Page 11 - QDG Year of 2020

1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards
9
A Squadron
Throughout all of recorded history, mankind has had one common goal. It has always sought to gain an insight in the thoughts and actions of the gods. From the Oracle at Delphi to present-day megachurches, the mere mortals of the world have used whatever means avail- able to gain a glimpse of exactly this. Within this fine regiment, it is no different, albeit the means are of a less spiritual nature. Yearly, all eagerly await the publi- cation of the journal article of the first squadron of the ‘First and Foremost’, A Sqn QDG. This year is no different, and I hope it sates their hunger for another year.
2020 has been a year to remember. When my predecessor, Charlie Ruggles- Brise, wrote in the 2019 iteration of this journal of ‘another busy year ahead’, I suspect that he did not know how pres- cient that statement would be. It will of course come as no surprise that the activities of the Sqn have, much like the remainder of the UK, been focused upon the battle with Coronavirus. Nonethe- less, I hope to illustrate that despite this tumultuous period, we have managed to achieve a plethora of other
activity whilst also making the most of the hand dealt to us.
In what would unwittingly turn out for many to be the only overseas ‘holiday’ of 2020, the year began with a number of A Sqn personnel acting in a supporting capacity on CATT/CAST in Sennelager, Germany. This was a major event prior to Exercise Wessex Storm and saw LCpls Diamond, Protheroe and Murphy well-rehearsed in setting up tents and sitting behind computer screens, skills in which every soldier should hone their expertise. Significantly it offered the opportunity for members of the Squadron to reacquaint themselves with the ancient town of Paderborn, with the best cultural insights appar- ently to be found inside of Triangles Nightclub.
For the remainder of the Squadron, “2020 proper” started with all hands-on deck in preparation for Exercise Wessex Storm, which would see the QDG vali- dated for operations. Having returned from Christmas leave, there was undoubtedly a sharp change in pace
from the New Year’s festivities as the requirements for a major exercise swiftly came to the forefront. The Tp Sgts in particular must be commended for turning this around succinctly but thor- oughly, with the Squadron departing in good order to the Plain.
With arrangements finalised, we subse- quently rolled out the door in late-January for the exercise proper. Wishful hopes of a mild winter were immediately dashed as the Squadron faced weather
more reminiscent of the Eastern Front circa 1942. Fortunately, at this stage of the exercise, some luxuries were afforded, with indoor sleeping and warm showers in the best accommodation that 1950s Britain could afford. Sgt Hatton was particularly fond of the accommoda- tion, reminding him as it did of his childhood in rural Wales.
The initial exercise period was a steady one. Hard groundwork on the tank park set the condi- tions for the Squadron to deploy on low-level refresher periods on the ground. In this time, the Tp Cpls were fundamental to training their subordi- nates, and to them the credit must go for how well
this was achieved. This training was rewarded with a periodic night in-camp, with all the afforded comforts, which had many saying ‘this isn’t so bad.’
The higher powers, however, decided that they would punish our arrogance, namely in thinking that we could escape their reaches. This was done, of course,
by means of the weather. The instant that the Squadron’s ability to freely return to camp was removed, the sky opened in Old Testament fashion. With three weeks in the field upcoming, the first two named storms of 2020 were unleashed to ensure that not a moment of this would be spent dry. Indeed, in a cruel twist of fate, Storm Dennis coincided with a 70km road move throughout the Salisbury AO. This was undoubtedly a low moment for many, not least LCpl Protheroe who had some interesting opinions to share on the utility of open architecture vehicles. It is testament to the spirit of all the soldiers that they persevered through in the face of the adverse conditions.
With the end of Wessex Storm, the Squadron eagerly anticipated a few weeks in camp prior to some well- earned leave, and perhaps a bit of travel to warmer climes to forget about the past few months. In particular, ten individuals looked forward to a rock-climbing expe- dition in Oman organised by Sgt Sudlow and Lt Martel, in what would no doubt have been a welcome reward for their time on Salisbury Plain.
Meanwhile though, China’s experimen- tations in unusual cuisine were beginning to be noticed. Few could have even contemplated even at this late stage that the news reports of a new version of Coronavirus would have such sudden nor far-reaching implications. Nonethe- less, with just two weekends at home under our belts, a sudden and sharp lockdown placed the entire Regiment into an imposed self-isolation period in RBSM.
It is at this point that the Prime Minister called for the aid of the military in tackling the new enemy, and he of course turned to his right-hand men, the 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards. With notice to move timings apparently carrying no
Charlie Ruggles-
Brise, wrote
in the 2019 iteration of
this journal of ‘another busy year ahead’, I suspect that he did not know how prescient that statement would be