THEwire
June 2017 The Magazine of The Royal Corps of Signals Corps Formation: 28th June 1920 Corps Motto: Certa Cito Contents
White Helmets Training June 2017 Volume 71 No: 3 Camp and Opening Show See pages 20-21 FEATURES
DSCIS LEARN Network 10 Exercise LIGHTNING STRIKE 18 Royal Signals Motorcycle Display Team 20 2017 Corps Calendar 48 RSBF Corps Subscription Update 55 Blandford Garrison Golf Society 93 The WCIT 25th Anniversary 99 Photo by History of Signalling in 100 Objects 113 Basia Howard-Harwood
10 Sig Regt on Exercise JEBEL TIGER REGULARS See pages 33-39 News from Training 2 News from Formations 16 News from Regiments 22 News from Squadrons 82 Other Units 86 Lost Comms 100 Royal Signals Association 110 Last Post 112 Reunions 112
SPORT/ADVENTURE TRAINING
14 Sig Regt on exercise Exercise APHRODITE SKI RIPPER 96 See pages 40-41 Exercise DRAGON ALDERNEY WINTER 98 Exercise DRAGON CRUSADER SKI 100 Photo by LCpl Dobson, 226 Sig Sqn Exercise COCKNEY SWIFT PISTE 101 Exercise DRAGON CHILEAN VOLCANO 102 Exercise NORTHERN SKI CHALLENGE 1 106 Exercise DRAGON BAHRAIN ICE 108
Front Cover: White Helmets Opening Show. Photo by Basia Howard-Harwood
Back Cover: 226 Sig Sqn on patrol in Sennybridge. Photo by LCpl Dobson, 226 Sig Sqn Note from the Editor
It has been a busy couple of months here at The Wire, with many units moving to the new image-led layout and we hope you will agree that the articles are looking great and better reflecting the many tasks, roles and great individuals of the Corps.
The Royal Signals Motorcycle The Royal Signals Motorcycle Display Team held Display Team 2017 their Opening Show on 8 April, all the details and by LCpl Dayne Ryan 2017 Final Season Training Camp
Despite the news that the team will disband after the pictures can be found on page 20-21. Visit their face 2017 season, it has continued to show its class and professionalism in its march into this its final and 90th year. We begin by welcoming two new riders in the form of Cpl Paul Day and Signaller Luke Timmins who arrived late January and two returning members, Signaller Simon Opening Show off with the incredible sight of the book page (White Helmets The Royal Signals Sumpter and Cpl Robert Hitchmough to join the rest of famous 6-bike fan sailing around the the team in preparation for this year’s training camp, held With the sun shining on the arena for what could be the final time at Dalton Barracks, Oxfordshire. With six weeks of tough, morning of 8 April everything in glorious fashion. Once the show physical training on the unforgiving undulating terrain of was looking promising for the was complete it was time to head Motorcycle Display Team) if you would like to know Dalton Airfield the team were put through its paces to opening show later that day. to the after function and awards quickly get back up to the high standards set the previous A few pre-show jitters from ceremony. The award for Best First year. Being headed by our Chief Instructor Cpl Adam the two new riders started to Year Rider was presented to Cpl Huber and Chief Mechanic Cpl Mal Cooper the new riders creep in but a firm reassuring Paul Day, the Riders Rider Award were quickly integrated into the team and shown the from the existing team ensured was given to LCpl Grant Fraser, and where you can see them as they complete their final ropes by the current experienced members, both showing the two entered the day with finally the presentation of the most a solid aptitude for display riding as they got to grips with vigour and a strong sense of self prestigious award the Eldon Trophy, exactly how the team goes about doing its job in the long belief befitting that of the team named after Cpl Paul ‘Ely’ Eldon build-up towards the 2017 opening show on April 8. itself. Once again it prepared to who tragically passed away on the season with the closing ceremony on 30 September show exactly what it was famous way to a show in August 1997. This As the weeks of training camp went on the team for and why it takes, courage, is presented to those who have improved its skill set and showed exactly why it was the discipline, respect for others, given the most to the team over the longest serving display team in the world. Even with the integrity, loyalty, and selfless course of the season and this year’s strongest of efforts of Storm Doris the team still got the commitment. All the key values presentation went to Cpl Adam 2017 at Blandford. job at hand done and dusted with the opening show just of a soldier, to be a strong Huber, and was made by Cpl Eldon’s round the corner. functioning member of the mother Mrs Pat Barnfield and sister team as all 23 members worked Mrs Judith Whatley, as a mark of together to give a historic and respect to show the true prestige memorable display. the team past and present hold this award in. All in all a fantastic day As per the previous 89 years, enjoyed by all involved and a great the opening show roared way to start the 2017 season. into life as the bikes entered Read what OCdt Bennett thought of Ex LIGHTNING the arena to the sound of Photo by Phil Osment The first couple of weeks after the applause from the hundreds of opening show involved the team fans in attendance, some who taking trips to both Lytham St Anne had travelled the length of the in the Northwest for the St George’s country just to witness what Day Festival and somewhere slightly STRIKE; an annual exercise which puts UOTC teams would be the final presentation more local at the Abbey Hill Steam of the famous White Helmets Rally over in Yeovil. We have had to the new members. Midway a fantastic reception from all through the show after crowds in attendance and the team from universities across the UK, through some demonstrating the key skills continues to give a great account on a motorcycle, including the for itself showing that despite the traditional fire jump with the teams disbandment at the end of OC, Capt Jon McLelland leading the season, nothing will deter their the line first through the flames professionalism and pride as both arduous activities over a weekend in February, on both Cpl Paul Day and Signaller riders and soldiers as they continue to Luke Timmins were awarded their wow the public up and down the country with dazzling White Helmets, culminating in huge applause from both displays and eye catching performances. The season's families, friends, and ex-team members bearing the fruits highlight will undoubtedly be another visit to the Isle page 2. of over two months of hard training all leading up to this of Man for the TT races just around the corner in June, moment. The rest of the show retained the standard of when the team will show exactly why they are as famous its predecessors, showing a high level of skill, finishing as they are. Photo by Basia Howard-Harwood
20 [email protected] JUNE 2017 21 On 4 May The Worshipful Company of Information Technologists (WCIT) celebrated its 25th Anniversary as the 100th Livery Company of the City of London and a number of key guests from the HQ R SIGNALS were in attendance. The Corps of Royal Signals has been affiliated with the WCIT since 1992 and they have honoured many of the Corps’ personnel with awards including the IT Apprentice Medal and offered its Journeyman Scheme for joining the WCIT Livery Company. See page 99 for the article.
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Editor: Amy Petersen Subscriptions: [email protected] (preferred for submissions) All enquiries regarding subscriptions and changes of Mil: 94371 2817 Civ: 01258 482817 address should be made to Jess Lawson on Mil: 94371 2087 Civ: 01258 482087 or [email protected] SO3 Digital Communication and Publications: Stephanie Hamlett Last Post: [email protected] These will be inserted free to all past and present Mil: 94371 2818 Civ: 01258 482818 members of the Corps.
RHQ R SIGNALS, Griffin House, Blandford Contents: Camp, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 8RH Authors alone are responsible for the content of their articles. The opinions expressed in the Articles: articles of this publication are those of the indiv- Please email submissions in Microsoft Word format, idual authors and do not necessarily reflect the together with related photographs to the e-mail policy and views, official or otherwise, of the addresses above. Digital images should be in JPEG Royal Corps of Signals or the Ministry of Defence. format, kept separate (and not embedded within the All articles and submissions are published at the article) and supplied with captions. discretion of the Editor. This publication may contain official information and should be treated Contribution Deadlines: with discretion. 15th February for publication in the April edition. 15th April for publication in the June. Advertising: 15th June for publication in the August. All communications regarding commercial 15th August for publication in the October. advertising should be made direct to 15th October for publication in the December. [email protected]. 10th December for publication in the February. Printed by Holbrook Printers Ltd, Norway Road, Hilsea, Portsmouth © Crown Copyright News from Training 1 (FOWLER SQUADRON), 2 ARMY TRAINING REGIMENT ARMY TRAINING CENTRE (ATC) PIRBRIGHT
The Iraq and Afghanistan Memorial – by Cpl Lamb ATC(P) Ski Trip – by Cpl Muchmore
On 9 March five members of 1 (Fowler) Squadron had the In March, the permanent staff of Army Training Centre honour of witnessing the unveiling of the new war memorial (Pirbright) embarked on a 2 week ski trip to Val Thorens in to honour the many thousands of UK military and civilian France organised by Capt Pete Malan, 2IC 28 Squadron. personnel who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. The new memorial recognises the contributions of those who deployed from 1990-2015 and all those that supported the effort from back home. ATC(P) out on the slopes In the presence of Her Majesty the Queen at 1100hrs we attended a service of dedication that was conducted from a specially constructed Drumhead on Horse Guards Parade. Following the Drumhead service the memorial was formally unveiled at a short ceremony in Victoria Embankment Gardens in front of the Ministry of Defence.
After attending the service we all enjoyed a drink and some food in the reception area which was set up for the day, this gave WO2 (SSM) S Ware the perfect opportunity to get amongst the crowds in order to get up close and personal with some of the royals that had stayed around to talk with the guests. To his delight, he managed to speak with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and tried his hardest to get some inside information as to whether or not they were going to have more children. A great day enjoyed by all that attended coupled with the rare occasion of singing the national anthem directly to the Queen is an experience that Cpl Backhouse, Cpl Lamb, Maj Devenish will not be forgotten. and WO2 (SSM) Ware at the Iraq and Afghanistan Memorial Corps Regimental Sergeant Major’s Visit – by Cpl Rose
On 4 and 5 April WO1 (CRSM) J P Attwell visited ATC(P). During the day he observed a number of lessons from Skill At Arms to PT. On the evening of 4 April there was a curry laid on and an opportunity for a number of Royal Signals personnel from across the station to have a discussion session with the CRSM. During this, a number of topics were discussed such as ‘are we as a Corps required to be soldiers first or tradesmen first?’ We also spoke in some depth about the need to develop the way in which we prepare potential Phase One instructors and the necessity to ensure we have a high calibre of Royal Signals Instructors within Phase One establishments in order to promote the Corps.
The following day the CRSM and Capt Darby (2IC 4 Military Training Squadron) conducted a number of interviews with personnel who have aspirations to instruct within RMAS. This enabled the instructors to become more informed in order to correctly prepare for the process and also ensured that the next batch of instructors wanting to put themselves forward for the Sandhurst Cadre were highlighted.
Overall a great opportunity for Royal Signals personnel within ATC(P) to engage and ask questions with relevance as to what is on the current agenda and how the Corps stand with regards to promoting our foot print within a Phase One training establishment.
2 [email protected] Once there, we received the arrivals briefs and had our kit issued, before Help for Heroes Memorial playing supermarket sweep with the CILOR allowances. The following day, skiing commenced. A number of individuals had an emotional day getting to grips with the new extensions to their feet as there was a range of experience levels. As the week progressed we noticed a significant development in people’s ability, however, as a direct consequence of this, when individuals made a mistake it was severe. This is what led to Cpl Adam Dunn, 2 Yorks, breaking his wrist. The weather was fantastic throughout, resulting in some extreme goggle lines and heat stroke of an evening.
Overall, it was a very rewarding and successful trip, with a number of individuals gaining either SF1, 2 and 3 qualifications.
Exercise HEADLEY STORM The gardens at Headley Court – by Cpl Appleton
On Tuesday 21 March, 9 members of 1 (Fowler) Squadron embarked upon Ex HEADLEY STORM. This was a fascinating one day educational insight into the organisational structure of DMRC Headley Court.
On arrival we were met by Capt V Gordon RAMC who gave us an initial brief of the unit. We were then escorted around the grounds by Sgt M Gossage AAC. The grounds are beautiful and it was nice to learn that the Soldiers/Officers who are undergoing treatment at Headley are responsible for the upkeep of the gardens. This is to give them a distraction from their rehab but also aids in their recovery as they get used to walking/working on all of the different terrains that the gardens are purposely made up of.
Throughout the day we visited various departments such as Complex Trauma, Lower Limbs and the Neurological Department. It was great to have the opportunity to experience some of the large scale activities that injured personnel have to conduct in order to achieve getting back to full fitness. It was also overwhelming to learn about the well supported exit strategy for any Soldier/Officer that cannot carry on with their military career due to an injury.
Overall, Ex HEADLEY STORM was an enlightening trip. Being Phase 1 Instructors I am sure we all took away lots of information and tips that we can use to help encourage, motivate and inspire our recruits, especially the ones who experience injuries throughout training.
JUNE 2017 3 OC K Coy / QM Maj J T Cauldwell B Coy CSM WO2 (CSM) J S Miller
Life as a Section Commander at AFC (H) After being warned about what I was going to experience; by Cpl ‘Cookie’ Cook a whirlwind of G1-G7 rollercoaster of events with a healthy portion of G4 too! This was not wrong, with the fast pace There is no such thing as a ‘typical day’ when you are a of training and intense timetable your finger needs to be Section Commander at the Army Foundation College firmly on the pulse at all times. I have 4 section commanders (Harrogate); although there is a meticulously structured of mixed cap badges delivering the daily CMS training, with timetable to follow, in theory, you know exactly what military exercises to organise, drill competitions, battlefield tours training you have to deliver and when you’re supposed to and inter-college competitions happening regularly. My JS deliver it. However, as a Section Commander to twelve Junior are always on the go, this can be demanding for a teenager Soldiers (aged 16 to 17) there is always a new and challenging who may not have prepared correctly or just finds it a culture situation being thrown your way; just like teenagers in the shock. As you can imagine with normal teenager's problems home environment. I tend to spend a lot of the time dealing with discipline and welfare issues, not to mention block damages, lost equipment SAA (Skill at Arms), BCD (Battlefield Casualty Drills), Drill, Field and clothing and normal Platoon Sgt business. Craft and CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) are all military syllabus subjects a Section To sum this job up in a nutshell, it’s demanding but extremely Commander will be expected to instruct in at any point during rewarding. I’ve nearly finished my first intake with another the course. Being a role model, welfare NCO, mentor, clerk, predicted 3 short courses to go before I move on. If you are mediator, disciplinarian, leader, advisor and enforcer are roles thinking of a posting to they need to exercise EVERY single day at the College. AFC (H) I would most certainly recommend In order to be effective you have to commit a lot of your own it; you have to put in time to the Junior Soldiers, you have to be able to adapt the as much time as is way you teach subjects for different individuals and above all needed for the JS, you have to be patient. There are times when you feel like you need to adapt you are hitting your head on a brick wall in frustration, but to other methods when the Juniors develop, operate independently and you and cap badge see them on their Graduation Parade, knowing it’s a product protocols and get of your hard work, it gives an immense amount of personal used to the unique satisfaction and is a moment to be proud of. way the College operates. This is not a typical Royal Army Foundation College (Harrogate) Cambrai Signals working Company by Sgt Nick Pallis environment, it’s a Phase 1 training After arriving at the College in late June, I finally received my establishment first intake of Junior Soldiers (JS) in September. I was relishing with long hours, the challenge of receiving a young adult civilian on average 16 working weekends years old, and turning them into a trained soldier. The college and dismounted consists of two types of intakes, a short course and a long infantry exercises. Sgt Pallis conducting a NAVEX with course which are 6 and 12 months respectively. The short However, the College his Junior Soldiers at Ripon Parks course is orientated around technical cap badges and the long has great facilities, the is essentially for all others including Infantry and Artillery. I job is hugely rewarding and superb opportunities to develop was placed into Cambrai Company which now delivers the knowledge and experience that will benefit individuals in the short course syllabus. future. The college team on the I was honoured to be awarded speed march The Lord Trophy at the most recent Graduation Parade, in front of nearly 1000 JS and 4000 spectators. It was particularly special for me to be chosen as there are many of my peers who I admire and get inspiration from. I have learnt a lot from my multi cap-badge peers in the College and from those in my own Corps.
It is vital to be honest about strengths and weaknesses, helping others and to acknowledge where I can learn from others and improve my personal performance. I have learnt valuable skills and knowledge that have aided me in creating and tailoring lessons, understanding my recruits and how everyone develops at a different rate. A key element to understand is what motivates some people will not work for Commando Speed March by Cpl Sam Clowes others and having patience for those who find learning During the Second World War, potential British Commandos difficult. It is essential that my lessons are engaging, would arrive by train at Spean Bridge and be expected to informative, but at the same time entertaining and rewarding. speed march through the Scottish Highlands to the gates of It is also just as important to be able to communicate Achnacarry House carrying their fighting order weighing effectively, give positive feedback and constructive criticism 36lbs. Recruits were given just one hour to complete the 7 when required. One of the most important things that I try to mile route, and those that failed to achieve this time would be impart on the JS is never be afraid to attempt things, even if returned to their parent unit. In 1996, this speed march was they do not succeed immediately they can learn from the reconstructed, based on this initial selection test, to raise experience and will prepare them for the next challenge and funds for the Commando Benevolent Fund and the Airborne future goals in their careers. Forces Charities. Not quite as far as the P Coy 10-miler, the speed march has since become an established annual military As part of my leadership of the JS I think it is important to event attracting over 300 entrants a year, each wearing either remind them that other’s experience and knowledge is very a maroon or green t shirt. This event is open only to Military valuable and their guidance will help. I explain that I have Personnel; members of the Armed Forces, Foreign Military, developed all my attributes with the assistance and advice of Reserve Units and Regimental Associations are all eligible to others and it has helped me become the person and leader I apply for a place in this event. am today; tangibly recognised by the award of the Lord Trophy. WO2 (CSM) John Miller organised a College team to enter into this competition whilst also raising money for the Army Benevolent Fund (ABF). The team consisted of ten members of Permanent Staff from numerous cap badges across the Army. WO2 (CSM) Miller and I were the only Royal Signals participants. The College team came in 9th place out of 28 teams and raised in excess of £1300 for charity. Overall this was a challenging and enjoyable event; a great effort by all those involved.
Lord Trophy by Cpl Loney
The Lord Trophy is an award presented by the Army Foundation College (Harrogate) to a member of its Permanent Staff (PS) who is selected for displaying the most Inspirational Leadership over the academic year. The College attracts highly motivated and competitive individuals from all cap-badges to conduct Common Military Syllabus training for Junior Soldiers (JS); the only Phase 1 Training Establishment that recruits soldiers solely under the age of 18. The College prides itself in forging future leaders who statistically go on to achieve the most rewarding careers within the Army. Cpl Loney being presented with the Lord Trophy
JUNE 2017 5 11th (RSS) SIGNAL REGIMENT CO Lt Col S Short BLANDFORD RSM WO1 R Savage
2 (CATTERICK) SQUADRON
OC Maj L Kelly SSM WO2 J Wignall
EXERCISE CATTERICK ENDEAVOUR by SSgt Deal
his year’s Garrison partners exercise – Exercise CATTERICK TENDEAVOUR was organised by SSgt Linzi Deal and SSgt Jenny Blackburn. 15 wives and partners from across the Garrison enlisted to experience the challenges of basic military training.
The day began on the parade square with Cpl Shaun Tarling taking the ladies through their paces, however, this also gave us our first casualty with a bleeding finger, which still remains a mystery! This was followed by basic field craft, including cam and concealment, harbour routine, bashering up and the finest military cuisine the army has to offer; ration packs! This was expertly delivered by Cpl Gaz Tweddle and Cpl Jak Nixon.
The afternoon saw the ladies take part in sporting activities including rock climbing and clay pigeon shooting. WO2 (QMSI) Cowley put the ladies through their paces before attempting their Everest, with numerous ladies reaching the summit. Lauren Bird was the clear mountain goat reaching the peak in the fastest time. Sgt Gaz Hall ran the clay pigeon range with ‘markswomen’ Faye Cowley and Vicki Sherratt giving him a run for his money – haha!
The final stages of their military training incorporated the DCCT, immediately followed by the bayonet range. Fiona Ward and Kathryn Minett excelled with the rifle on the DCCT with some great scores. SSgt Dave Beverly had fun welcoming the ladies including his wife Cindy 'Bambi' Beverly to heaven and hell on the range, with the clear aggressor Emma Wyldes, scaring herself!!
The evening concluded with a ‘graduation’ dinner night, a 3 course meal in the field with live entertainment provided by SSgt Dawn Bailey and Sig Allen from the Blandford Music Club.
We would like to thank the Garrison ladies for their enthusiasm, spirit and overall sense of adventure for making the exercise a huge success. th THREE VICTORIES IN ONE DAY 11 (RSS) SIGNAL REGIMENT by Sig Bancroft
BLANDFORD ur day began aboard the HMS Victory after battling a bit of morning traffic. Here Owe were presented with audio guides and at first I don’t think we were sure what to expect of the experience. After the first few audio clips everyone seemed fairly immersed in their audio guides mostly looking lost searching for the next clip to tune in to. Halfway through the ship and our gaggle of lads had completely broken up, each being briefed up either on the step by step story of the battle of Trafalgar, or learning little facts about sailors’ amazing beer rations and anti-rat techniques for keeping gunpowder safe.
Once we’d learned all the voice in the headset had to teach we stopped off for a quick coffee break and dived straight into a few more Nelson exhibits inside the Royal Naval Museum. Here people could pick up a couple of useful facts about the man himself ready to present later such as, where he lost his eye or when he lost his arm. The rest of the museum had a wide variety of exhibits elaborating on the Navy’s previous deployments and roles across the globe.
Our final stop of the day after a rather pricey fish and chips was the 36 hours museum dedicated to the battle of Jutland. Here the hour by hour story of one of Britain’s greatest naval battles is told. A battle in which our casualties outnumbered the enemies, but the lasting effects of these 36 hours would have a crucial impact on the final victorious outcome of the First World War.
After each group tried to wrangle together short presentations it was clear that everyone had at least learnt a fair amount depending on what interested them the most. With all 3 of these attractions being free to serving personnel and being in such close proximity to each other it’s a learning experience I would recommend to anyone, and as I wrote this on the trip back to camp, with everyone else fast asleep, I’d like to think they were all having sweet dreams about Admiral Nelson and his perilous career. 3 (HARROGATE) SQUADRON
OC Maj D Galey SSM WO2 C Deal
To finish off we got to have a go at the Confidence Course. EXERCISE HARROGATE You know the fun's about to start when you see a PTI and a 10 foot wall. We then gained entrance into the row of buildings via a ladder into a window. Several obstacles linked FOLLY the buildings together including balance beams and ropes. by Sig Melville This was one of the more difficult obstacles to complete both mentally and physically, every team member showing n 24 March, 3 Platoons from 3 (Harrogate) Sig Sqn, different strengths and weaknesses. Another part of the O11 (Royal School of Signals) Sig Regt deployed on Ex course involved going down into the sewer system and HARROGATE FOLLY. The aim of the ex was to give Phase 2 crawling for over 50 metres before popping out of a manhole soldiers experience in leadership roles, in order to prepare at the other end. We finished off with a leap of faith and a them for their upcoming PNCO. cheeky sprint back to the start line.
As all the training was provided prior to deployment, the Looking back the ex was a great success. Individuals and exercise was fully tactical from the minute we stepped off teams alike have shown a massive improvement of their skills from the Drop off Point, which meant a lot of responsibility and drills. As we will more than likely be taking part in the fell upon the shoulders of Phase 2’s nominated for 2IC roles. PNCO at the same time I take great value in the fact that we The mission was to provide security and protection to the have had the opportunity to work as a section, improve our people of Atropia (AKA Copehill Down), who had suffered team cohesion and develop as young soldiers together. numerous attacks from the Ariana province (AKA somewhere up North). We were part of a NATO defensive operation to establish sovereignty. Tension was rising and friendly forces were collapsing. Although neither side had different religious 4 Sqn get through beliefs the main reason for conflict appeared to be over resources and oil. Fortunately there wasn’t a CBRN threat.
After a short 45 minute journey to Copehill Down we arrived on the Training area, it was roughly 2100hrs. We were cleared onto the area, identified our kit in the near pitch black and high winds (mine was the medium sized MTP one) and set off for a steady two mile ‘jaunt’ to the FOB which was nestled on the edge of the Copehill Down FIBUA Village. Once orders were received we went into a working routine. Fortunately 1 Platoon was on rest and then QRF which basically meant rest and then rest. It wasn’t too long before we were on our first patrol though. Straight out of the FOB and we noticed three figures huddled round a fire, the local population we assumed. About five minutes later the front of the patrol gets hit with IDF and the rear, completely out in the open, run for cover in the nearest bush, doorway or well-lit area. Meanwhile up front, the enemy had been spotted a few metres away and an awkward stand-off ensued. I didn’t see what happened but there was a lot of shouting and we ended up with some extra rifles so I guess the enemy ran away.
I’m pleased to say the rest of the ex went a bit more smoothly. The following day we encountered pockets of 4 Sqn comms enemy forces around the village and conducted section attacks, each one gathering momentum from the last, every member growing in confidence as we went. The intelligence we received from successful recce patrols that evening led to the planning and completion of the final platoon attack. A series of individual section attacks allowed us to take control of a number of buildings where the enemy were located. During the regroup we came under fire from reserve enemy forces and received casualties (our section commanders, surprise surprise). Medical care was provided before they 4 Sqn ops room were swiftly loaded on to a stretcher and whisked away. It was decided that the waist deep puddle was the best escape route which made the CASEVAC just that much more enjoyable.
4 (MILITARY TRAINING) SQUADRON
OC Maj GLM Dunn SSM WO2 (SSM) Easterby-Jackson
EXERCISE MERCURY STRIKE 4 Sqn Introduction to Pistol 26 - 31 MARCH 17
n the morning of 26 March, elements of 11 (RSS) Sig ORegt Permanent Staff and Phase 2 Soldiers deployed to Longmoor Trg Area to take part in the Regimental Annual Battle camp. This year it was directed by SSgt (SSI) Ashok, who had taken time away from CLM training transformation from the Senior Command Training Team to plan, direct and execute. 4 Sqn breach The Exercise was aimed at delivering a basic tactical understanding within an urban area whilst introducing new weapon systems and survival techniques to those who had not been previously exposed.
4 Sqn standby
JUNE 2017 9 DSCIS Blandford LEARN Network
by WO2 (FofS) P Wade
With the support of the Defence School of CIS, 11 (Royal School of Signals) Signal Regiment at Blandford continues to deliver communication and technical training with the use of many bespoke but in many cases now aged computer networks. Though providing a capability, they are inflexible and tether students and permanent staff alike to classrooms and buildings across the garrison. Furthermore, these networks are not available out of hours for students for additional learning. With the construction of the Local Education and Resource Network (LEARN) DSCIS aims to bring Blandford into the 21st Century.
As part of the wider Defence Technical Training Change Programme, the Regiment is earmarked to benefit from a multi-million pound Defence College of Technical Training (DCTT) project to transform both the platform and the technology we use for the delivery of training to our students. LEARN has already been delivered to other technical schools at MOD Lyneham, RAF Cosford and MOD St Athan, and it aims to provide a single managed network to allow schools to concentrate on training delivery. It will utilise the latest technology to deliver a flexible wireless network with a secure private cloud, managed Internet access, Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) and Computer Aided Instruction (CAI) classrooms. The network will operate at OFFICIAL and will subsume the majority of current networks.
The diagram below illustrates the DCTT Education Assured Network (DEAN) located at MOD Lyneham. It shows each of the schools as an individual LEARN site inter-connected to produce DCTT’s desired end state: a truly federated network. This combined approach for the schools will for the first time allow realisation of resource sharing and training delivery expertise.
Unlike any network configuration the school has had before it will be connected to both the RLI on one side and the Internet on the other, reducing the need for DII/MODNet access by students.
LEARN will mean 11SR can begin to break from more traditional fixed classroom infrastructure to mobile user access devices. Every classroom will be in a generic configuration (i.e. intelligent display screens and wireless access points) enabling training to be delivered anywhere across the garrison. In addition to the LEARN wireless access network a second parallel wireless network will allow user owned devices to gain access to the Blandford Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) and Internet. For the first time in Blandford’s history, students will be able to access training material, coursework, JPA and the Internet from a single device. This engagement can take place from their classroom, accommodation or even off-site.
During the months of May and July 2017 the business case for LEARN at Blandford is due to pass through Main Gate and the Cabinet Office for funding approval. Assuming this money is approved, the current plan has an initial operating capability from December 2017 with the full operating capability implemented by December 2018. In preparation DSCIS HQ has already installed a significant amount of new infrastructure for LEARNs Gigabit backbone and set aside new IT by way of mobile devices. 4 [email protected] LCpl Dorman relaxing and taking in some sunshine
Time for a pipe off!
First things first is to find some new pipers!
Pipe President Col J Cooper late R Signals Corps Pipe Major Sgt (PM) T Coleman
An American Adventure - by LCpl Chris Dorman selection of local beers and spirits. You would never want to leave! We also made use of the local shooting range where The Defence Academy run Exercise EAGLE OWL twice a year you can rent almost anything you could dream of along with at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas where the Command and the US military personnel letting us try their own custom General Staff College is situated. The largest of its kind and firearms. run over a two-week period, it is designed to give a shared understanding of U.S. and UK cultural At the end of the first week we played at Patrick and procedural similarities and differences, Harold Youth Centre which was amazing for gaining experience in Brigade level the kids (and the teachers) who had never planning and building on future seen our traditional No1 dress or heard partnerships. the pipes and drums.
I, LCpl Dorman was lucky enough The middle weekend was a stand- to be invited along to do the down for all the students including most important job of all, us where we could travel as far as playing the bagpipes and we dared. As much as we would learning about American culture. have loved to hop onto a flight for Along with the Pipe Major and Las Vegas we saw reason and Drum Major from The Royal Tank thought best to keep local. Kansas Regiment, we had a lot of work to city was roughly 20 miles away so do on the visit, before going and at after hiring a vehicle we spent the the start my evenings were spent LCpl Dorman: 'She's better than day there. The City was eerily quiet but learning different settings and music to me at this bagpipes thing!' come night it exploded with life. We match theirs. It didn’t take long and by spent most of the night at the power and the time we had our first performance we had light district where we found a good bar and it in the bag. This was to mark the opening of the listened to the concert in the square. ex where 200 British Majors and over 300 US counterparts were in attendance. The second week was much busier for us. Our main effort was the UK hosted cocktail party where we played our whole The first week was mostly quiet and we were employed repertoire. It started with myself piping in US General Lundy assisting the RSM with various tasks while we waited on and The Master of Signals, General Pope. After our confirmation regarding our schedule, but this gave us enough combined set on the balcony we descended for the finale and time to explore Fort Leavenworth a little; it overlooks the the Quaich. Missouri River, on the border between Kansas and Missouri. The base itself is huge, featuring shopping centres, various The next focus was an outreach programme for us to visit food branches, a golf course and a bowling alley to name a many local schools, teaching them about our kit, our roles in few, but more importantly a wide and very reasonably priced the Army and the instruments after playing a few sets.
12 [email protected] Give it back, I need it to play for the General tomorrow! Bringing Scottish culture to Fort Leavenworth
LCpl Mark Black receiving his prize for top student on the Pipe Major Course
Word travelled and every school around was wanting to book competing standard March, Strathspey and Reel and one us. Piobaireachd. The Piobaireachd is the more intense as it is the most traditional style of piping tunes and some can last After performing there would normally be half the school up to fifteen minutes long. We would work it in 4 week queued up to try the instruments and ask questions ranging blocks to learn these and at the end of each 4 weeks would from quite intelligently “what scale do the bagpipes play on” be assessed by the Director Army Bagpipe Music and given to “do you have TV’s in Scotland”, and “can you dab?” the tick in the box we needed to say it was good enough to move on to the next set. All in all, it was a great experience, we made a positive impact to the ex where everyone (especially the Americans) were With each set and theory test passing it seemed to get more overly grateful to have us over making music and giving the demanding, the hours in the day started to feel shorter as if future generation an insight into Scottish military music and there wasn’t enough. As well as learning tunes and the traditions. Hopefully there is scope to see more of the Pipes musical theory behind the bagpipes there was plenty of and Drums of the Royal Corps of Signals back next time. tuition on setting up bagpipes when playing as a soloist or playing in a group as a quartet or pipe band. It can take A Bright Future - Pipe Majors Course - by LCpl Mark Black weeks for a bagpipe reed to be blown in and settle until you get the best sound from it and also tuning every note the I arrived on this course having completed my Class 2 and Class bagpipe has to offer to the same pitch can realistically be a 1 piping courses and gaining the recommendation for the Pipe nightmare at times. The myth that a piper can take out his Majors course. With the course being 28 weeks long and bagpipes from their case and play them without any fine having spoken to ex and current Pipe Majors, I knew it was tuning I can assure you is just a myth, that is if you want a going to be physically tough. We started off with a practical decent sound from them. Some days I could take my pipes entrance test so the Senior Pipe Major could assess the out of their case and they would be singing like Luciano standard we were at and whether it was up to what was Pavarotti and other times they could sound like Cpl Liam required for the course ahead. With everyone gaining the Lafferty after a few shandies on a Saturday night! thumbs up we cracked on with the course. As well as all the classroom work we also managed to fit in a With there being a mixture of theory and history tests every few field trips. We visited a few local grave sites of famous Friday for the first 20 weeks of the course, we had a couple of military pipers. One of those was the Great Pipe Major Willie lessons to remind us what we had been taught on previous Ross who was internationally renowned for his piping skills. courses. The first 2 tests were of subjects we “should” have He was also the Senior Piping Instructor to Army pipers from known although it didn’t stop people having to study until the 1918 until 1957. We also visited a few Bagpipe makers where early hours of the morning to learn it, particularly the second we learnt about the various methods of making bagpipes test as it was on the history of The Army School of Piping and from a block of wood up to the fine finished article. Piping in the Army. These were really in-depth and covered a full account of piping from the 17th Century until the present We were sent out to various piping jobs ranging from day including from the start of The Army Class in 1910 until the Ceremonial duties on Remembrance Day to Regimental reformation and renaming of The Army School of piping in Dinner nights to gain the experience of playing as soloists and 1959 and then The Army School of Bagpipe Music and in a group at high profile events. One of these nights was a Highland Drumming in 1999. In this information was the Roll recital night at the Royal Scottish Pipers Society where each of Directors of Army Bagpipe Music and Pipe Majors including Pipe Majors course go down to them every year and provide the dates they held their respective position. them with a night of piping entertainment. In attendance at this event were some of the biggest names in piping which For the practical side of the course we were required to learn added to the pressure of putting on a good performance. As six piping sets which would all include one 6/8 March, one well as gaining experience, these jobs are there to prepare us
JUNE 2017 13 for the pressures of our final practical assessment, the “Play then on to the passout parade. I really had a great time on Off”. the course and my piping developed considerably, and I am eagerly looking forward to bringing my enhanced skills back During my time on the course the first Army Piping and to the band and playing throughout the Corps through the Drumming Championships since 2009 was held and I jumped rest of the year. at the chance to take part. I was lucky enough to pick up a rd 3 place prize in the Senior Strathspey and Reel competition. Class 3 Highland Drumming Course - by LCpl Corey Park We also had a trip planned to visit the Sovereigns piper at Buckingham Palace but unfortunately we arrived just as the I joined the Class 3 Highland Drumming course to become a tragic events were happening at Westminster and therefore side drummer. I had no previous experience at this, but I had we had to cancel our visit. played the bass and tenor drum previously in the band. The course lasted for 6 months and during this time you With the end of the course getting closer we had learnt the side drum, bugling and highland dancing finally finished all of our theory and music writing as well. At the start of the course you are given tests and could concentrate solely on our a red book and taken through it to learn basic practical ability. This would be playing our rudiments on pad and sticks. At week 5 of th 6 and final set of tunes and deciding the course you go in front of the Senior which tunes we would be playing for our Drum Major for an assessment to see final assessment, and would be the how you are progressing. You also busiest few weeks as everyone was have to learn the theory behind music working hard to get their set as and the side drum. perfect as they could and their pipes set up the best they could be. During my time on the course we did a team building exercise called The day of the Play Off was one of ‘Tartan Tasks’ this is where you get the most nerve racking days in my The future of split into teams and are sent out piping career, with a judging panel piping in the around Edinburgh with a list of including two of the most Corps is looking different tasks to complete. respected civilian judges there are bright! These tasks included getting a and the old Director of Army picture inside the home of Bagpipe Music. They would judge Scottish Rugby, Murrayfield you on your performance and give Stadium, a picture with a famous you your final grade for the course. person and a picture with a Twenty eight weeks of hard work famous canon known as Monns would whittle down to a 30 minute Meg. performance to gain the best grade possible. The highland dancing was good fun as none of us had ever done it before. The final assessment went well for It was funny watching everyone try everyone on the course and we received and get the steps learnt for the dance our final grades. I was over the moon to exam, and you have to learn 3 different find out I had gained a Distinction in my dances. Each dance has a different number theory, music writing and history with an of steps to them in a different order so took average of 99% over 20 tests and an ‘A’ for my some time to learn. practical which overall rewarded me with Top Student on the biggest Pipe Majors course in 16 years! Before we went on Christmas leave we were given the tunes we had to learn to play for our pass off parade at the This course will also be memorable for me not only because end of the course. We were also issued with our drums at of how rewarding it was but because I became a Dad for the this stage so once we’d learnt a tune we could then play it on second time while there! the drum and try and make it sound the way it’s meant to, which is harder than it sounds as some of the lads couldn’t Class 2 Pipers Course - by LCpl Scott Adams place soft, all they seem to want to do was try and pop the drum skin. I started my class 2 course in January this year and it hugely developed my piping. It consisted of taking the class 3 piper Once we came back from Christmas leave we only had 3 who is a basic band player to a solo player who can play on months to get everything off properly. The second half of the their own in front of an audience, and to set up your bagpipes course went in a blur, and in no time it was time to pass out ready for a performance. My first couple of weeks consisted as a class 3 trained drummer. I really look forward to getting on strengthening my fingers and learning the start of the back with the band and taking my place in the Drum Corps. tunes as well as a theory every Friday to confirm our development knowledge of music. Halfway through the The Pipes and Drums are always recruiting experienced and course we had a mid-course exam which included playing in learner pipers, drummers and highland dancers, both Regular front of the Director Army Bagpipe Music which really made and Reserve. Further details are available by contacting: me nervous but was passed with flying colours. Email [email protected] The finale of the course was the final play off, which had the Phone: 07788 396381 same format as the mid-course exam but to a far higher Webpage http://www.army.mod.uk/signals/24990.aspx standard. A lot of hard work saw me through this and it was Facebook via the official Royal Corps of Signals page
14 [email protected] RSBF Inspiration Station - #Fundraising Challenge
oyal Sign R als B en ev RS olent Fund BF
‘£1 million to Signallers in need in the past three years’
In the past three years we’ve granted almost £1 million to signallers in need; that’s close to £1,000 a day helping The Corps family. This includes serving and retired signallers and their dependants, who are in need, hardship or distress including the homeless, premature babies, veterans, the elderly, young families, the bereaved, those with limited income, with physical, psychological or emotional needs.
Sustaining help and support means we very much rely on our fabulous fundraisers and donors, including Legacy donors; their generosity enables us to continue to provide timely help via grants to those in need.
What can you do?
Some units and RSA branches fundraise on a regular basis, others hold an event or two annually - it all helps.
Help us to help others!
'Charity begins at home.'
For fundraising ideas take a look at our Inspiration Station: Following a medical recommendation https://royalsignals.org/rsbf/inspiration-station/ the RSBF helped fund a bike to aid this signaller's recovery and rehabilitation For fundraising tips visit: https://royalsignals.org/rsbf/fundraising-tips/
If you want to find out more about what we do and how you can help see: https://royalsignals.org/rsbf
If you are organising or would like to organise a Charity fundraising event for The RSBF contact Sandra Hutchinson: [email protected] Tel: 01258 482819
We don’t do casework but If you, or someone you know, needs benevolence support we can signpost you, so you can get the help you need.
Contact Linda Sizeland: [email protected] Tel: 01258 482089
Veteran Deano ran the London marathon and raised more than £7,000 for the RSBF thanks to the generosity of his sponsors who pledged £3,500+ and the awesome 4Com foundation which then matched the amount pledged
JUNE 2017 15 News from Formations
CO Brig R Anderton-Brown DCO Col R Maybery QGM COS Lt Col A Lucas DCOS Maj J Mayne SM WO1 S Tomblin
Exercise ROMAN RESPONSE 17 - by Maj B L Addison
In April, HQ 11 Sig & WM Bde conducted Ex ROMAN RESPONSE 17, an internally validated Mission Rehearsal Exercise (MRX) to confirm that as a Regional Point of Command (RPOC) we continue to be able to respond, plan and conduct a UK Operation in support of civil agencies within the West Midlands. Bde Plans Team at HQ receive Comd's direction in real time The MRX drew upon significant numbers of personnel from both civil agencies and military units from around the West The exercise was a great success through the use of Midlands to add complexity and friction in equal measure to ambitious and challenging scenarios allowing HQ 11 Sig & WM the scenario of flooding that threatened to submerge Bde staff to fully exercise both its Ops and Plans teams in downtown Burton upon Trent. response to an ever evolving situation whilst trialling staff working procedures. The exercise started with a series of briefings on UK Resilience in general and specific briefs on flooding and flood HQ 11 Sig & WM Bde is already planning for its assured MRX in prevention from both civilian and military specialists before 2018 and putting in place the necessary training events to moving into a two day execution phase. maintain its readiness in support of UK Operations.
As part of the MRX we explored how Microsoft 365 can be Exercise ROMAN SKI fully exploited in a UK Ops environment in order to provide greater situational awareness and improve communications Eight Staff from 11 Signal and West Midlands Brigade were on a dispersed C2 model. The trial proved to be a great lucky enough to embark on Ex ROMAN SKI at La Thuile in success and allowed staff to understand the potential that Northern Italy. The resort lies astride the Franco/Italian Microsoft 365 will bring when HQ 11 Sig & WM Bde migrates border and both Mt Blanc and the Matterhorn can be seen fully to MODNET later in the year. from the higher slopes on the resort. There are also fascinating ruins of high altitude Italian army billets built The trialling of a deployed Bde Forward HQ in support of the during WW2 and abandoned at the end of the war. Bde Commander at the Strategic Command Group (SGC), The group was instructed by Capt Ruth Allan and the though initially challenging, was a great success in providing a candidates were drawn from the Multi Cap badged Staff realistic model of how it could work for real. It demonstrated how to conduct an estimate at pace whilst the Commander is forward gathering and shaping the information in support of the SCG.
Brig Anderton-Brown sketches out his effects schematic at Bde Fwd on Surface Hub
16 [email protected] Officers from Brigade HQ. Capt Allan worked hard throughout to improve the levels of fitness and ability in the cohort that was on the whole a very capable group of skiing enthusiasts. The team carried out avalanche drills with Lt Col Guy Chambers leading the way in digging snow holes and locating victims of avalanches. We also covered Nordic and cross country skiing where Maj Paul Humphrey was to excel. The Après-ski was first class with the team being lucky enough to watch the 6 Nations Rugby match between Italy and England. The bar was full of Scotland supporters who were gleeful at the Italian score line at halftime. They were not so jolly at full time!
The whole exercise was a great success very much due to the hard work of the exercise author Maj Malcolm Hill and we hope to revisit La Thuile in 2018.
Exercise RESERVE CHALLENGE
The Reserve Employer Engagement Team ran an excellent Reserve Challenge event at Nesscliffe training area in early April 2017. The exercise is designed to provide an exciting and competitive leadership event, and a framework in which to encourage team leaders, managers and executives from businesses in the West Midlands area to be informed and educated about the Reserves; these individuals are either ‘high value’ potential recruits or the future gate keepers for Army Reserve recruiting. By the end of the two day exercise, all participants will have gained some valuable leadership ‘nuggets’ that can be utilised in their civilian working lives, and be fully aware of the skills needed to be a leader in the Reserves. ROYAL VACANCY SIGNALS MUSEUM Blandford
01258 482160
MUSEUM ATTENDANT
We are looking to appoint a museum attendant. This is a key member of the Curatorial Team responsible for the appearance, maintenance and physical security of objects on display and in storage. An important aspect of the job includes Health and Safety and related matters.
For more information please see the Museum website or phone Paulina Gordon on the number above.
Registered Charity 1133304 Registered Company 06460179 Registered Charity 1133304 www.royalsignalsmuseum.co.uk
JUNE 2017 17
by OCdt Bennett
xercise LIGHTNING STRIKE was a fantastic opportunity to experience what the Royal ECorps of Signals are all about. Going to school in Blandford but coming from a non-military background and being a Mod Alpha I had no idea what the Royal Corps of Signals did or what to expect from the weekend. I was amazed at how many different roles there are within the Corps and by the huge breadth of opportunities available.
It was a very enjoyable day with many challenging stands, from the log race to making a (hopefully) functioning fibre optic cable; it really gave a taste of what you could do if you joined the Signals. Our first stand was the log race, it was very challenging and required a huge amount of determination but also team work. Another stand that really stood out for me was navigating a car around a series of traffic cones, but the catch was that only one person could direct and everyone else including the driver was blindfolded. It was a great exercise because everyone had to trust that one person giving directions and we all had to work as a team to push the car around the course. We were also lucky enough to have the opportunity for some target practice with rifles that had been loaded with paintball rounds which was very exciting and definitely a highlight for me.
The exercise was concluded with a brilliant obstacle course, and then a great chance to shed the mud and dress up for a delicious mess dinner.
© Photography by Mike Williams The Royal Signals Motorcycle Display Team 2017 by LCpl Dayne Ryan
2017 Final Season Training Camp
Despite the news that the team will disband after the 2017 season, it has continued to show its class and professionalism in its march into this its final and 90th year. We begin by welcoming two new riders in the form of Cpl Paul Day and Signaller Luke Timmins who arrived late January and two returning members, Signaller Simon Sumpter and Cpl Robert Hitchmough to join the rest of the team in preparation for this year’s training camp, held at Dalton Barracks, Oxfordshire. With six weeks of tough, physical training on the unforgiving undulating terrain of Dalton Airfield the team were put through its paces to quickly get back up to the high standards set the previous year. Being headed by our Chief Instructor Cpl Adam Huber and Chief Mechanic Cpl Mal Cooper the new riders were quickly integrated into the team and shown the ropes by the current experienced members, both showing a solid aptitude for display riding as they got to grips with exactly how the team goes about doing its job in the long build-up towards the 2017 opening show on April 8.
As the weeks of training camp went on the team improved its skill set and showed exactly why it was the longest serving display team in the world. Even with the strongest of efforts of Storm Doris the team still got the job at hand done and dusted with the opening show just round the corner.
Photo by Basia Howard-Harwood
20 [email protected] Opening Show off with the incredible sight of the famous 6-bike fan sailing around the With the sun shining on the arena for what could be the final time morning of 8 April everything in glorious fashion. Once the show was looking promising for the was complete it was time to head opening show later that day. to the after function and awards A few pre-show jitters from ceremony. The award for Best First the two new riders started to Year Rider was presented to Cpl creep in but a firm reassuring Paul Day, the Riders Rider Award from the existing team ensured was given to LCpl Grant Fraser, and the two entered the day with finally the presentation of the most vigour and a strong sense of self prestigious award the Eldon Trophy, belief befitting that of the team named after Cpl Paul ‘Ely’ Eldon itself. Once again it prepared to who tragically passed away on the show exactly what it was famous way to a show in August 1997. This for and why it takes, courage, is presented to those who have discipline, respect for others, given the most to the team over the integrity, loyalty, and selfless course of the season and this year’s commitment. All the key values presentation went to Cpl Adam of a soldier, to be a strong Huber, and was made by Cpl Eldon’s functioning member of the mother Mrs Pat Barnfield and sister team as all 23 members worked Mrs Judith Whatley, as a mark of together to give a historic and respect to show the true prestige memorable display. the team past and present hold this award in. All in all a fantastic day As per the previous 89 years, enjoyed by all involved and a great the opening show roared way to start the 2017 season. into life as the bikes entered the arena to the sound of Photo by Phil Osment The first couple of weeks after the applause from the hundreds of opening show involved the team fans in attendance, some who taking trips to both Lytham St Anne had travelled the length of the in the Northwest for the St George’s country just to witness what Day Festival and somewhere slightly would be the final presentation more local at the Abbey Hill Steam of the famous White Helmets Rally over in Yeovil. We have had to the new members. Midway a fantastic reception from all through the show after crowds in attendance and the team demonstrating the key skills continues to give a great account on a motorcycle, including the for itself showing that despite the traditional fire jump with the teams disbandment at the end of OC, Capt Jon McLelland leading the season, nothing will deter their the line first through the flames professionalism and pride as both both Cpl Paul Day and Signaller riders and soldiers as they continue to Luke Timmins were awarded their wow the public up and down the country with dazzling White Helmets, culminating in huge applause from both displays and eye catching performances. The season's families, friends, and ex-team members bearing the fruits highlight will undoubtedly be another visit to the Isle of over two months of hard training all leading up to this of Man for the TT races just around the corner in June, moment. The rest of the show retained the standard of when the team will show exactly why they are as famous its predecessors, showing a high level of skill, finishing as they are.
JUNE 2017 21 News from Regiments 1st SIGNAL REGIMENT STAFFORD
CO Lt Col PRD Muir MBE To finish the trip we were fortunate enough to spend the day RSM WO1 (RSM) D Corcoran in Rome before catching our flight home. Many miles were walked with so much culture to explore and so many things Exercise PREMIER STUDY - by LCpl Taylor to see.
Ex PREMIER STUDY was a great opportunity to deploy to Anzio, Italy to conduct a Battlefield Study (BS) of Op SHINGLE, the Anzio landings in the Italian theatre or operations during WW2.
The team discovering Rome
Maj Fielding at Peter Beach teaching the group about the After having deployed on Ex PREMIER STUDY I feel that I planning, logistics, terrain, momentum and the surprise of the have gained far greater knowledge and appreciation for what landings happened not just on the beaches of Anzio but also the Italian Campaign, North African Campaign and WW2 as a whole. The After a day of familiarising ourselves with the area and intensity of fighting, destruction and casualty’s when put into exploring the local culture, day 2 started with a visit to perspective are truly staggering. It is easy to see and read Nettuno Museum then onto Peter Beach. From here we such history as just that but the freedom we have now as moved to Anzio harbour for phase 2 where WO2 both soldiers and civilians to go about our daily lives without Horsborough’s syndicate taught us about the strategic understanding the challenges of those who fought and died corporal and mission command. on those frontiers is poignant.
The day ended with a visit to Museo Dello Sbarco di Anzio. Exercise MERCURY SNOW RIDER - by LCpl Warren Here we were briefed by the museum staff and watched a film about the British landings and the breakout. “By far the best two weeks of my Army career”. This was the unanimous thought of everybody from 1 Sig Regt who attended this adventure in Austria. As someone with only two weeks of experience on a board, I was not entirely sure what to expect. From the outset however I was pleasantly surprised by the slick combination of both professionalism and fun. The amount of time and effort put in by the management was obvious in every aspect.
Hosted in Rauris, Austria, we arrived in the sleepy village with the sun shining, our boards waxed and morale soaring, even after a journey that took us the best part of 24 hours.
Our first two days were spent getting to grips with the basics; at this point the novice riders found out to their surprise that learning to snowboard for the first time is essentially just getting assaulted by a mountain. The intermediate and advanced groups were then sorted into ability groups in a Day 3 saw WO2 Gibson setting the scene in the town of Aprilla, tense ‘ride off’ where we were judged by the organising team which still bears the remnants of the urban warfare of WW2 and our Ripstar instructors, otherwise known as ‘Rippies’.
22 [email protected] The first week consisted of lessons with everyone being given every chance I get to do more snowboarding with the Army their own individual points to work on, and the level of and I highly encourage everybody else to do the same, you progression was like nothing I had ever seen or experienced. won’t regret it! It was during this first week we unfortunately suffered our first casualty, whilst trailblazing through a half-pipe LCpl Andrew McCormick broke his wrist and was led-by-sled off the slopes to hospital and was sadly unable to board for the rest of the trip. Other more minor injuries were gained by myself and most others as we struggled to keep up with our ‘Rippies’.
The team on Exercise MERCURY SNOW RIDER
Regimental Birthday - by Sig Maggs
1 Sig Regt celebrated its second birthday in style last month. The Regt split into 6 teams and were all battling it out through a series of demanding challenges that tested everybody’s physical and mental robustness.
The instant classic of the egg and spoon race, the fast pace LCpl McCormick still smiling! action of a gun run, a brutish Man SV pull, all tested the participants on the day. Each task awarded the teams We all put our best foot forward (quite literally) as we fought ingredients that would help bake a cake. through fresh powder, hard ice and over crazy jumps, everyone with big grins across their faces the whole time. We tackled every kind of weather condition that the Austrian mountains had to offer, be it low visibility, blizzards, or unforgiving ice in the blazing sun, we all kept racing through, occasionally passing by each other and shouting a quick hello before rushing off again. After a picnic at lunchtime to compare stories, and a final run as a team at the end of the day’s session we would meet at the bottom and return to our accommodation, a fantastic hotel named the Andrelwirt. Our host Lukey could not have been more accommodating and he obviously enjoys having us stay each year (and the bar takings that come with it).
Our second week in Rauris came far too quickly, I had come a long way within a week, and I couldn’t thank my instructor enough for that but still, nerves were high. There were 3 events to compete in: a Slalom race, a freestyle competition Intense cake baking getting under way (basically throwing yourself off a massive jump and trying to make it look cool) and a boarder-cross race. The thrills and On completion of the challenges the teams were sent away to spills at each event were fantastic, the music boomed whilst bake their cake! Each team split down into a group of bakers, we sat in the sun and shouted as our friends and colleagues a group of builders and a group that provided power to the gave their all, reaching speeds well beyond what I thought oven! The bakers went off to bake their cake, whilst the possible without an engine! Of our beginners there were builders gathered the material they needed to build a Go Kart some tremendous efforts made by our own LCpl Chris and the final group were put through a rigorous circuit under ‘Chrispy’ Hinton and LCpl Rebecca Adams, great fun was had the enthusiastic PTIs. by all, I myself could barely sit still whilst waiting for my turn to compete. The cake had been baked and so it was time for the final challenge of the day, transporting the cake in an epic Go Sadly our visit had to come to an end, and after two fantastic Karting race around the hangars and SHQ building whilst weeks of snow and adrenaline we returned home, again being pelted by eggs. braving the terrifying drive down the mountain, and probably for the best too, as I think our hotel was beginning to run out After the battle was fought and the war of sweat, blood and of Schnapps! Again, it was a long drive back, but I’m sure that cake mix was won our mighty warriors headed back to the everybody had the same thought on the trip home, and still blocks. Quick shower and change before being transported thinks it now, I know I do, “By far the best two weeks of my back to the lavishly decorated hangar for a night of fine drink, army career”. I can’t wait to put my name down again for good natured banter and even finer food.
JUNE 2017 23 The Regt’s birthday proved a massive success in terms of teamwork, friendship and good old fashioned British grit. It also proved another more poignant point, whatever hardships and challenges the 1 Sig Regt may face in the future, we will take them on with utter professionalism and stacks of humour. The CO judging the final cake products! But it wasn’t long before the first RTA!
Striving for victory on the home straight! The CO awarding the winning team the cup! ROYAL VOLUNTEERS WANTED. SIGNALS MUSEUM Blandford
01258 482267 www.royalsignalsmuseum.co.uk
The Royal Signals Museum is the showcase of Corps Ethos and Heritage. We rely on the generosity of our volunteers who give thousands of hours of time to the Museum each year. The staff and volunteers are currently updating our displays covering the last 20 years. This is enjoyable and rewarding but hard work and we need more volunteers to join the team. If you are interested in helping in the shop, greeting visitors, working in the archive or helping with exhibitions then we would love to hear from you.
The majority of our volunteers are ex-Royal Signals and find helping at the Museum a satisfying, enjoyable and worthwhile way to continue to support the Corps and meet old friends.
If you can help please email Nick Kendall-Carpenter : [email protected] or phone on the number above. Registered Charity 1133304 Registered Company 06460179 Registered Charity 1133304
24 [email protected] 2nd SIGNAL REGIMENT YORK
CO Lt Col CJ Lewin MBE RSM WO1 J McMahon
SUPPORT SQUADRON
OC Maj J Lawer SSM WO2 C Chilvers
Exercise YORVIK THUNDER- CT1 Training 13-17 Feb 17 - by SSgt Simpson
With a suitable gap identified in the calendar, it was time for ES Troop to undertake their CT1 Training in preparation for the year ahead. Due to the Troops demanding schedule of courses, STCD tasks and support to other units, this was a great opportunity to undertake a week of good quality low level in-barracks training.
Owing to the diverse cross section of ES Troop, it was decided LCpl’s Bruce and Mates working hard to re-establish comms the best way to deliver the training would be by going ‘back (UK-PRC iPhone 6 out of sight) to basics’. This would give everybody within the Troop the chance to revise soldiering skills that they may not have Some of the highlights of the week’s training were lessons touched since completing PNCO and CLM courses. from the Training Wing and the Troops particularly enjoyed being treated to the keenness for ‘all things Military training’ Day 1 was an opportunity for the SNCO’s within the Troop to by Sgt Walker, who delivered instruction on Fire Control pass on their experience and ‘tips and tricks’ to the more Orders, Basic Patrolling, Harbour Drills, 6 Section Battle Skills junior members of the Troops. Though basic, all members of and Section Attacks. All-in-all a great day’s revision for those the Troop were given 2 hours to go back to their room and that will be going on to become Section Commander and 2IC’s prepare for a possible deployment out into the field. On on the forthcoming CT2 Sqn training camp. returning, and with various degrees of success, Sgt Turnbull asked each person to show what they had packed, how they In summary, the opportunity for ES Troop to get together and packed it and explain why they felt it was needed. Overall complete some low level Mil training had its obvious benefits. this was done to a good standard, but we are still alarmed by ‘Back to basics’ was definitely the right approach to take and the fact that one member of the Troop had a pink ‘I love you’ hopefully benefitted all who attended, especially the soldiers mug within their webbing! who are due to attend PNCO and CLM course in the coming months.
214 SIGNAL SQUADRON
OC Maj D Whitworth SSM WO2 J Sheehan
214 Sig Sqn’s main focus over the past month has been on providing support to CIS TDU’s BCIP 5.6 trial programme in Blandford. Those involved have worked hard to meet a tight testing schedule but have also gained valuable trade knowledge and experience.
The rest of the Sqn – with the exception of those deployed in BFSAI, BATUK or on other commitments were busy organising this year’s Race the Sun. Sgt Lambert and his enthusiastic audience! BCIP 5.6 Trials – Blandford Camp - by LCpl Wiles The ‘back to basics’ theme continued throughout the week and we revisited the basic signalling skills that are often On 20 Feb members of 2 Sig Regt began the pacex ahead of overlooked by utilising our man pack PRC 354’s & 355’s to the long journey to Blandford for the BCIP 5.6 uplift trials. refresh our voice procedure skills and revise our The pacex’s aim was to make sure that the 26 vehicles were understanding of factors that can affect radio 100% ready for the trials, with specific care to ensure all UDTs communications. The training mainly featured CS Engineers and radios were in top working order. All members of 214 Sig which obviously descended into a practical demonstration of Sqn were made available for the task and, with help from the use of secondary data comms, after an unexpected failure both 219 Sig Sqn and 246 Gurkha Sig Sqn, the week went to establish comms on the primary means. smoothly and with minimal problems.
JUNE 2017 25 On 26 Feb, all vehicles were lined up and CS engineers have varied tasks. Some of ready for the 7 hour journey south, with these are BPIS related including the renowned MAN SV (unfortunately inspections, earth bonding tests, general restricted to 55mph) taking the lead. fault finding and rectification and working Later, with everyone exhausted but having in R&I. There is also an Information safely arrived, we were shown to our Systems (IS) aspect. These include tasks accommodation and left to prepare for such as network administration, hardware the trial’s start in the morning. configuration, as well as providing first line support across BATUK for IS issues. The trial began on Mon 27 Feb. All CS Engineers also deploy alongside the members of the trial team, including Battlegroups, providing and managing members of General Dynamics and the systems for internet services as well as host troop, 15 Sig Regt’s CIS TDU, were general engineering support. briefed on what to expect during the trials. Information was also given about CS Operators main roles are as what the new equipment and software Detachment Commanders and to carry offered, including that the new COT out Level 1 maintenance on their Dets. manpack UDT is now to be issued – They also deploy on exercise when something the whole team were happy needed, operating in EXCON as well as about. On 6 Mar all detachments were setting up and operating RRB’s. The lone fitted with new BNAUs and UDTs (with LCpl Niraj deep in testing Installation Technician is responsible for new and improved touch screens and the cabling infrastructure across BATUK, mouse ability). For the most part, the and is here to maintain and facilitate week went smoothly and with minimal delays; some delays further expansions as and when is needed. couldn’t be helped due to software issues, however Sig ‘can’t use a stopwatch’ Ison also decided to put a spanner in the Although this sounds like a lot of work, there is still time to do works when he “accidentally” missed timings on not 1 but 2 other activities. Recently there was a charity event organised separate serials. Luckily, this issue was easily rectified. by CIS where we bought supplies for a local village that is currently struggling to get enough food. This is due to the On 20 Mar the trials team had a visit from 2 Sig Regt’s CO, drought last year, made worse by another this year. All of CIS Lt Col Lewin MBE. The CO visited numerous detachments visited the village of Umande to distribute the supplies we across Blandford Camp and the surrounding area, receiving had purchased. Once this was done we then spent time positive feedback from the CS Ops on their experiences. talking to the local villagers, getting a better understanding of the hardships they are currently enduring and improving The trials will continue until 5 Apr and until that time all 2 Sig relations between us. Regt personnel will continue to test and give feedback on all aspects of the new BCIP programme. You can also spend the weekends in Nairobi, which is completely different to rural Kenya and is more like being in a 219 SIGNAL SQUADRON city in the UK. As well as this, there are safaris to go on, adventure training, national parks to visit and much more. OC Maj I Ahsan Just this weekend a few of us visited Fairmont Mount Kenya SSM WO2 N Grainger Safari where we went for lunch. While you eat, peacocks are allowed to roam around. We soon discovered that LCpl My Time In BATUK - by LCpl Dudley Mercer has a bird phobia as one decided to steal food off our table. Luckily a small child came to his rescue and chased the I arrived in Kenya on 6 Jan 17 to join BATUK. After landing late bird away. and spending the night in Nairobi (BATUK Rear) we set off at midday to move up to Nanyuki (BATUK Main), where I would Working in BATUK is a truly unique opportunity. There is work be working for the next six months. Later that evening we to be done, but in your own time it is a country you can arrived at Nanyuki Showground where we were promptly experience and enjoy. shown to our accommodation. We settled in to enjoy what was left of the weekend before starting work on Monday Laikipia County Community Engagement Afternoon morning. - by LCpl Macdonald
Monday morning soon came and first up was PT. Due to the On Wednesday 8 Mar, personnel from the BATUK CIS heat and altitude in Nanyuki (1947m above sea level) you Department working in Nanyuki, along with locally employed spend the first two weeks on an acclimatisation program. This civilian (LEC) counterparts, travelled to Umande village in consists of a series of runs and walks designed to adapt your Laikipia County to give out food to those in need as a result of body, so you get used to training with a thinner oxygen widespread drought. LCpl McDowell collected donations supply. At first I didn’t really buy into the idea that from everyone in the department and this was used to acclimatisation was needed as I had been feeling fine. But purchase essential foods, including rice, beans and bread to during my first run, and feeling like I was about to lose a lung, give to the villagers. I soon realised that the altitude made a big difference. When we arrived we were met by the elder women of the The working week in BATUK is very similar to working in a village, as well as the Area Assistant Administrator. A few normal unit for the most part. The main difference is the work speeches were made and we were all very amused when one load. With the second largest Bowman fleet in the British of our LECs ‘Teddy’, called up Lt Goldsbury to give a final Army there is a lot to do. opening address without any prior warning!
26 [email protected] Whilst some of us distributed the food, others had brought non-other than the current WBC International Feather Weight sweets and chocolate and went into the nursery building to Champion ‘The Leeds Warrior’ Josh Warrington. give some to the children. The children were very happy, some stuffing their pockets with whatever they could get All of the bouts were closely contested with excellent displays their hands on - but I can imagine the nursery supervisor of boxing and technique which was a credit to their Head didn’t appreciate us providing them with all that excess sugar! Coach SSgt Alun Mousley. Overall the attributes expected of Overall it was a very humbling experience: the community a soldier and leader was shown by all boxers. It takes had suffered much hardship as the drought that hit last year courage to step into a ring and fight in front of your peers meant that they had almost no harvest, and the lack of rain is and discipline and determination to dedicate yourself both still extending into this year. with fitness and diet, which are the demands of this sport. Due to our Regt being on tasking’s worldwide many of our The locals were extremely grateful and I have no doubt that soldiers were deployed, so some of the boxers found community engagement events like this really do save lives. themselves going head to head with their work colleagues of After we had given out the food and received copious thanks the same Sqn. This never deterred the spirit and passion they and blessings, the elderly women put the heavy bags on their all had nor their respect for each other. The competition was backs with straps around their heads and made their way of a different nature to the Inter-Squadron Competitions we back to their homes. I hope I’m still that strong at their age. all love to see, this night was about team cohesion and as so, there was a shared sense of triumph, although 219 (my Sqn) did have most winners.
Bouts and results for the evening can be seen below:
Bout Winner 1 -Sig Pratap Gurung Vs Sig Sampso By unanimous decision: Sig Pratap Gurung 2 - LCpl Amar Gurung Vs LCpl By unanimous decision: Mabin Gurung LCpl Mabin Gurung 3 - Cpl Robinson Vs Cpl McCewan By TKO: Cpl Robinson 4 - LCpl Rawsthorne Vs Capt By split decision: McCabe LCpl Rawsthorne 5 - LCpl Bachan Gurung Vs LCpl By unanimous decision: McCarter LCpl McCarter 6 - Sig Marchington Vs Sgt Boon By unanimous decision: The detachments handing out food and supplies Sgt Boon 7 - LCpl Love Vs Sgt Hardy By split decision: 2 Signal Regiment Boxing Competition - by LCpl Purdon Sgt Hardy 8 - LCpl Camiss Vs Sig McCutcheon By unanimous decision; The Inter Squadron Boxing Competition is one of the many Sig McCutcheon highlights within the 2 Sig Regt sporting calendar. In total there were 8 scheduled bouts for the evening on Wednesday 1 March, compromising of four Sqns; 214 Sig Sqn, 219 Sig Sqn, Additional awards went to, Cpl Robinson, Best Boxer (Sp Sqn) 246 Sig Sqn and Sp Sqn. The event was very kindly sponsored and the most Gallant boxer of the evening was LCpl by Motif8, Henrys Gym (York) and Silver Lady. Our VIP guests Rawsthorne, (219 Sqn). The boxing team of 2 Sig Regt now for the evening were Kerry Kayes, co-founder of CNP and eagerly looks forward to the Corps Champs in April.
The Regimental team at the boxers’ breakfast
JUNE 2017 27 246 GURKHA SIGNAL SQUADRON on the testing of FALCON Local Area System. The main aim of the week was to successfully make a Falcon voice call OC Maj P Whillis between installations via a black fibre link. The following SSM WO2 Gopal Krishna Saru week progressed on to Falcon voice test via Falcon radios. All the installations were deployed on the back-field area Exercise KHUKURI THUNDER 1 (06 – 24 FEB 17) establishing the Wide Area network as per the deployed - by LCpl Basanta Falcon plan. The week also incorporated the lessons on erecting Falcon masts by LCpl Mahesh and LCpl Niraj. As Storm Doris continues to batter England with rain, snow Throughout the PACEX numerous faults and issues were and up to 90 mph wind, Island troop were battling to save encountered, which indeed was a very good opportunity for the 12 x 12 tent from being blown away by any means the guys to dig deep and learn more while resolving the possible. Surprisingly we were feeling ourselves fortunate by issues. The enthusiasm to learn and the team work ethic was just wondering the state of Kowloon troop who were situated clearly visible throughout from every individual involved. This at the hill top, suffering double the impact we were coupled with good coordination saw a successful completion experiencing. This might be the reason why whoever named of the PACEX phase. the exercise named it Ex KHUKURI THUNDER 1 (KT 1). Ex KT 1 was a 246 Gurkha Sig Sqn (GSS) CT1/2 level communication exercise with deployment to Catterick Training Area (CTA) from 20 - 24 Feb 17. The main aims of the ex were to develop the Sqn’s role in establishing and maintaining a robust Falcon network in any future taskings and to refresh returning BFSAI personnel with Sqn equipment and establish the practical skills to complete CT2.
Never had the Sqn before ran a comms exercise on this scale since we took over the Falcon installations from 219 Sig Sqn. This was a very good opportunity throughout the ranks to revise and hone their Falcon knowledge and skills, especially for the lads returning from BFSAI tour. The planning phase started straight after the Christmas stand-down. LCpl Basanta took the lead on Falcon planning with assistance from Cpl Milan and Cpl Roshan. Since 7 x Falcon installations were to be deployed in 6 different locations, with each installation establishing at least 2 x RF shot, the planning Sgt Jimee dishing out orders to the Troops phase was very critical. Since the ex was a CT1 level much of the direction and guidance during the planning phase was With this success on hand, all installation commanders were received from the troop heads. SSgt Pramod's and SSgt Raj's confident with their kit and skills for the main exercise phase. experiences and knowledge played a vital role on the On Mon 20 Feb, all three troops- Island, Sekkong and successful accomplishment of the planning phase. Kowloon among their respective convoys successfully deployed on their pre-recced locations around Catterick Trg area. The use of mobile phones was strictly prohibited throughout the ex. Alternatively, Bowman VHF manpack was used initially in engineering the link. With the Line of Sight (LOS) quality of the Falcon radio, establishing the radio links proved to be the main problem during the ex. The importance of the tilter on RFU was so apparent during this ex that on one occasion, after spending 3 hours doing heights and gain between two installations sited in different heights, mounting the tilter resolved the issue straight away, thanks to the expert suggestion from SSgt Pramod. CO and RSM 2 Sig Regt paid a visit on the second day to the exlocations just after ex FOC was met. CO 2 Sig Regt, Lt Col CJ Lewin MBE shared her experiences during her time on Ptarmigan trunk system and tasked us on making a guidebook consisting of day to day Falcon essentials such as procedures, techniques and SOPs that can help everyone working with the FALCON system. RSM WO1 J McMahon on the other hand joked how Early morning sunrise while setting up antennas he used to bill anyone losing the kit during his time as QM Tech and even shared with us the price of a single FALCON The ex officially kicked off on 6 Feb with PACEX. Needless to mast being around 18 grand. say, the success of any comms ex depends on the success during the PACEX phase which became very apparent on this Moments after the visitors left the ex locations all were ex. Not only does it test and confirm the capability of the ordered to lower the mast down in its nest position as Storm equipment it also lets an individual learn, share and improve Doris was already upon us and getting worse every minute. their knowledge and skills in an easy environment. In fact, 2 Every available hand was required to lower the mast with guy weeks prior the ex was allocated for the PACEX phase only ropes flying everywhere and masts tilting in the wind. The which usually used to be just a week on previous comms ex. situation worsened in a matter of an hour. Thanks to Sgt The first week was a preparatory week with the focus being Prakash who recced the location of the Island troop that we
28 [email protected] day but that never shattered our morale, as we were doing it to earn and retain the goodwill of local people. Sqn 2IC Capt Vishal Pun sahib visited us and explained about the impact the lock had on the prosperity of York City and also the importance of our project.
Our extensive work began with trimming down the trees with the use of our khukuris, shears and saws. 246 GSS post exercise We removed moss covered stones and got to sleep inside a building rather than a tent with no discarded bricks clearing guarantee of it lasting that night. The next morning the land with the use of shovels and forks. Working as a well- unsurprisingly, news of losses and damages started to spread oiled machine, our efficient across the Sqn with the main one being the 18m mast, or like team offloaded the waste in the RSM alluded to an 18 grand mast broken into few pieces. wheelbarrows throughout the Cpl Yam (the caretaker of the mast) was of course not very afternoon. Naomi Roberts pleased with Storm Doris and when joking about his link, he from the local York Press suggested the only way is to climb up the tree and put the newspaper came to appreciate coax on the antenna stuck on top of the tree. Later as the our work for the community wind started to die down Kowloon and Island troop and took lots of pictures. I had installations were moved to new locations. The links were an opportunity to take a short reengineered with the same configurations but this time interview with her describing much sooner. This clearly demonstrated how the previous what a privilege it was for us few days had helped us in refining the skills and to be serving the community. understanding the importance of EOW call, use of tilter and The day got even better when height and gain procedures. OC Sqn Maj Paul Whillis, WO2 (SSM) Gopal and SSgt (SQMS) Overall Ex KT 1 was a very successful ex despite the Saindra arrived to help us in horrendous weather. All deployed personnel came away our task. from the ex with a better understanding of Falcon systems in one way or another. Lastly, LCpl Bhuwan organised Cpl Ishwor posing for the a mini barbeque for all the media Naburn Sensory Garden - by Cpl Ishwor fatigued participants. The boost in morale was significant after a stomach full of On 3 March, a team from 246 Gurkha Sig Sqn, 2 Sig Regt GSS delicious barbeque. The task was simple indeed but the headed out to Naburn Lock five miles south of York to assist rewards it will bring to the people with disabilities of York and the Canal and River Trust in building a sensory garden for local its surrounding areas are going to be immense. The people with dementia. The team consisted of 13 members tranquillity and serenity of the location is now further from the Squadron and was led by Cpl Ishwor Pun. enhanced. With further planned renovation works still to be carried out, I am sure the finished Naburn sensory garden will Naburn Lock was built in the sixteenth century, heralding a be a place of sanctuary and peace for all to enjoy. new spate of shipbuilding at York. It was the first lock to be built in York which enabled larger sea going vessels to navigate York’s rivers, massively increasing the size of the trade. However, the arrival of the railways in the nineteenth century led to the decline in York’s water-borne trade. The lock is now mostly preserved for tourism and leisure. It is also used as a popular caravan and camping site.
The garden at Naburn Lock is mostly aimed for the elderly people with dementia to enjoy. It will also be part of a wider site makeover that will include a nature trail and it will transform and enhance the natural surroundings around the lock.
We arrived at the site around 0900hrs where Tom, the site manager gave us a warm welcome. Everyone was taken aback by the sheer beauty of the lock and its surroundings. Our main task was to trim down unnecessary vegetation covering up the site. We knew we were in for a long tiring Jai QGS!!!!
JUNE 2017 29
3RD (UNITED KINGDOM) DIVISION SIGNAL REGIMENT, BULFORD
CO Lt Col J C Barber RSM WO1 K Mills
SUPPORT SQUADRON
OC Maj S Littlefield SSM WO2 C Shackleton
Exercise KIWI BEALY 17 - by LCpl Lippitt
It transpired that Brecon was fully booked so we had to look further afield to get our two adventure training Lt Spaven enjoying some R&R qualifications. Las Vegas, San Diego and Los Angeles turned out to be the ideal The stunning Zion National Park, location and free for reservations! Ex Utah KIWI BELAY saw personnel from across 3 (UK) DSR depart on a two week adventure training expedition in America, delivering Summer Mountain Foundation and Rock Climbing Foundation qualifications across two of the United Life at it's best States most picturesque national parks.
Week one of the expedition saw us enjoying the stunning scenery of Zion National Park, Utah, renowned for its breathtaking views, as well as its variety of challenging terrains. This was a perfect place to gain our summer mountaineering qualification as the difficulty of the hikes progressed each day. It’s variations in hiking difficulties was matched by its ability to go from scorching afternoons of 30 degree heat, to freezing nights and hail storms in the morning; not that we were put off, waking up to the sound of the river flowing past and tranquil silence in the middle of the forest was all worth it.
During the week we had the chance to explore Kolob Canyon and Angels Landing, an arduous hike at an altitude of 1765m, not for the faint hearted with its steep, sheer drops, equally matched with its views from the top. After the hikes of each day, we were rewarded with barbecues in the canyon itself, a well-deserved treat after walking up to 8 miles through the sand of the Utah desert.
After the intense progression from week one, we were all happy to leave our tents behind and check into our hotel in Twentynine palms, California. Having first enjoyed a well-earned night in Las Vegas, Nevada; we were ready for the second week of rock climbing in Joshua Tree National Park.
We were all looking forward to being introduced to our first climbing routes in Joshua Tree, even if a few of us were more anxious than excited. Day one of rock climbing saw us learning the safe practices of rock climbing to ensure we were all competent on knot tying, belaying and had confidence in our equipment.
As the week progressed, so did our confidence and our rock climbing abilities. The routes began to get more difficult and a lot higher, before all of us carried out a 30 foot abseil from the top of a climb, a fundamental part of achieving our qualification. Eventually, everyone managed to successfully pass their qualification in rock climbing, even if there were a few nerves with lead climbing on an indoor wall in San Diego on our last day.
With the adventure training complete, the last weekend saw us spending two nights in San Diego. With a few hours spare before our flight back from LAX, we headed to Santa Monica beach, exploring the pier and seeing the end of route 66. Along with the spectacular views throughout the expedition, these were my personal highlights of our time in the USA, an expedition that none of us will be forgetting any time soon.
202 SIGNAL SQUADRON Some fun in the Mediterranean during the AT stage of Ex TARIK PATROL OC Maj L Matthews SSM WO2 G Moffat
Sig Barr on Ex MERCURY SNOWRIDER, the Corps snowboarding championships
Training in urban combat during Ex TARIK PATROL in Gibraltar LCpl Hawkes tearing up the slopes on his way to finishing second in the novice category on Ex MERCURY SNOWRIDER
206 SIGNAL SQUADRON
OC Maj S Tucker SSM WO2 M Turner
Exercise KIWI BOOMERANG - by LCpl Harrison
Ex KIWI BOOMERANG, 2 weeks hiking through various routes in the Australian Blue Mountains for only £140 was an opportunity that couldn’t be missed. I mean LCpl Shahi, the parking at Heathrow would cost a civvY more than that! LCpl Harrison and Lt Hadfield on the It started with 25 hours of travelling to Sydney, heading then to Katoomba, West Grand Canyon Track of Sydney, to start what would be several day's off hiking and two overnight expeditions. LCpl Shahi, Pte The first route followed the Grand Canyon Track, a quick descent into a canyon Nyamekye, LCpl followed by winding track through lush prehistoric looking rainforest and many Welsh at the Summit dramatic water features, surrounded by high canyon walls. Ascending the with some fantastic canyon, we reached a lookout point providing an astounding view of the Blue views of the blue Mountains. mountains in the background Our first 3day expedition was the Mt Solitary and Kedumba Valley Circuit. Our first day consisted of the initial traverse through rainforest to our campsite just below the summit of Mt Solitary. The humidity was high and after looking down at our legs we came to realise we were snacks for the leeches living on the rainforest ground.
At sunrise, to our amazement, we discovered aboriginal paintings on a nearby rock face. The morning led to an ascent up the summit and after a sharp descent, River crossing!!! we entered an open field where we got a closer look at wild kangaroos.
Next we tackled a steep ascent to our second riverside campsite. The night ended with us replenishing our water and cooking food on an open fire. The final day was a push to the golden staircase. Exhausted, The team in Sydney we climbed the 900 cliffside steps to rise above the canopy. Many of the day hikers on their way down looked on us with pity, asking us about where we had been, offering encouragement which cheered our spirits. Upon reaching the top, we enjoyed a cold drink as we looked over the rainforest below.
Another expedition was through the Blue Gum Forest via Evans Lookout and Perrys Lookdown. At the end of the first day we set up camp and
JUNE 2017 31 headed down to the river. As daylight started to slip away we built a fire, using an old improvised shelter as dry fuel. oT our surprised a school of mountain guides turned up and we got chatting to their instructor. It transpired they had previously built this basha for the young trainee guides. The instructor was a very friendly and kind gentleman who stood and chatted to us about the rainforest unfortunately without realising that his basha was burning 5ft in the air on our camp fire the whole time, we all felt terribly guilty!
The following day the crack of lightning and flash of thunder led to the most severe downpour of rain I have ever seen. With water levels rapidly rising it became a slow and wet trudge, with a quick lesson delivered by the group leader on river crossings to finally reach the finish. It was such a relief to make it back up the canyon and to change into dry clothes.
The day after we all began our journey back to the UK. Ex KIWI BOOMERANG is a trip none of us will forget.
228 SIGNAL SQUADRON
OC Capt R Parkinson SSM WO2 S Riste The CO presenting a cheque to Salisbury Hospice for £928.76 following a lunchtime of fundraising
OC Sp Sqn enjoying some time out of the office on Ex 3DSR tucking into a curry, prepared by the KIWI SNOW, the Regt Ski Gurkha community within Bulford Camp, all to trip to Flaine in France raise money for the Nepal Earthquake Appeal and the Salisbury Hospice Charity
LCpl Basham striking a pose in the French Alps on Ex KIWI SNOW
32 [email protected] 10th SIGNAL REGIMENT CORSHAM
CO Lt Col S Irwin RSM WO1 (RSM) C Steers
Exercise TARIK PATROL 17 - by Capt (TOT) S Pritchard, RHQ , 10 Sig Regt
Ex TARIK PATROL 17 was a 10 Sig Regt led, six week, composite (including both Regular and Reservist personnel from units across 11 Sig & WM Bde) Sqn sized deployment to Gibraltar. The primary aim of the exercise was to back-fill the Royal Gibraltar Regiment, covering off their various security duties on the Rock, whilst they deploy to the UK on Ex JEBEL TARIK. In addition the Sqn conducted a round-robin of military training, challenge pursuits and civil engagement activities.
Military Training Phase - by LCpl Adams, 1 Tp JNCO, 251 Sig Sqn
This was a week long military skills phase which included a Cpl Coulman (2 Sig Regt) and LCpl Fletcher (16 Sig Regt) making range package (SA80, LSW and CQM shoots), basic tactics an assessment on the following attack lessons for the JNCOs and combat estimate and orders process lessons for the SNCOs, FIBUA training, tunnel warfare H hour arrived at 0500hrs and we were in position to enter training and the final attack. The tempo throughout this week the tunnel system. With rifles made ready we entered the gradually increased and coupled with longer working hours tunnel to see what the training team had in store for us. We and harder command appointments it became more and cleared one of the main tunnels named ‘The Great North more demanding. Road’ pushing through 4 enemy positions and clearing countless smaller tunnels along the way. We emerged bright We arrived at Buffadero Training Camp (BTC) early Sunday eyed and slightly sweaty ready to tab to the OBUA village for evening; the sun was setting over the Spanish mountains and phase two of the morning. We came under contact just provided enough light for us to make out the distant before we entered the village by a lone gunman who quickly Moroccan mountains across the sea. It was picturesque. retreated back to the safety of the village. We were contacted Following the announcement of Command appointments the again and the Tp spread out into fire positions under control night consisted of weapon and kit preparation for the of the OC, this allowed 1 Section to assault the first building following three days. Day 1 saw the troops firing various and allow the rest of the Tp to push through to take the rest shoots using the SA80 whilst the training team provided of the village. 30 minutes and 3 casualties later we had taken invaluable coaching. Concurrent activity was BCDT with an the majority of the village and ‘Endex’ was called. insight into casualty simulation. The troops were able to experience making fake blisters and simulating catastrophic Adventurous Training Phase - by Sgt Nugent, 2 Tp Sgt, bleeds. In the evening, lessons were delivered on basic field 71 Sig Regt craft and tactics. TARIK PATROL members took full advantage of the warm Day 2 consisted of lessons on tunnel warfare to prepare us for weather (well, warmer than the UK anyway) and the facilities Friday’s attack and further CLM training for the potential available to participate in a full week of water based activities. reservist Sergeants. Day 3 brought some cooler weather However, the warm weather did not extend to the sea, as we which was welcomed during the morning’s boot run up the all found out when we had to jump in to do the compulsory rock, which can’t be said for the steep hillside roads that the water competency review. route included. On the range we progressed onto firing the Glock at various distances and for a lot of people it was their Adventure training OIC Capt Paul Robinson had organised a first time firing the new service pistol. ‘round robin’ of kayaking, powerboat, stand up paddleboarding (SUP), fishing, scuba diving and water skiing. We moved to the tactical phase during day 4 of the exercise Sgt Tara McGlade gave some excellent instruction on the but not before a few runs of the assault course in the morning SUP, something none of us had done before. We found it followed by a short but steep gun run in the OBUA village. quite alien standing up on a large ‘lie low’ paddling along, then moving on to some PT and yoga which inevitably had Later on into the day we moved down to the village to most of us falling in! Everyone agreed it was great fun! conduct some OBUA training under the instruction of SSgt Sharpe and his training team. It was the first taste of OBUA To assist the AT staff, kayak instruction was delivered by 71 for many of the group but we quickly got the hang of it and Sigs’ Sig ‘Jonny Essex’ Collington and Sgt Ross Nugent. The started to progress onto taking multiple buildings as a Troop. lesson involved a good skills session followed by Lt Greg Before we knew it the day was almost over and the next day's Tonks managing to ‘swap boats’ in open water and finally a final attack was looming. rugby game with the SUP boarders.
JUNE 2017 33 all the phase, but the most important nonetheless. These duties included guard, QRF, ceremonial duties and Op SUNDANCE, a tasking to guard HMS Ocean while she was berthed in Gibraltar. This also gave them the chance to have a guided tour around the Navy’s flagship which was certainly an impressive bit of kit.
Stand up paddleboarding proved to be really popular and was supposedly ‘a thing’ Power boating in the Bay of Gibraltar was an exhilarating ride, with commentary by the experienced local staff on shore OC and 2IC guiding HMS Ocean in! landmarks and the history of Gibraltar. One of the more unusual aspects of guarding Devils Tower Fishing expeds went out across the bay in small motor craft Camp (Royal Gibraltar Regiment’s home) was the smugglers but failed to yield a large catch, so Lt Tonks, Cpl Adam who use the camp as a route to Spain. It became a Hadlow, LCpl Jonno Madden, and Sig Kashem took up the competition to spot and gauntlet to supply food for the BBQ. LCpl ‘rock’ Small caught, report the most smugglers well, a rock and the rest returned triumphantly with a bucket with the clear winners being of fish. Unfortunately we were informed most were LCpl Matty ‘the chosen one’ completely inedible and a QRF was dispatched to the market Carter and LCpl Adam ‘Pal’ to bolster the BBQ. Cruddas who succeeded in at least postponing one smugglers run!
Ceremonial duties were performed outside the Convent which is the official residence of the Governor of Gibraltar. This is a high- profile duty which is carried out in the middle of Gibraltar and attracts a lot of tourists. The standard of drill and appearance was outstanding throughout with the only minor problem Sig Lawrence (37 Sig Regt) on a try dive being LCpl Adam ‘Redders’ LCpl Phipps (3 Sig Regt) and Redwood losing his voice LCpl Redwood (1 Sig Regt) on Scuba ‘Try dives’ and refresher dives were conducted in Rosia after two days of barking ceremonial duties at the Bay, the historic deep water harbour on Gibraltar where the out the drill commands in a Convent, LCpl Phipps voicing crystal clear waters let us see where all the fish were hiding. voice any Sgt Maj would be words of command proud of. Next came a day to test our SUP skills at a very windy Sandy Bay Beach; a nice relaxing day away from the navy base to Cultural Activities Phase - by Capt (TOT) Pritchard reward us for all the hard work put in earlier in the Ex. This week was filled with conceptual and historical activities The final day gave us the opportunity to ride a ‘biscuit’; 2 along with the chance to put some elbow grease into people holding on to an inflatable dish for as long as possible restoring a local artefact. The week comprised of: behind a powerboat doing its best to throw us off, which Sig Hodson-Cox thought was ‘brilliant’. This was all followed by WWII Tunnels and Lower St Michael Cave Tour the final BBQ. Some of the other troops were not so lucky Everyone on TARIK PATROL 17 was given the chance to attend with the weather, but a full weeks of activities was still laid on the absolutely fascinating tours run by WO2 Peter Jackson by the AT staff, including bowling, ice skating, bumper cars on (Gib Regt). A total of 104 people attended these tours the ice rink. including some of our VIP visitors. The day was split up into two halves; the first half being a 1 mile walking tour of the Ops and Security Phase - by Lt Ayling 4 Tp Comd, 225 Sig Sqn WWII Tunnels which was a mere slice of the remaining 34 miles tunnel system in Gibraltar. Starting off at the Maida Vale The fundamental reason for being in Gibraltar was to backfill entrance, WO2 Jackson set the scene and gave an extremely the Ops and Security duties ordinarily carried out by the Royal detailed round up of the history of Gibraltar. Everyone was Gibraltar Regiment. Admittedly not the most glamourous of captivated by the level of detail WO2 Jackson could simply
34 [email protected] reel off from memory but were also amused by his witty The whole deployment was a huge success with everyone remarks about how history unfolded in some weird and enjoying themselves in the sunny and warmer climates of wonderful ways. Gibraltar. All of us will look back with extremely fond memories having gained some new experiences and The second half of the day (following a short and steep uphill challenged ourselves in different ways. Almost certainly we walk) took us into the more challenging part of the will all look back with pride at what we achieve but surely underground network. WO2 Jackson arrived with caving some will curse that darned 100 Ton gun! helmets much to Sgt McGlade’s dismay who is slightly apprehensive about entering the confined cave system that is 225 SIGNAL SQUADRON possibly haunted. After getting kitted out and some ghostly OC Maj O Finnie stories to get us in the mood we entered down into the caves SSM WO2 (SSM) J Barrett via a small ladder. At every stage WO2 Jackson gave explicit instructions on how to tackle each obstacle and part of the 38 (Irish) Brigade Northern Ireland Relay Cross Country cave. He pointed out all of the main features including some Championships 2016 - by Sgt J Gunn of the obscure underground formations including something resembling a babies hand and also the face of Frankenstein. The Northern Ireland Cross Country Championships took place The highlight of the tour was seeing a beautiful underground on 21 September 16 at the Ecos Centre, Ballymena. The Cross lake which refracted some amazing light when disturbed, Country events here in Northern Ireland are very small in something we were privileged to see as members of the comparison to the mainland and you tend to see the same public are not allowed down there. All in all it was a brilliant faces at each event. A mix of all athletes and abilities, there day that gave us all a better understanding of the history of are those seasoned runners who have all the gear, (last seen Gibraltar along with the chance to clamber around a cave on programming their Garmins prior to the start) then there are our backsides! Thanks WO2 Jackson and happy retirement. those who are able bodies and are at work on Wednesday afternoon. Restoration of the 100 Ton Gun Every year, members of TARIK PATROL assist with a Civil On this occasion the ladies team of 225 Sig Sq n (ECM(FP)) Engagement project. This year we were given the prestigious was made up of those that were fit and able on the day, and task of restoring the historically important 100 Ton Gun at of course wanting to lead by example we did so with a smile. Napier of Magdala Battery. It started off on a sunny The team of three was Capt Lianne Robinson, Capt Sam Wednesday morning where 2Lt Bratby and half of her Tp Miskelly and Sgt Jackie Gunn. When we arrived at the were the first ones to start the project off. Each Tp rotated location for a refreshing change it wasn’t raining, we all met through until the whole gun was down to its bare metal. in the car park for the briefing of the route and format of the race. When we found out that we only had to run just over 1.5 miles each we all fist pumped the air!! None of us were typical cross country runners but all of us had strong PFA times, this combined with the fact that individually we were all very competitive we were all in agreement that this played to our favour. Also the route was mainly on roads and tracks with very few hills.
Capt Robinson set off first, both men and women’s teams ran at the same time, she came in first of all the women giving us a significant lead which was maintained by Capt Miskelly on her leg. Last to run was Sgt Gunn, the teams were now very spread and there was no one to follow. Sgt Gunn, renowned for getting lost, admitted at the finish that she was worried at one point that she had gone the wrong way. The team came in first in a time of 31.55 followed by the NIGSU team of 33:06. Getting it down to the bare metal was an enormous and physically demanding task
Interestingly we uncovered some of the original markings and crests that had not been visible for some years which had dates and names of the metalsmiths that produced the parts for the gun. A coat of primer was then applied by members of 2 Tp who gave up 4 hours on a Saturday to ensure we were ahead of the game. Thanks 2 Tp!
Once the top coats had carefully been applied to preserve the markings, the surrounding areas were also given a lick of paint and tidied up. The finished article was completed just in time, with the paint still drying we handed it back to the Minister for Heritage (The Hon Dr John Cortes MBE MP JP CBiol CEnv) during a ceremony involving all personnel from TARIK PATROL and the COS from HQBF. All in all it was a very demanding task which some enjoyed more than others but the importance of giving something back to Gibraltar like this The 225 Female Cross Country team bringing home the was very rewarding. silverware
JUNE 2017 35 Commanding Officer’s Cup, Cross Country 241 SIGNAL SQUADRON - by LCpl D Ashmore OC Maj A Miller This year’s 10 Sig SSM WO2 (SSM) PJ Brown Regt CO’s Cross Country Exercise TIGER CAPEL - by Sig Holt competition took place in a chilly Ex TIGER CAPEL was a multi-activity adventure training week Lady Dixon Park, that took 17 members of 241 Sig Sqn from Bicester to the Northern Ireland. tropical region of Capel Curig, North Wales. The local weather There were no reports hinted at good weather for the week ahead which put injuries to report a smile on everyone’s face. unlike your average rugby/football After a four-hour drive, the loss of all mobile phone signal event. Everyone meant we were close to Capel Curig. Once settled into the ran well, with 251 accommodation and all the stores prepared for the next performing coming days we settled for an early night ready to hit the particularly well. ground running. For the female race we had in 1st Capt Following a good night’s sleep and a hearty breakfast, we Keddie, 2nd Sgt were all set for a day’s action of hill walking and mountain Cunningham and LCpl Morris and Lt Col Irwin biking. We split down into two groups with one group 3rd Lt Col Irwin, the heading off for a climb of Snowdonia and the other group CO herself. The male race results were 1st Sig Dohbry, 2nd mountain biking in Coed-y-Brenin. LCpl Jake ‘hero in the making’ Morris and in 3rd LCpl Pretty. Once arriving at Coed-y-Brenin we unloaded the mountain This left the standings for the CO’s Cup event so far as, in 4th bikes and gave them a final check over before we made a 241 Sig Sqn, in 3rd 243 Sig Sqn, 2nd 225 Sig Sqn and 1st 251 Sig start to the day’s adventure. The first part of the morning Sqn. Until the next event rest up, keep well, it is still all to involved some basic bike skills and a few games that got us play for. used to the bikes. After a late morning break we decided we were all confident enough and ready for some serious trails. Exercise BRUNO MINERVA - by LCpl B Guest So off into the forest we went. The going was hard with lots of uphill and downhill cycling which involved a good On 16 and 17 February, 225 Sig Sqn (ECM(FP)) conducted a splattering of mud from the bike in front. A brief stop for JNCO development ex for 10 Sig Regt. Over this two day lunch gave our legs a chance to recover before we moved on period all the Sqns from the Regt came over to further to more technical trails. By the end of the day, I don’t think develop their skills and help with the planning of their there was a body part that didn’t ache, however the chatter careers. The days were split down into two parts; day one and smiles on people’s faces showed that the day was began with briefs and command tasks where all participants enjoyed by all. were mixed, this allowed the soldiers to work with new people and help them identify new strengths and weaknesses The second day started off waking up with stiff legs and a of others. The command tasks were run by the Sqn training thirst to get hill walking. It was our groups turn to tackle team, and designed to help improve confidence and ‘out of Snowdonia and we were up for the challenge. The weather the box’ thinking, and also to help bring out leadership was perfect for the time of year, cold but crisp and clear skies qualities in otherwise quiet individuals. It also gets the mind all around. As we set off we were informed by some other working, thinking of different solutions for the task. The walkers that the café near the top was closed, but this didn’t afternoon was an introduction to appreciations, where we dampen our spirits as we had ready-made NAAFI coffee to see were given a brief on a current situation and had to use the us through. On reaching the summit we were all blown away resources available to us to figure out the best possible by the views which made the trek all the more worthwhile. solution. We had to come up with a timetable of events and Following our descent we met up with the mountain bikers then back brief the training team our plan and explain why for a decent coffee and a slice of well-earned cake. we believed that was the best way to do it.
The following day began with a brief from WO1 (RSM) Steers on LEADERS, the new Army Leadership Code, which also had soldiers discussing what makes the perfect leader. We then had a brief from 243 Sig Sqn on social network and security online and why it’s important to keep your privacy settings locked down at all times. In the afternoon we competed in the CO’s Cup Cross Country event.
Overall, the two day development ex was very beneficial and enjoyable as the Regt doesn’t have many opportunities to meet up as a collective as all the Sqns are very busy and placed all over the UK. We also learnt many skills that we can carry on through our career and carry on to develop our own personal skills and traits and pass the knowledge on to fellow and future JNCO’s.
36 [email protected] The final day was spent on a coastal walk from Bangor to Exercise OWL HORSE - by Sig Southall Penmaenmawr where we took in some of the local scenery and excellent views. The fresh sea air got our taste buds After a long and busy period supporting Army Headquarters racing and we finished the final day off in a great restaurant the Sqn hierarchy found some white space in the calendar to overlooking the harbour. apply ‘Rewards’ for all our hard work and effort. Sgt ‘4d’ Ford and I were tasked to organise a fun day out; we managed to The week was thoroughly enjoyed by all, the weather report come up with free tickets to Wincanton Races. was spot on and we are all looking forward to our next visit to Capel Curig. On the morning of 9 March, 17 members from across the Sqn paraded outside the gym waiting for the PRI minibus to turn 243 SIGNAL SQUADRON up. The sun was shining, the 2IC Capt Terry Bickerstaff had volunteered to drive and for two of the group this was a new OC Maj GMT Oosterveen experience as they had never been to the races before. There SSM WO2 (SSM) M Beckett was excitement and nervous energy all round. I had been reading the form and was confident that I would be going Apprenticeship Awards - by LCpl Routledge home a winner!
I started my apprenticeship with the intention of completing We departed Army HQ for Wincanton race course and arrived the whole scheme within a year; however this did not happen just in time for the first race. Sgt Ford was lucky enough to as I was deployed on a number of occasions to various pick the first winner, which obviously the junior ranks were overseas locations. I was able to put the scheme on hold so well delighted with! A few races later SSgt (FoS(IS)) ‘Razor’ that I could finish it at a later date. Gillett had a couple of winners, which again really delighted the Junior ranks! By now my confidence was in ruins and I was The NVQ assessors were amazing and supported me at every asking SSgt ‘Razor’ Gillett for tips, unfortunately his winning stage of the apprenticeship. On my first deployment I had to streak had also come to an end. write a daily diary of events that helped me gather the supporting evidence I required as part of my course work. In between each race was the time to “Google” the favourite Every day I wrote down the activities that I had participated to win the next race. Sgt ‘I know what I’m doing’ Walton in, such as terminating, testing and cable pulls. claimed that he had spent some time during the previous evening conducting detailed research and had come up with 7 Every deployment I went on had different essays or diaries I names that were sure to win. On the day however he had needed to complete. This helped build my portfolio and some self-doubt and never utilised this research, surprisingly, supported the evidence I needed to complete various parts of 5 of the 7 horses did win their respective race – a golden the apprenticeship. After compiling all the evidence and work opportunity missed. tasks I moved onto my final hurdle which was to attend a two week Mathematics and ICT course in Colerne. Overall the Rewards Day was a great success and gave us the opportunity to bring the sections together outside of our Having successfully completed my apprenticeship I was lucky normal work environment. The sun was shining and the enough to be put forward as a candidate for the Royal Signals atmosphere was great, everyone thoroughly enjoyed the Apprentice of the Year Award. I was competing against a respite from the daily routine. number of apprentices of various trade groups. I won the Installation technician prize for 2016 which was a fantastic Service Desk Recognition - by LCpl Elejofi personal achievement. A rewarding and exciting moment for the Service Desk as we More recently I was invited to the National Apprenticeship received formal recognition from Col Cooper, Commander 2 Week which was held at Gibraltar Barracks in Minley. A Signal Group. number of awards were given out to apprentices by the Defence Minister, Mark Lancaster and Lt Gen Bashall CBE in recognition of our outstanding efforts within our specific trades and Corps. It was a privilege to be recognised, not only for my own contribution, but for the efforts and hard work of all the apprentices that are going through the scheme.
Commander 2 Gp, Col Cooper presenting the Commanders Coin The apprentices to LCpl Elejofi
JUNE 2017 37 As a Single Point Of Contact (SPOC) for over 80 Defence-wide applications hosted on the Army Hosting Environment (AHE), the service desk is empowered to meet the day-to-day needs of both customers and IT staff. Each team member was presented with the Commanders Coin as a formal acknowledgement in recognition of their recent hard work and dedication to the role. All personnel from the Sqn and the staff from Information Application Support (IAS) gathered around the Service Desk area to congratulate the team.
The civilian personnel on the service desk, Mr Steve Howells and Miss Emily Bush were introduced to Col Cooper by Mrs Danika Palmer and the military personnel, Cpl Sutherland, Cpl Locke, LCpl Clarke and LCpl Elejofi were introduced by Capt Local goats in Oman Bickerstaff. The expedition consisted of wild camping and selected Everyone likes to be appreciated for a job well done and this pitches were quickly set up before dark, then we were award confirms that we are respected and valued for the cooking and telling stories around the campfire. We divided contribution that we make, not only to the Sqn, but to the into our four man teams to cook and the chefs identified wider user community that we support. themselves with properly cooked porridge and the decent use of spices; stuffed soldiers cleaned up and went to bed 251 SIGNAL SQUADRON exhausted after the exertions of the day.
OC Maj M Cox SSM WO2 (SSM) N Cansfield
Exercise JEBEL TIGER - by Capt Eldridge
On 5 Feb 2017 fifteen adventurers from the Regt, embarked on an expedition to climb the highest peaks of the Jebel al Akhdar mountain range in Oman. The group was made up of varying abilities but all were capable of slugging a 10kg backpack up a 1000m climb in temperatures that started at sea level with a balmy 24 degrees but swiftly cooled as we ascended into the mountains, cooling further whilst wild camping at night. Oman is a modern Islamic sultanate with strong historic ties to the United States and the United Kingdom. In the city, Muscat, clothing was very relaxed but as we travelled inland to Nizwa and Bahla dress and attitudes became more conservative. War stories on Jebel Al Akhdar
The expedition was keen to understand more about Islam and the culture of Oman. Cpl Singh acted as interpreter throughout and Cpl Jallow shared his knowledge of Islam and some of the requirements involved with practicing his faith as a Muslim within the group.
Highlights of the expedition included walking to sunrise over Wadi Ghul, the Western Hajar and summiting Jebel Shams. Lt Thompson shared stories about the exploits of previous troops in the region and educated the group on local history.
Charity Car Wash - by Cpl Edwards
In January, the Sqn was tasked to raise £1000 for a former Royal Signals soldier Phil Cox, who was diagnosed with terminal cancer and given a matter of months to live. The money the Sqn raised would go towards helping his family in their time of need, a very worthy cause, which touched Jebel Shams summit, the highest peak in Oman everyone in the Sqn.
The expedition followed named routes including the W6a to WO2 (SSM) Cansfield tasked each troop to raise £250 in order Al Khitayam and Trek W6 to As Sab. Intermittent painter to reach our target. LCpl Pretty and I decided that the troop markers throughout the routes appeared to confirm that Sgt would carry out a car wash. ‘Doris’ Day, the JSMEL, was a proficient navigator. The paths were precarious and ill marked, but punctuated with strange Having decided on an event, our next task was to choose a abandoned villages and goats. day in January when it wasn’t raining. The first attempt was a
38 [email protected] wash out but the second was a lovely sunny afternoon and saw the Tp spring in to action outside the garages and get ready to go!
1 Troop taking time out to pose for the camera
The first couple of cars to pass through were juniors from the Sqn. LCpls Gomes, Heaney and Hutton-Leggat got straight on with the job in hand but to be honest the cars weren’t that dirty so it was an easy start for us. Then came the cars of the Sqn hierarchy, which looked like they had been driven across the training area and had been through every puddle on the way. They were definitely getting their monies worth.
After an afternoon of non-stop car washing, the troop raised £100 towards our target. Cpl Ryan flying over a drop off Exercise BRITANNIA RIDER - by LCpl Easter Exercise HOT SANDS - by Lt Shapiro On 17 February members of 251 Sig Sqn deployed on Ex BRITANNIA RIDER (a Sqn level mountain biking exercise) Ex HOT SANDS was a communications exercise which taking place at Bike Park Wales in Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales. practised the 251 Sig Sqn’s unique role of providing This was a perfect opportunity for riders and coaches to interoperability with the police and OGDs. practice and develop their riding skills and techniques on some of the best trails in the UK. The Sqn decided to hold a Collective Training exercise around Ex MINI SANDS. Deploying a week early on Ex HOT SANDS, Throughout the day many different obstacles were all five of the detachments with this particular capability encountered, such as; rock gardens, table top jumps and drop moved from Aldershot to RAF Wittering by road to begin a offs, with guidance and coaching being provided on how best long week’s exercising. A central location acting as 0 was to tackle it. Towards the end of the day participants were established at RAF Wittering, with the other four completing full runs of blue and red trails with ease, detachments being pushed out to satellite locations. The ex conquering all obstacles in their way effortlessly. Overall the effectively rehearsed the detachments’ ability to move into a ex was a great success with no crashes occurring and location and set up in short order – a critical skill for a high- everyone returning to Aldershot having been pushed outside readiness unit! Each day new orders would arrive as the of their comfort zone and their skill set broadened. scenario evolved, with new locations delivered across the integrated VTCs each detachment established.
On the Monday of the second week the exercising troops had an opportunity to practice our helicopter movement drills as some assets are air-portable, all the better to deploy to the farthest reaches of the United Kingdom in short order. With the generous support of the RAF, one detachment, with six individuals to relieve the first weeks’ crews, was able to deploy from Aldershot to RAF Wittering – a novel experience for most on board and a valuable illustration of the sort of preparation and drills required to load a metric ton of equipment onto a Chinook quickly and efficiently.
The second week went as successfully as the first, with the Technical Response Force being well supported in their exercise and the other detachments not in that way employed continuing their outstation duties. As a unit standing ever ready to provide communications to support the resilience of the nation, 251 Sig Sqn is proud to have Bike Park Wales Trail Centre before the action started proven itself once more.
JUNE 2017 39 SSgt (YofS(EW)) Jones, Directing Staff for a 226 Sig Sqn exercise. Photo by LCpl Dobson, Cpl Blyth, top shot on the 223 Sig Sqn 226 Sig Sqn 2Lt Newiss at the Corps Snowboarding range day Championships
14th SIGNAL REGIMENT (ELECTRONIC WARFARE) HAVERFORDWEST CO Lt Col Stoter RSM WO1 (RSM) Robinson
Exercise FOXES SUN 17, Cyprus led by Cpl Terry John. During this phase the by LCpl Shears soldiers built on skills previously taught, working up to a final two day scenario in In Mar 17, a number of 14 Sig Regt (EW) Akrotiri village. This phase contained live actors personnel deployed to Cyprus on Exercise and judgement scenarios to play out. At times FOXES SUN. The exercise was broken what can only be described as pandemonium down into three distinct parts, each broke out in the village, but on the whole, the designed to deliver different training value. skill levels displayed were high and the troops The exercise was run by 237 Sig Sqn as a thoroughly enjoyed the exercise. LCpl Rob Sqn level battlecamp and was opened up 'close protection' Cross was particularly to other members of the Regt. effective during this phase, probably drawing on past The first part of the exercise was the live experience working in similar Watch and shoot! firing stage. During this phase exercising environments. troops completed various shoots with the scores counting towards an overall section The troops then returned to competition. After mostly very good (but Camp Bloodhound for some also some questionable) shooting, the God-like 2 well-earned downtime. Section arose victorious; led by the devout Cpl Luke During this time there was a ‘Dit spinner’ Cliffe and even with the scores of LCpl culture visit and the end of Andy ‘average at best’ Pettit counting towards his exercise BBQ; this was where section’s total. the illustrious 4 Section were crowned overall champions An inter-section march and shoot competition was after good showings in both the most physically arduous event of the live fire 2 Section on the the orienteering and the package. The purpose of the event being to march phase of the C-IED events. Led by Cpl Tara determine a soldiers ability to march a distance and march and shoot Wragg they collected their still be combat effective. Cpl Adam ‘Von H’ Hooley prize of a Cyprus fridge disproved this theory by suffering for the whole magnet. march and achieving HPS on the shoot, again assuring 2 Section a comfortable victory. Adventurous Training in Cyprus by LCpl Price and LCpl Whittington The next phase of the exercise involved deploying to the Troodos Mountains for a period of adventure training. Over two days the troops Hill walking in the Troodos mountains As a short would complete a day of mountain biking and, break from a everyone’s favourite, hillwalking. Differing levels of testing experience became apparent early on during the exercise on mountain biking with several members of the the island of group sustaining minor injuries by being over- Cyprus, 237 confident with their abilities. Ironically, the most and 245 Sqns serious was sustained by the medic, Sgt Mike took part in Birkett, who decided to flying head-butt a rock. some adventurous The troops then spent the third and final phase of training in the the exercise on Akrotiri ranges running through Troodos vehicle contact drills. This stage of the package was Mountains.
40 [email protected] 237 and 245 Sqns mountain biking in Cyprus Brecon Beacons, 226 Sig Sqn on exercise. Photo by LCpl Dobson, 226 Sig Sqn
226 Sig Sqn on Ex JOINT WARRIOR
The troops were shocked to see snow on the ground, even though Cyprus had been nothing but roasting hot since our arrival. Whilst 226 Sig Sqn on exercise. Photo by LCpl the seniors (especially SSgt Taylor) were looking forward to a day Dobson, 226 Sig Sqn of mountain biking and a day of hill-walking, the majority were looking forward to getting some WI-FI, which resulted in one of the quietest all ranks bars in the British Army. From the off, the troops were divided into two groups, one group hill-walking and the other group mountain biking.
The hill walkers having been told that they were heading for a waterfall decided that the easiest way to get to it would be to walk up the river. At first, moving as if on another tab, the pace was then relaxed by removing Cpl John, our PTI, from the front and placing him at the rear. The navigation did not get any easier as it later transpired that the map was ten years old, and that the trails frequently changed, leaving the group slightly lost. What we needed in this situation was leadership, confidence and ability; unfortunately, LCpl Price displayed none of these and proclaimed “Sod it, we’ll head east until we hit this road” causing the group to ascend greater than planned heights and aggravating a number of peoples vertigo before safely returning to camp.
The second day saw the group going downhill mountain biking. A quick glance at the bikes showed wheels and brakes buckled as Coordinating a move, Sgt Dan well as a mystery bike with a slow puncture, but these health and Jones on exercise in Brecon. Photo safety issues weren’t going to stop anyone. The ride started off by LCpl Dobson, 226 Sig Sqn gently enough but it wasn’t long until one particularly challenging downhill section saw SSgt (YofS (EW)) Freeman breaking his bike in such a way that only the saddle was still usable. This set a trend for the group who would continue to break bikes throughout the day. The group were later divided into two, with the more confident riders choosing to take on the technical route, while those who valued their health took a more relaxed route. Those who choose the more relaxed route had their choice validated when LCpl Hamilton managed to crash and required a short stay in hospital. At the end of the AT everyone could say that in some way they had pushed their boundaries, grown as individuals and had a small collection of stories to exaggerate to friends and family back home.
Sgt Dan Jones on exercise in Brecon. Photo by LCpl Dobson, 226 Sig Sqn
JUNE 2017 41 15th SIGNAL REGIMENT (INFORMATION SUPPORT) BLANDFORD
233 (GLOBAL COMMUNICATION NETWORKS) SIGNAL he could take the position, which was not the case and SQUADRON resulted in Cpl Lewis ending up doing an involuntary backflip which he managed to land on his face in the snow, getting up OC Maj P Sutcliffe only in time to see the number 9 bib Sgt Carr-Briggs zip round SSM WO2 (SSM) N Harrison the corner.
Exercise MERCURY SNOWRIDER 4-18 MAR 17 Notable performances from Lt Col ‘Jeff’ Tremaine, Capt ‘Paul’ - by Cpl Matty Lewis Mitchell and SSgt (FofS(IS)) Ian ‘Miscalculated’ Cooke meant the ‘Old Boys’ held their own into the later stages. A familiar On 3 March the 15 Sig Regt team assembled in Corsham face in SSgt Hirst meant that 15 Sig Regt had a place in the ready to drive to Rauris, Austria for the Corps Snowboarding final, withSSgt Hirst coming out on top. Championships. After a drive from hell, consisting of traffic delays, tantrums and plenty of toilet breaks for the older generation of the team, we arrived. Luckily the 15 hour journey only took us 28 hours!
The first day saw us participate in a group ride, every rider in intermediate/advanced categories took to the slopes so that the instructors could see our skills (or lack of) in all our glory, in order to put us into relevant learning groups for the week of instruction. For the rest of the week we were then under the careful eye of our Ripstar instructors, starting back to basics and then eventually getting more technical as the race week drew closer. The weather was relatively good to us, with good snow for the majority of the week followed by a mega snow dump in the days leading up to the races. Being the only novice in the group Cpl ‘Col’ Marten spent the first part of the week on the beginner slopes learning the basics Time for a team photo under the professional instruction of the charismatic Ms Femke Podt from Ripstar. After a fair few falls and general With all the results then totted up, 15 Sig Regt emerged as unsteadiness her excellent and thorough tutelage enabled Corps Champions, a well-deserved victory and a great team him to progress and re-join his pro team mates on the more effort from the‘Old Boys’ (and Lewis). A great reward for advanced mountain slopes and eventually compete in the the 2 weeks hard work and one less thing for SSgt Neil ‘Mr novice slalom and Boarder-Cross competition. Morale’ Beedon to moan about.
By the time race week approached, 15 Sig Regt had been given the nickname ‘Old Boys’ something to do with the fact Cpl ‘Matty’ Lewis was the only team member under the age of 35, by 8 years at a guess! But the ‘Old boys’ would have the last laugh. The Parallel Giant Slalom seeding was first, where each rider would get 2 runs to determine their best time, which would then determine the starting numbers for the races. 15 SR placed 5 riders in the top 20, which we were more than happy with. The knockout race day followed, with the ‘Old boys’ holding their own, ultimately ending in an all 15 Sig Regt final. SSgt ‘Rob/Jeff/Malcolm’ Hirst would face off against Sgt ‘Gaz’ Carr-Briggs, ending with SSgt Hirst taking the win which resulted in a good day for the oldest team in the Corps. The slope style event followed, where riders had 2 runs to prove they could bust out the tricks. SSgt Hirst, showing the kids how it was done, took 3rd place, another good day for the team. The penultimate event, Boarder-Cross could Goggle tans provide the team with a chance to take the Championship. Again, a seeding event preceded the race to determine The winning team were presented the trophy by the head of positions for the day. Cpl ‘Matty’ Lewis, taking the teams Army Winter Sports, complete with goggle tans! lowest bib number at 41, saw himself pitched against number 24 and fellow team mate Sgt Carr-Briggs in number 9. A Exercise GLOBAL APOLLO Mar 17 - by Capt (Tfc) Ian Fowler strong start out of the gate saw Cpl Lewis take the lead, until the first flag where the faster riders demonstrated better skill March in 233 (GCN) Sig Sqn can only mean one thing: Ex and control to overtake. Then the first bend on the course saw GLOBAL APOLLO; an ex designed to forge relationships and Sgt Carr-Briggs slide out of control, where Cpl Lewis thought test the leadership qualities of the Sqn’s Officers and
42 [email protected] Warrant Officers. This year’s iteration saw the command The next day was somewhat of a mystery! All that Maj Paul team deploy to London for a 2 day package that was to prove Sutcliffe would tell the participants was a location and to to be extremely challenging; not always for the intended dress casually. What had been arranged was a visit to the reasons. top rated Escape Room in London, where the group would be split into 2 teams and compete in identical puzzle rooms The ex began with a road trip from Wiltshire to the heart to see who would solve the riddles and games in the quickest of The Smoke for a brief at The Savoy by the Institution of fashion and escape first. The teams were split into Operators Engineering and Technology (IET). This is where the first (and WO2 (SSM) Nicola Harrison) and Engineers (with the challenge really began; due to the unveiling of the new Iraq additional “help” of Capt Mel French). Was this the time and Afghanistan Memorial, which was taking place on the where the oldest rivalry in the Corps would finally come to a same day, many of the routes in and around London had head? Could we finally find the answer to who was better? been closed. The end result was only 75% of the participants actually making it to the IET. Capt Mel French and WO2 (FofS) The teams received their briefing; apparently, a rogue agent Craig ‘Petchy’ Petch were later found in a local Costa, trying was at large and the teams needed to identify him and escape to calm their nerves after having several heated “discussions” with that information before a bomb was set off in exactly 60 with a number of cyclists, taxi drivers and other Londoners minutes time. about the laws of the road! “The Operators” secret weapons of WO2 (YofS) Lisa Paul and WO2 (SSM) Nicola Harrison soon proved their worth. Statements such as “I can see a number on that map….if you kind of squint” and “I didn’t think string was attached to anything, so I just kicked it under the desk to make it tidier” might seem obstructive, but proved the difference. “The Engineers” escaped, only to find “The Operators” already out and enjoying some refreshments. Fingers were pointed, WO2 (FofS) Lee Greenhough was blamed for solving puzzles that had been completed 15 minutes beforehand, but, in the end, there was no denying it – Operators rule!
The team enjoying the view from the IET building
The next phase of the ex, now that the team were all back together, took place in the Imperial War Museum. Several weeks prior to the ex, six participants had been paired up and given the direction to create a “challenge” based on leadership traits (Vision and Communication, Courage and Patience, and Motivation and Empowerment), to be completed within the confines of the Museum. All three teams had obviously spent a good amount of time preparing and it was an entertaining way of seeing the various rooms and stands within the museum. At the end of the day (despite some heavy remonstrations from Maj Paul Sutcliffe) Capt (Tfc) Ian Fowler and WO1 (FofS) Dave ‘Frank’ Brumfield were crowned champions, having won two of the challenges and running the third. The victorious escapees!
It should be noted, that both teams escaped in under the hour, which in itself impressed the escape room staff, and it was agreed by everyone that it was an extremely enjoyable and challenging way to test teamwork, leadership and problem solving – an excellent conclusion to Ex GLOBAL APOLLO 17.
254 (SPECIALIST GROUP INFORMATION SERVICES)SIGNAL SQUADRON
Conceptual Battlefield Tour of Tewkesbury and the Imjin River - by Capt Lampier
254 (SGIS) Sig Sqn recently completed a conceptual battlefield study of Tewkesbury and Imjin River. On a glorious spring weekend in March, a vivacious bunch of IT consultants and industry experts spent their weekend as Reservist Officers, WOs’, SNCOs’ and ORs’ understanding lessons of previous conflicts, and to understand how previous WO2 (FofS) Craig 'Petchy' Petch didn’t have the largest “guns” experiences can be conceptualised into more recent and around! potential future conflicts.
JUNE 2017 43 Using The War of the Roses (1455 – 85) specifically the Battle Hawtree, who had to make some really dynamic calls, under of Tewkesbury and Battle of the Imjin River during the Korean enormous pressure! Okay, so the game may have got slightly conflict as examples, we were pre-tasked to research four key competitive, what game doesn’t when it’s Officers’ Vs ORs’?! I themes: command, control, communication and intelligence, can’t recall the exact final score but I am sure it was in the which were relevant in both battles. The syndicates presented Officer’s favour! their answers at the HQ ARRC (Imjin Barracks) and with every question, raised an intellectual debate of merit followed. 254 (SGIS) Sig Sqn is continually looking to advance its understanding, capability and assistance back to the regular The 1471 Battle of Tewkesbury, was centred around the Army, this weekend was an excellent example of the Sqn dynastic rivalries of the Houses of Lancaster and York. King developing its understanding of past lessons to apply to its Edward (of The House York) having caught up with the future tasks and projects. rebellious Lancasterian Army (commanded by Lord Somerset on behalf of the young Edward, Prince of Wales) as it 262 (LOGISTIC SERVICE SUPPORT) SIGNAL SQUADRON attempted to cross the River Severn to seek refuge in Wales. It was in The Bloody Meadow and the surrounding pastures OC Maj P Asplen that we debated the different opinions drawing on real SSM WO2 (SSM) B McConnell operational experiences (and occasional assistance in map reading skills by an ex-Royal Artillery officer - Maj Jeremy Overview Hilton). The thoughts and research particularly by Capt David MacIntyre and Sgt ‘Oz’ Osmond, really focused the purpose This quarter has proven to be a busy time once again for 262 of the weekend and brought the conflict to life, whilst (Logistics System Support) Sig Sqn, providing continuous articulating this particular aspect of the battle, and level-three reach back support to no less than fifty-six disagreeing about the physical geographical and positions of exercises with further support to an additional seven the belligerent forces on the ground, some 546 years after on-going Operations including, BILOXI, KIPION, SHADER and the battle. TRENTON.
The Sqn also took this opportunity to visit The Soldiers of This quarter also saw one system analyst deploying to provide Gloucester museum which charted the history of what is now 24-hour on-site support for Op CABRIT. the Rifles, we were specifically interested in the Battle of Imjin River, Korea 1951. For those of recent operational Project Athena experience, there were many stark familiarities of working with allied armies, challenges in radio systems and insufficient Since April 2016 The Joint System Maintenance and intelligence. Here we also benefited from a Gloucester man, Accounting Team (JSMAT) has been heavily involved in steeped in Regimental knowledge LCpl ‘Wilf’ Williams, who Project Athena and this quarter saw the release of the first prior to joining the Corps had severed with the Gloucester guns from build to four trial units across the Army, RAF and Regiment. LCpl Williams' rendition of the Gloucester’s Navy. Project Athena is a partnership between Boeing, Regimental song was a memorable occurrence, which those Engage and the Ministry of Defence to provide MC9090 guns who heard his distinct Bristolian vocals will surely never with MJDI capability to the Tri-Service environment. The guns forget. which are preloaded with software provided by Boeing will increase the efficiency of logistics by allowing the user to Of course the Sqn also added a little fun incorporating a quick quickly and efficiently scan 2D and 3D barcodes along with QR game of rounders umpired by the ROSO, WO2 Victoria codes loaded with details about the item. The data can then be uploaded by the user to MJDI; saving time and importantly nullifying human error.
JSMAT has been responsible for providing Engage with 197 MC9090 Guns and Batteries each week for software to be loaded and then receipting them onto MJDI. Fortunately 262 (LSS) Sig Sqn has been given first access to the scanner, meaning that the weekly input of 197 different serial numbers is quickly carried out. Once the trial has been concluded, following a fielding plan JSMAT will dispatch upward of 6000 MC9090 guns and associated ancillaries to all units across the MOD with an expected completion end date of 2018.
Sporting Activities
This quarter the sqn saw its first victory in this year’s Commanding Officer’s Cup, taking first place in the football competition which was hosted by 262 (LSS) Sig Sqn at the Bicester Garrison five-a-side facility. The competition involved all of the sqns that make up 15 Sig Regt 254 members outside Tewkesbury Abbey where the Lancaster’s Nobles and provided the opportunity for these dispersed attempted to find shelter and sanctuary sqns to come together in friendly competition.
44 [email protected] 16th SIGNAL REGIMENT STAFFORD
Exercise SPECULAR 17- by LCpl Courtney As the ex progressed some of the lads had the opportunity for down time. On the ex there were some good laughs, with On 5 Jan Sidi Rezegh Troop deployed to Old Carter Barracks in morale remaining high throughout the troop, despite some Bulford, which was to be their base of operations for the next demanding moments. Without the laughs and jokes the 3 and a half weeks. The afternoon of 5 Jan we arrived at the exercises wouldn’t have been the same. training area where our task for the next 3 weeks was to support the staff officers of 12 Armd Inf Bde; as we all know The ex was a great success and Brig Sergeant was very happy this can be quite a task. with our capabilities as a Sqn, and on 27 Jan we collapsed the HQ and made our way back to MOD Stafford. We started constructing the Bde HQ on 5 Jan and by close of play that evening we had most of the defences finished as well as the build itself, including two layers of razor wire for site security.
The following few days we finished the build and the OC was very happy with what we had done, little did we know that the staff officers had other ideas. Later that day we had a brief and were told that the HQ had to be collapsed and rebuilt with cam nets over it. The following day the Brigade Commanders’ team came down and had a look around our build, and there were still several changes that needed to be made.
12 AI Brigade HQ in the mist
Exercise ROUGH RIDE - by LCpl Cooper
The end of Ex PRAIRIE STORM 3 gave Basra Troop the opportunity of completing some quality adventure training. As a troop, it was decided we would embark upon a week long horse riding expedition. Throughout this expedition I was afforded the chance to witness some of the most beautiful places in the world.
The expedition began on 21 Aug 2016. After breakfast and HQ Front collecting packed lunches, we met the transport at BATUS armoury. Upon arrival, we went straight into the TEC arrival While we were building the HQ, 207 Sig Sqn had deployed brief, part of which was a thirty minute ‘what to do if you with our own field kitchen, which was definitely the highlight come across a bear’ video- just to fill us all with confidence, of the build for many as the food laid on was to a very high ‘Just remember, you’re fighting for your life.’ Following this standard and the variety was amazing. After the build phase the rest of the day was spent being issued kit, then to bed our chefs were called back to Stafford, this is when the Kings ready for the next day’s activities. Royal Hussars took over in their role as RLS. After breakfast at 0700hrs we collected our packed lunches Once the main build was complete we were split into three and made our way to the ‘Lazy H Ranch’ to meet our teams early, late and night shift. This gave all of us the instructor Jimmy. Jimmy took us over to be matched up with opportunity to do our own physical training which we all took the horse we would then stay with for the week. Jimmy advantage of. I was put onto the late shift and given the asked who was feeling confident- I raised my hand, and this is responsibility of shift leader; this gave me great opportunity how I met Cola, my horse for the week. Before I could even to take responsibility of the Signallers and was a great catch my horse, Jimmy informed everyone to be careful learning curve. The troops I had working with me were a around Cola as she likes to bite and kick other horses quite great bunch of lads and we got on with daily jobs and routine regularly. Following this Sig ‘Bear Back’ Witter was the next very well. to be matched up with Fiji, an equally restless horse. After we all caught our horses we learned how to saddle and ride them We had various Attachments and Detachments turn up in a small fenced area on the Ranch. throughout the week, and I had the pleasure of the Deputy Chief of Staff in my Detachment. It’s the first time I had Upon commencing day two we set off on our four-day deployed as an Armoured Detachment Commander and was expedition through the Banff National Park of the Rocky hoping everything would go well. Mountains. We brushed off our horses, cleaned out the
JUNE 2017 45 hooves, saddled up and set off on the five-hour ride, full of someone falls off. With this in mind we had done so well so morale. We arrived at Base Camp, brushed and hooved our far. It was my turn to get off my horse, open the gate and horses to set them free for the night only to watch them then close it once everyone was through. Again one of the immediately roll around in the muddy field. The rest of the first things Jimmy said to us was that we should always night was spent around the camp fire and BBQ. At this point mount the horse from the left side, this was because it is we got to learn how to lasso, which we later put to good use what the horse is accustomed to and therefore to mount it when the electric surrounding the tents needed testing. Cpl from the right would be a very bad idea. So as the gate had ‘Chad’ Fell unwillingly tested the fence when he was lassoed been opened and closed it was time for me to re-mount my and dragged across. horse, which, without thinking, I did from the right hand side. As my left foot was in the stirrup, my right foot left the ground and before I even had a chance to get on to the horse she took off faster than I’ve seen her go all week. There was me hanging onto the horse’s neck for dear life, this was most definitely my first rodeo. Eventually I let go and hit the ground with some force, tracked Cola down and re-mounted her from the correct side, lesson learnt. As you can imagine, the rest of the group found this quite amusing.
Beginning day three Jimmy gave us a few choices of where we could go- we chose to visit ‘Ghost Lake’. We got the horses ready and set off on our way. When arriving at the lake, around lunch time, the general consensus became that though it had not been the warmest day, it would have been rude not to take a dip. The lake may have looked extremely inviting however temperature wise it took your breath away, I am not sure if I have ever been in water that cold. After our glacier water dip, we jumped onto our horses and returned to Base camp.
LCpl Cooper and his noble steed
We arrived back at TEC, tired and ready to chill out, but thoroughly satisfied from the week’s exercise. After all of our kit was handed in we headed to bed ready to return to BATUS in the morning.
Op FORTIFY- 207 Signal Squadron - by Lt Miller
On 7 Feb 17, five members of 207 Sig Sqn, bolstered by members of 22 Sig Regt, began their 7 week surge period of OP FORTIFY. Having completed their two days of initial training, and learning how to use a very specialised miniature On day four we headed up to the top of a small mountain to FEPS, the team was ready to begin their roles as recruiters. take in some awesome views. On the way up Sig Witter and I caught a Grouse which we prepared and cooked on the camp With varying locations, the role was largely the same each fire for dinner. We finished the day off in the same way, day. Deployed to various Army Reserve Centres, each day getting slightly bored of the burgers and sausages we’d been around 20 students from local colleges would be bought by eating every night- so the Grouse was a welcome addition! the Army Reserves, for their day of education and experience. On our final day it was time to travel back- this being a relief Having been briefed by Capt Garner, they would circulate for some people, notably Sig Alex ‘Ad Moan’ Main, who had through 5 stands, including a leaderless command task, basic struggled to establish a rapport with his noble steed. We set weapon handling, a .22 converted SA80 range, a kit lesson off from base camp in the hope of making it back to TEC in and a quick PT lesson. These were owned and run by the record time. Not too far into the journey back, we broke into soldiers of 207 Sig Sqn, overseen by the Reserves. a gallop, there was a big screech from the back of the pack, “STOOOPPP.” As I turned around I saw Sig Main bouncing The surge was a fantastic experience in two parts for around unsteadily on his horse- luckily he managed to hold everyone. Firstly, it was a brilliant opportunity to travel and on. We were now only thirty minutes away from TEC and experience parts and areas of the UK that they may not overall everything had gone well so far. Jimmy had informed otherwise have gone. Other than commuting to the RHQ in us at the beginning of the week that on every course Redditch, the team stayed in hotels initially in Liverpool, the
46 [email protected] City of Culture, and then later in Leeds, Sheffield and Governor of Gibraltar’s official residence. LCpl Fletcher, LCpl Bradford. Finishing around 1500hrs each day, this gave Rouse and LCpl Fook represented the Gibraltar Development everyone an opportunity to explore these cities and to Rugby Team. Lt Bratby ran in the Gibraltar Half Marathon and experience a lifestyle very different to that normally seen in came third in her category. LCpl Hammerton, LCpl Fook and the Armed Forces. The team were very well looked after by Sig Tyler also represented the Devils Tower Camp football the Army Reserve contingent, who ensured they were happy team in a match against the Navy. in their accommodation and were happy to show them around the sites of each place visited. A highlight of the ex was during a Troop Commander’s Disposal period, an activity which entailed walking up the famous Gibraltar Rock. The Rock is inhabited by monkeys, which to our surprise, we soon found out were not shy. We were warned that if you left your daysack open, the monkeys would jump on your back, rip open your bag and search for food inside of it. When we reached the top, we found a monkey eating a ration pack sausage roll and another monkey eating ration pack yoghurt… You can just imagine how he managed to get that.
Operation SENTINELLE Training - by 2Lt Scherchan
Operation SENTINELLE is the operational name of the deployment of 10,000 French soldiers within France to Teams prepare for rifle stripping competition support the civil authorities. It was requested by the French government after the Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris in Jan Secondly, it was good for the team to interact with their 2015. counterparts in the reserves, as well as civilians on a daily basis. As we’re expected to work ever more closely with sister As part of their YO’s course, French Signals Officers have a regiments, it was a good opportunity to meet counterparts mandatory two-week module. I was given the opportunity to and forge bonds which will only help future relationships. It attend this 2 week course with my rusty A-level French as it was also a pleasure to see some of the younger troops, such was not only an opportunity to improve my language skills as LCpl Lippett, LCpl Pollard, Sig Barron and Sig Kay, who but also to build ties with our peers in the French Corps of may not normally have much responsibility, take charge of Signals. their stands and run them, with alacrity, day in day out. We look forward to more of the same in the future. I was greeted in Rennes, where their School of Signals is based, by Lt Col Giles, the British liaison officer there, who was instrumental in getting me out there. I was assigned a French YO as an escort who would help me along the way and translate if I didn’t know the French for certain words like cul-de-sac. The school is only a 10 minute drive away from Rennes city centre, however in February Brittany can be quite chilly.
The first week was classroom based with sports every day. At times the lessons were difficult to follow. For example, there were a few lessons dedicated on how power was devolved down to them from the State, when as a Troop Commander deployed on the ground, you are more worried about the practical aspects such as what are my rules of engagement. However, there were certain lessons that were very useful especially a voice of experience lecture given by my fellow British Captains who had deployed as Platoon Commanders on SENTINELLE. The lessons they gave would have been Students on the ranges applicable to Junior Officers in any Army when managing and motivating soldiers. This was hammered home when during Exercise TARIK PATROL 17 - by Lt Bratby the week an Egyptian fanatic was shot when he tried to attack French soldiers with a machete in the Louvre. 16 Sig Regt took part in Ex TARIK PATROL 17, a six week, composite Sqn sized deployment to Gibraltar. The primary The second week was the exercise week, or as the French aim of the ex was to back-fill the Royal Gibraltar Regt, called it “Le Stage Commando.” We deployed to Fort de covering off their various security duties on the Rock, whilst Penthievre, a 200-year-old fort on the coast of Brittany that they deploy to the UK on Ex JEBEL TARIK. In addition to this was designed to ward off British invaders. These days it’s primary role, the Sqn exploited various opportunities which where the French do their commando training. As such the exist in Gibraltar to conduct a round-robin of military training, whole fort was dotted with high wire obstacles which gave challenging pursuits and civil engagement activities. the fort a feeling of Chateaux D’If from the Counte of Monte Cristo meets Fort Boyard. The first couple of days consisted of This ex saw members of the Regt take part in a multitude of going through the obstacles in slow time, so every day we activities. Sig Patterson and Sig Tyler made up part of the were required to harness up. There were also lessons on BCD Convent Guard, a prestigious ceremonial duty guarding the and patrolling as well as TIOR. TIOR stands for Technique
JUNE 2017 47 D’Intervention Operationelle Rapprochee, which are techniques in disarming and disabling an opponent with or Corps Calendar 2017/18 without weapons. The main important aspect being that you are trying to stop rather than kill. The final day consisted of June tests. Each person had to do the obstacle in full on their own 16 3Rs Dinner in the fastest time possible. There was also a group obstacle course come command task, as well as a patrol lane. The 17 Corps Luncheon most physically demanding of them all was the final test on 16-18 Corps Weekend TIOR, which confirmed the fact that PTIs in both armies are 21 RSI Workshop @ Institute of Directors both sadistic and creative. 24 Armed Forces Day Overall the experience was enjoyable and rewarding. Being 28 Princess Royal Day the only British officer and so not being able to rely on English July pushed and helped me improve my French. It also greatly improved my knowledge of how the French Army works and 28-30 Ex Trailwalker – South Downs especially their Corps of Signals. Most of all it has given me August contacts and links that I am sure will be vital as our armies 12 9th Gathering of the Clans work closer together in the future. The hospitality and the friendship given to me by the French and overseas officers on September the course is one I will always remember. TBC WCIT Employment Panel 2 Corps Service NMA October 5 Autumn Corps Guest Night 18 Colonel's Commandant Lunch 19 RSA Central Committee November 2 Scottish Dinner 9 Field of Remembrance Service 12 Cenotaph Parade 16 RSI London Lecture & Dinner 25 Project Noel December 7 Apprentice of the Year Awards 2018 February 16-18 Exercise LIGHTNING STRIKE March 1 Spring Corps Guest Night 16 RSA Central Committee Meeting 17 RSA AGM May 16 Corps London Dinner 16 Morrison Cup 2Lt Scherchan and his counterpart 20 Eden Camp Parade/Reunion
50th Anniversary
50 (Northern) Signal Squadron, 32 Signal Regiment will celebrate its 50th Anniversary on 1 April 2017. In order to officially mark the occasion and its 50th anniversary year the Squadron will be holding a formal parade, Beating the Retreat and cocktail party (by invitation only) at the Bradford Armoury Army Reserve Centre on 8 July 2017. Any former members of the Squadron who are interested in attending the event are asked to get in touch with the PSAO (Capt Dave Straw) who will provide further details.
Telephone - Catterick Military: 94731 4742 Civilian: 01325 371742
Email: [email protected]
CO Lt Col MJ Morton RSM WO1(RSM) Kelly
PNCO Course – by LCpl Gill The Final Attack. Following a lovely 0300hrs start placing the enemy was hampered by the fog descending once again. In 21 Sig Regt held its annual March PNCO Course. The first week testing conditions the platoon stumbled across one of the started off well with 28 students arriving with bags of enemy in the FUP; we still can’t decide if he or the platoon enthusiasm for the 2 weeks ahead and the prospect of were in the wrong place. Despite this impromptu beginning becoming substantive LCpls. Into day 2 and it was all going the sections demonstrated all they had learned throughout smoothly, until, when setting up for the PLD Cpl Nuttall the two weeks and it was good to see the course finish with a managed to get the rover stuck on a tree stump. After 30 strong final attack. minutes of pushing, pulling and trying to wedge branches under the wheels, still no luck. At this point he had to call on Presentation day. The day everyone looks forward to. The the LAD who swiftly came to his rescue. winners were announced by the Regt 2ic Maj Psaila:
The PLD. Not many people look forward to them but we all Top Field Soldier: This Soldier displayed the highest level of love it when it’s finished. The PLD on the Thursday was the individual battle skills, alongside command, control and most challenging of this course. The PLD started with the communication. Due to his exemplary admin in the field, he rope run followed by a burden retrieval. With these was able to assist others with theirs and although he didn’t completed it was on to the power bag run and finally the realise he was being called to collect his prize, LCpl Jones 254 dreaded stretcher race. The sections have to work as a team was deserving of the top field soldier award. and dig out for each other, which they did well in this instance. Top Soldier: A robust and natural leader with a commanding presence Sig Jones 770 was awarded Top Soldier. Competent Exercise Battle Stripe. The week passed pretty quickly for the in tailoring his leadership style to suit any situation and with a DS, but the rest of the course would probably disagree. LCpl good understanding of doctrine he was able to get the best Baillie was smiling throughout and Lt Paxton had time to out of his section. work on his daily dits and LSA days. The section attacks went without a hitch however there were some issues with So that’s the end of another PNCO. With three of the navigation. With the fog descending on Colerne, even the signallers from 21 Sig Regt being giving their LCpl rank slides, more able navigators started to struggle, this made for some LCpl Mardon, LCpl Beardmore and LCpl Tregaskis, finishing very long and interesting recce patrols for all the sections. off a successful and challenging two weeks.
Exercise TIGER BEAUFIGHTER SKIER 17 - by Sig Simkiss
On 17 March we all got on the coach to travel PNCO complete to Val Thorens, a ski resort in the French Alps. Unfortunately, due to the terrible weather in Dover, we missed the first ferry, and the second was also delayed. By the time we actually got on board, we were all so hungry we didn’t mind paying the ridiculous prices for scoff. PLD the tough way When we arrived we dropped our bags off in our apartments and through freshly falling snow, followed Lt Heuston on a suspiciously long walk to the ski shop to grab our gear for the week’s activities.
After being split down into two groups, beginner and advanced, we began the first day of skiing. The beginner group picked up the basics surprisingly quickly. LCpl Johnston got a lot of practice at putting on skis as he quite enjoyed the taste of snow. LCpl Kirkham quite possibly broke a land speed record, and then an air speed record when attempting to stop. By the end of the day Lt Paxton delivers a compressive and everyone was able get to the bottom of the punchy set of orders slopes, with only the odd “accident”. Happy to be on the slopes rising to a satisfying 22ºC. After a quick documents check and brief, we were off to our locations. We split down, withLCpl Harris and LCpl Ale joining the Bentui HQ. Capt Tippett, Sgt ‘Pez’ Perry, Cpl ‘Tex’ Walker, LCpl Hetterley and Sig ‘Gibbo’ Gibson joined the Malikal HQ. Both locations sported tents and camp cots, and would be our homes for the next six days.
As part of the integration phase, we were either tasked off to the TFHQ or, in the case of LCpl Hetterley and Sig Gibson, were placed into the groups with the Infantry and Engineers. This was so that they could get hands on best practice Lt Heuston shows the way off the mountain of infantry skills from 2 Mercian: fire and movement, care under fire and section battle drills. These lessons were a step up for the non-teeth arm elements and was valuable training. 32 Engr Regt also covered basic combat engineering with lessons in skills tying knots, building timber structures, and pouring concrete slabs.
At the end of the first week of learning different best practice skills from the other units, we did an execute task phase that brought all the knowledge together. It Meanwhile the was good to see all the personnel working together to advanced group SSgt ‘Bob’ Barn causes carnage achieve an objective. With the aim of the exercise being the were having a integration of all units in the Task Force the ex was a great “revision” day to success. get their legs back in, after which they all went to bed early because of The second week consisted of an LFTT package, mandatory how “not tired” they were. for all personnel deploying on the Op. LCpl ‘Josh Wayne’ Harris distinguished himself with the pistol, only dropping one On the second morning we woke up to LCpl Johnston looking shot on his ACMT. LCpl ‘Three Points of Contact’ Hetterley like a crazy red panda. On the slopes we found LCpl Craig ensured that we remained entertained by falling out of a to be the slow coach of the group, and LCpl Johnston had TCV onto his back and then picking up a thumb injury on forgotten everything he learned the day before, falling on the pistol range. The ranges were an interesting change of every turn. You could just tell at this point he hated skiing as pace for many elements of the Task Force with well-run and much as we loved watching him. challenging elements throughout.
On the third day we all pretty much had the hang of the skiing Morale stayed high for the whole exercise, and the Task Force and we had a member of the SF2 group join us due to a blister integrated quickly ahead of its deployment. on his foot. LCpl Johnston couldn’t get the hang of it until the afternoon when LCpl Fawbert gave him some sage advice and he completely changed the way he skied. He became Sig Gibson on the CMQ range the quickest of the group, and everyone was shocked by his Sig Gibson becomes a Sapper improvement. for the day
Coming to the end of the week we had all improved greatly. We would barely fall over at all, even when we were tackling the red routes at good speed. Through the week whenever any of us bailed on the slopes our instructor Sgt Collier would kick up a load of snow at us, so the best part of the week for me was watching him fall down the slope. Obviously we all came down kicking up snow at him for a change. It was a shame to finally leave.
Operation TRENTON 3 Task Force Integration Exercise - by Cpl Walker
Sunday 26 March marked the start of our LCpl Ale gets back to his travels up to Barry Buddon Training Area, Infantry roots with a stop off at 2 Sig Regt for a well- deserved rest. Unfortunately, due to a lorry catching fire, the M5 was closed in both directions, and the stand-still traffic the first 30 miles nearly destroyed all morale.
On arrival at Barry Buddon the following day, we were greeted by uncharacteristically pleasant weather, with the temperature
JUNE 2017 51 22nd SIGNAL REGIMENT STAFFORD
CO Lt Col E Byfield RSM WO1 D Seymour 222 SIGNAL SQUADRON adjusted to ensure the SUPPORT SQUADRON safety of competitors. Millennium Way Ultra OC Maj N Pollitt SSM WO2 (SSM) J Jennings The diverted route was Marathon “Because 26 clear to see on the map 217 SIGNAL SQUADRON Miles isn’t enough” and was also marked - by SSgt D McGillivray- OC Maj I Peers SSM WO2 (SSM) D McDermott with large day-glow Jones 222 SIGNAL SQUADRON arrows. You couldn’t go wrong! Unless, like OC Maj S Macpherson SSM WO2 (SSM) J Kennaugh Sunday 5 March saw Capt Scott MOD Stafford’s 1, 16 and 248 SIGNAL SQUADRON Mapplebeck, you have 22 Sig Regts compete in OC Maj B Price SSM WO2 (SSM) L Rana attended the the inaugural Inter Unit Commissioned Officer’s 252 SIGNAL SQUADRON Triangular Competition, in map reading course; in the form of an Ultra OC Maj N Coombs SSM WO1 (SSM) B McLean which case you would Marathon. The race miss a vital left turn would see a team of 4 and head off in the runners from each regt race 41 miles from Newport to Burton wrong direction. Unaware of his geographical challenges I on Trent, with the fastest 3 times combined from each unit kept up the increased pace and was soon 20 miles in and had determining the winning regt. Standing at the start line with arrived at CP2. Although concerned that he had not been the other 196 competitors, the weather gave us a little taste through the CP yet, I knew I was now in a position to make a of what we could expect for the next 12 hours of racing. With difference to the team time. Spurred on by this I continued on the rain beginning to shift to a horizontal plane, the start horn route with renewed vigour and nothing could stop me now. I sounded and Maj Neil Pollitt, Capt Scott Mapplebeck, WO2 was wrong! At about 24 miles I developed an unwelcome (SSM) Jay Jennings and SSgt Dan McGillivray-Jones were off. cramp in my right thigh but couldn’t stretch it as bending my The first 11 miles followed an old rail line so navigation was leg would cause my hamstring to cramp, great! ‘Best strap in not too difficult but the sleet and icy side winds ensured we and embrace the pain’. didn’t have too easy a time. Before long the runners started arriving at CP 1, where a feast of high carb snacks awaited us. A welcome break to the monotony of canal paths saw the As I passed through the check point I was greeted with the route head off into open farmland for the next 9 miles. The news that 22 Sig Regt had already secured a lead, but I was need to navigate helped take the mind off the ever increasing currently 10 minutes behind our 3rd runner. Knowing this pain and tiredness I was now experiencing, but as was would play on my mind as I entered some dark and painful becoming a common theme in this race, no good thing lasted places later in the day I picked up the pace in the hope to long. The 3rd field negotiated gave a little taster of what was secure a place that would see my race time count towards the to come. The ground had been recently ploughed and was team total. Shortly after CP1 the route worked its way water logged, creating a thick sticky quagmire that through Stafford town centre where the ground was firm and the rain had stopped. Good times, but this was to be a short lived joy as the rain quickly returned and settled in for the day.
As the weather leading up to the race had been significantly wet, the fields heading out of Stafford usually known for being rather boggy, had become more of a large lake. With no way to tell where fields ended and rivers began, the route had to be
One of many flooded fields along 22 Signal Regiment’s Ultra Marathon The route out of Stafford the route Team
52 [email protected] Smiles all round despite the blaring wind
252 Signal Squadron skiing
A tough day skiing with dire threatened to pull your shoe off at every step and felt as visibility though some force was pulling you back into the ground every time you tried to push forward. This continued field after field with some being so wet you would be running shin Spot the FofS (IS)… deep in water cold enough to bring on brain freeze. CP3 was a welcome sight and was where I had planned to replenish my energy gels and bars ready for the final stage. Bad luck, the admin support vehicle carrying my things was not there. A part of me died right there and then. As I left the CP I did see the support vehicle but it was manoeuvring into a parking space and our boxes were still packed inside. With no time to waste I had to push on and hope that I had enough in reserve to keep me going.
Before long the route had re-joined the canals which meant that there were only 5 miles left to push. With cramping legs SUPPORT SQUADRON and depleting energy this section drew on every ounce of determination I had. My body was ready to stop but the mind Regimental Battlecamp - by LCpl Rogers was doing its best to fight this. Having had no one even close behind for the last few miles I was very surprised to be over On 5 March, 22 Sig Regt departed for Warcop Barracks for the taken by 4 other runners who came from nowhere. Much to annual Regimental Battlecamp. The training was broken my dismay it turned out that 2 of these were competitors down into two phases (BCCS & LFTT) with a two day from the 1 Sig Regt team. Clawing back a position I adventure training package in the middle. 3 & 4 platoon approached the finish line in 30th place after an emotional 8 began with the BCCS package with 1 & 2 starting with the hours 4 minutes of racing. At least an hour longer than I’d LFTT. anticipated. So how did we do as a team? 22 Sig Regt had taken first place in the MOD Stafford inter Regimental Feeling ready and focussed, the initial two BCSS platoons competition. departed Warcop on Tuesday morning for four full days in the field. The exercise itself was to develop basic soldiering skills, INDIVIDUAL RESULTS – 196 starters, 144 finishers living in the field and learning different roles in the platoon Position Rank Surname Time such as IC and 2IC to aid with future promotion courses. Living in the field also developed a great amount of team rd 3 WO2 (SSM) Jennings 6:03:00 cohesion within the platoon. As the days went by, the 7th Maj Pollitt 6:45:19 sections conducted different types of patrols which built up to a platoon level attack with everyone involved. This gave a 30th SSgt McGillivray-Jones 8:04:13 great insight to every role within the platoon and when all put together, the end result was exceptional. 59th Capt Mapplebeck 9:01:43 After the first week had concluded, all four platoons travelled TEAM RESULTS to Halton Training Camp where they stayed during the adventure training weekend. The first day consisted of a Team Position Time football and basketball tournament which was excellent in 22 Sig Regt 1st 20hrs 52mins allowing a good, well-earned break as well as maintaining the competitive spirit amongst the group. The second day was a 16 Sig Regt 2nd 30hrs 17mins morning of indoor rock climbing and an afternoon of ghyll 1 Sig Regt 3rd Only 2 finishers scrambling. A first for most of the group, ghyll scrambling
JUNE 2017 53 was something new and exhilarating which brought many would be put into play during the two final practices. The first challenges, climbing upstream whilst squeezing through small being a brilliantly executed night shoot, where each platoon gaps in rocks and jumping into small narrow pools to name a would defend their position from trenches, secondly, an few. A great weekend and a well-deserved break before the assessment of how well the fire teams performed the tasks at final phase was clearly enjoyed by all. hand. The ICs and 2ICs of the sections changed to give less experienced members of the platoon command positions The Battlecamp would conclude for 3 and 4 platoon with the which gave them vital exposure and experience to lead others LFTT phase. Day one began with a check zero and an ACMT and benefit them greatly in the future. The shoot was which eased everyone in and got people thinking about the excellent, yet absolutely exhausting – a great way to finish a basics such as the marksmanship principals and building up challenging and productive two weeks. good fire positions. As the week went on the platoon moved on to more advanced shoots, which included the individual All in all, a fantastic effort from everyone involved at 22 Sig battle skills range, live grenade range, individual fire and Regt, achieving everything that was set out to do and more. manoeuvre and a number of night shoots. All of this training Until next time.
The group getting a first-hand The location of Arch Duke Franz account of the 4 year siege Ferdinand's assassination Glorious views from Jahorina Mountain
252 Signal Squadron in Bosnia Sig Jackson experiencing the confines of the secret war tunnel
A ‘Sarajevo Rose’ – the scene of a mortar strike with 9 or more fatalities during the siege
The original entrance of the tunnel used to smuggle aid into the city during the siege ROYAL SIGNALS BENEVOLENT FUND CORPS SUBSCRIPTIONS UPDATE FOR 2016
WHAT WE DID WITH YOUR CHARITY’S MONEY LAST YEAR!
oyal Sign R als B en ev RS olent Fund BF
By Col (Retd) Terry Canham, Regimental Secretary What is Service Day’s Pay Giving? Service Day’s Pay Giving (then the “One Day’s Pay Scheme”) was introduced in 1965. It is a procedure, adopted Army- wide, for the collection of subscriptions to Corps or Regimental Charities from serving personnel. JPA deducts monthly subscriptions to the scheme from an individual’s pay and then distributes the total monthly subscriptions to the military charity he or she has nominated. Tax is not paid on the money donated (Gift Aid) and payments stop automatically when a soldier leaves the Army. How much do I pay? Since 1965 the Corps has encouraged all Regular Army Royal Signals personnel to contribute 110% of one day’s gross pay annually to the Royal Signals Benevolent Fund (RSBF). The RSBF is divided into sub-funds, the main ones which all ranks contribute to are the Welfare/Veterans fund and a general purpose “Corps Fund”.
In 1997 Warrant Officers and SNCO’s elected to raise their subscriptions from 110% to 140% to enable them to establish a Sergeants’ Messes Fund to enhance sergeants’ messes throughout the Corps and to subsidise main mess functions. Officers contribute 190% of a day’s gross pay annually and also have their own fund to subsidise Corps Guest Nights and a small number of formal dinners and lunches each year as well as much of the cost of Corps Heritage and of the Royal Signals Institution (RSI). All payments, which are notified through individual pay statements, are deducted monthly by the Army’s pay system to the RSBF’s nominated bank account.
On 1 April 2017, the Royal Signals Reserve moved to a JPA-based system broadly matching that of the regulars but at rates more appropriate for those not serving full-time. Subscriptions are taken annually in April, May or June. If you are a Reservist and you have not been briefed on the new system please contact your RAO for details. What about Transferees? It is an individual responsibility to ensure that your Day’s Pay Giving is given to the correct charity. If you have transferred into the Corps JPA will continue to give your subscriptions to your old capbadge unless you take specific action to stop that payment and start payment into the RSBF. To do this you need to complete two copies of form JPA E14 which is available from your RAO. It is a similar story if you transfer out of the Corps.
JUNE 2017 55 What is the Royal Signals Benevolent Fund? The RSBF is a registered charity and not an MOD fund. It operates under a Charity Commission scheme which specifies the charity’s aims (known as “objects") and how subscriptions and income from other sources can be used to further them. These are in 3 main areas:
• A broad range of grants to support the “morale and efficiency” of the serving Corps.
• Welfare grants to support Signallers or former Signallers and their immediate dependants in need. This includes both Regular and Reserve personnel and former ATS/WRAC personnel who served in Royal Signals units. In other words, anyone who has worn or is wearing “Jimmy”.
• Grants to charities with similar aims to the RSBF.
Queen’s Gurkha Signals officers and soldiers may also contribute to the RSBF at the same rates as their R SIGNALS counterparts. However, the Corps then passes 100% of a day’s pay to the Gurkha Welfare Trust which then takes responsibility for all welfare grants for QG SIGNALS personnel; the RSBF will, however, consider morale and efficiency grants.
The Service Day’s Pay subscription income does not cover the full cost of the charity’s work, the remainder being made up from investment income, donations (used only for welfare), legacies and other miscellaneous sources. This pie chart gives a break-down of the main areas of income that the RSBF received in 2016 in £000s: £17 Day's Pay Scheme £109
Investment Dividend £362 Donations & Legacies £750
Activity Income/Misc
Our total income for 2016 was £1,221,261 although this does not include the increase in value of our shares (a whopping £672,213). Without this we would have ended the year in the red but we can’t rely on that always being so as the value of investments fluctuate as the stock market rises and falls. We have to sell the shares, of course, to get their cash value. Who controls the RSBF? The Master of Signals appoints a board of volunteer directors who, together, form Royal Signals Trustee Ltd (RSTL). Only the RSTL Board of Directors can authorise expenditure against the RSBF. The activities the charity pursues, and its income and expenditure are also subject to an independent audit each spring. When the audit process is complete, accounts must, under charity law, be passed to the Charity Commission for review and publication on its open website.
56 [email protected] For what purposes was the money used in 2016? The RSTL Board Directors are legally bound to ensure that all expenditure against the RSBF is in the furtherance of the charitable objects laid down in its Charity Commission scheme. The value of the RSBF, as at 31 December 2016, including our investments and property, was £11,055,962. This is a lot of money but we rely heavily on our investment income and share value, as shown in the first pie chart, to supplement the income received from Service Day’s Pay Giving. At this time, however, the stock markets are very volatile so we have seen that figure rise and fall a good deal over the last year – our shares only rose in value by £150,687 in 2015 for example.
The following pie chart shows, to the nearest thousand pounds, the main benevolence and morale and efficiency expenditure in 2016 not including the officers’ and sergeants’ messes funds in £000s:
Benevolence £142 £19 Veterans £28
RSI £110 Corps Music £377 Sport £32 Adventure Training
Yacht Club £62 Wire £16 Recruiting
Museum £76
Heritage
Misc Unit Grants £151 £171 Administration £28 £35
Our total 2016 expenditure was £1,371,419 so we were in deficit by £150,158, before the increase in value of our shares. This is why it is important that we hold large investments to help us carry on our work and becoming increasingly important as the Corps shrinks and our payroll giving income reduces accordingly. What do the pie chart slices mean? • Benevolence. Assistance to Signallers in need is the highest priority for RSBF. Under Queen’s Regulations, the charity must spend at least 50% of its day’s pay subscriptions on benevolence. All serving and former members of the Corps and their immediate dependants are eligible to apply for benevolence assistance in times of hardship and financial need, irrespective of whether they paid into Service Day’s Pay Giving or not. The RSBF spent £376,948 on benevolence in 2016, covering 495 individual grants, a £32,000 annual grant to the Army Benevolent Fund (who provided another £98,000 in additional support to Signallers in need (which is why they remain the Corps’ second priority after the RSBF for fundraising), grants to various homes and organisations taking care of disabled or elderly Corps veterans and our staff/office costs.
• Veterans. The RSA acts as a focus for Corps benevolence and contributes to our morale and efficiency by fostering comradeship. The fund pays for central costs including staff, publications such as the annual Newsletter and the major RSA events but branches are, otherwise, self-funding.
JUNE 2017 57 • Morale & Efficiency. The RSBF supports a number of different elements promoting the efficiency of the Armed Forces and esprit de corps:
o Royal Signals Institution. The RSI is very largely funded by officers’ subscriptions (£93,000 in 2016, not shown in the chart) but is now available to all ranks so the remaining cost (£35,000) falls to the main Corps Fund. Other than lectures and seminars, the RSI produces two Journals a year and covers the cost of all course prizes at DSCIS as well as all Corps Awards. o Corps Music. Despite the formation of the Corps of Army Music, the R SIGNALS Band still has a dependency on the Corps to offset the cost of some ceremonial uniforms. The Northern Band (Reserves) and Royal Signals Pipes and Drums are not funded publicly and, therefore, depend much more heavily on the RSBF for their financial support. o Sport. The Corps currently recognises 30 sports, which are supported through the “Games Club”. The Corps Council and RSTL Directors place a high priority on supporting Corps sport, not just for the “gladiators” but in a process which starts with 11 (RSS) Signal Regiment and is aimed at helping new sportsmen and women develop and succeed. Corps Sport has again a budget of £150,000 from Corps Funds in 2017 as well as sponsorship. o Adventurous Training (AT). The Corps assists in providing adventurous training grants for exercises or expeditions approved through the Joint Services Adventurous Training Form (JSATFA) process. Details are contained in Royal Signals Policy Directive 168. This year’s budget for AT is £90,000 but we did not spend all of the allocation last year. Over to you! o Royal Signals Yacht Club. The RSYC maintains a small fleet of yachts, dinghies and windsurfers for use by Corps personnel and are starting to engage in kite surfing. They are available to all ranks. o The Wire. This is issued free to all units and every officer and soldier in the Corps ought to be able to read a copy at no charge. Some personnel opt to receive their own copy and pay for this by additional subscription, as do many retired personnel. o Recruiting. The Corps is allowed to use charitable funds to aid in recruiting the right people with the skills we need as this is deemed to be in the public benefit. o Museum. The RSBF provides the Museum with money to help to pay for specialist staff, enhancements and maintenance. o Heritage. Heritage costs are covered by the officers’ fund or Sergeants’ Messes Fund as appropriate. Items benefitting every member of the Corps are paid for from the main Corps Fund and this is the sum shown. o Unit Grants. The Corps makes a range of grants which support units in different ways, including the provision of funds to assist in the hosting of visits by the Colonel in Chief, the entertainment of Corps guests and for some special events. o Administration. Our administration costs are modest in comparison with many civilian charities because we have a number of MOD staff and operate from MOD premises. However, we still need to pay Corps employee salaries, for legal and investment advice as well as for our auditors with many smaller costs ranging from postage to the payment of trustee and staff travel and subsistence expenses. Summary Over 95% of Corps personnel support our Service Day’s Pay Giving with new recruits joining during Phase 2 training. This generous support allows the Master of Signals and RSTL trustees to provide financial assistance to past and serving members of the Corps, their dependants and to R SIGNALS units and establishments. If you have a query relating to your personal subscriptions you should address it through your RAO. Fundraising We have spent over £2M in helping Signallers in need in the last 5 years but, as you will have seen from this report, we could always do with more support. If you would like to help fundraise for the RSBF then please contact the Communication Director, Sandra Hutchinson through [email protected]. It is Corps policy that every penny donated to the RSBF is used for benevolence so we can guarantee that anything you raise will be used to help Signallers in need. Thank you.
30th SIGNAL REGIMENT BRAMCOTE RSM WO1 (RSM) M Witham CO Lt Col M Fayers
244 SIGNAL SQUADRON (AIR SUPPORT) humbled by the number of memorials and flags dotted around the area, the islanders are proud people. After taking OC Maj O Ford SSM WO2 (SSM) A Cloney in the area and having lunch at the kind of hotel you’d expect to find in a city centre back in the UK, we headed back to Exercise GLOBAL PEAT 17 - by Cpl Attwood MPA to prepare for the task ahead.
As part of 30 Sig Regt’s Global Series, Lt With our equipment ready on both sides Salero, Cpl Murray, Cpl Attwood, Sig of the Atlantic we began to send regular Richards and Sig Pun deployed to the radio checks, quietly determined that we Falkland Islands in order to test and prove could achieve long range HF. We’d done long-range HF links back to the UK. The everything we could have done, both journey was off to an eventful start when ends were changing frequency at the the Brize Norton runway lights failed to turn correct times, our antennas were set up on, but 20 hours later, we landed at Mount correctly and also tested during the night Pleasant, in the middle of an Argentine however, comms were not working. We public protest in Port Stanley. With limited Cpl Murray paid a visit to the Babcock contractors options, we discussed our strategy for and communicating who had a HF link back to the UK. It plan of attack. from San Carlos became apparent that our 100w was just to RADCON not enough and after they stopped Following an arrivals brief, we were led up laughing at our smaller power output, to RADCON where Cpl Attwood and Cpl they explained we needed a minimum of Murray began planning and siting the masts 10kw just to reach the UK. whist the OIC Lt Salero practiced his Ultimately and despite our efforts darts technique and ‘oversaw’ the and subject matter experts, the activity. Everyone had told us that distance was too far, and our the task was impossible, nobody to power was too low. So we had managed to engineer a HF link Cpl Attwood paying his respects decided to test our low level HF back to the UK using only a Maj M Forge and SSgt Baker skills by communicating around Bowman FFR and PU12 masts. This the island achieving ranges of up gave us a huge incentive, even a to 100km on just the man pack confirmed radio check would be an radio. achievement. Frequencies were planned, masts erected and we Before we made our way back began the wait for the UK element to the UK we paid our respects to set up their equipment at the start to the members of the Royal of the following week. Signals that lost their lives during the conflict. Lt Salero During this wait, and after the had organised a battlefield tour Argentinians had gone home, we of Mount Tumbledown, home to fierce fighting during the decided to see the local sights. Our first location was Bertha’s conflict. This was extremely interesting, hearing the stories, beach, where we had it on good authority we could see the seeing the terrain and the challenges faced by the Scots all-important Falklands penguin. After walking what felt like a Guards and Royal Gurkha Rifles. We often think of the similar amount as the men of ‘82 and ready to turn back, we hardships faced in Iraq and Afghanistan, but the Falklands spotted movement ahead, we’d finally found them. After the conflict often seems almost forgotten, nevertheless the tour obligatory selfies, we headed back. was tremendous.
We arrived at Port Stanley in the middle of their annual 250 GURKHA SIGNAL SQUADRON marathon, greeted by weather that gave us the impression of walking around an English coastal town. We were quickly OC Maj DA Lish SSM WO2 (SSM) J Rai
Squadron Update
2017 started with the preparation then deployment on Ex JOINT HORIZON 17 to Cyprus in support of Joint Warfare EXCON staff. The Sqn then spent a week in Otterburn on Ex PLATINUM KHUKURI; to revise, learn and practice basic close combat skills. The week was full of theory and practical field Cpl Murray, Cpl Attwood, craft lessons, followed by three days of Section and Platoon Sig Richards and Sig Pun level offensive operations. The Sqn won the Regimental
60 [email protected] Shooting Competition and have continued to provide The day was informative yet fun and all Tp members got to personnel to Op BACKWELL in Somalia. A successful six know a little more about our surrounding areas whilst months, with notable individual and team achievements: socialising.
• PNCO (16 – 28 Oct 16): Top student – Sig Radin 256 SIGNAL SQUADRON Gurung, Top Field Soldier – Sig Bishal Gurung. • UK Armed Forces Judo tour to Japan (12 – 27 Nov 16) OC Maj I Kirk SSM WO2 (SSM) B Wildman – Cpl Trisha Gurung. • JCLM Course (16 Jan – 17 Feb 17): Top student – Cpl Exercise RUNNING MAN - by Cpl Wilkinson Brindan Tulachan. • CS Op Upgrading Course (12 Sep 16 – 21 Jan 17): Top 20 members of 256 Sig Sqn along with DS went to Cyprus for student – LCpl Durgaman Gurung. Ex GLOBAL VINE 17, a Sqn Level Tactical CIS and SERE package • Ex WALTZING MATILDA (BACST to Australia): Cpl organised by SSgt Jones and 2Lt Cooper. We left Gamecock Lalit, Cpl Brindan, LCpl Yogesh and Sig Pradeep Barracks early on 9 March, and after the typically long stay in (3 Apr – 4 Jun 17). RAF Brize Norton we flew to Cyprus. • Lt Danny Younge came top on SNLC Stamina Assessment Test (DOKO Race) on 31 Mar 17 in Nepal. As soon as we arrived we were broken up into four teams for • WO2 (SSM) Indra Thapa is commissioned on the 5 days training followed by the 4 day exercise phase. Each 3 Apr 17 assigned to 246 GSS as a Tp Comd. He is team was to compete against one another. succeeded by WO2 (SSM) Jagat Rai.
WHISKEY Troop Development Day - LCpl Yogesh Gurung
On Wed 15 Mar 17, Whiskey Tp took part in a Tp Development Day organised by Sig Jiwan Pun. The day began with Sig Jiwan’s informative lecture on the UK’s schooling system which was extremely useful and pertinent to the Tp. Cpl Dipendra Rai then gave a brief on the Armed Forces Pension Scheme, highlighting the changes from AFPS 05 to 15 – his clear explanation and use of diagrams assisted us in understanding this complex topic.
Next, Tp personnel deployed to the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery to conduct an educational visit. Birmingham is the second largest city in the UK and only 25 miles from 30 Sig Regt, Bramcote. This city has a great and diverse history and culture. The museum holds evidence of Birmingham’s fascinating and distinct community. It takes you back to Birmingham’s medieval beginnings, as well as the suburban expansion and the roles played by people from Birmingham in the two World Wars. The art gallery holds over 3000 paintings, drawings, prints and examples of decorative art and design. The Greek and Roman galleries and the There were 5 days of CIS and SERE training delivered to us by Sultanganj Buddha are particularly impressive. We found the SSgt Del-Valle, Sgt Bentham and Cpl Scott. We had lessons on story of the Sultanganj Buddha very interesting – it was making shelters, fire, capturing and filtering water, ground to discovered under rubble having been pushed over and air signals, improvised clothing, how to get out of restraints, hidden by monks to ensure it was not destroyed 500 years fighting techniques followed by how to kill and gut rabbits. before.
The Tp had lunch in the sunshine, before moving on to The exercise phase began by getting all our kit searched, the conduct more teambuilding activities which culminated in DS rigidly looking for anything that wasn’t on the kit list. Most typical messing back at the Himali Club. people had tried to smuggle out various food items and warm 250 GSS exercising personnel with CO and Regt Ops team during Ex JOINT HORIZON 17, Cyprus weather clothing, even though we were in Cyprus the Once the tents were completed I ventured into the NER weather was awfully cold at night. My team had managed to (Network Engineering Room) to see if I could be of any use. smuggle out money and a credit card, hiding it in my medical It turns out I couldn’t. The communications equipment had kit. We were given a grid reference and boarded the been set up however there were complications with the helicopter to a drop off point. We had to make the ERV IOT Falcon detachment. These complications required the receive radio orders. The following 4 days and 3 nights we did expertise of the guys who had worked on the kit and knew it various stands which tested what we had learned during the inside out. The Falcon crew were working through several week. different fault finding techniques to see if they could get it working. The whole time we were out on the ground we were chased by foot patrols, dogs and helicopters. We managed to make it One of the ways we attempted to solve the fault was by to a small town within 6 hours of the exercise starting, we resetting the CCT-120 satellite dish. I helped Sgt Poulter to do found a shop and used the money we had smuggled out to this. It must be one of the more unique lessons on buy food and drink to keep us going. We were like kids in a communications equipment I have had. We were lying in a candy shop! We spent the days resting and the nights moving field surrounded by cables and a laptop working through the to keep warm until we were caught on the final day. The system to reset it as the sun was setting. Unfortunately, this hunter force took great delight in zip tying our bags together fix did not work and a group of us had to work into the and drawing cat whiskers on our faces. The exercise night to try and get the communications up and running. concluded with meeting an agent to be picked up and taken It turned into an emotional night with kit refusing to work and out of the area. It was a pretty interesting extraction, and it’s the temperature dropping so cold we could see our breath safe to say we were all very happy to hear the shout of inside the tents. When possible we tried to huddle into the ENDEX. NER tent to benefit from the warmth the kit was kicking out. Finally, at 0830hrs the next morning we were able to call the At the end of the exercise Team 2 led by LCpl Hampton support line and solve the problem. were awarded the best team having managed to avoid capture the entire exercise while Sig Boyd was awarded best For those of us who had worked through the day and night survivor. we were given the next day off and got ourselves some much- needed sleep. 258 SIGNAL SQUADRON When I returned to the exercise it was turned into a teaching OC Maj J Long SSM WO2 (SSM) S Wood opportunity. Each detachment taught other members of the Troop the basics of their kit and equipment. Exercise SWAN EDGE - by LCpl Anderson Part of the teaching included putting faults on the kit for Another day at work and another exercise. This one was people to solve. This became amusing when people were different for myself though as it was my first communications looking in depth into problems such as the printer needing exercise since joining the Early Entry Headquarters. paper or the volume on the phones being switched off. After this, I taught a lesson, the OSI 7-layer model to remind people The exercise began how you would expect anyone’s first to check for physical problems first. communications exercise to begin, with tents… lots and lots of tents. Unlike the 12x12 tents I had put up before, these At the end of the exercise came the tear down. As expected tents were much larger creating a sizeable headquarters for the kit and tents were packed away a lot faster than they the staff officers of JFHQ. Sgt Shoebridge showed me the were set up. Everything was packed away with care to make ropes (quite literally) and under his direction I learnt the it easier to put back up in the future. Then came the moment fundamentals of how the tents assembled. of ENDEX just in time for everyone to enjoy their weekend.
256 Sqn in Cyprus
62 [email protected] 32nd SIGNAL REGIMENT GLASGOW
CO Lt Col R M Jones RSM WO1 (RSM) D Jackson
2 (CITY OF DUNDEE) SIGNAL SQUADRON
OC Maj L Bertram SSM WO2 (SSM) G Cowan
Exercise MERCURY BOWMAN DATA - by WO2 Anderson
Over the weekend 27 – 29 January, 2 (City of Dundee) Sig Sqn conducted Ex MERCURY BOWMAN DATA. The Exercise was the brainchild of WO2 (YofS) McPhie, who wanted to develop the Reserve CS Operator core skillset within the Sqn by Bde Comd chatting to Sgt Lesley Bayne as she conducts BCDT configuring Bowman installations to pass data over the air- training waves.
Bowman data is little used within the Sqn, so the challenge of the ex proved attractive and was well attended. Volunteers travelled from Sqns in Belfast, Glasgow and Edinburgh to take advantage of the opportunity to learn Bowman data skills. The original concept of the ex would have seen a period of in barracks data preparation (IBDP) followed by rolling serials of detachments deploying to locations in the local area. In reality, a combination of CS Operator skill fade and lack of fill devices showed that the realistic objective for the weekend was IBDP and this was achieved by all installations. Individuals also made good progress with Class 3-2 workbooks during the weekend.
The ex was fortunate to be visited by Commander 2 Sig Group, Col Cooper, who travelled up from Donnington for the day. Bde Comd chatting to Sgt David Lyall as he conducts CBRN After receiving a series of briefs about the Unit and the aims of training the ex, Col Cooper spent the rest of his time speaking with the soldiers in the Bowman installations. He commented on how 40 (NORTH IRISH HORSE) SIGNAL SQUADRON good it was to see CS Operators working on their core skillset during IBDP. OC Maj G Stevenson SSM WO2 (SSM) L Gamble Overall, and despite the snow and ice of a January weekend, the troops’ willingness to learn, combined with seeing per- Veteran Engagement Morning - by Sgt Reid sonnel from across 32 Sig Regt working together cohesively resulted in a highly positive ex. YofS McPhie worked everyone The Sqn delivered hands-on Veteran Engagement at the Som- long and hard, yet the feedback from all those who took part me Nursing Home, Belfast on 4 February. The Somme Nursing was very positive. Home is a charity organisation that provides treatment and quality care for ex-service personnel. It is located less than a Visit of 11 Signal & West Midlands Brigade Commander mile from Clonaver Park ARC and the Sqn has delivered sup- - by WO2 (SSM) Cowan port to the Home for many years.
During the Sqn MATTs weekend 10-12 March, we hosted a visit The site of the Somme Nursing Home dates back to the from the Commander of 11 Sig & WM Bde, Brigadier Ander- outbreak of the Great War. In 1914, the Council of the Ulster ton-Brown. The Bde Comd was hosted by the OC, Maj Lynn Volunteers Force offered its complete medical organisation to Bertram, and the Sqn Sgt Maj, WO2 (SSM) George Cowan, at the War Office in the form of a fully equipped hospital for the our Headquarters in Dundee. treatment of sick and wounded soldiers. The offer was grate- fully accepted, at the beginning of 1915, and formally opened After receiving briefings from the CO, Ops Major and OC Sqn, by Lord and Lady Edward Carson. the Bde Comd went on to tour the Sqn facilities and visited the troops conducting MATT training in the form of BCDT and Under the direction of Sgt Kelly Reid, a party of 17 reservists CBRN. Overall, a very successful visit for all and even a bit of delivered much needed gardening and grounds maintenance banter about the England v Scotland Rugby match that was in the Memorial Garden. Luckily Cpl James Smart was on the due to kick off that afternoon. The less said about the final team - his expertise as a professional tree surgeon proved score the better! invaluable.
JUNE 2017 63 At the end of the morning, Somme Nursing Home staff were The second stand was CBRN instructed by SSgt Ricky George amazed at what had been achieved in a short period of time. and SSgt (SPSI) Ian Robson. It was time to get the CS pellets The Memorial Garden was transformed back to its former out and expose the troops within the respirator testing fa- glory and gardens were left neat and tidy for the enjoyment of cility, most survived without inhaling the gas. Finally the BCDT the residents and their families. lesson instructor, Cpl Mal Colhoun, set up a few battlefield scenarios within a house to assess how the troops dealt with After our hard work in the garden, the residents invited us in multiple casualties in different rooms. for tea and cakes. The veterans thoroughly enjoyed a good old chat and reminiscing with Sqn members during their lunch hour.
Two veterans from the home are particularly close to the heart of the Sqn, Maj (ret'd) Noel Johnston* (President RSA NI Branch) and ex SSM John McAreavey both previously served with 40 Sig Regt. They were nearly ready to come back up to the ARC and fit right back into their old positions!
Nearing the end of our visit we had a surprise for the Nursing Home. All year, the Sqn has been conducting fund-raising for the Home. The CO, Lt Col R M Jones, who was visiting from RHQ, was delighted to present a cheque for £690.
Oh, I just can’t wait to be gassed
Later in the afternoon was CIED, instructed by Cpl Dutch Holland and Cpl Jonny Colgan. This lesson consisted of a vehicle search to try and find a hidden VBIED. This was well received due to the high threat in Northern Ireland from this form of attack.
After a few refreshments and a lot of stories of the day it was up early Sunday morning followed by MAP REC by SSgt (SPSI) Ian Robson. It was then time to quickly grab kit and get ready for the AFT. After a gruelling AFT it was the end of another successful and enjoyable (for most), MATTs weekend. Lt Col RM Jones presenting the cheque Thank you to the volunteers who all got stuck in and worked extremely hard to make a real difference to the local commun- ity. WO2 (SSM) Glenn Campbell, Sgt Glenn Adair, Sgt Kelly Reid, Sgt Brian Clarke, Sgt Christopher Collins, Cpl Robert Browne, Cpl Andrew Clarke, Cpl Christopher Darling, Cpl Alan Sims, Cpl James Smart, Cpl Peter Stewart, Sig Daniel Elliot, Sig Jonathan Graham, Sig Richard Harrington, Sig Darren McIlwaine, Sig Kurtis McMaster and Sig Philip Thompson.
* We are sorry to report that Maj (Ret'd) Noel Johnston passed away on 24 March after a short illness.
MATTS Weekend 20 – 22 Jan 17
40 (NIH) Sig Sqn held their final MATTs weekend of the train- ing year at Magilligan Training Camp over the weekend 20 - 22 Jan 17. The weekend began with V&S on the Friday evening Some unhappy faces with Maj (Padre) Ian Gamble, entertaining as ever, ensuring everyone was morally correct. After the Padre, it was the turn The Sqn would like to thank SSgt Kelly O’Donnell and SSgt of the OC Maj ‘Gordie’ Stevenson to entertain the troops with Tam McDougall for joining them and adding lots of enthusi- the LOAC MATT which was – all together less entertaining. asm into the MATTs weekend with 40 (NIH) Sig Sqn; this added a bit of cohesion within the Regt. After a hearty breakfast on the Saturday morning it was back to the classroom for the Security/WIP by WO2 (SSM) Les AGC Hockey Tour to Hong Kong and Singapore - February 17 Gamble. - by Sig Emily Thompson
The Sqn was then broken down into three syndicates to cover I was invited to represent the AGC Hockey Team on a tour to three practical MATTS and they set off to their respective Hong Kong and Singapore in February 2017. The Team was locations in a round-robin scenario. invited to compete in the Singapore 6s Tournament which invites teams from all over the world. There were teams from The first stand was on the ranges with the RCO,Sgt Jonny Japan, Thailand, Australia, Germany and Hong Kong. It was Booth, this included some coaching by the safety supervisors. the opportunity of a lifetime and I was delighted to be
64 [email protected] awarded Player of the Tour by my fellow team mates. The 40 at 50 - 1 April 2017 - by Maj Derek Irvine Team travelled to Hong Kong and played a mixed match against Hong Kong Football club - unfortunately they lost 5-4 On 1 April 1967, 40 (Ulster) Sig Regt (Volunteers) was formed. in a very competitive game. To commemorate the 50th Anniversary, ‘40 at 50’ found its way into the diary, hosted by the last remaining Royal Signals Reserve unit in N Ireland. An eventual format for the day was decided on with Plan A ending up as Plan J, several rehearsals, numerous meetings and even more discussions followed. Eventually, we felt prepared and were looking forward to the big day. With several VIP guests invited and more than 200 ex-members and their families expected, we had to push the boat out to host and entertain them. On arrival, for the children was an indoor shooting range and a climbing wall pro- vided by Parkway working in conjunction with RFCA. Mr Paul McCann provided a WW2 stand including comms equipment and a jeep, complete with machine gun and 303 rifle. SSgt Tony Welsh and his team manned the brilliant Sqn recruiting stand, which included VR technology, allowing attendees to experience a wide variety of military scenarios, including a Sig Thompson at the Hong Kong Football Club parachute jump.
It was a short visit to Hong Kong, from there the Team trav- elled to Singapore to train and acclimatise for the tournament. As the climate is warmer and more humid than the UK, our training matches were held during the evenings. Therefore, there were a few opportunities to explore and experience the culture of Singapore. The group leader organised a few team bonding activities, one being competitive canoeing at Sent- osa, which is an island off the Southern coast of Singapore. We were split into four teams and we raced each other in large open canoes, the competitive spirit was visible. We also spent a day at Adventure Cove Water Park; some individuals upgraded their ticket to experience swimming with dolphins.
The CO trying not to look terrified while ‘sky-diving’ at the recruiting stand
225 (ECM(FP)) Sig Sqn also put on an outstanding display, fronted by the enigmatic Capt Lianne Robinson. The main event of the day soon arrived however, with the Sqn and the RSA (NI) Branch on parade supported by the Royal Signals Northern Band, led by Capt Tom Milford.
Adventure Cove Water Park
In the evenings, the male and female team played local Singa- pore teams to help acclimatise and practice playing in a team together. Unfortunately both teams lost their matches but we were all able to take a lot of positives from the experience, which we took with us to the tournament.
The main event approached and we were all feeling a little nervous but excited to play against teams from all over the world. The tournament was played during the day, in temper- atures up to 30 degrees. Both teams had five matches on the Saturday; the men’s team got to the first round of the plate but unfortunately were beaten by a very strong team from Thailand. The ladies’ team played in the bowl and, unfortu- nately, were knocked out on penalty shoot-outs by a team from Australia (who actually went on to win the Bowl). 40 (NIH) Sig Sqn on Parade
JUNE 2017 65 The VIP guest for the day was Colonel (Retd) Garth Corbett After the parade, we were all looking forward to lunch which MBE DL a Deputy Lieutenant of Belfast. Also taking the salute had been prepared by our two stalwart chefs LCpl Flo Conlane for the Parade was the Corps Colonel, Simon Hutchinson MBE and LCpl Dana Jamison. Trying to control the crowds was SSgt ADC, and Colonel Owen Lyttle MBE TD, 38 (Irish) Brigade Dep- Dusty ‘where did they all come from’ Miller and SSgt Dave uty Commander (Reserves). Making his first appearance as ‘laid back’ Thomas. With Sgt Maggie Robertson acting as our new Squadron Colonel was Colonel (Retd) Ron Laird TD. Maître D’ and organising the bar staff, we had the makings of Also present were previous Commanding Officers from 40 (U) a formidable team ensuring everyone was fed and watered. Sig Regt (V) Brigadier (Retd) Nigel Beacom QVRM TD, Colonel Overall the day was a big success and thanks must go to all (Retd) Ian Henderson OBE TD, Colonel (Retd) Bill Gillespie Sqn personnel for their input in delivering it. OBE TD JP DL and Lt Col (Retd) Rodney Clare. The CO, Lt Col Rhidian Jones, escorted Colonel (Retd) Garth Corbett MBE DL 52 (LOWLAND) SUPPORT SQUADRON as he inspected the Sqn. OC Maj R McCartney With the Sqn OC, Maj Gordy Stevenson, directing proceed- SSM WO2 (SSM) D Reid ings Col (Retd) Garth Corbett MBE DL awarded LCpl Brian Edgar with his Op TOSCA medal and VRSM’s to WO2 (SSM) MATTs Package - by Sig Doyle Les Gamble, Cpl John Colgan and Cpl Deborah Gilmore. 1st Clasp to the VRSM was awarded to Cpl James Smart and 2nd Forty members of 52 Sqn were joined by personnel from 50 Clasp to Sgt Maggie Robertson and Cpl Jackie McKeown. The and 51 Sqns as the first weekend of the training year took Corps Colonel also awarded SSgt Dan Robertson with his Long place from 7-9 April 2017. This weekend was to give everyone Service and Good Conduct Medal and presented Cpl Rory attending an early opportunity in the training year to com- Mortimer with his GOC’s Certificate. plete their MATTs. Personnel gathered at the Army Cadet Force unit in Cambuslang on the Friday evening and, after a standard admin brief, weapon handling tests were carried out for anyone who had not had the opportunity to complete them on the previous Tuesday’s training night. Everyone was then informed that they would be splitting into five sections to complete a round robin of MATTs starting the following morning. The rest of the evening was taken up by all par- ticipating and fit persons desperately scrambling to find the needed 15 kilograms for the following mornings AFT.
After a 0545hrs reveille on the Saturday, 35 members from across the three Sqns (including the CO and RSM) lined up outside ready to complete the annual 6 miles required to remain a qualified fit soldier. After a leisurely stroll around hills to the south of Glasgow, under the direction of the Regiment- al PTI, SSgt Gary Cambridge, all were pleased to be informed that they had passed. Shortly after, everyone was split into their sections and were transported to Dechmont ranges, a short bus journey away. SSgt Robertson is presented with his LS&GC Medal At the ranges, all participating troops were given the oppor- A Thanksgiving and Remembrance Service was conducted tunity to complete BCDT, CBRN, navigation, CIOD and LF4. by Reverend Ian Gamble MBE C.F. who for once managed to This day of events ran seamlessly and was only interrupted by finish at the agreed time. an excellent lunch, provided by the renowned chefs of 32 Sig Regt.
LCpl Brian Edgar is awarded his Op TOSCA medal by Colonel (Retd) Garth Corbett MBE DL I can’t believe they all went through the same hole, again!
66 [email protected] Upon returning from the ranges, a late afternoon of weapon cleaning followed; the morale lifting exercise it usually is. After evening meal, a Values and Standards lesson was carried out by Maj Dodds followed by a navigation exercise. Fortunately, no one got too lost and the day’s events ended by 2030hrs.
The team on the slopes
Although three quarters of the team had been on the exercise at least once before, they had never met each other. So the rest of the journey was about getting to know each other. I think we are somewhere on this map, probably With a relatively inexperienced team this year, we didn't go expecting to win but we kept an open mind and hoped that, In the evening, everyone was given the opportunity to enjoy like the previous year’s exercise, we could come away with a a few light refreshments at the on-site bar. This offer was trophy or two. taken up by most and allowed everyone present to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to Sig Gardiner, who was celebrating his 23rd As with every year, the ex lived up to its fantastic reputation. birthday. Yes, there was less snow than we would have liked, but races weren't affected by it. There was plenty of sunshine, great A later reveille of 0700hrs on the Sunday allowed everyone accommodation, with amazing instructors from Ripstar. time to get much-needed rest after the previous day’s excur- sions. Breakfast at 0730hrs was followed by a LOAC lesson Everyone's confidence on the snowboard improved massively, delivered again by Maj Dodds. After a quick clean-up of the although unfortunately we didn't manage any prizes on race cadet unit, all personnel returned to their respective sqns, safe day. The closest we came was a race off betweenCpl Grice in the knowledge that they were qualified for another year. and Sig Stevenson for 4th place in the Slalom; having only 0.34 of a second between them over two races.
It was Sig Stevenson's first year on the exercise. She thor- oughly enjoyed her experience and said:
“It thoroughly lived up to my expectations and exceeded them. I was exercising daily, feeling the ache for days and couldn't wait to get back on the mountain. I had the oppor- tunity to talk to regulars, reservist, commissioned officers and non-commissioned officers in a whole new light. It was brilliant to find out about different jobs in the Royal Corps of Signals and has helped me make my decision on putting an application in to commission myself.”
From the experience and skills learned this year, we should have a stronger team and be in a better position to win next year. The Sqn assembled and only one person forgot his shirt!
Exercise MERCURY SNOW RIDER - by Cpl Grice
It was an early start for those travelling from 50 Sqn in Dar- lington to Edinburgh Airport (via Glasgow), and on to Rauris, Austria for the 2017 Ex MERCURY SNOW RIDER. Of course, the early starts are always worth it when you know the snowy mountains are waiting for you at the other end.
Our team was made up of four soldiers:
Sig Hodkinson from 2 Sqn, Dundee, LCpl Golden and Sig Ste- venson from 50 Sqn, Darlington, and Cpl Grice from 52 Sqn, Glasgow. Team photo on the slopes
JUNE 2017 67
Sergeant Ronald FJ Kells In the November 1941 edition of "The Wire” (the penultimate edition before publication was discontinued for the duration of the War) there appeared a notification of the award of a Distinguished Conduct Medal to Sergeant Ronald F J Kells for gallantry during fighting around Tobruk in North Africa in 1941. The notice also appeared elsewhere - in the “War Illustrated” in December 1941 from which the above photograph is taken and in the Liverpool Evening Express of 25th October 1941.
From then on it all becomes a bit of a mystery. There is no record in the London Gazette of an award of a DCM being made to Sergeant Kells nor is there any mention of it on his service record. The roll of Corps gallantry awards compiled through the years also fails to include the award.
The purpose of this short article is to see if this episode jogs anyone’s memory. Kells enlisted in 1939 and underwent training at Jubbulpore in India and by 1941 we believe he was serving with 70th Divisional Signals. He was wounded in North Africa and recovered and left the Army at the end of the war. He died in 1982.
If anyone reading this has any knowledge of Ronald Kells or of the incident resulting in the originally reported award then could you please get in touch with:
Martin Skipworth Head of Research Royal Signals Museum 01258 482683 [email protected].
Leave a Gift in Your Will
Your legacy can help us safeguard the Royal Signals Community
Every year the RSBF helps hundreds of those who have fallen on hard times. This includes serving Signallers injured on operations, the families of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, members of the Corps who need assistance with specialist medical care for their children, or veterans who need help in maintaining their mobility and independence.
Help others in their time of need
There has been a long-standing saying that the “Corps looks after its own” and we help wherever we can. In the past three years the RSBF has granted approximately £1 million to help fellow serving and retired signallers and their families in times of need.
We don’t distinguish between Regular, Reserve, National Service, ex-ATS or WRAC who served with the Corps, officer or soldier and their dependants. Any case brought to us will be considered with expert support from SSAFA, The Royal British Legion and the Army Benevolent Fund.
You can help too - by leaving a legacy in your will. It’s simple to do and can oyal Sign make all the difference to someone who has worn the same cap badge. R als B en ev If you would like to make a difference please contact the Association. eW RS olent Fund will be happy to provide information on how to leave a legacy so that B others from the Corps might benefit from your generosity. F
Contact: [email protected]
JUNE 2017 69 37th SIGNAL REGIMENT REDDITCH
CO Lt Col R J Lovett rest! The SF3 group finished their week with an overnight trip RSM WO1 (RSM) Morrison in a mountain hut, before skiing down the Kitzbuhel run in the morning; having enjoyed their tour up the evening before! All A busy end to the training year that has seen members of the the students in this group agreed that it had been a challenge Regt visit Gibraltar on military training and Cyprus on sub and some were definitely out of their comfort zones. aqua adventure training; comms training took place at Altcar on Ex GLOBAL CANTER, whilst younger members of the Regt completed Trade Camp and Driver Training courses.
Recruiting activity included another successful surge period with 16 and 22 Sig Regt RSTs in support and the Regt also provided support to Ex LIGHTNING STRIKE. Additionally the Regt completed a skiing exped to Austria and SSgt Moxon participated in the winter sport of Army Skeleton.
In March, the Regt had a number of external visits including 11 Sig & WM Bde DComd (Col Maybery), closely followed a week later by the Bde Comd (Brig Anderton-Brown), who awarded a number of awards and presentations: VRSM to Maj Longcake, WO2 Robertson, SSgt Milton, Sgt Walton and Sgt SSgt Abbott's SF3 group Taylor; Congratulations to all recipients and to WO2 Hall who was presented with his Royal Warrant following promotion to The exped finished with an end of course meal, where thanks WO2. was given to the organisers and all participants. Each instructor awarded a small prize to their most improved Regimental Skiing Expedition to Austria - by SSgt Acton student on the course and certificates were presented to those who had progressed a level. It was a very positive way This year the Regt conducted AT in Austria, skiing in the St to end the week; SSgt Acton would like to thank 37 Sig Regt Jacob area from 26 Feb to 4 Mar 17. Throughout the week all for supporting the exped and all the agencies that have groups progressed well; SSgt Hopkinson took all of the provided help and funding. beginners to the local area at St Jacob; the SF2 students studied the BASI manual and took on the challenging black 54 (QOWWY) SUPPORT SQUADRON run on the Steinplatter; the SF3 group carried out technical drills and harder skiing over in the Leogang area. Notably, OC Maj D Dewfall Capt John Berry (who is rumoured to be the best ski SSM SSgt P Hall instructor in the world), is reported to have skied his group hard; covering over 23 miles of piste on one day! In addition to a range of military weekends and sporting activities, the Sqn have carried out 2 successful CE/EE activities in quick succession this month. On the Employer Engagement front, the Sqn delivered a presentation aimed at line managers, followed by a curry supper, and on the Civil Engagement front, a thoroughly enjoyable dinner was attended by local dignitaries. On Saturday 1 Apr, a dinner at Kohima House was supported by 75 key stakeholders from the local community, which included the Chair of Worcestershire County Council, 5 x Mayors from adjoining boroughs, 6 x former Redditch Mayor’s, the current Mayor of Redditch and The Leader of the Council. All attending were hugely impressed with our estate and the event really put us on the map and raised our profile in the Worcs CETF AO.
Exercise LIGHTNING STRIKE - by Sig Kesterton Capt Berry with his SF1 group Ex Lightning Strike is an exercise at Blandford Camp aimed at The week of training culminated in a short period of giving UOTC cadets and DTUS students a look at what Royal assessment for all skiers. The SF1 groups were assessed on a Signal Soldiers and Reservists do in a competition format, sweeping blue run; unfortunately, some of the SF1 group with each Regt providing a stand. Sgt Taylor, Sig Hegarty, Sig didn’t make the assessment level and were deferred or failed Gascoigne and myself; (Sig Kesterton) supported this year. the course. The failures were mainly due to lack of time on Our stand started with a brief from Sgt Taylor highlighting the snow due to injuries. The continuation group had what we do as a Regt; this included information about improved and were looking forward to their SF2 or 3 next training as a reservist, commitment required, AT opportunities season, while the SF2 group were just looking forward to a and our contribution as High Readiness Reserves for UK Ops.
70 [email protected] After this brief I gave a basic brief on how to use the Manpack Day four consisted of completing our hours driving on the Bowman Radios for the command task. roads before doing round robin stands, learning how to reverse; use of hand signals, doing hill recovery safely, self- The communication exercise was a flood relief scenario. The recovery, components and fluids underneath the bonnet and competitors were split into teams that consisted of two Silver how to fit the wading plug and when to use it. Day five was commands reporting to one Gold command. The Silver our individual drives around the cross country with different commands were tasked with communicating incidents over instructors to see how competent we were, followed by to Gold, who plotted out the information onto a map. This washing the vehicles to make them road safe. Then it was then allowed Gold command to make a decision on what time for our drive out as a convoy on the main roads, again resources to send to incident locations, using the information using the route cards and making sure we kept the correct they had, for example, they would send logistics if the distances. Once we had got back to camp it was time for the incident was that a flood had cut off food supply to an area. night convoy which meant only the use of a convoy light. Teams gained points for accuracy, communication skills and Upon reaching the destination, we demonstrated camming decision making. Overall it was a great event again this year up the vehicle and then swapped drivers and convoyed back with the students gaining a good insight into the Regt and in. Day six was a rest day due to driver’s hours, so we cleaned wider Corps. the vehicles and then learnt how to safely stow and secure equipment in the back of the GS. We then headed back to Driver Training Camp GS and B+E 03-17th March 2017 the classroom for our final three tests; filling out an ATOD - by Sig Morrice and Sig Smith correctly, completing FMT3-2 and 3-3 then a hazard awareness test. Day seven consisted of cleaning up, emptying our rooms GS Week One and getting our certificates.
Upon arriving at Swynnerton Training Camp on the Friday, we B+E Week Two got our timings for the start of the course on Saturday morning. Our first two days comprised of powerpoint for Day one, we met our instructors and went onto the parade different aspects of what we needed to know; learning about square to learn about the trailers; including safety aspects the different sections of JSP 800 and JSP 515, maintaining the and what sequence to hook and unhook them. After some vehicles, first parades, convoy driving (day and night) and the practice of that, we learnt how to reverse with the trailer correct distances, filling in Atods, FMT 3-2 and 3-3, breakdown attached into a space as if it was a garage. There was five in recovery, general safety of working with and around the our group and we all had several attempts at completing that vehicle and also how to change a wheel which was a practical until we were comfortable, followed by driving on the roads lesson. On our third day it was time to get hands on with the and learning what you have to watch when driving with a land rovers doing the first parade ourselves and reporting any trailer. issues the correct way. Once that was completed our instructors took us around the training area before we did two laps of the road; then we went out onto the main roads using our route cards, working as a team with the co- drivers to get to the destination. In the afternoon it was time to see the cross country aspect of the course being taught how to recce a route, what to look for when planning a route, the use of diff in high and low, then under the instructors we all had a go round the route, before going out and completing some night driving on the main roads.
Car and trailer
Day two - again we practised all day, feeling comfortable with all aspects regarding driving with a trailer and helping each other out. We then went out on the roads, learning about the use of mirrors when coming off roundabouts and compensating when turning on tight bends. Day three was test day; we met the instructors who were taking us out, then it was time for us as individuals to go and complete the test which included hooking/ unhooking the trailer, taking charge of a trailer and doing the appropriate safety checks. We all passed so that was another tick in the box. We really enjoyed the driver training camp and would like to become GS instructors one day.
33 (LANCASHIRE) SIGNAL SQUADRON
OC Maj A Bowdler SSM WO2 (SSM) Jolliffe
Exercise NORTHERN PLUNGE
Cross country driving For most of us Ex NORTHERN PLUNGE started back in August 2016 when the fourteen intrepid explorers of 37 Sig Regt
JUNE 2017 71 were despatched to Army Medical Centres to undergo fitness The next few days followed the same sort of format, theory to dive medicals. Certified fit (and for the most part human), sessions in the morning covering topics such as how sound we were all keen for November to come while Sgt Chris and vision are affected underwater, effects of depth on Woolerton continued in the background with the pressure and air supply, how to manage your air supply and organisation of the expedition. emphasis on teamwork and buddy diving. The open water sessions were increasing both in length (as our confidence Fast forward to Saturday 19 November…..all personnel were and so air consumption improved) and in complexity, with at 33 Sig Sqn Army Reserve Centre, Liverpool, in good time, drills becoming slicker as they were repeated. had documents checked and were efficiently bussed to Liverpool’s John Lennon airport to take the 4 ½ hour Easyjet flight to Larnaca, Cyprus, which was surprisingly comfortable. Upon arrival at Dhekelia Station, we took over our accommodation and got some (well earned!) rest before the first day of training.
Day one of dive school began with a 2 hour drive to RAF Akrotiri to meet the dive school staff from Kembali Diving who were to be providing training and guiding for the week. The journey was uneventful if a little longer than it should have been, thanks to the ‘safe’ skills of Cpl Stu ‘Driving Miss Daisy’ Pearson. The novices (or tadpoles as they were affectionately referred to), were given an overview of the course contents to whet their appetites and then they were straight into the classroom theory work. After the theory came the practice, with an introduction to the safe and correct way of handling and putting together the dive equipment (and correct names for all the bits of kit….ie not a Ex NORTHERN PLUNGE group on shore breathy tube thing and flippers, Cpl Isherwood…it is actually called a snorkel and fins!). The last day of dive school involved a navigation exercise in a beautiful bay with crystal clear waters which also had some tunnels and other rock formations. There was limited sea life, mainly urchins and small fish, but these were still brilliant to see from this underwater perspective. On the return from this dive we also did a bit of environmental work under the banner of Project Aware – collecting numerous plastic bags and other rubbish from the sea, hopefully helping, in a small way to preserve the marine environment.
Only the final exam was left now….we all passed with flying colours and were pronounced, to no longer be Tadpoles….. we were fully fledged frogmen!
The training and qualification phase complete, we now embarked upon our first taste of ‘real diving’. The weather conditions, which had been marginal during the week, were deemed to be suitable for diving the wreck of the car ferry “Tadpoles” diving brief MS Zenobia, which sank on its maiden voyage in 1980. This dive was to test us to the limits, both physically and mentally, According to the dive school staff, normally at this time of as it was our first open water dive, on a wreck from a boat! year in Cyprus the waters in the bay at Akrotiri are dead calm There was a minor swell when we arrived at the mooring and perfect for tadpole training….upon looking out of the buoy which, for newly qualified divers, made kit preparation school window though, it was so rough it made the North Sea ‘interesting’ to say the least. After receiving a comprehensive look like the waters of Barbados and so another road trip was dive brief, we completed our ‘buddy checks’ and with a ‘giant quickly organised to a calmer bay (that was unfortunately stride’ entered the water. As newly qualified divers we were another hour away). The Tadpoles finally had a chance to use only able to descend to 18m but even at this depth, we the equipment for real! After setting up they followed the discovered a new world. With underwater visibility of over 20 buddy check procedures that they had been taught and metres we saw, from a distance, various parts of the ship entered the water for the first time. On a purely technical superstructure – funnels and vehicles fallen from the decks, note, the training went well with drills being conducted; to as well as fish – a shoal of barracuda, 2m long grouper and replace a dislodged mask, manage out of air situations and sea bream. attempts to perfect neutral buoyancy. From an individual perspective however, things were different, with most of the Close monitoring of our dive computers and air supply told us tadpoles marvelling at the experience of breathing after 30 minutes that it was time to surface and after underwater for the first time and a couple (including Cpl completing a mandatory ‘safety stop’ we made our way back Brian ‘Cousteau’ Hardy), undergoing periods of mild, mainly on board the dive boat, where some members of the party, controlled, terror! Returning to the dive school saw us especially LCpl ‘Feed the Fish’ Bartlett, realised that sea washing down kit, being debriefed on the day’s activities and sickness tablets were not for the weak and vowed to the issue of homework. purchase some for next time.
72 [email protected] standing commitment to temporarily replace the Royal Gibraltar Regiment, whilst they enjoy the delights of the UK on their annual exercise.
Ex TARIK PATROL began smoothly for those arriving on civilian flights on 25 February. Following the briefs, we were free to begin exploring the rock. With the main body of troops delayed before even arriving at South Cerney, we were treated to two days of cultural and AT activities. This began with a tour of the impressive WW2 tunnels, including the Great Northern Road and an insight into the strategic significance of Gibraltar and military tactics throughout WW2. Ex NORTHERN PLUNGE group “underwater” The day culminated in us donning climbing helmets (we definitely got our monies worth out of those!) and exploring This last dive proved to be the crowning glory of the trip, the impressive St. Michael’s Cave, with enough natural being newly qualified and diving on one of the 10 best wreck features to charm even a seasoned caver. This also gave us dives in the world as your first open water dive will take some the opportunity to meet the famous rock apes, who lived up beating. Overall the ‘ex-tadpole’ group had developed in self- to their reputation and almost stole my lunch, after sneaking confidence, teamwork and also grown as individuals during into the café atop the rock. the weeks diving and for some, if not most, it had enlightened them to some of the pleasures and challenges of sport diving and hopefully opened a door to a new hobby that will last a lifetime.
Exercise NORTHERN PLUNGE – visit to UN Buffer Zone
We headed over to Nicosia, from our base in Dhekelia, for a tour of the United Nations Buffer Zone by 1st Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster Regt arranged by Maj McFarlane (208 Field Hosp). We spent the tour learning about the history of the conflict as a whole but specifically the British controlled sector in the post conflict years. It was shocking to us all to learn that 105 British troops had lost their lives during the four year EOKA insurrection. It was equally as shocking to hear of the similarities with the troubles in Northern Ireland - a conflict that we were all too aware of. It was clear to see the tensions that had existed in the past (and to some extent still exist today), from the stories that we were told and by visiting some of the Zone 2 places of interest - such as Magic Mansion, Spear Alley, Otto’s Cafe, Annie’s House and Grizzly Bunker. We then headed to the Ledra Palace Hotel where we had time to reflect on the tour over lunch and marvel at its faded splendor. Gibraltar Rock Apes
The next part of our tour was a visit to the Nicosia War The following day saw us trying our hand at paddleboarding, cemetery - Wayne’s Keep. The cemetery contains 3 fishing and powerboating at Gun Wharf. After some excellent memorials; the Cross of Sacrifice, Nicosia Cremation memorial instructor training, we were (to different degrees of success) (73 soldiers of undivided India - the inscription is in English, doing yoga, having races and playing rugby atop our boards. Hindu and Gurumukhi) and Cyprus Volunteers Monument (58 A special mention to LCpl Coke, who overcame his nerves of dead - the Regt was made up of both Greek and Turkish water with the help of troop members and threw himself into soldiers). In the Cemetery lie 409 RN, Army and RAF the water activities. He was even the last to fall of his paddle personnel and 167 dependants and service civilians, and also 6 board (through skill or nerves, who’s to say?!) Germans from WW2 bomber crew. We then had the opportunity to take a walk around the Turkish half of Nicosia With some great group cohesion already developed, it was which gave us the opportunity to sample the Turkish Cypriot time for the military training package to begin at Bufferdero culture and contrast and compare with the Greek Cypriot side Training Camp. The camp was situated on top of the rock, of the City. providing excellent opportunities for dolphin watching and stunning views of Morocco and Spain. Under the control of 48 (CITY OF BIRMINGHAM) SIGNAL SQUADRON WO2 ‘TC’ Trebilcock, Troop 2 conducted a three-day package of range skills, basic soldiering skills and OIBUA. For those OC Maj L Sewell that stayed to the end of the deployment, there was also the SSM WO2 (SSM) Gurung opportunity for a lesson in tunnel warfare and a platoon level attack through the tunnels (sad to miss this!). The week Exercise TARIK PATROL began with two days of ranges, including a transition shoot and lessons in section battle drills and platoon level attacks, In February 2016, members of 37 Sig Regt were deployed to culminating in an attack of the village. This provided juniors, Gibraltar for two weeks as part of Ex TARIK PATROL, under such as Sig Tony Lawson, great experience with the chance of the control of 10 Sig Regt. This is part of 10 Sig Regt’s taking on the role of Section Commander. A special mention
JUNE 2017 73 to the range DS, that set up extra shoots on the range for Overall, the ex was highly valuable and enjoyable, offering the those leaving the deployment early and the opportunity to opportunity to train alongside and get to know our regular fire the Glock’s (definitely a highlight!). soldier counterparts. There was a good mix of activities, enabling us to develop soldiering skills, challenge ourselves The AT staff provided glorious weather and a great package through adventurous training and learn about the culture and of water-based activities for the second week, including more significance of Gibraltar. It’s only a shame I didn’t get to stay paddleboarding, fishing, powerboating, kayaking, the for the entire six weeks and get to experience more of the ‘biscuit’, a beach day and a BBQ on which to cook our hard- security package, but I would highly recommend this type of earned catches. The ‘biscuit’ involved two people attempting attachment. to hold onto an inflatable disk, whilst a speedboat executes increasingly sharp turns. It turned out to be almost as much 64 SIGNAL SQUADRON fun to watch as to take part. Sig Jonny ‘Essex’ Collington deserves a special mention, after helping Cpl Richy Williams OC Maj McHenery combat his nerves of water with one-on-one swimming SSM WO2(SSM) Howes lessons in the local pool. Also, to Lt Greg Tonks for narrowly avoiding being stung by a weever fish. Apparently the most Fall In’s and Fall Out’s - by WO2 (SSM) P Howes effective treatment for a sting is to plunge the affected area into near boiling water. The efforts of the Sqn’s ADC recruiting team bear fruit again, as three new signallers came to us after their Pass Off Parades for CMS (RES) Phase 1(B) Consolidated Courses: Sig Richard Mangham at ATU Grantham and Sigs Connor Davison and Adam Smart at ATU Strensall. We wish you a warm welcome from the Sqn and your Tps at Leeds and Sheffield respectively will look after you going forward. A belated welcome to the WOs & Sgts Mess for the not-so-recently promoted Sgt Mike Williams based at our 849 (City of Leeds) Tp.
As the sun rises on one career in the Mess, another one sets. By the time this is printed, the Sqn will have said goodbye to one of 887 (City of Nottingham) Tp’s stalwarts: Sgt Donald Hammett. He has been a constant presence there since 1999, although his service dates back to his infantry days with the long gone 3rd Bn WFR. He will be sorely missed for his committed administration and BSS/Bowman/CST knowledge. The Army Reserve’s loss will no doubt be the Army Cadet’s gain. Paddleboarding in Gibraltar Exercise GLOBAL MATTs 4: 03-05 Feb 17 Finally, with the help of a civilian company, there was the - by WO2 (SSM) P Howes opportunity to see what Gibraltar had to offer underwater and take part in some scuba diving. This took place in Rosia The fourth and final MATT's weekend came at the beginning Bay, where Lord Nelson’s body was brought ashore, following of Feb and was hosted and delivered by personnel from 64 the Battle of Trafalgar. Those which were PADI qualified (Sgt Sqn at a bright and sunny Beckingham Training Area. Ross Nugent and LCpl Steve Morgan) had the opportunity to Friday night’s arrivals brief was ably hosted by SSgt John go to greater depths, whilst the remainder of us were treated Norton with the odd cameo performance by SSgt Dave to a memorable dive, seeing an octopus, sea urchins and Williams – it was good to see our SPSIs getting involved so where all the fish that we hadn’t been able to catch were. late in the evening after their early arrival with the G4 advance party!
To speed things along, the arriving troops were split into syndicates based on the forecasted nominal roll for the weekend. All the Officers and WOs, including the CO and new Regt 2iC, were collected together and shepherded around for us by the SSM 33 Sqn; he has since assured me he will be returning the favour one day! There were 5 syndicates altogether, all provided with a round-robin running order of the MATT stands and the knowledge that all that stood between them and a bounty payment later in the year, was their individual skills and drills… no pressure then!
As “no plan survives”, we even managed to cater for an urgent need for the Regt YofS to conduct an ACMT on the ranges, to satisfy his previously unforeseen pre-deployment training. There was a flurry of activity as Capt Emma Holt, SSgt Dave Hallewell and the Range Warden grappled with the console set up. Let us not forget that underneath that range console program is the beating heart of a Windows PC and it Gibraltar from the top of The Rock will do whatever it fancies without notice. Despite this, the
74 [email protected] Regt YofS passed with flying colours so well done to him and and trailers. Their introduction of how to correctly load a bon voyage for the next few months. trailer, with the aid of a preponderance device, will also come in useful when I get on my driver training camp.
SSgt Dave Hallewell can’t watch while the console computer swaps between shoot programs. Capt Emma Holt looks on Cpl Dunker and Cpl Fountain Sig Ogutu familiarising himself hopefully! demonstrating the with an in the field radio preponderance device detachment The rest of the day passed without any major mishaps thanks to the organisational efforts of the SQMS and his G4 team. As previously mentioned, a nod of thanks must go to 16 Sig The evening saw Cpl Ben Dunker roll out another successful Regt for their great Falcon detachment overview, delivered quiz for the assembled teams in the makeshift bar area. His by the enthusiastic and knowledgeable Cpl Burns. What a question set varied from the sublime to the ridiculous once fantastic system and I look forward to it becoming integrated again. within the Regt in the future. Other stands were great refreshers for me and others on previously taught material, He was again in prominence the next day when he tested such as Cpl Scott Hymas’ A & P stand, which included the bodies instead of minds, as he donned his PTI vest to possibilities of improvised antennas. administer the AFT for those in need of it… and for those of us who just like to enjoy a Sunday morning stroll in the Saturday was completed with a fantastic curry supper which beautiful Lincolnshire countryside too. With that in the bag, was lovely - a thanks to all the Regt’s chefs for their efforts. the CO addressed the assembled personnel. Sunday was a continuation of Saturday’s round robin, with a good dollop of rain of course - “if it ain’t raining, it ain’t It was a great turn out with over 100 personnel from the Regt training”. An in the field CST demonstration was a highlight being involved in a weekend so early in the new training again for myself as I have only previously seen them in year… overall the CO was pleased … therefore the OC was Building of Opportunity scenarios. too… I was delighted that the Sqn could deliver a Regimental MATTs package with all the lead instructor positions provided Overall, a great idea for the round robin as it will allow the Sqn from within our own resources… as for the SPSI, he just to build upon these foundations going into future Sqn Trot looked relieved! training weekends in the new training year.
Exercise GLOBAL CANTER 3 -- 03-05 Mar 17 - by Sig H Teasdale Army Skeleton - by SSgt Nicky Moxon SPSI Sp Sqn, 37 Sig Regt
On a very dark night in March, the Sqn deployed to Altcar Whilst in Lillehammer, Norway in 2009 I attended Ex RACING Training Camp for Ex GLOBAL CANTER 3. The layout for the ICE 1, my novice ice sports camp and decided from the three weekend, was a “round robin” of stands ranging from the role disciplines available, Skeleton was going to be the sport I of the Regt, to a Falcon demonstration from 16 Sig Regt and wanted to pursue. It was most definitely a test, trying to Airwave training. We were separated into mixed groups and contain my nerves, excitement and adrenaline on my first run our mighty group included 64 Sqn members; Sgt Nick James, down the track, experiencing a speed of around 100 kph. This LCpl Mike Morley, LCpl Andrew Webster, LCpl Tim Storr, Sig sport is addictive. It is not for the faint hearted and I wanted Moses Ogutu and myself. to go faster! As I have progressed through the sport, competing at Army and Inter Service level, I became the Army As a relatively new member of the Regt, having only Secretary, Team Manager and Coach in 2013. Last season we completed my trade camp in August, it was good to learn competed in the GB Championships with a top 5 and Vet gold about the capabilities we provide, as well as begin work on my finish for me. It was another excellent opportunity to race Class 3 work book. To begin with, Cpl Ben Dunker (who was alongside GB athletes. Since 2013 I have had the pleasure of very kind to come out of the gym and help) and Cpl Andrew teaching, amongst our civilian coaches, complete beginners Fountain’s stand of how a Bowman detachment is fully set up, and taking them on their journey that I have been on from was really educational and put together all the pieces I had Novice, Junior to Senior Skeleton athletes. It is a challenge seen previously seen stood alone; generators, masts, tables and a very dangerous sport and it’s important for the
JUNE 2017 75 development of all, as robust confident and every corner of the track alongside their capable leaders no matter what standards are lightning fast reflexes to get the sled into the reached. best position at speed can be painful. The track at Igls is not the most technical, so any slight This season so far has been promising for Army mistake will have a massive impact on the Skeleton, with maximum attendance on Ex overall down time and speeds that are reached. RACING ICE 1. Over 80 individuals attended over Down times can vary throughout training, two separate weeks, 25 individuals wishing to leaving the race open to anyone; anything can master Skeleton. Once again it was held in Igls, happen on race day. To name some factors, Austria in December 2016. Participants headed weather, air and ice temperature, across by coach and on arrival they were briefed concentration, nerves and excitement can on what was happening for the week. It sounds heavily effect and influence an athlete’s race. easy, get yourself from the top of the track to the From the Army Championships, individuals will bottom quicker than the other sliders, but there be selected for the squad to attend another is much more to it than that. All were issued with training week that leads onto the Inter service their sled, helmet, and spikes and were Championships. The Army Team will be chosen introduced to the Olympic track. Skeleton sleds at the end of the training week.
Top of Olympic track On track – face down 125kph
This was a very daunting sight for most and the nerves were Once the Army squad has becoming apparent. Lying head first on a sled that offers been selected from a strong little protection, negotiating a series of bends while reaching field of athletes, they will MOVIES TO YOU speeds of up to 125 kph, “isn’t this dangerous?” they all return from Austria and thought. Over the novice camp, every athlete remained deploy to Norway. The focused otherwise they could find themselves on the cold ice, training week gives the luckily no one was injured. It was an exciting period as at opportunity to further CINELINK IS A SERVICE Latest films within 6-8 weeks of least 5 sliders within Skeleton demonstrated promising develop the team and all potential if they were to pursue the sport. Exciting times athletes are given the EXCLUSIVELY FOR cinema release licensed for one ahead! chance to hone their skills and learn the nuances of month with unlimited screenings the track. If available the HM FORCES, MOD CIVILIANS team would also utilise a local push track to fine tune & THEIR DEPENDANTS IN their sprint starts, this can HD with 5.1 surround sound* certainly have a positive Skeleton Run – beware, sharp THE UK, OVERSEAS, REMOTE impact on their training and bend!!! definitely on race day. On Portable device connects via race days the competitive LOCATIONS & OPERATIONAL camaraderie of Army Skeleton makes for the most amazing TV or projection equipment atmosphere and the sense of achievement for all level of THEATRES athletes are second to none. Even though the Royal Corps of Signals do not have a team as a whole, last season, 6 Royal Corps of Signals individuals were selected for the squad and 3 Skeleton Push Start Skeleton Flying Start represented the Army on race day at the inter Service Ice Sports Championship. Every season at least four athletes The next event for this season will be Ex RACING ICE II, the continuously earn their position within the squad. So many Novice, Junior and Senior Army Championships which will also Jimmys in sport and trophies for Skeleton! FOR MORE INFORMATION be held in Igls Austria. In Febuary, 25 athletes will fight for & COSTS PLEASE CONTACT the title of Army Champion. As all athletes have slid this track Any interested athletes, do you have fast reaction times, [email protected] before, it will be a tense but thrilling Championship. Over the physical and mental strength and a sense of humour if it all first two days of training, some will more than likely goes wrong? If so then please contact SSgt Nicky Moxon, experience many knocks and bruises. Refreshing and learning email [email protected] WWW.SSVC.COM/CINELINK
*Additional equipment may be required for HD and surround sound MOVIES TO YOU
CINELINK IS A SERVICE Latest films within 6-8 weeks of EXCLUSIVELY FOR cinema release licensed for one HM FORCES, MOD CIVILIANS month with unlimited screenings & THEIR DEPENDANTS IN HD with 5.1 surround sound* THE UK, OVERSEAS, REMOTE LOCATIONS & OPERATIONAL Portable device connects via THEATRES TV or projection equipment
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JUNE 2017 59
*Additional equipment may be required for HD and surround sound 1 39th SIGNAL REGIMENT BRISTOL
CO Lt Col N C Bruce RSM WO1 (RSM) B Ellis
Exercise WINDSOR GUNNER (17-19 FEB 17) – by Capt Dawn Saunders
2 Over 17 - 19 Feb, elements of 93 Sp Sqn and 53 Sig Sqn joined 94 Sig Sqn for a military skills weekend which promised to go with a bang: 4600 rounds of 5.56mm; 60 x smoke grenades; 20 x 8 mini flares; 12 x trip flares and 150 x grenades ensured that it was certainly loud enough.
Arriving at Bramley Training Area from Bristol, Windsor and Cardiff, the troops were soon briefed, split into sections and directed to their respective section harbour areas. Saturday kicked off with an early alarm by WO2 (SSM) Anderson to the tune of ‘STAND TO!’ which got the troops switched on, alert and ready for the day ahead. SSgt ‘I can survive with no sleep’ Grace gave a safety brief and cleared the troops onto the range before giving a pyro techniques demonstration. Then it was straight into lessons.
1. I keep telling you, the Lynx isn’t marked on SSgt Sterry came ‘combat ready’ complete with a whiteboard and full the map… complement of board markers to give a lesson on section battle drills and 2. What do you mean you’re not comfortable? target indication. The next time the troops would see SSgt Sterry would be 3. Going off with a bang, not a whimper through the sight of a SUSAT as he would later become the enemy along with 4. Helmets on - Go! Go! Go! Capt Saunders. WO2 (SSM) Anderson gave a lesson on fire & manoeuvre 5. Now, imagine yourself as a magnet on a before handing over to WO2 (SSM) Humphries for a lesson on fire control white board… orders, followed by anti-ambush drills and CASEVAC by WO2 ‘Where’s my 6. Private Hodges getting to grips with his bike?’ Stockwell. Finally Maj Topps conducted a revision lesson on section board at last attacks. Inevitably, Maj Topps’ lesson was laced with his own brand of 7. The Regimental team humour: ‘I was working in Army security when a VIP from another unit called 8. Airborne! to ask to whom he should address an important letter. Knowing my tough-to-spell last name would give him issues, I said, ‘Just put down Maj Gary, as my last name is too hard.’ The next day, I 3 received a letter addressed to Maj Gary Toohard. Boom boom!” You had to be there…
Revision and lessons out of the way, it was time for orders and arcs of fire to be issued, sentries deployed, battle prep, harbour routine and food. As the night sky fell upon the area, SSgt Grace and WO2 (SSM) Anderson had cunningly set up trip flares before joining SSgt Sterry, SSgt Torode and Capt Saunders for a final recce of the night ex and contact areas. On route, SSgt Grace took a slight detour, helping to recover an errant SF call-sign who had got one of their vehicles well and truly bogged in. With an extended strop and a heavy foot on the accelerator, the SAS boys were soon free 4
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78 [email protected] and on their way. SSgt Sterry, SSgt Torode and Capt Sunday 5 March was the first day of training at all levels - Saunders made some harassing attacks on the troops at their novices were introduced to snowboarding for the first time, location to keep them alert. Night recce complete, markers while Intermediate and Advanced riders re-awakened their deployed, decaying dead fox hidden (!) and grid references knowledge on the main slopes. This should have been a confirmed it was time for a brew before the platoon would simple process: turn up on time with the correct equipment, deploy a patrol. get put into groups and train but a patch of ice on the walk from the accommodation to the bottom of the slopes put an Seizing the moment, the sections hastily ambushed a vehicle end to snowboarding before it began for one of the team convoy and recovered important intelligence which had been when Sgt Lauren ‘steady legs’ Beardall-Jones slipped and stolen earlier that day before continuing their patrol. Into the suffered an injury before even getting near the slopes. night, there were a number of contacts, before the troops Another team member, Pte Nick ‘Gin’ Hodges (AGC) showed headed back to their harbour area and back into routine. great resolve and determination after being a novice on last year’s camp and failing to really get to grips with the sport; At far too early o’clock the sound of grenades and the dulcet this year he returned and proved to everyone that he could tones of the SSM tested the sentries and woke up the board. remainder of the troops. Attack repelled, calm restored and morning routine completed orders were given for the day. Throughout the training week team members were put Once again the sections prepared for battle and off they through their paces by the instructors from Ripstar with went; meanwhile, the enemy was out setting up trip flares varying degrees of success. SSgt Steve ‘But I’m a skier’ Welsh and adjusting their concealed positions. showed great humour once onto the main slope even when cartwheeling down the mountain. Pte Kai ‘Magic’ Lloyd- With the final trip flare placed and enemy plans rehearsed, all Matejik, Sig Paul ‘Gaz’ Gazzard and SSgt Kris ‘Slow and we needed to do now was get into position and wait. Steady’ Grace all progressed to the main slopes and were However, over the hill appeared 21 SAS who were doing the flying along quite happily. complete opposite plan to us and were about to storm through our trip flare to start their attack: #awkward The second week started with seeding races for Parallel #whatdowedonow? as the kids might say. Luckily, thanks to Grand Slalom (PGS) & Boardercross, both Novice and Open SSgt Torode’s negotiation skills, the entire company of 21 SAS Competition. During this phase Sig Connor ‘Forrest’ Taylor, changed their plans and briefed their troops. As the sections Pte Luke ‘Razor’ Robertson, LCpl Matt ‘Plug’ Palmer and SSgt came into view, SSgt Torode opened fire; once the fire fight Carys ‘TC’ Beardall-Jones all gave a good account of was won and the sections in the re-org it was Capt Saunders’ themselves in the Open category. The Slopestyle competition turn to pop a couple of smoke grenades and open fire from came mid-week and was for Open category riders only. SSgt an in-depth position. Another fire fight won but with no time Carys ‘TC’ Beardall-Jones came 3rd in the female competition to relax SSgt Sterry sprung another in-depth attack. and Sig Connor ‘Forrest’ Taylor showed no fear by pulling some good board grabs off the kicker jump and rail, giving a All of the troops worked extremely hard: bags of aggression, credible performance. bags of energy and bags of thanks to SSgt Grace for a well planned and executed exercise! The main event of the competition came on the final day. This is essentially akin to a BMX race on snowboards with four Exercise MERCURY SNOWRIDER 17 – by SSgt Herbie Hyde riders at a time going down a demanding course with the first two riders home going through to the next round of The Royal Corps of Signals Snowboarding Championships competition. All ability levels compete with their peer groups were held over the period 4 -18 March 2017 in Rauris, Austria. and it is impressive to see the novice riders race when they 137 Soldiers from Sig – Lt Col took part from the Royal Corps had not even stood on a board the week before. Sig Paul of Signals both Regular and Reserve. 39 Sig Regt sent a team ‘Gaz’ Gazzard stood out and won the award for most of ten led by SSgt Carys Beardall-Jones and all Sqns were improved rider after a very impressive seeding run. represented. All Regimental riders gave a good account of themselves but The first day saw the team members of outlying Sqns sadly failed to make it through to the finals. Although no converge on RHQ in Bristol before flying out to Salzburg and silverware was forthcoming this was a very successful transferring to Rauris. There were some very nervous faces exercise which further strengthened ties within the Regt and amongst the novice participants about what lay ahead. On wider Corps. No doubt, the Regt’s team will return stronger, arrival the team were briefed and issued their snowboards faster and more determined next year. and safety equipment.
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JUNE 2017 79 71ST (CITY OF LONDON) YEOMANRY SIGNAL REGIMENT, BEXLEYHEATH CO Lt Col HJ Scott MBE RSM WO1 (RSM) P Robertson
their various Alpha and Bravo training courses at ATR 31 (MIDDLESEX YEOMANRY AND PRINCESS LOUISE’S KENSINGTON) Pirbright - special congratulations need to go to Sig SIGNAL SQUADRON Murphy and Sig Pandey for passing Phase 1 and OC Maj A Orr SSM WO2 (SSM) A Davidson becoming fully fledged members of the Sqn! The 36 (ESSEX YEOMANRY) SIGNAL SQUADRON weekend also included our attached Australian Army SNCO Sgt Stelleman, who was keen to see how A/OC Capt D Monk SSM WO2 (SSM) T Pun signalling in the British Army compared to the 68 (INNS OF COURT & CITY YEOMANRY) SIGNAL SQUADRON Australian forces. OC Maj S Bumby SSM WO2 (SSM) R Cullumbine The training kicked off with the SPSI SSgt McGhee 265 (KENT AND COUNTY OF LONDON YEOMANRY (SHARPSHOOTERS)) and PSI Tech SSgt Metcalfe running a MATT 5 SUPPORT SQUADRON practical night navigation exercise - as expected Sig OC Maj Baker TD SSM WO2 (SSM) Springer Cordova got lost, running off in completely the wrong direction. However he was eventually recovered and the rest of the event continued without a hitch. 68 (INNS OF COURT & CITY YEOMANRY) SIGNAL SQUADRON SSgt McGhee briefing the Troops on From the OC - by Maj Bumby camouflage and concealment
The last few months have been very encouraging for the Sqn. Alongside the continual push to improve our training and build trade skills, we’ve had a chance to reflect on our recruiting activity over the last year. Thanks largely to the efforts of RSUSO Sgt Warren, in the 12 months up to the end of March we attested 23 soldiers into the Sqn, and have also gained three junior officers - 2Lt Raynor, 2Lt Rainsford and The troops at work on the PACEX 2Lt Islam (with one more due to commission in the summer).
In early April the Sqn’s Presentation Drinks Evening took place. As well as being a very enjoyable evening for the Sqn family, we also presented the four annual awards for performance in 2016. Very well done to:
Cpl Kane – winner of the Fern Prize for highest standard of professional/trade training. Sig Asamoah – winner of the Cartwright prize for highest standard of soldiering skills. Sig Campbell - winner of the Limerick prize for best recruit. Sgt Warren - winner of the Hine prize for all round service.
Exercise PHOENIX FROLIC 2 - by Sgt Warren
As the last Sqn comms exercise of the training year, in The Squadron Family at the addition to some final MATTs, this weekend saw the inclusion Presentation Drinks Evening of several new recruits on their first deployment with the Sqn. As the officers and warrant officers were away on the 2nd Signal Group Ex HORSESHOE KNOWLEDGE, this exercise The exercise continued with the Sqn conducting a full PACEX came with the additional dynamic of being led and executed before deploying to Carver Barracks to practise some basic by the SNCOs of the Sqn. camouflage and concealment drills under the expert tuition of the PSIs. The troops initially demonstrated some interesting Before the weekend could begin there was the logistical examples to say the least, however with some guidance undertaking of recovering our latest recruits from all eventually arrived at the required result.
A first attempt at ‘camming up’ a Det Next came some lessons from Cpl Whiffen and LCpl Noble on detachment administration and a refresh on Antennas and The Blandford AFT Propagation. This provided a much needed insight for those yet to be traded and a good refresher for those already qualified.
The next morning started with a PT session run by LCpl Teslenko to raise energy levels and get everyone into the right frame of mind for the day’s activities. The Sqn quickly got into detachment turnaround lessons and laid out the equipment ready for Troop Commanders inspections later that day.
While the Det Comds presented their detachments for inspection, the rest of the Sqn got stuck into weapon cleaning under WO2 Cpl Langley receiving his 265 Signal Squadron (SSM) Cullumbine, following her return CO’s Commendation Coin from Ex HORSESHOE KNOWLEDGE. from Lt Col Scott MBE
The weekend proved hugely valuable in various different aspects as it incorporated trade skills, military skills and equipment care. Every member of the Sqn in attendance gained SPSI SSgt Oliver teaching in the LBTA something from the weekend and went away a more productive member of the unit. The evening saw the officers change into mess dress for a 265 (KENT AND COUNTY OF LONDON YEOMANRY formal Regimental Dinner in the Officers’ Mess. In (SHARPSHOOTERS)) SUPPORT SQUADRON attendance were more than 50 invited guests from the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers, who are 31 Sig Exercise PHOENIX CANTER (24-26 Feb) - by 2Lt Wei Sqn’s associated livery company in London. Having already enjoyed a day being hosted by 31 Sig Sqn who showed our This exercise saw the Regt once again return to Blandford to valued guests the quality training being received by the exploit the Camp’s facilities for an action-packed schedule troops, the dinner proved a tremendous success. Key guests meticulously planned by the Regt YofS, WO2 Simpson, with included Comd 2 Sig Gp, Col Cooper, and Master of the support from the Sqn PSIs. Worshipful Company, who happened to be a former Squadron Colonel of 31 Sig Sqn, Col Grocott, but especially The weekend began with the opportunity for those requiring welcome were the RSM, WO1 Robertson and the SVWO, WO1 MATTs to use the ranges, before proceeding onto the AFT; a Keeble. route which will be all too familiar to anyone in the Corps! Concurrently, all those with MATTs complete were led Sunday commenced with PT and light-hearted sports through a remind and revise on Antennas and Propagation by competitions; this was followed by guest speakers from 265 Sp Sqn’s Tp Sgt, Sgt Sutton. CISTDU and 15 Sig Regt, who highlighted the importance of Blandford proved its desirability once again as the junior SyOps and cyber security, as soldiers were instructed in the excellent Landrover Based well as shedding light on the Training Aides (Bowman) and voice procedure labs, restructuring of soldier which was hugely beneficial to the delivery of interactive promotional courses, from and effective trade training. The more experienced JCLM to Supervisory. soldiers were entertained with insightful reading in to JSPs and Defence Writing. It ended with all students A great deal achieved in a agreeing that this was a necessary part of their training dynamic weekend and another which would prove extremely useful in their professional Sig Ewen, Sig Stewart, and WO1 great turnout for a beneficial development. Officers were not exempt from such (SVWO) Keeble following and enjoyable event! fundamental training as all were taken through MS in successful completion of the Fleet intricate detail by the RCMO Capt Worsley to ensure that Half Marathon the Regt delivers the highest quality MS and appraisals for the troops under command.
All personnel reconvened in the lecture theatre after lunch for a series of MATT 6 lectures delivered by the Ops Maj, Maj Hill, whilst the remaining officers gathered around a rather large table to hold the annual mess meeting. This provided an enlightening insight to the new YOs, 2Lt Rainsford, 2Lt Raynor and 2Lt Wei, and a fitting final meeting chaired by the The 71 Y Sig Regt ‘Subbies’ in the Mess (back from L-R) outgoing PMC, Lt Col Rowson, as he embarks on his new role 2Lt Rainsford, 2Lt Roberts, 2Lt Haron, 2Lt Raynor, Lt as DComd 2 Sig Gp. Mitchell, Lt Woulfe, Lt Osment (front) 2Lt Wei
JUNE 2017 81 News from Squadrons 16 AIR ASSAULT BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS AND SIGNAL SQUADRON (216) COLCHESTER
OC Maj AR Nicklin MBE helicopters we were promised would go ahead, meaning all RSM WO1 (RSM) Dunn the hard work Sgt Wood had done teaching the Sqn how to make desert box’s and emergency HLS’ would go to waste. This issue sees a number of individuals departing from the Sqn on promotion. The RSM, Capt Neil Marshall has left on Wednesday, a cold 0400hrs start at the armoury, a very commissioning to become RCMO at 16 Sig Regt. The RQMS, familiar scene throughout the Army. The usual complaints WO1 John Watson, has moved to HQ DSCIS and the 2IC, Maj and wonderings if the grass would be greener working for Dan Tope, has departed to attend Staff College in India. Sodexo all stopped as soon as we boarded the coaches and Congratulations to all. tried to get as much sleep as we could during the 3 hour trip to Salisbury Plain. We arrived just south of Fox Covert DZ, To replace them we are pleased to welcome WO1 (RSM) Andy fresh cam cream was applied and a short insertion tab was Dunn, who has made the short move upstairs from the underway to the RV, arriving there just in time to watch the Training Wing where he was the previous Training Wing RAF do a heavy cargo drop on the DZ that the Sqn was meant Sergeant Major. WO2 Ben Wildman returns to the Sqn from to be jumping on. A near perfect day for Para as the sky was 30 Sig Regt, in order to take over as the RQMS and WO2 Mike blue and not a breath of wind. More rumours of air being Secker arrives from 16 Sig Regt in order to take over as the cancelled for the first day almost made it certain that the ex Training Wing Sergeant Major. would be primarily run with MAN SV moves. As all the various elements of the Sqn departed on their own missions on MAN SVs, Forward HQ under the command of SSgt Sloan, soon realised that the amount of kit taken by the quads was taking a heavy toll with Cpl Spencer trying his hardest not to be become an obvious target to the enemy with the amount of white smoke billowing from his engine. Forward Headquarters was swiftly set up and we settled in for a long, cold night expecting to be attacked at any time. Just before first light with nothing notable happening other than a night of communications serials Forward HQ and Tac were ordered to move to a nearby HLS. A quick tear down and pack away, as the sun rose Salisbury Plain looked like a winter wonderland with a heavy frost and freezing fog explaining why many of us had been body popping all night and answered the question why we hadn’t been attacked. It was too cold for the DS to leave the warmth of Excon. As we shook out into the order of march we were met by SSgt Ansell, eyes rolled “surely now this is where we are going to R SIGNALS and QG SIGNALS officers and soldiers were get thrashed”. Instead Forward went through a few serials to congratulated on completing All Arms Pre Parachute test our SOP’s for what we could encounter in a real life Selection by Capt Pete Watson, WO1 (RSM) Andy Dunn and situations consisting of a casualty. Cpl Jason (Rosey) Rose SSgt Mitchell. was the obvious choice of a casualty, the larger blokes usually are. Improvised comms serials because satellites being Exercise MERCURY ENSIGN 4 - by LCpl Jones knocked out the sky by meteors is a real thing and being attacked by the enemy to practice our break contact drills Exercise MERCURY ENSIGN 4 was the final consolidation ex were the highlights. for the Sqn before Christmas leave. 216 (Para) Sig Sqn would be throwing all their capability at this 3 day ex deploying Main Finally arriving at the HLS and expecting to see MAN SVs HQ, Forward HQ, CO’s Tac, MPR, various RLDS and Ech. A parked up waiting for us we had the sight of a Chinook and promise from SSgt Ansell that the 3 day ex wasn’t going to be Pumas low over the horizon, flying straight over our heads a thrashing raised a few eyebrows throughout the troops as low enough to be buffeted by the down draft. Quads were they are notorious for sleep deprivation and separating the soon rigged up by soldiers from 216 that had been on a rigger wheat from the chaff as the old saying goes. Rumours of marshal’s course earlier on in the year and we boarded the MPR being bumped around the Salisbury Plain were rife and Chinook bound to our new location and Avon Camp which we made those not on MPR glad they weren’t. The ex was to failed to arrive at as we were dropped off at Fox Covert start with a parachute insert on to Fox Covert with as many instead. Only to find nervous Sig Jones (who had been Para trained blokes jumping in as possible, no surprise the playing enemy) plasti cuffed and wearing blacked out goggles RAF took the air frame away with only 5 days to go leaving and the object of a heated argument between Sig Pewton the training team to magic up the exercise Chinooks (MAN and LCpl Brewster. It seemed like a good idea to leave them SV) and putting doubt in everyone’s mind whether the too it as Forward needed to get to Avon Camp and that being
82 [email protected] a priority we boarded the next Chinook that landed. The final day of the competition seemed to be the hottest Throughout the day and night the skies above Salisbury Plain day of the year so far and every opportunity was taken to roll were full of under slung Landrovers, Pinz’s, Quads and our sleeves up to soak up some of the sun. The falling plate patrols being moved from one location to the other, all done competition was the main event of the day in which teams in-house by the soldiers of 216. started at the 300 metre firing point with a sprint down to 200 metres before firing, quickest team to knock down all nine Arriving at Avon Camp quads were quickly de rigged and targets wins. The team split down into two four man mixed within an hour Forward HQ was set up and ready to take ability groups. After a close battle both teams were eventually control from Main which was to move from Avon back to Fox eliminated with 3 Para going on to win the shoot. Covert, again all under slung and again rigged up by those from 216. At 2300hrs End Ex was called. Everyone pulled back in to the hard accommodation and settled into a warm, dry night in a hangar ready for a fine steak breakfast put on by Cpl Coote and caught the buses back to Merville Barracks for turn around. Just before everyone cut away for the weekend we had the honour to meet a handful of ex Sqn members that had served under 5 Airborne Brigade and had jumped into Suez Crisis in 1956. Even at the ages of 70 it was good to see they all had a strong affinity with the Sqn and still carried the Airborne Ethos which makes the Para trained Signaller a cut above the rest.
Overall MERCURY ENSIGN 4 was a success and a huge learning opportunity for everyone ranging from using cutting edge communications equipment to rigging vehicles to the underneath of helicopters. All that being said I’m sure SSgt Ansell and the training team At the prize giving 216, much to Cpl Rose’s delight, placed are sat in SHQ contemplating next year’s training plan. As for themselves next to the cookhouse tent ready for a post me and a few others, it’s too late… we were brainwashed competition curry. 2 RGR won Top Team as well as best ages ago. individual shot and were presented trophies by a visiting Jordanian Dignitary. After seconds and thirds of curry the 16 Air Assault Brigade Operational Shooting Competition team headed back to camp listening to Cpl Rose constantly - by Sig Scott tell everyone that he was top shot overall. This competition is hopefully going to become an annual brigade event and we In March, an operational shooting competition took place look forward to competing again. between all sub-units of 16 Air Assault Brigade as well as teams from Bahrain and Jordan. 216 (Parachute) Sig Sqn provided Exercise ASIAN PEGASUS - by Sig Hartley an 8-man team commanded by Lt Landon and Sgt Wood. In the weeks building up to the event, the team had been on the So finally the long awaited Sqn diving expedition was upon us ranges developing their marksmanship under the watchful and we paraded on Wednesday night for an introduction from eye of Sgt Heydon. The competition was split over three days, the instructors in the Sqn training wing. This followed an with each team undertaking 8 different operational shoots equipment issue and 2 hours of theory lessons. I imagined ranging from long-range rural to pistol CQB, all details of the lessons would be covering what sort of sunscreen to wear which had to be memorised by the team as no direction would and which sunglasses would give better protection from the be given on the day except for the odd “watch and shoot”, sun on the tropical island we were going to. The lessons in the competition would culminate with a knock-out falling reality covered subjects like effects of pressure on the body at plate contest. depth and decompression illnesses including burst lungs – what sort of holiday had I signed up for? The first day was sunny and dry, which meant ideal conditions for shooting. The first event was an advance to contact shoot Practical training started in the pool at 0700hrs where we where a 500m run had to be completed before firing from covered assembling our equipment and basic safety checks different positions and distances to simulate deployment of a with our dive buddies. Into the water and the carnage started, QRF. Following this was a defence shoot, moving targets with how could a soldier like Sam ‘Ere we go’ Morgan who can bayonets fixed and an urban CQB shoot. The team performed quite happily jump out of an aircraft at night with his body well with Sgt Wood and Cpl Rose scoring highest in the team. weight strapped to his legs have such problems with a very simple thing like taking his mask off under water. Quotes like Rain and wind followed on the second day of the competition, “I think I’m going to die, I can’t do it Staff” were normal as he which tested the team’s ability to judge where shots were proceeded down into what he thought would be his watery falling in order to make adjustments accordingly. On the way grave in the deep dark depths of the 3m garrison swimming to the range Sig Burrows used the Mann truck carrying the pool. However everyone else managed to master all the drills team as a tank and ripped off the range gate much to the and skills taught over the 2 days of practical and theory and QMSI’s disapproval. The main highlight of the day was a CQB were set to deploy to Stoney Cove on the Friday night. pistol shoot in which the team had to hit a series of targets from different distances under tight time limits. After some 0715hrs on a Saturday morning saw members of 216 (Para) coaching from Sgt Wood and Sgt Bowers the team shot well Sig Sqn dressed in wet suits stood in the drizzling rain in a and managed to score highly. disused quarry receiving our final safety brief. Final buddy
JUNE 2017 83 check and down to the quay wall to enter the water. Our So after 48 hours, 2 plane journeys, a taxi and a ferry a rather instructor and safety diver dressed in dry suits with layers of worn out expedition finally arrived on the Island of Puerto warm kit underneath entered first with no problems, didn’t Galera. The open top ferry was in fact a wooden boat with even flinch. "The water can’t be too bad" were my own bamboo supports an interesting first experience of diving. thoughts as my turn to enter came and with a confident stride 30 oC heat, clear crystal blue water come to mind looking entry I launched myself into the water. The cold apparently back and as we approached the island we could see the ‘only’ 4oC water but felt like -10oC and was the equivalent to a beautiful view with a jungle back drop. On arrival at the pier punch in the face as the freezing cold water hit me and I the hotel porters whisked our bags away and we were immediately tried to get out but unfortunately couldn’t reach escorted straight to the hotel and got our rooms where we the top of the quay wall with it being over a metre above me were mostly buddied up. The hotel was amazing, with great to drag myself out of the water. Once I finally settled down rooms and an infinity pool which looked out over the sunset. and resigned to the fact that I was going to be body popping It would have been an amazing setting to bring a girlfriend for the next 30 minutes the down thumbs signal was given but 13 other blokes didn’t ruin it too much. and it was time to submerge. The next day we started our diving and what a fantastic The quarry has a number of different things sunk in it such as experience, it was completely different to Stoney cove. a miniature submarine and the cockpit of an aircraft to look Where in the UK it was wetsuits and dry suits to combat the at. The thing that hit everyone is the cold and the rubbish cold, here a maroon T-shirt and running shorts was the order visibility, no more than 3 metres and quite dark. We then of the day. The first day we dived on some old wooden completed a number of the drills that we had done in the pool fishing boats that were home to all sorts of marine life. such as casualty lifts to the surface, breathing off our buddies Clown fish and puffer fish were the norm and I can only relate alternative air source and the dreaded mask removal, this it to diving in a tropical fish tank the amount of different time in the dark, wearing a wetsuit hood and thick wetsuits things swimming about us. gloves and competing with the cold we followed the instructors for a dive. This allowed us time to look at the sunken bits and pieces and also swim through the lower parts of buildings that were completely submerged.
The end of the first day I saw a couple of incidents within our 4 divers that didn’t fill me with confidence and opened my eyes to the potential dangers of diving. The first incident involved the instructor and SSgt Ansell who had 3 free flowing regulators between the 4 that they had between them to breathe off because of the breathing regulators freezing with ice. This led to us having to abort our dive early with them carrying out a controlled ascent as their breathing air was pumped out into the quarry. The second problem was Sig Sam ‘Grim Reaper’ Pewton having the same thing happen to him, only difference is instead of a controlled ascent he tried to bolt to the surface which could lead to a number of problems all ending up with him in a hospital decompression chamber. This was stopped by SSgt ‘Scruffy’ Ansell hanging onto his legs and the instructor forcing his alternative regulator into his mouth so he could breathe while they tried to sort out the problem. We completed 3 dives a day which was tiring but everyone wanted to get back in and see the next thing. We dived at all At the end of the 2 days diving in Stoney Cove only Sig Sam sorts of different locations, where sometimes it took only five Pewton completed his BSAC Ocean diver course. Most of us minutes to get there with it being only just outside the bay or completed the skills and drills and only needed to make up at worst a ten to twenty minute boat ride. The guys saw a the underwater time when we got to the Philippines in order variety of different things with the highlights being a large to compete 140 minutes needed, the main problem was the turtle that people were lucky enough to swim with and cold and the actual risk of hyperthermia, we couldn’t fit all the venomous sea snakes which almost had Sig Sam ‘Not this underwater hours with the cold conditions. Sig Sam ‘I’m Callsign’ Morgan bolting for the surface again. It was going to die’ Morgan would have to pretty much re do the certainly a different place to dive from Stoney Cove, as the course in the Philippines for being such a gasket in the UK. sea life was phenomenal fron the tiniest sea horses and fish This was despite his remedial training in the shower with his hiding in cracks up to fish that were larger than us. hood and gloves on practicing clearing his mask!! The novice divers’ final thoughts on diving were we would never dive in Even though diving and being in the sun all day was tiring the UK again without a dry suit and regardless of what SSgt people still made the effort to get out and about to see what Ansell said we left not convinced that we would be better Sabang had to offer to eat and drink. The food was a mixture divers for it. of different Asian food and was better than anything I’ve eaten in the UK. The street food looked like dog but was After a really long flight we landed and got a taxi to the hotel, actually really tasty and cheaper than a bag of crisps in the the two things that stood out were the sheer heat you felt UK. The expedition’s favourite haunt was a place called Capt when stepping out of the airport and how crazy the local Greggs which overlooked the bay where you could get a kilo drivers were. The hotel was lovely but once dumping bags we of ribs or 0.5kg of steak, sides with a beer for about £7. It were straight out of the door to experience what Manila had also had the best cocktails in Sabang so it really felt like you to offer. were in the tropics.
84 [email protected] On one of the evenings it was had made its home in there, briefed that we were all while others swam around it doing a night dive which looking at the much larger everyone had mixed feelings fish. It was one of the best about. As we kitted up in the dives of the whole trip. dark and headed out into the bay there were lots of stories The final night we all had a of the predators that come BBQ on the beach which was out at night which didn’t help prepared by the diving club, with my nerves. It was an we had great food; meat amazing experience and skewers and chicken as well completely different with it as lots of special fried rice being so black with the only which was prepared by the thing illuminated being what owner’s wife. The beer of your touch was shining on. choice was San Miguel which The highlight of this dive was tasted good and we had a Moray eel that slithered out several crates of that. We from beneath a wreck, we could only see its head and about a had also befriended a stray dog and ended up calling him 1/3 of its length but it was the thickness of my calf. Night Winston as he would always be around when we were diving certainly put things into perspective as the night brings there. out a completely different world. That ended the Philippines sub aqua trip, having only served 2 One of our final dives was down to a fishing trawler wreck at years in the army and 6 months of that in the Sqn I think even 30m which is starting to get deep, any problems or panicking now it will be a hard one to beat. An amazing experience and at that depth could quite easily lead to someone dying. Most for me it really reinforced the Sqn’s work hard and play hard divers managed to penetrate inside to see what sort of life ethos.
Haig Housing Trust
By Chris Young (Former Sgt, 1RTR, 1972-1992) Resident Member, Haig Housing Trust Management Committee History Douglas Haig Memorial Homes, known as Haig Homes, was established as a Charitable Trust in 1929 as a memorial to Field Marshal Earl Haig of Bemersyde KT GCB OM GCVO KCIE in recognition of his work to highlight and solve many problems facing ex-Service people and their families. He was particularly concerned with the plight of those disabled during their service in theatres of War and the difficulties created by this in their civilian lives. The Trust had two main periods of expansion in the 1930s and 1950s with further housing added during the 1990s and 2000s.
The Trust also incorporates the Housing Association for Officers’ Families (HAOF), established in 1916 by Mrs Willie James. HAOF and Haig Homes amalgamated in 1995 and rebranded as the Haig Housing Trust in 2008.
The Trust today Even after many years of financial planning and security things still can, and do, go wrong. Life has a habit of springing sometimes unpleasant surprises upon us, during service or long after discharge. In many cases the biggest worry is housing. The Haig Housing Trust has been providing rented accommodation to ex-Service persons and their families for over 100 years and, through its fundraising campaign, ‘Coming Home’, is the only British charity that also addresses the specific housing needs of those leaving the Armed Forces with life-changing injuries and conditions.
As the leading housing provider for ex-Service personnel in the UK, Haig now owns over 1,500 properties across 50 locations. The Trust endeavours to help any Veteran in housing need, whether they are transitioning into civilian life or are simply in need of a helping hand. Despite what thoughts immediately spring to mind, the estates are not run like Married Quarters patches; for a start, there are no block jobs! All the Trust asks, as does every Landlord, is that it's beneficiaries respect and look after their property and keep it and any garden areas attached to it clean and maintained. Communal garden areas are maintained by a contractor and paid for via a small service charge.
Applications for housing are assessed using a points system which combines Service Points and Need Points. Priority is normally given to those with greatest need except where this would lead to unsustainable tenancies, inappropriate use of the housing stock or unstable communities. Applications can be made at any time after leaving the Services, regardless of length of service, and in some cases even prior to discharge. Applicants do not need to have been injured to apply.
For more information please visit the Web Site. http://www.haighousing.org.uk Serving personnel should also be able to find information via the Families Office or HIVE.
JUNE 2017 85 News from Other Units
UK MOD SANGCOM PROJECT TEAM
Saudi Arabian National Guard Communications Project Team slower than others but it was a valiant effort by all. Richard Shea had completed his first and only marathon and Sunil, Programme Director: Brigadier Pete Drew Rotimi and I were over the first hurdle of the challenge.
SANGCOM Half Marathon - by Capt Roy Mitton RE
Those more eagle eyed amongst you will recognise the Sappers Corps Orienteering shirt in the photos and that orienteering is my sport of choice. It’s the navigational challenge that piques my interest though a certain running ability does help. But as part of the Saudi Arabia National Guard Communications (SANGCOM) Programme Team based in Riyadh the primary choices of competitive sport are triathlon, road biking or running. As I swim like a stone and cycling bores me, running is the only remaining option. It’s hot, it’s dry and it’s dusty all the time but there is a running scene which helps many of the team maintain their fitness.
I have completed a couple of road marathons in the past and I needed a challenge to keep my fitness focussed. I don’t normally raise money for charity as the challenges are personal but in this case I wanted to pay something back to a Dubai Marathon - the challenge starts! charity that had helped a close family member over the past few years. The initial idea of the 3-3-6 Marathon Challenge The second marathon in Bahrain had slipped by a week so we stems from a previous team member, WO2 Mick Sutton had a good four weeks to recover, but also meant the last (Royal Signals), who completed 2 marathons in the region last two would be completed in seven days. Recovery went well year. The Middle-East doesn’t stand out as the normal and the date for the Bahrain Marathon soon arrived. In location for long distance running but there are more than addition to Capt Sunil Kandola, Rotimi Akinsiku and I, Lt Col enough being run at club level. So in August 2016 the plan Phil Deans had also decided to enter his first ever marathon. was hatched to run the Dubai marathon, the Bahrain The marathon is annually run by the Bahrain Road Runners, a marathon and Riyadh marathons all within a 6 week window. low level local club and, as it turned out, totally different to How hard could it be? All I had to do was find some other the Dubai Marathon. idiots to join me, train a little bit in the middle of a desert and raise some sponsorship. Simples! We rose on race day to find the course under a layer of water following a night of torrential rain. Registration was hiding The call went out to SANGCOM for willing volunteers and under a large umbrella with a lot of unhappy looking runners. surprisingly, six other team members stepped forward. The The Ministry of Interior had not granted permission for the sponsorship would follow as we moved forward so the next race to proceed due to the flooding and therefore on grounds problem was the training. The team resides in a housing of H&S the race was cancelled. Who would have thought a compound that has a one mile loop; there is a 10 mile trail race in the Middle East would be cancelled due to floods! around the Diplomatic Quarter, a 30 minute drive away, and It was decision time! We only had six weeks to complete the there is quite a healthy race scene from autumn to spring. challenge and four had passed. The Riyadh Marathon was the following week which meant either postpone a run until after Finally after six months of hard work, 800 kms of training, 3 Riyadh or complete the course now. Lt Col Phil Deans and I retirees from the group, 2 pairs of trainers, 2 boxes of energy decided to go for it, whilst Sunil and Rotimi decided to gels and multiple pints of sweat and early mornings, the Dubai postpone on the grounds the rain would ruin their hair. And Marathon arrived. It is an international event used by a lot of so with the support of our partners at the half way point, the the world’s elite to qualify for other events around the world. cancelled Bahrain Marathon was undertaken. It’s a very flat, out and back course between the western edge of the city and the Persian Gulf. Starting before sunrise, The course was a simple 13 mile out and back, to be repeated the air was a lot more humid than the near 0% humidity of but there were a number of spots along the course that Riyadh but relatively cool to start. As the temperatures required swimming armbands to cross. It was a good call by climbed along with the sun, four members of SANGCOM, the Race committee to cancel the event. A large group of Richard Shea, Capt Sunil Kandola, Rotimi Akinsiku and runners would be at risk along the roads due to traffic myself, battled on, watching the elite men and women, both avoiding the flooded areas but with a lot of splashing and able bodied and wheelchair bound, race past on their return some ankle deep mud, Lt Col Phil Deans and I managed to leg at a speed most can only dream of. After a long, hot day, complete the requisite 26.2 miles. Another slow time but this we all finally crossed the finish line. Yes some of us were time I could blame the weather. Only one to go!
86 [email protected] Rotimi Akinsiku completed the challenge the following week on the Diplomatic Quarter and Capt Sunil Kandola at the rescheduled Bahrain Marathon. Between us we have raised in excess of £1500 for the Alan Morement Memorial Fund (AMMF) and Youngminds charities, and all have gained that sense of achievement that stems from a job well done through grit and determination. Now we just need to think up the next challenge!
SANGCOM vs SANG Annual Football Match - by Dave Adamson
8 Feb 17 saw the long awaited SANGCOM vs Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG) football match on the hallowed turf of the Riyadh Signals Unit, Khashm-al-an, Riyadh. Bahrain Marathon - evidence of completion SANGCOM’s continued presence within the Kingdom of Saudi The last and final marathon was the Riyadh Marathon. Again Arabia (KSA), supported by the UK Government’s a club level race which consisted of five laps of a local date commitment to Defence Engagement within the region, farm and included a 1.5 km long hill on each lap. I was still enables integrated working with the SANG to achieve mission tired from the previous week and not looking forward to this success. This is an accumulation of long, steadfast and mutual one but with a total of eight SANGCOM personnel including working relationships that enable a successful integration. some partners, attempting all or parts of this challenging This comes with the expected challenges of operating in course there was plenty of support. And so the final culturally different environment. marathon began. The legs were heavy and the energy reserves were low. Rotimi Akinsiku and Capt Sunil Kandola The inaugural football match allowed both teams; military and soon went racing past as I went out slowly, a theme that civilian, to forget the daily tasks and lay battle on a field of would persist throughout the race. I won’t bore you with the respect and comradeship. After much anticipation and weeks detail, suffice to say it was a long, tiring run/walk/shuffle (in of organisation, the game began with an attacking front from that order) before finally finishing in an extremely slow time the UK side. A staunch, goal-hungry midfield fed a 4-4-1-1 of 5hrs 51mins but finish we all did; both Sunil and Rotimi formation, led upfront by Dave Appleyard and WO2 (YofS) completing their 2nd marathon in respectable times and me, Paul Etchell, who opened up the score sheet to enable a finishing the challenge through pure stubbornness. SANGCOM 1-0 lead with an emphatic half volley into the bottom corner.
Dave Appleyard, green with envy, fed the next two goals from open play to allow a comfortable 3-0 lead within the first 10 minutes. The match was clearly on with SANGCOM comfortably in the lead but refusing to be drawn into a false sense of security. The SANG responded with typical tenacity and continued to push for a goal. Despite their efforts, Capt Sunil Kandola landed the fourth with a 15-yard sprint at goal, splitting the SANG defence in half.
Our Saudi counterparts then took stock and began to attack, testing our back four and leaving the SANGCOM midfield in wonder as the SANG began to penetrate. Brig Pete Drew held the right-back position, Col Tim Allen the left – both nullifying any SANG attempt to swing a cross into the box. Changing tack, the SANG fed through the centre aiming three successive shots on goal, all on target. The quick reflexes of Riyadh Marathon - SANGCOM finishers Pete West ensured a clean sheet.
Two further attacks from SANGCOM resulted in two more goals from Dave Adamson and Dave Appleyard and an unprecedented 6-0 lead.
After half time SANGCOM brought on fresh legs, substituting players in all positions. We’ll never know what words were spoken by the SANG coach but they responded brilliantly. The SANG defence was now practicably impenetrable, the midfield more organised, communicative and forward focused. The discipline showed and finally the SANGCOM clean sheet was tarnished following a glorious, league worthy 20-yard half volley lobbing Pete West in sensational fashion. A few minutes later Rob Bricker was ruled to have felled a SANG player in the box and a penalty was awarded. Although Marathon challenge complete the SANG failed to convert the penalty, momentum was on
JUNE 2017 87 their side and they continued to press. Their efforts were The Disabled Children’s Association - by Maj Robin Foster awarded with soft goal which crept over the line to make it 6-2. The SANGCOM Project Team have been organising an annual Half Marathon and Fun Run each year since 2008. The The newly formed SANG midfield proved too much for proceeds from this event are donated to the Disabled SANGCOM to handle and, backed up by a forward-moving Children’s Association of Saudi Arabia (www.dca.org.sa). This defence, the SANG regained possession and scored from a annual event consistently raises over £32,000 for the local corner to make it 7-3. Despite the excellent second half charity. display, time ran out for the SANG and when the full time whistle blew, SANGCOM ran out as 7-3 victors. The Disabled Children’s Association works to help maximize the quality of life of disabled children in Saudi Arabia. The The closing moments saw a heart-warming show of organization provides medical and educational services camaraderie, mutual respect and positive engagement. Both through the provision of state of the art facilities and expert teams posed for photographs with match organisers, practitioners. Their specialists are amongst the best in the managers, team captains and senior officers. Compliments world and are recruited from Saudi Arabia and abroad. and banter were exchanged with a social setting enabling solid working relationships for the future. This year Col Tim Allen and Helen Drew had the honour of presenting the Disabled Children’s Association with the And whilst SANGCOM can proudly display the winning trophy proceeds raised from the SANGCOM Half Marathon. amongst the team’s silverware, the true victory is felt amongst two military communities with the same aims, A big thank you is extended to all the organisations that objectives and goals. support us in donating to this worthy cause. Every contribution is greatly appreciated, however big or small, and goes a long way to helping the charity with their great work.
Defence engagement at its best Presenting the cheque: Col Tim Allen and Helen Drew
Brigadier with the winning trophy
88 [email protected] 1ST NATO SIGNAL BATTALION
CO Lt Col Andreas Kubitz (DEU Army) sweet bliss, we arrived at the classroom, the CSM smiling RSM CWO Steve Base (CAN Army) wickedly, knowing full well he’d caused this horrendous drop in morale. “We’re playing football” he chuckled. We stared at Exercise WESEL LEADER - by LCpl Holmes each other in pure disbelief. Could this be true? Is it a mind game? No, it was real! But unfortunately some of us (LCpl It was a cloudy Monday morning when we departed Wesel in Jones-Ramirez and LCpl Jake Mitchell) hadn’t finished their our rickety Opel minibuses to Sennelager on Ex WESEL essays so we just did that instead. We finished the week off LEADER 1. Morale was high at the thought of getting to a with a meal out; banter and drinks were flowing, spinning dits NAAFI to get some real milk and a Rollover hotdog. Morale about the events throughout the week. It soon became party was short lived, however, when upon arrival we discovered central so we decided to get some chips and head to bed to our accommodation and found that all five of us each had a endure a final night of Adam’s snoring. bunk bed to ourselves. Exciting times! We rolled out our doss bags and laid them on our chosen green mattresses and immediately opened the windows to allow the smell of damp and asbestos escape. We met WO2 (CSM) Tony Muers and the other SNCOs for lunch and were told about the true horrors of their mess accommodation; their double beds weren’t made! Truly outraged by this scandal we decided to head back to our room to get changed for the first lesson, essay writing.
The first lesson of the day was given by SSgt (FofS) Mark ‘Marshy’ Marsh, who taught us about essay writing and Staff Planning Exercises. We were then informed that we would need to write an essay in our own time and they would be marked. We then continued on to icebreakers. We were given a few examples of good ones by the seniors then we endured a dripping session by our resident Royal Marine, Cpl Will ‘dripping like broken tap’ Walmsley. We all switched off. Finishing off the day after our evening meal, we retired to our deluxe suite to prep our kit for the PLD the following morning.
It was a long and sleepless night thanks to the resident old man snorer Cpl Adam Wilson. We trucked out to our part of a LCpl Ian Jones-Ramirez and LCpl Andy Holmes feel the joy of training area. We completed the PLD in good time, even model building though there were only 6 people taking part. We continued the day by giving practical lessons that were to be marked on how well we delivered them. Wednesday was a full practical day with model making in the morning and an afternoon of map reading. The aim was to collect the letters at set points on the map. Sgt Kelly Dicker and I were the first to set off. Orientating the map we stepped off at a steady pace, having some light banter along the way. We soon had a blistering speed moving along the road, we had all but one of our letters. Having missed the final letter in the firebreak we bumbled around until finally finding it! We arrived at the last checkpoint and were told we had two minutes to solve the words the letters made; bringing us to a nice mental sweat. We were so close! The answer was “this is ace” but so far we had “this is eca” we just couldn’t figure it out! The clock was ticking, the sweat was dripping from our forehead, and veins were popping. Tension was rising as the end drew close! Eca….. Eca…. What could it be?
Thursday we woke up in anticipation of another PLD. Having being told the previous night to bring our trainers and a change of clothes with us because we weren’t getting into the minibus wet through, we dreaded the thought of getting cold and wet, potential river crossing, “Grenade” in muddy puddles? It was too much to bear. Dripping the whole way to the classroom, not even a Rollover hotdog tempting us into The troops try to stay balanced while turning over a poncho
JUNE 2017 89 628 SIGNAL TROOP were excellent and helped boost morale. Stopping at any time was completely out of the question as complete strangers OC Capt Sam McEvoy were calling out your name and cheering you on. Despite FofS WO1 (FofS) Pete Fraser feeling exhausted, we drove ourselves forward. SSgt Chris McKechnie Mile eight, nine and ten passed with agonising slowness. The It has been another extremely busy period for the troop with cool spring weather had been a blessing as we entered the time spent on courses and exercise for NRF commitments. last mile. The noise from the crowd increased as the finish line came into view and with a final burst we finished with a Once again there has been a considerable churn of manpower sprint. Sgt Stu Blakeley who had been well ahead had already as we bid a fond farewell to the following; LCpl Ian ‘P Dog’ collected his medal and was stood among the crowd smugly Pearson as he starts his next posting in sunny Cyprus. drinking from his water bottle. Sgt Stu Blakeley finished in 1hr 22mins with LCpl Lee Veringa, LCpl Ian Pearson and Cpl Chris We are pleased to welcome the following to the family, Sgt Macdonald finishing in 1hr 40 mins. SSgt Chris Mckechnie Gaz James arriving from 1 Rifles, Cpl Andy Moran arriving finished just behind the 1hr 45mins markers with Sig Abby from AFC Harrogate, LCpl John Prinn joining us from 3 Sig Dobson and Sig Matthew Bishop coming in at the 2hr point. Regt, LCpl Dan Evans, arriving from 10 Sig Regt on promotion, All in all we were very happy to have competed in the Fleet LCpls Craig Shaw and Grant Thomson joining the unit on half marathon and we agreed that it was an experience to promotion from Phase 2 training, Sig Jason Willis arriving remember. Many thanks to Cpl Dean Roberts (REME) for from 1 Sig Regt and Sig Dave Allen also joining the unit from organising the event. Phase 2 training. We are also pleased to welcome LCpl 'G' Watton back as she returns from maternity leave.
Fleet Half Marathon 2017 - LCpl Lee Veringa
On 19 March 628 Signal Troop left Blandford Camp and headed towards Fleet. The event was organised by Cpl Dean Roberts and would be run for his chosen charity; Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Society. For many of us, this would be our first half marathon and there was plenty of nervous chatter on the trip down. We debated the weather, running strategies and possible finishing times. Sgt Stu Blakeley had recced the route that we would be running and we all listened, hoping to glean some information from the veteran runner.
We arrived in Fleet and after some trouble finding parking we made our way to the event. It was a chilly spring day but thankfully the weather remained rain free. The muster point Happy, if not a little tired having completed the race for the event was a large field with various tents, peddling running gear and isotonic drinks. It was surprising how many NATO Response Force (NRF) Readiness Exercise athletes had turned up to compete. More surprising was the - by LCpl Lewis Jeffrey lack of public toilets that were available for the burgeoning crowd. LCpl Lee Veringa decided to make early use of the As part of 1 NATO Signal Battalion’s (1 NSB’s) pre deployment amenities and have a nervous wee before the queue was too training, and to keep up to date with NRF commitments, all long. personnel from 628 Sig Tp deployed on a NRF Readiness Exercise. A 5 day ex which was held up at the airfield on Not long after putting our belongings away there was a call Blandford Camp. over the loudspeaker for us to make our way to the start line. Sgt Stu Blakeley and SSgt Chris Mckechnie decided to start just behind the 1hr 30 markers in the hope that they would keep up with the flag bearers and post a good time. Looking back from this point was a truly awesome site. We had never seen so many runners in one place and the road was packed as far as the eye could see. Furthermore, the streets were lined with people clapping and shouting encouragement.
The buzzer sounded, a cheer went up from the runners and the crowd. We were off. The 1hr 30 flag bearers set a blistering pace and we in turn started strongly with Sgt Stu Blakeley racing away with them. He soon disappeared from view as it had become evident that the rest of us had started far too quickly. It became painful after mile three which was The exercise build not helped by the fact that we were being passed by all and sundry. The purpose of the ex was to test the capability of the troop’s LINC-E and SATCOM kit along with a service desk area and After mile six we had settled into a rhythm and started around 20 end user terminals. The ex was to be carried out thinking about where we could make up time. The crowds complete with all perimeter defences such as barbed wire and
90 [email protected] a secure entry point, to simulate a remote detachment on Once we had got into routine the exercise was running operations. smoothly, although one night there was torrential rain which caused one of the tents to leak, so rapid deployments of It was a nice fresh Monday morning, 628 Sig Tp rolled out buckets were required to catch water while repairs were onto the exercise area; we quickly and efficiently started to undertaken. (Thanks SSgt Karl ‘Dusty’ Binns for the gleaming unpack the vehicles of all the kit. We did have a slight drama, tents!) There were also a few initial configuration faults with as the grass was still a little moist from the previous night’s the LINC-E kit, but these were quickly rectified by the dew, Sgt Matt Hunt provided the troop with some engineers in the Tp. Some invaluable training was also entertainment as he kept getting his forklift bogged in on the delivered to the more junior engineers on how to image the grass, he was not happy! laptops, and basic fault find network issues.
Once the kit was unloaded, the first task was to set up a On the last day of the exercise we had a visit from the secure barbed wire perimeter around the area where the Commander of 1 NSB, Lt Col Andreas Kubitz, Deu Army and comms tents were to be set up, this was led by Sgt Shaun Deputy Commander Maj Jim Lyons, Royal Signals. LCpl Thomas; coming straight from 4 Mil Sqn he was all over this Hannah Roberts gave them a brief of the overall set up of the putting his experience in the field to good use. ex, guiding them through each department, while LCpl Lewis Jeffrey and Cpl Adam ‘Biscuits’ McVinnie briefed them on the technical aspects of the LINC-E kit and the SATCOM installations respectively. The commanders were very happy with how the exercise ran, and could see an improvement over the last time the kit was deployed on Exercise STEADFAST COBALT in Romania.
Once the visit was over and the OC and FofS were happy that we had achieved everything we had been tasked to do, we tore down the kit in reverse order and started turning round the kit, moving the comms kit back into the troop, ready for normal set up the following week in troop lines. Overall a great exercise with plenty of training value which everyone benefitted from.
NATO and Battalion flags flying proudly on the exercise Judging the Duke of York’s Royal Military School drill competition - by SSgt Chris McKechnie Having secured the area, the Tp concentrated their efforts into erecting the comms tents and setting up of the LINC-E On 5 May 17, I took a team of three to the Duke of York’s and SATCOM kit. The Tp’s engineers were thin on the ground Royal Military School in Dover to judge the annual drill as a lot were away on a course, so the remaining ones were competition. The competition was broken into 2 phases; the utilised to full effect to get the kit up and running. A lot of inspection phase and the drill phase. Capt Sam humping and dumping was involved as these comms stacks McEvoy conducted the uniform inspection, whilst SSgt Chris aren’t the easiest pieces of kit to manoeuvre around, luckily McKechnie and Sgt Andy Madden waited on the main parade we had LCpl Lewis ‘big guns’ Jeffrey to give a helping hand! square to conduct the drill inspection.
Cpl Hywel Davies and Sgt Charles Culliford were quickly getting the generators set up and the tents provided with power so we could power up the comms kit to establish the links, but more importantly, the troops were much in need of a brew as it had been a busy morning!
Sgt Andy Madden keeping a close eye on the standard of drill
The competition is steeped in history, I remember the trepidation every year as the competition came around, wondering which of his Guards colleagues the then school RSM, WO1 (RSM) Lincoln Perkins BEM, Grenadier Guards had drafted in to cast their expert eye and pass judgement over us. Three years ago the extant RSM, WO1 (RSM) Stephan Dowle, PWRR, started inviting past pupils who were serving Sgt Will Hillyard pretending to look busy in the military to take part in the auspicious event.
JUNE 2017 91 Once all guards had been through the inspection it was time for the whole school to get on parade so the VIP, Brig P Kimber OBE, late Mercians, Comd 11 Bde and former student could present awards, including the Baroness Thatcher sword to the best JUO and the much coveted Inter-house drill competition shield to the winners; this year’s winning house was Marlborough, with Wellington (my house a close second).
It was a privilege to be invited to be an integral part of the day, and I look forward to attending Grand Day and watching the Trooping of the Colour.
SSgt Chris Mckechnie consolidating the marks after the guards have left the parade square
Early July sees the end of the school year, the final activity, before summer leave and the summer activities, the school parade their colours, the only school in England to have been presented commissioned colours, in a Trooping of the Colour ceremony in an exact replica of that seen on the Queen’s birthday parade on Horse Guards. The winner of the annual drill competition will have the honour of being the Colour escort for the final parade.
The competition is a highly competitive affair, which sees the cadets spend many hours rehearsing their drill, bulling their shoes, pressing their blues and polishing their brasses. Their effort is clearly visible by the standard of their uniform and The judging team with Brig P Kimber OBE, Comd 11 Bde, the School their drill. Principal and the school military staff
Capt Sam McEvoy during the inspection phase
Blandford Garrison Golf Society By SSgt Chris Mckechnie
Forest of Arden pre-season trip the American / Australian military wounded. On 25 - 26 Apr 17 the Blandford Garrison Golf Society (BGGS) finalised their pre-season The physical and preparations with a trip to the Forest of Arden psychological benefits of golf resort, near Coventry. This was the fifth golf for this population are annual trip which saw golfers compete for the significant. Wells trophy for the best individual stableford score on day 1 and in a pairs competition on “Often overlooked are the day 2. This year saw 28 golfers, consisting of psychological advantages current and former members of the BGGS and of golf” say Lt Col Tristan 2 members of Battle Back Golf programme. Crew. “It really allows them to develop, not only The Battle Back programme is a military through rebuilding self- initiative designed to introduce injured Andy and Kev holding court at the evening meal esteem and confidence but service personnel to sports and also the ability to share adventurous training activities thus experiences and relax with returning them to a more normal individuals who are all in the same active lifestyle and aiding in their boat.” physical and psychological rehabilitation. The Battle Back Golf As part of the society’s charity drive programme was founded in 2009 and it was decided that we would offer is run by Lt Col Tristan Crew and and pay for 2 places for Battle Back Instructional Officer Zeno Gomes. The golfers. We were met at the resort use of sports and outdoor activities by Kev Kell and Andy Carlton who has a proven track record to aid are both veterans of the war in successful physical and psychological Afghanistan. Kev suffers rehabilitation, providing the considerably from Post-Traumatic foundation for the development of a Stress Disorder and Andy is an amputee after stepping on an positive self-image and outlook on life. Pairs winners WO2 Pete McAdam and WO2 Karl Improvised Explosive Device whilst Battle Back golf is no exception, Stenning being congratulated by Lt Col Mick Boyle proving highly successful in on patrol. enhancing self-confidence and Kev and Andy were integrated into the morale. teams and were exposed to life back The ability to compete is an with likeminded military personnel, aspect of life that is less who didn’t hold back on the banter accessible for the seriously and “Gallows” humour, which they injured. The Battle Back golf both appreciated; Kev commented programme delivers competitive how nice it was to be treated normally! opportunities through arranged The individual winner was Maj Bob matches against clubs and Pace, and the pairs winners were WO2 societies, competing in charity Karl Stenning and WO2 Pete McAdam. golf days, the annual Battle Back The trip was a resounding success and Championships and most it is envisaged that the BGGS will importantly the annual “Ryder continue to support Battle Back golf in Individual Winner, Maj Bob Pace, being presented the Cup style” competition against the future. Wells trophy by Capt Ian Wells
BGGS group photo before the pairs competition JOINT ARMS CONTROL IMPLEMENTATION GROUP (JACIG)
by Sgt Greg Pounder
At the end of 2014 I received my Assignment Order to JACIG at RAF Henlow. At the time I honestly had no idea what JACIG’s role was; I later became aware that the job of the CS Engineer at JACIG had previously been gapped.
JACIG used to contain 60 PAX but due to a number of cost saving measures it was reduced to 19. A Royal Signals SSgt and Cpl PIDs were both gapped. However, a short while later the Cpl’s Job was reopened.
When I arrived in 2015 I took on a range of tasks and responsibilities. These included being a Network Manager of an Internet LAN, being the Unit’s IHUB and administering satellite phones. Whilst getting up to speed on my job I quickly learned what JACIG does.
JACIG stands for “Joint Arms Control Implementation Group” and is the liaison for 3 arms control treaties that the UK has CFE inspection of Ukraine signed as a participating member of the OSCE (Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe). These treaties are: Control Inspector. I was also issued with a diplomatic passport. Whilst in Ukraine we visited 300 Tank Regiment. • The Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) They had declared the following tanks and armoured vehicles: Treaty limiting the quantity and location of Tanks, 3 x T-55, 84 x T-64, 4 x T-72, 1 x T80, 8 BMP-1 and 4 BTR-70. We Armoured Vehicles, Artillery, Combat Aircraft, Attack walked around the site counting the equipment and checking Helicopters in Europe. The boundary for this is inside all buildings with doors bigger than 2 metres, which we from the Atlantic Ocean to the Ural Mountains. are allowed to do under the Treaty. All tanks and armoured vehicles that were declared were accounted for, making the • The Vienna Document 2011, seeking to create inspection a success. confidence and establish security building measures from Iceland to the republics of the former Soviet Halfway through my first year at JACIG, the Russians came to Union. RAF Brize Norton to conduct an observation mission under • The Open Skies Treaty providing open aerial the Treaty on Open Skies. The Russian Federation conducts 3 observation flights over signatory states from missions in the UK a year. They arrive in an AN-30B Vancouver to Vladivostok. Observation Aircraft and submit a route they wish to fly, and once this is approved, RAF PAX from JACIG sit in the aircraft In the first 6 months of being at JACIG I was tasked to go on a with them as they fly over UK territory taking photos of CFE inspection in Ukraine. To do this I was given the rank of ground installations. Now before anyone says, “Why don’t local Sgt which is the minimum rank to become an Arms they just use Google Maps?” Well, these areas are airfields,
Training inspection at RAF Marham
94 [email protected] ports and training areas that Before the year was over I are not updated regularly in returned to Ukraine for a Google. This is all part of the Vienna Document ‘confidence building’ of arms inspection. When we control and NATO countries arrived, we specified an area do the same to Russia. in Ukraine that we wished to inspect. The Ukraine Most Open Skies signatory military then escorted us to states use cameras with the all Army and Air force units good old fashioned wet film. in that area. At each site we The Russians use a more meet the Units hierarchy, advanced digital camera, we receive a brief about the while other countries are unit and then we walk currently developing their around the site to look at own digital cameras for these what kit and equipment inspections. they use. That week I Russian OpenSkies inspection at RAF Brize Norton experienced quite a lot that Before the AN-30B can take went on in the Ukrainian off from RAF Brize Norton for its observation flight, I help to military. This included a ride on a T64 Tank, watching a display inspect the aircraft. The digital camera is controlled by from an SU-27 fighter jet and getting to fire an AK-74 on a software on a computer within the aircraft. All of the shooting range. photographs that are taken are stored on a hard drive inside the camera. First of all, we check all the hard drives are clear. Arms control is not just about counting equipment, inspecting Then the Russians put a Windows 7 image onto the computer camps/airfields and taking aerial pictures. At the same time using software called Parted Magic. We make a note of the these treaties improve relations between nations through partition size so that we can compare it after the flight to confidence building. At present, arms control is the only area ensure that no aerial pictures have found their way onto this within the military that Russia and the UK work together on, computer. alongside many other nations.
When the Russian plane lands after an observation flight it is After now being at JACIG for 2 years I have travelled to my job to take the hard drives from the Russians and give Ukraine, Austria, Turkey, Spain, Czech Republic, Cyprus and them to the media processing specialists. Here the photos are Serbia. This is to do training or real arms control inspections. accessed to see if they are not too high resolution which In addition to this I have also taken part in Unit adventure would be a breach of the treaty. All of the photos are then training in Corsica. You get many opportunities to travel and processed and copied onto two external hard drives. One see places that you wouldn’t normally see in a Royal Signals hard drive is kept by the Russians and the other is kept by the unit. You also get to meet and work with military from either United Kingdom as a record of the flight. After all of the NATO and/or non-NATO countries. I am very privileged to be media processing is finished, the hard drives (except the posted at JACIG and I would fully recommend it to any Cpl CS external ones) are then wiped using Parted Magic. Engineer.
The RSYC currently operates 2 cruising yachts, Skywave and Petasus, which are available to members at a concessionary rate. Club Membership is open to all serving and retired members of the Corps and their families. Further details can be found on the website.
JUNE 2017 95 Exercise APHRODITE SKI RIPPER was a Ski Foundation Level Group 1 spent their first day getting their ski legs back by one Adventure Training package for members of JSSU (Cyp) trying out a few of the gentle blue routes on the mountain held in the resort of Bansko, Bulgaria. The package was and then slowly progressing onto the steeper red and black primarily aimed at novice skiers and those that had skied routes. Group 2 spent the morning on the nursery slopes before but did not yet hold the SF1 qualification. It was also learning how to ski parallel, wedge to slow down/stop, how open to more advanced skiers for continuation training if to turn and the rules of the slopes (which the resort numbers would permit. The two instructors were internal to instructors were themselves very bad at following!). In the the Unit which worked better for both the Unit and the afternoon Group 2 went down a long trail route from the attendees. gondola station at the top of the mountain to the station at the bottom. This took a number of hours due to the All personnel met at midday on Saturday 11 Mar 17 in order to instruction that was given at multiple stages throughout. At board the coach destined for Larnaca International Airport. the end of the day all the groups met in one of the bars for After a two hour wait in the departure lounge and a short two that day’s prescription of Après-ski! Later on in the evening hour flight with Wizz Air, we arrived at Sofia International Bansko was privy to several hours and inches of snow, much Airport. The party collected their luggage and headed straight to the delight of everyone there. onto two mini buses ready for a two hour drive through the evening. We arrived at the Eagles Nest Hotel which was to be On Monday after the ritual of an early start and the gondola our home for the first two nights of our stay. We were ride, group 1 continued up the ski lifts to the top of the split down into small groups provided with mountain to tackle some red routes whilst three apartments, and shown to our group 2 stayed on the lower pistes. The rooms. A three course evening meal weather was bad at times with cloud was provided with complimentary The two Smiths at the top of the blue coming in and reducing visibility to drinks. After the meal and an around 50m. Group 2’s more arrivals brief the group were able experienced skiers had started to to ‘explore’ the local area. find their feet and were ready Bansko was a lot larger than we for more advanced techniques, anticipated, there were a huge practices and pistes. number of sports shops, ski hires, restaurants and bars. In the afternoon group 2 split with WO2 Denham, Sgt Donlin On Sunday the group was up and Sgt Parry (group 2a) being early for a 0730hrs buffet moved onto more advanced breakfast and straight out for our ski training and started to attempt some fitting. Once suited, booted and with easier blue and red routes. The ski passes in hand we set off on our first remainder (group 2b) continued perfecting gondola ride of the week up the mountain. The their ploughing, plough turning and started to Central Gondola was located at top of the town centre practice parallel turning. On everyone’s return from the across the road from a row of bars (making them extremely slopes we moved accommodation to the Snow Pine Chalet appealing after a day’s skiing!). During the 25 minute ascent where we stayed for the remainder of our time in Bansko. The up the mountain we were delighted to see our first glimpse of chalet was very nice; we had our own chef to cook us ski runs and deep snow. breakfast and dinner and a very helpful manager full of useful local knowledge and advice. There was a mixture of skiing ability and ski experience; some had undertaken ski foundation courses, some had found their On Tuesday group 1 started the day perfecting their carving feet in competitive race camps and others were complete and carve turns, getting some good speed through the turns. novices. This gave the two instructors for the week Capt Sam This prompted the download and installation of the Ski Tracks ‘100 Metre Fall’ Smith and Maj (Ret’d) Geoff ‘Ski God’ Berry App as it analyses your run including top speed, duration and various techniques to instruct. Once at the top of the gondola distance travelled. The group also had their first taste of off we were split into two ability groups:- piste skiing without incident.
Group 1 - Consisted of those on continuation training: WO1 Group 2a had moved onto conquering blues and traversing Deano ‘All About the Tuck’ Messer, WO1 Gary ‘Granddad’ reds. They were putting into practice, albeit difficult, carving Whitehead, LCpl Byron ‘Padre I’m Lost’ Coomber, LCpl and attempting carve turns as well as moving down the pistes Darren ‘Racer’ Massey, LCpl Sean ‘Snowboard Pro’ Flynn and at a greater speed. Cpl Liam ‘Instructor in training’ Hilton. Group 2b had mastered turning, stopping and were traversing Group 2- Consisted of those that required SF1 and those that the pistes and moving far more confidently and faster. hadn’t skied before: WO2 Paul ‘Admin Van Damme’ Denham, Strained faces had been replaced with smiles. Everyone’s SSgt (FofS IS) ‘Bambi’ Smith, Sgt Donny ‘Ow me knee’ technique had improved, the legs certainly hadn’t. Donlin, Sgt Grant ‘Dark Horse’ Roberson, Sgt Tom ‘Too cool for School’ Parry, LCpl Gary ‘I’ll side slide down this one’ On Wednesday the day started much the same except we Prest and SAC Emma ‘I haven’t cried yet’ Howse. were fortunate to have clear blue skies. Group 1 was
96 [email protected] instructed in some technique exercises by Maj Berry and at down for some lunch at the 180 restaurant. At this point they one stage was jumping over an assault course made up of re-joined the rest of the group and went back to the top of their own skis. The exercise was aimed at improving their the mountain to ski back down with SSgt Smith, Sgt Parry jump turn; something they later employed to navigate their and Sgt Roberson. way down a bumpy run. Friday was the last day of skiing and was deemed to be a Group 2a was joined by Sgt Roberson who was really “Free Ski” day whereby the groups were free to ski in groups excelling at skiing. More red runs were being completed, of three or more or try out snowboarding as long as their more carving was taking place and the group was tucking in insurance covered it. Four members of the group opted to order to get some very fast runs in (and the all-important top try out snowboarding for the day leaving the remainder (less speed of the day). Training to keep our bodies pointing down the injured) to free ski. Group 1 went around the resort taking the slope we had to either cross our poles and aim at a target on the more difficult routes one last time and were also trying or keep both hands pointing down. This was a good exercise to beat the highest speed set during the course. A lot of fun for proper body alignment in order to traverse the piste. WO2 was had with no injuries which was good! Denham and Sgt Roberson also completed their first black run with very good results. Group 2a set out to start with a long blue route, progressing onto red and black routes if SSgt Smith was competent Group 2b were confident enough now to traverse down some enough as it would be his first day on the steeper slopes. As it steep blue runs, and had joined Group 2a for a couple of runs turned out the ski-lift to the blue route was closed meaning down the blues in the afternoon and were making very good the group had to start on a red route! After a few falls and a progress. bit of snow under the collar, the red was conquered and the group proceeded to ski on red and blue routes until lunch. Thursday was the last day under formal ski instruction for the After lunch the group proceeded to a red and black route, SF1 course. Group 1, after a week of tweaking their technique which was completed with only a few face plants. Once and trying to master the different turns, had their complete the group had some fun on the blue (fast) second “ski off”, an exercise where skiers are route and then called it a day, skiing down the partnered off and given a section of slope trail route back to the final day of Après- to lose their partner. The lead skier ski! picks a line and skis it as fast as The team at the possible, the chasing skier has to end of a hard day! Saturday morning the group met follow the exact ski line and stay for their final breakfast at the within one ski length at all times. Snow Pine Chalet prior to The group had lots of fun doing boarding the minibuses to Sofia this and proved that they had International Airport at 0800hrs. perfected the techniques that After a two hour drive the group they had been taught over the arrived and checked in to their week. flight in order to return to Larnaca International Airport. After a long Group 2 was split down once again, wait in a sparse departure lounge the group 2a WO2 Denham, SSgt Smith, Sgt group boarded the plane for the short Roberson, Sgt Parry and Cpl Prest were two hour flight back home. They were met under the instruction of Capt Smith. The group set by coach and driven back to Ay Nik where the out to the top of the mountain in order to ski down the long group dispersed to their accommodation for the remainder of blue route. The weather was good however visibility was very the weekend. poor at the top of the route, this caused some issues with the less confident in the group resulting in a member side sliding The exercise was deemed a resounding success with 300m down the steeper part of the route! This took the best six members out of seven being awarded their part of an hour so the rest of the group carried on looping SF1 and only three minor injuries! All members around the top part of the blue route until he got down. After that attended improved their skiing and this point the whole group skied down the rest of the blue gained valuable experience whilst route to a meeting point called the 180 restaurant where doing so. everyone from the expedition met for lunch. After lunch the less confident members joined another group leaving group 2a to continue mastering the blue route for the remainder of One of the many lousy the day. Spirits were high and the group had a really good views we had to endure…. afternoon polishing and refining the skills and drills that had been learnt that week.
Group 2b saw Cpl Hilton giving one-on-one direction to SAC Howse in the morning where they skied down a short blue slope at the beginning. After this SAC Howse felt confident enough to ascend to the very top of the mountain to ski down. The route itself was a long one, with many steep areas. They stopped off ¾ of the way
JUNE 2017 97 EXERCISE DRAGON ALDERNEY WINTER by LCpl Phillips
n 24 Feb 2017 members of 30 Signal Regiment met on making our way to the first scoff of the week, a buffet style the parade square of Gamecock Barracks to embark mixture of foods, not too dissimilar to what can be found in Oon what would probably be the longest journey one of our own cookhouses. Only difference being it could be undertaken on a coach in recent memory. After SSgt David washed down with a beer, but at nearly £5 a pint it was a bit Dunn had made sure that everyone had their passports and of a shock to the system. issued us with lip balm and sun cream, ‘yeah nice one it’s snowing’ a few of us thought, we were on our way. Morning came and pack lunches were made. We collected our skis and headed off to the first day on the slopes. I’m sure the Everybody was in high spirits as we made our way down to other groups were off and away with no problems but being Folkestone, to catch the ‘Snow Express’. A double decker bus in one of the two novice groups however we were most packed so full of skiers and snowboarders that I’m surprised certainly not. The first day I reckon I spent more time on the nobody was left crawling into the luggage compartment to fit floor than anyone in the whole of the resort, including some everyone in. The ‘Snow Express’ left Folkestone and we made confident 5 year olds who were flying down the slopes. So it our way to the port of Dover to catch the Ferry and begin the was rather demoralising to have Sig Connal Boyd and SSgt journey through France and down to Chamonix based in the FofS Kenny George in my group who seemed to have little French Alps, on the border between Switzerland and Italy. problem staying on their feet, and yearned for the bigger slopes. This journey was real graft, arriving in Chamonix on the Saturday a full 22 hours after we had set off. I was surprised The first day finished and the evening drew in, most had to see that SSgt John Axtell could still walk having slept most aches and pains from the skis, a few people not heeding the of the way on the floor of the coach, just outside the toilet. sun cream warning even had burnt noses and faces, some glowing red like a poker, but everyone still in high spirits. The Anyway, we had arrived, accommodation we were staying in was very welcoming and and the sun was shining, always had some form of entertainment on in the evening, the Alps were glistening being a band or some karaoke. and the picturesque town of Chamonix was bustling. As the week wore on and we all became more confident, we were all heading to the same slopes, us on SF1 however We checked in and were staying on blue and green runs. The more confident groups sorted into ability groups, heading further up the slopes to the black runs and even SSM WO2 Paul Munslow heading off piste. leading what they called themselves ‘the most The weather dipped in the middle of the week and it became able group’, but I think increasingly difficult to see your hand in front of your face let that was mainly bravado. alone ski, which left some of the lifts in the resort unable to Although, technically, it open. The lifts were interesting to say the least, some were a was probably the truth. bus ride away and some were in the vicinity of our accommodation. As the weather became more arduous the We got fitted into and lifts were unable to take us up the steepest slopes, however it signed out our skis and became more of a challenge especially for us novices who equipment before were pushed far out of our comfort zone of the sunny piste WO2 (SSM)Munslow off piste
98 [email protected] skiing we had been doing on the previous days. The snow left We finished the week as it had started in high- spirits with a a powdery texture on the slopes and there was a completely last day of skiing, working on everything we had learnt different feel to the snow which meant we had to learn a new throughout the week, all SF1 applicants achieved their surface on which to ski, as the piste machines could not fully qualification and the 8 SF2 applicants had improved their EXERCISE DRAGON ALDERNEY WINTER piste the slopes. skills. We retired in the evening with a team meal, paid for with the leftover funds. It was a nice change having eaten An expert called ‘John’, but pronounced French, joined us on ham and cheese baguettes all week, I might add!! the last couple of days skiing. He was a real help and took any students that needed consolidating what our instructors had As the week drew to a close, we caught our ride back to already taught us. He was nothing short of a miracle worker, Gamecock Barracks, with extremely tanned faces and as after half an hour with him, the student was probably chapped lips. The coach ride didn’t seem as long as it was ready to compete at an Olympic standard!! overnight and we slept most of the way back.
Unfortunately the trip was not without its accidents, just I myself would like to thank all the instructors, Capt Russell reiterating the point of adventure training, that it is to test Haynes, LCpl Peter Jackson, WO2 Paul Munslow and SSgt soldiers to their limits, as LCpl Shane Holliman, injured his John Greaves but especially SSgt David Dunn for all making it knee, and was flown home early. (At least he missed the an enjoyable and safe Adventure Training. I will if I’m still here mammoth coach trip back!). be attending next years!
The Worshipful Company of Information Technologists’ 25th Anniversary
by Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Phil Osment
On Thursday 4 May the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists (WCIT) celebrated their 25th anniversary as the 100th Livery Company of the City of London. In recognition of the close relationship between WCIT and the Royal Corps of Signals that dates back to 1992 a number of key guests from the Corps family were invited to mark the celebration at the Guildhall in the City. They included the Corps Colonel, Col Simon Hutchinson MBE ADC, WO1 RSM Richie Savage from 11 Signal Regiment and Lt Col (Ret'd) Phil Osment, Director of the RSI. It being “Star Wars Da y " (May the Fourth be with you……) a special CP team were drafted in to keep the Corps Colonel and RSM Savage safe with their Sauvignon.
With nearly 800 diners this was a truly prestigious occasion and the guests included the Right Honourable The Lord Mayor Alderman Dr Andrew Parmley MusM Hon FGS and Major General John Crackett CB TD, ACDS (Reserves and Cadets), all guarded by a contingent from the Honourable Artillery Company. The occasional splash of red mess kit amongst the black dinner jackets was evidence of a number of Corps ‘Journeymen’ present who are working towards their Freeman status. In his after-dinner speech the Master of the Worshipful Company, Christopher Histed, paid tribute to the strong relationship that is established between the Royal Corps of Signals and WCIT, evidenced by the various awards and prizes sponsored by them and their invaluable work through the Journeyman Scheme and the WCIT Employment Panel (over 500 Corps personnel assisted into a second career to date).
© Photography by Mike Williams
JUNE 2017 99 EXERCISE DRAGON CRUSADER SKI
n early February 16 Signal LCpl Logan is used as an example of IRegiment had organised two a buried man for the guys to prod! weeks in Tignes, France to gain Ski Foundation level 1 and 2 qualifications for the officers and soldiers of 16 Sig Regt. The first week was attended by 207 Sqn and the second week was open to the wider Regiment.
The Regiment travelled to Tignes Richard Benbow demonstrate Maj Emma and . by coach and were greeted by the the different snow layers beginnings of three days of consistent snowfall, this made the skiing a wonderful experience as the snow was soft and great to ski on but challenging at times due to visibility. After the initial dump of snow the weather a level 3 for the time we were out cleared and the first week there. This however provided a continued with bright sunshine good learning opportunity for the and some fantastic days of skiing. Lt Carter finds out when a rutsch SF2 students who were delving into We were lucky enough to have block the intricacies of avalanche safety. slips! the time to explore most of the We were able to clearly demonstrate valley and travel up to Val the differences between the snow D’Isere for a day skiing. The layers that the changing weather had instructors were sourced from the caused by cutting rutsch blocks. Regiment in the form of Sgt Collier from Sp Sqn, SSgt Stoby the Regimental SSI and from external help by Maj Emma Sadly, during the second week of skiing, an avalanche and Richard Benbow, reserve Officers who delivered the claimed the lives of four snowboarders due to these SF2 training. conditions.
The recent snow fall followed by the bright sunshine did In all, it was a challenging and enjoyable two weeks for the create some interesting conditions however. The avalanche soldiers of 16 Signal Regiment, 20 people were qualified to rating was increased to a level 4 on one of the days, a sign SF2 standard and 21 to SF1, we look forward to providing of imminent potential avalanche, and was never lower than much of the same next year.
LOST COMMS WHERE TO FIND US:
Sqn Ldr (Retd) John Fraser is looking for Chris Cross:
“I was in Naples with Chris Cross and helped crew a Facebook: boat he bought from Corfu back to Naples. Royal Corps of Signals @RSignals
Does Chris Cross remember the journey from Corfu harbour to Nisida HQ Naples in June 1986 with an RAF officer, a RN ex submarine commander and a 16 year old schoolboy waiting for his exam results? It was a very mixed crew, all with different approaches to Instagram: problem solving. It was (for me) a fascinating trip @royal_corps_signals which I remember fondly all these years later”
Contact [email protected]
100 [email protected] EXERCISE COCKNEY SWIFT PISTE
rom 4 – 11 March 2017, nine members of PJHQ J6 explore a little further, the group skied to Villandry which is at stepped away from the busy operational battle rhythm the far end of the ski area. Unfortunately due to the weather, Fof PJHQ and deployed on Exercise COCKNEY SWIFT all lifts were then closed before the group could return to Les PISTE to Les Arcs, France. This allowed personnel to replace Arcs. A long wait for a bus ensued which was not the best end Reports, Returns and Statements of Requirement with skis, to an otherwise good day on the slopes. boots and goggles for a week on the piste. The Royal Corps of Signals was represented in this Tri-Service group by Col Day 3 was a lot less windy but there was still heavy snowfall. Fawcett, Maj Andy Rea and Capt Chris Haussauer. Fellow This allowed the beginner's group to experience the Jimmy, Capt Toby Rowe also attended as the Chief Instructor. challenges of skiing in deep snow on the piste whilst beginning to progress from snow plough to parallel turning. After a long day spent travelling, including several delays, the The CT group fought through the mist and snow and explored group eventually arrived at the ski more of the resort working on resort of Les Arcs 1600hrs and parallel turns under instruction. checked into the accommodation. Luckily the skies cleared in the We were staying in a full board afternoon, which improved visibility hostel (UCPA) which was located somewhat. The good visibility close to the slopes. On the first full proved helpful for Capt Haussauer day and after a hearty breakfast who had been put in charge of and a number of theory lessons, the navigation for the afternoon and group was issued with skis and managed to get the group home boots and took off towards the Capt Haussauer safely without the need for another slopes. Day 1 for the beginner's trying to work out bus. group comprised of lessons on how which way is down to don ski boots and skis as well as On days 4 and 5 the groups how to carry skis safely. Once that experienced skiing in clear skies and was mastered it was time to clip in on fresh snow. This was a real treat and embark on to the piste. Under the watchful eye of Chief after the previous few days and everyone felt the benefit of Instructor, Capt Rowe the group began learning how to snow skiing in better visibility. At the end of the fifth day both plough in order to control the speed of the skis and stop groups met at the bottom of the slopes and were pleased to safely. Meanwhile the Continuation Training group be told by the instructors that they had all passed Ski familiarised themselves with the higher pistes and used the Foundation 1 and CT respectively. The award for ‘most first day to get the feel for skiing again. This was all under the improved’ was never announced though, despite Col supervision of instructor Cdr Scott (PJHQ J6). Fawcett’s hints.
Day 2 saw the beginner group embark on the higher chair lift The final day was classed as ‘free ski’ where the groups mixed and practice the snow plough on a longer piste. The and skied around the area in at least groups of three. This conditions on this day were a lot worse than the day before gave the beginners a chance to practice what they had learnt with high winds and heavy snowfall across the resort. This and to show off their new skills in front of the CT group. All in significantly hampered the CT group who were confined to all the exercise was hugely successful and although the lower slopes as the higher lifts were closed. Deciding to challenging at times, all members of the group enjoyed the experience.
Braving the elements
JUNE 2017 101 EXERCISE DRAGON CHILEAN VOLCANO
n 20 Jan 17, 10 soldiers from 30 Sig Regt deployed to Chile to attempt to become the first British military expedition to reach the summit of Ojos The team at the crossing point Del Salado, this was to be the culmination of 14 months planning and 12 of the Tropic of Capricorn and months of training. Ojos is the world’s highest active volcano at 6,893m the Inca Trail Oand second highest summit in the Southern and Western Hemispheres, it is also ranked in the top 50 most prominent mountains (height from mountain base to summit). For comparison, Mt Everest is 8,848m. Statistically the success rate for summiting Ojos is 25%, compared to 27% on Mt Everest. So, people who go to Everest have a higher chance of successfully reaching the summit than those attempting Ojos Del Salado. During the early planning stages we discovered that Lt Col Smith (REME) was leading an Army HQ expedition (Ex TIGER BURNING BRIGHT) with the same objective. Unfortunately for them, due to illness of instructors, they were not able to summit Ojos, but did gain the first British Military ascent of Nevado San Franciso (6,018m) and had an amazing trip. Lt Col Smith also provided information that helped the successful planning of our expedition. I would like to thank him for that, as I know he was preparing for another attempt himself. LCpl The team's first mountain summit of the trip, Ben Willlett was asked to produce this article from the diary that he kept whilst on Cerro Mirador (4,600m) Ex DCV:
“As soon as I saw Ex DCV advertising for participants I knew that I wanted to be part of it. We were assured that the objective was within the reach of novices so I committed to the trip and the pre-training packages that were essential for final selection. We left sunny England on the 20 Jan 17 and began our long transatlantic flight to Santiago, we were all excited about the challenges that lay ahead. As a team we had been training for this moment for almost a year and felt ready to test our skills and resolve. After the previous attempt to summit Ojos by Army HQ there was some concern about the difficulty, but we felt prepared and wanted to be the first military team to get to the top. However, after an informative 3 days in San Pedro de Atacama; acclimatising, visiting local historical sites and geographical features, it became apparent that mountaineering in Chile was very different from that in the UK. Altitude suddenly became an issue. We’d all received concise briefs about the effects of altitude sickness and recognising the signs and symptoms, but I doubt many of us novices thought it would actually hit us. Why should it? We’re all young and fit soldiers. How wrong we were.
We left San Pedro to begin the mountaineering phase of Ex DCV and moved to a campsite 3km south of a small settlement called Guatin. Guatin is approx. 30km north of San Pedro and at a height of 3,000m. Some of our group began to feel the effect of altitude on their bodies. Our normally relaxed walk into the hills and mountains turned into a tiring bimble that Grandma Willett would be ashamed of. However, our instructors had organised a good programme for acclimatisation that incorporated long recovery periods after each hike.
Our original plan had been to remain in Guatin for 3 days then move to a higher elevation at Machuca’s Rocks Campsite. Unfortunately for us we had arrived in Chile at a time when low pressure systems were causing a lot of rainfall and mountain snow, something we were not expecting in the most arid desert in the world. In fact, this freak weather eventually proved to be more than ‘just a bit of rain.’ On the third day of acclimatising, having just successfully reached our first summit (Cerro Mirador, 4,600m), we heard an ominous rumble of thunder nearby. With an almost black sky, this storm was close and was getting closer. Our plan was to set up camp at Machuca’s Rocks, after summiting, to continue the acclimatisation process and move to a location closer to the next two acclimatisation summits. However, whilst we were eating dinner Juan Carlos (base camp manager) was informed that the campsite was closed, so was his Plan B location, due to the impending large storm. Therefore it was decided that we should head back to our previous camp near Guatin. As we arrived it began to spit a little rain so tents were hastily set up. Literally as soon as we finished, the heavens opened and gave us hell. After abandoning setting up camp we jumped into our vehicles for safety and watched as hail, lightning and flood level rains Background pic - the team on an battered our campsite. After 1 hour and no obvious break in the storm it was acclimatisation trek in Guatin EXERCISE DRAGON CHILEAN VOLCANO
decided that the safest option would be to abandon camp and head back to the safety of San Pedro for the night. As we drove south the amount of rain that had fallen was made even more apparent. We encountered blocked and flood damaged roads, flooded rivers and many landslides. It seemed that Chile was really determined to stop us from acclimatising.
After a long night locating a hostel to provide shelter from the storm, we awoke to a bright sunny day and were able to see the damage caused in San Pedro. The town had been battered, streets were completely flooded, windows shattered, electricity down and trees were felled. Our exped leader, SSgt Col Kingshott, arranged a meeting with the Chile Montana staff to chat about weather forecasts and check synoptic charts, to see the impact of the daily storms on our acclimatisation plan. All forecasts indicated that the weather systems closer to our objective were much The first campsite location, more stable. It was therefore decided that we would retrieve the abandoned tents Guatin and head south the following day, to the Ojos region, where we would begin the acclimatisation process again. It took all morning for the roads to be cleared by the The team's first mountain summit of the trip, local authorities before we could gain access to our battered campsite. Fortunately Cerro Mirador (4,600m) the tents were intact and only minor damage was sustained to the cook tent. After a good night’s sleep we packed the vehicles, waved farewell to San Pedro and headed south to the seaside mining town of Taltal. It took 7hrs of driving on seemingly endless, arrow straight desert roads to get there. A short journey in Chilean terms. Taltal is an uninspiring village with a beach in a tsunami risk zone. It is halfway between San Pedro and the Ojos Region, so is a logical place to stop on route between the two areas.
Our next campsite was near a large salt flat called Salar de Pedernales. From here we could see the next acclimatisation objective, Doña Inés (5,085m). Our camp Starting the walk up Nevado location resembled a Star Wars set. An abandoned ruin of a farm, with San Francisco (6,018m) disintegrating mud walls baking in the desert heat and a breeze covering us and our equipment in dust. The plan was to spend two nights at this camp (approx. 3,500m) steadily building up our tolerance to altitude. Doña Inés summit day was clear and still, after a 2hr drive we arrived at the vehicle drop off and steadily made The team on the summit of Doña Inés our way to the highest top of the twin peaked mountain. The ground underfoot (5,085m) was difficult, a mix of scree with large loose boulders, meaning that sometimes it seemed we were making no upwards progress. Breathing was difficult and we got our first true taste of walking at high altitude. Reaching the summit provided amazing views and photo opportunities. The trip back down proved to be fun and much easier than the route up. Some of the more experienced team members were able to run down the scree, whilst others preferred to pace themselves. This altitude was a new high for most of the expedition, with all now fully understanding the determination and physical effort required to succeed in thinner air It felt good to have ascended a 5,000m peak, even if we were all exhausted. A BBQ evening meal was enjoyed by all and the following day we moved to Laguna Verde.
After the vehicles were packed we headed towards Laguna Verde for the final The team on the summit of Nevado San phase of the expedition. The road towards Laguna Verde passes through some Francisco (6,018m) amazing mountain scenery, and we were able to gain the first sight of our final objective. It looked amazing and certainly rejuvenated morale levels after the problems in San Pedro and days of long car journeys. As the area around Laguna Verde is volcanic there were naturally occurring hot springs in the campsite that allowed us the luxury of a warm and relaxing bath. Our first night here was difficult as bodies adjusted to the higher altitude (approx. 4,300m), with most not sleeping particularly well. Our first acclimatisation objective in this area was to be a walk to a foresummit of Tres a’ Meurte. Tres a’ Meurte is 5,800m high, but we were going to be ascending to a point at 5,300m. Although the path we were taking was initially very good it soon deteriorated and the conditions underfoot proved to be the most challenging yet. Sharp, loose rocks and sand made for hard going. Whilst we were having our lunch stop we were able to see our objective for the following day, Nevado San Francisco (6,018m). As usual the walk down was much quicker and a good evening meal was eaten before an early night in preparation for the alpine start the next day. Waking at 0430hrs was a shock to the system! It was cold outside with a light frost on the ground, the stars were still shining and the mountains looked dark and uninviting. After breakfast we drove up an increasingly rough track to the start of our walk. We began at approx. 5,100m in bitter cold, not helped by the wind. Although the track up Nevado San Francisco was good and well- trodden, it was relentless in angle and seemed to go on forever. As the sun started to creep around the edge of the mountain we were treated to some stunning views, it also warmed the air a little which raised our spirits. Eventually the path relented as we approached the extinct crater at the centre of the mountain. We stopped for some food and a much needed drink before caching bags before the final summit push. This being our third summit we were well aware of the need to draw deep on our mental and physical reserves to ensure that we made it to the top. When we finally got to the summit the feeling of pride on reaching a 6,000m summit was immense. Seeing all the other mountains around us was amazing, we even got views over to Ojos. After such a hard route up this was our reward. We spent a little time taking photos and enjoying the scenery before beginning the route down. As altitude was lost the walking became easier. A couple of team members had altitude headaches and felt a little sick, but after the evening meal everyone was fine again. After two hard mountaineering days it was decided that the following day would be a rest day to allow us to recharge before the final days on Ojos.
During our rest day SSgt Col Kingshott was shown the weather forecast for the next few days. This didn’t look good. With strong winds and exceptionally cold temperatures forecast, SSgt Col Kingshott, the Chile Montana Staff and the other Exped Instructors had to come up with a plan to allow us the best chance of summiting. It was decided that a further weather check would be completed the following morning, to confirm the forecast, then summit day would be brought forward by one day. Although this represented a risk, it did mean we would be able to make best use of the good weather window. Unfortunately weather is unpredictable, to be successful in high mountains chances need to be taken or objectives aren’t achieved. Exercise TIGER BURNING BRIGHT was in everyone’s minds now, as they had felt that bringing forward their final summit day had been a major contributing factor in their instructors getting altitude sickness, and ultimately the team not getting to the summit of Ojos. On Saturday 4 February, a day early, we loaded the vehicles and moved to the Atacama Refuge. Some snow had fallen during the night which made the roads difficult to negotiate, but our drivers got us there safely. When we arrived we set up tents for our return journey, had a final bag pack to further reduce our loads, then began a slow walk to advanced base camp at the Tejos Refuge at 5,800m in preparation to summit the following day.
After a poor night’s sleep, either because of the effects of altitude or nervousness, to my delight I woke the team with my stern voice announcing “it’s 3am, time to get up”. Everyone began the morning 1 routine by eating an energy packed breakfast of boil in the bag muesli and energy bars so that they were ready for the extreme cold and arduous physical challenge of the day ahead. Going outside to use the toilet quickly demonstrated how cold it was. We would be wearing at least 6 layers each (including down jackets), for the whole day. After a bit of faff, we set off at 0420hrs. Walking in the beam of a head torch past near extinct glaciers (penitents), straining to see ice and snow on a seemingly obvious path took concentration but we soon adapted and got into a rhythm. After a few hours the skies were beginning to brighten and we could see the summit. It didn’t seem so bad after all. It looked so close that we thought we would make this in no time. How wrong we were. It took almost eleven hours of painstakingly slow walking, zig zagging up endless slopes that must have been at least 40 oC. Eleven hours of breathlessness, getting tougher the higher we 2 went. We started off in a tight group, but ended up about 20 metres apart from one another. Two of our team, LCpl Zac Hampton and LCpl Nayim Mjahed, took to the very slow but very successful technique of ‘walk 5 steps, take 30 seconds rest and repeat.’ They claimed it was that or go down now. After the crater there was a gully which led to a short scramble onto the summit block. One by one we reached the small summit pyramid and congratulated each other. Col was first to reach the summit then Nayim, Zac and the rest. I’d like to say the feeling was brilliant for us all (it was for some) but for me it was simply emotional. It was so hard that I was worn out and tired. We just needed to get down now. 3 We eventually arrived back to Tejos Refuge where the gravity of what we had just achieved really started to hit home. We had made the first British military ascent of the world’s highest active volcano. Over the next few days we spent time reflecting on our achievement and relaxing. On route back to Santiago we stopped off at two seaside locations, first was Pan de Azucar. This is a coastal campsite in a national park located on a beach overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Juan Carlos cooked a fantastic final meal and we had a good night with our brilliant guiding company, Chile Montana. We all watched the sunset over the Pacific and enjoyed ourselves immensely. Next we had an overnight stay in Bahia Inglesia, a lovely little village with a buzzing centre.
Eventually we got to Santiago after a short flight from Copiapo 4 and spent the next few days conducting some cultural visits and dining out in the local restaurants before making our journey home. The mood was one of quiet contemplation upon arriving back in the UK, all of us knowing what an incredible journey we had been on. Recognising and appreciating each other’s strengths and discovering new things about ourselves and what we could achieve if we set our minds to it. On reflection I can honestly say that it is by far the hardest physical challenge that I have ever undertaken and also the most mentally draining. Yet we did it. We got to the top of the world’s highest volcano and we all feel proud of what an immense achievement we have completed. This is a memory that will last a lifetime. "
The team on the summit of the 1. One of the extinct glaciers on the flanks of Ojos, final objective, Ojos Del Salado next to the Tejos Refuge. (6,893m). The first British military 2. The advanced base camp, Tejos Refuge ascent of the world's highest active (5,800m). Ojos Del Salado in background. 3. The first sight the team had of Ojos, 40km short volcano of the Argentinian border. 4. SSgt Kingshott on the summit of Ojos, first guy up from the expedition.
JUNE 2017 105 EXERCISE NORTHERN SKI CHALLENGE 1 Day 1 (Fri 20 Jan 17) - by SSgt Stephen Williams (52 Sp Sqn) Day 3 (Sun 22 Jan 17) - by Sig Peter McLay (52 Sp Sqn)
The day has finally arrived and this is when I find out if my Day 3 of the expedition began like many days in the military admin on planning transport from all the Sqn locations to whether in barracks or abroad with an early wake up call. For Redford Barracks has passed the test. Fortunately, all the Team Novice this was guys arrived safely at Redford with no ordinary morning as no transport issues. we were preparing to confront our nerves On arrival at Edinburgh airport, we taking on a new and met up with one of the ski instructors potentially dangerous WO2 Jimmy Hall from 4Yorks. The sport. We moved party was nearly complete, and when through to the boot we arrived at Geneva, we met up with and ski fitting the other 2 instructors; Maj Wayne process; this was Nickels (38Bde) and Capt Buckingham quite educational (40 Sqn). The flight to Geneva was and helped mentally quick and the transfer to the resort; prepare us for the UCLA Contamines went without a day ahead. We made hitch…phase 1 complete. our way to the nursery slope to Day 2 (Sat 21 Jan 17) begin our basic - by Cpl Deborah Gilmore (40 Sqn) training, this proved laborious but utterly We were going on a ski trip to complete our ski essential. Balance and foundation one with 32 Sig Regt. I (Cpl Gilmore) equipment knowledge Sig McSorley and Sig Budden began the first leg which included the side of our journey flying from Belfast to Edinburgh. slide, balance Our flight was at 0845hrs due to land at 0945hrs. calibration jump and It was a lovely day, sunny, no wind, perfect flying the beginners best conditions until we hit Bonnie Scotland. Our Fly tool; the snowplough. Be flight could not land due to fog and we were After progressing from flying in a holding pattern for about 30 minutes. the basics, we moved Then our Captain informed us that our flight on to the button lift, a would be diverted to Glasgow. This was a big single carriage problem for us as our connecting flight was at mechanical tow cable midday from Edinburgh to Geneva. Therefore, it began. We that further opened up our learning and potential. By closing landed in Glasgow, hopped on a bus to take us back to time, we were feeling the nursery slope was holding us back Edinburgh whilst checking out possible connecting flights. On and we were eager to progress to bigger challenges. The day route, we booked flights with Jet 2 leaving at 1350hrs. Time of skiing ended with inflated spirits and confidence with eager was pushing on, all we needed was a delay on the motorway expectations of the day to follow. and we would have been back to square one. Luckily, enough we arrived at 1245hrs and managed to get checked in and Day 4 (Mon 23 Jan 17) - by Sig Leon Burdkin-Roberts (2 Sqn) straight on to our next flight. On arrival, alternative transport was waiting for us for our onward journey to the resort and I Advanced group – We carried on with the same daily routine was keeping everyone up to date with our progress. We during the main part of the day focusing on new ski landed at 1720hrs local time, went in a little mini bus to La techniques. The team practised their map reading skills by Fayet waited there for our taxi which was booked for 1945hrs traversing the whole of the mountain in one day, tackling and finally arrived at UCPA, Les Contamines at 2010hrs. “The steep reds and blues that developed our ski abilities Belfast Three” as I called ourselves finally made it to our throughout the morning and until after lunch when everyone destination and met with our group. started to become tired, somehow no one fell over.
106 [email protected] Day 5 (Tue 24 Jan 17) - by Sig Allan Windram (51 Sqn) Day 7 (Thu 26 Jan 17) - by Cpl Ross Aitken (51 Sqn)
We woke up and went for breakfast for 0730hrs as usual and The day started well with members of the advanced group made our packed lunches for the day. We took the ski lift up getting stuck on a chairlift for 20 minutes! This gave Sig to the base where we had met previously called ‘Le Signal’. Burdikan-Roberts plenty of time From there we were organised into to eat his 3ft long monstrosity of our separate groups for the days a sandwich. Not to delay anything skiing. Maj Wayne Nickels was the further, once the chairlift was back lead instructor for our group. He was in action the advanced group went giving people in the group chances to straight into a lesson on a black lead the team for a ski, Cpl Aitken was run. The ability to ski on a steeper first in the group to do so. He warmed gradient would test our skills the team up before we proceeded and enhance our confidence and down the first red run. It was another further progress on the JSAT ski glorious day on the mountain with not foundation program. From below, a cloud in the sky. We concentrated on it must have looked like a game blue and red runs keeping the skis as of skittles as a large number of close together as possible when turning. the group couldn’t stay on their The night before I was in the skis, tackling the slope on their intermediate group so this was my first derrières. day in the Premier League so Maj Nickels had me concentrating on my posture for Day 8 (Fri 27 Jan 17) the steeper slopes. We then stopped at - by Cpl Limbu Rukman about 1100hrs for a 15-minute break. We (2 Sig Regt, 246 Sqn) then carried on with red and blue runs until lunchtime at 1230hrs, then carried It was the last day hence it was a day on skiing until 1500hrs. to make the most of the time out on the piste skiing. Even the novice Day 6 (Wed 25 Jan 17) group had proved - by Sig Matt Weatherly (50 Sqn) their competency so they tagged The day started as the others, along with the with a continental breakfast advanced group to followed by a weather brief, then do variable routes time to put on ski boots, collect up to red leaving skis and take the bus up to the the very advanced gondola to the piste. For the novice group to tackle all group it was then a couple of runs the routes in a down our most used route to get single day. The our ski legs back and continue advanced group practising the skills taught over the went around doing previous few days. We then all the ski runs and proceeded to explore the mountain managed to a little more taking on the challenge complete the feat of understanding the map of the successfully. It was a day that was demanding and mountain as well as some steeper at the same time enjoyable for all. blue runs. The three groups then met up at 'Le Signal' for lunch. After lunch, the groups split up Day 9 (Sat 28 Jan 17) - by SSgt Stephen Williams (52 Sp Sqn) differently. Some of the more experienced skiers joined the novice group to provide extra coaching, and helping to push The group were all packed and ready for the journey home. us to our limits and hone the skills we had been working on After a successful and demanding week of skiing, everyone in since day one. Finally, it was time to get the bus back to the his or her respective groups gained the SF1 qualification. This hotel for our daily debrief, some food, and for many a well- would allow them to move onto SF2 and continue their earned early night! training to SF3 and possibly Instructor level.
JUNE 2017 107 SF1 Group getting ready for their first red run
xercise DRAGON BAHRAIN ICE was a 255 (Bahrain) parent and child at the same time, before the rest of the Signal Squadron skiing expedition to Kirchdorf, Austria group followed one at a time. Most people at this point were Ewith the aim of Squadron personnel achieving SF1 and getting it, but this didn’t stop Sig ‘Bolts’ Bolton from colliding SF1 continuous qualifications. The secondary aim was to with a child! develop the soldiers robustness in a difficult environment and develop leadership qualities. Monday 6 February - Skiing – Day 2 The warning the night before was that it was going to be cold Saturday 4 Feb - Travelling out and fresh snow had fallen during the night. The day started A 0400hrs start to board the coach on a chilly morning was off foggy but snowing – a good sign for the slopes for the met by some disgruntled faces. We reached Birmingham day. The previous day’s conditions weren’t the best as they International rather quickly and once check-in was done the were icy. Now with a thick, fresh layer of powder-like snow, flight was in sight, a quick bite to eat and we were then onto stepping on to the red pods to travel up the Steinplatte it the plane for a quick 2 hour flight to Salzburg, Austria; became abundantly clear we would have vision problems with touching down around 1020hrs local time. After a quick brief the thick fog draping the mountains. After a couple of hours from the hotel that we were staying in we were taken to get skiing in the fog we stopped for a well earned hot chocolate our equipment for the next 6 days skiing. We then got our and bratwurst. The skis were back on and we started to rooms and moved into them. Apparently, in Austria a TWIN conquer the blues and hit the reds, while the beginners were room means two single beds pushed together in 1 bed frame still in the pen falling over! so essentially, we were sharing a bed with our roommate. The rest of the day was our own to explore the local area and Tuesday 7 February - Skiing – Day 3 catch up on some sleep. Yet again, another foggy morning (nowhere near as bad as yesterday) but no snow this time and we headed for the Sunday 5 February - Skiing – Day 1 Steinplatte. Today was about revising yesterday’s skills and Everyone was up early and eating breakfast ready to catch using them to make our turns tighter. We hit a few blues, but some fresh snow and get the ski legs working, we packed up mostly red slopes, we also had great fun going off piste! A our belongings into a van to go to our next hotel and number of us had been eyeing up the ski park; a sectioned off congregated outside while we were checked out. Making a run of slope with jumps and other apparatus to show off on. short walk to a bus stop down the road, we were on our way Once the confidence of the young soldiers grew they thought to the piste. Most of the group hadn’t skied before and the they could tackle anything. Today was the day we could have ones who said they could were hoping they weren’t the first a go at using it! All of us had an amazing time and all at our to fall. Everyone was put into groups and off they went, the own pace. Capt Tarbox led from the rear to make sure SF1‘s straight onto the blues and the beginners were shown everyone made it down in one piece, but once he got going how to put boots and skis on. I was asked to demonstrate the there was no stopping him: just a blur of blue and red flying snow plough down to the bottom of the pen, dodging a down the piste. After the days skiing we had been offered the
108 [email protected] chance to go sledging which once Kate took us down mostly blues and some reds or the again the group jumped at. Ready to Cpl Burns - day one, ready f to break our legs in for the day, even hitting the go up, we sat on the little wooden slopes play park. As we grew in confidence in our frames ready for the tractors to pull us abilities, we needed challenges such as jumps up to the top of the run. Capt Tarbox and learnt little tricks to keep us on our toes looked so out of place! A man who is and have some fun. We had been eyeing up a 6ft 5 sat on the Austrian variant of a certain black run all week that we had seen on toddler’s toy car, ready to ride it down our trips up the mountain on the ski lift. Well, a mountain definitely added comedy today was the day we would ski that slope. As value to an otherwise daunting we got to the top, the route would start off as situation. a red and lead into a black. LCpl ‘Holmesy’ Holmes and SSgt Wednesday 8 February - Skiing – Day 4 ‘Bibbs’ Bibby decided to take it easy on the reds while the rest of In the morning we skied as a collective, us set off. starting off on nice easy blue routes to warm up. We moved on to reds once we At lunch, Kate congratulated us got our legs back into it and luckily we and announced we were now all remained collision free! Kate, the SF1 qualified, although I think it instructor had the competent skiers have a go at was only myself and Sig ‘Nath’ doing a demonstration for the beginners on Stowe out of our group that synchronised turning. Safe to say we didn’t do an weren’t in the first place. So in the outstanding job but it was fun to give it a go afternoon we were told to break anyhow. After lunch, we separated back into off into our own groups and free our groups again. I was dreading what was ski. I was part of a group of 6. We coming; black slopes. Everyone was buzzing to decided to hit the black slope first have a go at the black runs, me included! At the Sig Bolton on the slopes bef off and flew through it. I had been top of the slope, Kate gave us the option to ore asking to do more off piste as I enjoy falling over take a red route to the same location at the that the most. We headed to the bottom but out of a mix of stubbornness and runs we had done previously in the excitement, no one took her up on the offer. As week, but taking them at different we set off I could feel my nerves and every fibre in my body angles to make them more of a challenge. There was one telling me “Nope!” to the point where I started talking to track through the trees which everyone creamed in on apart myself to get me through it. I just took it nice and wide and from me! As I came through the clearing and over a hump in steady to avoid falling down the slopes with my skis tumbling the ground I saw the front man starting to go. I ground to an after me. But in all honesty, we had done red routes pretty immediate halt. Not even a second later, LCpl Liam Castile much the same. Before I knew it, I had joined the rest of the zipped past me, heading torwards Capt Tarbox. All of this group at the bottom. Kate then gave us the option again to being seen by LCpl ‘Jord’ Dunlop, he tried his best to grind to take another red route down to the next lift, which LCpl a halt but ended up doing a 180 degree spin, looking back up Holmes and SSgt Young took up this time! The rest of us hit the slope to see LCpl ‘Sach’ Sachin and LCpl Rob Hammett more of the black routes for the rest of the afternoon. It was coming towards him! It was the funniest thing to watch! After amazing to go from struggling with realising they were all ok, I continued to laugh and skied off red routes on Day 1 to now being down the route while they picked themselves up and dusted able to enjoy and test my abilities themselves off. on black routes. We all felt pride Friday 10 February - Skiing – Day 6 and a huge adrenaline rush. The last day. I would like to say the group felt deflated by the Thursday 9 February - Skiing prospect of having to leave, but the air was mostly relief! – Day 5 Bruising had taken its toll by now, but we still loved it! We were let loose in our own small groups to play on the slopes Looking out the window we skied the first day. Most of us took the ski lift to the top, in the morning I thought where we rode the red slope down. Another ski lift would “Great, MORE fog.” take us from the bottom of the red to the top of a very nice, long blue. This was a good run to do because you could pick But as we rode the up some speed and test your skills more than the steep reds. gondolier back up to At 1000hrs, we met at the bottom of a T bar lift to, as a the Steinplatte and collective, have a go on the speed run and slalom. Up until broke through the clouds, lunchtime, we stayed and played on these two parts of the it revealed glorious slopes. In the afternoon we visited the quaint town of St sunshine, although it Johann to do a bit of sightseeing. Meeting back up together was chilly.Once at the at 1600hrs, we headed back to the hotel to pack up, ready for top we split into our commute back to Stafford the following day. our groups and skied off. The week was a huge success with every individual pushing themselves beyond their comfort zone and meeting the aims Sig Leach of AT. Thanks to SSgt Bibby for organising such an enjoyable demonstrating the and challenging AT package. snow plough
JUNE 2017 109 Patron: HRH The Princess Royal Royal Signals President: The Master of Signals
Chairman: Brig DA Hargreaves Association
Tel (mil) (9)4371 2081 Tel (mil) (9)4371 2089 Tel (civ) 01258 482081 Tel (civ) 01258 482089 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
General Secretary and Treasurer: Col (Retd) TW Canham Grant Co-ordinator: Mrs L Sizeland
Tel (mil) (9)4371 2086 Tel (mil) (9)4371 2090 Tel (civ) 01258 482086 Tel (civ) 01258 482090 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Assistant General Secretary: Maj (Retd) MS Tivey Membership Secretary: Mrs CA Addison
The 2017 Corps Weekend planning meetings have begun and we are looking forward to another successful and convivial weekend. The form and details of the event are on the website, but if you would like a copy sent to you by post, please send an SAE with postage to Admin Officer, RSA, HQ R SIGNALS, Griffin House, Blandford Camp, DT11 8RH. Again this year the Princess Royal Day parade on Saturday morning will include a contingent of veterans who will join 11 (RSS) Sig Regt on parade and march off with the Regiment. The Standard Bearer’s Competition this year will take place during the afternoon to be followed shortly afterwards by the prize giving; there will also be Unit displays, vintage vehicles, Defence Close Combat Trainer, Corps Museum and shop, and Blandford Officers’ Lunch. After lunch, (from the marquee or at other outlets on camp) there will be displays on Hawke Square featuring the Corps bands, Queens Gurkha Signals, White Helmet Display Team and the Sunset Ceremony. During the evening there will be an informal supper in the WOs’ and Sgts’ Mess or Party in the Park on Elizabeth Field. On Sunday there will be a Church Service in the Corps Chapel followed by a reception in the Glass House. Do come and join us this year. You will be able to see the report and photographs in a future edition of this magazine, and online.
The calendar for 2017 can be found on our website, see the events page. An extract is here for those who are unable to access the internet:
21 May Eden Camp Parade Malton, N Yorks 16-18 Jun Corps Weekend Blandford 12 Aug Gathering of the Clans Horden 2 Sep Corps Memorial Rededication Service NMA Alrewas 9 Nov Opening of the Field of Remembrance Westminster Abbey 12 Nov Remembrance Day 24-27 Nov Project Noel VIII Liverpool
REPORT ON 72nd ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING - by the Admin Officer
The 72nd AGM took place on 18 March 2017 in the Carisbrooke Hall, Victory Services Club, London. Present were representatives from many branches and affiliated associations as well as individual members of the association. The Chairman, Brigadier David Hargreaves, opened the meeting at 1030hrs with a welcome to everyone. The meeting then observed the customary silence before the minutes of the 71st AGM were agreed as an accurate record with the procedure to appointment the Chairman RSA as the only amendment. He covered the matters arising from the previous meeting and then gave his report. He said that the RSBF Pennant of Merit for Fundraising had been won by the Cornwall Branch and that an opportunity would be found during the year to make the presentation. The General Secretary, Col (Retd) Terry Canham, then presented his general and financial reports. After this, the members of the Central Committee were confirmed. The meeting progressed with the Admin Officer, Caroline Addison,
110 [email protected] presenting her report; Sandra Hutchinson, told the meeting about the revised web presence and then following the meeting ran a very successful and interesting information session. The Assist Gen Sec, Maj (Retd) Mark Tivey, gave the meeting information about Corps Weekend 2017 and then presented the RSBF Welfare/Benevolence Report. Future events were discussed and the Chairman received 2 bound books of Newsletters printed by the Beverley Boys’ Association from Tony Hull. The newsletters have been placed in the Corps Museum Archive. Following other business which covered the association awards, toasts following official dinners, donations and an event at Eden Camp for Palestine veterans, Chairman of the Board at the National Memorial Arboretum (NMA), Lt Col David Whimpenny, gave a very interesting and thought provoking presentation about the NMA; the Chairman gave the vote of thanks and those present showed their appreciation. The Chairman finally thanked the large contingent of Corps In-Pensioners from the Royal Hospital Chelsea for attending, confirmed the next meeting as being Sat 18 Mar 18 in the same place. The meeting closed at 1225hrs.
A copy of the AGM Minutes can be obtained by sending an A4 SAE with Large postage to Admin Officer, RSA, HQ R SIGNALS, Griffin House, Blandford Camp, DT11 8RH.
New Life Members. A warm welcome to the following members, enrolled since the last issue of The Wire;
Cpl David Adamson 1961-70 Sig Terence Graham 1979-84 Cpl James McCaskie 1959-66 Sgt Alan Armstrong 1958-82 Sig John Humphreys 1981-92 Sig Thomas McMurray 1966-71 Sig Clive Bass 2011-14 LCpl Gareth Jenkins 2001-14 Cpl Alan Roy Preston 1975-86 Cpl Drew Cheshire 1986-86 Cpl John Kelly 1950-52 LCpl Daryl Steptoe 1996-13 Pte Susan Cornelius 1965-66 Sig Stewart Kennedy 1988-91 Maj David Wall 1987-00 Cpl Russell Craig 1984-11 Cpl William Kidd 1975-93 WO1 Martin Webb 1972-93 Sgt Robert Dodds 1969-92 WO2 Ian Lake 1970-94 LCpl John Woodruff 1971-84 Cpl Milton Evans 1946-48 SSgt William Laurie 1972-95 SSgt Robert Godfrey 1989-13 Sgt Ivor Maddock 1971-94
Frank Sidey. As always the young waiters did superbly well and were rewarded with bowls overflowing with £5.00 notes! 254 OLD BOYS ASSOCIATION Pat Soward told the assembled company that it was the intention of the 254OBA Committee members that the 254 OBA (Southern Chapter) Association would be disbanded formally during the Corps Weekend at Blandford in June, when the Standard would be Reunion Organiser: Pat Soward laid up, and that a last national reunion would be held at Derby in September. However the Southern Chapter reunions Eleven members of the 254 Old Boys Association (those who will continue for as long as members are able to attend and enlisted into Boys Training Company at the reunion next year will be held over the weekend of March Catterick between 1942 and 1948) gathered for 9 - 11 2018. their eighth reunion at Botleigh Grange Hotel, just north of Southampton, over the weekend On September 16,1948, the last members of Boys Training of 31 March – 2 April. They were accompanied Squadron marched out of Somme Lines bound for Richmond by their wives, sons and daughters to make a Station and Harrogate. The 70th anniversary of that significant happy gathering of 28 in total. event may be marked by a reunion, hosted by the Southern Chapter but taking place in the midlands. More news later in Unfortunately Tony Taylor and John Walke, who had intended the year. to join us, were unable to travel due to ill health and Hazel Sidey also rang in at the last moment to cancel due to a streaming cold. Later in the evening get well cards were circulated and signed by all present.
Particularly welcome on this occasion were Pip Clarke (April 43 intake) and Les and Maureen Churchill (also April 43 intake) who were both attending the Southern Chapter gathering for the first time. Also attending for the first time were Jo and Alan Parker, the daughter and son-in-law of our Standard Bearer, Jim Braid and Rita.
Saturday morning saw the assembled company go their separate ways before returning for our reunion dinner. One small group visited Bishops Waltham returning via the scenic route through the Meon Valley and calling at the Upland Park Hotel where we used to meet before we moved to Botleigh Grange. The hotel is still there, together with the wooden chalets, although the site is empty and becoming overgrown. Toasts were drunk to ‘Absent Friends’ and to ‘The ladies’ remembering particularly our good friends and regular attendees at Botleigh Grange, Cliff Wood, Casey Cole and
JUNE 2017 111 Brian has passed this information back to the Rotary Club in Christchurch who were very appreciative of his efforts. NORTHERN IRELAND BRANCH Brian still visits these 8 graves on Armistice Day each year.
On Sunday 23 April 2017 our Chairman and Standard Bearer A poignant and moving day for all those who attended. Paul McCann together with 3 other Branch Members had the privilege of attending the Annual ANZAC commemoration and service held at The Ballance House, Glenavy, Co Antrim. Ballance House is the birthplace of John Ballance who served LAST POST as New Zealand Prime Minister 1891-1893.
The Service of Remembrance was attended by serving and Lt Col P Buchanan OBE 1956/81 14-May-17 retired personnel, individuals and families from Northern Sig D Bullough 1980/84 04-Mar-17 Ireland, Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand. Wreaths Sig SAC Burton 1944/47 07-Mar-17 were laid by the Honorary Consul of New Zealand in Northern Maj E Canale 1953/88 24-Apr-17 Ireland, Professor Sinclair Stockman on behalf of the Cpl E Coles 1964/72 10-Mar-17 Government and people of New Zealand; His Worship the Sig CE Collier 1943/47 19-Mar-17 Mayor of Lisburn and Castlereagh; Mr Paul Hewitt, Chairman Lt Col DP Herring 1943/82 28-Apr-17 of the Directors of the Ulster New Zealand Trust on behalf of Maj RA Hoghton 1957/93 31-Mar-17 the Mayor of Whanganui; Mr Adrian Donaldson on behalf of Maj B Holt MBE 1965/10 28-Apr-17 38 (Irish) Brigade the successors to 10 (Irish) Division who Maj RIA Hughes 1942/59 01-Mar-17 fought at Gallipoli in 1915; Mr Paul Cathcart, an ex SSgt New CpMaj RN Johnston 1945/66 24-Mar-17 Zealand Armed Forces and Lt Col (Retd) Twigg on behalf of Sig EA Leavesley 1942/46 23-Feb-17 the Royal Irish Regiment representing the 8 Irish Infantry Cpl RW Lisamore 1948/55 25-Dec-16 Regiments who took part in the Gallipoli landings 102 years Cpl JA McLure 1959/65 - Apr-17 ago. Cpl MC Ottaway 1958/70 05-Feb-17 LCpl D Patterson 1948/50 02-Feb-17 Following tea and ANZAC biscuits Mr Brian Johnston from the Sig DG Rebel 1946/72 28-Sep-15 Belfast Rotary Club gave a talk. On a visit to New Zealand he Sig J Short 1953/56 29-Nov-16 had visited the Belfast Rotary Club, Christchurch where he Sig PC Smith 1953/58 20-Mar-17 was told the story of a Beaufort Bomber which had crashed SSgt AB Williams 1953/64 04-Feb-17 at Slieve Donard, Co Down during WW2. On return to NI Brian started researching the story in an attempt to the find the burial site of the pilot.
He discovered the grave at the City Cemetery, Belfast along with 7 other New Zealand Armed Forces personnel who had 604 SIG TP REUNION also died in NI during WW2. This notice is for those members of The Royal Corps of Signals who served in 604 Sig Tp, when they were part of 8 Regiment RCT from July 1965 - March 1988
8 REGIMENT RASC / RCT / RLC 16th ANNIVERSARY REUNION WEEKEND & DINNER FRIDAY & SATURDAY 20 - 21 OCTOBER 2017
These annual Reunions are open to any ex member of 8 Regiment, with their partner or guests of any Cap Badges who served in the Regiment between:- October 1964 - July 2012
Venue: - The Army Reserve Centre, Wigan Friday 20th October 17
The Village on the Green Club, Aspull, Wigan Saturday 21st October 17
For further information contact:- Jimmy Aspinall, by email: [email protected] or David Southall by L to R Christine Woodrow (Secretary), Sarah Cairns, Paul McCann (Chairman and Standard Bearer), Andrew Cathcart (ex email: [email protected] NZ Armed Forces) and Carole Cameron (Visiting Officer)
112 [email protected] HISTORY OF SIGNALLING IN 100 OBJECTS
In the build up to the Corps Centenary in 2020 we intend to publish a series of articles on objects which have formed part of the history of Signalling in general and the Corps in particular. This will be a challenge and we may not achieve our target in the time available but the aim is to entertain and inform and we will use a combination of The Wire and Digital Media to do so. Whilst the bulk of the objects are held by the Museum, some will not be and we would be happy to consider short articles with photographs of other objects from serving or former members of the Corps. We hope that you enjoy the series.
Certa Cito!
No 18 ATS/WRAC Cap Badge
By the end of World War One the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps had become an established feature of the Western Front and its members were employed on a variety of duties including those of Switchboard Operator. However, no serious attempt was made to train its members to relieve men in more technical duties. In 1938 and with war becoming a distinct possibility the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) was formed initially as a civilian organisation and following the outbreak of war by 1940 there were 300 ATS personnel billeted with the British Expeditionary Force in France. Some of the ATS telephonists were amongst the last to be evacuated from Dunkirk. In 1941 the ATS was reorganised and given full military status and ATS Signal Companies were formed employing its members in a variety of operating and other Royal Signals trades. By 1944 there were 8,241 members of the Signals ATS with an additional number serving in the mixed signal units of the Anti Aircraft Command. Following the cessation of hostilities in 1945 members of the ATS were absorbed into the Women’s Royal Army Corps (WRAC) when it was formed in 1949 and when the WRAC itself was finally disbanded in 1992 remaining members were transferred directly into the Corps in which they were employed.
JUNE 2017 113