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4th Regiment Royal Artillery
Saluting the Battery Flag on ANZAC day
both performed competitively, with the CP team led by the RSO winning both “Best CP Detachment” and “Best Detachment Overall”. Huge congratulations go to Sgt Fourie, LBdr Pattinson, Gnr Ridley, Gnr Bonnet and Gnr Griffiths on this excep- tional performance.
The A1 and A2 Echelons of the Quarter- master and Quartermaster Technical Departments have been just as busy sup- porting every exercise and deploying in full force on both Ex SD 22 and 23. The catering department has been work- ing incredibly hard with chefs constantly being trawled for activities in support of wider Army activities. Despite this hin- drance. they managed a podium finish in the Improvised Catering Challenge cat- egory at Ex ARMY SUSTAINER and on the Vegan Street Food challenge on Ex RHINO CATERER. The AGC (SPS) Detachment have also seen a significant cut in their workforce levels and whilst maintaining outputs they have still managed to make the most of the AT on offer and completed a charity cycle ride along Hadrian’s Wall.
Somehow in this extremely busy 24 months the Bty has managed to find some time for Sports and Adventure Training. In
94 Battery soldiers canoeing the river Ure on Ex WALKATO RANGIRIRI
94 Battery’s Winning Team in the 2023 ‘Best Det’ Competition
May last year the Bty deployed to Scot- land to conduct a multi-activity Adventure training package. Led by Cpl (now Sgt) Stewart, the highlights of the week were undoubtedly the bike rides and climbing the eponymous Cairngorm, the highest Munro in the Cairngorms National Park. Many of of the members of the Bty have also been competitive in sports over the last two years including: LBdr Keating (RA Football) Gunner Virimi (Army Rugby), Capt O’Connor (RA Alpine Skiing), Bdr Hodgson and Capt Barnes (RA Golf) and Gnr Griffiths and LBdr Jones (RA Boxing).
Our Bty heritage remains as important as ever to all members of the Bty and the last two years has seen several celebrations and initiatives to continue our links with the ANZAC Forces. On 20-21 Nov 2021 the Bty deployed on Ex WALKATO RAN- GIRIRI: over two days (as was the battle) 24 members of the Bty canoed from Ripon to Boroughbridge along the River Ure. On 6 Feb this year the Bty was also invited to visit the New Zealand High Commission in London and commemorate Waitangi Day – the National Day of New Zealand which commemorates the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi and the founding of modern-day state of New Zealand.
ANZAC Day is a poignant moment for the Bty each year and is always celebrated with a dawn service held under the Bty flagpole. On 25 February 2023, the Bty was lucky enough to have LBdr Purcell from the New Zealand Army with us on an exchange programme; during the ser-
vice he laid a wreath on behalf of the Bty. Exercise LONG LOOK is the Exchange Programme which saw LBdr Purcell work- ing with the Regiment for 3 months. In exchange Bdr Todd is currently in New Zealand and LCpl Bayles is currently in Australia.
At time of writing, the Bty JFC is deployed on the second NATO Exercise of the year: Ex ARCADE LEDGER, a multi-national CP exercise which will test 7LMBCT HQ readiness and demonstrate our enduring commitment to NATO in Europe. Looking ahead, the Bty is about to begin prepa- rations to assume the role of UKSB once again; this time 94 Bty will be providing the Battalion HQ. 2024 is set to be as high tempo as the last two years as the Regi- ment prepares to take over VJTF(L). The Bty will continue to support the wider Regiment as well as deploy to train with 7LMBCT and our NATO Allies on both the Special to Arm and Combined Arms Exer- cises. 94 Bty will continue to be ready to deploy in the defence of our nation’s inter- ests ensuring we are ready to #FIGHT- ANDWIN.
Memorials to NZ forces in London visited by soldiers of 94 Battery on the invitation of the NZ High Commission in London
94 Battery soldiers demonstrating UK capabilities to our NATO partners on Ex ARRACADE LEDGER
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