Page 131 - QDG Volume 9 No. 5

1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards 129
SSgt Bob Comley
Bob Comley enlisted into the British Army in Sept 2001, at a
very young age of 16. Initaly attending phase One Training
in ATR Bassingbourn and then completing specific to
arms Training at Bovington. After a few failed attempts at
breaking into the Warrant Officers and Sergeants mess
for drinks, Tpr Comley found himself at Regimental Duty,
where he joined A Sqn in Catterick. Coming from Stoke
and with a love of football Bob fitted in quite seamlessly. It
was in his first few days of the Regiment where he got the
nickname Bob as a certain Sergeant at the time (He has
a rather large head) didn’t want to call him his school boy
nickname of Pubehead. When the Regiment deployed on
Op-TELIC 1 Bob was to young to deploy and thus stayed
in Catterick on ROG and was part of the advance party to
Osnabruck Germany.
In 2004 Bob would begin training to deploy to Northern
Ireland and after a full training cycle, he was then turned
around to deploy to Iraq on Op-TELIC 5. He was deployed
mainly as the troop Sergeants Driver. It is here where he
had been victim of a vicious prank to sell him to the local
Men on a Thursday night. With the successful completion
of Op-TELIC 5, Bob attempted an in house sniper cadre
and at this time was unsuccessful but he didn’t have to
wait long for success as 1.5 years later he completed the
Marine Sniper Cadre. On successful completion of a very
arduous Sniper course Bob deployed on Op-TELIC 8 this
time deploying as a sniper with 1LI (Now 5 Rifles) as part
of there Reece Troop. This was a very prestigious post and
one that was thoroughly enjoyed.
Upon completion of Op-TELIC 8 Bob completed the
JCCC PNCO Cadre and here was selected to promote to
LCpl. It wasn’t long then until Bob found himself back on
tour this time on Op-Herrick 9 as part of 1st Troop C Sqn as
the troop Sgts Operator and for periods of the tour vehicle
commander. Upon completion of the tour and after a few
months, Bob meet his future wife Hannah at a welcome
home party. There wasn’t much rest before during or after
this tour as LCpl Comley now promoted, attended and
completed Crew Commanders, coming second overall.
Cpl Comley then deploy on Op-Herrick 15 this time as part
of the BRF, and as a dedicated Sniper.
This tour was to be Bobs last in Afghanistan as shortly
returning from tour he welcomed his first daughter Poppy
and was subsequently selected to take an instructor post
at AFC Harrogate. On completion of this post Cpl Comley
deployed to Sierra Leone on a STTT with A Sqn. On return
Bob was promoted to Sgt and took over as SHQ Tp Sgt
B Sqn. His reign of terror on comms was put to valuable
practice on all major exercises conducted in his time both
home and abroad. As Covid kicked in, in March 2020 bob
was promoted to SSgt this time taking over A Sqn SQMS.
Here he successful deployed the Sqn to Cyprus and was
SQMS RLS at the British Army’s Covid task for Liverpool.
He was instrumental in the running of Pontins at this time.
Upon completion of SQMS SSgt Comley took up post
at the Staff Leadership School. Here he used all his back-
ground and skill set to successfully train over 2000 Army
trainers from LCpl to Col, ensuring they were all equipped
to take the future of the Army forward. Throughout his
career, Bob has represented the Regiment and Corps in
Football, Basket Ball and Cross Country. He will always
be remembered for his quick wit, humour in the face of
adverse conditions and always having an opinion. To
everyone he worked with, he always saw the positives and
took a personal intrest in developing all those around him.
A true mate in every shape and form and a regimental
character that will be deeply missed. For the future Bob is
now employed as a primary school teacher in Liverpool.
Married to his wife Hannah and with two daughters and
a son, we wish Bob and his family all the very best for the
future.
Captain Edward Dillon
Some men are born great, some have greatness thrust upon
backed up his friendly persona with professional competence.
them, and some go to Cirencester. Ed went to Cirencester.
He excelled on the Troop Leaders course and rightfully earned
The Army was Ed’s second career. his first was as a tree
himself a place in C Sqn for Op NEWCOMBE 2.
surgeon where, at 6ft5, he was named most valuable employee
Highly competent officer in the field he was also incredibly
(costs saved in Cherry Picker hire). Post surgery he focused
humble and always put his soldiers and the mission before any
on Academia at Cirencester, following in the footsteps of Ed
selfish pride. He had the difficult position of being the second
(H) and Ed (Ca). Ed visited the QDG for the first time on the
officer in a Troop for the first half of Mali. Fortunately for Ed he
infamous ‘Super Cider Sunday’ PO visit of 2019. Amongst Beers,
was Delta callsign to a quite frankly brilliant tactician, leader and
cigarettes and cricket Ed knew that he had found his home.
mentor Ed (C) who benevolently took Ed (D) under his wing.
Finishing Sandhurst amidst the start of Covid Ed and his intake
Two officers in a Troop is not always a sound combination
immediately went to Regimental Duty for 6 months. There he
but Ed’s humility, sense of humour and ruthless competence
earned a name for himself as a stalwart of the games room.
prevented arguments and created a Troop that had high morale
Whilst much of the mess felt that he had perfectly balanced
and an exceptional tactical reputation. Even if he did bore the
being present without being overbearing as a junior officer,
Battlegroup with his stock joke of ‘two Eds is better than one’.
subsequent evidence suggest that he may have just had
Ed took over from Ed as Troop Leader during Op NEWCOMBE.
enough drinks to go ‘non-verbal’. A well liked mess member Ed
He already knew all of the Troop’s personalities and capabilities