Page 16 - KRH Year of 2021 CREST

14 The Regimental Journal of The King’s Royal Hussars
C (11H) Squadron
No sooner has 2021 begun before the Senior Sqn was called upon to join the rest of the Regiment in supporting the vari- ous Government measures to tackle the impact of Coronavirus. Spared the dawn chorus of swabbing in Liverpool, C Sqn deployed initially to Kent and from there testing Hauliers the length and breadth of the land. Under the command of a brother Hussar from the QRH, Maj Jonny Nice, small bands of deter- mined JNCOs and Tprs were deployed and for once were able to operate independently under the auspices of Mission Command. The Sqn earnt praise for its efforts, with individuals such as Tpr Freeman earning a CO’s coins for his efforts, and Tpr Wood designing his own translation tools to convey key information to a variety of Eastern European truck drivers. The free burgers on offer culled any hope of a healthy start to the New Year though were taken up with enthusiasm to stave off the boredom, and so it was with mixed feelings that the Sqn handed over the tasking at Marston Airfield in Kent to the Army Reserve and to a civilian set up, and high tailed it back to Wiltshire.
February and March were dedicated to a series of low level dis- mounted exercises fought in parallel with the latest waves of lock- downs and restrictions. Ex JAGUAR SPHINX was an excellent shake out from the days of remote working and Covid testing, and to remind what basic soldiering was all about, though all eyes were firmly set on the post Easter prize of a return to mounted training on the panzers.
April welcomed in a number of new faces and bade farewell to some C Sqn stalwarts. Jonny Nice returned to the QRH to take up the role as Adjt, complete with his own framed Covid test to mark his time commanding a Sqn on operations, with Maj Nik Westlake-Toms returning fresh from a stint in Horse Guards and Op FORTH BRIDGE. Lt Alex Nichol moved up in the world to take over as A Sqn 2IC replaced by 2Lt Hugo Kendall, Lt
Firing at 2150hrs
Will Barrell stepping up to Recce Tp replaced by 2Lt Cameron Oldroyd, swiftly followed by SSgt Adam Simler as his new 2IC. SSgt Steve Sullivan arrived back from Bovington to take over as the SQMS, and SSgt Eddie McKay took over as SQMS(T) on a well deserved promotion. Taking its place as one of two Sabre Sqns within the 2:2 KRH BG the first event was a rare two week live fire period in the early Welsh summer, with the relative freedom to conduct gunnery training whilst the fleet was being run up by B & D Sqns. The Sqn has become well accustomed to dank win- ter range packages at Castlemartin, with short days full of Welsh mist and rain being the norm, so it was quite refreshing to find ourselves landing in Pembrokeshire in glorious sunshine in late May. This firing period termed a ‘reduced’ one due to the lack of SH/P rounds, and whilst the commanders and gunners felt short changed, the Sgt Maj and the various ammo bashing parties did not mourn its loss. Progression was rapid, with firing in daylight continuing until an apt time of 2150hrs, and this enabled the CO and 2IC to fly through to ACT complete in less than four days, with Cpl Williams not missing the opportunity to brief up the CO outside the trailer given half the chance. Not without incident,
Csqn without rifles