Page 96 - QDG Vol. 9 No. 2 CREST

94 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards
Valetes
Lieutenant Colonel Nick Fenton
Nick Fenton joined the Regiment in Wolfenbuttel in Aug 1987 and having prepared for the well known first question from the CO (Mike Boissard) ‘how many polo ponies are you going to buy?’, as an eventer replied ‘none’ and was posted to B Squadron.
These were the golden days of BAOR exercises across Germany, which Fenton enjoyed as both a scimitar and support Troop Leader, although starting an Easter Troop Training Nick was surprised to find an unamused CO by his vehicle which had been decorated with small east- er-egg fluffy chickens. The nickname Fluffy Chicken was a Goldsborough legacy that stuck and had, of course, nothing to do with his thinning golden locks. He quickly demonstrated a keen sense of judgement for priorities and people. Having an important party in Berlin with the Black Watch to attend and Troop Training dragging on for longer than anticipated, he delegated. Tpr, later Lt Col, Paul Corfield covered for as long as possible until faced with an ultimatum over the net from the Sqn Ldr, ‘where is Fenton?’. There was a pause. Then, ‘he’s gone to Berlin Sir’.
Sent to run the QDG Snow Queen ‘hut’ in Bavaria in 1989, he was one of the first in Germany to start snow- boarding, although it was sailing that proved his most lasting diversion from the tank park. He led a number of Exercise ‘Dozy’s Diamonds’ which involved arduous adventure training - sailing around the Baltic. His laid back skippering and proclivity for heading straight to Denmark and only overnighting at ports with a decent nightlife persuaded even the most reluctant troopers that sailing was good fun. It was on one of these exercises in August 1990 that the crews learnt that Kuwait had been invaded by Iraq. Regimental life was to change.
Nick was posted to A Squadron Support Troop to replace David Warner who, much to his irritation, had broken his leg playing rugby. The Troop did
what Boot Troops do and was almost always
in trouble with the Squadron leader, Hamish Macdonald. On one desert build up Exercise, Nick’s main task (according to his Troop) was to lean out of the turret and let CO2 gas out of the rapidly fermenting grape juice in two jerry cans. The subsequent hooch was used to lubricate the Squadron’s carol singing for the BBC, which fortunately was postponed at the last minute as most of the Squadron were drunk due to the strength of the brew. Once the Gulf War started, the Troop came into their own and were responsible for much of the destruction of ‘Objective Lead’ using M-Star in its early days to great finesse to allow Sqn HQ to call-in both MLRS and A-10 airstrikes.
The Troop did what Boot Troops do and was almost always in trouble with the Squadron leader
Marine officers made an assumption that as a cavalry officer he wouldn’t understand the jungle he was able to put them back in their box. When not on Exercise in Brunei, Norway or embarked on HMS Fearless he made the most of being in England by racing yachts at Cowes or two handed round Britain; hunting with three separate packs in Devon and getting married to Chris SB’s sister.
In 1998 Nick returned to regimental duty as A Sqn Leader and deployed to Kosovo in 1999. The Squadron put tanks to great use, including using them for arrest ops. Although having for one such op sent a warning order back to the Squadron telling them ‘to stop the party, we are deploying’ Nick was unamused to return and find the messages had never
Following conversion to Challenger back in
Germany and subsequent endless BATUS deployments (plus some excellent R&R), Nick went for SF Selection and to his credit twice got through the hills and jungle phases. This paid huge dividends when he was subsequently posted to 3 Commando Brigade as whenever Royal
got through, clearly the music was too loud. Fortunately the op was cancelled.
Having always dreamt of sailing round the world, Nick applied to skipper one of the yachts in the 2000/2001 BT Global Challenge, which the Army amazingly allowed him