9th-12th-Lancers - Year 2003 - Page 0020
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| Regiment | 9th/12th Lancers |
|---|---|
| Year | 2003 |
| Transcription |
18 REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE 9TH/12TH ROYAL LANCERS (PRINCE OF WALES’S) themselves in halfbetween the Troop House and BLME in order ensure the smooth running of the house and the locally employed civilians. The Troop also had a twice weekly local radio show, which was used for promoting what SFOR was try- ing to achieve in the area, this was looked after by Tpr Dan (super star DJ) Campbell and Tpr (Mono tone) Ellis. During the tour the Troop took part in Sqn Firing camps at MANJACA and GLAMOC ranges, which filrther honed the crew’s turret skills. Even though the Troop was busy on tour there was still time for members to carry out courses. Cpl Worgan took members from the Troop House and the rest of the Sqn through Map reading 1, before attending his EFPl. Tpr (lord Lucan) Liburd disap- peared back to England for what seamed an eternity on his Adv Gnr’s Cse, and Tpr (Fluffy the machine) Gutteridge showed the infantry the definition of fitness on the Highlands JNCO Cardre. Most of the Troop also had the opportunity to spend time Adventure Training on BRAC Island throughout the tour. The Sqn was extended for an extra month in Bosnia, so seven months after deployment the Troop returned for a well deserved six weeks post op tour leave. After POTL the Troop returned for the wind down towards Xmas, to find that Cpl (playboy) Bennison and Tpr (can I go skiing again) Liburd had already jumped ship for their winter retreat in Switzerland, as part of the Regimental Ski Team. As the New Year is approaching the Troop finds itself in a good position for whatever is install for the year ahead. A farewell from the Troop goes to SSgt Clarke to RRT. Welcomes to the Troop goes to LCpl Salih from B Sqn SQMS. 3rd Tp 2003 has been anotherbusy year for B Sqn and 3rd Tp have been no exception. The main highlight of the year being the Sqn deployment to Bosnia as part of Op Oculus. The end of last year was mostly taking up with the training to prepare for B Sqn’s deployment to Bosnia in March. The final training package involved a visit down to Sennelager to kick off the start of the year. This also gave a good opportunity for the new faces of the Tp to settle in. The Tp found the training both challenging and rewarding, as it had been awhile since the Sqn had deployed on an operational tour. The next couple of months were mainly spent preparing for the off. With vehicles all ready and kit packed the Sqn stood down for pre deployment leave, only to find that during this period we had now been given a completely new fleet of vehicles along with all the inherited problems that came with them. So once again the pressure was on to complete the endless list ofA and X jobs prior to the vehicles departure by rail. The Tp showed their true colours and knuckled down to the job in hand, under the watch full eye of Cpl Saul. The now SFOR vehicles were completed in time to Tiff’s amazement and loaded onto the train, with the Tp Sgt as the rail head commander, to complete some sightseeing around Europe. The arrival in Bosnia was a busy time with the Tp settling into the Tp house in Prnjavor along with 4th Tp. Our Opstina Srbac, located to the Northeast of the country boarded Croatia, by means of the river Sava. The first month was mainly spent familiarising ourselves with the ground, especially in our Opstina as the terrain was fairly hilly if not mountainous. This certainly tested some of the new drivers as well as Cpl Prince and the demand chain with vehicles frequently being the casu- alties of the unpredictable terrain. The first half of the tour seemed to fly by, as the Sqn was kept constantly busy on various operations and tasks around the area. The arrival of 96 hr passes and the start of the leave window brought some light relief to the proceedings, allowing the Troop Leader to escape away to Rome for a much needed long week- end, as well as various others to Zagreb along with other desti- nations. Back from leave and time away the troop continued SFOR peacekeeping efforts with increased focus and motiva- tion. The endless days of low level intelligence gathering paid off as the Troop launched a number of focused operations involving other agencies. The results of which were particular- ly successful, with large illegal weapon and commutation equip- ment finds, as well as further intelligence. Towards the end of the tour the Troop Leader managed to escape from theatre once again to train A Sqn in preparation for their hand over take over in September. However shortly after the training was completed A Sqns mission changed and they now found themselves bound for the Gulf. The knock on effect of this being that B Sqn had to stay in theatre for another month. |
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