Page 103 - Light Dragoons 2022 CREST

instead playing host to the end of season party showing the remainder of the RAC how the LD do things.
Having been fully bedded into the regi- ment, Max finally set off for tactics in 2017 having gained enough shore-based experience before joining 4th Tp A Sqn for ROTO 1 of Op Cabrit in Poland. In our small four-man room the horizon- tal position was immediately assumed by him, while he remained firmly fixed to his phone or asking us what we thought of the ring he was designing.
Back to UK soil and he became A Sqn 2IC under the command of Ed Scrope and then Johnny Black for a good old Galloping Dragoon and Wessex Storm combo in 2018. This was followed by a quick stint as the plans officer before taking up the man- tle as Adjutant in 2019. Here he deployed to Mali for Op Newcombe, playing a key role in the planning of Operations in the HQ to cap off what had been a very event- ful and successful career in the military.
In the mess, Max remained a stalwart of traditions. In any mess game, wild night or cheeky sea shanty session, Max was
never far from the action. Max eventually decided to move out of the mess to join his wife, India, in the delights of the Baker Baker cottages, where he hosted many an LD night over his final couple of years.
Still as baby faced as he was when he joined the navy, Max decided to leave the army in 2021.. We wish him, India, Rex and No.2 all the best for the next chapter. We all look forward to seeing him at many Cav Mems, dinners and events to come.
JQ
Commissioned into the The Light Dragoons in Apr 2016 as Junior Under Officer, as a confirmed cadet Rishi proved that you could be both competent and play polo. Rishi started his Phase II at Bovington and quickly find-
ing himself at a loose end, he selflessly volunteered to complete the Platoon Commanders Battle Course in Brecon. Here his DS had to find ways not to give him the binoculars which was supposedly due to the fact he was too nice. Rishi con- tinued to excel on Tp Ldrs where he was awarded the binos in a combined course where he conducted a platoon attack on a supposed ambush after the OP week. Given the fact there were stretchers laid out to conduct a final casevac before endex, his section certainly appreciated the extra phys prior to the main event.
Rishi started at regimental duty in March 17 and joined C Sqn (The Legion). Early memories included being pranked by his
George Christie, commissioned into the Regiment in December 2016. On arrival he established himself as a man who always had a plan and to whom nothing happened by accident. He quickly grasped a firm understand-
ing of the intricate network of LD officers’
fellow troop leaders into conducting a Commanding Officer’s stables parade in blues, referring to the Jackals as horses and wheels as hooves. Ever trusting, Rishi kept it up until the CO eventually told him to go and get changed.
Rishi was fortunate in taking a Platoon from the LDs to support Op Toral in December 2017 under 2 YORKS, where he once again demonstrated his competent dismounted skills by obtaining a Commander British Forces Commendation for his sterling efforts. If this success was not enough for Rishi, he was also awarded the King Abdullah Medal upon his return. Within a year of being at the regiment, Rishi already had more medals than half of the senior captains in RHQ.
Rishi then started work in RHQ and took over plans, planning an “interesting” regimental exercise in Galloway Forest. Sticking to his guns that it was the best place to run a regimental exercise in the UK, it ended up more akin to an exercise in Belize or Brunei in the cold, much to the chagrin of the rest of the regiment. Rishi then became LO out in Op Newcombe and left two months prior to the Task Group arriving in Sept. Rishi once again fell on
Capt Christie
jobs, timelines, girlfriends, families and any other bit of information that could be of use to him in the future.
After a quick foray on Ex Wessex Storm, he headed out to Poland with B Sqn on Op Cabrit. Little did he know this would be the trip that would change his life for- ever. It is important to note at this stage that nothing happens to George Christie by accident. Every incident is part of a larger plan. None more so than when he volunteered to teach Tpr Elliot how to ride a horse along the beach in Poland.
his feet, living in a lovely apartment in Bamako, spending his weekend running with a bunch of expats, although he was confined to his apartment, working under- neath his desk during a coup.
Suave and used to things working out for him, Rishi taking his girlfriend out for lunch one day even trumped our local MP, Rishi Sunak, to a table in the Blue Lion. He couldn’t help but wonder why the staff were being so nice to him and asking about tax breaks for the hospitality sector. No cuff too tough!
Rishi will be sorely missed by the regi- ment; his positive outlook on life, obvious competence coupled with the ability to be utterly charming will no doubt serve him well on civvy street. Although offered a senior role within RHQ as the Ops Officer, Rishi thought there were better alterna- tives in the public sector and decided to become head of operations for a company based in Ashford (Kent)... makes com- plete sense. He will no doubt succeed in whatever he chooses to do and we wish him all the best for his future endeavours.
EE
For this journey he brought an unsuspect- ing Ed Elston. As the 3 LDs jumped into the car on a brisk morning ready for some good subordinate development, enter stage right, the attached Medical Officer who had caught young George’s eye. What would subsequently occur was Ed left to escort on foot a Tpr scared of horses, while George tried to cement his courtship with the innocent MO.
George gained a number of qualifications while in the Army. However, the one he seemed to use the most, was ‘Drying Room
The Regimental Journal of The Light Dragoons
Capt R. Ahluwalia
101