Page 11 - Light Dragoons 2023 CREST

adventurous training, cricket matches and cultural trips to Muscat.
To be able to operate and deliver results on all these big exercises and deployments, our people are the key. People remain at the heart of what we do. The Light Dragoons have 97% on strength and we have wel- comed in 48 new troopers from basic train- ing and five new subalterns (three of them being appointed Junior Under Officers at RMAS). B Squadron have a new Squadron Leader, Major Rich Glover who arrived in the summer.
It has been nice to see our people recog- nised for their hard work this year too: from 1* commendation to OBE, the best senior non-commissioned officer in the Royal Armoured Corps to 1st (United Kingdom) Division’s Rhino Award have all been awarded to Light Dragoons. It is a tribute to the individuals’ efforts but also brings pride to the regiment to celebrate their achievements. The presentation of the King Abdullah Medal to the last three recipients by the Colonel-in-Chief was a particularly special moment for the regi- ment this year.
Our soldiers are built on the families that surround and support them. The Families and Association Day in July saw Gaza Barracks alive with an energy as the young and old, Light Dragoons past and present spent the day celebrating our regiment’s thirty years and thanking everyone that plays a part in making our family regiment remain a family. Special thanks to the two RQMS, WO2 Martin and WO2 Cawthorne for all their hard work in organising a spe- cial day filled with Yorkshire sunshine, an impeccable drill display and a merry all ranks event lasting deep into the evening. I could not think of a more fitting way to mark our thirty years.
It would be amiss not to mention the basics we’ve also ticked off this year. The three week potential non-commissioned officer cadre in Sennybridge put our troop- ers through their paces, testing their lead- ership skills and resilience through exer- cises and events including the infamous ‘Fan Dance’. A Squadron and C Squadron conducted squadron level training along- side Queen’s Own Yeomanry on Exercise Galloping Dragoon in Galloway Forest. The Cambrian Patrol team, led by Lt Matt Riall achieved a silver medal. There was a battlefield study to Mont Picon, organ- ised by C Squadron Leader, Major Henry Freeman. A regimental adventurous train- ing package occurred in the Lake District, organised by the QMSI consisting of hill- walking across striding edge, canyoning and rock climbing.
Sport has remained a fundamental part of what we do. Our rugby and football team have been training hard, the cricket team organised a tour to Spain over the summer and the boxing team once again dominated
at the RAC events. The Army triathlon team features several Light Dragoons and as I write this, the Nordic Ski team is competing at the Army championships. For the third year running, the Light Dragoons won the Bismarck Challenge, the 1st (United Kingdom) Division’s speed marching competition, as well as winning in the overall event, took home the fast- est male and fastest female team. For a regiment our size, our output on the sports fields and pitches remains impressive.
The significance of this year is not to be understated, however, 2023 will undoubt- ably be another great year for the Light Dragoons. C Squadron are prepar- ing for exercise in Kenya alongside the Coldstream Guards, the regiment is pro- viding a small contingent to march at the King’s coronation and we have been warned off for deployments in eastern Europe. Whatever else may come our way, England’s Northern Cavalry will be ready.
AVS
The Regimental Journal of The Light Dragoons
Officer of the Order of the
British Empire (OBE)
Lieutenant Colonel TRM Robinson LD
Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service (QCVS) Major S Stott LD
Joint Commander’s Commendation
Sergeant A Cox REME
Staff Sergeant R Ham REME
Commander Field Army’s Commendation
Captain K O’Connor QDG Warrant Officer Class Two JA Pennicott LD
Corporal PJ Hill LD
General Officer Commanding 1st (United Kingdom) Division’s Commendation Lieutenant D Elkington LD
4th Light Infantry Brigade Commander’s Commendation Warrant Officer Class Two S Cox LD Captain WHJ Addison LD Lieutenant WG McDonald LD
11 Security Force Assistance Brigade Commander’s Commendation Corporal JH Cheetham AGC(SPS)
King Abdullah Medal
On 10 November 2022 the King Abdullah Medal was presented at the
Cavalry and Guards Club to the past three recipients of the award by His Majesty, King Abdullah II.
2020 Corporal D Rae
2021 Lance Corporal LM Hart 2022 Corporal SR Astwood
Sergeant Rae, Corporal Hart and Corporal Astwood getting the King Abdullah Medal presented
Honours and Awards
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