Page 14 - QDG Volume 9 No. 5

12 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards
B Squadron
It is my enduring pride and privilege to have led the Best
squadron in the QDG – I could not have asked for a Better
team of leaders and soldiers. This year has been defined by the
soldiers of B Squadron, their stories, their antics, their skills, their
adventures, but most of all, their steadfast commitment to excel-
lent soldiering. We shall all dine on the stories from these heady
times and they’re worthy of some form of epic. Hence, in lieu of
prose, this year I offer this distinctly far-from-Homer like rhyme
that may pay some small justice to the extraordinary wealth and
reach of B Squadron’s activities this year.
Oh, B Squadron, Bold with the Big Blue Square,
Masters of Banter, grit, and flair.
For 2024, we toiled with all our might,
Facing down Russia, the herald of blight.
On NATO’s frontiers, we stood as the line,
Defenders of freedom, democracy’s spine.
At Warcop we thundered, grenades to throw,
Allen tried catching one – what a show!
To Lulworth with Jackals, their ballast too great,
Fighting fires in the gorse was our fiery fate.
Taskforce Panther called us to fight,
Missy’s farewell left Capt Walsh light.
In Poland’s warm fields, the Jackals did roam,
Taking over from A Sqn’s winter, yet we made it feel home.
To Finland we ventured, where Apaches took flight,
With Walsh and Casey leading through the frosty white night.
They crossed the Baltic on a truckers ferry,
Through to fight in forests of Leopards and saunas so merry.
In Lithuania, Johnson and Whiteing roamed,
A storm spun their compass far from home.
Whilst compatriots enjoyed Gdansk, they marched on track,
Returning innocently, plentiful tracer rounds on their back…
Through Orthrus on table-top maps, we faced Iskander’s might,
Though our grand designs gave no one delight.
Camino’s buildings we stormed with pride,
With drones buzzing above and Clark as our guide.
Red Tiff declared each vehicle VOR in his glare,
Britten had to drive to Latvia, in her SVR ready to tow,
Then doubled back to Poland and fetch Gatfield to collect his
SVR in woe!
Spooner tamed Sharpshooters, their tempers unkind,
Whilst Cpl John was recognised for keeping Finland’s Jackals in line.
Harman’s gunnery crowned him the best,
While Wright on recce outshone the rest.
At Waterloo’s dinner, Donnie shone bright,
Uniting us all in camaraderie that night.
Eyles broke ribs while taming the sea,
Horseback patrols added more to our spree.
Casey, remarkably calm, spared a US foe,
The luckless Private didn’t know how close he’d go.
Back home in Poland, Logan gained a US fan,
While Fulloway, Johnson, and Thomas led the plan;
In Latvia’s fields, Paladin Strike took flight,
Blazing through darkness with unyielding might.
Sniper Brown’s aim, though sharp, fell shy,
In sniper halls, his fame won’t lie.
Thomas & Logan ran bold on Daugava’s bright sun,
In Lithuania’s woods, the Czech Gun Run was won.
The Romanian Gepards strafed wide with jest,
Even the Coffee Shop couldn’t escape their best.
Another Clark joined, his navigation askew,
Foster and Foster kept explosions in view.
Javelins and Engineer, a force to regret,
As Poland’s green fields bore their fiery duet.
Duthie-Thomas and Clark braved Pitka’s harsh test,
Fought fiercely, though fate denied their best.
The RMP, yet again, their antics grew bold,
A discipline issue, their story oft-told.
From Poland to Calais, we ran with pride,
Rowed the Channel’s breadth, a virtual tide.
We cycled to Cardiff, our homeland’s embrace,
Welsh dragons and eagles, our strength and grace.
The Norwegian Foot March and Tiger Run, REME John as hard
as nails,
While the Colour Run brought light-hearted trails.
Through grit and fun, our strength was renowned,
Beating all challengers, our glory unbound.
Against Warsaw’s heat, our SSM stood tall,
Unfazed by his battering from a Vistula algae brawl.
Chez brought us home, bagpipes in the air,
Though our antlers remain in the RAF’s care.
So here’s to the Squadron, of balance and jest,
To the banter, the bemoans, the bravest, the best.
Through laughter and trials, this year we have shown,
No matter the task, B Squadron’s our home.
Like any good odyssey, the story won’t end here. The journey
will go on; we’ve unfinished business in Eastern Europe and
I can’t think of a better team of soldiers to take on that job.
However, my tenure as Custodian of B Squadron is over and I
move on. It remains then only to end with one final thank you to
all of those of B Squadron and my parting note:
“Like Eagles First and Foremost, tireless in flight, we hold
course through storm and night; as warriors we will offer sword
and bear the shield: Death or Glory! We will never yield.”
AJP