Page 17 - The Light Blue Volunteer Journal 2022

Op
LONDON
BRIDGE
Following the Death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Op LONDON BRIDGE was put into action.
A team of Commonwealth Liaison Officers (LOs)were stood up immediately from the RMAS Gp, of which I was fortunate enough to be one. With 12
hrs notice to deploy, I threw together essential kit and headed down to the Concentration Area (CA)at ATR Pirbright. On arrival I was tasked as the LO for the Australian contingency who were already on route. I moved immediately to LHR
to meet an array of flights landing over the next 12 hrs, ably accompanied by the Australian Air Attache.
Upon arrival at Pirbright the Australian contingent were formed up with the other Commonwealth contingents from New Zealand and Canada. A total of
126 troops, with a mix of Regular and Reserve Officers and Soldiers selected from Army, Naval and Air Force Units identified as having a special relationship with her Majesty.
The next 24 hrs saw the contingent forming up with no experience of marching as a single cohort, performing drill that was atypical of their own nation and only ever practised on the occasion of a state funeral. They had a very steep learning curve but were remarkably mentored by the our Guards CSgts.
The CA at ATR Pirbright was home
to 1500 troops for the entirety of Op LONDON BRIDGE yet was only one of
3 x CAs which would all come together for an overnight rehearsal in London mid week. The logistics of deploying some 5000 troops to converge at Wellington Barracks in the dead of night was
nothing short of remarkable. Once at Wellington Barracks with the back drop of the Queen’s Gun Carriage on the low loader and the unnerving sounds of the funeral marches by the military bands, 5000 troops were formed up to practice the march with the Commonwealth contingent at the helm. A long and somewhat surreal night passed before heading back to the CA for preparation for a visit to the Commonwealth troops by HRH Prince and Princess of Wales.
The weekend offered a bit of relaxation and enabled us to show the Commonwealth Troops around
Brookwood Cemetery where many fallen Commonwealth soldiers from previous conflicts have marked headstones.
By the end of the week service personnel and selected members of
the uniformed services from all 3 CAs, converged once again at Wellington Barracks in the small hrs, formed up on mass ready for a 0930 step off to escort the Queens funeral procession on her final journey from Westminster Abbey to the Wellington Arch.
The Commonwealth nations took pride of place at the front of the procession
as a show to the World about how important her role as Head of the Commonwealth was to our late Queen Elizabeth II.
This was a once in a life time experience, which I was so very proud to be part of. GOD BLESS THE QUEEN.
Capt A Ferguson (Adjt)
THE LIGHT BLUE VOLUNTEER 17