Page 101 - Light Dragoons 2022 CREST

In the story of the Light Dragoons since December 1992, there are few who have served the Regiment with such distinc- tion as Adam Bartholomew or “Barty” as he is known to all ranks. Moreover, he has almost certainly spent more time at regimental duty than anyone else in that period, especially as he had never served at ERE until well after he had earned his Late Entry Commission.
Barty joined the 13th/18th Hussars in 1982 with C Squadron in Cyprus, heading down a different path to his brother who joined the Coldstream Guards. Even at this early stage, he proved to be a solid and depend- able (if never quite as fast over the ground as he would have liked) member of the Rugby Team, playing as a flanker. This was the start of a long and distinguished involvement with rugby, both for the Regiment and the Royal Armoured Corps, in the main as a player and more recently as coach and manager. He also proved to be a very fetching, and surprisingly agile, swan, complete with white tutu, for a per- formance of Swan Lake.
Returning from Herford to Tidworth in 1986, he went to D Squadron bringing his expertise and knowledge of Guided Weapons to the AMF(L). It was also in Tidworth that he demonstrated his consid- erable resourcefulness in the construction of the stage for the Regimental Pantomime.
In 1991, and by this time a fully-fledged and experienced troop sergeant, Barty returned to C Squadron when the Regiment moved to Wolfenbüttel. The author can vouch for his excellence as a troop sergeant, tactically and administratively. Indeed, his ability to find an impenetrable hide for four CVR(T) was unmatched, and he was always annoy- ingly well organised in the field.
His administration was tested in an entirely different way when he took over as the Officers’ Mess Sergeant Major in Schloss Bredebeck. The inability of numerous young officers to find ways of hanging their clothes in the wardrobe tested his patience, but he guided and mentored, encouraged and gripped in equal measure, resulting in the Mess being a fun and brilliantly organ- ised place to live.
Appointments as RSWO, C Squadron Sergeant Major (in partnership with Charles Whitaker) and then RQMS pre- ceded his inevitable promotion to WO1 and selection as Regimental Sergeant Major in early 2001. The epitome of the
‘senior soldier’, he was authoritative with- out being overbearing, and set a first-class example to all. Occasionally his eye for an opportunity allowed him to break away from the confines of the RSM’s role. Most obviously he exercised this initiative in the summer of 2001 during the Regiment’s deployment to BATUS as OPFOR; it was remarkable how often he appeared to be one of the last callsigns alive in each mis- sion, and still making mischief with the enemy.
With his Late Entry Commission secured, in the summer of 2003, he found himself commanding a troop from A Squadron in the British Office in Baghdad, having taken over from an assorted motley crew of paratroopers and others. Thereafter he did a decent stint as the Welfare Officer before sharpening his pencil as the Career Management Officer in RHQ, during which time his deep care and attention for the careers of soldiers of all ranks came to the fore.
And then an opportunity arose to allow him to break the confines of the RCMO’s office with his appointment to lead the Regiment’s Liaison Team with the Jordanian Armed Forces contingent on Op Herrick 6 in 2007. Assisted by Lt Matt Blakiston and WO2 Greg Cathrae, he forged a superb relationship with the Jordanians, allowing them to become valu- able members of Task Force Helmand. He also managed to deploy with the bat- tlegroup as a LO on Op Chakush, and was called upon to use his outstanding leader- ship and soldiering ability during a very demanding few weeks in the Green Zone of the Helmand River valley.
There then followed a lengthy spell as Quartermaster before in 2010, Barty headed off for his first experience at ERE, thus ending an unbroken period of 28 years at RD. Not one for the staff grind at home, he and Helen headed off to the sunshine of Cyprus for two years; the work was not necessarily hugely taxing, but there was plenty of enjoyment to be had. All good things come to an end however, and Bovington came calling. For that well known Signals trained officer, it was there- fore slightly curious that he found him- self as the Senior Instructor in the D&M School, a post he filled until 2015 when he returned to RD as OC HQ Squadron. However, he was denied a full tour as he deservedly caught the selector’s eye for promotion one more time – the ninth of his career – and headed off to Upavon and
HQ ARTD as a Lieutenant Colonel for his final job.
This story of his career does not make mention of his affection for Ipswich Town Football Club, his willingness to don a toga for a party or the curious incident of the filling of the Sergeants’ Mess swim- ming pool with water in Mrkonijc Grad Bus Depot in Bosnia which resulted in the whole squadron going without showers for a week. Moreover, the numerous ‘jollies’ that he went on – Kenya and India to name just two – are testament to him being an outstanding team member. And of course, Barty’s canine companions have been a constant, from Roscoe the golden retriever chasing track pins across the vehicle park resulting in him having no teeth, to Ice the husky towing his owner around camp.
Finally it would not be appropriate to recount Barty’s time in the Regiment and the Army without saying what wonder- ful support he has received from Helen throughout their brilliant marriage. They met in Herford when she was the newest member of staff in the NAAFI, and the bar was being propped up by a certain Trooper Bartholomew. Together they have played a huge role in the regimental family, and we wish both of them, and Jake and Zoe, the very best wishes for all that lies ahead. And many of us give thanks for the privi- lege of having served alongside Barty – sol- dier, officer, gentleman, and friend.
HW
The Regimental Journal of The Light Dragoons
Valete
Lt Col A. Bartholomew
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