Page 20 - KRH Year of 2021 CREST

18 The Regimental Journal of The King’s Royal Hussars
A (xHx) Squadron
The arrival of the New Year saw A Squadron’s sustained com- mitment to OP ROSE continue in earnest. Based in the Kentish Riviera, the men and women of the xHx swabbed day in, day out. There was not a Balkan region, nor steppe township in Eastern Europe, that did not have one of its beloved HGV drivers lovingly probed up the nose by a fair 20th Hussar.
Attempting to achieve a semblance of normality during the early 2021 lockdowns, A Sqn returned to the military curriculum with vigour and panache. BCS and LFTT were memorable highlights; the latter including Trooper Nuamah’s unofficial stag do where his (self-appointed) Best Man WO2 Calland brought together the finest Ghanaian wedding traditions and BCS training objectives in a vibrant union on Salisbury Plain, the memory of which shall not be quickly forgotten.
The spring showers of April heralded the inevitable churn of Regimental personalities. Major McNeil, after almost 2 years at the helm of A Squadron, received his marching orders for the nefarious hardships of Putney. Under his sage command the squadron had achieved a great deal, ranging from a full tour of Estonia on OP CABRIT to the less glamorous but no less vital UK operations of Op ROSE and Op RESCRIPT. His departure was closely followed by Captain Turner, who despite his best efforts to get a posting to the Polish embassy in West London, found he could get no closer to the capital than Regimental HQ. And whilst the Top Corridor was not quite the bouji café life of Ealing, it has provided a suitable safe space for the new ‘Intelligent’ Officer.
The new regime eased itself onto the throne without any friction, seamlessly establishing themselves at the controls and ready to take on the busy schedule which they had inherited. It was clear from day one that all roads lead to IRON STORM, and so fresh- faced Major Lambert with (the slightly less fresh faced) Lt Nichol in close support prepared for seven months of flitting between the Stackpole pub and crossing site three.
First stop for the Squadron was live firing in CMR. In the finest Pembroke tradition, A Squadron worked hard and played ever so slightly harder. Herculean efforts during the day from WO2 Calland and the Sqn Gunnery Instructor Cpl Brown gave plenty of scope for the letting down of proverbial hair in the evening. This culminated during a long weekend (curtesy of several mys- terious non-firing days) dosed in unprecedented Welsh sunshine.
SHQ, naively, believed that the boys would ‘take it easy’ after a long week of ammo bashing and take an opportunity to relax in the Pembroke sun. The boys and girls had other ideas. With access to the local pubs limited by COVID capacity numbers, Merrion Camp developed its own infamous “strip.” Squadron bars popped up with surprising speed, and the grassy lawns became impromptu beer gardens with echelon personnel flogging their wholesale wares like East London market traders. Neon signs and promises of competitively priced Strongbow drew in LSA laden customers, eager to forget their misdemeanours and resulting range guard duties. HQ SQMS even built a pop-up chicken shop – feeding the gaping mouths of inebriated troopers with fried poultry late into the night.
After a weekend akin to the penultimate days of Rome the Squadron was assembled for a Troop Leader enforced quiz. To their horror, the officers and SSM were greeted not by a body of disciplined men, but something out of a Tolkein-esque night- mare. Over the hill came the baying orcs of Merrion, geared up on Koppaberg and amber leaf. Through the vape clouds they descended like a tracksuit clad swarm, ‘yee-haring’ as they assaulted the old Officers’ Mess. LCpl Swain, on his 21st birthday had decided to ‘give the people what they want’ and sported a rather fetching paisley dress that would have made Mrs Robinson blush. Fortunately, the squadron was on charming, best behav- iour, despite SSgt Gillon’s attempts with his magical black forest gateaux and mysterious home brew, and the party continued long into the night. For the curious few, it can safely be reported that the planned quiz did not take place.