SUMMER 2021

FORTUNE FAVOURS THE BRAVE

Foreword by Colonel of the Regiment In late March, the Integrated Defence ■ 1 YORKS will build on their 20 years of and Security Review unveiled a armoured infantry experience and blueprint for a modernised Army; an convert to a new role with operational Army that is more effectively matched focus. Details of this role will be to the threats, digitised, expeditionary announced in the Autumn. and able to underwrite ambition for ■ The future of 4 YORKS will be shaped by ‘Global Britain’. Over the next 5 years, Reserve Force 2030 plan which will be the Army will embark on significant announced later this year. Our intent is transformation. The purpose of this to extend the reserve footprint and ■ Brigadier ZR Stenning OBE transformation as CGS observed is ‘to shape our recruiting, training and career continued need to care for each other. With regain operational advantage, development to better integrate our events in Afghanistan rapidly changing, it is exploiting technological innovation to reserves into the new roles undertaken more important than ever that we take the establish a credible advantage over our by the regular battalions. time to look out for the welfare of our existing and potential adversaries.’ As a We will embrace the opportunities operational generation past and present. For participant in helping define Defence afforded to us in a positive and pragmatic many, serving in Afghanistan and Iraq will and the Army’s future strategy for the way, ensuring that our three-battalion have been a career highlight; but, for all of us next decade, I believe that we will structure remains intact and that we it will have had a lasting impact. As a family emerge from this transformation with a continue to progress as an agile, forward- Regiment, we must continue to support relevant and more dangerous Army. leaning regiment, re-energised with new those who served on operations and their The precise details of the changes roles and challenges. families, guiding them to the most across the entire Army are still being On an individual level, every soldier and appropriate and best help available. This developed. What I can tell you is that the Officer will retain significant opportunity newsletter and future publications will Yorkshire Regiment will be at the for varied employment across their contain detailed lists of support and how to forefront, helping drive a new and more careers including operational deployments access them. RHQ will remain the focal lethal Army. This will include: and maintaining a balanced family life. point for co-ordination but it will take not only ■ 2 YORKS becoming the Army As your new Colonel, it will be an the Regimental Association, but the whole experimental force following their return honour to help lead the Regiment through Regimental family to look out for each other from Cyprus in Summer 2022. This is an the changes and opportunities that will and communicate the love and support that exciting proposition and will place the present themselves. I know as Yorkshire is needed for those most in need. Battalion at the forefront of future folk, we will grasp the opportunity to Could I ask that as you enjoy this tactical, technical and procedural spearhead the Army’s Experimentation Summer, you stop and think of those you development for the entire Army. The programme and we will continue to lead know need reassurance or support, those Battalion will be reinforced by other the way in armoured and mechanised you may not have heard from in a while – attached arms and industry and will have infantry capability, superbly supported by and that you contact them. It will make a current and future weapons and a well recruited and trained reserve. I will huge difference. We looked out for each equipment to experiment with. The ensure that you are all kept abreast of other and our families on operations; so, Battalion will be based initially in Chester updates on roles and locations as they are we must continue to do this at home. working to the Land Warfare Centre. promulgated by Army Headquarters. Thank you and best wishes to you all. I would like to finish by focusing on the ‘Fortune Favours The Brave’

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1 1st Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment It’s been a busy few months in many ways for the battalion, with a spread of activity and commitments planned, but not all of them going ahead, thanks in the main to a local outbreak of COVID. Unfortunately, the Inter Company patrols competition at Otterburn had to be cancelled as a consequence, but thankfully, life at Catterick is rapidly getting back to the ‘new normal’. Earlier in June we were privileged to host a visit from Minister of State for the Armed Forces James Heappey MP, a former officer in the Rifles, followed by some individual and Warrior live-firing at Castlemartin. July also saw Corunna and Quebec Coy undertake core Armoured Infantry training on Salisbury Plain. They were joined by ■ Recce Troop from the Kings Royal Min AF visit in June Hussars for the final part of the re-run of the COVID impacted Inter-Coy ARU Community 7s at the end of July, summer battlecamp, cementing a Patrols competition, this time on beating the Royal Welsh 26-5. 1 YORKS partnership that will prevail throughout Dartmoor in November! players also made the ARU 7s team – A the rest of the year culminating in The opening of the rugby season has big well done to all the players. deployment on Op CABRIT in Estonia. brought some well-earned success to Finally, congrats go to Pte Work, We now look forward to Ex IRON manager Scotty Maunders and both the recipient of the Yorkshire Agricultural STORM working with the KRH battlegroup Rugby League and Army Rugby Union Society trophy for 2021 and also to Pte in October, followed by a Sniper Cadre in (ARU) teams. The Bn team were Runners Harriman, the 2020 recipient who were the Autumn, culminating in the 12Bde up in the Army Rugby League Yeomans both presented with their trophies at the Shooting Competition in November and a Cup and winners of the ARU North 7s and July Great Yorkshire Show.

■ Pte Work and Pte Harriman at GYS

■ Rolling replenishment on Salisbury Plain ■ 1 YORKS ARU 7s winners

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2 2nd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment Undaunted by the rising Cypriot temperatures, 2 YORKS has continued to deliver its span of operational commitments while also commencing trials and experimentation as the Army’s Enhanced Light Forces Battalion. The maintenance of a company and the CO’s Tactical HQ on very high readiness for regional contingencies, the continued protection of various strategic assets in and around RAF Akrotiri and the provision of the Bahrain UK Naval Force Protection Platoon have remained key operational outputs. In parallel, all specialist weapon cadres have been conducted utilising the unique training environment and assets that exist ■ in Cyprus. Coupled with the arrival of a Pte Baker enjoying the view while being inserted onto task by 84 Sqn RAF in Cyprus as part of the Reconnaissance Cadre suite of cutting-edge equipment such as the new A3 rifle, the ARILLS thermal at the forefront of light-role warfighting community. Winning the Cyprus sight, Digitalised Situational Awareness, development and are fast becoming the operational shooting competition, seeing and Robotic Patrol Vehicles, 2 YORKS are focal point for Defence’s light-role combat off stiff international competition, has only reinforced that interest. This experimentation will increasingly take centre stage with the Battalion also due to receive Unmanned Aerial Systems, new night vision and upgraded Remote Autonomous Systems. As a way-marker to the Battalion’s future role announced in the Integrated Review as the Army’s only Prototype Warfighting and Experimentation Battle Group, soldiers recognise that they are increasingly the architects of how we will fight and win in the future. However, Cyprus is not all operations and military training. Sport has returned with 2 YORKS winning CBF’s annual Sports Competition. The Battalion is also entering a Nordic ski team into the Infantry championships later this year and is looking forward to an inter-company Boxing night to be held outdoors later this Autumn. With no shortage of volunteers wanting to step into the ring, it’s set to be a fabulous evening. ■ Putting the new A3 rifle and ARILLS thermal sight through its paces on the ranges in Cyprus. A key enhancement of our lethality

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3 ■ Ex Yorkshire Attack 4th Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment The past few months have proven to be weekend in Wathgill including hosting be hard-work and on the completion of a challenging yet exciting time for 4 the Deputy Commander of the 1st (UK) the dry phase every deployed soldier will YORKS. April saw Corunna Company Division. conduct some form of Adventure Training. run Ex YORKSHIRE PATROLS, an All three weekends were designed They will have the opportunity to take part Inter-Coy section level patrols with the upcoming Annual Continuous in varied activities including Coast- competition that tested our soldiers Training (ACT) in mind. The Battalion will steering, sea kayaking and mountain ability to move, fight, call for fires, deploy to Kirkcudbright in September on biking. On return to Yorkshire and heading manage casualties and administrate Ex YORKSHIRE STRIKE. This will provide into the Autumn, the Battalion will themselves whilst under time pressure. another stern test for the team who will concentrate on the upcoming Platoon-plus It also coincided with Brigadier plan, conduct and participate in Live Fire mobilisation to Kenya, continuing our Jackson’s last ‘field’ engagement as Tactical Training (LFTT) up to Section level terrific recruiting effort and with luck, a Colonel of the Regiment. The winning for the first time in the UK for several return to a more physical Remembrance, section came from Corunna Coy who years. We will then switch to a dry training spanning the full extent of the regimental were duly awarded the Duke of York’s phase in the Galloway Forest. It will not all footprint. Pennant. June saw a further deployment onto Feldom Training Area on Ex YORKSHIRE ADVANCE, this time hosted by Burma Company. This exercise tested 4 YORKS ability to operate in an offensive operating environment and consisted of low-level battle lessons followed by a confirmatory exercise to teach and familiarise personnel with the principles, tactics and skills required for offensive operations in a conventional environment. And only last weekend we conducted a successful range ■ Ex Yorkshire Patrol

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4 YRA News By Maj Pat Ralph MM

The Association continues to support the serving soldier and our veterans. Just recently we have advertised many ‘work from home’ jobs and the regimental family has been afforded priority for these employment opportunities. A new document will be distributed to remind people of these opportunities and the support that is available through the YRA and this will be distributed soon, supported by a ■ Pat Ralph, Charlie Helmn and Capt Mark Murray with HRH at GYS photo ID card which will be useful to use as proof of service whenever needed. service. After 51 years he certainly HRH Prince Charles who inquired about I am sad to announce that the Vice deserves a holiday. Charlie will continue the Association and the work that we do Chairman of the Association, Major as YRA Secretary until such times as a and he was very complimentary about us Charlie Helmn BEM has retired from his replacement is found – this is typical of being the only county regiment left in the post in Area Headquarters South and also Charlie and his tireless commitment. British Army. The Prince chatted to Charlie from his position in the YRA. Charlie has Recently, the YRA attended the Great Helmn about his service and also to done an amazing job supporting our Yorkshire Show, providing a refreshment Captain John O’Brien a veteran of the veterans and their families and the serving stand for members of the regimental Green Howards. All in all, a successful few soldiers. Through some very challenging family to drop in, take the weight off their days at Harrogate. Thanks to everybody times he has worked tirelessly for feet and have a cold drink. We also had concerned, especially for the help everyone and I thank him so much for his the honour of hosting a brief visit from provided by 4 YORKS Capt Mark Murray. The Lasting Impacts of Afghanistan Many of you will be following the Benevolence Flyer at the bottom of the links https://www.gov.uk/guidance/urgent-help- deteriorating situation in Afghanistan below, which include some useful signposts for-veterans – Giving urgent help for very closely and for some of our to sources of help. Please help to share veterans. serving soldiers, veterans and their them widely with friends and those who families this may inevitably bring back you think might benefit from assistance. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/support-for- difficult memories and reminders of war-veterans – Office of Veterans Affairs our presence and operational INTERNAL LINK FOR THOSE SERVING – Broader assistance to war veterans. commitments during the protracted AVAILABLE VIA DEFENCE CONNECT: conflict in this troubled region. https://jive.defencegateway.mod.uk/ https://www.army.mod.uk/news-and- Of the thousands of soldiers who groups/ahp/pages/mental-health- events/events/twenty-years-in-afghanistan/ served with the regiment in Afghanistan, wellbeing – Army Health and Wellbeing – Army Website, Afghanistan Legacy many will have left the Army and for (Defence Connect) some, their families and those who were https://www.yorkshireregiment.com/ left with lasting injuries, the struggle with EXTERNAL LINKS FOR ACCESS BY news/332/regimental-benevolence – daily pressures of life continues. BOTH SERVING PERSONNEL AND Yorkshire Regiment Benevolence In recognition of the news coming out of VETERANS: Afghanistan and the reminders of the https://www.army.mod.uk/people/ recent past, the YRA and the military join-well/managing-stress/ask-for-help/ charities are here to help. You can find out – Health and Wellbeing (where to get help how by following the link to the regimental on Army Website)

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5 YORKSHIRE REGIMENT FORECAST OF EVENTS AUGUST–DECEMBER 2021

Event Venue Date

(a) (b) (c)

Sovereign’s Parade RMAS 06 Aug

Normandy Memorial Open Day France 04 Sep

Yorkshire Regiment Association Race Day York Racecourse 05 Sep

Inter Services T20 Cricket Arundel 10 Sep

Yorkshire Regiment Officers’ Dinner Merchant Taylors 05 Nov

Regimental Church Service York Minster 06 Nov

Regimental Cross Brief Catterick TBC

Regimental Mentoring Catterick TBC

Field of Remembrance Westminster 11 Nov

Remembrance Sunday London 14 Nov

Yorkshire Regiment Board Meeting RHQ 03 Dec

Yorkshire Regiment Trustees Meeting RHQ 03 Dec

King’s Div LE Lunch York 03 Dec

Sovereign’s Parade RMAS 10 Dec

KEY ANTECEDENT REGIMENT DATES PWO Memorial Service Beverley 21 Aug

PWO Quebec Day Service Beverley 12 Sep

GH Alma Dinner Middlesbrough 25 Sep

5 DWR Dinner Huddersfield 01 Oct

PWO Officers’ Lunch York 15 Oct

PWO Reunion York 16 Oct

GH Reunion Middlesbrough 15-17 Oct

Regimental Headquarters RHQ Yorks, 3 Tower Street, York YO1 9SB Tel: 01904 461019 YORKS_Regt YORKSRegt @yorksregt

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