Page 48 - QDG Volume 9 No. 2 2021

46 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards
Regimental Christmas Day
This year’s Regimental Christmas Day was held on Tuesday 7th December, obviously. It was particularly important this year for the Rear Ops Group (ROG) to spend the day together as a family due to C Sqn and A Sqn’s operational commitments in Mali.
The day started off with Gunfire, the traditionalearlycallfromtheOfficersand Seniors of the ROG clambering through the accommodation blocks armed with copious amounts of coffee that may, or may not, have had a spirit or two added in for good measure. As B Sqn had their Sqn function the night before there was a lot of weary faces (and some that were suspiciously still happy) when they were woken by the dulcet tones of SSgt Comley and SSgt Davies 220 singing “Oh Come All Ye Faithful” at full volume.
The QMSI SSgt Ellis and his staff had prepared a Regimental potted sports competition with such activities as a three-legged sack race, egg and spoon race, and wheel barrow racing. These events were all hotly contested, with the top team each being award a certif-
icate by Maj
Mansel at the end
of the session. All this
was organised to help invig-
orate the troops and generate a healthy appetite before Christmas lunch.
SSgt Comley, in the RSM’s absence, then formed the Regiment up and marched them through Swanton Morley Village to the Village Church, giving an opportunity for the locals to see the style and panache of 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards. The locals were
lunch
was served
by the Officers
and Seniors in the traditional manner. This year
assured that, even though we were deployed, we are still very much a part of the community.
The local Vicar hosted the service in Swanton Morley Church. The songs were all sung loud and proud, which is a big a victory as could be asked for. It turns out not every Welshman grew up in a choir, sorry Zulu.
Regimental Christmas
It turns out not every Welshman grew up in a choir, sorry Zulu
went with out a single sprout thrown, although on clear up a lot of throw- able food was piled on the troops’ tables. The food and setup were a testament to the catering staff, headed up by Sgt Dunn.
After lunch the Tprs were hosted by the JNCOs in the Cpls’ Mess to allow the festive activities to continue. Meanwhile the remaining Officers on camp descended onto the WOs’ and Sgts’
A “light” gym session to kick things off
RJC
Sgt Maj Comley marches the Regiment to church
Mess in a break from tradition due to the Officers’ Mess being shut down. Both parties then engaged in humorous carols and, although not a competition, the WOs’ and Sgts’ Mess carol was much worse than the Officers’ Mess’s. The banter between both parties was taken on the chin and we look forward to the carols next year.
The evening then continued and inevi- tably the game of nails was started early, although it was never officially started by Sgt Trudgill, as he couldn’t hit a nail even after 50 attempts and was swiftly removed from the log. Overall a great day was had by all, and I hope you too had a very Merry Christmas.