Page 19 - The Royal Lancers Chapka 2018

REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL LANCERS (QUEEN ELIZABETHS’ OWN) 17
butter skills we perhaps too easily take for granted as recce sol- diers – noticing changes, seeing what is important and, most importantly, understanding why it is important. The mission re- hearsal exercise was designed more to test our softer skills when interacting with the population of a simulated buffer zone, or no man’s land, between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot Forces. It was an excellent exercise, put together with real ingenuity – al- though standing in a blizzard, extolling troops to ‘take on more water’ was a perhaps a step beyond reasonable imagination. By the time the exercise had finished and we had miraculously made our way back over the M60 through a blizzard, we were ready and eager to go.
The Operations Company, by now over a hundred strong, ar- rived in Cyprus in late March and started patrolling almost im- mediately, with the company required to provide the force pro- tection to our home, Ledra Palace, and provide almost 60 hours of patrolling per day – split between the three platoons over a 40 kilometre frontage. The team got this right from the outset, with patrols quickly tuning themselves into their new surroundings and getting to know their area of operations using the training from the MRX to best effect. Within a few days of arrival, we even had two (relatively minor) demonstrations to prepare for in the centre of Nicosia – from organisations protesting for the unification of the island. Against the daily backdrop of patrol- ling, this was to be a feature of the summer. We would have to plan and prepare for public demonstrations which fortunately never crossed the threshold where we would be required to step in, but you never knew. Perhaps the highlight was the Nicosia Car Rally – which went through several painful changes – but
which provided all in Ledra with quite a spectacle on their door- step! The extent to which all grew to understand their areas was remarkable with places such as Gas Bottle Gate, Wayne’s Keep and Baby Carriage Lane all becoming prominent landmarks. The boys developed a real sense of pride in knowing their areas of operations and you knew that a patrol led by Corporal Bott would inevitably find any migrant, hunter or walker trespassing in the Buffer Zone. Equally, any patrol led by Lance Corporal O’Callaghan would be likely to tell you if there was so much as an extra brick in a wall. We also learned a great deal about the local cuisine and just how much mezze you can consume (lots) and just how good a bakery Zorba’s is (very good). When not patrolling the Buffer Zone or guarding Ledra Palace, the com- pany made full use of our location to conduct adventure train- ing, play sport, improve fitness and socialise. Two excellent com- pany barbeques were organised by Troopers Pells, Guyton and McAskill. An Operation TOSCA 28 “strongman” competition was organised by Lance Corporal Bowman, with very impressive representation from across the regiment. The winner was Lance Corporal Bowman (fix!) for the heavy weights and someone from A Squadron for the much smaller, indeed puny, weights. Equal- ly, who can forget the sight (and sound) of 100 men struggling to maintain ‘downward facing dog’ on our Friday morning yoga sessions. These leisure opportunities, coupled with the fascinat- ing cultural and historical background to all parts of the island, meant that most of the company at the very least got a tan and spent some time in the pool – however far more took an incred- ible experience away, an experience that will stand the Squadron in good stead for many years.
ADGB