Vann de Beirre

3 PWRR Op FORTIFY - RECRUITING The pairing between 1 R ANGLIAN and 3 PWRR is set to last at least for the next five years. With 1 R ANGLIAN 1 R ANGLIAN and 3 PWRR have been successfully set to deploy on more exercises abroad, and with more conducting joint training since late 2013 as part of the operational tours on the horizon, the opportunities for new Army 2020 model, where a Reserve Battalion is 3 PWRR soldiers to deploy on operations and train with paired with a Regular Battalion. Op FORTIFY is the their regular colleagues, both on arduous and drive to boost the recruitment of Volunteer Reservist adventure training continues to grow. soldiers, and 3 PWRR is leading the way. Both Battalions have pooled resources and recruitment numbers have increased dramatically over the past few months, so much so that 1 R ANGLIAN and 3 PWRR recruiting methods are being used as best practice, not only across the Brigade, but across the Army. Although the focus still remains on recruiting, one eye is now on capability; future integrated training opportunities have already been planned – Regular and Reservist training side-by-side.

It is not hard to see why the pairing has been such a success; the joint training has opened up a huge number of fantastic training opportunities for 3 PWRR soldiers, such as the fully integrated platoon from 3 PWRR on 1 R ANGLIAN’s exercise in Kenya earlier this year. This has paved the way for the platoon that will be joining 1 R ANGLIAN on their upcoming tour to Kabul in Feb 15.

69 Battlefield Tour ABF

This year I took part in the ABF The Soldiers’ Charity look across No Man’s Land from the German front line challenge event, The Frontline Walk 2015, this was a you can see how the Allies would have been skylined ‘unique and poignant challenge’ that gave us the as they tried to fight back the Germans. opportunity to walk along 100km of the Western Front, finishing at the Menin Gate in time for the After some time to reflect at Lochnagar we set off Ceremony of the Last Post on the centenary eve of the towards Thiepval Memorial; the imposing memorial start of the Battle of Ypres. to the missing of the Somme which dominates the landscape for miles around. Over 72,000 names are We set off from Wellington Barracks at an ungodly engraved on its wall, and many of our walkers had hour on the morning of Wednesday 15th, trading a their own ancestors or connections on the memorial. drizzly English morning for another drizzly French This experience set us up for an emotional day afternoon, arriving at the hotel in Arras in time to prep exploring the weaving between the British and kit for an early departure the following morning, and German Fronts, thankfully in an entirely different spend the evening getting to know our fellow walkers. manner to those who lived, fought and died during The Great War. Next morning we were treated to a 0530 hours reveille and piled in to the buses to head to the start of our We continued walking through many muddy fields, 100km walk, reaching Lochnagar Crater at first light. with the odd navigational error for good practise, and The scale of the site really is truly remarkable; as you passed many beautifully kept British cemeteries, finally arriving at the Canadian cemetery, the Newfoundland Memorial. The trench systems at the cemetery had been left in the same condition as in 1918, barbed wire defences included, giving us an idea of what it would be like to actually see ‘over the top’. It seems many of us would not have fared well in the trenches.

We went up over Hawthorne Ridge and down the other side before arriving for haverbags in Beaumont- Hamel. Following lunch we continued our trek, passing through one of the narrowest parts of No

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Maj J Craig

Man’s Land – just 50m wide at Redan Ridge. From there we passed through endless soggy and freshly ploughed farmers fields, picking up our own treasures from the Great War.

On Day 2 of our walk we started at the German World War One cemetery Neuville St. Vaast. This cemetery holds 44,000 graves marked with black crosses and a number of these were German-Jewish soldiers. Harrowingly, we were told that during WWII the surviving German-Jewish soldiers took the battle honours they had won in WWI to the concentration camps – hoping it would help them avoid the gas chambers. Unfortunately whilst they were good enough to fight for their country in WWI, in WWII this was forgotten. We continued our walk, and climbed up Kemmel We moved on to Vimy Forest, walking along a narrow Ridge - the view from the top was quite haunting. path with fences either side – keeping us out of a Another couple of cemeteries, the most famous being woodland still covered in UXO. We made it relatively Essex Farm where there is a memorial to John unscathed to the Canadian Memorial at Vimy where Macrae who wrote ‘In Flanders Fields’, and where still we spent some time exploring the preserved trenches the bunkers of the Dressing Station can be found before making our way over to the Vimy Memorial. toward the back of the cemetery. Essex Farm was our This memorial is without a doubt the most impressive last cemetery stop, from there was a speedy march memorial we had seen so far. It took 40,000 troops to along the canal towpath and into Ypres to our final capture the ridge – a vital tactical victory during the destination – the Menin Gate. war. The stunning surroundings baked in late October sunshine must have contrasted so strongly with the A thoroughly moving arrival at the Gate at around soldiers experience in 1917 and moved us all. 1730 on our final day of walking. Three of our walking team were laying a wreath on behalf of ABF The We continued to walk the trenchline to Notre Dame Soldiers Charity and the Ceremony of The Last Post de Lorette cemetery at the top of the ridge. At the top brought many a tear to our walker’s eyes. Many of us there were placards with photos of the landscape have done battlefield tours in one form or another, but from WW1. Brief stop for a brew and a baguette and actually walking the Frontline was a completely we were off again, next stop St Mary’s, where Rudyard different and incredibly moving experience. So far our Kipling’s son is buried. On we walked, trudging efforts have raised around £50,000, with donations to through field after field. We crossed La Bassee canal, our fundraising pages still coming in and all of that stopped at the Indian Cemetery in Givency, then La money will go towards helping serving soldiers, Tourette and Bethune were visited before we hit our veterans and their families in times of need, target mileage and could head back to the hotel for whatever that need may be. some well earned rest!

We started Day 3 at Steenwerke German cemetery just on the French/Belgian border – and then marched purposefully towards the Border. We stopped at 4 cemeteries on the way; Trois Arbes has 4 Deserters headstones slightly separated from the rest. The next cemetery, Pont D’Achelles, includes the graves of 37 Germans.

71 B Company The London

ITALIAN RAID COMMANDO – EX LOMBARDIA 2014 “I really enjoyed the exercise, mostly the live ranges. The first range was on the Friday afternoon where we shot The Italian Raid Commando, also named Exercise the Berretta 9mm pistol, 2 assault rifles (one 5.56 and Lombardia, is a military skills competition for both the other 7.62) as well as the 308 sniper rifle. I think the Regular and Reserves from all over NATO. It is first range was run well; however, we didn’t do any administered and controlled by the Italian army and is weapon handling tests and were expected to step up to based in the region of Lombardy at the foothold of the the firing point, pick up the different weapons and crack Italian Alps (an hour north west of Milan, Italy). The on. Each shoot was slightly different and was made a competition has a similar aim to the British run bit more difficult with the language barrier, but you just CAMBRIAN Patrol competition (see B Company 2 had to make do”. PWRR article) but is far from as demanding and challenging as we later found out. Pte Sewell

It was Thursday evening 15 May 2014 when the team Having completed the ranges it was back to consisting of Cpl Willcox, LCpl Robertson, Pte Sewell, competition HQ where they had laid on a massive feast myself and with Sgt Dzanado being the organiser and – the Italians certainly know how to feed their men. facilitator, RV’d at B Company. Following a quick kit This was followed by a short period to get our heads check and ensuring everyone had their passports we around the scenario (made a little more confusing ran through a few last minute rehearsals that we having been translated directly from Italian) and then ‘thought’ we would need on the patrol. it was a short bus ride to the start line.

So a late night was followed by an early morning get up, After a quick 45 minute snooze at the start point it was resulting in only a couple of hours sleep before we were 22:55 when we departed. The first task before we had on our way to the airport. Still blurry eyed we rushed even left the check point was to answer some simple around the manic Stansted airport and boarded the questions on the scenario in 2 minutes. With this plane with surprisingly no hassles considering the kit complete it was out into darkness, navigating around we were taking with us. As we arrived in Italy we slowly various check points and stands. began to see more military daysacks around – some very worthy of a place on ‘daysack of the day’. Initially the navigation wasn’t too bad but it was trying to find the second check point that we and a number of Having been assured back in London that we had a other teams came into some difficulty. The maps we suitable vehicle for all of us and our kit waiting for us at had been issues were from 1990 and had not been the airport we went out to find a BMW X1! Now that updated for nearly 25 years - a lot changes in that time! might sound like a large vehicle but when you take 5 While trying to find the elusive second check point we lads each with a black grip and a day sack, there is very could hear teams all around us crashing through the little room left for anything else. So after half an hour or thick undergrowth and met a number of teams who’d so of kit stripping with some very choice words being given up the hunt and were moving on. Not wanting to used we were in and heading north to the small town of be beaten (and possibly with a little bit of Tenate. stubbornness) we searched left, right, high and low and eventually found it. This gave us the opportunity to Having registered, packed our kit and had a large work out that the GPS coordinates were approximately lunch, it was time for the first phase of the competition 300m off on the map – useful to know for the – the ranges. remaining check points.

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Regiment Capt Craster

“After a gruelling tab across some pretty tough terrain With the end in sight across the lake we were next onto we arrived at one particular checkpoint where we were a 4km timed march ending the leg on the side of the tasked with a house clearance and a raid of rescuing lake. Donning life jackets and being handed more ‘Toys several hostages. We were teamed up with a Swiss ‘R’ Us’ weapons we boarded a rib and were sped across team for the operation and following a stand brief the lake to the finish. (mostly in broken English-Italian) we were given 1 minute to come up with a plan of action. It was at this With our kit squared away, we showered and changed point that we realised our Swiss team mates didn’t in time for the international dinner. The dinner was speak English and we didn’t speak any of the Swiss once again a mammoth feast and was an opportunity languages! So after about 30 seconds of the two team for everyone to get together and meet the other teams. leaders pointing and hand gesturing to each other a Some individuals were up for a big night but the “plan” was hatched. After picking up some plastic majority retired reasonably early due to not having weapons that I’m sure were bought at Toys ‘R’ Us we slept for the last 40 hours. moved up to the house looking like a Miami SWAT team covering all of our arcs. Our team cleared the 1st room “On the Sunday morning under clear blue skies all the with the Swiss clearing the next and so on. When competing units from the various countries gathered in clearing the main room we found 3 hostages (one very the main square at the top of the village and formed up well hidden) and as we were searching them and in column of route in order to make our way down to the carrying out ID checks we were ambushed by a lone lake for the presentation ceremony. Being that the enemy combatant. He was dealt with quickly and all had the smallest contingent of soldiers from were extracted back to the RV”. the UK, we positioned ourselves at the rear of the British Units just in front of the Belgians. With varying Cpl Willcox degrees of success, units from a dozen nations marched as one down the village streets were then Other stands consisted of observation, target halted in front of the large marquee that had been our acquisition, signals and radio handling, military mess hall for the last two days. There the Italian officer vehicles, aircraft and equipment recognition, first aid overseeing the competition greeted us and thanked us and casualty evacuation, anti-ambush drills, and a all for coming. We were treated to the playing of every SITREP report to name a few. These all led us onto competing nation’s National before the another set of live ranges. presentation ceremony could begin. When it did, it was a succession of prizes each announced in Italian and “The second range was on the second to last stand on greeted with polite applause. These were given to the patrolling exercise. It was a tactical, high speed various teams but none of whom seemed to know what shoot and move range with 5 targets to hit in your lane. it was they had won. Either way, an hour and half later We got to the stand and had a briefing about the and with more speeches in Italian we were done and weapons we where going to use, one of them was a rifle able to enjoy a complimentary beer in the sunshine we shot the day before and the other was an M4. So before departing home from Milan”. there was a quick briefing how to load and make ready. At the end of the briefing one of the blokes from another LCpl Robertson team asked where the safety catch was and the instructor replied “you don't need to worry about that, we are not using the safety in this shoot, the only safety will be (and he lifted his firing finger into the air)”! All- in-all it was a fun stand”.

Pte Sewell

73 B Company The London

FA Cup final at Wembley was a big occasion for 6 lucky servicemen.

Each of the 3 Services that make up the Armed Forces were asked to nominate personnel for the Cup Final; they were also able to watch the match accompanied by a guest of their choice. Two of those nominated were from the London Regiment, ’s Talab (B Company) and Dixey (A Company).

The 6 servicemen carried out a variety of ceremonial duties during the match, including carrying the FA Cup and the Winners and Runners Up medals to the Royal Box, where the trophy was presented.

LCpl Talab carried out the Runners Up medals in front of a 90,000 strong crowd which were then presented to the members of Hull City FC by Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and the President of . LCpl Dixey collected the medal box from the Royal Box and removed it from the stadium. ‘I would like to thank the staff hosting the event as they treated all the service personnel with the utmost ‘Walking out in front of 90,000 people on my birthday respect and courtesy, providing a well organised event was like nothing I had ever experienced before, I felt which everyone enjoyed. I would recommend that pride in myself and my regiment as well as excitement service personnel get involved with this type of event to be involved in such an important event in the when the opportunity arises.’ – LCpl Talab football calendar.’ – LCpl Talab ‘I feel extremely lucky; this is my first time at Wembley. As well as official duties, during rehearsals before the I was a bit nervous, but I enjoyed it. I am very proud to match the Service personnel got to walk onto the represent the Army.’ – LCpl Dixey pitch and take some photographs of the iconic stadium.

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LCpl Dixey Regiment L Cpl Talab

75 Royal Military Academy

The First Term Back The first day at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst amount of physical training and range work. Although has come to be known as ‘Ironing Board Sunday.’ Over we have achieved a lot there is still a long way to go a hundred nervous looking officer cadets dressed in before we can call ourselves Commissioned Officers, their best suits all walk up the steps of Old College the senior term brings with it an increase in intensity looking lost each with an ironing board tucked under and the complexity of COIN operations. their arms three times per year, the shock of capture quickly taking hold. For me that day was almost eight So far I have found the course challenging and incredibly busy months ago, I am now in my final week rewarding in equal measures, a personal highlight of the intermediate term having recently been offered was winning my first amateur bout on the academy a commission into the Regiment. To date my intake boxing night and the subsequent entertainment that has spent over a month on exercise and seemingly followed in the Sergeant’s Mess. Memories of digging even longer on the drill square. We have become stage three trenches in CBRN kit on the infamous proficient in the estimate and orders process, honed exercise First Encounter seemed so distant that our leadership styles and participated in a fair night.

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Sandhurst OCdt L Spires

77 Infantry Battle School

The Platoon Commander’s Battle Course (PCBC) is of the course are the teaching phase in Brecon, with the regular four month course for all newly three exercises concentrating on offensive, defensive Commissioned Officers who wish to command and urban operations. When not on Sennybridge infantry soldiers, and is broken down into two training area, students complete weapon handling phases: tactics and Live Firing Tactical Training tests on all platoon weapons systems, conduct (LFTT). A demanding course designed to stretch and several TEWTs, physical tests, doctrine and tactics test much of the top third of every Sandhurst intake, lessons. The third month of the course is the test ensuring that they are up to the standard before phase battle camp in Kenya, with live firing up to joining their battalions. It is also an opportunity for company level with indirect fire in support. This also Reserve Infantry Platoon Commanders to complete includes a week in Kathendini Jungle, as another the course in preparation for commanding soldiers opportunity to learn how to adapt tactics to suit a in kinetic theatres, as such I am about to lead a new environment in demanding circumstances. The reservist platoon on Op TORAL. The first two months last month of the course is back in Brecon where students complete their field firing instructors’ course.

As the only reserve officer on PCBC 1402, the course was daunting, especially as I had experienced the

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(Brecon) Lt G H Bignold

training that is delivered by the Infantry Battle School attend regular courses, building up their knowledge the year before on the reservist two week and creditability, before deploying with regular units. assessment, the Platoon Tactics Course (PTC). As Overall, PCBC is a great opportunity for a Reservist expected, the course instructors were highly Officer, and one which should be made more professional and understood the importance of available for other subalterns. I had an advantage teaching and imparting knowledge as well as given my two years of infantry training compared to building up our ‘mental and physical robustness’. my fellow students before the course, and it is to the However, as the course continued I realised the credit of my Battalion which prepared me so well that advantage I had by being a young officer for two years I achieved an Instructors’ Commendation. With PCBC in 3PWRR before arriving at Brecon. Whereas most under my belt, I am now prepared to deploy to students had a basic understanding of infantry Afghanistan with my own Reservist Platoon with our operations from Sandhurst, I had trained for such paired Battalion 1 Royal Anglian. tasks, for example fighting in woods and forests or clearing trenches, with my own platoons in the past. It is difficult to compare PTC to PCBC given the difference in time spent on the two courses. As is the case with all reserve training, time is short and retention of knowledge is difficult. However, PTC is to be redesigned in 2015 with Juniors, Seniors and Platoon Commanders being attached to their Regular counter-parts for two fortnight modules in Brecon. This will be a step forward as not only will Reservists be interacting and learning with Regulars, but will also double the time spent on their promotion course. Alternatively, another solution in line with Army 2020 would be to extend mobilisation periods to 15 or 16 months to allow personnel to

79 Queen’s Division Courses (Fire Team Commanders Cadre)

Over the past year I have had the pleasure of Brecon Beacons. Following navigation training the commanding the Queens Division Courses Cell (QDC) soldiers are submitted to ‘attack week’, which opens in Sennybridge along with WO2 Iszard from the 1st with a 5 mile section level stretcher race. This race sets Battalion. The cell trains all the private soldiers from the conditions for what is a rather packed week of across the Division who wish to promote to Lance demanding physical exertion and determination as the Corporal and we also run preparatory courses for those soldiers complete section attack after section attack NCOs going to attend career courses at the Infantry in often dreadful weather, and across the taxing terrain Battle School in Brecon. of the Sennybridge Training Area.

The last year has seen several changes to the way in Following the rigours of attack week the soldiers move which the courses have been run, the programmes are on to ‘patrols week’, which tests their mental ability to more structured, and the training of Reserves has also plan, write and deliver orders at section level. Although been introduced. The soldiers who arrive at QDC they are not being trained to be section commanders it wanting to promote to Lance Corporal spend a total of is key that they have a thorough understanding of the seven weeks being tested in a range of skills, including role of the section and how it operates, this includes physical robustness, navigation, command and the planning and the execution of patrols. control, tactical awareness, endurance and the running of blank firing training. The final week of the tactics phase of the course includes platoon level operations, and culminates in a The course generally starts with the usual mandatory platoon attack on to a village, which sees a night time personal fitness assessment and eight mile combat insertion followed by a dawn attack, invariably with fitness test, before two weeks of navigation and lashings of rain, and very little sleep, just to make the foundation training in the Black Mountains and the event that little bit more challenging. Following the

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Capt G Reynolds

final attack and a move back to the relative warmth of ensure that their fire teams are able to complete the a farm building all that is left is a five mile assessment most basic of infantry tasks. the following day before the move to the ranges. The last year has been exceptionally enjoyable; I only The last two weeks of the course focuses on the hope that the soldiers reading this will become soldier’s ability to plan and conduct training. This enthused at the prospect of attending QDC in order to includes writing the safety documents and planning promote. Having listened to many of the soldiers who blank firing training up to section level. A very useful have come through the course, they have developed skill which is essential when they need to train their because of it, and have been sent back to their fire teams and section on return to Battalion. There is, battalion, ready to promote, and better prepared for as ever, a focus on marksmanship, and the soldiers the challenges which life in the Infantry might throw become trained coaches, giving them the ability to their way.

81 University of London Officers’ Training Corps

Over the past training year, the University of London In the final five days, the unit deployed into the field for Officers’ Training Corps has seen many successes. It a five-day exercise, consisting of two days of has seen twenty-four of its Officer Cadets walk up the conventional operations, and then three days in a steps at Sandhurst, and either return to the ULOTC to counter-insurgency environment, with senior Officer command, or go on to other Reserve units. It has also Cadets role-playing as the civilian populace. This recently taken part in Exercise Cambrian Patrol, an phase stretched and challenged, and offered a huge arduous patrols competition in the Brecon Beacons. depth of training. The exercise then culminated in a Two teams were sent, an all-male team who won a final company push to seize a farm complex before a Silver medal, and an all-female team who made history hot breakfast served by the officers and DS. It was by not only being the first all-female team to finish, but regarded by all as a fantastic two weeks. also to win a Bronze medal. Other highlights in the last training year include many The ULOTC deploys on a field exercise once every adventurous training expeditions, including the month in the various training areas around London, ULOTC’s annual ski trip to the French Alps (pictured), conducting activities such as FIBUA and conventional and also skydiving on Salisbury Plain. We have also infantry tactics. The highlight of the training year is recruited 284 new cadets who have recently returned always the annual training package in mid-June. This from their first tactical field exercise. year it consisted of a week in camp, giving the Officer Cadets the opportunity to conduct adventurous training, lessons, as well as an extensive range package, culminating in a challenging march and shoot. Following this, there was a trip to northern France to see the battlefields of the First World War, one hundred years on, and reflect on the sacrifice of millions.

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2Lt H Barry

83 Royal Marine Exchange

Down in the depths of 5 Deck, the constant hum of the Albania brought many challenges to Alpha Company engines woke me again. The sensory offense in my ears as well as 40 Commando. The terrain was intense and was soon over-powered by the smell of the 24-man our battlegrounds littered with Soviet era underground metal box that was my home aboard RFA LYME BAY. I submarine pens, tunnel systems and abandoned MIG caught a glimpse of my watch, 05:00 hrs. ‘Perfect’ I fighter jets. In an untested training area high in the thought to my self with a broad smile, ‘at least we see mountains near Bize, resources were scarce and our dry land today’. safety net was thin. Mountain Leaders broke bones due to rock fall and 9 tonne Viking ATV(P)s rolled on the It was a foggy morning standing on the rear deck after sheer terrain. Live fire attacks in the mountains, PT. Watching the Rock of Gibraltar appear from the low abseiling down cliff faces and the arduous grind of cloud brought mixed emotions to the men of Alpha mountain yomps; the training package in Albania was Company, 40 Commando RM, ‘The Saints’. We had very ‘Commando’. Reflecting on the previous three survived the Bay of Biscay and would soon have a weeks sat aboard the hydrofoil to Corfu, we were ready chance to call loved ones and let off some steam. As for a week of AT. Albania had been tough, but it had we came alongside, deep holes in the Rock came into been fun. view, portholes manned by Royal Marines during times of Empire, one could sense that the Marines began to With these fresh memories everyone looked forward to feel at home. After 48 hrs of letting off steam I looked the challenges that Jordan would bring. Live fire up at the Rock again as the ship left the harbour wall. attacks with Viking preceded mobility training amid the A few hours earlier we had completed the Rock run; the vastness of Jebel al Batra, hunting ground of one T. E. entire unit stood atop the hill looking down at the fleet Lawrence. Further riches were later discovered during that carried us East. In this moment you could a day trip to the ancient city of Petra where, after a understand why young men decide to join the Royal quick camel ride, a cold beer was most welcome during Marines. It was good fun. a short break from the dust and the heat of the desert. Before long we were back in Two weeks spent waking up to that drone, life aboard camp finalising our battle prep ship seemed repetitive. However the Commando before the final training exercise Planning Group had begun some serious planning, so a and our integration with the change in operations was anticipated. Soon it would be Jordanian Commando’s. the turn of the fighting companies as we prepared for the first raid on the Albanian peninsula of Kepi I Palit. Four days chasing down On completion of our battle prep we stood in the well- enemies atop our all terrain deck, in the belly of the ship under the dark blue light vehicles, Jordanian Foxhounds of Action Stations. Familiar faces now lost under their at our flanks, towering cam cream, we checked each other’s kit before loading mountains of sand rock in every the LCVP and jettisoned from ship’s rear. We sat, direction, our exercise came to bobbing, soaked in salt water and half digested dinner, a close. Our time in Jordan yearning to get ashore. Delivering a battle group ashore culminated in a defence from ship, in one cycle of darkness, was no mean feat. engagement display, which Our torturous transit complete, we went into the night embodied the main effort of alongside our Albanian Commando friends and closed the Brigade. Prince Hamzah on our target. bin Al-Hussein, brother of the

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Programme Capt J Selley

King of Jordan, was reportedly impressed with the combined Jordanian and British abseiling troop, with the combined fire support team and the collaborative clearance of a small town with Alpha Companies Vikings at centre stage. After confirmation of our success we retired to the coast to RV with RFA LYME BAY once more. A relaxed menu of equipment care and PT was in order for the three-week sail home. Short stops in Crete and Gibraltar were welcome changes in the programme to steady the sea legs. Alpha Company, ‘The Saints’ returned home and remain at readiness state 2 until May 2015. The New Year will see ‘The Saints’ deploy to Morocco on Ex African Lion alongside the US Marine Corps and Moroccan Naval Infantry as 40 Commando RM take on the role of the Standing Tasks Commando in another turn of the Commando Operational Readiness cycle.

85 PWRR Ski Teams

Team: Regular and Reserve Infantry Battalions entered teams into the Championships, meaning a record Maj Alex Cherry number of 370 soldiers taking part throughout. Sgt Oliver Soord-Gurney The exercise aimed to deliver high quality race training LCpl Rachel Clayton and development for Infantry Skiiers ready for the Divisional and Army level. However, new for 2015, was Pte Scott Backler a split in the training between 4 separate ‘divisions’. Pte Jamie Goodwin The ‘B’ division contained novice skiiers, who were on a three week training package with a timed GS race to Pte Lee Salvi conclude their time on Ex FB. The ‘A’ division contained The Third Battalion, after a significant hiatus, deployed skiiers with some experience and who were looking to a 6 man ski team for the 2014/15 Alpine Ski season. develop their race ability. The ‘E’ (Elite) division Using the experience and success gained by the First encompassed the top 20 Infantry Skiiers, who would Battalion last year, the Battalion was well supported be intensively trained, promoting success at the Army by public and non-public funds (including from the Championships. Finally was the ‘Reserve’ division, a Battalion and Regiment), purchasing all the vast training package specially designed for Reservist amount of equipment required to enter a team at the soldiers, who could only attend a short part of the highest level. exercise. In addition Ex FB provided the opportunity for soldiers to explore winter sports, experience the The team arrived in Val D’Isere in late November intense and challenging environment of Alpine Skiing ready to start Ex FROSTED BLADE, the Infantry and to enjoy the party atmosphere in Val D’Isere. Ski Championships. Significant changes to the exercise had been made for the new season: Day one saw the ‘ski-off’ with all the exercise More participants from more battalions were participants segregated into their respective ability expected than in previous years. Over 34 groups – fortunately all our team members made it into the ‘A’ Division – proving their ability for later on in the Championships. Subsequently the exercise was divided into phases – providing training for all four Alpine disciplines; Slalom, Giant Slalom, Super Giant Slalom and Downhill.

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Maj AJ Cherry

Race week came in early January, fortunately with also put in a strong effort, coming 3rd overall Regular improved snow conditions, compared to the rest of the Unit. exercise. Club Des Sports Val D’Isere once again ran the race package, incredibly professionally delivered, The team will now move onto Ex SPARTAN HIKE on the World Cup slopes that are used by the world’s (Divisional Championships), held in Serre Chevalier, to best racers. It is when you see soldiers, with only 5 pit their skiing skills against the rest of the Army. Maj weeks skiing experience, charge down a near-vertical Cherry will, for the second year, lead the Infantry Team downhill course that the courage and determination at the Army Championships (Ex LIONS CHALLENGE) in required in this sport can be truly appreciated. late January.

There were fantastic performances by the team Fierce Pride throughout race week with LCpl Clayton 3rd overall female, the team 3rd overall Reserve Unit and Maj Cherry winning Ex FROSTED BLADE (overall male combination). It is worth noting that the First Battalion

87 The Royal Life Guards -

“Now you see him, now you don’t…” this adapted line During the year, our two professional battalions from the film the Scarlet Pimpernel somehow have trained hard to regain some of the traditional signifies the year of 2014. It seems like the year just skills from before the COIN era. It has been a rather started and already it is gone. steep learning curve. Luckily, we still have officers and NCOs who were trained during the Cold War, Things also seem to go in circles. A few years ago we and thus have been able to smooth that transition. pulled out of Iraq, and now we return. Will the same thing happen to Afghanistan? We return to Iraq in Our conscripts are continuously providing the another capacity and with other tasks to do, but as security for the Royal Family and their estates, as we soldiers know, things have a tendency to change they have been doing for more than 356 years. and turn into something rather different. Only time Considering they have just 4 months of basic will show. training behind them when they start the guard duty, which also lasts 4 months, the result is impressive. We believe traditions, procedures, dedication and a lot of hard work are the reasons behind this result.

The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment has the highest standing in our thoughts. And we are proud to be working with your regiment. The Royal Life Guards wish The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment all the best in 2015 and look forward to continued cooperation.

But at least we are once again working together with our British and American Comrades in Arms in the international support/training mission in Iraq. The Royal Life Guards has two main tasks. Providing professional soldiers and units for the field army and the missions, as well as fulfilling the equally demanding ceremonial duty at the royal palaces, guarding the royal family. Both tasks were accomplished to the point.

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Denmark Col C K Lawes

89 3 (Fighter) Squadron

2014 has been a busy year for 3(F) Sqn, with an will automatically boot up and all we have to do is start exercise programme that took the Squadron to Turkey the engines. You can then taxi and take-off very quickly.” and Malaysia, as well as QRA duties in the Falklands, Lithuania and at home in the UK. "Once airborne you ‘check in’ over the radio and receive an update on the targets position and confirm your Op AZOTIZE (Baltic Air Policing) instructions. After the rush to get airborne things calm In April of 2014 four Typhoon aircraft down and it's business as usual. What happens from 3(F) Sqn deployed to take part in the NATO Baltic thereafter is classified but flight safety is always Air Policing (BAP) mission over Estonia, Latvia and paramount in our minds." Lithuania. NATO member states Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia are reliant upon NATO allies to secure their During the 4 month period that 3(F) Sqn were deployed airspace, having no fighter aircraft of their own. The they intercepted many aircraft including: Russian deployment was part of the UK's contribution to BAP; Tupolev Tu22 ‘Backfire’ bombers, Sukhoi Su27 ‘Flanker’ a long standing NATO task which involves a four-month fighters, Beriev A50 ‘Mainstay’ early warning aircraft rotation of four fighter aircraft from contributing and an Antonov An26 ‘Curl’ transport aircraft. The nations. This was a short notice deployment following Russian aircraft were monitored by the RAF Typhoons David Cameron’s offer of support to the Baltic region and escorted on their way. given heightened concern during the tensions in the Ukraine and Crimea. On 17 June 14 Typhoon aircraft, from 3 (Fighter) Squadron, were launched after four separate groups Based at Siauliai Air Force base 3(F) Sqn’s role was to of Russian aircraft totaling 16 were detected by NATO provide a Quick Reaction Alert (QRA.) On QRA the air defences in international airspace over the Baltic Typhoons are kept 'cocked', armed and ready to take- Sea. This volume of aircraft was unprecedented. off as quickly as is safely possible once the scramble Typhoon Detachment Commander Wing Commander alarm sounds as pilot Flight Lieutenant Tim Pye, a Ian Townsend said: member of 3(F) Squadron explained: “We regularly intercept Russian and civilian aircraft “Waiting is something the highly trained personnel are from UK Quick Reaction Alert and so this type of accustomed to; our colleagues are doing the same thing mission is core business for us and exactly what we in the UK and Falkland Islands where aircraft are also were sent to the Baltic region by NATO to do. It was a held on high readiness ground alert ready to launch at thoroughly successful operation with both my ground a moments notice, day or night, to investigate aircraft crew and aircrew performing to the exacting approaching sovereign airspace.” professional high standards I have come to expect.”

"You put every switch you can with the power off in the ‘on’ position so that when you apply power the aircraft

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RAF Flt Lt S Moore

EX BERSAMA LIMA (Malaysia) In Oct 2014 3(F) Sqn set off on the mammoth journey to take 6 jets 6400 miles across the globe to Malaysia. With a Voyager Air to Air refueling aircraft, they stopped at Jordan, Qatar and India before finally arriving in Malaysia to take part in Exercise Bersama Lima.

In 1971 the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) were agreed. These are a series of defence relationships established by a number of bilateral agreements between the commonwealth members of the , Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Singapore. Whereby the five states will consult each other in the event of external aggression or threat of attack against Peninsular Malaysia or Singapore.

OP ISMAY (NATO Summit) Over the period November 4th - 5th Cardiff hosted the first NATO summit in the United Kingdom since Margaret Thatcher welcomed NATO leaders to London in 1990. In 1981, the FPDA organised the first annual land and naval exercises. Since 1981 these exercises have President Obama, Chancellor Merkel and President continued to grow and now take place twice a year Hollande attended along with leaders and senior under the title ‘Exercise Bersama Lima’ and ‘Exercise ministers from around 60 other countries. Bersama Shield.’ Days before the NATO summit convened, the terror Exercise Bersama Lima 2014 (BL14) is a FPDA major threat facing Britain was raised from 'substantial' to tactical Command Post Exercise and Field Training 'severe'. The response from the Royal Air Force was to Exercise held in the Singapore, Malaysia and the South provide an armed over watch in the vicinity of the China Sea from 7 – 22 October. The aim of BL14 is to summit in Cardiff. This was a huge engineering burden enhance interoperability and strengthen the for 3(F) Sqn and XI Sqn, (the other front line Typhoon professional relationships of the FPDA nations by Squadron based at Coningsby.) The engineers had to conducting maritime, land and air operations in a ‘combat arm’ a large number of aircraft to ensure the simulated multi-threat environment. pilots could achieve the task of providing constant airborne support to the event.

91 HMS Excellent

ITV ‘Text Santa” 24hr Cycle Ride Tactics included spending one hour cycling, two hours rest, which involved consuming copious On the 30th November seven members of the amounts of energy drinks, espressos, chocolate Royal Navy Royal Marine Cycling Team based in and flapjacks along the way, with very minimal HMS EXCELLENT travelled to London to take part sleep…!!! in the ‘Cycle to Lapland Challenge’ as part of the ITV fundraising efforts for the ‘2014 Text Santa Appeal.’ The team was helped along through kind This was an event for numerous charities that donations, with every £1 donated giving the team endeavor to help those who are vulnerable, sick or 1 mile, adding to the final mileage total! less fortunate than ourselves at Christmas. Great fun was had by all and the team did well with It began live on ITV on 1st December 2014 at both their distance and money raised and would 10:30am, where Phil Schofield embarked on a 24hr definitely be up for another similar challenge in the non-stop broadcast, of which this cycle ride was future. included.

The Commanding Office of Whale Island Cdr Martin Evans, along with Major Paul Spanner, Major Leon Marshall, Sergeant Mark Hill, Corporal Matthew Edwards, Corporal David ‘Arnie’ Fern and AB Gabrielle Saunderson made up the team, who were joined by 30 other teams from across the UK.

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Lt Cdr A Cronin

93 The Queen’s Own Rifles

2014 was once again a busy year for The Queen’s Own Princess Alexandra, who had served in the position for Rifles of Canada. The year began as it usually does, half a century. with winter warfare training. The Unit then progressed to a series of tactical exercises in a winter As the summer approached, the Regiment prepared to environment, culminating with Exercise BADGER commemorate a significant event within our history, DRIVE II, a company level exercise which saw the the storming of Juno Beach as part of Operation primary training audience inserting via parachute and then conducting a raid upon an urban village. Exercise BADGER DRIVE II was also used as a training vehicle for a Basic Reconnaissance Patrolman course that the Regiment was running concurrently. This was the first time the Brigade had run such a course in a decade. The course was a resounding success, due in no small part to the efforts of a handful of key senior non- commissioned officers from the Regiment, providing the Brigade with a platoon’s worth of reconnaissance qualified soldiers.

In May, at her personal request, a group from the Regiment travelled to Winnipeg, Manitoba to meet with the Colonel-in-Chief, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall. It was a whirlwind trip but helped to further the Regiment’s connection to The Duchess of Cornwall, who has been the Colonel-in-Chief since the Regiment’s sesquicentennial in 2010, when she replaced Her Royal Highness

94 www.pwrr.org.uk of Canada Capt A West

OVERLORD. The unit sent 25 personnel to Normandy in which the Regiment has accomplished this feat, to take part in the commemoration of the 70th having become the first and only unit to ever have anniversary of D-Day. As part of the trip the contingent conducted such a course in 2012. The professionalism toured the local area, interacting with the local of the Unit’s Parachute Instructors, led to an increase populous; conducted battlefield tours of important in the Brigade and Division’s ability to conduct First and Second World War battles as professional parachute operations on both Primary Reserve as well development; took part in several commemorations; as Regular Force exercises. and met with the Colonel-in-Chief, her second visit with a delegation from the Regiment in little more than We closed the year in the manner in which we began it, two weeks, on two different continents. By all with a series of company level exercises focused on accounts the trip was a huge success, with all Airborne operations. The final of the four tactical members of the delegation gaining a profound parachute operations the Regiment completed this understanding of the sacrifices of their forefathers year was during Exercise PEGASUS STRIKE III, where whilst also providing positive representation of the 60th (Parachute) Company seized an airfield, opening Regiment within France. it for follow-on forces to be air-landed. With freezing rain and sub-zero temperatures, but no snow to The summer was capped off by the completion of yet provide any extra padding for landing and a complex another Unit run, Primary Reserve only Basic objective with defence in depth, the soldiers were Parachutist Course. This marks the third straight year provided with a demanding and challenging exercise, which they were, to a man, up to the task.

We now wait for the challenges 2015 will bring and plan to overcome them with ease, as is the Regiment’s tradition.

95 35 Regiment D’Infanterie

Once again, the Gaillards of the 35th Infantry Regiment are deploying overseas. After closing the books on Afghanistan in 2013 the Regiment has been tasked with a new challenge: Mali as part of the Barkhane Operation. This includes The Scorpians of the 4th Company led by Capt Poulain and the Colonel Company led by Capt Zarb, reinforced by the other regiments of the 7th Armoured Brigade. From September 2014 to the middle of January 2015 they will fight the war on terror in the sand of North Mali with the Minusma and the Malian Armed Forces.

We are proud to report that our other Companies have also been busy with various deployments. The 1st COY of Capt Nouvelot has been deployed in the Ivory-Coast

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- France Capt T Carton de Wairt

from October to January to secure the French bases in the country. The 2nd Company of Capt Guerrier is training for his future deployment in New Caledonia in 2015. The 3rd Company of Capt Gensbittel is sending a platoon to Mauritania alongside the Combat Support Company of Capt Vimont to train their army. They have also been invited to England for a Calfex exercise.

Truthful to its spirit and traditions, the 35th Infantry Regiment once again pulls together to get the job done.

97 Friends of the PWRR

It’s been a busy few months and I’m pleased to it was with great pride that we accepted the award. As announce that over £110,000 has been raised for the a keen footballer, I represented the Battalion, Infantry, Regiment by the Friends of the Princess of Wales’s Army and Combined Services throughout my army Royal Regiment since April! career so being invited to this occasion was mind blowing. On arrival, I was surrounded by some of the There have been lots of activities taking place helping football greats I grew up admiring: Shearer, Owen, to raise the profile of the Regiment and the Friends. Keown, Vieira to name but a few. Not very often in my Some of the highlights include: a cross Channel swim, life have I been lost for words, but I struggled to speak Spinnaker Tower abseil, and a fundraising dinner. when the legend himself, Sir Bobby Charlton, came Most recently the Colonel of the Regiment, Brigadier over for a chat. Thankfully the Brigadier took the lead Richard Dennis OBE, and I were invited by the National on the conversation! Football Museum to represent the Regiment and accept the Hall of Fame Footballer’s Battalion award. On the 23rd October, the Friends hosted ‘An Evening Personally this was one of the best days of my life and with Heroes’ fundraising dinner. Attended by over 200

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CSgt B Wood MC

people, mainly from large businesses, the night gave We are very proud of everything we have achieved, and guests the opportunity to hear first-hand accounts we are looking forward to building on this success in from our soldiers who have fought on the front line and 2015. Thank you to everyone that has been involved, find out about the Regiment and how the Friends whether as part of the organising teams or taking part supports members of the Regiment, past and present. in the challenges. We raised a staggering £50,000 and developed some great contacts who are keen to support us in 2015. There are lots of ways that you can support the work of the Friends, either by attending events or setting up 2014 also featured a day of abseiling from the your own fundraising opportunities. Don’t forget to Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth. Jay Baldwin was the follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook to stay up first double amputee veteran to abseil and he was an to date with all the activities that we have planned. inspiration to all who attended. Serving members of the PWRR and many members from our forebear regiments, family and friends joined us on the day. Thanks to this incredible support we were able to raise £23,000.

In July the Tiger Sharks team of: Steve Wall, Craig Duff- Stewart, Bob Fisher, James Sandalls, Chris Griffiths and Heath Craster, successfully swam the Channel. A feat completed by fewer than have climbed Everest. Demanding from the start, the team entered the water at 7pm and had to swim most of the route in the dark. Swimmers were stung by jellyfish and faced stiff winds and a building swell. Through sheer hard work, fierce determination and with the chosen charities firmly in their minds, they succeeded in an amazing time of 16hrs 21mins, raising over £10,000 for charity.

99 Affiliated Livery

The Worshipful Company of The Worshipful Company of Cutlers Haberdashers The Worshipful Company of Cutlers (to Last year at the request of the Editor, I give it its formal title, although it is more wrote about the origins of the usually known just as the Cutlers’ Haberdashers’ Company and how it Company) is one of the ancient Livery moved from a Company controlling Companies of the City of London. It was Haberdashery to one involved in established in the Middle Ages as a body Education and Schools. to regulate the trade in knives and later surgical instruments, to maintain standards in the City of London, This continues to be the main focus of the Company and to act as a Friendly Society. It has now evolved into a today along with its grant making side. The Company society that supports charities and education, promotes has a membership of 900 made up of Apprentices, hospitality and friendship, and helps maintain City Freemen and Liverymen. The Company is run by a Court traditions. We will celebrate the 600th anniversary of our of Assistants made up of Liverymen (both men and first in 2016. women) and headed by a Master and 4 Wardens who are elected each year in November. Members come from all For more than 40 years, the Company has enjoyed an walks of life; many coming from the Haberdasher affiliation to the Queen’s Regiment, which was the only schools. They volunteer their services as members of Territorial infantry regiment in the Greater London Area. various Committees and as school governors. The On amalgamation it became ‘B’ Company, The London Members are supported by a staff of 12 headed by a Regiment comprising of infantry platoons based at Clerk. Edgware, and a machine gun platoon based at Hornsey. Through the connection with B Company, the Cutlers have The Company also maintains a strong link with the recently developed links with 3PWRR with enthusiastic armed services. As well as supporting both the 1st and support from the Commanding Officer, Lt Col John 2nd Battalions of the PWRR, it supports HMS St Albans, Baynham. a Type 23 Frigate, IX (Bomber) Squadron, RAF, a Tornado Squadron based at Marham in Norfolk that has recently In October 2014, six members of the Company joined seen service in Afghanistan and F Company, 7 Rifles, a members of the Paviors’, Needlemakers’, and Builders Reserve Battalion based in the West End of London and Merchants’ Livery Companies, along with members of the formerly the ’s Rifles. Order of St George, for a day in Canterbury seeing a little of the hard work and training that goes into keeping a With both Battalions abroad and very active, it has been Reserve Battalion at the peak of its abilities. We saw a difficult to arrange visits this year. Three Members did, at section attack, cooked our own compo lunch, had a go at the invitation of the Commanding Officer, 2PWRR, Lt Col camouflage and observation in the field, took part in Oli Stokes MBE, attend the dinner to remember the mock close quarter combat, practised some first aid, and Battle of Albuhera on the 16 May and to say ‘goodbye’ to fired rifles and pistols on the range (modesty prevents me London prior to the unit’s move to Cyprus. from mentioning which team won the shooting competition…). The Master, Mr Joff Bates, attended a Regimental dinner at the Tower on the 9th September as a guest of the We all left Canterbury with a better insight into at least Colonel of the Regiment. part of the role of a Reserve Forces soldier. Balancing a regular job with home life and service to the Country is no In the summer, the Company was delighted that both Lt. easy task; we noted that many members of the Battalion Colonels Andrew Flay and Oliver Stokes, MBE, along with had recently returned from a two weeks exercise in Colonel Wayne Harber, OBE, and Sergeant Johnson Cyprus. We were very grateful to all in 3PWRR for looking Beharry, VC, were able to join the Company for its annual after us so well, and for all the time and trouble they took Church Service and Garden Party at the Hall. to make the day such a success.

We are certainly looking forward in 2015 for more Everyone at Cutlers is very proud of our links with HM chances for Haberdashers and members of the Armed Forces, especially 3PWRR (as a resident of Regiment to meet. Canterbury, I am allowed to say that!) and we look forward to strengthening those ties in the months and years It just remains for me to wish, on behalf of the Company, ahead. the Regiment all the very best of good fortune for the future as it faces new challenges in these uncertain Mr Christopher Robinson times.

Mr Andrew Carr 100 www.pwrr.org.uk Companies

The Worshipful Company of Builders’ Merchants The WCoBM also provides great networking The Worshipful Company of Builders’ opportunities for its Liverymen and Freemen. Members Merchants (WCoBM) was formed in include leading figures in builders’ merchants, 1961 and granted a Royal Charter in manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, buying 2012. It currently has 211 Liverymen groups, service suppliers and ancillary trades. Events and 24 Freemen. The Company does are organised throughout the year in historic Livery not trade, but exists, by Royal Charter, Halls and fascinating buildings in the City, for members to network, to promote the interests of the industry and and guests to discuss business, exchange information to do good by supporting training, education and and views and build relationships. charities. For more information visit www.wcobm.co.uk. Follow In October 2014 Gill Moore was installed as the new us @WCoBM Master. The installation ceremony was at Mansion House, home to The Lord Mayor of London, followed by Mrs Lucia D Stazio a prestigious White Tie dinner to celebrate. The ceremony was a particularly notable occasion because Gill is the first female Master of the WCoBM.

One of the key objectives of the WCoBM is to raise the profile of builders’ merchants and their importance in ‘Supplying Britain’s Building Needs’ – a slogan developed for the Company’s Float in the Lord Mayor’s Show to explain what builders’ merchants do and demonstrate the value of merchants to Britain’s economy. Builders’ merchants supply 80-85% of the built environment so they are an integral part of the construction industry.

The Worshipful Company of Builders’ Merchants’ Charitable Fund actively supports training and education in the industry and many worthwhile charities. In March 2014, the WCoBM held its Annual City & Awards luncheon where The Lord Mayor awarded prizes to three young merchants on their Diploma in Merchanting. At the same event, the Master presented The Lord Mayor with a cheque of £15,000 towards The Lord Mayor’s Appeal. At the WCoBM’s Summer Event hosted at Innholders’ Hall, Andrew Weiss, President of the Rainy Day Trust, presented the Master with a Benefactor certificate in recognition of the support from the WCoBM over many years. The Master presented Andrew with a cheque of £2,000 towards the charity. And in September 2014 the Company sponsored ‘The Magical Taxi Tour’ organised by the Hackney Carriage Drivers Company. The event involves over 100 London taxis taking terminally ill children for a weekend trip to Disneyland Paris in convoy.

In September 2014, we were privileged to be the guests of Lt Colonel John Baynham and 3PWRR on manoeuvres in Cyprus. It was a great and unique experience. The Regiment were good hosts and showed us the highs and lows of the island, including the island’s turbulent and difficult history. A detailed write up on the trip is in our latest newsletter, downloadable from the WCoBM website.

101 Middlesex & North West

Rebecca, a student at Hampton Academy is an Army Cadet CSM Rebecca Varney Cadet at the Langley Road Staines Cadet Detachment and completed a CVQO learning The Army Cadet Force (ACF) is the Army's national programme through her involvement in cadets. She voluntary youth organisation with a membership of has been in the cadets since September 2010. over 45,000 12 to 18 year old boys and girls. It operates in over 1700 locations across the UK. Its Steve Taylor, CVQO's Head of Corporate aim is to inspire young people to achieve success in Communications said: life, with a spirit of service to the Queen, Country and their local community alike. "Congratulations to Rebecca Varney who I am confident will be a very good ambassador for CVQO. In Middlesex and North West London ACF there are She can be very proud of her achievement and I know 34 Detachments, with over 1000 cadets, which meet she will have a fabulous day with us at the House of twice a week in locations all over the North West of Lords later this month. The public vote generated a London, from Barnet in the north to Victoria in the lot of interest around the country and I'd like to thank south and as far west as Staines. The cadets everyone who voted either online or via SMS text. This participate in a full range of activities which include year the Duke of Westminster Award had a record sport, first aid, adventure training and community number of submissions and the standard was work, as well as military skills. The ACF are also extremely high. The Award continues to recognise major participants in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. outstanding young people who are not only exemplary For more information visit www.armycadets.com. cadets but who have achieved so much more in terms of their own personal development, commitment to Cadet Rebecca Varney their community and to others." from 195 Staines Detachment ACF has topped the public vote to become the CVQO Regional CVQO is a UK-based educational charity that has Ambassador 2014. been changing the lives of young people and adult volunteers through vocational training and Rebecca and a guest attended the prestigious Duke development since 2001. Established by Edward of Westminster Award lunch at the House of Lords Woods, former chief instructor at the Cadet Training on 26 June to receive her award. Centre Frimley, CVQO provides members of uniformed youth organisations (adults and young This is the first year of the CVQO Regional people) with opportunities to gain internationally Ambassador Award which was open to the 15 Duke recognised vocational qualifications. of Westminster Award regional finalists who didn't make it through as a national finalist.

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London ACF Capt M Nolan

103 South West London

2014 has been both a year of challenges and 152 Detachment, based at Cobham have recruited successes across the Sector but I am happy to steadily and embedded themselves firmly at the report that the Tiger units in South West London ACF heart of the community by taking part in the Cobham are flourishing. Heritage Day in September, further raising their profile by fundraising and recruiting. The unit is well- In June, 136 Detachment, based at Wimbledon supported by parents, many of whom attended the College, welcomed the Deputy Lieutenant for unit’s Open Day in November. For Cadets Corbett and Merton, Sir John Wheeler who visited the unit to Clement it has been a very successful autumn; present DL Certificates to Cadet RSM Lambert, Sgt having completed testing for their APC 1-Star, they Stanton, Cpl Nery and Cpl Thompson in recognition went on to pass their Cadet Radio Users Course at of their efforts at the unit and in the wider the beginning of November and were both promoted community. to LCpl at their unit’s Annual General Inspection.

In July, Adult Under Officer (AUO) Pittam was 155 Detachment represented the Sector at the appointed as the new Detachment Commander of Elworthy Trophy, the prestigious London District 136 and recently experienced the joys of his first inter-services cadet competition. This is the second Annual General Inspection. He takes over a unit year SMI Joel has led the unit in this competition and which has recruited strongly, with nearly 60 cadets they used their experience to good effect, moving on the books. Sadly, he has also had to say goodbye further up the rankings. Sadly, they failed to topple to some senior cadets who have played a pivotal role the Air Training Corps from their irritatingly familiar in the running of the unit: Cadet RSM Lambert, Cadet position at the top of the score sheet but hope Sergeant Major Cousins and Cadet Sergeant springs eternal for 2015! Stanton have all left 136 following a very successful Annual Camp at West Tofts. In total, 79 PWRR cadets New adult staff have joined our Tiger detachments; and instructors attended camp, forming roughly a we welcome PI Flitton and PI Moroz to 151 quarter of the Sector’s strength. detachment and PI Blackford to 143. Last but not least, SI Halford has traded in his Rifles beret for one Cdt Sgt Maj Cousins (136), Cdt LCpl Hope-Thompson of a far nicer shade following his transfer from 149! (143) and Cdt Smart (151) all took part in the Sector We wish them all well in their new postings. SAAM with Cousins gaining selection for the Shooting Team to represent SW London at the LONDIST Cadet SAAM.

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ACF Lt Col D Smith

105 Surrey ACF

Highlights from 2014 within Surrey ACF are almost Championships, while also having a successful team too numerous to fit into an article of this length, at the Nijmegen Marches, the Cadet Patrols which is probably the best way of saying it has been Competition, the Regional First Aid cadre and an a busy and mainly successful year. Before any increasingly competent shooting team at Bisley and further detail on personnel, places, events and the earlier meetings. BTEC qualifications among successes though, it must be said that much of what senior cadets are also on the increase. we do would not be possible without the support of the Regiment, and that we remain extremely proud Every company has got away on at least two training to be the only ‘all PWRR’ county. In early summer we weekends, and we had an excellent annual camp at gained a new detachment in the east of the county Okehampton with an impressively large basic cadre, when the Royal Alexandra and Albert School all of whom were enjoying their first period of transferred to us from South West London. They are concentrated ACF training. Our new Adventurous all now wearing the right badge and making an Training Officer, Captain Terry Hall, put together an excellent contribution to the county. excellent package of activities at a local centre, and also some abseiling from a viaduct. Thanks to the Personnel among seniors remains largely Army Air Corps, we also managed some fun in a unchanged with Colonel Alan Mulder now in the final helicopter one afternoon, as well as the mandatory furlong of a long stint as Commandant. A sudden FTX and expedition for all cadres. On the middle and unexpected loss though was Major Mark Saturday we welcomed visitors from the Regiment, Murphy who sadly died in April following a heart the ACFA and Brigade, along with the Lord attack, having been a very active Company Lieutenant, Dame Sarah Goad, and her husband. Commander for some years. The family have Coincidentally it was also her birthday which was presented a trophy to be awarded each year to the marked appropriately at the officers’ dinner that most committed member of B Company. evening.

For the second year running we did a fair amount of Bryan Pickering, a Past Master of the Coopers ‘board sweeping’ at the National Orienteering Company, and his Beadle also came down for

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Capt A Jacques MC

Visitors Day, and the Coopers Cask was won this year number of outside engagements throughout 2014, by C Company. We really value our Livery Company and look forward to further expansion and more connection, and look forward to many more years of involvement in the national cadet music scene next continuing co-operation. year.

Our connection with the Australian Army Cadets On the community side, we have collected for ABF (Exercise Southern Cross) continues and it was on The Soldiers Charity, for the RBL Poppy Appeal, and our home ground this year with over 30 adults and assisted a number of other local charities with cadets from Perth enjoying camp with us, as well as events. Much of this though is merely a ‘warmer into some London and South East sight-seeing before the bank’ (for those old enough to remember that and after. Plans are afoot now for our next turn out drill), as we get ready for Guildford to host Armed there in September 2015. Forces Day next year. Following that we will look forward to welcoming regimental visitors to our Music may or may not be the food of love, but it is an annual camp at Nescliffe in August. important part of our work in Surrey. The Corps of Drums and the Band have played at an increasing

107 Epsom College CCF

Epsom College is proud to support a large (around 400 cadets) and thriving CCF Contingent. We are fortunate to enjoy excellent facilities including an indoor rifle range, climbing wall, abseil tower, command task area and an obstacle course. All these facilities are well utilised, especially on parade afternoons.

Much of the cadet’s training takes place on Wednesday afternoons in the college grounds. The CCF year begins after the Easter vacation and all new cadets participate in a circle of basic activities including .22 rifle training, air rifle shooting, camp- craft, cooking, abseiling, obstacle course, map work and orienteering. This culminates in a 24 hour exercise in Aldershot during June Field Day, where many of those skills are put to the test. During this period the RAF section concurrently run an overnight camp and hike, while the Royal Navy section enjoy a and the College's own Contingent Band, and day of sailing at Ripley. The Army Infantry group hold concluded with a display by the Advanced Drill Team. a combat exercise in Pirbright where they undertake In the afternoon cadets took part in an Inter-House a variety of missions in eight-man sections, competition involving skills that demonstrate their including a close target reconnaissance of an enemy training achievements. The competition was made position, a night ambush and a platoon attack up of 18 separate activities, including watermanship, map exercises, field craft, camp craft, first aid, rifle The main event this year was our annual general shooting and weapon assembly, a confidence inspection which took place in March. The event course, obstacle course and initiative exercises. In attracted one of the largest crowds of parents, OEs the evening the Annual CCF Dinner was attended by and guests ever gathered on College lawns. We were the cadet force Adult Volunteers and 6th Form NCOs delighted to welcome Brigadier Richard Dennis, OBE, Regimental Colonel, The Princess of Wales's Royal It is clear that the cadets at Epsom College continue Regiment, as the Reviewing Officer and his ADC to experience a huge variety of activities and we look Captain Mark Featherstone PWRR. After inspecting forward to much of the same next year. the Guard of Honour, Brigadier Dennis welcomed the guests, including a number of OEs who are serving or are former serving officers in the armed services, as well as pupils from local prep schools. The morning continued with the Inspection and March Past, supported by the Band of the Royal Engineers

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Lt Col M Hampshire

109 Caterham School CCF

Caterham School CCF’s Army Section has had yet another successful year of training.

In May, along with the RAF Section we took part in the Annual General Inspection held on a Sunday at the school. We were kindly inspected by Lieutenant Colonel CD Davies MBE PWRR, who was taken on a tour of various stands showing all the training we take part in throughout the year from Skill at Arms to First Aid and Drill. In the afternoon along with the parents, he was treated to a blank firing demonstration laid on by the senior cadets of the Contingent.

June for Caterham Army Section means Exercise ‘Summer Lightning’ a 36 hour Battlecraft exercise over a Sunday and Monday. This year 40 cadets from the principles of ambushes and section battle drills. recruits to NCOs dared to take on the challenge of After lunch intelligence came through which an exhausting and adrenaline-fuelled two days of interrupted the lessons: the enemy had established training on Bramley Training Area. a base in Bramley’s extensive array of buildings and hangars. Cometh the hour, cometh the Self- sufficient for the exercise with kit and Caterham Rifles. Platoon commander Sgt rations in their bergens and webbing, Ewan Davidson and his trusty platoon the cadets began with a training sergeant Sgt Daniel Webb quickly phase run by their Sixth assembled a plan to dominate the Form NCOs, recapping ground and eliminate the enemy’s and rehearsing threat. After an initial ambush, the platoon soon occupied a building compound for Company HQ and its harbour area in woodland nearby. Fighting patrols and recce patrols established a foothold in the area, with slick section skills employed to clear tunnels and compounds of enemy troops. A night ambush, complete with flares, was sprung on a vehicle convoy carrying weapons. As intelligence was gathered deep into the night and the following morning, a rolling platoon attack was embarked on to clear the enemy once and for all from Hampshire.

This year our central camp was held in RAF St Mawgan. 45 cadets from the Army section took part in the week-long camp completing a skill at arms package, 36 hours in the field, followed by a battle exercise on Penhale training area, a day in sunny Newquay and a Military Skills package. The last full day was devoted to adventure training, including surfing, bouldering, abseiling and a Tyrolean traverse across a forty foot canyon. 110 www.pwrr.org.uk

Lt A North

In August, ten senior cadets and one officer completed a Charity static line parachute cadre raising money for the ABF. The two-day course culminated in a solo static line jump from 3,500 feet. Saturday was spent at the Joint Service Parachute Centre at Netheravon, undertaking extensive ground training under the tutelage of a military instructor. On the Sunday morning, the eleven parachutists took to the sky. Not one cadet showed even a moment of hesitation in the doorway of the aircraft and they are all to be commended both for the speed with which they took on board all the new skills required and for their bravery.

The Army section has also had two very successful Field Days. In March we were kindly hosted by the on a tour around their barracks at Hyde Park. In November we were very fortunate to be allowed entry into the and the Regimental HQ where Captain Oliver Keith gave a talk to the cadets about the regiment.

We look forward to another busy training year

111 Kingston Grammar

The Kingston Grammar School contingent has taken activities including a navigational exercise, quad part in a great variety of activities throughout 2014 biking, archery and clay-pigeon shooting, in all of and as the cadet force continues to grow the which we were pitched against other contingents in standard amongst the cadets is noticeably competition at which KGS excelled. Despite being in improving, as shown by our many successes competition, all the contingents enjoyed relaxing throughout the year. Here is a brief round-up of the during the evenings together, particularly the highlights for the KGS CCF in 2014. football match on the last evening, and we were good friends by the end. Over the Easter period we visited Sennybridge Camp; this was a fun and relaxed trip which honed the In October we carried out another field training orienteering abilities of the contingent in the exercise on Longmoor in order to teach the new beautiful Brecon Beacons. The group also spent a recruits the basics. This included a covert night day in Llangorse at the rock climbing centre and exercise and plenty of blank firing exercises: always horse riding across the hills, a busy and rewarding a hit with the cadets. We came back exhausted but day for those who faced their fears by abseiling the smiling. 18m wall to finish. The adventure concluded with the summiting of Pen Y Fan, which, while demanding, is The contingent was also proud to take part in the a very pleasant climb with great views from the peak: Remembrance Service in Kingston. The service was one of the highs of my year! moving and, with so many groups taking part, the march past afterwards was an impressive spectacle. In June we again made a journey to Wales for our annual summer camp. The main event was an Amongst all those activities, the cadets have had a overnight field training exercise in which our chance to take part in a couple of range days and it contingent orchestrated both a night ambush and a is clear that Kingston Grammar has some gifted full platoon assault alongside other contingents marksmen within its cadet force as well as the affiliated with different regiments. It was amazing to general standard of shooting being high. see so many people orchestrating the action so well, many of whom were attempting something like this Over the summer break we were unfortunate to lose for the first time. Kingston Grammar received the head of our contingent, Major Dunlop, who particular praise from the coordinators. Outside of moved to a different school. But while his fantastic the exercise we also took part in a plethora of other contribution to the CCF won’t be forgotten his

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School CCF Cadet CSgt H Styles

replacement, Captain Beggs, has already had great success in recruiting new members and motivating the KGS CCF to reach new heights. He has definitely made the presence of the contingent felt and hopefully we will continue to thrive. Everyone is very excited about another year being part of the Kingston Grammar School contingent

113 Regimental

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Headquarters Col W Harber OBE

For over 2 years Regimental Headquarters has been historically linked to the regiment but which have going through a period of significant change. The often been overlooked in recent times due to the regimental plan drawn up in 2012 has been adapted, expansion of Greater London into adjoining counties particularly as staff changeovers have taken place, and the various regimental amalgamations that but the key change has involved splitting the have led to a reduction in the size of our presence in headquarters, with RHQ moving to the Tower of the community. For example, the Borough of London, alongside RHQ The Royal Regiment of Southwark presented the regiment with its Freedom Fusiliers, and a small Area HQ remaining in last year. And we then held the 10th Anniversary Canterbury. Due to the decision to close Howe Commemoration Service of 4 at Barracks, the Area HQ moved to Leros Barracks in Southwark Cathedral who were very keen to February 2014, with offices in Battalion resurrect the regimental link. In addition, the Headquarters 3 PWRR. facilities at the Tower mean that we are able to host a number of Civil Engagement events for a wide The split headquarters has allowed us a better variety of people who can or do support the regiment spread of effort across the regimental area. In in many different ways. London we are renewing ties to those areas that are

Who’s Who at RHQ

RHQ (Tower of London) Regimental Secretary – Colonel Wayne Harber OBE: Directs RHQ business; MS career support with APC and HQ Infantry; Officer Recruiting; support to Colonel & Deputy Colonels of the Regiment and Royal Military Household, Copenhagen.

Deputy Regimental Secretary – Major Paul Senter (from 2015): Media & Communications; Area Secretary (London), including RHQ Civil Engagement events; Database & Brand Manager

Assistant Regimental Secretary – Charlotte Varty: Welfare & Benevolence; PWRR Regimental Association Secretary; Operations Director TigerRec; Veterans; Data Protection

Regimental Adjutant – Captain Oliver Keith: Officer Recruiting; RMAS liaison; support to London & Southampton UOTCs, all Regimental CCFs and London ACFs; staff support

Chief Clerk – vacant post to be filled in 2015

Admin Assistant – Mrs Debbie Moody

RHQ Assistant – Private Arthur

Area HQ (Canterbury) Area Secretary – Henry Thomas MBE: Civil Engagement for regimental area (less London); support to ACFs (less London); Regimental Heritage, including Curator PWRR & Queen’s Regt Museum, Dover Castle

Resources Manager – Jim Reynolds: Management of Benevolent Fund and associated financial matters, including support to battalions

Admin Assistant – Jacqui Smith 115 Op TELIC IV (Iraq)

Ten years on - 1 PWRR Operation TELIC 4 Iraq Tour During the service The Queen’s and Regimental commemorated with parade and prayers at Colours of the 1st Battalion were marched in, Southwark Cathedral received by Padre Justin Bradbury and placed at the altar while the Regimental Slow March (‘The Minden On 24 October 2014 members and ex-members of 1 Rose’) was played. Brigadier Matt Maer DSO MBE PWRR and the wider Regiment gathered in the and Corporal Mike Dutton read passages from the London Borough of Southwark to remember their Bible. A peal of bells was rung for 30 minutes prior to role in Iraq in 2004 and commemorate those lost and and following the service in honour of the occasion. wounded by the war. Southwark Cathedral is very much a spiritual home When in April 2004 the 1st Battalion Battle Group for The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment - in the deployed for a six month tour to Iraq they faced the South Transept hang the Queen’s and Regimental most constant period of conflict of any British Army Colours of the 3rd and 4th Battalions of The Queen’s unit since the Korean War.

In Maysan they faced over 100 contacts in one day alone and close to 900 over the tour, including gun battles which lasted hours. Private Chris Rayment died during the defence of CIMIC House, Al Amarah; which in itself was a truly heroic action. B Company in Basrah faced possibly the most violent single contact of the period, leading to the loss of Private Lee O’Callaghan, the severe wounding of the Company Commander and Company Sergeant Major and injuries to four others. In Al Amarah C Company took 25 per cent casualties in the first 17 days of the tour. Every man who deployed with the battalion was in some form of contact with the enemy.

Through the many trials of Op Telic 4 all the officers and men performed outstandingly. They faced attack, danger and heat with courage, determination, humanity and humour. Nobody gave anything less than their best. During this tour many medals were won which included a Victoria Cross for Private (now Sergeant) Johnson Beharry.

Current serving members of units who served on Operation Telic 4 in Iraq from April to October 2004 came together once again to march through the London Borough. Setting off from St George’s Church, they paused briefly for Sergeant Beharry to lay a wreath on the war memorial in Borough High Street, in memory of comrades lost. From there the veterans and serving troops marched on through the colourful stalls of Borough Market to the ancient cathedral of Southwark, where a commemorative service was held with families, veterans, and friends. These included members of the Danish Army who had fought so bravely alongside them in Iraq.

Attending the service was the Under Secretary of State for Defence, Lord Astor of Hever DL, the Mayor of Southwark Councillor Sunil Chopra, the Deputy Lord Lieutenant Mrs Jenny Bianco, and The Colonel of the Regiment Brigadier Richard Dennis OBE.

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Commemoration Service Col W Harber OBE

Royal Surrey Regiment, the PWRR’s local antecedent regiment. The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment was granted the Honorary Freedom of the London Borough of Southwark on 22 May 2013, with a formal civic presentation held on Armed Forces Day, 28 June 2014, in Glaziers Hall adjacent to Southwark Cathedral.

117 The Princess of Wales’s Association EAST KENT BRANCH In this centenary year of the commencement of The Branch Chairman: Major John Redfern TD Great War, a number of Branch members have Branch Secretary: Major (Retd) Bill Gawler MBE attended commemorative events in both the UK and France. On the 4th of August 2014 Don Fagg and a The Canterbury and East Kent Branch of the PWRR marching contingent took part in the Folkestone Association has a membership now standing at 108 “Step Short Parade”, followed by “Shine a Light paid members and together we have enjoyed a good Ceremony” where he lit a Lantern on behalf of the year of social events. Branch.

Our annual Ladies Night Dinner in Canterbury took A number of Branch members have attended WWI place in March, followed by the Branch BBQ in July at events with some of our forebear Regimental the Defence Fire School Manston. The BBQ was Associations, including a small contingent who again blessed with excellent weather and great food. joined the Royal Sussex Association to Priez to see This event is proving to be one of our most popular the unveiling of a voluntary funded monument, events and is open to all members, family and commemorating the first 20 men for that Regiment friends – new members and their families, are killed in action in September 1914. An excellent day always welcome. was had by all and the French hospitality was most generous and appreciated.

London Branch Charlotte Varty

The 5 March 2015 was the launch night for the London Branch of the PWRR Association held at the Union Jack Club. The event was well-attended with many of those present volunteering to be members of the committee. If you are interested in joining the London Branch please visit the Facebook page www.facebook.com/pwrrlondon or email [email protected]

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Royal Regiment Maj J Redfern

Remembrance Day in Canterbury was dry and sunny Forthcoming events in 2015 include: and under the watchful eye of the RSM, the Branch Ladies Night Dinner in Canterbury - March Paraded 30 members in the Veterans contingent. We Summer BBQ at the former RAF Manston- July are now clearly identified as PWRR with our Brown Thames River trip – Date TBC Berets and Standard, making up a large part of the Veterans Marching on the parade. Year on year our The Colonel of the Regiments main effort is the numbers are growing for this important event and development of a fully effective Regimental Network, you are most welcome to come and join us with beret bringing together Regular, Reserve, serving and ex- or without, if you have served in the Regular or Members, potential recruits, civilian supporters, Territorial Army with PWRR or our forebear influencers and Friends into one cohesive, well Regiments. informed entity. In this we as a Branch can play our part. As the de facto Canterbury Branch in the We enjoyed great hospitality at the post parade curry Regimental Association, we can be a start point for lunch laid on by HQ Company 3 PWRR at Leros Army ex-members who have left their Regular or Territorial Reserve Centre for which we are most grateful. Our PWRR Service and have as yet no dedicated Branch Branch now has a voluntary Branch Welfare Officer, to focus on. For more details on our Branch events Colin Wilson Ex RAMC who served with the RAF and membership please contact our Branch Regular forces and Territorial’s in 5 QUEENS/PWRR. Secretary Major (Retd) Bill Gawler, MBE on 01227 He is the initial point of contact for the Branch for 637241 welfare guidance. RHQ remains the main point of contact should you require welfare or benevolence support.

119 TigerRec

TigerRec was established in 2013 to ensure that This year TigerRec has placed veterans in various the training, skills and other attributes gained by positions and employment sectors including PWRR soldiers and officers during their service manufacturing, logistics, finance and security. We are put to best use in their civilian employment are able to do this because of the great when they leave. Now in its second year I am relationship we have with our civilian employers, delighted to report that TigerRec continues to go including Canary Wharf Group, Amazon, G4S and from strength to strength, providing a Barclays. A special mention has to be given to resettlement service to both PWRR and members Dunster House Ltd who have been pivotal to the of our forebear regiments. In March this year growth of TigerRec. As one of our first recruiters, TigerRec was formerly handed over to RHQ and is Dunster House Ltd has been a great support to the directly managed by the Assistant Regimental Regiment this year. Chris Murphy, owner and Secretary Charlotte Varty. During the last year Managing Director, even allowed us to visit them TigerRec has seen a sharp rise in both employers at their headquarters in Bedford to see first-hand and veteran’s engagement. This rise is due to a all of the different employment opportunities greater awareness at battalion level achieved open to PWRR veterans. Dunster House Ltd through our leaver’s courses, as well as an already employs ex PWRR personnel including increased contact with civilian recruiters. In Keith Roberts who is currently one of their branch November 2014 Tiger Rec held its first managers. As someone who has recently gone Employment Engagement Forum at the Union through the resettlement process I thought it Jack Club, supported by Captain Giles Walsh from fitting to include a short article from him about his 3PWRR. The evening was well attended with 17 transition into civilian employment. civilian employers present all keen to recruit and utilise the skills of PWRR veterans. The night It is worth mentioning that a large number of our presented a unique networking opportunity for all current recruiters have been introduced to those in attendance, with some even managing to TigerRec through the wider Regimental family. We secure job offers. Ex Private Mahmut Bilgilli who would ask any individuals with employment secured employment through the Barclays opportunities which may be suitable for Service aftercare programme is one such success story. leavers to get in touch, you can find us online at www.tigerrec.co.uk .

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Miss C Varty

“I have always stated that I didn’t want to be an old what you believe in, it is about meeting targets and man in uniform, so in 2013 I decided to leave the expectations. As a Tiger you are capable of doing Army. As a first step I put a CV together and started anything as long as put your mind to it that includes hitting the online job sites. During this process the adjusting to life in Civvy Street. Your military same question kept coming in to my mind, what do I upbringing, culture and ethos is a match for anyone, want to do and how much am I worth? With 33 years’ and these skills have and will serve you greatly. If service behind me I didn’t want to sell myself short, you’re still not convinced you just need to think to so I was sure to highlight my skills in my CV. My yourself, if an old git like me can make the move then mantra was “you can do anything, just sell yourself” so can you.” and this would be my advice to any Service leaver. Trawling through job sites one evening I came across Keith Roberts MBE (late 3PWRR Capt) the advert for a Branch Manager at Dunster House, based just outside Faversham, perfect, 10 minutes down the road, but what did I know about log cabins? I told myself it didn’t matter I had all the qualities listed in the job advert and so decided to apply. I was able to demonstrate that the skills I had acquired in my military career were fully transferable and relevant to the role. I had an interview and shortly after I was offered the position.

So what is the job? It is everything that any JNCO or SNCO can do. It is everything that we all can do. It is man management, it is being a Pl Sgt, it is being a CQMS, it is being a CSM, it is being an MT rep, it is being a recruiter. It is about doing the right thing and having the morale courage to see a job through to the end. It is about your people, it is about promoting

121 The Road to Recovery

On August 10th 2012 I was finally medically session. By allowing civilian organisations to speak discharged from the Army and left behind what I directly with three non-commissioned officers, we consider to be the best 12 years of my life. Being hoped to change perceptions and convince them of injured on 31st January 2012 was the toughest the benefits of employing ex-military personnel. challenge I’d ever had to face in my career, although Luckily I was approached that evening; it is where I this was barely a scratch in comparison to how my was offered my current job for the security risk fellow colleagues, friends and family felt hearing the company. I am enjoying the work and although sad news that I was injured. I would like to use this commuting isn’t for me, it’s really nice to earn some opportunity to firstly confirm that I am currently well money. and fully motivated (although maybe not in terms of fitness right now) to continue my life and make the In summary I am really enjoying my life right now and most out of it. I consider myself to be one of the lucky I can honestly say that the only thing I miss about ones, especially when I think about my colleagues not having legs is the limitation it puts on my ability who passed away whilst serving on operations. to play sport; although I can play golf to a Handicap of 12 (when playing religiously). In 2015 I am looking When I say lucky I really do mean it; it’s not just me forward to being involved with more regimental putting on a brave face for my friends, family and gatherings, reunions, dinners and who knows I may former colleagues. I know I am lucky because l can even get the odd invite back to the Battalion to share see the bigger picture. I am fortunate enough to have a few bottles of Port! a wonderful family and have the opportunity to watch them grow. I have also recently started a new job working full time in Camberley for a security risk company, who pay me the same salary I was on in the Army. Put simply I am 29 and have my whole life ahead of me, I cannot simply sit around and play PlayStation for the rest of my life, however tempting that may sound.

Since leaving the Army I have regularly been helping my friend Brian Wood who works for the ‘Friends of the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment’. I was even mad enough to let him convince me to abseil down the Spinnaker tower in Portsmouth during 2014. The experience wasn’t actually that bad and I got the record for being the quickest down the tower that day (despite what Brian says I promise you it’s true.) Unfortunately I have to report that Corporal Dan Turner is still hanging off the tower, he was clearly lacking confidence on the day, but I’ll be sure to keep everyone posted on his progress! In all seriousness the event was a great success, raising over £15,000, which is a top effort by everyone involved.

In 2014 I attended the ‘Friends’ dinner held in London. This was an outstanding event organised by Brian Wood and Nick Goble. To see over 350 people in one room all supporting our regimental charity was amazing, allowing us to raise over £50,000 in just one evening. It is important to mention that the event wasn’t purely about raising money, it was also about promoting the regiment and its people. We wanted to take the opportunity to let civilian organisations know that every single PWRR veteran is employable, and that the skills learnt in battalion are both valuable and relevant in Civvy Street. During the evening myself along with Brian Wood and LSgt Johnson Beharry VC held a Question and Answer

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Sgt J Baldwin

123 The Queen’s Regiment

Once again the Association has had a busy year, participated in by Association members. Members consolidating the increase in activity over the have abseiled off the Pinnacle in Portsmouth previous year. Membership has increased from the (courtesy of the Friends of the PWRR), cycled from 1,800 reported last year to over 2,200. We still need Land’s End to John O’Groats, swum the Channel in to engage with all those officers and soldiers who the company of the Tiger Sharks and the Queen’s served between 1966-92 – and there are about Regimental Riders Association (QRRA) held an 5,000 of them - who are members of the Association outstanding fundraising weekend rally which but who are not registered. This is particularly consisted of some 25 bands, fire-eaters, drummers important with the planned activity over the next and dancers and not forgetting copious amounts of couple of years. alcohol, hog-roast and a deluge of rain.

Our branches have been meeting on a regular basis One of the highlights of the year was the celebration and not, I’m delighted to say, just at funerals! of the 40th Anniversary of the Presentation of Farnham Branch made their annual trip to Colours. A small group, led by the President, Mouscron over the Albuhera weekend. Next year will travelled to Paderborn for an audience with HM be the final year that this trip takes place. Other Queen Margrethe during her visit to 1 PWRR. This groups have made pilgrimages to the WW1 was a very informal audience but one filled with battlefields in addition to the usual regular great memories and gave us the opportunity of meetings. reminding HM of a very special day in the history of the Regiment and the close links that we shared Two Memorials have been dedicated during the year during the existence of the Queen’s Regiment. – the first being the Queen’s Regiment Memorial Woodland near Dorking with a second being 2015 looks like being yet another busy year. The AGM dedicated inside Palace Barracks in Northern and reunion will take place on 7 March in the Union . The Howe Barracks Memorial is shortly to Jack Club, the Canterbury Memorial will be be dismantled and will be re-dedicated in its new rededicated in the Spring, the Association are location in Leros Barracks under the protection of 3 planning to take part in the national focus for Armed PWRR in the Spring. Plans are being made for a Forces Day in Guildford on 27 June and the QRRA will memorial to the Regiment to be built at the National be holding another fundraising weekend over 3-5 Memorial Arboretum (NMA) in Lichfield. Because of July – all this on top of the usual branch meetings administrative difficulties at the NMA the dedication and ad hoc gatherings that take place during the will now take place on 17 May 2016 and will year. incorporate the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the raising of the Regiment. If you have any questions or just want to get in touch please contact the secretary at What has stood out this year is the number of [email protected]. fundraising events that have been organised and

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Association Maj A Goulden

125 The Royal Hampshire

For the main forebear regiments 2014 has But 2014 wasn’t just about an anniversary of a been dominated by the centenary of World War recent conflict; it was also the 250th One and we have been no exception. But the anniversary of the death of Pte Thomas year has been more than that, it has also been Thetcher who died in 1764. Thetcher was a the 75th anniversary of the 1st Battalion’s soldier in the North Hampshire who, landing on on 6th June 1944 and according to his headstone in Cathedral Close the 60th anniversary of our deployment to in Winchester ‘died from drinking small beer on Malaya in 1954 a hot day’. There has been great controversy as to why a private soldier would warrant a Towards the end of 2013 we were lucky enough headstone not far from the West Door to the to secure a grant from the Heritage Lottery Cathedral, but he did and in 1917 this stone Fund, not only to refurbish the Regimental was seen by an American officer on his way to Museum (something that hadn’t been done for the war who was greatly impressed by the part about 10 years) but also to generally spruce of the inscription which reads: the whole place up including the website, which is in desperate need of revision and ‘An honest soldier never is forgot being brought up to date. The midnight oil was whether he dies by musket or by pot’. well and truly burnt and thanks very much to the assistance of Roger Coleman ably assisted So much did this inscription resonate with him by a small team of volunteers whom he that it is in the founding document of dragooned in to help, all the displays have Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) which Bill Wilson changed and we have hopefully managed to (the American Officer) went back to America to bring the museum into the 21st Century. As we found. The current stone in Cathedral Close is are limited with space, we now have 2 touch- a replacement owing to damage and the stone screen displays where further information is that Wilson saw is now in the Museum. Each available for the visitor who wants to know year members of AA come to the Museum to more. All we are now waiting for is a 2/3rds touch the stone that Bill Wilson saw in the scale Jeep to be made completed with pintel hope that it gives them encouragement and mounting machine-gun to go in our children’s strength in their own personal fight. What Bill corner and then we will be more or less done Wilson however managed to conveniently and ready to move on to sort the website out. forget is the inscription higher up on the headstone which states: As fell 3 days before the anniversary of the start of WW1, we decided to ‘Here sleeps a Hampshire Grenadier combine both events and laid out a little poppy who died from drinking cold small beer. cross for each member of the Regiment who was killed on duty since 4th August 1914 – Soldiers be warned by his untimely fall 8,024 for WW1, 2,149 for WW2 and 87 from the and if ye’re hot drink strong or not at all.’ end of WW2. We were delighted that Sgt Johnson Beharry VC was able to join us in the This advice to drink the strong stuff rather than Memorial Garden in front of Serle's House for the weaker dregs (small beer) does fly in the the Service and Reception afterwards in the face of everything that Alcoholics Anonymous Great Hall in Winchester; he was an excellent preaches. But there are still a number of ambassador for his Regiment and was much in questions about Thomas Thetcher which are demand for his photograph and autograph. unanswered.

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Regiment Association Lt Col C Bullied

127 Queen’s Own Buffs Regimental Association

The association has, once again, been very active. Our second trip was to Tertre, a small village near Our year started with our Annual General Meeting Mons, for the dedication of a memorial, erected when we were delighted to see so many and unveiled in 2013, to the Queen’s Own Royal representatives from our branches. This year we West Kent’s, on the very spot where their first appointed Colonel Peter Cook DL to serve as our action in WW1 took place. Vice President. Our annual inter-branch Darts Match followed the AGM, the teams consisting of Our hosts for the day were the Mayor and Sittingbourne, Weald of Kent, and Ramsgate Councillors of the City of Saint Ghislain, and we Branches with, in addition this year, an Officers’ were delighted to have the Band of 3 PWRR with us Team consisting of the Committee of Management, who, in their scarlet full dress uniforms caused who came in joint third place, with the Weald of quite a stir amongst the locals. Kent Branch The winners again were the Sittingbourne Branch. Following the dedication the Association members visited Saint Ghislain where we were entertained This year we enjoyed two Association trips to by the 3 PWRR Band and attended an excellent and France. The first in May was a three reception held by the Mayor. The next day we were day trip to the Ypres Salient visiting the sights and invited to attend the Mayor’s Chateau where every following the events of the Buffs and Queen’s Own one of our members were presented with a during WW1. During the trip we celebrated souvenir medal to commemorate the centenary. Albuhera Day with the usual Toast to the ‘Immortal Memory’ followed by an excellent dinner. Later the On 3rd August, a large group of Association members formed up and marched into the Menin members attended the annual parade through Gate for the Last Post ceremony during which our Regimental Association , Revd. Keith Fazzani, conducted a short service.

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Maj P White

Canterbury and the Service of Remembrance in the Cathedral. The Service was taken by the Dean of Canterbury and was followed that afternoon with the annual reunion in Leros Barracks for lunch and entertainment and the renewing of many old friendships. The weather was excellent and members and their families were of the opinion that it was the best ever. The proceedings ended with the Band of 3 PWRR, who had earlier lead our parade through the city, Beating Retreat.

The next day saw 23 members and 9 Association Standard Bearers attend the Step Short event at Folkestone, during which His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales officially opened the Ceremonial Arch dedicated to the many WW1 forces who marched along what is now Remembrance Way to Folkestone Harbour to embark for France. Also known as Short Hill because of the command of “step short” given to the troops as they proceeded down. The day was tiring however every one of our party completed the long march to the harbour in honour of the members of our Forebear Regiments who passed that way 100 years before.

On 7th September the London Buffs parade at the Tower of London took place. This being an annual event in our calendar, it again saw a large contingent march through the grounds of the Tower to the . The event also gave everyone the Following the unveiling of the statue to the Queen’s opportunity to view and take photos of the Poppies Own in Maidstone last year, a regimental appeal was in the moat. launched in January this year to raise funds for the provision of a statue to The Buffs. The statue will be On 21st September we held the Maidstone Reunion. erected, subject to final permission, in the grounds Again it was a good turnout and this year, for the of Canterbury Cathedral. The statue, based on the first time for several years, the Association painting of ‘A Man of Kent’ by Lady Butler, will be members marched through Maidstone led by the some 50 inches tall and will be mounted on a granite 3 PWRR Band. Our reception was held at plinth. Oakwood House Hotel, a change of venue from previous years, at which we were rewarded The last Association event of the year took place on with an excellent meal and service. Again we Armistice Day when members of Association, led by were given a concert by the 3 PWRR Band the President, assembled in Canterbury Cathedral during the reception and later the ever by the Warriors Chapel for a special Turning of the popular Swing Time Sweethearts Page ceremony. entertained the members and their families with songs from yesteryear.

In October former officers of The Buffs, QORWK, The Queen’s Own Buffs and 2nd Queen’s sat down to Lunch at the Union Jack Club. The Lunch was hosted by our Association President, Col Peter Bishop OBE DL, and this event will be held annually - details of the lunch in 2015 will be included in the next issue of our Regimental Journal.

129 Royal Sussex Regiment

Dedication of Priez Memorial The Monument was unveiled by the Mayor of Priez, with the service being conducted by the Dean On the 10th September the Royal Sussex Emeritus of Chichester, The Very Reverend Regimental Association unveiled a Monument at Nicholas Frayling, with assistance from a French Priez in France where the Royal Sussex Regiment Padre. Guests included the High Sheriffs of West suffered its first casualties in the Great War on and East Sussex, Mayors and District Councillors 10th September 1914. It is not only a memorial to from Brighton, Lewes and Eastbourne, Captain the 22 members of the Regiment who died that day, Hugh Wyatt CVO deputising for the two Lord but also honours the memory of the 7302 officers Lieutenants and of course the Military Attaché and men who died subsequently while serving in from the British Embassy in Paris. one of the Regiment’s twenty Battalions during the Great War of 1914-1918.

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Association Sir W Goring Bt

The French guests were Mayors and Councillors from local towns and villages and a French MP.

After the service a visit was made to the Priez Village Cemetery where six soldiers of the Regiment are buried; a wreath was laid and crosses placed on each grave. A wreath and crosses were also placed on the three graves of those of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment who are also interred in the cemetery.

There then followed a Reception and Lunch held in the Louvroy Room in nearby Neuilly-St-Front, for 250. Speeches and Gifts were exchanged and Lunch was taken. A day never to be forgotten and a credit to the Association.

131 The Middlesex Regiment

Hill 112 Normandy Revisited

I was privileged to join a party of Regular and Reservist soldiers from Bulford based 43 () Brigade on a battlefield tour of Normandy to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the Battle for Hill 112, the 43rd Infantry Division's first major battle in Normandy.

The party consisted of soldiers from The , 226 Battery. Royal Artillery from Bristol, 4th Battalion , officer cadets from Bristol University Officer Training Corps and staff from HQ 43 Brigade. and 1 Artillery Brigade, both based in Tidworth. The military aim of the trip was to draw lessons for The Brigade held a Service of Remembrance at the future from the fighting Banneville-La-Campagne War Cemetery where undertaken by 43 Infantry Division crosses were placed on the graves of 43rd Division. in July and August 1944. soldiers who were killed in Normandy; I placed a cross on the grave of Lt A. W. Bettell Middlesex Regiment who was killed on 8th August 1944.

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Association Maj D Falke

A full day was spent walking the ground at Hill 112, The service at Hill 112 was attended by the Earl of a site still heavily laced with shards of shrapnel Wessex who then joined the veterans at a Vin and bone fragments, a testimony to the fierce D'Honnuer after the parade. Both Tom and Ron battle that was fought here in 1944. were presented with commemorative medals by the President of L.'Association ODON-COTE 112 We were joined by veterans from 4th and 5th (Hill 112). Battalion The Regiment and 4th Battalion The which were the During the service, the President of L.'Association battalions that took this vital feature with the ODON-COTE 112 said to the veterans and their support of the Vickers machine guns of 8th families that their loved ones would be cared for by Battalion The Middlesex Regiment. the people of Normandy and an even greater burden would be placed on them with the closure On Saturday 10th July a service of commemoration of 43 (Wessex) Brigade. was held at the 43rd Division Memorial, attended by eleven veterans from the Division, proudly This reflected the fact that 43 (Wessex) Brigade will wearing their Wessex Wyvern emblems, amongst be removed from the order of battle on 1 January them two 8th Battalion veterans, Arthur “Tom” 2015 and the Wessex Wyvern will no longer be worn Moore, 92 and Ron Arnold, 89. as an insignia by the British Army.

Tom joined up in 1937 as a boy with 2nd Middlesex, There was a huge burst of laughing from the but was too young to go to France with the BEF and veterans when the President of L.'Association was transferred to the 8th Battalion and landed in ODON-COTE 112 said that he hoped that he would France on 23rd June 1944. see them for the 75th Anniversary celebrations! We shall see - they were a pretty indomitable group He described the supporting fire given by the of men. battalion for the attack on Hill 112, when tens of thousands of rounds were fired to augment the 43,000 artillery rounds that were directed on the Panzer SS Division and Hitler Youth troops that were dug in on the hill.

Tom stayed with the battalion until it crossed into Germany and finished the war working with a specialist unit of 12th Army Group, which was tasked with searching for fleeing Nazi officials. Ron was posted into 8th Middlesex from the Rifle Brigade in April 1943 and was a dispatch rider, but suffered an injury to his hand and was evacuated to the UK and subsequently discharged. During the ceremony he wore his 1943 issue khaki beret with the original bakelite cap badge. 133 Kohima Battlfield Tour

When Cpl Walsh and I learned that the Army extreme. Furthermore, The West Kent's position Foundation College at Harrogate was planning a was dominated on both sides by high features that battlefield tour to Kohima the pair of us waged an were held by the Japanese who rained merciless intense charm offensive to secure places on the fire down on them throughout the battle. The trip. The charm paid off and we found ourselves conditions inside the pocket were horrific; this was departing for Kohima on the 14th November 2014. due to the constant shelling, the hand-to-hand The journey alone highlighted how far away and fighting (including terrifying Japanese charges), the difficult to reach the town of Kohima is, perched lack of casevac and water. The dead lay where they amongst the mountain jungles of the Indian border fell and the injured could only be dragged into a with Myanmar (formerly Burma). trench and operated on amongst the filth and gunfire. A far cry from the medical help a Tiger can As anyone in the The Tigers will know the battle is expect to receive on operations today. hugely significant for our regiment; a number of our illustrious forebears were crucial in halting the Of particular note, the tiny patch of ground that the advance of the Imperial Japanese Army into India West Kents clung to has to be seen to be believed. in WW2. Most famously of all, the 4th Battalion The Our positions were so close to the Japanese that Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment were the the troops played a macabre form of tennis with lynchpin of the initial defence of the Kohima ridge. grenades thrown across the court throughout the Surrounded, they stubbornly refused to surrender fighting. their tiny pocket of ground around the Deputy 's bungalow and tennis court - Cpl Walsh and I were understandably keen to despite two weeks of ferocious Japanese assaults explore the area where LCpl Harman displayed his and suffering crippling losses. Also, when the 2nd acts of true heroism which won him his VC. Division finally broke in to relieve the survivors it Overlooking the ground Cpl Walsh delivered a very was the 1st Queen's who finally succeeded in impressive presentation to the rest of the group on driving the Japanese from the ridge. Upon visiting the significance of LCpl Harman's example for The the Kohima cemetery it also became clear that Tigers, explaining how we honour him through the soldiers from The Hampshires had also fought in annual award of the Kohima Corporal in each the battle. battalion. We then found his grave in the Kohima cemetery, which lies alongside those of his one Cpl Walsh and I spent a week walking the ground hundred and twenty battalion mates who are that so many of our young lads had fought and died buried there in marked graves. What is shocking is for. The fact that the lads buried in front of us on how many unmarked graves there are in the the other side of the world from home grew up in cemetery. This is because many of the West Kent's the same part of the U.K. as ourselves made it all bodies were too badly damaged by the ferocious the more poignant. We also quickly appreciated fighting to be identified. A measure of comfort can how difficult the ground must have been to fight be derived from the fact that all their names are over. The jungle was so thick as to be almost inscribed on the West Kent's memorial there. impenetrable and the terrain, mountainous in the Before we left the cemetery the AFC(H) conducted a service of remembrance and I was proud to be able to lay a wreath on behalf of The Tigers. All-in- all the trip to Kohima was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit somewhere enshrined in our Regimental history and tradition. Moreover, there is much that the modern soldier can learn from studying the ground, as well as the conduct and tactics of the troops who fought there, and, indeed the wider campaign. I cannot recommend Field Marshal Slim's ‘Defeat into Victory’ enough. To anyone thinking of making the trip themselves I urge you to do so, not just to explore the military context but opt to see this fascinating and relatively undiscovered part of the world. The Kohima Museum in York has a wealth of knowledge and practical advice on how to get there and what to see when you go.

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Capt S Forster

135 Regimental Museums

The Surrey Infantry Museum

With the 100th anniversary of WW1 the Surrey Heritage weekend in Guildford town Centre and Infantry museum at Clandon Park has created a events at Horley, Bagshot, Redhill, Burpham, Little travelling display that tells the story of the Bookham, and Kingston. We have spoken to five achievements and the tragic fate of Surrey soldiers schools in Redhill and one in Reigate and during killed or injured during the first four months of the Remembrance Week we spent four days talking to war. school children in Guildford cathedral. These projects have generated a lot of interest with more The museum’s volunteer researchers, led by David requests coming in all the time. King and Julian Martin, consulted the Naval Military Press and the Commonwealth War Graves The curator has given sixteen talks on regimental Commission records to find out who was killed in history around Surrey to all types of history groups battle. They then traced prisoners of war at the with more booked in the near future. Surrey History Centre, recipients of the silver war badge (for injured troops sent home), campaign “In each talk I try to tell the stories of a few local medal lists at the National Archives and recipients men to help explain the impact on that community of gallantry awards through the London Gazette. plus the overall picture of why we went to war and All this identified that by the end of 1914, the the different battle plans of the belligerents. Next Queen’s 1st Battalion suffered 1,425 casualties, year, we will cover the Regiment’s activities in 1915. with 344 dead and the rest either wounded or We want to present each campaign as it happened, captured. The Queen’s 2nd Battalion’s had 625 so people understand that the First World War was casualties including 279 deaths, while the East about more than just the .” Surrey 1st Battalion had 605 casualties with 186 deaths. As well as our travelling display we have held four Open Days at the museum in Clandon Park where We started this research two years ago and we living history groups such as the 2nd Foot have traced more than 3,500 of the possible 4,000 (Wellington Army), the 1/5th Queen’s (WW2) and the troops who served in the regiments in 1914, many Cinque Ports Corps of Drums have entertained the of whom fell at the First Battle of Ypres in October visitors. With the renewed interest in WW1 we have and November of that year. received the most visitors ever through the museum with the up to the end of October These findings are available to view on a touch- 2014 at over 35,000. screen database at the museum. It is also part of the temporary exhibition that we have been taking out to events around Surrey, including the Surrey Ian Chatfield County Show in Guildford’s Stoke Park, the Army Curator Benevolent Fund event at Deepcut Barracks, the

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Mr I Chatfield Mr A Lee

The PWRR & Queen’s Museum

The museum situated within the English Heritage site of Dover Castle has again this year managed to attract over 170,000 visitors. After a wait of many months the new Area Secretary/Museum Curator has taken up his post. A warm welcome goes out to Henry Thomas MBE who we wish every success over the coming years.

Whilst the museum in 2014 has not itself hosted any special events to mark the centenary of the First World War we have been kept busy assisting other museums in the Dover District with their displays.

One of Captain Nevill’s footballs held by the museum has been in particular demand. It was kicked over the top by Private A A Fursey, 6th Platoon, B Company, 8th (Service) Battalion, and The East Surrey Regiment on 1st July 1916. This, along with photographs, has been loaned for various displays including the three day War and Peace Show held at Folkestone.

The ball itself was used at the National Football Museum when the Middlesex Regiment was presented with a special award honouring ‘The Football Battalion’. Until the autumn it, along with photographs, is part of a special WWI display at the National Football Museum in .

Remember this is your museum. Have you visited it lately? If not you should do, as it is well worth the trip.

Mr Alan Lee Museum Assistant

137 Regimental Heritage -

War was not ‘over by Christmas’ 1914. 1914 had YPRES been the year of manoeuvre on the Western Front As the Germans concentrated their efforts on the and the death knell of the Regular Army. For the Eastern Front, The was soldiers of Surrey, Kent, Sussex, Hampshire and preceded by the British explosion of mines at Hill Middlesex, 1915 was to be the year of deadlock, as 60 on 17 April 1915, as a prelude to the allied spring each side in the War attempted to outwit the other offensive. This was an important observation point and break through the opposite lines of trenches. amidst relatively flat country, even though it was This included the first use of gas, by Germany, as a just a large heap of earth beside a railway line; weapon on the battlefield. The stalemate of trench before the War it was known as ’Lovers’ Knoll’. The warfare had begun, dominated by massive artillery dazed Germans capitulated and the Hill was taken, bombardments, barbed wire, strongpoints and but the British troops had to withstand fearsome machine guns; the strength of the defence far enemy artillery bombardments and counter- outweighed the ability to achieve attacking attacks. Our forebear regiments were heavily success. Thus the allied spring and autumn involved in this battle. offensives on the Western Front resulted in heavy losses, without any compensating gain; there was The Queen’s Own Royal West Kents were led by also a shortage of personnel, equipment, artillery, Major Joslin, who was killed in one of the counter- shells and efficient fuzes. Elsewhere in the world, attacks, along with two full platoons. 1st Battalion attempts were made to go round the trench barrier. The East Surrey Regiment took over their part of The , latterly the Territorial Army Hill 60 at 0500 hours on 19 April. There were going and now the Army Reserve, came to the fore to fill a to be two days of desperate fighting before they gap as Kitchener’s New Armies of additional were relieved; in this period, the Battalion earned volunteers prepared for battle. three Victoria Crosses and seven Distinguished Conduct Medals. There were many 1915 battle honours awarded to our forebears and the ones on the Queen’s Colour Private Edward Dwyer leaped on the parapet in the are: Ypres 1915, Hill 60, Landing at Helles, Suvla, face of German grenade throwers and fought off Kut Al Amara 1915, Mesopotamia 1915-18 and the enemy with his grenades. He was only 19 years North West Frontier India 1915. Ypres (Ypres 1915 old and had already gained a reputation for and Hill 60) and Gallipoli (Landing at Helles and bringing in wounded under fire before he earned Suvla) are particularly significant. his Victoria Cross; he was the second youngest recipient in the 1st World War. Having been relieved of their duties in India, by Territorial Force battalions, 2nd Battalion of The East Surrey Regiment was in action alongside 2nd Battalion of The Buffs, between St Eloi and the Ypres-Comines Canal in February, having relieved 3rd Battalion The Middlesex Regiment. In a disastrous counter-attack, the Surreys had only 200 survivors of the 1,000 that had arrived on the line five days before.

Allied assaults took place in the Artois region with a British attack of four divisions at Neuve Chapelle to try and capture the Aubers Ridge in March 1915. After four hours of fighting the village was taken, but progress was slow and the Germans counter- attacked effectively, so the Ridge was not captured. The 2nd Battalions of The Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment and The Middlesex Regiment both participated in this attack, the latter battalion advancing to the cries of, ‘Go on, Diehards! Don’t forget Mons!’ – The Middlesex lost 16 officers and 458 men killed. The 2nd Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment, who had previously earned the nickname of ‘The Iron Regiment’ by the Germans, were to be part of another assault at Aubers Ridge ‘A’ Company commander, Lieutenant George in May, alongside its sister 5th (Cinque Ports) Roupell, was wounded, but led his company in Battalion, a Territorial Force unit. repelling a German counter-attack, earning the

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World War One 1915 Col P Crowley

second Regimental Victoria Cross of the day. gap was created in the allied lines, but the Germans Meanwhile, Benjamin Handley- were unable to exploit their success. Canadian Geary, a platoon commander in Roupell’s company, troops helped plug the gap, improvising urine- soaked cloths as some basic protection against the gas. A second gas attack occurred two days later. Forebear battalions involved in the battle were: 2nd Battalion The Buffs, 2nd Battalion The East Surrey Regiment, 1st Battalion The Hampshire Regiment and 3rd and 8th Battalions The Middlesex Regiment (both Territorial Force). All battalions held their ground, but the two Middlesex battalions had suffered 1,300 dead.

GALLIPOLI Now to turn to another Front, this time against the Turks at The Dardanelles. In an attempt to break the deadlock on the Western Front, the allies launched their assault at Gallipoli in April 1915. Having been relieved in India by the Territorials, 2nd Battalion The Hampshire Regiment landed in Gallipoli on 25th April 1915. They were immediately under fire as they disembarked from the SS River Clyde onto Cape Helles and were mown down in their hundreds. Only a few made it to the beach. The Gallipoli debacle would continue until the final evacuation in January 1916. The Hampshires had a tough time, including a successfully defended his position against a series casualty-ridden attack in August 1915, though their of enemy attacks, earning the third. He used a rifle forbearance was frequently displayed. and threw grenades with entire disregard to danger. All three men consistently displayed incredible CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE ... > bravery and leadership skills during the battle.

The Second Battle of Ypres began on 22 April with the first German gas attack in the War of 168 tons of chlorine, directed at the French forces occupying the north of the Ypres salient. Immediately, a four mile

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On 5th June, the 18 year-old Second Lieutenant Lieutenant Alfred Fleming-Sandes rallied his men, George Moor earned his Victoria Cross for most jumped onto a parapet and fought off the enemy conspicuous bravery and resource during with grenades. Despite injuring his face and having operations south of Krithia, Dardanelles. When a one arm broken by a bullet, he drove the enemy detachment of a battalion on his left, which had away and gained his Regiment’s fourth Victoria lost all its officers, was rapidly retiring before a Cross of the War. heavy Turkish attack, Second Lieutenant Moor immediately grasping the danger to the remainder of the line, dashed back some two hundred yards, stemmed the retirement, led back the men, and recaptured the trench.

Four Territorial Force battalions of our forebears landed at Suvla Bay, in August, as reinforcements within 160th (Welsh Border) Brigade. These were: 2nd/4th Battalion of The Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment, 4th Battalion The Royal Sussex Regiment, 2nd /4th Battalion The Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment and 2nd/10th Battalion The Middlesex Regiment. Each went through significant privations before their evacuation. During this period, 2nd Battalion of The Buffs, 2nd East Surreys and 3rd Middlesex were deployed to Salonika for the long campaign to evict the Bulgars Meanwhile, in the 2nd Royal Sussex, Sergeant out of Macedonia. Harry Wells had also earned a Victoria Cross on 25th September. His citation reads: LOOS Back on the Western Front, 2nd Queen’s actions ‘For the most conspicuous bravery near Le Routoire had earned a Victoria Cross for Lance Corporal on the 25th September, 1915. When his platoon Leonard Keyworth at Givenchy in May. He stood officer had been killed, he took command and led fully exposed for 2 hours on the top of the enemy's his men forward to within 15 yards of the German parapet, and threw about 150 ‘bombs’ amongst the wire. Nearly half the platoon were killed or Germans, who were only a few yards away. wounded, and the remainder very much shaken, but with the utmost coolness and bravery Sergeant The Battle of Loos in September 1915 was the first Wells rallied them and led them forward. Finally major British attack or ‘Big Push’ of the First World when very few were left, he stood up and urged War, in conjunction with a French assault in the them forward once more, but while doing so he Champagne region. 75,000 men of the British himself was killed. He gave a magnificent display Expeditionary Force, six divisions, were involved of courage and determination.’ and it was the first major engagement of Kitchener’s ‘New Armies’. These were the 8th Battalion of The Queen’s Own Royal West Kent volunteers who had joined up at the beginning of Regiment advanced alongside the 8th Queen’s, 9th the War and they became increasingly important East Surreys and 8th Buffs, in the New Army 24th as numbers of regular and Territorial Force soldiers Division. They were mercilessly cut down by dwindled. Regimental forebears were to earn three German machine-gun fire; the result was that out Victoria Crosses during the battle. of 800 men, 250 remained and out of 24 officers, only one was unscathed. This was a devastating Both the 1st and 2nd Battalions of The Queen’s experience for the ‘green’ troops involved. were at Loos, alongside the 6th and 8th, both New Army units; in the latter battalion, 12 officers and The Middlesex Regiment were also in the fray: 1st, 409 men were lost in their first ever attack. The 8th 3rd, 11th and 13th Battalions were all engaged. In Buffs, also New Army, had a similar experience; addition, the 4th Battalion took part in a after a march overnight of 22 miles, they went into diversionary attack at Hooge. Here, Second the attack, losing 614. Meanwhile 2nd Buffs were Lieutenant Rupert Hallowes was posthumously fighting at the Hohenzollern Redoubt. 2nd East awarded the Victoria Cross. His last few words in Surreys were at Loos and the Hohenzollern the attack, which he bravely led, were, ‘If we have to Redoubt as well. On 29th September, Second die, let us die like men – like Diehards’.

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World War One 1915 Col C P Crowley

MESOPOTAMIA The campaign in Mesopotamia (now Iraq) against the Turks is a less well-known theatre of the First World War, but still significant for the regiments involved. Following the landing of mainly Indian Army troops in 1914, to secure the oilfields around Basra and the Fao Peninsular, eventually Baghdad was to be occupied in 1917, but not before a significant disaster at Kut in 1916.

During 1915, many successes were achieved against the enemy as Major General Townshend and his 6th (Poona) Division advanced up the River Tigris. Amongst this force was half of 2nd Battalion The Queen’s Own Royal West Regiment and a company of 1st/4th Hampshires. Success included winning the Battle of Kut al Amara in September 1915, however the Division had stretched itself too far and the Turkish enemy had grown in competence and strength; Townshend retired to Kut were it was surrounded by the Turks and besieged. A relief force was assembled, which eventually included the rest of those two battalions, 1st/5th Queen’s and 1st/5th Buffs. At one stage, because of their casualties The ‘Huffs’ were formed out of the remains of the Buffs and Hampshires, but the Relief Force could not break through. The siege continued.

CONCLUSION It is impossible to cover all of the activities of our forebears in 1915 in this short article, but it is obvious that during this ‘stalemate’ year there was a great deal of sacrifice from the infantry regiments of the south-east. Our forebears were in action on all fronts, as the numbers of regular and pre-war reserve soldiers dwindled, the Territorial Force ‘held the line’ and Kitchener’s New Armies were tested for the first time. They all rose magnificently to the challenge.

141 WO2 Stephen Marsh Obituary

24 May 2014

WO2 Stephen Marsh, known to many as Steve, was diagnosed with skin cancer and fought against it for several years. Throughout this period, he was strong, steadfast, never complained and never let his condition prevent him from conducting his duties as a first class soldier and Warrant Officer. Up until his final days, whilst serving as a Senior Permanent Staff Instructor with A Company 3 PWRR, he was ever eager to work and support the Battalion’s activities. Unfortunately, the disease became more aggressive and even for a man of his character and nature, it was too much. With great sadness Steve succumbed to the disease and passed away on the 24th May 2014. On 10 June 2014, a service of remembrance was conducted in St Mary-In-Castro Church, Dover Castle. He was afforded a full military funeral, with Warrant Officers as the bearer party from 1 PWRR and 3 PWRR, the Honour Guard was made up of SNCOs and soldiers who knew and respected Steve. The Service was conducted in a full church with him surrounded by family and friends.

Having joined 1 PWRR in 1993, he spent most of his career in a Rifle Company and always classed himself nothing other than a professional soldier. In 1997 he married his loving wife Amanda and was blessed with two children, Joshua now 15 and Zoe now 11. Steve had served on many operations, including , Congo, , Iraq and Afghanistan. True to his professionalism, in the latter years of his career, he joined Recce Platoon 1 PWRR as the 2IC and deployed on Op HERRICK 9, where the platoon, in battle, proved to be worthy of their coveted name. After Op HERRICK 9, Steve was posted to the Land Warfare Centre, as an instructor in the Recce Division, where again, he proved to be a true professional.

Steve liked to remain active and enjoyed mountain biking, running and riding his motorbike. He would also commit as much time as he could to his loving family.

Steve was a quiet, humorous and professional soldier. He was respected by many and he respected all he led and those he served. His loyalty, professionalism and commitment to the Regiment will be sorely missed.

142 Regimental Gazette

1PWRR Pte T COURTNEY LCpl B KIMBER C Coy BHQ Coy Pte B COX LCpl DL LONG Pte LC CURRAN LCpl NS MCCOLL-MCWHA Maj A MCLANNAHAN Lt Col AJ FLAY Pte LT DELUCHI LCpl M O'BRIEN Capt IE WICKS Maj S DOYLE Pte J DIXON LCpl LD PETERS Lt SE HARE Capt TB VOLKER Pte RE ESCORT-SAYERS LCpl L RUTTER Lt TEN KNOWLES Capt CD LEE Pte BP FINCH LCpl JRS SCOTT Lt DA LAUDER WO1 LC BILNER Pte SC FRANCIS LCpl H SNUDDEN 2Lt M EVANS Pte C GOSLING LCpl AT THOMAS WO2 RLA EDWARDS A Coy Pte CD HALL Pte CJJ ANGEL WO2 SJ TARRANT Pte C HARVIE Pte JA BAKER CSgt AR ROWSELL Maj SJ GARMORY Pte T HEGARTY Pte JF BEEDELL CSgt G STEWART Capt LM FLYNN Pte BA HOARE Pte M BILGILI Sgt LD BARBER Lt JW BARKER Pte K HOLSMAN Pte MD BROWN Sgt SL JONES Lt H LOCKEY Pte R HOSGOOD Pte SP BROWN Sgt MB LEWIS Lt W POMROY Pte AP JENKINS Pte CN BUCKLEY Sgt J PEARCE Lt TE SCRIVEN BAKER Pte PR JONES Pte LA BURKE Sgt JPS WILLIAMS WO2 DK DAVEY Pte J JOSEPH Pte SM CARTER Cpl AN AIRD-FINLAY CSgt L LOVETT Pte DW KELSALL Pte KP CUMMINS Cpl JA BARTLE CSgt SVE ROBSON Pte I KENNEDY Pte SO EVANS Cpl J CAMPBELL Sgt PA CAMPBELL-KING Pte MJL LE CORNU Pte S FARROW Cpl RWB COCKINGS Sgt DL JOSIAH Pte PJ LE-PETIT Pte GA FORBES-GOWER Cpl MJ DUTTON Sgt A LITTLE Pte DJ MARTYN Pte DP FRODSHAM Cpl H GURUNG Sgt JP LYNCH Pte MV MATTHEWS Pte L GILL Cpl ALM LAMBERT Sgt SP RALFE Pte J MATTHEWS Pte DR GLADMAN Cpl RJ LUSH Sgt DJG RICHARDSON Pte D MCCOULLOUGH Pte LJ GRITT Cpl CB McFARLANE Cpl P BEWLAY Pte R PHILLIPS Pte KM HANAGAN Cpl MJ RALPH Cpl CE BOSSERT Pte DE PLUMSTEAD Pte AC HARRIS Cpl L TWYFORD Cpl ZE BROWN Pte N POWER Pte C HOBSON Cpl A URWIN Cpl KP CHARLES Pte J REARDON Pte SJ HOGG LCpl MJ ASHFORD Cpl AG DICKINSON Pte K SAINSBURY Pte CJ HOSKINS LCpl CF BETHELL Cpl RK DUMONT Pte RR SANDERS Pte J IRVINE LCpl TLJ BUCKLEY Cpl AJ GRAY Pte T SANDERS Pte C JONES LCpl D CORLETT Cpl B GRIFFITH Pte BG SANDERSON Pte J JUPE LCpl AS FAITHFULL Cpl D HALL Pte BAD SHANKS Pte JA KIRKWOOD LCpl SP JOHNS Cpl M HAYWARD Pte OT SNOWDON Pte B LARDER LCpl SA JOHNSTON Cpl MC WEBB Pte LA SNOWDON Pte CM LEAMAN LCpl WJ KEOUGH LCpl WD BOWDEN Pte DJ SOWERBY Pte MJ LLOYD LCpl JA PHILLIPS LCpl JJ BYARD Pte S WOODNUTT Pte C MCCLOSKEY LCpl J SERUKALOU LCpl RM CHAMBERLAIN Pte MJ WRIGHT Pte AM MCMENEMY LCpl MB STRICKLAND LCpl S DUDDY CSgt J CARNE Pte JJ MOONEY LCpl TAR STRINGER LCpl MP DUMPER Pte T CAWOOD Pte ZL MYERS LCpl BP VALENTINE LCpl CE ELLYATT Pte ST MCDIARMID Pte L NANCE Pte JT AITCHISON LCpl MP GEDSYK Pte DN NOBLE Pte B BELL LCpl KAW HARRIS B Coy Pte DT O'BRIEN Pte MR BOSLEY LCpl JS MONTE Pte GO OKINE Pte L BUCK LCpl CR MORLEY Maj RJ DOBSON Pte PK OVENDEN Pte BT CHAMBERLAIN LCpl SK ROSS-CUMMING Lt CJ GRIFFITHS Pte R PANRUCKER Pte J CLARKE LCpl MR SKELTON Lt DJ HEADS Pte DPJ PHILLIPS Pte C COLEMAN LCpl MA SUCKLING 2Lt L PRAILL Pte LK PHILLIPS Pte L COOPER LCpl Y THAPA WO2 DJ WELCH Pte A RATUTOKARUA Pte IC DAVIDSON LCpl A WOOLSTON CSgt AM ANDREWS Pte AM REES Pte P DONALDSON Pte EA AKOR CSgt MP CAINES Pte MS RICKETTS Pte BJ EVANS Pte KJ ALEXANDER Sgt MA ELLAMS Pte LRJ ROWSWELL Pte JSP FARR Pte TGE ALLEN Sgt T FERGUSON Pte A RYDER Pte GD FERRET Pte A AUBIN Sgt GS MAYER Pte PE SABEY- Pte JL FRENCH Pte MG BALL Sgt M PATERSON TUNNICLIFFE Pte EM GAGE Pte A BARTHOLOMEW Sgt J ST-PAUL Pte JJ SCOTTOW Pte R GOULBOURNE Pte AA BAXENDALE Cpl JS BOYCE Pte A SEAGRAVES Pte N GRAHAM Pte JF BLACKBAND Cpl MCD DAWSON Pte AD SMITH Pte LA HANAGAN Pte LKG BLACKLEY Cpl AL DUELL Pte SL SPENCER Pte K HANBURY Pte JR BRIDLE Cpl AA GOATHAM Pte MCE SPENDER Pte JH HEARD Pte DL BROAD Cpl JN NOPS Pte ML STEELE Pte P HENNESSY Pte BF BROWN Cpl BJ PATRICK Pte J STOCKBRIDGE Pte JD HOUSE Pte NA BROWN Cpl LD RALFE Pte D TREVEIL Pte S HUBBARD Pte A BULL Cpl D SCHOFIELD Pte I VANROSANGA Pte N JACKSON Pte WW BURY Cpl DC SEARLE-HEDGES Pte B Pte TC JENKINSON Pte DG CHANCE Cpl DJ TURNER Pte ER WAKEFORD Pte RR KEMP Pte BA CHAPMAN Cpl KS WOLFE Pte J WILSON Pte SM LAWLOR Pte HR CHETWYND LCpl DDL COPPER Pte GW WYATT Pte DJ LEWIS Pte P CLAYTON LCpl M GURUNG Pte AJ LOUANGE Pte DN CONNELLY LCpl J HEATH Pte DF MASTERS

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Pte GM MENDS Cpl B PRICE Pte B LIMBU Sgt I EVANS Pte W MERRELL Cpl BW PULEA Pte BE MACQUIRE Sgt B FOLAN Pte C MILLAN MILLAN Cpl BC PUN Pte JLS MANWARING Sgt SP GEARING Pte AJ MOONEY Cpl STC RATUBALAVU Pte NR MAY Sgt PD GORMAN Pte SA MORRIS Cpl AD TURNBULL Pte SA MILLER Sgt RS JONES Pte JJ MORRISON LCpl MNA ACQUAYE Pte R MUNDY Sgt SJ PINCH Pte D NAHA LCpl J BENNETT Pte SA MURPHY Sgt ML RIDER Pte W PARIS LCpl JK BOON Pte AG NEIL Cpl NW BARRETT Pte KL PAYNE LCpl JSB BUCHANAN Pte R NELSON Cpl P BROWN Pte J PEGG LCpl PS CHITTY Pte SM NORRIS Cpl SBE BUTADROKA Pte AD PIGGOTT LCpl SJ CRESSWELL Pte R PATERSON Cpl RA CARNIE Pte JE RATCLIFFE LCpl GPL CROWTHER Pte Z POWELL Cpl B CHAM Pte JS REEVES LCpl KJ DENHAM Pte GR PYNAERT Cpl AP DEIANA Pte EM RICHARDS LCpl SA DIXON Pte TK ROKOTALOKO Cpl DJ FISCHER Pte O RICKSON LCpl JM DUFFY Pte K ROSERIE Cpl K GRANT Pte A SIMPSON LCpl CLJ FAULKNER Pte B SANNEH Cpl JMH HOLLOBONE Pte DW STEWART LCpl SJ FORDHAM Pte MIB SAVAGE Cpl GM HURNI-GOSMAN Pte PI STRATFORD LCpl RR GALE Pte G SINGH Cpl A LESUBULA Pte AJ STRATHIE LCpl JG GARBUTT-BATES Pte AM SITHOLE Cpl TJ NUTT Pte SW THOMSON LCpl D HART-CHAMPION Pte D SMITH Cpl AK POPE Pte C TOMLINSON LCpl JW HINDSON Pte OC SPECK Cpl DJ TABERNER Pte H WARRINGTON LCpl TL JOHNSTON Pte JC STRATFORD Cpl GJ TAYLOR Pte AW WHITELOCK LCpl TC JONES Pte VF TAGICA Cpl PS VENAGA Pte RSM WILLIAMS LCpl CJ KING Pte DW TATE Cpl D VERMEULEN Pte M WILSON LCpl A KOROVOU Pte DG TAYLOR Cpl SEB WILDGOOSE Pte CG WIN LCpl MJ LITTLE Pte PM TAYLOR LCpl D DE JONGH Pte J WOODS LCpl AR MANSFIELD Pte CS WALES LCpl O JALLOW Sgt JJ BALDWIN LCpl TFC MAXWELL Pte A WALKER LCpl JN JARMAN-SMITH Pte ME AMES LCpl PFSJ MULLINS Pte CM WATKINS LCpl GT KAUYACA Pte A COKANALAGI LCpl LGE NIHELL Pte L WEBB LCpl Y KOZLOV LCpl KA OWEN Pte J WEST LCpl S PRICE Y Coy LCpl WR READ Pte ML WHEATLAND LCpl DGA STANTON LCpl R SMITH Pte J WILKINS LCpl A TWYFORD Maj J RANDS Pte HG ARLISS Pte CK YEE-LIM Pte TO BARNDEN Capt SD GIBBS Pte GA BALDWIN LCpl R MANN Pte G CHAPMAN Capt IJ THORNTON Pte AD BALLAN Pte CG CORDELL Capt CH TREZISE Pte DM BANFIELD HQ Coy Pte AR COTTEY WO2 MJ MARTIN Pte J BOWMAN Pte IR DAWSON WO2 SJ MORAN Pte CT BRAMHILL Maj MJ ANDERSON Pte D DEWHURST WO2 CS SHAND Pte JH BREDENKAMP Maj S WALL Pte CM FITZ-GERALD WO2 TEG SORENSEN Pte JJ BROWN Capt G BOARDMAN Pte CS GRAY CSgt WN PETERSEN Pte MR BUKALIDI Capt PM CHARLESWORTH Pte JK HALLEY CSgt MC SEYMOUR Pte SL BURTON Capt R COATES Pte STD HAWKINS-WALLIS CSgt P SUTTON Pte C CHAMBERLAIN Capt JC FRAMPTON Pte CJ HAWKRIDGE CSgt J TUNIDAU Pte EC CORBETTE Capt L GRANT Pte J HODGES CSgt JL VAN-ZYL Pte M DILLINGHAM Capt SSA GRAY Pte C KWOYIGAH Sgt CJJ BRAMHALL Pte RJ DREW Capt SA HORDER Pte D LAWTON Sgt PJA MAY Pte TK FEAR Capt MA O'BRIEN Pte TL MARSHALL Sgt ME NOTTINGHAM Pte KM FERN WO2 P COAKLEY Pte JL MCLEAN Sgt PD WOOD Pte D FINCH WO2 LDS FULLER Pte AM MESSIERH Sgt NJ WRIGGLESWORTH Pte JS FLETCHER WO2 LS GIDALLA NZUBEPIE Cpl JF ABBOT Pte WW FORBES WO2 A LLEWELLYN Pte A MINING Cpl KD BARKER Pte SDC FOSTER WO2 IK PAGE Pte B MURPHY Cpl G COOPER Pte JW GARRETTSON WO2 AGJ PROSSER Pte Z NYAWO Cpl JP COX Pte MP HALLETT WO2 TA THOMSON Pte JHS ORME Cpl B DAVIES Pte MS HAYNES WO2 SA WARDLE Pte JED PHILLIPS Cpl JM FRANCIS Pte D HENRY CSgt JD AINSBURY Pte R RAI Cpl AM GRANT Pte B HODGSON CSgt RP CASTLE Pte J RIPPON Cpl KJ HAMILTON- Pte JT HOLLAND CSgt C DUFF-STEWART Pte PA TABUAGASAU WRIGHT Pte O HORTON CSgt JA EVANS Pte GE THURSTON Cpl MA HARTZENBERG Pte D HUGHES CSgt JCS GADSBY Pte PA TOMASZEWSKI Cpl KJ HIGGINS Pte B HUMPHREY SSgt MJM HALL Pte BM VASANJEE Cpl RT JONES Pte JA JACQUES CSgt JJ PEART Pte JT WEEKS Cpl DA KITE Pte EB JOHNSON CSgt S ROBERTSON Cpl KP PHILLIPS Cpl LP KURUYAWA Pte SM KACUNISAWANA CSgt RJC SWAIN Cpl PW LAIRD Pte SA KELLY Sgt P BAINS 2PWRR Cpl MR LEWIS Pte SD KELLY Sgt PJP BUTLER Cpl FA LINNELL Pte SJ KEMP Sgt D CAREY BHQ Cpl AC LOMAS Pte T Sgt P CARR Cpl UYK MAIRARA Pte A KUNGBANA Sgt SP CARTWRIGHT Lt Col C DAVIES Cpl A MEDCALF Pte JJL LEES Sgt RJCL DALY Maj G BOYD Cpl FD MILLERICK Pte PS LEWIS Sgt J DIGOVA Capt E FARREN

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Capt J PIPER PTE J KNIGHT PTE R GREGSON LCPL I TAMALE WO1 E JORDAN PTE T LANGLEY PTE A GURUNG LCPL R WRIGHT PTE W LANNING PTE L HOLLIS PTE M ADAMS A Coy PTE C MARSHALL PTE D HORTON PTE BAKER PTE M MCGARRY PTE KAMARA PTE D BANNISTER Maj R SANCHEZ PTE L MEPHAM PTE R LEE PTE L BLACKFORD Capt S HUNT PTE J MOSS PTE R MAYNARD PTE D BLACKLOCK Lt J BLACK PTE A OSBORNE PTE I MBELLE PTE J BLANCHFLOWER 2Lt W HAPPEL PTE J OWENS PTE B MCGUIRE PTE L CHAPPLE WO2 C LEWIS PTE L PAINE PTE MCKENZIE PTE S COOLING CSgt S WOODS PTE K PENDER PTE MENDEZ PTE H CORBIN Sgt B COULTER PTE D PIERSON PTE A MERIFIELD PTE S COUSINS Sgt P MCINTYRE PTE S PORRETT PTE J MOON PTE B CUTLER-FILDEW Sgt C OSBORNE PTE J PULLEN PTE J MURPHY PTE C CROOK Cpl M DAVIES PTE J SUTTON PTE D NORTON PTE N DAVIES Cpl M DODDS PTE J TAYLOR PTE M NSOM PTE M DRAMMEH Cpl M DOYLE PTE A WIMSETT PTE A O'BRIEN PTE W FARRIMOND Cpl A EDMUNDS PTE D OWEN-CLOUGH PTE B FLOYD Cpl C GARRAWAY B Coy PTE W PAYNE PTE J FRANCIS Cpl S MORRIS PTE D PIZA PTE J GEER Cpl C PHILLIPS MAJ R SMITH PTE M POPMAN PTE K GRIMLEY Cpl J SIM LT C BERMINGHAM PTE T PULLEN PTE G HAWKES Cpl M SMITH LT A MANGION PTE REED PTE J HAYTON Cpl C TAGGART LT C WILLIS PTE D RIDLEY PTE C HOLLAND Cpl C THOMPSON LT T WILSON PTE D ROSS PTE D HORGAN LCpl M BUTTERFIELD WO2 J O'NIELL PTE J SNEDDON PTE T MAXWELL LCpl A CHAMPION CSGT T CLATWORTHY PTE J SPENCER PTE Z McKINNEY LCPL T DESMOND SGT A BATES PTE D STEBBINGS PTE R MENZIES LCPL T FELTHAM SGT T GOLDSTONE PTE TIERNEY PTE D MILLS LCPL J HARRATT SGT P ROADNIGHT PTE M TUGWELL PTE M MORROW LCPL D HURST CPL K DARBY PTE M TUGWELL PTE C NUNN LCPL S KAVANAGH CPL A GOLDING PTE M WALTON PTE J PARDOE LCPL K KELLY CPL K HALL PTE P WHITETHORN PTE M PARKER LCPL M KIRKMAN CPL C LUNSON PTE P WHITTAKER PTE R PETERS LCPL J PETTIFER CPL C NEWLAND PTE W WILSON PTE A PILKINGTON LCPL D ROBERTS CPL I MHANGO PTE D WOODLEY PTE G POUND LCPL S ROWE CPL N VAKARAU PTE S RICHARDSON LCPL G SAVAGLIA CPL J WARD C Coy PTE J RICKMAN LCPL T STEPHENSON LCPL C BENNETT PTE C RIGBY PTE O ALEEM LCPL S CASKIE MAJ S BROOKS PTE J ROYLE PTE B ASIAMAH LCPL J DUNMILL CAPT M BUCKLEY PTE D SLOAN PTE N AVERY LCPL B EDWARDS 2LT S JEFFERIES PTE C SMITH PTE L BAGGALEY LCPL L E GLETON 2LT R SMITH PTE J SMITH PTE R BAKER LCPL S FARMER WO2 N FRAMPTON PTE S SMITH PTE J BARNWELL LCPL J F ERNANDEZ CSGT C EARL PTE R SOUTER PTE R BAUGHURST LCPL J H ADDOCK SGT L ARTHEY PTE D SPOKES PTE J BESSELL LCPL A HARGAN SGT B COOK PTE J STEERE PTE A BILLMORE LCPL K HENRY SGT S POURSAIN PTE A TAZEY PTE M BOUGHTON LCPL S HOLLIS CPL L ARTHEY PTE S TUCK PTE C BROWN LCPL D KEMP CPL O BUSH PTE A WATKINS PTE A BROWN LCPL R KEYS CPL L HORGAN PTE R WEIDMAN PTE T BULLOCK LCPL A LLOYD CPL C JORDAN PTE G WELCH PTE K BURNS LCPL B NEATE CPL D KING PTE L WELLS PTE B CAIN LCPL K PATRICE CPL G PRESCOTT PTE G WEST PTE R CAPES LCPL K SCHWAR CPL T TAYLOR PTE T WOOLNER PTE A CHRISTINIS PTE K AKO-ABOAGYE CPL J TRIGG PTE A COWAN PTE M COSTELLO PTE N BAKEWELL CPL C WILKE PTE M DALEY PTE L BEAN CPL C WILKE Z Coy PTE L DUNNE PTE M BEARDWELL CPL B YONGHANG PTE W DYCHE PTE A BINCHAM CPL S ZHOUTYUK MAJ D THOMAS PTE B FELIX PTE L CAGER LCPL C BOULT CAPT J COLE PTE J FIRMAN PTE J CHAPMAN LCPL J COBBOLD CAPT L SIMPSON PTE M GOODGER PTE J COWLEY LCPL R DAVIES WO2 L BALDRY PTE B GOODMAN PTE L DARBOE LCPL J GINN W02 T HARRISON PTE D GRANGER PTE R DONOVAN LCPL R HORNBUCKLE CSGT S HOLLAND PTE T HALL PTE J DOWLER LCPL D LAWRENCE CSGT S WATTS PTE C HARDING PTE E DYER LCPL D LLOYD SGT O HUNTER PTE W HEWITT PTE L DYER LCPL M MCCANN SGT P PIERCY PTE P HYDER PTE N FARROW LCPL A MCKEEN SGT J TOWNSEND PTE W JACOBS PTE B FLORENCE LCPL C MURPHY SGT J WALL PTE R JACOBS PTE B FREER LCPL A NEWMAN SGT T WRIGHT PTE Q KELLY PTE D GREEFF LCPL C SMITH CPL J ARNALL

145 Regimental Gazette

CPL J ATKINSON PTE A HALL SGT J ALMOND PTE D JOHNSON CPL M BELL PTE A HARROW SGT C CHERRIE PTE R KIRK CPL S BRADY PTE D HARRIS SGT R COOMBER PTE J L’ASSOETTE CPL A BROWN PTE D HARRIS SGT A HORN PTE S MAINA CPL T BROWNLESS PTE R HAWKINS SGT A LEPCHA PTE C MARSHALL CPL N BUTCHER PTE D HEALEY SGT A MAINWARING PTE C MAYBERRY CPL D COUCH PTE L HUTCHINSON SGT R MARTINSON PTE N MCDOUGALL CPL A GEE PTE L HYLANDS SGT P MORGAN PTE F MENSAH CPL D GOLDSMITH PTE O KILEEN SGT M RAWLINSON PTE T NIVEN CPL A HORNBUCKLE PTE J KRASOWSKI SGT S SAVING PTE L PATRICK CPL S JOHNSON PTE J LATRIPE SGT C TAIT PTE L RICHARDS CPL G LEADER PTE O LEAVOLD SGT J TYER PTE G SHINAR CPL C LIDDELL PTE LICHFIELD SGT A WAINWRIGHT PTE J SMITH CPL M J LOMAX PTE F MADATOV SGT K WEBB PTE R SMITH CPL J MARSH PTE M MANNEH SGT M ALLETSON PTE L WATSON CPL C MAYNE PTE S MOORE CPL J BINGHAM PTE L YOUNG CPL B MURPHY PTE D MUDE CPL M BUSHELL PTE W YOUNG CPL C PHILLIPS PTE B MUIL CPL C COLE CPL J POTGIETER PTE G OTIENO CPL J COLLINS CPL M STRONG PTE D PRAGASSEN CPL J CONNOLLY 3PWRR CPL A TURNER PTE B RICHARDS CPL S DOBINSON LCPL M ABDI PTE L RENTELL CPL P FRY BHQ Coy LCPL B ANKRETT PTE A ROADS CPL D GREY LCPL R BEAL PTE W RODGERS CPL B GURUNG Lt Col J BAYNHAM LCPL A BLOOMFIELD PTE S SEYMOUR CPL A HADNETT Maj A CHERRY LCPL K BRAY PTE M SHELDON CPL S HESLOP-DAVIES Maj B DWYER LCPL D BROWN PTE B SHORT CPL A HUTCHINSON Maj L MORGAN MONK LCPL J CHADDERTON PTE C STARAS CPL J INGRAM Revd (Maj)S ROWLANDS LCPL M CUPPLES PTE S WINSTEAD CPL D JACKSON Capt P JOHNSON LCPL J EARL PTE W TASH CPL N JACKSON Capt N OSBORNE LCPL W EVERETT PTE E TAMBA CPL L KENNEDY Capt A RICHARDSON LCPL J FICK PTE A TWUMESI CPL T LEWIS Capt G WALSH LCPL S GREENWOOD PTE J VANKEULEN- CPL N LIMBU WO1 G JACKSON LCPL A HALL BARTLETT CPL H MACDONALD WO2 D HAIGHTON LCPL M HINGLEY PTE N VAZ CPL D MARSTON LCPL A HOLDEN PTE J WATSON CPL M NICOD A Coy LCPL J HOWE PTE H WATNEY CPL T OCKWELL LCPL D JONES PTE J WICKHAM CPL L J PEDWELL Maj S ARDLEY LCPL M KING PTE J WEIR CPL S QIATABUA Capt T BARKER LCPL S KOTEI PTE N WHELAN CPL M J RADLEY Capt W MCKEAN LCPL L LABUSHANGE PTE C WOODS CPL M RAI Capt D REED LCPL J LOPEZ-KEEP CPL C RICKETTS Capt R SCOTT LCPL R MCALEESE D Coy CPL L ROGOWSKI Lt C BOWDIDGE LCPL O MILLMAN-EVANS CPL A RUSH Lt R LAYBOURNE LCPL C MOULDS MAJ NM BURLEY CPL M SIMMS WO2 P HANCOCK LCPL D PLAYER MAJ M HOLLIS CPL A SMITH CSgt N HERBERT LCPL J REECE MAJ P KING CPL P VAKALALABURE CSgt B MEDUS LCPL H ROBERTS CAPT A CARUSO CPL M WALSH SSgt D SMITH LCPL J SEYMOUR CAPT S COX CPL T WINTER CSgt C TESTER LCPL J SHIRREFFS CAPT R GREAVES LCPL L ABUDU Sgt B BRAND LCPL L SOUTER CAPT N LANCASHIRE LCPL S BRANSBURY Sgt P JONES LCPL F TAYLOR CAPT N MILLER LCPL S CHEESEMAN Sgt O SOORD-GURNEY LCPL T TOROCA CAPT R MURRAY LCPL J COOPER Cpl M ATKINSON LCPL J VINCENT CAPT R ROE LCPL J FERNANDEZ Cpl N BRYAN LCPL R WOLSTENCROFT CAPT J THOMAS LCPL A GILBERT Cpl T BUTLER PTE S ARTHEY WO2 A DONALDSON LCPL S HENDERSON Cpl R FRIZZELL PTE A AGYEI WO2 J GOLDSMITH LCPL D NEMBANG Cpl C HUDGHTON PTE L ALLEN WO2 R CHAMBERS LCPL A NORMAN Cpl J NEALE PTE L ASHTON WO2 M ISON LCPL D G P POWELL Cpl D NORRIS PTE A ATERE WO2 M JONES LCPL Y RAI Cpl M SAMPSON PTE S BATEMAN WO2 J JONES LCPL J RATCLIFFE Cpl R TAYLOR PTE J BEVERLEY WO2 L WOLSTENHOLME LCPL J RUTTER LCpl C BICKERTON- PTE C BLAGROVE WO2 L A WRIGHT LCPL L SALAILAGI GREEN PTE L BOYD-SIMMONS SSGT D APPLETON LCPL A SLATER LCpl R BUTLER PTE D CATANAIVALU CSGT K BIGGS PTE F ADDAI-NAGBE LCpl S CASTLE PTE D CAREY CSGT M DUPUY PTE G ANDREW LCpl D CHUBB PTE B CLEMENT SSGT G HARRER PTE G BAH LCpl J DOWN PTE K CONLIN CSGT S KING PTE G BENHAM LCpl H GRAY PTE C DECORTNEY SSGT C MCMULLEN PTE J CARTER LCpl T GWARISA PTE L DOCWRA CSGT D MOLE PTE R DE-VILLIERS LCpl D KAY PTE S FULLER CSGT P ROBINSON PTE S DYKES LCpl G KING PTE M GARDINER CSGT J TYLER PTE C HARRIS LCpl P LYTHE PTE H GREENSHIELDS CSGT D WALSH PTE C HOYTE LCpl J MAHER PTE S GURUNG SSGT N WOOD PTE J HUGGETT LCpl V NASH 146 www.pwrr.org.uk

LCpl L OLIVIERI Cpl G GERAGHTY Pte L SAGE Pte S LEATHER LCpl R RAINE Cpl N HALL Pte L SALVI Pte J LOFT LCpl S REID Cpl R KAY Pte D SMITH Pte T MATTHEWS Pte T ALHABTOOR Cpl L MILLEN Pte J SMITH Pte G MILLIGAN Pte A ALLINGTON Cpl K REYNOLDS Pte L STANDING Pte C MOUNT Pte D AUSTIN LCpl D BRACE Pte S SUTHERLAND Pte G MURRAY Pte K BASSOM LCpl S CHAMBERLAIN Pte K THAS Pte A PFEIFFER- Pte S BIRD LCpl J COLE Pte R TWOMEY BROWN Pte E BRETT-FIELD LCpl K DITON Pte M UPTON Pte R RICHARDSON Pte J BROUGHTON LCpl M EDWARDS Pte S VANN DE BEIRRE Pte S SCALES Pte A BROWN LCpl P GENDRE Pte B VATNSDAL Pte B SMITH Pte N CASSON LCpl M HEANEY Pte S WALISKO Pte S SPICER Pte D CLARKE LCpl G HUMPHRIES Pte C WHITE Pte A TAMANG Pte D CLARKE LCpl G JONES Pte D WHITE Pte J TONG Pte M COURTMAN LCpl L MAGUIRE Pte P WILKINSON Pte A WELLER Pte S COX LCpl F MURPHY Pte J YOUELL-KING Pte P WILKINSON Pte J CROWLEY LCpl G ROSS Pte C ZALMAN Pte E DEMATTOS LCpl S RUFFELL HQ Coy Pte E DIAPER LCpl M SCOTT C Coy Pte S DUDLEY LCpl N SOLOMONS Maj I HALL Pte S FIGG LCpl E STEWART Capt E CUTHBERTSON Maj J LAWS Pte N FINCH LCpl H STEWART Capt C PHILLIMORE Maj G LONG Pte T FLACK LCpl N UNDERDOWN Capt D RICHMOND Maj A PANAYI Pte B FLEMING Pte S BACKLER Lt G BIGNOLD Maj S STANLEY Pte P GERRARD Pte O BAILLY Lt M SODHI Capt P COTTRELL Pte M GLADSTONE Pte J BALL Lt L YARDY Capt N DOUGLAS Pte T GREEN Pte G BENTON WO2 J FRENCH Capt S GURUNG Pte L GROGAN- Pte M BLANE CSgt R FERRIN Capt C STROUD EDWARDS Pte J BOLTON SSgt K HOLMES Capt J TITCHENER Pte P HARRIS Pte F BOWMAN CSgt A LAVERY Capt G WALSH Pte A HOARE Pte C BOYLE Sgt R DREWE-PHILLIPS WO2 D FISHER Pte D HOATH Pte K BROWNRIGG Sgt M FREEMAN WO2 J HILL Pte A HODGES Pte D BRYANT Sgt S GHALE WO2 P LEE Pte L HOWES Pte S BURGESS Sgt A JOHNS WO2 A LITTLE Pte T HUDSON Pte J BUTLER Sgt D VIRJEE WO2 R LOOSLEY Pte A HUGHES Pte D CAMPBELL Cpl O BABALOLA WO2 D SIMPSON Pte G HUGHES Pte M CANNON Cpl M FOREMAN SSgt J CANSFIELD Pte S HUGHES Pte B CARSON Cpl D PARSONS CSgt D EDWARDS Pte A JACKSON Pte S CHAPMAN Cpl A TULLETT CSgt A FRANCKLIN Pte A JENSEN Pte M CONNOR Cpl A TURNER CSgt P HARRIS Pte A LENNOX Pte D DAMARIO Cpl M TWYNAM CSgt J KING Pte B LONG Pte J DONNELLY LCpl A GOOD CSgt S MARSHALL Pte S MITCHELL Pte J EBDON LCpl K LAVIN CSgt M YOUNG Pte D MOBSBY-BROWN Pte J ELDER LCpl G NISBET Sgt N CARNEY Pte A NORMAN Pte E EVANS LCpl M PURDIE Sgt M COLLINS Pte K PUN Pte E FIELD LCpl A RANA Sgt M COUSIN Pte J ROBSON Pte M FINCH LCpl J RICHARDS Sgt T DUNN Pte S SCHISTER Pte K FOULKES LCpl D STEPHENSON Sgt M JEFCOATE Pte A STACEY Pte C GARNER LCpl M THEBE Sgt M MORLEY Pte P STEWART Pte J GOODWIN LCpl N UMPLEBY Sgt J NAICOBO Pte M TAIT Pte J GRAY LCpl L VOLLER Cpl T COOPER Pte D THOMAS Pte A HOLMES LCpl D WOOD Cpl P GARBUJA Pte A VICKERS Pte L HOWARD LCpl A YOUNG Cpl J GOACHER Pte W WESTLEY Pte P HOWELL Pte J ADDISON Cpl N GURUNG Pte L WINROW Pte S JONES Pte R AUSTIN Cpl E HOME Pte A WOOLSTON Pte M LANGHAM Pte N BAKER Cpl N RAI Pte G LINNELL-MORTON Pte A BATES Cpl R RAI B Coy Pte A LOVERIDGE Pte J BEW LCpl S BERRY Pte R LYNCH Pte S BROADBENT LCpl W BOWDEN Maj J CRAIG Pte J MACEY Pte S CLARK LCpl L BYRNE Capt S BARKER Pte D MCALEENAN Pte J CLARKE LCpl J CHADWICK Capt A LAYZELL Pte R MCCLARENCE Pte B CLAYTON LCpl R CLAYTON Lt B BOXALL Pte S MCCORMICK Pte K COLLINS LCpl L FENN WO2 D GOUGH Pte J MITCHELL Pte G CROUCHER LCpl C GILMOUR WO2 M WARREN Pte G MIZON Pte J DAINES LCpl B HAMILTON WO2 K WOOD Pte D MOORE Pte R DALTON LCpl Z OLBRECHTS SSgt G BOOKER Pte J MUTEKEDZA Pte R DAUGHTRY LCpl B RAI CSgt P DYER-WRIGHT Pte R MYERS Pte T J FRANCIS Pte D ANTHONY CSgt M FLETCHER Pte D PEARSON Pte S GARNER Pte J ARGENT-PAINE Sgt K LOWES Pte R PETERSON Pte I HARMAN Pte P BRIEN Sgt R WALISKO Pte R POWELL Pte C JONES Pte D CHURCHLEY Cpl A DOWN Pte T REYNOLDS Pte A KERRY Pte F COLVILLE

147 Regimental Gazette

Pte B COTTRELL Lt Col A CRAWLEY Capt D REED Cpl Z BROWN Pte P CUDBY Lt Col J DYER Capt J SELLEY Cpl I CATT Pte M DELO Lt Col G FOTHERINGHAM Capt C SINGLETON Cpl T CHAPMAN Pte J EVANS Lt Col G JONES Capt S TIBBLES Cpl G COOPER Pte J FOWLES Lt Col H LONG Capt S TOMLIN Cpl M CURRIE Cfn J GEGLEDZI Lt Col J MARTIN Capt J VAIL Cpl J DINWOODIE Pte A GIBSON Lt Col G MINTON Capt J WALSH Cpl R DAVIES Pte E HARRISS Lt Col D NEAL WO1 S WHYTE Cpl C ETHERINGTON Pte S HARRISS Lt Col M NOONEY WO2 S BOWDLER Cpl J FORD Pte G HOPKINS Lt Col L SCOTT WO2 L CALLOW Cpl D GREEN Pte D HUBBLE Lt Col G SAUNDERS WO2 P CHADWICK Cpl M HILLS Pte H JACKSON Lt Col S TAYLOR WO2 C DANCE Cpl J HORGAN Pte D JAUNDOO Lt Col S THOMSETT WO2 M HERRIOTT Cpl G KAUYACA Pte B JONES Lt Col T WALCH WO2 T MARCH Cpl O KENNEDY Pte F MARSH Maj D ALLEN WO2 K MARSH Cpl S LANGRAN Pte P MCLAUGHLIN Maj B BAKER WO2 W MORGAN Cpl K LLOYD Pte M MORRIS Maj N BARLEY WO2 B TATEM Cpl S LONG Pte D MYLES Maj R DEANE WO2 A WOOD Cpl R MANN Pte L NAVE Maj S ELFORD CSgt C BISHOP Cpl S MCCONNELL Pte M PEARSON Maj D ELSEY CSgt M BROADWAY Cpl S MILLIS Pte R PEARSON Maj J HEALY CSgt M CROSS Cpl H MILLWARD Pte D RAI Maj R HICKS CSgt L DIFFORD Cpl A MORALEE Pte O STOCKLE Maj M HICKMAN CSgt G FASSETT Cpl L PENNELL Pte J THOMPSON Maj S HOUGHTON CSgt M GOSLING Cpl D PRICE Pte E TREMBLE Maj M HUGHES CSgt S HOLLAND Cpl G RAI Pte D TRUELOVE Maj R JONES CSgt D PETT Cpl T RATCLIFFE Pte L WESTON Maj C JOSE CSgt J PORTER Cpl J SAMWAYS Maj B KEMSLEY CSgt M RAMSLEY Cpl A SHAW Band Maj D MANS CSgt S ROBERTSON Cpl B SKELTON Maj M MOORE CSgt M SHAH Cpl D VINEAL WO2 S WALKLEY Maj B MOORHOUSE CSgt R SWAN Cpl R WALSH CSgt P BRYAN Maj M MYLES CSgt T TAGICA Cpl L WALLIS SSgt G GEORGE Maj R NOOTT CSgt J WHITE Cpl M WILSON CSgt R GUILD Maj J PHIPPS Sgt L CADET Cpl J WRIGHT CSgt A THORNTON Maj I PENNELLS Sgt G CHANCE Pte M AMES Sgt S ASHCROFT Maj D POWER Sgt R COFFIN Pte M ARTHUR Sgt J BAKER Maj A RENDALL Sgt M DANE Pte J ARMIGER Sgt L RANCE Maj E REYNOLDS Sgt B FOLAN Pte L BARNES Sgt I WRIGHT Maj J SMITH Sgt A HALLILEY Pte K BODDIE Cpl R BURNS Maj A STAPLEY Sgt D JONES Pte M BROWN Cpl M GRIFFITHS Maj C STOFFBERG Sgt P MORGAN Pte J CLARK Cpl C ILLMAN Maj M SWALES Sgt C MCNAMARA Pte J COKANALAGI Cpl T JENKINS Maj D SWENY Sgt A PUNT Pte D DAY Cpl L RAWLINGS Maj R TAYLOR Sgt D POULTON Pte C EDWARDS Cpl K WEST Capt J BECKETT Sgt J SIMMONS Pte J GREY LCpl J IVES Capt A BURGESS Sgt S WARWICK Pte B JALLOW LCpl M MACGURK Capt C EATON Sgt A WILSON Pte T PARFITT LCpl C MACQUARRIE Capt S FORSTER L/Sgt J BEHARRY Pte B RATCLIFFE LCpl P PARSONS Capt M GALANTE Cpl M AHMED Pte J RUSSELL-WOOD LCpl K WEST Capt E HUNTER Cpl T ARNOLD Pte A SLEGG Pte J ALDER Capt O KEITH Cpl A BAYLIS Pte J SNEDDON Pte C DENYER Capt G KING Cpl T BOLTON Pte C TUCK Pte G PARKIN Capt P MUNNS Cpl D BRIGDEN Pte J TYLER Pte M PEASEY Pte K SALTER Pte S THOMAS ERE Awards Brig D CHALMERS Distinguished Service Order (DSO) Brig S DEAKIN Lieutenant Colonel James Rowland MARTIN MC, PWRR. Brig R DENNIS Col J COOTE MBE Col A EDMUNDS Col S KILPATRICK Major Gerard LONG, PWRR Army Reserve. Col C LUCKHAM Sergeant Graham John WOOLCOCK, PWRR. Col D MOGG Col M SCOTT Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service (QCVS) Col O STOKES Major Darren Paul ELSEY, PWRR. Col A SMITH Col F SYKES The details contained above provide a snapshot of the Regiment at the time of going to Lt Col A BETTS print and reflect the accuracy of details submitted by contributors to RHQ.

148 With membership starting at just £30 for Young Officers, and excellent rates available for all Serving Officers, there has never been a better time to step inside London’s best located Club.

Situated two minutes walk from Piccadilly, the Club has bedrooms from just £70, a sunny courtyard, excellent gym facilities, squash court, a blissful swimming pool, sauna, jacuzzi, friendly bars, fine dining as well as a brasserie menu in ‘The Goat’.

No. 4 St James’s Square London SW1Y 4JU Tel: 020 7827 5757 www.theinandout.co.uk