9th-12th-Lancers - Year 2003 - Page 0036
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| Regiment | 9th/12th Lancers |
|---|---|
| Year | 2003 |
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34 REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE 9TH/12TH ROYAL LANCERS (PRINCE OF WALES’S) as S/up and frequency changes during the heat of battle, there was a lot of pressure but the humour was maintained, a big thanks to Cpl Mansfield, Pritchard and Blunt proving fairly good in this department throughout. It was suggested that any- thing less than 4 roastings a day, between RSO & RSWO, meant we had done ok. This target was easily maintained. Huge thanks to the map and trace making department, L/Cpl’s Milner, Parker, Tpr Astill, Champkins, Smith and Spencer. Plus well done to L/Cpl Thomas for his roll as dispatch rider, a useful person to have when others are busy and Crypto, Batco and CEI’s can be distributed around the battlefield on two wheels. It proved so useful that the RSWO, L/Cpl Reeves and Champkins got themselves on a motorbike course. We all passed, but seeing L/Cpl Reeves go up and down the knife-edge would make you wonder how, that won’t be forgotten for a long time. The last exercise, which was carried out by the troop, was the Regimental FTX Summer Charge. Designed to assist A & C Sqn deployment to the Gulf. A cut down Command troop stayed in a central location in a barn established communica- tions and remained there for the duration. With an adhoc troop of clerks and medics and some Command troop operators, there was still plenty ofwork. Including the orders process, operating and carrying out the normal routine, although thanks to Mons Moy we had REEFA (Not to smoke, it was a civilian refrigera- tion lorry full of food) and a chef cooking. So things weren’t too bad we even had time for a dinner night and called in all our friends from the Sqns, which went very well, apart from Sgt Blunt keeping the 2 i/c awake 7 too much port Berti? With the changes to operational commitments, manpower had to be found and the troop was split between A and C Sqn leav- ing just the RSWO to sail the ship alone, not to worry L/Cpl Milner came back from his Crew Commanders course, Oh great! ...... just in time to get things ready for ECI & LSI. More hard work and serial number checks were carried out as well as keep- ing on top of the vehicles. In a nutshell, what a year! Many hurdles were put in front of us and they were all comfortably cleared. Command Troop has risen to every challenge and with the leadership and dedication of all ranks in the troop it has been a truly outstanding year, which has seen us all start from scratch and in no time at all become one of the Best Troops in the Regiment. ABT Training Wing The who’s who of the Training Wing personalities this year, has seen an up and down ride of people coming and going and due to the Regiment’s commitment to Op TELIC, there seemed to be more people departing than arriving. The thought was after all, “who’s there left to train?” At the start of the year WOZ Welborn occupied the hot seat as Training Wing WC, with side kicks SSgt Emery as RGSS and Sgt McKelvey as RD&MSS. Hiding at the far end of the corri- dor where LCpI Brassington, LCpI Payne, Tpr Russell, and for a short time, Tpr Bottomley, who all made up the Int cell. Although Sgt McKelvey could have sworn they were his own personal librarians. Mid way through the year came the decline of the Training Wing. The first to go was Capt Lort-Phillips departing on a posting to Bovington, with Capt Rhodes stepping in as the Training Officer, amongst his many other jobs. The movement of A Sqn from Op OCULUS to Op TELIC 3, and the require- ment of C Sqn and elements of HQ Sqn to also go, led to the mass exodus of the Training Wing. WOZ Welborn took up his new role as C Sqn SSM, and took with him, SSgt Emery, LCpl’s Brassington and Payne, who both have since been promoted, (again in some cases), well done to both. Tpr Russell also went to C Sqn, and Tpr Bottomley now shares his time between the W0 & Sgts Mess and the HQ SQMS Dept dependent on who has the bigger bark at the time. All these with no replacements in sight. Not to be left on his own, Sgt McKelvey eventually departed on Op TELIC 3 to join A Sqn after deciding the Welfare Office and QM(T) Dept weren’t to his taste. He was however, replaced with Sgt Rhodes from A Sqn who took over the post of RD&MSS, which later turned out to be the Training Wing and Out Of Use Maintenance. A tumbleweed was specially ordered in to keep him company while he contemplated the meaning of German signposts, whilst on the road to recovery after his bike accident. Late in the year saw a pick up in manpower for the next round of ITD training to kick in with the Rear Party. Sgt Rhodes was posted back to the D&M School at Bovington on the Cadre, and saw him replaced by Sgt Swift to oversee the running of the Training Wing and sign for anything that wasn’t bolted down or made out of bricks. To help him with the Out of Use Maintenance was LCpI Byrd Flint and Tpr Madigibuli and just about anyone that could be rounded up from MT when the MTWO was feeling generous. Recently transferred in was CpI Ulliot from the RG], who, with the rest in reality formed a hold- ing Troop for rotation to Op TELIC 3 in the New Year. The New Year sees WOZ Henderson posted in as the Training Wing WO from his old post as B Sqn SSM. Hopefully he will bring with him some more personnel to keep him and Sgt Swift company for when B Sqn training starts up in the New Year and the welcome return of the remainder of the Regiment after OP Telic 3 in April 2004. Book your ITD Training in early as it’s sure to be a busy 2004, so that he isn’t left with the thought of “who’s there left that can train?” in the Training Wing. SR Catering Troop “the Regimental Sustainers” No sooner had we returned from Christmas leave the Regiment was warned off for deployment on Op TELIC, which everyone was looking forward to. So we all delved into the mandatory training to get up to deployable level, which shook off the cob- webs from most people. What a disappointment when on CO’s parade we were told that Regiment was stood down and would not be deploying. We thought that would be then end of that, not for the “fortu- nate” chefs, Sgt Beveridge and Pte Cassidy were told they were deploying on Op TELIC with the Scots Dragoon Guards from Fallingbostel and Sgt Clark and LCpl Kelly were to deploy with the Black Watch also from Fallingbostel. LCpl Kelly did man- age to evade deployment by chopping the top of his finger off in his room door, I’m sure there was an easier ways of getting out ofthis Lee. So at the end of February we deployedwith our var- ious units to the unknown, and boy was it the unknown, I thought we joined up to be a chef, however we were involved in activities ranging from POW handling, armed escorts, stagging on, trench digging, still a great deal of experience was gained by all involved. |
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