9th-12th-Lancers - Year 2005 - Page 0030
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| Regiment | 9th/12th Lancers |
|---|---|
| Year | 2005 |
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28 REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE 9TH/12TH ROYAL LANCERS (PRINCE OF WALES’S) Sgt Paula Worden, who had recently departed us but returned for the trip, kept us amused with her sense of humour and walk- ing sticks. W02 Dave Lochrie, Sgt Ru Dowdeswell and LCpl Daz Foster appreciated the longer walks with the RAO as seen in their faces. Sgt Dowdeswell ruing the decision to have just one more San Miguel the night before. SSgt Sam Mayne and Sgt Worden were having competitions on who could make themselves the reddest by not covering them- selves with factor 500 due to their complexity. The winner by a large margin was the Ginger Ninja himself SSgt Mayne who achieved a fantastic shade ofbeetroot after the first 30 minutes exposure to the Spanish sun. SSgt Aggy Berry organised the transport and found himself a hire car traditionally associated with the area and one that is in scale to his overpowering physique. The Det probably could have held the record for the most people and luggage ever to fit in a Suzuki Jimny. The hardest part of the week was trying to drag Cpl Sarah Verrier away from the pool at the villas where we were staying and putting her into her walking boots. Playing football across the pool became her favourite pastime. Op Telic 7 Journal notes would not be complete without a mention of the Operational Tour. As this was the first time the Regt has deployed wholly in over ten years, it was a challenge welcomed at all levels. It was unfortunate that a Rear Party had to be left as it would have been nice to deploy everyone. They have been tremendous in their efforts to keep things moving in Hohne and assisting the guys who have not deployed and the families of those that have. W02 Lochrie and LCpl (Don’t mention the Ashes or Rugby World Cup) ‘Skippy’ Vaughan tried their hardest to ‘avoid’ deployment by breaking a collar bone and having appendicitis respectfully. But both still deployed albeit later than antici- pated. After successfully setting up the Imprest account and Unicom Out Of Barracks SSgt Berry returned to the delights of Hohne to be replaced by Sgt Gillian Clark who has immediately become best friends with Pizza Hut. I’m sure the food supplied by the catering staff is not that bad...But Pizza Hut is quite good con- sidering this is Iraq and it makes a welcome get together every now and again. The Sub Unit clerks have been working extremely hard to ensure all is well within the Sqns. LCpl Gerridine DeMon is fulfilling many roles aside her normal clerking duties within C Sqn and has never failed to smile since arriving. LCpl Damien Gibson, on his second tour with 9/12L, has decided he saw enough of Basra last time around and has secured himself a home in the same location he was at on Op Telic 3. LCpl Pierre DeMon, the sole survivor of A Sqn clerks, has been separated from his wife and serves his time staring at the swimming pool owned by the Sqn at the APOD. Cpl Townend has been commandeered to the G2 world of no windows and Sky TV ‘for news and Int purposes’ of course. He beavers away staring at maps and deciding the best way of get- ting a six pack without having to bother to go to the gym or pound the tarmac running. So far he has managed to avoid too much fitness but his golden dream will be shattered at the end of the tour when his chiselled stomach just isn’t there. Pte Nyakabau has been extremely successful at Judo this year, after taking up the sport lead by Sgt Pumford. She has compet- ed at the Army Championships and returned home with medals. Pte Talemaibau starting her Army career of travelling around the world as she thoroughly enjoyed the Det trip to Poland to say farewell to SSgt Mayne. He has been replaced by Sgt Isherwood fresh in from the Highlanders into the challenge that is the Regimental Accountants post. Mrs Audrey McCall has made the job of movements clerk her own and kept the RHQ officers (in)sane with her constant changing of outfits after lunch. Her favourite Burberry scarves are not Chav, they are originals...of course! A welcome addition to the team is Mrs Sue Harrison who has replaced Mrs Donna Thomas as the Officers’ and the Warrant Officers & Sergeants’ Mess Accountant. There can be no com- plaining by the QM about his Mess Bill now and the random number generator. Final Note Best wishes and good luck must go to LCpl Gibson and LCpl Emma Allen RLC who are due to be married on Sunday 2 July 2006 at Ripley Castle, Harrogate. The Det passes on their regards and hopes them all the best for the future. Command Troop The year began for Command Troop deploying on Exercise Rhino Charge, a l Div CFX based in and around the area of Hameln. As CAST exercises go this was possibly the most demanding and painful CAST exercise the Regiment has expe- rienced in recent memory. In place of the familiar central map area was just good old fresh land and barns, something which RHQ was not accustomed to and with superior formations bul- lying us out of locations each and every night the exercise became ever more demanding. The logistics of moving a num- ber of CVR(T), personnel, Land Rovers and motorbikes from place to place in the pouring rain with members of RHQ sound- ing like children on a road trip, “Are we there yet....are we there yet” and it makes for a wonderful week long holiday in Northern Germany. A special mention must go to the now Old Comrade Cpl “Gaz” Hicks attempting a commando roll over his bed laden with beer. The amazing thing is he did not smash one bottle; instead he smashed his arm which ended up in plaster for 8 weeks. The things you have to do to get out ofa CAST exer- cise! W02 Ingram took on the role of RSWO from W02 Thomas who departed for the life of picking tulips in Holland. With Christmas fast approaching the Regiment went into festive mode and planned for the New Year which was sure to bring more CAST exercises and the inevitable build up training to prepare for Iraq. The New Year brought many new faces in the form of Capt Farrer replacing Capt Rhodes as RSO, Cpl Tylney, Cpl Doherty and LCpl Liburd helped to swell the ranks whilst Tprs Grant, Smith, Atterbury, Day, Curran, Tawaketini and Palmer all ensured Command Troop was efficiently run and sucked all available manpower left within the Regiment. May brought the beginnings of a whirlwind few months. First offwe deployed on to Hohne Ranges for yet another CAST, but this time acting as a Battle Group HQ. This was the first time 9/12L had performed as such a formation which included MBT and Armoured Infantry Companies to play with. Many lessons were learnt, including Tpr Galvin’s remarkable ability to blend into the background. During the CAST Exercise SSgt Beuttell was introduced to the wonderful world of being 0ps Warrant |
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