Page 117 - Rifles 2017 Issue No 3

D Coy Battle eld Tour
At the start of summer 2017, D Company decided that the best way to exercise all 3 components of ghting power in preparation for relieving A Company on OP CABRIT was to take the Dogs back to known ground: Sennelager. The arduous testing theatre that is the CATT(G) warehouse rst tested the physical component (and occasionally enhanced the moral component in Paderborn town centre!). The focus then switched to the conceptual component on a battle eld tour of various WWII sites. Fortunately, battle eld tours also lend themselves to catching up on a small amount of the moral component as well.
The theme of the study was locations where the ground and situation matched or was similar to that which we anticipated facing on OP CABRIT. With this in mind, our focus was on FIWAF, armour and defensive principles. After careful considera- tions from our tour guides the Ibbenburen Ridge, Germany, and Bastogne in Belgium were selected.
The rst tour was led by Capt (Ret’d) Andrew Moorehouse, who had previous experience of the Dogs from a tour of the Somme in November 2015. At the Ibbenburen Ridge Andy showed us how to employ an effective obstacle crossing over the Dortmund-Elms Canal, how a Battalion can effec- tively delay a Division with effective use of forested areas and high ground, the importance of mission command and the “section commander’s battle” in complex terrain, and the dif culties with radio communications in forested areas. We learned how the 3rd Monmouths struggled as the spearhead of 11th Armoured Division against the deployed element of the German Of cers School, one of the last units left in reserve for the enemy, and how the allies were helped to victory by the exploits of Section Commanders like Ted Chapman VC.
The second day of the tour was then based around Bastogne where we focused on the grand
defensive efforts of
the US 101st Airborne
Division around the
key strategic junction
in the Ardennes. We
were gracefully hosted
in Elsenborn Camp
about an hour outside
of Bastogne, and the
tour would not have been
possible without this. To gain
some background knowledge
to the area the Dogs rst took
a visit to the new 101st Airborne
Museum in the town centre which
was an interactive and informative way to
set the scene. Our guide for the day, Commandant Jonny Bona from the Belgian Army, kindly took us to Easy Company’s defensive positions and other locations in the perimeter where the enemy had used armoured thrusts unsuccessfully in attempts to break the line. Of course, the Band of Brothers series had to be watched en route to the battle ground!
To end the trip on a note of remembrance we stopped at a CWGC cemetery in the area of Ypres where Lt Bishop’s great-great-grandfather is buried after he fell during his service in WW1. It was a chance for D Coy to remember those fallen before us and what they gave for our tomorrow. All in all, the tour provided a great opportunity for Rfn to look at relevant historical examples of warfare, and remember the sacri ces made by earlier gener- ations. On behalf of D Company I would also like to thank all those who assisted in the planning and preparation of the tour. It was thoroughly enjoyed by every Dog in the kennel.
Lt Rich Smart, OC 13 D Company
OF COURSE, THE BAND OF BROTHERS SERIES
HAD TO BE WATCHED EN ROUTE TO THE BATTLE GROUND!
THE RIFLES
FIFTH BATTALION 115
The Dogs at an Allied command post in Bastogne