Page 11 - RSDG Year of 2023

This has been an extraordinary year in the Regiment’s history. We recovered from Op NEWCOMBE 5 in Mali having over-achieved on Defence’s requirement to redeploy the mission. We then completed an accelerated training build-up to a national validation exercise (Ex WESSEX STORM) and finished as “the best they had seen on the Plain this year”. That we were able to participate in the national mourning events for Her Majesty The Queen, the Coronation and then to have His Majesty The King confirmed as our new Colonel in Chief made it a truly remarkable year and a special edition of the Eagle and Carbine.
I know that you will enjoy reading this journal. It contains many of the timeless stories, characters and anecdotes and I have already alluded to the extraordinary level of activity this year. We have still managed to cram in some fun with sports teams going all over the world and the usual social calendar was followed; a vital part of the offer. This is much harder to achieve for three reasons. First, the tempo of activity in the Army is as high as I have seen it. Second, the Regiment is as small as we have been since the Napoleonic era at 383. Lastly, public funding for sports,
Adventurous Training and travel has been cut hard. This has meant that we have had to ask the Trust for more help and we are hugely grateful for the support that we have received from across the Regimental family. Thank you.
I commend the whole journal to you, but a few moments stand out. The remarkable achievement of moving £350m of kit back from Mali across Defence’s most exposed and fragile logistic chain. The three cheers given to The King and Queen in the garden on the Coronation. The extraor- dinary performance of the Battlegroup on Salisbury Plain. You might forgive a Commanding Officer a hint of hubris. Luckily, my driver, LCpl McGregor, was there to remind me that my cam net admin was “sh@te” and the QM billed me for losing my ancils. Cheques and balances.
You have a huge amount to be proud of. The Regiment’s reputation is high across Defence and we have HM The King as our Colonel in Chief. We are ready to face whatever the year brings; one thing is certain – it will not be like the last one.
EAGLE AND CARBINE 9
FOREWORD FROM
THE COMMANDING OFFICER
Lt Col B Parkyn