Page 54 - 103RA 2018-20

103 Regiment Royal Artillery
Padre’s Ponderings
By Reverend M W Johnston CF
It has been 6 years since I first sat in the Commanding Officers Office very appre- hensive and a little bemused. I need not have worried as I was welcomed warmly and guided through the maze that is the ‘Military’ with grace and patience from the, then RCMO, Officers and all ranks in between. Although I had been around the military, in particular the Army, all my life with my Grandfather and my Dad involved, I was not ‘privy’ to the inner workings of a regiment or indeed the Army apart from ‘tails of war and friendship capers’ What was I to expect from 103RA Regiment? All was to be revealed.
Regimental Annual Deployment Exercises
Deploying with the Regiment is an event that I look forward to; I am able to see the Regiment work as a whole and spend time with them building relationships and ensuring from a Pastoral point everyone is being cared for. Here are some of my highlights.
the Regiment and were converting to Light Gun. So, I felt that I was not the only
one who did not know one end of a Light Gun to another. Off we flew and stopped in Ascension Island, what was to be a short couple of hours turned to an overnight stay; there are worse places, Ascension is beautiful and the chance to stretch out was appreciated. Then onward to Falkland Islands.
Once in the Falklands the daily walk to the ‘Gun Park’ was at a 45degree angle as the wind was strong. The 2 weeks were
filled with me learning about the Light Gun and getting to know the personnel of the Regiment, from Gunners to the senior Officers. Whilst on the Falklands we did a small battlefield tour which was my first experience and was very moving as we saw some small memorials that had been placed in places that British troops had fought. There was also a small remem- brance service at their cenotaph, again a first for me.
A great trip and ADE with memories that will last a lifetime and friendships forged.
The next year I had to complete my Alpha and Bravo and the least said the better. Completed both and was now offi- cially part of the British Army via the’ Royal Army Chaplains Department.’ Fun fact: The Chaplains are the only department in the British Army. However, I was able to deploy to Denmark for the middle week
of ADE that year and saw the Regiment deploy on the ground working with another allied force.
In 2018 the Regiment deployed to Otterburn, from the very first day I was remarkably busy with lots to do. From teaching on the promotions course to having a Sunday service with all the Regiment, I can honestly say it was
a memorable camp. The Sunday Church Service started out as a ‘normal’ service and it grew. The Band had been at an event the night before and were still on camp, so I had a full band for all songs and
My first experience of a
regimental camp was going
to the Falkland Islands. My
first difficulty was packing;
anyone who knows me knows
I do not do light packing. After
several attempts I eventually
packed for the 2 weeks we
were to be away. We departed
from RAF Brize Norton on
to what can only be described as a BIG plane! This was the same year that 210 Battery based in Wolverhampton, joined
I felt that I was not the only one who did not know one end of a Light Gun to another
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A great trip and ADE with memories that will last a lifetime and friendships forged