9th-12th-Lancers - Year 2001 - Page 0055
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| Regiment | 9th/12th Lancers |
|---|---|
| Year | 2001 |
| Transcription |
REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE 9TH/12TH ROYAL LANCERS (PRINCE OF WALES’S) 55 k Capt Cathey en/oy/ng the S/ths of Sydney Hat/00 ur Cavalry Regiment were no different and pulled me to their bosom in the customary manner. In other words, I sang the Regimental song in front of the entire Regiment (which is a charming verse primarily concerned with the size and adminis- tration of one’s manhood), threw back a pint of port, and received a ‘canning’ from all those present. As far as they were concerned, anyone who could be pelted with hundreds of crushed up cans and still smile was probably a good bloke, even if he was a ‘I’om’. The first month or so was spent in familiarisation with the Regiment’s equipment, including training on weapons systems. Naturally there was ample time for exploring Tropical North Queensland and getting to know the locals. My training came to a culmination in a highly violent Squadron Gunnery Exercise. I must explain that the M113 APC is armed with coax- ially mounted .30 cal and .50 cal heavy-barrelled machine guns. Given that this veritable combination has no sighting system it is difficult to hit anything at all on your first go, and if you con- sider the lack of targeting equipment it would seem silly to have any targets to shoot at. I assume that this was the rationale employed as the practices generally consisted of lining up the Squadron in front of a wood, and then cutting it to pieces with a prolonged burst from every vehicle. Particularly impressive at night! No trip to Australia would be complete without a scuba diving trip to the Great Barrier Reef. So I had two. Better diving con- ditions are hard to find anywhere in the world with visibility normally extending to thirty metres underwater. The huge array of life is breathtaking with masses of sharks, rays, sea snakes and fish as big as trucks. Cairns proved to be the best town for such excursions. Right on the shore of the Northern Barrier Reef the nightlife was everything you could want, although the seasoned diver should be careful not to over- indulge as the quick introduction to underwater vomiting is most unpleasant. Meanwhile the Squadron continued it’s busy training schedule with a tour of East Timor approaching. I was tasked to assist in the build up programme taking part as an UNMO on exercise. The package is similarly run to UNTAT and undoubtedly pre- pared the deploying troops thoroughly for their tour of duty. Years of interbreeding in Australia has somehow produced a nation of natural sportsmen, and they took every possible oppor- tunity to remind me about the wantings of the current English and British teams. I expected the cricket to let the side down but I had some hope for the British and Irish Lions Rugby Team, and it cost me a great deal in crates of beer. The sporting humiliation did not end there and I was recruited into the Regimental Aussie Rules Football Team. Naturally there was a great deal of chuckling on the sidelines; mainly because they refused to tell me the rules beforehand. I am told it made for very amusing viewing. All in all Ex LONG LOOK was an extremely rewarding and worthwhile activity. The opportunity to closely observe and take part in the work of a foreign army rarely comes along. Combine this with the possibility of travelling through Australia from Cairns to Sydney and you have a once in a life- time experience that I can recommend to anyone who has a pas- sion for travel and discovery. Just watch out for those jellyfish. 71m |
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