Page 23 - The Light Dragoon 2024

The Regimental Journal of The Light Dragoons
C Squadron cricketers with a dubious total
passage of lines that will live long in C Sqn memory. The exercise ended with a raid. Lt Arulampalam conducted a highly efficient two-man recce patrol and Cpl Gallagher led the rest of the squadron in. On the culmination of the successful raid, Major Freeman told brigade headquarters in no uncertain terms that C Squadron were not going to screen the training area boundary yet again. Thanks to the RAF and a crisis in Sudan there was a delay in the flights back to the UK. Thanks to Lt Arulampalam and Lt Chrisp’s ‘gap yars’, they were able to pull some strings and get a small group to Sosian Safari Lodge. Sgt Oldham, Cpl Newton, LCpl Wheeler and LCpl Harrold rode to breakfast on camels, among other highlights.
On the return from Kenya there was a period of calm in May and June. C Squadron bolstered the Regimental cricket team whilst the other squadrons were on Ex SPRING STORM. LCpl Fox and Tpr Betchley tried their hand at Cumbrian wrestling at the Northumberland Show whilst recruiting with the Queens’ Own Yeomanry. It is safe to say that this is not a sport the Legion will be taking up anytime soon. On the other hand, Tpr Ling excelled at hockey, representing the Army U23 team on their tour to Australia.
One of the highlights of the year was undoubtedly the Regimental Combined Arms’ Tactical Training Exercise (CATT) in Sennelager. This saw Major Cameron Gubbins’ first run out as Sqn Ldr. He replaced Major Henry Freeman early in July. C Sqn performed well, dusting A Sqn at every opportunity. The Inter-Squadron Touch Rugby Tournament galvanised the Legion. ‘Touch’ must be used in the loosest possible sense, Lt Emanuel being on the receiving end of some questionable no-arms tackles, much to his complaint. Sgt Johnston led the charge, running training sessions in the week leading up to the tournament. C Sqn won every match by some distance. Capt ‘Sonny Bill’ Riall
and Lt ‘Ma’a Nonu’ Arulampalam linked up for some outrageous tries. The Sqn football team didn’t do too badly either.
CATT provided the Sqn and Regiment the opportunity to train its core role, albeit in a different manner. The shout of ‘pressel’ rang out frequently as someone left their radio on full-send. Sgt Aitken threatened to smash his X-Box controller more than once as his driver rolled his virtual vehicle yet again. Despite this, CATT allowed the Sqn valuable training time before switching focus to pre-deployment training for Op PSYMA. A very different challenge.
The Legion rolled straight from Sennelager to the Mission Rehearsal Training Centre (MRTC) in Bassingbourn for the Op PSYMA All Ranks Brief. This was followed by some much needed summer leave.
For the remainder of the year the Squadrons’ focus has been on Operations. The first week back after summer leave saw Ex CONVOY DRAGOON. The Squadron complete made its way up to Redford Barracks in Edinburgh to practice low level driving skills. Much to the dismay of Lt Doggart, a trip to Chez Jules was not on the cards. This led quickly onto a range package in Otterburn. Despite popular belief that Otterburn is a miserable place, the Legion were treated to two weeks of stunning weather. Northumberland lived up to its name as England’s greatest county.
Next was a return to MRTC for the Mission Rehearsal Exercise, the culmination of pre-deployment training. C Sqn had a hard act to follower, with B Sqn performing well on the first week. The Legion excelled, validating with flying colours. Pre-tour leave followed with November seeing the deployment of the Sqn in full on Op PSYMA. This has been an incredible deployment for all involved and a deserved opportunity for the Legion based on its hard work and success over the last couple of years. UTL!
21
Cpl Leonard ammo IC