Page 39 - The Cormorant Issue 14

Land Dinner
By Lt Col Marcus Elmhirst SG
In February, the Land Dinner was held under the mantle of ‘The Slim Dinner’. This celebrated Field Marshal Lord Slim, the Burma campaign and the 14th Army. As a concept and a theme, it was especially well-chosen for the Army contribution to social life on ACSC 14. The other Services have natural, all encompassing themes for those within them: the Navy have Trafalgar night; the Fleet Air Arm has Taranto night; the Royal Marines have their Commando dinner and the Royal Air Force has the Dambusters dinner. So what unites forty eight regiments and corps (and one department!)? Many things in truth, but leadership stands out and among British Army leaders, so Slim stands out.
The evening opened with the customary drinks in the forum, this time decked out as if for jungle warfare complete with thatched huts and bamboo bridges although thankfully not 100% humid- ity! Ghurkha Company Sittang from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst gave an excellent display of their traditional kukri demonstration, an eye-opener for many of the international stu- dents who had heard tales of the fearless Nepalese warriors but never seen them. Less warlike but more graceful were the tra-
The Gurkha kukri demonstration
A veteran with the Commandant and Commander-in-Chief Land
ditional Thai dancers who added elegance to the reception with their repertoire.
The supper itself was excellent as usual, the key differences being the events and entertainment. Members of the Course, adding to the ambience and enhancing the understanding of all present of the ‘Forgotten Army’, declaimed recollections and narratives from the campaign. The 14th Army were certainly well-remembered that evening, especially the veterans who were invited from the Burma Star Association. The Commander-in- Chief Land Forces, Lieutenant General Sir Nick Parker, gave the address, fresh from his tour of duty in Afghanistan as the Dep- uty-Commander of the International Stabilisation and Assistance Force. He urged the audience to remember Slim’s boldness, to learn lessons and constantly seek improvement.
The Band provided some entertainment during supper although not as much as they did after supper when some officers were so moved by their pride in their regiments and corps that they jumped onto the chairs at the first notes of their regimental marches. Indeed the intoxicating mood of the music moved some to the tables and still others to dance a little jig!
The evening set an enlightened tone of solidarity for soldiers of all regiments and corps with a mix of humour and reverence, jol- lity of mind and seriousness of purpose. Badges and uniforms may highlight the individual parts of the British Army but we are united by our respect for those who came before us and our determination to do right by those who will follow us. There is no better example of this ethos than Field Marshal Slim and our celebration of his greatest ever achievement was an excellent advertisement to the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and the militar- ies of all nations represented about the best of the British Army.
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