Page 15 - QDG 2023

in the air as spring turned to the most glorious early summer in recent memory. Indeed, too glorious as it would prove. A move to mounted ranges in Lulworth was preceded by an extended period of warm and dry weather. The effect was to reduce range time, much to the disdain of the 2IC whose excel sync matric was suddenly torn to shreds. Despite the fric- tions imposed, there were some benefits. The lesser spotted ‘white space’ suddenly appeared in the calendar and the Squad- ron’s soldiers managed to develop their sun tans and beach bodies ready for summer leave.
Amongst all this activity, a number of soldiers were selected to represent high levels in army sport. Sgt Stafford, our attached Engineer SNCO, departed to Boston (fortunately not the Lincolnshire variant) to partake in the Royal Engineers Squash tour. Meanwhile, LCpl Milton was selected to play Ice Hockey against the Royal Air Force.
By July, the Squadron had been run ragged. Fortunately, a welcome period of summer leave ensued. Upon our return in September, we said goodbye to Maj Duncan Wiggins as he departed A Squadron to pastures new. If I may be permitted to break from the flow of this article, I will take this opportunity to thank Duncan for his time at A Squadron. I am incredibly grateful for his leadership, astute management, and single-minded focus towards preparing the sub-unit throughout his tenure. I inherited a well-oiled machine that was completely prepared for its imminent deployment to Poland. Of the many success stories of the squadron throughout 2023, the vast majority are directly attrib-
utable to his command and presence.
Bringing ourselves back
onto the timeline, A Squadron
deployed on Ex SABER
JUNCTION in late-August
to shake out for the first
time as a formed body. Of
note, this exercise would
achieve validation for our deployment on CABRIT, for
the first time working along-
side our American partners.
Optimism abounded as all
looked forward to a well-re-
sourced and efficiently
run exercise, drawing on
the might of Uncle Sam’s
military machine. Perhaps, in
hindsight, our arrival showed
some signs of foreshad-
owing. As our coaches left
the blue skies of the Bavarian
lowlands and headed into
the Oberpfalz, grey clouds loomed. The jovial Swabian folk of our journey were soon replaced by depressed American soldiers, languishing in the late-summer
sun. The first glance of Hohenfels Camp quickly confirmed fears, as decrepit buildings entered sight and any and all
phone signal dissipated.
But our hosts were a cheerful bunch, in the way Americans are predisposed to be. Accepted with open arms, they quickly assim- ilated the command team into the planning process. This proved to be quite the shock of capture. Rehearsals were the item of the day, including rehearsals of the rehearsal for the rehearsal. Many iterations of the plan were proposed, briefed, then wholesale changed as the US team worked through their orders. The day of deployment itself saw a volte face, completely adapting a new plan. Understandably, this caused consternation at
all levels in our contingent. What followed, was, however, an immense demonstration of what a plucky recon- naissance squadron can do against an on-paper more superior force. Despite protestations from our US partners that
Without me my machinegun is useless
Please don’t tell my mum
reconnaissance must be by fire, we demonstrated that stealth still has a part to play on the battlefield. Frequently, A Squadron was the last element standing, our American compatriots having been destroyed in the early hours of the multiple battles against the opposing force.
Despite this success, the mortality rate of our courageous junior officers drew comparisons to that of the Western Front circa 1915. Lt Danny Seales affectionately
1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards
13
Lt Danny Seales affectionately became known as ‘Danny Dyer’ due to his proclivity towards driving through minefields