Page 68 - The Light Dragoon 2024

The Regimental Journal of The Light Dragoons
The season starts off with grouse and this year was no different. Major Gubbins kicked us off with a day at Hilton in the bright sun scoring a bag of 115 brace across the guns. People clearly practising over the off season. The following weekend brought Lts Emmanuel and Ferguson into the butts; both for their first day on grouse. Walk one stand one means that you do end up walking the breadth of the Hilton Moor. A couple of well-placed/lucky shots brought back enough grouse for supper and nothing further shall be said about that day.
Now it is well known that Op INTERFLEX is a priority for the government and rightly so, but it has caused a bit of upset amongst the other MoD land users. The opening day of the Catterick shoot was sadly missed as training took place and the next
few days grouse also fell foul in similar circumstances. A vicious hangover after a properly good pre-deployment dinner claimed one unnamed (save the wrath of the trustees) subal- tern’s peg. September did see a
Field Sports
‘Northumberland McNab’ attempt. Lt Chrisp hosted the Officers’ Mess Inflatable Canoeing Club at Sturton. Over three days, lobsters, pigeons, and brown trout provided the evenings’ suppers.
October was nearly an empty month, however the Commanding Officer made an entrée into Feldom at the end of the month. A first of many days at Feldom this season and with good success despite challenging conditions. Another first; a first day. 2Lt Hamilton straight out of Bovington was politely asked to bring his plus fours as he would be taking the regimental gun at Catterick on his first Monday. I’m afraid it is all downhill from here. At the back of November, Lt Ferguson and Lt Hobbs (Gren Gds) couldn’t hit a barn door at Feldom and were about to go home empty handed when thankfully a brace of pheasant was taken on the last drive. November wasn’t completely about birds however. Ex Hind’s Demise took the Light Dragoons for three days stalking in Scotland and provided venison for a good few suppers. The last weekends before
Christmas put two subalterns on the pegs at Ed Legard’s Scargill. A truly mixed bag and Lt Greaves’ first foray into game shooting. Clearly he has a taste for it as he is leading the second stalking trip in February. Ties with the Scots Guards were strengthened as Tom Walker (SG) enjoyed the delights of Feldom before the Christmas break. The Christmas break could have been phenomenal, and someone should fine the Duty Field Officer for not having a valid shotgun licence.
Our season rounds off with a good double act from new promoted Capts Elkington and Griffiths at Feldom. The latter particu- larly happy with a brace of woodcock in freezing conditions. Not to be outdone, the mountain of pheasant goujons produced chez Elkington fed the selection hopefuls for all of about five minutes. An excellent season and I should hope that the military shoots around Catterick survive for years to come.
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