Page 52 - KRH Year of 2021 CREST

50 The Regimental Journal of The King’s Royal Hussars
Exercise CULLODEN HAWK
By November 2021 the KRH BG was firmly basking in the lukewarm TL Foxtrot aftermath of EX IRON STRUMPET 2. A terrific feat of arms, which had absorbed the time and energy of so many of the Regiment for almost a year. Thus, with the Christmas break crawling into everyone’s sights, it was deemed appropriate to head North, to pay homage to victories past. The field of Culloden was chosen. And so, Recce Troop Leader went about in his usual fashion, setting the conditions for a week of stilton, shooting and Shannon Matthews costumes. He demanded an ungodly amount of white fleet, and the stoutest Officers and Warrant Officers the King’s Royal Hussars could muster to help prepare the lodge before RHQ arrived. Instead, he was uncere- moniously handed two Luton vans, A Squadron 2iC and Private Stubbs from the mega diner. He sighed in dismay; nothing was ever easy for the Scorpion King.
Inauspicious starts aside, the recce party successfully manoeu- vred themselves, the mess silver and all the English sparkling wine Hattingley Valley had to offer up to Rothiemurchus Lodge. Sgt Kendall ensured the highest of standards were met and then maintained; stoking fires, providing newspapers and all those inconspicuous details, which so easily seduce DE officers into thinking everything is as it should be. It truly was a home from home. The main body arrived somewhat dazed and confused as they attempted to forget the carnage of Tidworth and the previous night’s Ramnugger celebrations. They all settled in for the even- ing, readying themselves for a packed-out week of field sports and blue-sky thinking.
The first day was a carefully curated blend of whiskey and histori- cal re-enactment. An overcast vista and charming bogland truly set the scene as the group skipped back in time. Whilst the conclu- sion to Culloden did not prove to be a surprise for the group, the amount of joy a man could gain by elucidating his favourite piece of Jacobite Road did raise a few suspicious eyebrows amongst the WOs. WO2 Oakes famously attempted to keep the sub-zero winds
at bay by smoking 30 Marlboro Reds in a morning, as the guide explained in astonishing detail the G4 constraints of campaigning with 18th century oatmeal supply lines.
Yet academia soon fell by the wayside. Recce Troop Leader had constructed one MEL to rule them all, and despite the admin nightmare that was the Subbies – he was determined that it should bind them. Junior Officers, Squadron Leaders and Warrant Officers were sent to the four corners of the Highlands to stalk, shoot, beat and even pedal. For many it was an initial introduc- tion into the world of field sports. As a result, the interpretation of ‘suitable’ dress was loose to put it mildly. On the first large driven day 5 Toyota “technicals” and a battered combi van arrived in front of a charming Italianate shooting lodge, set amongst the pine forests of the estate. Uniformly dressed keepers, groomed and obedient spaniels and the old laird stood in rigid formation
Lt Nichol making up the numbers