Page 40 - Bugle Autumn 2023

6 RIFLES
March saw D Company travelling to Bannau Brycheiniog, the legendary national park known well by the British Army, formerly as the Brecon Beacons. An unusually exciting exercise not only in terms of distance from the Company’s headquarters in Truro, Cornwall, but also thanks to it being a rare, joint weekend with fellow reservists from 104th Regiment Royal Artillery.
The weekend began with an evening dash to South Wales and the occupation of a training village situated in Sennybridge training area. The following day the Company received some impressive demonstrations from very capable gunners, giving Riflemen a close-up insight into the world of artillery. There was a chance for D Coy to practice calling in fire on hulks of armoured vehicles.
Ex DELTA FAN
In tandem was the viewing of the rigid
drills from the men and women firing the
L118 105mm guns from the firing points. In
the late afternoon D Coy made good use of
the purpose-built village with some FIBUA coaching from experienced NCOs. The day culminated for the Company by providing
QRF during a simulated attack, defending the village perimeter alongside troops from 104 RA.
The Sunday morning provided a typical challenge that provided an air of excitement
– climbing the highest mountain in Southern Britain, Pen Y Fan. Gearing up and departing well before dawn, Riflemen arrived at the start of the 18km route and began warming up for the physical challenge of the infamous ‘Fan Dance!.’ Traversing the first foothill revealed the picturesque Corn Du, the peak of which coated
Morale was high and the team rallied together at every obstacle
in white snow. In good time this subsidiary peak was below boot and shortly onwards was the summit of the Fan. Morale was high and the team rallied together at every obstacle to ensure everybody could enjoy the view from the summit. But this was not the end, and after a short break for a photograph Riflemen began the hours-long march around the epic horseshoe ridge before summiting Pen Y Fan for the second time in one day, this time via Jacob’s Ladder, bringing the total elevation of the day to 1039m.
There was a great buzz of achievement from all. The weekend was a textbook example of the diversity and novelty of activities in the exciting second life of a RIFLES’ reservist.
40 RIFLES The Bugle