Page 115 - RSDG Year of 2023

EAGLE AND CARBINE 113
THE SCOTTISH & NORTH IRISH YEOMANRY
Capt Will Baker RTR
The October 2022 to October 2023 period saw an unusual rebalance of activity & focus for the Scottish & North Irish Yeomanry. The continued void of a primary vehicle platform, whilst limiting mounted close combat manoeuvre activity, presented other opportunities & challenges. The winter period saw the Squadrons in Ayr, Belfast, Cupar Edinburgh heavily committed to their FIRMBASE & engagement responsibilities, providing a visual ‘face’ of the British Army in Scotland (BAiS) for Headquarters 51 (Infantry) Brigade & of course in Northern Ireland on behalf of Headquarters 38 (Irish) Brigade. The prevailing winds saw a tempo of Regimental eventing revolve around ceremonial & public engagement space, with added Sports & Adventurous Training events.
The revolving door that has seen our ‘Jackal’ primary recon- naissance platform leave, return, leave, means our contri- butions to international deployments have not just been five Officers & thirteen Soldiers, but also key equipment. The early end to Op NEWCOMBE 5 saw Cpl Hollyoak, B (North Irish Horse) Sqn, SNIY return from overseas service in Mali with The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards. Additionally, from E (Lothians & Border Yeomanry) Sqn SNIY; Maj Deeming deployed to Op TANGHAM, Somalia, Capt Politowski, Lts Tomkinson & Berrie deployed on Op CABRIT (Poland), with Lt Graham deploying to Poland on Op SCORPIUS. Other mobilisations included BATUK (Kenya) & Op TOSCA (Cyprus), the latter being in support of the lead Reserve unit, 71 Royal Engineer Regt.
The absence of mobility understandably imposed refocus & rebalanced. It has meant being creative with the Regtl forecast of events, but where one door closes, another
RHQ (Lovat Scouts Yeomanry) Squadron The re-animated identity for RHQ
opens. Training has taken a swerve onto dismounted recce activity, best Op LONDON BRIDGE (the passing of her Late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II), Op GOLDEN ORB (The Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III), Op SCEPTRE (The presentation of Scottish Honours to His Majesty King Charles III), Freedom of Ayr Parade. It is clear SNIY has become one of the primary Defence public engagement capabilities in Scotland.