Page 46 - Journal Compilation

The Regimental Journal of The Light Dragoons
for both units, conducting numerous SFA proxy handovers. Due to his expertise at this task he was able to complete the major- ity of these within the con nes of the Camp Café, not sure how he made this work but it did!! Finally, by July Gaza Barracks was our new home and the process of Light Dragooning the camp was well underway and is still in progress. A moment must be taken to send all who have remained in Robertson Barracks our best regards and thanks. After 15 years of occupation many good friends, both military and civilian, have been made, their con- tributions to the Regiment during our time cannot be overesti- mated. We thank them all and hope to keep in contact for many years to come.
Summer leave over and the pace of life continues. Major Bartholomew took over as Squadron Leader, fresh from a tour of duty on the dark side at ARMCEN and we bade farewell to Major Jordan. However his transport request to his new of ce in RHQ was well and truly denied (MTWno strikes again!). ECI in early Sep almost put the QM(T) in an early grave and de nitely saw a change in hair colour - or maybe grey ecks are the trend now? SQMSs might as well have moved into the QM(T) building hav- ing attended almost continuous brie ngs and the already limited number of photocopiers almost broke under the weight of the gargantuan amount of revised UECD paperwork now required. Paperless environment?! The efforts proved worthwhile and a satisfactory grade received, we still have some way to go but credit to all the G4 team as we are now in a much better place. The QM team will take over the baton for the LSI in Jan 16, ngers crossed for another successful result. Spain now beckoned and BGHQ, B Sqn, FP Tp from A Sqn departed for Ex TRIDENT JUNCTURE a massive NATO readiness deployment exercise. It soon became apparent that one of the ME for the exercise was the deployment and the recovery of all 35000 troops and equipments to and from Spain. Apparently this was a success: not sure the RQMS(T) (both of them) would agree. They still haven’t gured out why it took the men travelling with the RAF 32 hours to get to Southern Spain when Thomson does it in 2 1⁄2 hours. A 72 hour delay on the return trip also has them mysti ed. However we did all get there and get home, so a success I guess?
Some headlines from HQ: RCMO Capt Thirlaway deployed to Zaragoza as Bde Liaison to NATO HQ, can’t speak Spanish, the Spanish can’t understand Geordie! Still, accommodation in a luxury hotel would ease the strain, or so he was promised. A 76 man tent soon became the reality! The Squadron Leader can still turn a decent side step, albeit during touch rugby, but still aches afterwards. Capt Glover is loved by the Italian BG and the RSWO befriended the Catering Department for obvious gains!
As I write the end of the year is nigh, another very successful Sergeants’ to Of cers’ Mess party has passed without any cata- strophic incidents, although hangovers are still evident. The
Christmas stand down will be extremely welcome to everyone and with a FOE full of white space ready to ll with sport, parties, overseas AT and expeditions and career courses 2016 couldn’t look any better... well not exactly. White space is rarer than a white tiger in Darlington, January to April will be ipping busy; would we have it any other way...
A nal note to the many individuals from the array of cap badges that make up HQ Sqn who have moved on. There are too many to mention, nevertheless a sincere thank you to them all for their dogged, excellent service in the generally unglamorous world of HQ Sqn.
AB
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