Page 57 - The Royal Lancers Chapka 2018

REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL LANCERS (QUEEN ELIZABETHS’ OWN) 55
Operations Group (ROG). ROG is arguably the most demanding and frustrating of any Operational Tour, with the junior mem- bers feeling it the most. It was imperative we, along with the ROG chain of command, ensured they had time and resources to get away from camp and enjoy themselves collectively. This was achieved by trips to the horses, BBQs, zorbing and other team cohesion events.
As I said at the start it has been a busy year, but equally a very rewarding one in all we have achieved for those deployed, their families and those left behind on ROG. At the end of 2018 we said farewell to Sergeant Byrd, who was posted on promotion to Abbey Wood; his replacement was Sergeant Markwell who donned the Santa suit at the children’s party. The Welfare Team would like to wish all soldiers and families the best for the year ahead.
CWB
a solo and well-soused Lieutenant Titcomb literally got the party started, a farewell party for our outgoing EME, Captain Muir (Dugie-Fest), with traditional Scottish treats such as battered Mars bars, free (read Captain Parker’s) whisky and sambuca and two excellent Games Nights against the Seniors’ Mess. The first Games Night saw a surprise victory for the Officers’ Mess in the notoriously hostile away environment. Wins by Captains Randle and Anani-Isaac in the darts against actual dartists as well as a master class in beer pong from Captains Henson and White set the tone for an ab- solute drubbing. This impressive form was unable to be replicated on the return leg, despite Second Lieutenant Free’s moving karaoke rendition of “Insane in the Mem- brane” by Cypress [Cyprus] Hill to an unap- preciative senior’s mess audience. As well as
This year was an outstanding one for the Royal Lancers Officers’ Mess; despite being dislocated geographically for many months, the Mess was well-represented at home and overseas. We welcomed eight new Second Lieutenants and one Late Entry Of- ficer to the mess – all of whom have added real value. In February, the mess was pleased to host Robin Bursell, an ex 17/21 Lancer, who very generously gifted the Mess library his lifetime collection of regimental histories. A Sweethearts’ Dinner (née Ladies’ Dinner Night – don’t worry it returns to original title in February...) followed, with a real hit and miss selection on the entertainment front (Waffle van good, Newcastle night club per- formers bad).
Messes
The Officers’ Mess
Captain Clarkson on his way for the BREXIT protest, House of Lords
A quiet period followed in February and
March as members of the regiment deployed
to BATUS, Cyprus or remained as ROG. But once set up in Cy- prus, the Officers’ Mess quickly set the bar for entertainment; hosting a drinks evening for our United Nations colleagues and the British contingent in Cyprus. Despite the best efforts of the UN civilians and the Warrant Officers and Sergeants’ Mess to drink us dry, the party was a great success and allowed the mess to create a friendly network of contacts who were happy to come and speak to us about their day jobs. We quickly found that Operation TOSCA, whilst an operational tour offered many more opportu- nities than many other tours. A gruelling program of events was organised over the six months, the highlights of which included the visit by the Combined Services Entertainment team, where
Lieutenant Grey taking style tips from the padre
these organised nights, we had many more impromptu evenings at Ledra Palace Hotel (including a cigar night where the Com- manding Officer’s unexpected talent at Cards Against Humanity was discovered), two sea fishing trips (where not a single fish was caught but Captain Parker demonstrated his unusual face first diving technique) and regular trips to ice cream parlours both in the Republic of Cyprus and in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
We were extremely fortunate to host several UN and interna- tional speakers including the UK Ambassador to Cyprus, His Excellency Stephen Lilley, who spoke to us candidly about the
Another wild night at the Ledra Palace Hotel (Major Bowie playing chess vs Lieutenant Gray)