9th-12th-Lancers - Year 2001 - Page 0010
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| Regiment | 9th/12th Lancers |
|---|---|
| Year | 2001 |
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10 REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE 9TH/12TH ROYAL LANCERS (PRINCE OF WALES’S) A Squadron Squadron has had a typically busy year with exercises in Germany and more excitingly Oman and many members of the Sqn served in the C Sqn group in Kosovo. Though this lat- ter operational commitment was very good experience for all participants it was marred by the tragic loss oprr Adam Slater who died in a mine strike. He will be greatly missed by the whole Regiment and particularly by the Sqn. His parents and brother joined the Sqn on Remembrance Sunday and renamed the Sqn Bar “Adams Inn” in his memory. The family also made provision for a new gunnery trophy to honour the memory of their son. At the top the outward face of A Squadron has been constant with Maj Brodey sailing the Squadron through calm and choppy waters alike, the amount of either is for the reader to decide. The team below however, has been full of turbulence. Mr Cunningham, the SSM, took the short walk across the parade square and took his seat as the RSM. This allowed his dulcet tones to be enjoyed by the whole Regiment rather than hogged by the Sqn. Sgt Spring had to jump into the hot seat for a cou- ple months, before Mr Price could be dragged kicking and screaming from Command Troop and the Golf Course. If this was not enough movement, it was a veritable musical chairs in ZIC’s office. Capt Campbell-Barnard disappeared off to JCSC to learn the finer points of Staff work and in came Capt Croft (the debonair one - or so he believes). He helped guide the Sqn through Ex SWABIAN CRUSADE, the Regimental exercise in Baden Wuerttemburg up until the time it was cut short by the implementation of German Foot and Mouth precautions. By the spring the Sqn was ready for, and subsequently achieved success in a fine Technical Firing Period, which saw Mr Preston winning the Thornton Sword and Tpr Lucas the Adam Slater Trophy for Gunnery as best recruit gunner. Having just got a handle on the Sqn Capt Croft passed it out to Capt Craggs who was thundering up the wing from the Army Foundation College at Harrogate. His arrival was shortly fol- lowed by the return of a number of members of the Squadron from Kosovo. The latter half of the year was dominated by Ex SAIF SAREEA 2. The Squadron deployed as the OPFOR 7 the enemy for 4 Armd Bde’s exercise. This proved most challenging and reward- ing training and the whole Sqn performed brilliantly, particular- ly so given the harsh ansd unfamiliar conditions. Conditions at home for the families were also difficult given the unhelpful press speculation as to our possible role in the period following Capt Craggs & Cp/ Mansfle/d showmg c/ass/c symptoms of heat te/ated m/ut/es Major Btodey , K/ng of the desert the llth September attacks. The Sqn was more than ready for whatever was required of it. Some members of the Sqn had to work with B Sqn while the Sqn was augmented by a large influx of troops from the Highlanders, the Ghurkhas, Royal Engineers and Gunners, followed later by QRL and airborne Paramedics. This mixed bunch, got on very well together, gaining a great deal of mutual understanding and respect on both sides, and the whole Sqn would like to thank all of those for their hard work for the OPFOR. The first month of the Exercise was at times a little frustrating for all. The Sqn was a training aid and as such had to roll over and die far more than anyone would liked, but this, like every- thing, was done with a great deal of professionalism thus ensur- ing that the Brigade was thoroughly tested. The Sqn then joined 3 Cdo Bde RM for the last phase of the exercise where it was able Maj Btodey and SSM Pt/ce seem to have m/sp/aoed the/t wagon |
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