9th-12th-Lancers - Year 2001 - Page 0031
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| Regiment | 9th/12th Lancers |
|---|---|
| Year | 2001 |
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REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE 9TH/12TH ROYAL LANCERS (PRINCE OF WALES’S) 31 Clothing Cpl Rusty Phillips Project Harley Cpl Tel Terry Loan account/MFO LCpl Phil Cooling Tpr Terry Wilson Prom Clerk Frau Angie Fright Gardener Herr Dirk Syring Officers Mess Gardener Herr Jorg Kustrung Tailoress Frau Ilsemarie Schweitzer Tailoress Frau Christa Kohler Cleaners Ursula Zieseniss, Linda Dixon, Amanda Terry & Sandra Whawell To conclude, the Department’s main effort is now the new work projects to improve standards for the single and married soldiers’ with: the installation of industrial washing machines in the single accommodation; the implementation of washing and changing facility for married personnel; and the centralisation of encroach- ments which led to a new 9/ 1 2L Community and Families centre which is controlled by the Welfare Officer and his Staff. Quartermaster Technical As ever, it has been another busy year for the department, with the usual exercises, Gunnery Camps, endless inspections and a certain exercise called Ex SAIF SAREEA 2; more about that later. There has also been a change of QM(T) and a small influx of new personalities. The Regiment started off the year with Ex PLUNGERS CLAW, then we threw ourselves into preparation for Ex SWABIAN CRUSADE. Everybody looked forward to a couple of weeks in Southern Germany for some valuable training, however it was not to be (Foot and Mouth and all that) and, after a few days, we were all ordered back to camp, to do some localized training in the Hohne area. Gunnery Camp came and went in May, with the usual long and distant journeys associated with ordering and collecting spares from anywhere and everywhere within Germany. We then threw ourselves, head long, into the Logistic Support Inspection (LSI). This notably should be better known as ‘Tantrums and Tiaras’ time, as the department had to ensure that all its accounts balanced and were fit for inspection by the Divisional Logistic Staff. As you can guess, this takes quite some time, with teddies thrown in the corners (mainly minel). However, the Department rose to the occasion and the Regiment was given an Exceptional Report. It reflected on the hard work of the department personnel, and the long hours paid off. On the arrivals and departures scene, the main move was the departure of the QM(T), Capt John Pearce, who moved on to the QM's Department. This led to a memorable Troop function in which the department dined out the old QM(T) until the early hours. May I say, I don't think I'll jump over another chair in my life ever again - unless lifting gear is supplied with H&S equipment. It should be noted as well that this was Tpr Clinton's (Clint) dining out as well; he gave us all a lesson in wrestling before leaving for Civvy Street. The whole Troop wishes him well. A further departure from the Troop was LCpl ‘Sneazy’ Anderson, or should that be ‘Sleazy’ Anderson, who departed for Civvy Street to run a pub. We also wish him well for the future. I can say that the whole Troop somehow ended up at the RQ’s house for drinks after his Troop function and ended up drinking everything in the house. New arrivals to the troop have been: LCpl ‘Mark’ Fackrell from C Sqn, and Cpl ‘Dibs’ Derbyshire from A Sqn. We also have in the Troop, on loan, Cpl ‘Harry’ Taberner from the KRH, who has proceeded to give Geordie Young (Bill Gates) grey hairs and nightmares. We also have a new QM(T), in the guise of Capt Mark Harrison, who has joined us from the dizzy post of HQ Squadron 21C, and now finds himselfproducing the paperwork he once had to fill in. My final notes for this year’s journal have to be on Ex SAIF SAREEA 2, one of those exercises that will live forever in my memory. The department was fully set up in Oman around 13 September, only to find that the supply lines were long and inef- fective and that the Bde Support Squadron were geared up for petrol spares and not Diesel - 9/l2L being fully converted to Diesel. However, there were some memorable moments, notably the retreat from Moscow when the whole Echelon became bogged down in a Wadi - the order came to retreat back to Camp Fairburn. Retreat we did, however, it meant going back through the Wadi. The Echelon was, for the want ofa bet- ter word, sunk. We never did work out where Cpl ‘Moxie’ Rutherford was going with LCpl Kemp! A special mention for Cpl Bill ‘Tyres’ Martin who, when enter- ing the BFBS sponsored Tart up your cab competition, actually misheard what was said and proceeded to place an actual tart in the cab. Bill also needs a special mention for the fact that he actually went through several tyres; in fact, more tyres than the whole echelon put together. Sadly, Cpl Martin is now off to lRTR for the remainder of his career and the Department wish- es him and his family all the best. Finally, I would like to congratulate the whole Department for a very high standard of work and its unstinting support to the Regiment throughout the year. MT Troop The year 2001 has been a very busy year for the crack soldiers of MT Troop. We were treated to a generous helping of exercises to which we rose to the challenge each time, despite having many Tprs and NCOs in and out like a fiddler’s elbow. Ex PLUNGERS CLAW and Ex HARD QUORUM were the first exercises of the year and despite being bitterly cold, were very successful. This was especially so for HARD QUORUM as it was a ‘bread and butter’ exercise for MT Troop, being an A2 Echelon type scenario. It also proved fruitful for Tpr Bobby Stoker who now knows FMT action like the back of his hand after his water bowser met an oak tree. As the hard work slowed, Cpl Andy Webb (now Sgt) returned from his posting at the driv- ing school, after spending six months in slipper city. It was also time to say farewell to Tpr ‘Eddie’ Speller and Tpr ‘Dicko’ Dickinson as they left for their new life in civvy Street. February also saw the release of LCpl Harry Harrison, Tpr Chad Carroll, Tpr ‘Tigger’ Willis and Tpr Chris Clachen. Not to the delights of Civvy Street, but to the hell-hole described as Kosovo. Mmmm, nice. After a successful tour, theyall returned safely to the Troop in July in time for Ex SAIF SAREEA 2. Mmmm, even nicer. In March, WO2 Dave Baghurst assumed the role of MTWO from WO2 Gez Henderson, to whom we say a fond farewell as he assumes his new role as HQ Sqn SSM. Ex SWABIAN CRUSADE started and ended abruptly due to the foot and mouth crisis. April saw the arrival of fresh meat to the Troop to replace those already gone. It came in the form of Tpr ‘Sweaty’ Billings and Tpr ‘Camps’ Campsall. Following that, we lost Tpr Dave Todd to Civvie Street. Cpl Andy Webb brushed the artex from his beret and was deservedly promoted to MT Sgt to work alongside Sgt Ian Clarke before he, in turn, moves to B Sqn. |
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