Page 40 - Journal Compilation

The Light Dragoon
The Regimental Journal of The Light Dragoons
Vol. 6 No. 3 2016 Catterick Garrison
Editor: Major PC Evans
Assistant Editor: Mrs C Local BA, Association Editor: Major M Tazey MBE
Editorial
It has recently become fashionable within the cor-
ridors of Fleet Street and Broadcasting House to
invite trendy Guest Editors to offer their perspec-
tive on a variety of ‘hot-button issues’ and ‘build the
global brand’, although I’m dubious as to whether
this is speci cally why I have the honour to open your
Journal as its rst Royal Lancer Editor (although not
the rst motto-wearer, after Nick Bate’s 1997 edition
as a Queen’s Royal Lancer). Tempting as it is to corre- spondingly put some sort of controversial spin on The
Light Dragoon, insisting all articles tackle a celebrity-
endorsed concept like the promotion of world peace
or the protection of a rare species of gerbil within our
Defence Engagement area of responsibility, I decided
instead to let one of the mottos of my host Regiment be my guide. In keeping with Merebimur, I certainly hope this edition will be worthy of the tremendous hospitality and friendship that has been extended to me by The Light Dragoons.
In editing this year’s Journal I could not escape noticing a single word appear in just about every article: ‘busy’. It is abundantly clear that the Army’s decline in numbers has not been matched by its ambition to deliver results. That said, 2015 must be seen through the lens of being ‘good-busy’, in that although we have all given our hearts and souls to keep up with the frenetic pace of
Editorial ................................................................................. 2 Foreword by the Colonel of the Regiment.......................... 4 Introduction by the Commanding Of cer.......................... 5 Regimental Notes... by the Adjutant ................................... 6 Farewell to Dereham Parade ................................................ 7 Honours and Awards ............................................................ 9 The Light Dragoons at 300 ................................................ 10 A Squadron – The Empire ................................................. 13 B Squadron – The Guards.................................................. 16 C Squadron – The Legion .................................................. 19 HQ Squadron....................................................................... 21 Light Aid Detachment ....................................................... 24 Padre’s Corner ..................................................................... 25 Regimental Welfare Of ce.................................................. 25 Regimental Administration Of ce .................................... 26 Quartermaster’s Department ............................................. 27 Quartermaster Technical’s Department............................ 28 Motor Transport Troop ....................................................... 29 Training Wing ..................................................................... 30 Regimental Manning and Career Management ............... 31 Provost Troop ...................................................................... 31 Gymnasium.......................................................................... 32 Catering Department .......................................................... 32 Regimental Aid Post ........................................................... 33 Operations Of cer’s Overview........................................... 34 Defence Engagement .......................................................... 35 Exercise ROVING RAT .................................................... 36 Operation SHAKU.............................................................. 37 Exercise WESSEX STORM............................................... 39 Exercise TRIDENT JUNCTURE..................................... 44 Exercise JEBEL SAHARA................................................. 46 British Army Training Unit Kenya Force Protection ..... 48 2ème Brigade d’Infanterie .................................................. 50
Contents
Parachutiste Of cer Exchange........................................... 50 Three Months in the Maghreb ......................................... 51 Dedication of the Regimental Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum.......................................................... 52 Exercise SHARPSHOOTER DRAGOON ....................... 53 Norfolk to North Yorkshire: The Unit Move................... 54 Divisional Operational Shooting Competition ................ 55 The Light Cavalry Troop Leaders’ Course ....................... 56 Football ................................................................................ 57 Rugby ................................................................................... 58 Golf ....................................................................................... 58 Cricket .................................................................................. 59 Field Sports.......................................................................... 59 Exercise HIGHLAND HIND ........................................... 60 Exercise NORTHERN TOUBKAL DRAGOON............ 61 Land’s End to John o’Groats Road Cycling ..................... 62 Exercise WHITE KNIGHT .............................................. 63 Exercise NORDIC DRAGOON ........................................ 65 Exercise GALLIPOLI........................................................ 66 Row2Recovery ..................................................................... 67 Exercise BALTIC DRAGOON.......................................... 69 The Great North Run ......................................................... 70 Ironman Wales..................................................................... 71 Exercise CARPATHIAN DRAGOON.............................. 72
The Messes.........................................................................74
Of cers’ Mess ...................................................................... 74 Warrant Of cers’ and Sergeants’ Mess.............................. 76 Corporals’ Mess ................................................................... 77 Wives’ Club.......................................................................... 78
Extra Regimental Employment........................................79
Army Training Regiment Winchester............................... 79 Driving and Maintenance School...................................... 79
Army Staff London............................................................. 80 Headquarters London District .......................................... 81 The Royal Wessex Yeomanry ............................................. 82 Communication Information Systems School ................. 83 Gunnery School................................................................... 84 A Light Dragoon at Chatham House ................................ 85
Regimental Af liations ..................................................... 86
The Queen’s Own Yeomanry.............................................. 86 HMS Northumberland ....................................................... 87 The Band of the Royal Armoured Corps .......................... 89 The Royal Canadian Hussars ............................................ 91 1st/15th Royal New South Wales Lancers ........................ 93 Valete .................................................................................... 94 Home Headquarters and Regimental Association News.. 101 The Light Dragoons’ Charitable Trust ........................... 103 Cavalry Memorial Parade ................................................. 104 Field of Remembrance...................................................... 105 Of cers’ Dinner................................................................. 106 Museum – England’s Northern Cavalry ......................... 109 Branch News...................................................................... 110 Association Golf ................................................................ 114 Visitors to Home Headquarters ....................................... 115 Sahagun .............................................................................. 116 Dedication of The Light Dragoons’ Memorial Stone ... 117 Royal Hospital Chelsea..................................................... 119 R-J meets Capt (Retd) Ben Sparrow, WW2 Veteran ...... 119 We Meet Again .................................................................. 120 The Tramps’ Return – Chapter 2015 ............................... 120 Obituaries........................................................................... 121 13/18H ................................................................................ 121 Obituaries........................................................................... 124 15/19H ................................................................................ 124 Regimental Gazette ........................................................... 129
Front Cover and Inside Back Cover: Night ring at Warcop Ranges Inside Front Cover:The nal parade at Swanton Morley
demands on our time and our talents, we always got a great deal back. Regimental deployments to Salisbury Plain, the unit move from our sleepy hollow in Swanton Morley to the hustle and bustle of Catterick Garrison, squadron deployments to Morocco, Tunisia and Spain and helping the residents of York and West Yorkshire recover from Storm Frank have made us incredibly tired, but also incredibly proud of who we are and what we do.
This puts the two principal purposes of our Journal into sharp focus. First, it provides a comprehensive record of the myriad activities and personalities the Regiment has been involved with throughout the year. serves to improve situational awareness of the reader-
Second, it
ship, both at Regimental Duty and away, as to what our brother soldiers and of cers have been up to – critical in a world so busy we scarcely have time to fully understand what the man next to us has spent his year doing.
I would also like to extend my very sincere thanks to my assis- tant editors (and the real brains behind this operation), Carol and Keith Local. I still cannot believe my good fortune in having them on the team; I could not have done it without them.
© Crown Copyright. This publication contains of cial information. It should be treated with discretion by the recipient. The views expressed in the articles in this journal are those of the author and do not necessarily re ect the policy and views, of cial or otherwise, of the Regiment or the Ministry of Defence. No responsibility for the goods or services advertised in this journal can be accepted by the publishers, printers or the Regiment and advertisements are included in good faith.
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