Page 20 - The Light Dragoon 2024

The Regimental Journal of The Light Dragoons
OC – Maj Cameron Gubbins
2IC – Capt Matthew Riall
SSM – WO2 Sam Greenwood
C Squadron – The Legion
It has been a hell of a year for The Legion. It started in Wales on Castlemartin ranges much to the dismay of Capt Riall who had to cut his army skiing run short and more importantly had to leave Verbier early. Despite this, the Squadron excelled on the range package and ensured a good time was had by all with a few well-earned beers at the Castle Inn. Sgt Rae deserving of a special mention for his re-decorating skills!
This rolled quickly onto a deployment to Kenya as the Brigade Reconnaissance Force alongside the Coldstream Guards (1CG) Battlegroup. There were too many highlights to count and whilst the Sqn, as the secondary training audience, had limited access to BATUK’s resources
a Tp level training exercise. Tp leaders were provided with the real estate and time to conduct training under their own steam in the Kenyan Bush, a freedom that is not often enough provided to Troops. The Troops made the most of this opportunity and it set them and the Sqn up for success in the demanding exercise that were to come. This concluded with a memorable Sqn smoker. Local ranchers, with the help of some keen Tprs, slaughtered three sheep and cooked them for us against the backdrop of a mesmerising African sunset. LCpl Owens and Maj Freeman proved they were made of sterner stuff by eating the sheep’s genitalia and drinking their blood respectively.
the Sqn deployed dismounted into the Llodiaga mountains. This tested the Sqn’s dismounted soldiering skills. Llodiaga is a unique place to train. The terrain, in conjunction with the wildlife, adds complexity to already challenging tactical scenarios. This phase saw 2nd Tp, under 2Lt Barwick, go missing in action for the best part of 24 hours as they scrambled through acacia bushes or the aptly named ‘bastard’ bush and up re-entrants. Tpr Hanna undoubtedly wins the award for punching above his weight, deciding to pick a scrap with a fully-grown male buffalo while standing his ground against the beast. Meanwhile, Tpr Ling ran as fast as he could in the opposite direction. After the Coldstream Guards rediscovered their
this was an amazing experience for all involved. The 2IC, SQMS and SHQ Tp Sgt deployed early to set the conditions for the arrival of the main body of the Sqn (which could not come soon enough for Capt Riall!) On arrival in Nanuki, the Sqn unpacked into 40 person rooms and prepared for the months to come. First up
Following the Tp and Sqn training, C Sqn then deployed in its
role of the Brigade
Reconnaissance
Force for the 1CG Battlegroup. Due to the lack of vehicles available,
missing rifle, 1st and 3rd Tp played head- torch-buffalo ping-pong and Tpr Poulton led a rearward
Squadron SNCOs
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