Page 39 - Chronicle Vol 17

Physical Training on Dhekelia Beach
(Op HALIFAX). Our departure was marked by a parade through Chepstow in May, at which you kindly took the salute. The Battalion then moved during July and August, ahead of a planned return in Summer 2025.
The move went as well as can be expected, and we have already forgotten about the significant effort it took to move the 490 or so individuals and 150 families of 1 RIFLES. We arrived into a Mediterranean summer with temperatures of nearly 40C; but now we have acclimatised, the vast majority are enjoying a lifestyle which saw us start and finish the working day earlier, enabling Riflemen and families to enjoy the beach and everything else Cyprus has to offer. Whilst the temperatures have subsequently cooled off, we are not going to complain; 5 Nov bonfire night saw everyone in shorts and t-shirts; and apparently on Christmas day last year it reached 25C.
On taking over from our predecessors, 1 Royal Anglian, our initial task was to deliver Op TIMBERN, the security of strategic sites on the Sovereign Base Areas. This was achieved over the first six weeks of our tenure, following which we took on the role of the Regional Standby Battalion (RSB), designed to be deployable at short notice to react to any event in the Middle East region. The Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October has had a significant impact, and as the RSB, 1 RIFLES has felt right at the forefront of what is going on here. Whilst small numbers have provided support, not least to the Joint Force Headquarters who deployed to Cyprus, the majority sit ready to act as a reserve for the various contingency plans, including to support the Republic of Cyprus plan to host multiple nations evacuate their citizens through the island, if required. Being at high readiness is
38