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9th-12th-Lancers - Year 2002 - Page 0027

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Regiment 9th/12th Lancers
Year 2002
Transcription REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE 9TH/12TH ROYAL LANCERS (PRINCE OF WALES’S) 25
Headquarter Squadron
It hardly seems a week has passed since I last sat down to com-
pose journal notes, never mind a whole year. Time, apparent-
ly passes quickly when you are busy and what a slow year this
has been. Not!
I am not going to go into too much detail about the myriad of
changes we have seen in the squadron orbat this year, I shall
leave that up to the troop and department notes that are to fol-
low. Suffice to say there have been a few.
As far as changes in the squadron office complex goes, we have
had a fairly stable year with only the one change. Captain Peter
Corcoran left us in June to become the Ops Officer in Harrogate.
We wish him every success.
The vacant squadron second in command position was filled in
September with the arrival of Captain Stu McGann. His time
spent with the Yeomanry in London as RSM has left him with
many new stories, which he will happily tell to anyone with the
time to listen. Actually, it has been said he will tell anyone,
whether they have the time or not, everything about anything.
Just pop in and listen!
The best part of the year has seen the squadron deployed to
BATUS in Canada, as part of the Regiment’s OPFOR commit-
ment. Most of the squadron spent three to four months at a time
in BATUS with some opting (or not) to do almost nine months.
The professional attitude and enthusiastic way everyone in the
squadron worked, ensured that the sabre squadrons were well
supported, with the regiment leaving Canada well thought of
and proud of a job well done.
Thanks must also go to the authors of those infamous newslet-
ters ‘The Prairie Bladder’ and ‘Enfocrap’, providing hours of
informative and enlightening reading, from which no one was
spared a good and often well deserved slating.
When so many are away at one time it does mean that those left
behind generally have more work and many more duties to do.
This was indeed the case and was done so in an equally profes-
sional and enthusiastic manner.
The squadron also acquitted itself on the sporting front, win-
ning the inter-squadron volleyball competition, securing the
Beila Plate for the second successive year, despite fierce opposi-
tion from some of the younger teams. SSgt Dick Emery led a
squadron team to success, winning the minor units team race
during the 7 Brigade triathlon meeting. Finally before the year
What /eave Germany? Never/
00 HQ Sqn /s surpnsed to find out that a watched Kett/e never low/s
came to a close there was some gutsy and determined boxers
stepping in to the ring during the inter-squadron boxing com-
petition. Under the watchful eye and coaching expertise of Cpl
Skinner and LCpl Brassington the team finished 3rd with every
bout being a close run thing. No other inter-squadron events
were run this year due to the BATUS deployment, but the sabre
sqns should watch out in the New Year as the silver cupboard in
HQ Sqn office still has room for more silverware to be added.
The squadron has once again worked well this year maintaining
a professional and good-humoured approach to all tasks set,
whether deployed in Canada or supporting the Regiment in
Hohne.
So here we are at the end writing this years journal notes, but
before we go, we must say a sad farewell to our Sqn Leader
(Major Bob Hartwell) who is to leave us to go to Bovington, note
that he or Mrs H mind as their grandchildren are only just down
the road. We wish them all the best and every happiness for the
future.
Ohh/ SU/ts you, S/r
Capt Rhodes W/th h/s part/ou/ar/y /mpressNe /ohg rod penetrator
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