Page 110 - Wish Stream Year of 2019

61st International Military Pilgrimage to Lourdes
On Thursday 16th May 2019, 18 bleary- eyed OCdts boarded a chartered flight bound for Lourdes in the South of France.
With thoughts of the previous night’s navigation exercise, and yet to be completed pre-exercise packing still fresh in our minds, there was a sense of curious anticipation as to what exactly the next few days had in store for us. Excited and intrigued, we were all very happy to escape the confines of camp for a few days.
On arrival we were bussed to our hotel, showed to our rooms and quickly found ourselves front and centre of the UK military’s first parade. Slightly concerned that we found ourselves immediately conducting drill, we gave a good account of ourselves and found that we were in the strange position of being seen as the resi- dent experts. Regardless of this, every OCdt doubtless felt as if their CSgt, now many miles away, was still scrutinising their every move. After a sharp halt that would have made the New Col- lege Sergeant Major proud, everyone attended a brief laying out exactly what was coming up over the next few days. After this we were free for the evening. Scratching our heads as to what to do, we decided that the best way of passing our time and justifying our presence was to take part in the one action that was both the most vital and the one for which we were best equipped: a bit of Defence Engagement. With over fifty dif- ferent nationalities present and the town at our feet, the OCdts scattered to the four winds to improve Britain’s standing abroad and cultivate international relations.
The OCdts very quickly settled into the routine of the place. This consisted of an early morn- ing parade and Mass, preceded by a timely and much-needed coffee in one of the local cafés. This was then followed by a revitalising lunch and then another parade and service. It wasn’t until the evenings that the pace of life ramped up. The evening events were always the centre- piece of each day and consisted of everything from the tremendous opening and closing cer- emonies to the candle lit procession, finished off with a very moving performance of “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes. It was after these that all the key defence relationships were built and cultivated in a way that was most appealing to all OCdts present: a few kind words and pleas- antries over a pint of Kronenberg.
Throughout the three days, you could sense that the energy amongst the OCdts that had slowly been sapped by the trials, tests and tribula- tions of the Commissioning Course slowly being replenished, and I can safely state that we all experienced a spiritually nourishing, convivially enjoying and physically revitalising few days. As we started our journey back to Sandhurst with an imminent exercise deployment looming large over our heads, we began to reflect on what had been a truly delightful, eye-opening and pleas- ant experience, and were ready to tackle the remaining weeks of the Commissioning Course with renewed vim and vigour.
108 SANDHURST