9th-12th-Lancers - Year 2005 - Page 0005
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| Regiment | 9th/12th Lancers |
|---|---|
| Year | 2005 |
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REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE 9TH/12TH ROYAL LANCERS (PRINCE OF WALES’S) 3 Foreword by the Colonel of the Regiment or the past year, the entire focus of the energies and resources of the Regiment has been centred on Iraq. The tour of operational duty is now complete. Their efforts and achievements merit unstinted praise. There is all round delight and satisfaction at a safe return and a job well done. However, a heavy price was paid with the loss of Trooper Carl Smith, and of Corporal Gordon Pritchard of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards squadron attached to the 9/12L Battle Group. These fine young men will not be forgotten. For the soldier on patrol, Iraq is a hostile and highly dangerous place. The strategy of the insurgent is to kill, demoralise and paral- yse freedom of movement. His weapon is the road side bomb. His target is the soldier 7 and the soldier knows it. Significant resources and technology have been devoted to countering this threat. Those readers with memories of the IRA’s culvert bomb campaign in the Seventies simply would not recognise the sophisticated equipment deployed in the task vehicles. Despite the technology the threat remains very real. The intention of the insurgent is to force the troops to expend most of their efforts in protecting themselves, thus taking them away from their primary task of promoting stability in Southern Iraq; to make them become cautious and inward looking. A balance has to be struck. The burden of decision for this falls on the Commanding Officer and his senior commanders who provide that neces- sary direction 7 but the spirit and manner in which it is carried out depends on the combined will and determination of the individ- ual components 7 the soldiers. The Regiment passed that test very well indeed. I have never heard anything but high praise for the professionalism, attitude and resolve of the Regiment in Iraq. Overall they have had an excellent tour. They were the first armoured reconnaissance regiment to be given full battle group respon- sibilities and they acquitted themselves well. Their primary role of preparing the Iraqi army and Police for security duties was kept on track in an atmosphere of mutual trust. Their reputation stands high in the Chain of Command. They have good reason indeed to be proud of their very considerable achievements. |
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