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9th-12th-Lancers - Year 1986 - Page 0029

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Regiment 9th/12th Lancers
Year 1986
Transcription Young and Agar did all they could to
further relations with the locals. while
LCpI (fingers) Wells dealt quietly on
the side. It was a memorable weekend
that none will forget including Sgt
Simkin, who witnessed by Cpl Frake,
was convinced they should all be para-
chutingl
2nd Troop
Tile first event of note was Cpl Joyce‘s
marriage, but soon after that it was off
on Exercise. This time with a slight dif-
ference as we were enemy for the Royal
Military Academy Sandhurst in Vogel-
sang. The exercise included capturing
the officer cadets and taking them to
unpleasant interrogation centres, One
cadet Cpls Joyce and Richmond caught
was none other than Mr Pedrick, their
future troop leader. The troop soon
found its vocation after a slow start set-
ting an impressive standard at Gunnery
Camp in March 1986. Sgt Marshall’s
steady start as a recruit gunner and the
good standard was equalled by Tprs
Trolley, Briers, Sheppard and Ferguson,
By the end of the Camp they had proved
to be the best troop in the Squadron. Due
to Sgt Marshall going on a course during
Troop Training they were joined by Sgt
Kerridge and. by Cpl Jones when Sup-
port Troop closed down, After some
very hard work, including asking for
cups of tea over the Squadron net, they
eventually attained higher standards
coming third in Troop Tests, (Mr Pool-
ey's Troop spent a little too long at the
is! Aid Stand!)
The remainder of the Regimental
Exercise had its interesting moments.
The troop was employed as a stay he-
hind troop which Mr Pedrick took
rather too literally and was not seen or
heard of for 25 hours, (Not even the
best Renault Mechanic Team could get
THE 9TH/12TH ROYAL LANCERS REGlMENTAL JOURNAL
him back on the road). Then Cpl Jones
decided to test troop level at one stage
and was seen to be praying but within
minutes they were back onto safe
ground under Cpl Jones‘ guidance.
The troop eventually all got working
and by the end of the exercise again 2
troop proved to be different. They
were the only troop to be in one piece
at End Ex. (All except LCpl Frost who
had slipped off on the Capri Tour!)
3rd Troop
The year has seen major changes in
the manning of 3D, “the troop with
the better View on life”. Cpl Franklin
and LCpl Bryan have been lost as have
Tprs Young and Allen. They were,
however, replaced by Cpl Howes, LCpl
Milson and Tpr Darmola, the latter two
having the task of looking after the
troop leader, Sgt Bentley continues to
dominate the troop and the Son netl
(Not to mention the SQM’s washing
run with lighweights). Cpl Kovacs had
a faithful crew in Keeney and Linwod,
even if it was a little pink around the
edges at times. On other occasions it
was seen to be decidedly egg coloured.
Cpl Howes commanded the fourth car
bringing into the troop his quality as a
tape recorder, for not only gunnery but
also Monty Python. in the meantime
Tpr Clarke still drives the only wagon
that doesn’t break down. Tprs Buckley
and Leonard must not be forgotten for
if it wasn’t for them Sgt Bentley would
never have been fed and watered.
All together 3 Troop had a very and
cessful year and are enjoying their view
of life.
GW Troop
The troop has seen a few new faces
since Cpl Wixon left for Newcastle and
Tpr James, now LCpl, went to the
Officers Mess where hopefully he will
put on a bit of weight. Cpl Boulter
arrived with Troopers Allen and Ducker.
The changes did not have any effect on
the Machine Gun Cup as they managed
to win it in December 1985 and claim it
in 1986. Cpl Knight enjoyed the step up
from the drivers seat to the commanders,
even though it only lasted for two days
before his wagon was towed to the
ECP. He then tried to take over Tiffies
wagonl The rest of the Exercise Rhine
Farewell produced the “normal“ type
of weather.
The crews however had become quite
adept at finding good tire podtions which
was only hampered by the lack of air
for the sights. The troop had become
so confident by the time End Ex came
that “Staff" even authenticated the 0C
when he sent "End Ex". Quite an
achievement really from the engine
decks!
Filter: (The “D” Team)
The fitters section has a very inter-
esting year with a cross section of tasks
from changing a helicopter engine tc
taming Cfn Grove, fresh from the
Falklands. The other new arrivals were
Cpl Parry, who cracked the job in just
24 hours and LCpl Anderson, who be
came accustomed to his task as quickly.
even it“ from the cab of his stollyl The
other new arrival is Cfn Bluff who the
Squadron are looking forward to meet
ing when he gets back from leave and
course.l
Enough said in jest, if it was not for
the hard work of the LAD Section there
is no way that the Squadron would be
able to move so effectively. After all
those in the sabre troops get more sleep
than the fitters, especially SSgt Smith,
(since he became a fatherl).
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