Page 11 - Bugle Spring 2023

SUMMITING MOUNT KENYA
Climbing Mt Kenya is a tradition most units passing through BATUK aim to achieve.
We set out for the third highest peak, Summit Point Lenana, at 4895m. Though not technical, the altitude is the main challenge of such an expedition. After a brief walk
to our first camp, the team was stunned. The tents were already set up, a mess tent housed pots of fresh coffee. It was a far cry from what we’d become used to after the previous weeks of exercise. Day two saw us heading for Lake Ellis. We took a short detour to some waterfalls for the first round of photos. We continued uphill and cleared the edge of the bandas (bamboo jungle) before reaching the lake. An excursion up Mugi Hill followed lunch. This allowed us to better acclimatise - walk high, sleep low.
On day three we climbed an arid trail into a rocky landscape. The camp sat in a deep scar, allowing us to descend to 3900m for the night. The day after we passed through
the snowline and entered a
sea of rock, punctuated by ice
and snow, before arriving at our
destination for the night, the
Austrian Hut. We set off on our
summit bid in the dark at 4am.
The temperature was roughly
-5˚C. We arrived on the summit
just as the sun burnt through the
clouds, giving us stunning views
and the perfect backdrop for the
obligatory celebratory summit photograph. Two days of gentle descent followed - back
past the snowline, through a region of bog, and into the bandas. We met our transport at the Met Office Station and thanked our team of porters. We returned to Nyati with a successful summit, and memories of good company and stunning scenery.
Lt James Beattie 3 Pl Comd
Cold, dark, and exposed. Challenging conditions for the novice mountaineers in the group, with sections of scrambling as we make our final approach to the summit
1 RIFLES
Op UNITY
The Commonwealth Games
The summer of 2022 saw Birmingham host the 2022 Commonwealth Games, a global event showcasing the best of sport and culture from across
the Commonwealth. It was feared
that civilian contractors would need assistance providing the security requirements for the games, as with OP OLYMPICS in 2012. The Bugle call indeed sounded and A Coy stepped up to answer it.
OP UNITY saw A Coy operate out of Bramcote CTC in Warwickshire. Bolstered by reservist colleagues, A Coy were Task Group South, part of the OP UNITY’s 700 pax Military Assistance to the Civilian Authorities. Trained on scanner operation and personnel search, 1Pl secured the Warwick Athletes Village, 2Pl and 3Pl the Ricoh Arena, and 4Pl Leamington Spa’s Victoria Park.
A Coy did not drop a catch. They secured the venue perimeters and managed the flow of personnel into the events. This kept the games running and ensured the attendees safety. Reliable, flexible, and efficient, the Rfn impressed the Games Organising Committee as well as both the international athletes and civilian fans who they interacted with daily.
Jumping at opportunities to be involved with what was a fantastic spectacle, when not on task, Rfn were regularly able to attend the world class sport and events on offer. Rfn attended the Opening and Closing ceremonies, the Rugby, Beach Volleyball, Cricket, Boxing, and Gymnastics, to name a few. Watch this space for a future Commonwealth Games Athlete to emerge!
Though busy and certainly testing,
A Coy had a great experience as part
of the Games Team. We were part of something special and had a real effect on the running of the events. The Rfn must be praised for the maturity and professionalism they showed throughout the Games. Well done team!
Capt Harry Bills
2IC A Coy.
RIFLES The Bugle 11
The team after successfully summiting