Page 26 - KRH Year of 2021 CREST

24 The Regimental Journal of The King’s Royal Hussars
glorious action that ensured the other Sqns would think twice before taking him on again.
The main effort for the second half of the year was to play OpFor again, this time in T-90s (aka CVR(T)) to test C, A and RHQ in their validation for Lead Armour Battle Group. With Nick Bridges elevated to puzzle palace (Regimental 2IC), Lt Corne demoted back to Sqn 2IC and now under the command of Maj Williamson fresh from ATDU the Sqn went to great lengths in Westdown camp to prepare 10 tanks for action. A rapid alliance with 1 YORKS was struck as Task Force HANNIBAL donned blue combats, drank Russian vodka and plotted for war.
The kidnapping and ransom of A Sqn 2IC on the eve of battle set the tone for TF HANNIBAL’s attitude, and all vehicles made it to the first leaguer by hook or by crook thanks to sterling efforts from Sgt Taylor as SQMS(T) and Staff Trickett new in as Tiff. All raring to go, in reality the exercise was dramatically and very sadly cut short, by means of a Safety Notice for headsets and a tragic accident involving our 1 YORKS comrades. The Sqn
delt superbly with a difficult period, working through a stark reminder of just how serious our job can be.
A swift re-roll of the exercise into CATT saw all the Sqn (bar the OC – not bitter) take full advantage of some limited ‘white space’, with some going sailing and variously getting wet at Thorney Island, and the full Sqn conducting an overnight recce serial on SPTA lifted in by Chinook from the back gate. It turns out simu- lated contact whilst flying low level is nearly as bad as a CR2 gun- ner’s seat cross country at night.
November saw the arrival of another Air Corps attaché 2Lt Meager who was instantly deployed on Ex Apollo Sabre in Thetford with a troop from D Sqn. They acted as a partner force on the new Ranger Regiment’s exercise working alongside US Green Berets. They got to grips with new weapon systems, new dismounted tactics and a rather charming attack dog called Riley. Notably LCpl Sloan grafted to high acclaim and a subsequent CO’s coin, and Tpr Price formed an inseparably romantic bond with his GPMG, lugging it fondly everywhere he went.
2021 proved to be an incredibly diverse year for D Sqn. From COVID testing in Kent, live firing tanks, charging across the Plain in blue uniforms and harassing their own regiment – both in and out of camp. We have said farewells to OC Nick Bridges, 2IC Alex Danvers, SSM Brown, SSgt (Tiff) Stevens, SQMS Green, SQMS(T) Taylor and many others. All gone but not forgotten –
especially the Regi 2IC who keeps coming back!
The soldiers and officers adapted to each new chal- lenge with zeal, good humour and a trade- mark desire to succeed. The wonderful ‘Dirty Hogs’ are ready for 2022, look- ing forward to all sorts of activities and in part as a 10th/14th amalgam. The Shiny Chambermaids? The Emperors Hogs? It’s a work in
Charity cyclathon – healthy snacks optional
Who let the Tankie design the jumpers?
progress.
JSPW / MAC