Regimental Histories - Year 1960-1985 - Brockbank - Page 0110
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CHAPTER 8 MUNS TER For the first time since it went to Omagh in 1976 the Regiment was back in one barracks, albeit for yet a third tour of only eighteen months. When one considers the efiect on, for instance, children’s schooling of such rapid regimental moves it is not surprising to know that the Ministry of Defence was desperately seeking solutions to restore some stability to the Arms Plot. One of these was a reduction in the need to send Royal Armoured Corps Units on short tours to Ulster and another the slowing down of the conversion of role between regiments, At least the return to BAOR brought more pay for all ranks and the better standard of living so well remembered Accommodation in Swinton Barracks was also of a higher quality than the Regiment was used to. Each room in the blocks was now converted for either a single junior NCO or four soldiers and each block had a TV lounge and kitchen facilities. May was not a particularly good time to enter the BAOR training and sporting seasons Conversion to the Scorpion and Scimitar vehicles had not been completed and this necessitated much individual training and range firing, It was not made easier by the late return of C Squadron from Cyprus and the diversity of vehicles. However, the Regiment was declared fully operational in its new role within 5 Field Force on 23rd July With the lighter vehicles troop and squadron training was no longer tied to tank training grounds like Soltau and all squad- rons were able to get away to Vogelsang and the Mose] Valley before the formation exercises in October. C Squadron (now commanded by Major Short) even had a week in Denmark in December training with the 3 Jutland Brigades Sadly, Lt- Col Pye, who handed over command to Lt-Col The Hon P H 106 |
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