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Regimental Histories - Year 1960-1985 - Brockbank - Page 0119

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Transcription Hahne
the use of the Royal Armoured Corps in this close reconnais-
sance role with the infantry, it was at least excellent training
for troop leaders and car commanders in all arms work. In mid
summer Major Paton handed over as Regimental Quar-
termaster to Captain Warlow and as the year ended Majors
Dickens and Searby returned to command A and C Squadrons
respectively. An interesting alliance was formed in 1982 with
the newly commissioned HA/IS Brazen which had been laun—
ched by Mrs Francis Pym. This led to a regular exchange of
sailors and soldiers. The first of the former, led by the Captain
and his wife, coming for the Colonel-in-Chiet’s visit in July.
It was a particularly successful year at the Rhine Army
Hunter Trials. The Commanding Officer, Mrs Nash, Sergeant
Saunders and Lance Corporal Beadle carried all before them
in the Novices and Pairs events. The cricketers, under Staff
Sergeant Simpson, did well, too, reaching the Divisional
Finals. In mid summer the Commanding Officer was able to
tell an excited regiment that it would be moving to Wolfenbuttel
in February 1984.
A lengthy debate on how to use medium reconnaissance
regiments in BAOR had been going on for some time and
changes were in the air before the Regiment left Hohne. In
1982 the Brigadier Royal Armoured Corps at HQ l British
Corps was reconstituted as a Commander of the Corps
Reconnaissance Force and given back the three divisional
medium reconnaissance regiments for operations and training.
At about this time too the Director Royal Armoured Corps
decided that the re~roleing policy between tanks and reconnais-
sance should cease in the Royal Armoured Corps and four
regiments should be offered the latter role permanently.
9th/12th Lancers were one of these and gladly accepted. It was
a matter of great good fortune that the CRAC was Brigadier
Rucker who had served as a National Service officer in the 12th
Lancers from 1955 to 1957, and then rejoined the Army into
the Queens Own Hussars at a later date. A very happy training
season was spent under his command in I983. It took the
Regiment, after the achievement of an A grading at Gunnery
Camp in April, to Bavaria in May — where it rained incessantly —
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