Page 53 - KRH Year of 2021 CREST

No deer in sight, WO2 Dyer just wanted an ally picture
awaiting the arrival of the descendants of Cardigan and Prince Albert’s Own. The convoy halted, the wind rushed through the trees and the tension became palpable as two worlds prepared to collide. The Hilux doors opened simultaneously, discharg- ing their passengers unceremoniously as Hussars dusted off the previous night’s whiskey tasting. Yet instead of being greeted by the paragons of genteelness, the third Chechen Army – fresh out of Grozny – revealed itself. The silence was deafening. A flurry of MTP, desert DPM, over and under shot guns and tweed burst forth as Recce Troop Leader desperately attempted to bypass the horrified look stamped upon the keeper’s face. Luckily traditional British awkwardness won the day, and the sartorial irregularities of the Chechen Brigade were left unmolested.
Success was achieved throughout the week. And whilst it is of course vulgar to keep tally of what you may or may not have killed, it was noted that many of those who had never shot before outperformed the more experienced guns. A Squadron Leader and his 2iC decided that the old Gaelic adage, ‘a bird shared, is a bird doubled’ would prove to be a suitable line to take. The third time it happened they caught one another’s eye, blushing over the intimacy of the act as feathers rained down catching the dappled afternoon light. By this point the Welfare Officer jeal- ously decided he wanted in on the action, and what was a polite ménage-a-trois, soon descended into an orgy of destruction. Mentions must go to Capt Mudau and WO2 Coates, amongst others, for very impressive first forays into shooting and stalking respectively. The less said for the Doc’s non-combatant status and
the MTWO’s insistence to prove he was still a threat to the enemy (they were beaters!) the better.
Much to some’s dismay and others’ delight each day the sun set and the ghillies finally tired. Long days on the hill were reli- giously concluded with stilton on toast and our feet up around the fire. Weary Hussars shed their coats and boots and pulled up a sandbag, sipping coffee and recounting 1000m hinds and numer- ous left-and-rights. At this point it would be remiss of me not to talk more about the team that sustained us in such relative lux- ury. Headed by SSgt St Jean, Sgt Kendall and LCpl Topliss they worked tirelessly day and night satisfying everyone’s demands. Of note was their ability to turn around yesterday’s quarry – be it four-legged or two – into tonight’s feast! To the aforementioned and to Tprs Riches and South and Ptes Tripe and Stubbs a huge vote of thanks.
Long, drink laden evenings in black tie brought back a feeling of normality. Spirits were high as thoughts of Covid and CATT were left behind, less for Capt Hudson and crew. On one par- ticularly late night, the young Officers decided Rothiemurchus needed a new king. Born a Chechen bandit, WO2 Thorpe was anointed with regal status. Upon his fair head they placed the cheesy crown. He did not take it well. And whilst the local area gave the Duke of Cumberland the epithet the ‘Butcher’, the KRH gave their Sergeant Major the title of the ‘Stilton King.’ Soon to be immortalised in the Officers’ carols upon return to Tidworth.
AWN
The Regimental Journal of The King’s Royal Hussars 51