9th-12th-Lancers - Year 2001 - Page 0032
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| Regiment | 9th/12th Lancers |
|---|---|
| Year | 2001 |
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32 REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE 9TH/12TH ROYAL LANCERS (PRINCE OF WALES’S) For the following months, we provided support for A & B Sqn’s gunnery camp and the GW firing period. We then saw the arrival of Tpr ‘Smudge’ Smith 150 and Tpr ‘Herbie’ Herbert to the troop as Tprs Hancock, Bailess and Conaboy zipped off to take part in the JNCOs cadre, which proved fruitful for Tpr, now, LCpl Fern Hancock. Well done you. At the end of]une, after steering the troop through a very good LSI inspection, Sgt Ian Clarke finally rolled over and made way for a sprightly young Sgt Webb. We wish him good luck in his new job as well as LCpl Stu Hollis and Cpl Paul Lewin; Stu joined B Sqn and Paul jetted off to Canada to start a new life with his family. August saw the Preparation for Ex SAIF SAREEA 2 and the arrival of three new characters to the Troop. Capt Corcoran took over as ZIC HQ Sqn and MTO on promotion, and Cpl Andy Joynson took over as Troop Cpl. LCpl ‘Queenie’ Hale also arrived and took over the dark world of MT details. The majority of the troop deployed to Oman on Ex SAIF SAREEA 2. This exercise was very successful for the troop and proved to be a steep learning curve for everyone. MT troop spent no time at all settling into the desert lifestyle, soon becom- ing Bedouin troop. Living in tents made from old parachutes, they enjoyed the desert sunshine during their many hours of free time... Not! The Rear Party, however, enjoyed the slow cold change in the German weather and double the amount of driving details with halfthe amount ofmanpower. This was soon compounded with the loss of Tprs Howard and Conaboy to Civvy Street. The troop was reunited in October and, after a short spell of leave for the desert Bedouins, started to attack the mammoth task of bringing the fleet and equipment back up to standard. With all hands on deck, the new troop has settled in well, crack- ing the backbone of the post-exercise work after many hours and late evenings. Now with the wind down to Christmas, we say a final goodbye to Tpr Chris Clachen as he leaves for Civvy Street, and we wish him all the best. We now look forward to 2002 as a newly structured troop. Regimental Training Wing The good ship Training Wing began to sail free of the turbulent minefield, left by the last owners, into calmer waters. At the helm remains the ever-faithful WOZ Gary Morton. Whether it is at work, or in the harsh dog-eat-dog world of the golf course board- room, he can be found at the forefront of all that he surveys. First to walk the plank and leave the Training Wing this past year was SSgt Holmes, who mutinied to the BFG office with its laminated walls and complex opening hours. He was replaced by SSgt Nick Wright, all the way from the foreign shores of Bovington with talk of old beasts that had been converted to diesel. So impressed was he with his findings that he vowed to return to those shores once again to follow his heart, as soon as it was humanly possible. SSgt Ken Hayes then left for ARMTAT, a bigger ship than ours with an even bigger arsenal of guns that he could play with. In his absence, he was replaced by first, Sgt Mick Emery who steered the Regiment to yet another successful firing camp whilst checking his Spartans on a daily basis, before SSgt Mick Welborn returned from the Gunnery School ready to take cred- it for any work that Cpl Whitehead did in the AGS. The Signals Wing prospered in the hidden depths of the cellar and attic with much talk of BOWMAN for yet another training season (long live semaphore). The newly promoted WOZ Martin took over from WOZ Tony Price, who successfully con- tinued his career challenge to only stay in a job for a maximum of six months. The barrack dress wearers pride themselves on training 39 basic signallers in the year, but neglect to state that during Ex SAIF SAREEA 2, the tuition was almost one to one for each individual on each course. Sgt Loseby advised us all on intelligence and NBC long before he departed to Oman for a fortnights break. It was around about the same time that the rest of the Regiment went on Ex SAIF SAREEA. Once back in his seat, he prepared himself for any anthrax out- breaks that may hit the Wing by barricading his Survive to Fight booklets in all desks and cupboards. Cpls Pegg and Wick decided that, by virtue of the fact that they were the longest serving Wing members, they should move into the biggest room in the Wing. This allowed them to put in yet more sandbags, not to save them from Sgt Loseby, but for peo- ple to sit on and listen to their amazing tales from yesteryear. Most of these revolve around the two phrases: ‘The last time we were here’ and ‘What did you do before GPS?’. Cpl Pegg is, however, to be congratulated on his commendation for his valu- able services to both map reading and AFV discs that were taken by TSG for all units to use. During this time, the hierarchy has escorted the Wing in the sis- ter ship of RHQ. Destined to ensure that supplies, though sometimes limited, reached us for the long campaigns of Ex STEEL SABRE and map board exercises. Capt Russell mutinied to Civvy Street and left us for pastures new, leaving Capt Crofts to take over the helm just in time to write a mass of reports. Others that get a mention include Capt Watson, who sailed into advertising and public relations, whilst Capt Bilyard tried on many hats to uphold his full title of Families Gunnery Welfare Officer. So, as the Training Wing sails smoothly into the sunset and onto adventures new, we remind ourselves that, as a service provider, we are always open forbusiness. However, Cpl Pegg has still not passed the mind reading course, so some notification or pre- warning of the facilities you require would be nice. Regimental Welfare Office There have been quite a few changes to the Regimental Welfare Office in the last year. It used to be similar to the Carlsberg complaints department, consisting ofa typewriter, a pile ofAlOs and a dusty telephone. Now there are three buildings on the office account. Capt Bilyard has virtually disappeared under the pile ofpaperwork that he has pushed out this year to get the var- ious enterprises up and running. He has given up smoking about seven times, but the pressure always gets him started again. Past Welfare Officers have spent time improving their golf handicaps. Not this one, he still relishes a run out with the younger lads onto the Rugby pitch, but by the time he gets his boots on the game is over. Sgt Phil (Michael Soft) Bennett is often seen wandering around the office tearing his hair out and muttering about the problems he is dealing with on a daily basis. Ofcourse, that is when he is not trying to break the Regimental record at tea and toast eating (currently held by Sgt Leigh Feltham). Tpr Adie Garner, on the other hand, has just become a father - for the fifth time! The |
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