Page 50 - RSDG Year of 2022 CREST

48 EAGLE AND CARBINE
until the depths of winter and indeed into early-2024
with their well-earned post-operation tour leave.
May saw the start of the Jubilee celebrations with the Jubilee dinner night held in the Officers’ Mess. A chance to celebrate the long reign of our Colonel- in-Chief. The usual formal dinner with a set from the pipes and drums followed by drinks in the Ante Room, gave all a time to reflect how Her Majesty Queen Elizbeth II had served this fine regiment during her time as sovereign. The Regiment had a Jubilee BBQ held on the 1st June to finish off the celebrations with all the Regimental families in attendance to celebrate the event.
June brought with it the start of Mission Specific Training for BGHQ and A Squadron, so mess life was more subdued, but all were looking forward to time in the sun over the winter period. With Op NEWCOMBE ROTO 5 beginning their training packing with Ex WESSEX EAGLE 2, it was a chance for the task group to get acquainted before the Mission Rehearsal Exercise that would take place in September. We said goodbye to Maj Adam Champion as PMC and Capt Tam McCann took over the reins as stand in PMC for the upcoming deployment.
The summer ball was all set and organised for late August with Capt Lambert heading up the planning team. The theme was “Acceptable in the 80s” so there were some great costumes on show. Captains Peppiatt and Gale made the best entrance of the evening in a homemade F-14 Tomcat in their flight suits before they donned their US Navy whites. There were a few familiar faces who returned from ERE for the event so attendance was high, bar B Squadron who were deployed in Mali, with everyone having great food and dancing the night away to some 80s classics, although the dancing was far from classic at that point.
In September, BGHQ and A Sqn departed for STANTA to conduct the last of their training before heading to Mali. This also marked the tragic loss of our Colonel-in-Chief as Op UNICORN was called. Those left behind from the MRX jumped into action and started making the preparations required to ensure the Regiment was prepared for the state funeral. Captains MacFarlane and Maclachlan and The Pipes & Drums deployed to London to be part of the preparations and state funeral. They all did the Regiment proud and gave the late Queen the send-off she deserved. The regiment then welcomed Lt Col Ben Parkyn as the new Commanding Officer who took over from Lt Col Graeme Craig who all members would like to wish all the best for his new employment at 51X.
Officers Mess – Two high quality wingmen
With those on the MRX finally returning to Leuchars, Balaklava was next on the cards. The annual event is one of the best mess nights with the regimental Warrant Officers. This year was toned down slightly as injury would be the last thing needed before an operational deployment.
With all those departed for a tan in Mali, the Mess held its final shindig of the year with the Station Christmas Ball. Although there were very few officers in station, a few did attend and had a good evening prior to the well-earned Christmas leave period.
All this would not have been possible without the endless support from the staff and the Mess Sergeant Major Sgt Warren. We owe them a great deal of thanks for all they do to assist us throughout the year.
As we have every year, there is always a number of departures for pastures new, those who move on to new jobs and those who decide to depart for a different way of life, I am sure that I speak for all mess members in wishing everyone who has left the mess, either for now or on a more permanent basis, all the best in everything they do.