9th-12th-Lancers - Year 1986 - Page 0065
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| Regiment | 9th/12th Lancers |
|---|---|
| Year | 1986 |
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THE 9TH/ 12TH ROYAL LANCERS REGIMENTAI. JOURN -\l. The Grenadier Guards — A Firm Attachment? The Regiment has established a link with the 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards and Capts Monckton and Martin have both been attached to No. l Coy as ZIC's in the last eighteen months. Capt Monckton spent six months in Belize and Capt Martin is currently in North- ern Ireland. Belize Bdng transposed from the fast moving life of a Reece Regiment on exercise on the North German Plain to the slower pace of an Infantry Battalion working in the Central American Jungle proved a rewarding and interesting change. Leaving the relative comforts of my Scimitar behind was harder than I thought as I found myself struggling over Yorkshire Dales and Thetford fields during pre-Belize training with what seemed a totally unreasonable weight on my back. However all was put to good use in Belize. No l Coy were in Salamanca Camp. an independent coy location which nestled in the jungle foothills of the Maya Mountains. The locals were poor Mayan Indians who survived on the age old slash and burn farming technique, Our job was to deter the Guatemalars from staking their claim in Belize by mans of patrols and OP’s. As company ops officer I briefed and debriefed all patrols but the only sightings were of Fer-de-lance snakes. tarantulas and a pair of green eyes. I also organised the R and R for the company and I despat» ched people to the Bahamas. Costa Rica. Mexico and the United States. Some guardsmen even stayed on the caye- of Belize. During my last month I was despatched into the Bibul river area to help organise the Battalion Patrol Competition. I became an expert on the jungle ambush and was amused . when the competition was won by an attached Coldstream Guards platoon. In my last week I organised and ran in a Marathon. This was in aid of the local Medical Centre and raised [1300. Sadly I only completed 18 miles but the temperature was over IOO"FI Belize was a fascinating change from Germany and the Guards were a fasc- inating change from the cavalry. A Dictionary for Attached Personnel a Cavalrymana view of Grenadier Termlnology BAG — Report. Reprimand. Generally take round the corner and beat up. Normally happens to Junior Guards» man. BUNK — Office. Not a bed where two people sleep. one on top of the other. COMMANDING OFFICER'S INSP- ECTION — As Easter is for Christians — the most important day of the year. CREDIT — Award for being good. Like giving a dog a bone. DETAIL — Orders. Routine. Import- ant information on such subjects as how to tie your boot laces. DIRTY BEDSPACE — Untidy bed. clothes etc. A serious crime almost worthy of a Court Martial. GRENADE —- (I) A Regimental Mag- azine. (2) Brass Grenade — the Regi- mental Cap Badge. (3) Black Grenade — the tactical Regimental Cap Badge. Not used in Belize because it does not need ‘Brasso‘ to clean it. LANCE SERGEAN‘I — Corporal. A traditional rank that has nothing to do with that superior weapon the lance. MEMORANDA — A fast moving affair by which misdemeanours are dealt with. It involves much shouting and stamping of feet as in Trivial Pursuits. PAINT — Substance used in great quantity for covering blemishes and passing idle moments as in 'If in doubt. paint it'. As vital as money is to a bank. PICQUET OFFICER — Duty/Orderly Officer nothing to do with 'Roll it Flick it‘. SIR — (I) Yes (2)No (3) Perhaps (4) Anybody from the rank at Colour Sergeant to Field Marshal depending on your own rank. ALCM NORTHERN IRELAND The mechanics of my attachment to the Second Battalion Grenadier Guards were extremely complicated and very open ended. Suffice to say that. a good many inter-adjutantal telephone calls. and some degree of lateral thinking later. I took up the post of Second in Command. Number One Company. Second Battalion Grenadier Guards (they hate abbreviationsl). Fortunately. I was treading in the footsteps of Anth- ony Monckton. who had. during his six months with the same company in Belize the previous winter. done much to persuade the Grenadiers that al- though cavalry officers arc a different breed, they are not necessarily beyond salvation certainly my first few hours with the Battalion would have tested the nerves of most. To the accompaniment of a barrage of stentorian commands from the drill square (all too reminiscent of Sandhurst daysl). l was marched into the Adjutant's office to be welcomed. and to be briefed on the likes. dislikes. customs. foibles. and idiosyncracies of the Grenadiers. With my mind awash with such vital matters as Colours. Memoranda, and their penchant for calling everyone in sight “Sir“. I was taken off to be isued with that dreaded symbol of infanteenng. the army hergen! My worst fears. I felt sure. were about to he realized. Fortunately, I have yet to use the bergen in anger. Things were not. however, to he as I was beginning to fear they might turn out. I was made extremely welcome of Number One Company in particular. Unfortunately it soon became apparent that the time I was to spend in London was going to be a great deal less than I had anticipated. I did, however. become familiar with a number of the further — flung training camps in England and Wales. In the end. after three and a half months of training, I had been to seven different camps and spent only seven weeks in London. I had even spent my birthday on exercise in Sennybridge. |
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