Page 12 - 103RA 2018-20

103 Regiment Royal Artillery
209th (The Manchester Artillery) Battery Royal Artillery
Foreword
Maj D M Braddock RA
Having been tasked with bringing this journal together as the Regi- mental Projects Officer I was also asked to step back in as caretaker BC into my old command at 209 Battery after the previous BC left. I didn’t need time to think about the request from the CO and jumped back at the chance to work with some quality individuals until a suitable replacement can be found.
There have been a few changes since leaving in spring 2019, firstly, WO1 (RSM) Fetigan has joined us as the new PSAO, having just left the regiment as the RSM he is best placed to understand how both the Bty and Regt work. His willingness to commit has shone through and he is bringing the Battery into good order and ensuring everything is in place for our reservists to carry out their roles. Secondly, SSgt Harrison again not a stranger to the Regiment as he left his post of RQMS (M) to become FTRS Tech SSgt and what a difference he has made. On leaving we had garages/stores of equipment dating back to the early 70’s and no use to our modern way of working but now we hold what we need to and nothing more.
We are working hard to recruit and have a steady number waiting to become either soldiers or officers and with the inclusion of RHQ Troop into the Bty has increased our numbers. COVID has affected our we do our training but with how and other platforms we have managed to ensure that our soldiers are current in all areas. The previous BC supported Op RESCRIPT during the first lockdown and while writing this we have Lt Benson continuing the support having been mobilised again with Op RESCRIPT.
During my previous time with the Bty we had started the process of gaining ‘Freedom of the City’ with Manchester and I can say that honour has been bestowed upon us and we await a date in 2021 to parade proudly through the City of Manchester.
By Lt T Benson RA
April 2018 saw the return of 2 young officers from commissioning course short 181 at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. This was a result of a period of significant targeted recruiting for Junior Officers and saw a huge increase in numbers, not just at 209 Bty but across the Rregiment. 209 now had 4 x Second Lieutenants on the ORBAT – the Battery Commander at the time hardly knew what to do with them all! A Battery, even a reserve
formation, would typically consist of 2 Troops at strength, or more. Given 209 had been operating at single troop strength and the influx of Junior Officers, it is no surprise that the Chain of Command capi- talised on the luxury of spreading them out across the Battery, giving them the opportunity to see battery life from all angles and in slower time than would usually be afforded.
Meanwhile, the soldiers at 209 were watching keenly from the side-lines, eager to see what their new Troop Commanders would be like and how much ‘education’ they still needed... An Ex ANVIL (dry/ recce-manoeuvre training) and an Ex STRIKE (arty live firing) were approaching in the forecast of events and the usual busy periods of preparation were undertaken
with keen interest from the young officers who were still pre-phase 2 / special to arm training and had a lot to learn. Huge amounts of experience in the form of Level 3 and 4 Detachment Commanders guided new personnel to better understanding of the workings of the Gun Group and set those involved in good stead to observe their first recce and live firing exercises.
In 2018, the overall balance of junior and senior soldier ranks was generally erring on being top heavy – 209 had a lot of Sergeants and Staff Sergeants but relatively few Gunners and Lance bombardiers. Further, a lot of those senior ranks occupied PIDs not directly relating to gunnery – MT, G4, etc. This meant that pressure, but also opportunity, was afforded to those at Gnr and LBdr rank. As such, by ADE of 2018, Lance Bombardiers and Bombardiers who were relatively new in rank and post-qualifica- tion, were given the opportunity to work a level up, under the supervision of more experienced personnel – both in helping to deliver courses in the first week and during live firing the second week. For Gnrs and newly promoted LBdrs, this meant learning the Cover Number role
10
209 had a lot of Sergeants and Staff Sergeants but relatively few Gunners and Lance bombardiers