Regimental Histories - Year 1960-1985 - Brockbank - Page 0077
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A Short History of the 9th/121h Lancers Irish and B Battery 40th Field Regiment in Suffield. The 750 square mile training area enabled the battle group, commanded by the Commanding Officer, to manoeuvre as it would in combat and to fire live ammunition within generous safety limits. During training they were visited by General Sir Peter Hunt, Commander-in-Chief, BAOR. It should be recorded that a significant part of the design and layout of the battle runs at Suffield had been done by Major Andrews on secondment from the Gunnery School at Lulworth, This included the use of missile-firing helicopters. In recognition of this work he was awarded the MBE. Visits to the Calgary Stampede, Medicine Hat and BanfiNational Park were arranged for all ranks by the Very friendly Canadians. C Squadron had to retrain and reorganise as a Ferreti’ Saladin/‘APC Squadron before taking over its role at Gosford Castle, Ulster on 15 September. Training included basic in— fantry work for all ranks as well as vehicle driving; some realistic scenes took place at Tin City, the urban training area on Sennelager Heathl On arrival in Ulster troops were deployed to Sion Mills, Aughnacloy, Dungannon, and Bambridge with the tasks of routine vehicle and foot patrols, endless vehicle checkpoints, house and land searches, guards, observation posts, convoy escorts, and working with the Royal Ulster Con- stabulary and the recently formed Ulster Defence Regiment. A mass of incidents occurred like finding hidden bombs and firearms and helping the police with arrests and searches. There was time for sport and a lot of the Irish were very hospitable despite mounting IRA activity and intimidation. The troops at Bambridge, for instance, had television and curtains provided for them, all their washing done and, on departure, the gift of a beautifully inscribed cups There were, luckily, no casualties. During the year the new Guided Weapons Troop (Captain Glyn-Jones) equipped with the Swingfire missile was com- missioned at Lulworth and the vehicles shipped to Bremer» haven. En route to the Soltau training area they were involved in a train crash which delayed things a bit. However, the crews achieved excellent results later on the ranges; apart from this they spent most of the year away from Detmold as reinforce- 74 |
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