Page 76 - The Light Dragoon 2024

The Regimental Journal of The Light Dragoons
Viking Dragoon
When the phone rings and you see ‘Looseman’ aka Major Freeman is calling, it makes the tummy tingle. However, when he offers a trip to Norway and tasks you to look up the Telemark Battalion of the Norwegian Army. the tummy tingled tremendously. Named after one of WWII’s most daring raids, they got in trouble a decade ago for shouting “For Valhalla!” as they stormed Afghan compounds (somebody was stupid enough to video this and put it on YouTube). Apparently, it was ‘too aggressive’. Meow.
Undeterred, they kept their affinity for the Norse Gods and hosted an annual party, the ‘Viking Games’. Sorry, Defence Engagement Conference. And after four months spent working with the Light Dragoons on Operation INTERFLEX in Autumn 2023,
they invited us along to swing hammers, throw logs, sink pints and have some craic. The CO was buzzing. Sadly, the CO and RSM had to attend other pressing matters, leaving the task down to the next bunch of most Viking-like Light Dragoons; Lt Arulampalam, Cpl Newton, LCpl Butler, Tprs Fox, Betchley, Mcnally, and Weston. We flew to Riga and had ‘one of the all time great’ weeks, hosted by our Viking friends.
Day one. Three things. One, Telemark Battalion had a full fleet of vehicles. Two, their Sqn subs went towards beer fridges. Three, Telemark took the Viking Games very seriously. Major Ole Martin took us under his axe and provided a detailed report of the best pubs and bars in town ensuring his guests were as best prepped for the Games the following day.
Brunch, the first order of business. the Head of the Norwegian Army and DCOM VJTF in attendance; both worryingly inter- ested in Tpr Mcnally’s recent conquests on the destitute streets of Darlington. Then the games began.
Some say Light Dragoons are masters of nothing, average to good at every- thing? Think Capt Black on the flute, or Sgt Johnston at Phys. With no practice or training or knowledge of The Viking Games, the team were intermediately charmingly average at everything. First up was the hammer hold. A great shoulder burner, and nice warm up for the day. Stand out perfor- mances go to LCpl Butler and Cpl Newton.
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