Page 26 - The Royal Lancers Chapka 2018

24 REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL LANCERS (QUEEN ELIZABETHS’ OWN)
Support Company – We managed it, however it took some ef- fort, energy and a few late nights to get us there and back again.
As the name suggests, Support Company has the elements re- quired to assist and support Sector 2 Operations Company and, when required, The Mobile Force Reserve. The selection of troops for Support Company was not an easy affair due to vari- ous cap badges needing to be drafted in from other units. Even- tually everything came together, however this was upon the first day of the All Ranks Brief in Nesscliffe Camp, Shropshire as ‘The Beast from the East’ took hold.
From our arrival in Nicosia, I was thankful as the Quartermaster to be taking over from another ‘brother’ Cavalry Regiment. The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards were excellent and it was clear they had done much to improve their living and working conditions over their tour and I hope we can one day repay the favour.
The Catering Department was headed by Staff Sergeant Smith as the Unit Catering Manager. Under him was the small team of Sergeant Holmes and Sergeant Magson who all fought the cum- bersome United Nations ration system. Below these sergeants were a team of experienced corporals in Corporals Tress, Sahai, Hunter, Black and Gurung. Below them were the more junior members of the team in Lance Corporal Arkless and Lance Corporal Wake, Privates Houghton, Sherwood and Spence. All these troops managed to create an excellent standard of food for the duration of the deployment. Being able to conjure up well cooked food from newly discovered ingredients within the con- fines of a basic kitchen in Ledra Palace is no small feat. However, the Catering Department managed to do this often in tempera- tures of over 50 degrees in the main kitchen.
Ledra Palace is an old hotel which was opened in 1949. At the time it was deemed the ‘de-luxe’ (5-star) hotel on the island of Cyprus and many a grainy photograph can be seen of exquisite Rolls Royce limousines parked next to the main doors. However, this building was built 70 years ago, and the design specifications were then very much different. Sergeant Major Mukungunugwa, Corporal Pittock and Corporal Thompson, along with a several locally employed plumbers and electricians, were entrusted in preserving this iconic building. Keeping the building as fire safe as possible was an enduring task, however the efforts of Corporal Hill and Corporal Christy as Provost Staff were instrumental in us being the first fire free unit residing in Ledra Palace Hotel.
Second-in-Command flattening morale
Corporal Christy and Corporal Hill take a moment to brave the heat at Nicosia International Airport
Keeping us strong and fit is the role of the Royal Army Physi- cal Training Corps Instructor. Staff Sergeant Burnell, was deter- mined to improve the facilities within Ledra Palace which were starting to show their age. This included the pool at Ledra Pal- ace Hotel which was the first on the island and was frequented by high society and personalities from Hollywood (Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton were regular guests) lounging at the poolside with a cocktail or two. Sergeant Hill (Operations Infor- mation senior non-commissioned officer) has a passion for Koi Carp and was also an ex-submariner, so this perfect fusion of skills was used to keep it operational through the long summer. It was undoubtedly was enjoyed by all in Ledra palace, especially after a hot patrol in the Buffer Zone or shift in the kitchen. I’d like to formally thank Sergeant Hill and Staff Sergeant Burnell in this ninja quest.
Cyprus, and especially Nicosia, is renowned for having some of the worst driving standards in Europe (no offence to any of our Cypriot readers). The members of Motorise Transport Troop including Corporal Smith, Corporal Bagshaw, Lance Corporal Collins, Lance Corporal Burrows and Lance Corporal McNeil all were all tasked with driving in the Nicosia rush hour, de- livering troops and materiel and were skilled enough to come away with only a few ‘bumps’. Lance Corporal Entwhistle had the added responsibility as the Commanding Officer’s driver and routinely navigating around Northern Cyprus delivering Lieutenant Colonel Searby to meetings and appointments as re- quired. Sergeant Ward and his team including Corporal Thomp- son and Pte Jones were seen busy in the evenings checking and double checking that the fleet was serviceable and safe to use. Again, the efforts of the Motorise Transport Troop were of pride to me as they worked, drove and maintained the United Nations fleet until the last Lancer boarded their flight off the island.
Major Gumbley, as the Regimental Medical Officer (RMO) along with her small team of medics had a difficult task in maintaining the force while deployed. The issue of the heat of summer and all forms of heat illness were a constant threat. Education from the RMO along with informative briefs from Lance Corporal Doyle and Lance Corporal Wordsworth were key in reminding troops to protect themselves from the sun resulting in no serios heat illnesses. Sergeant Ficetola, as the Practice Manager, was also busy running the Medical Centre housed within Ledra Palace. She was also in constant communications with Sergeant Smith (now France as she was married during this operational tour) to ensure the Medical Centre at HQ UNFICYP didn’t require
Support Company