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9th-12th-Lancers - Year 2007 - Page 0039

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Regiment 9th/12th Lancers
Year 2007
Transcription REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE 9rH/12TH ROYAL LANCERS (PRINCE OF WALES’S) 37
on to greener pastures. My
new right hand man, Sgt
Neil Verdon, soon found
his welfare feet and made
his matk in the depatt-
ment. For some the transi-
tion from the QM(T) Dept
to the welfare office would
have provoked some kick-
ing and scteaming but all
was quiet, and it wasn’t
long before he was otganis-
ing a trip to Serengeti
Safari Park with the fami-
lies and lots of children.
After a briefperiod without
a welfare clerk we managed to recruit Mrs Sharon Bartlett who
had not long attived {tom the UK; het experience and ioviality
brought welcome assistance to the department.
Happy Christmas Everyone
Fortunately my trusty postal NCO Cpl Craig Richardson has not
moved on, but has managed to integrate his skills within the
depattment where he has provided much needed support; espe-
cially ptoducing ‘Vague’ out Regimental newsletter {01 families.
The kids’ competitions have been gteat Uncle Egot but I think
he’s eaten more sweets than he has given out.
Our WRVS club, which provides a convenient welfare facility
{01 out soldiers to telax in, also sawsome changes. We managed
to complete some long-awaited refurbishments and spent €6,500
on new equipment. Alas it was time {01 Miss Ruth Btadbuty to
move, on posting to Aborfleld and after a short period without a
Services Welfare Officer, Miss Marion Crane joined us all the
way from the Falkland Islands. It wasn’t long before she was
canvassing atound Regimental lines and ptomoting the club.
DAC
The Padre’s Message
It is hard to believe that another year has gone
by, and it has been quite a hectic yeat. There ..
have been lots of training events, time on \
the tanges, and plenty of hatd wotk. I
was fortunate to be able to spend some
time on SWABIAN LANCE in
Bavaria where, together with Marion,
the WRvs lady, we wete able to get
out and about (armed with manda-
toty sweets and hopefully...morale ‘
boosting banter) and watch the I
Regiment put through its paces. It l
was good to be able to chat and find '
out more about what is expected from
a front line Regiment and also see *
some of the vehicles in use. I have to ', i
admit I tried to remember my Samson ~
from my Scimitar, and Samaritan from
Salamandet... but please forgive me,
I don’t think I quite got it tight” And ofcourse, {tom my point
ofview, the Field Service was one of the highlights ofmy tim-
on exercise with you. ,.
Then we had time in BATUS, which was a very intense and
hard couple of months. The prairies ofAlberta can be harsh and
unfotgiving, with changeable weathet in the blink of an eye, and
whilst having a beauty of its own, makes {01 a tough challenge.
I had the privilege and opportunity of watching the Regiment
tackle MEDICINE MAN 4 and spent time getting to know you
all that little better.
I also had gteat fun in hindering... sorry, helping out, in the
LAD workshop where, with covetalls and willing spitit, I
almost got my hands ditty helping to remove a gear box from a
CRVT! All the LAD were very tolerant and patient with this
mad padre who wanted to see what they do - sterling work help-
ing to keep the vehicles maintained for the battle ahead.
The coming yeat holds the possibility ofan opetational tout {01
some, putting all this hard work and training into practice. I
have no doubt that you will all play your part with true profes-
sionalism, courage and determination. By the time the deci-
sions ate made I will be well into my new posting at ATR
Winchester; please be assuted that my prayers {01 you all will
continue and that no matter what the year ahead will bring, you
will all meet its challenges with fortitude and comradeship.
May God Bless you and Keep You, May the Lord make His face
to shine upon you, and bting you peace. Amen.
MR
Motor Transport Troop
The nights ate dtawing in and it is Joutnal time again. Well
time has flown by this yeat and it has been extremely busy as the
forecast of events beats witness. On my arrival at the Regiment
it was undetgoing a Combined Inspection Week and all ofMT’s
closets were open for inspection. After the inspection there was
time for a thorough hand over from Capt ‘Bernie’ Winter who,
having got his matk one Landtovet fully on the toad, was mov-
ing on to the Army Recruiting Team. The department entered
the Defence annual Road Safety award known as the Rose Bowl
and made it to the finals.
Once the inspection week was over the Troop then sent people
to CAST {01 a week in May and ptepated f0! Exetcise SWABI-
AN LANCE 07. This involved numerous in-camp stables
patades and long hours getting vehicles ptepated and teady to
deploy. The Ttoop formed into A1 and A2 echelons and was
able to practice all ofits drills from low level Troop drills to bat-
tlegroup tactics. On returning to camp WOZ Whitehead moved
to A Squadton and W02 Emery picked up the totch on his
return from Lulworth.
The lessons learnt in Bavaria were to pay off in BATUS where
we deployed in July {01 about eight weeks. The job in BATUS
required extreme flexibility by the Troop with the need to
change {tom enemy to friendly as well as maintain an in-camp
function, Sgt Cole’s yellow bus ttips to Medicine Hat being one
of many Out in the field the Ttoop performed extremely well
Cpl Herbert meeting Tremc.
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