Page 46 - KRH Year of 2021 CREST

44 The Regimental Journal of The King’s Royal Hussars
Battlegroup Headquarters
The KRH heralded the beginning of a new year (2021) in a very similar fashion to how it departed the previous one. Members of the Regiment, many of whom had deployed to Liverpool in support of Whole Community Testing, once again responding to the call for swabs – albeit this time overlooking the Strait of Dover. The French, returning to the role of playing silly buggers, forced C Sqn (in support of the RGR) to ride north in pursuit of upstream testing whilst the British public arose on a relatively forgettable New Year’s Day. The drive was a success; however, it was not enough to stem the tide of freight that was beginning to gather once more in the Garden of England.
A few days later and UKRU 3, headlined by the Crimson trouser band, deployed to Manston Airfield to relieve the RGR – now fal- tering in the face of sustained Polish-Lithuanian Cavalry1. With the handover complete, KRH soldiers set about the task of lanc- ing with great gusto; impressing several delegations and drawing praise from the Secretary of State for Transport himself – combin- ing ruthless professionalism and panache whilst hosting a bunch of French Firefighters, whose arrival converted much pomp and ceremony. With the situation now very much routine, the deci- sion was made to hand the operation over to the Army Reserve – a process undertaken without delay or mishap.
Having recovered to Tidworth the Regiment’s attention, long plagued by thoughts of double lines, shifted to those of our core business – the Officers’ Mess would later capture the very spirit of this in a theme for a Ball that wasn’t to be. The Muddy Hawk Campaign was soon underway with 4 well staged battles fought across the Tank Park and Area 20. The Battlegroup successfully planned numerous operations against seemingly insurmountable foes without loss!
Spring turned to Summer and Battlegroup activity increased; fighting on the Plain and in the CATT - drummed on by the march of progress and the melody of MIMMIR. Abruptly the Old Guard; spearheaded by the Chief of Staff (COS), Hatchley the Cannon, Selfe the Fodder, Unwin the Wick(ed) and Nicholson the Spark quit. They had seen too many failed obstacle crossings and fiery tennis balls to last several lifetimes. Nicholson retired to the wilds of the North as Adjt of the Scottish & Northern Irish Yeomanry, where incidentally he would be joined by the COS in years to come. Cannon and Fodder left for the outstations, whilst Unwin sought peace and tranquillity in South Wessex. Tentatively, the Young Guard stepped into the fold and onto a wave that would carry them through to the end of Op CABRIT 11. Fresh faced and keen to manoeuvre, they soon set about the business of Rune Crafting in the Big Top Tent. Following lots of high-fives and again seldom any casualties, the Battlegroup splintered for Summer Leave. To date the training had produced
1 Throughout its existence, the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth always had excellent cavalry, the Winged Hussars being the most famed.