Page 52 - The Bugle Issue 12 Autumn 2016

B Company overview
Autumn 2015 seemed to have B Company spread patrol competition. By November the company
anywhere but barracks: ri emen grafting for their rst stripe on the Fire Team Comd’s Cadre, a cohort in Africa on a counter-poaching STTT, a platoon in Kenya and the remainder involved in the 38 Bde
began to reform and to shape itself into a ghting force in the thunder and lightning storms of Bally- kinler and Magilligan.
Deploying to Kenya as an augmented company group, thanks to chosen men from C Company, the company rose to the challenges of heat, confusion and an agile COEFOR enemy. B Company’s across- the-board Green rating by the BATUK training staff was a re ection of the initiative and determination of its JNCOs and Rfn to take the battle to the enemy, thinking ri emen throughout. Meanwhile in the HQ, WO2 Broughton set the standard for leadership and grip from the saddle of a quad bike. Sjt Edwards and Cpl Perfect laboured against the odds to create a very successful machine-gun platoon. Pte Latham, ve-feet nothing of Lancashire pluckiness, kept us all straight as our ghting clerk and master driver.
Spring saw the Company deploying to England, acting as the OPFOR for Ex WESSEX STORM on Salisbury Plain. Now under the leadership of Maj Mike Hosegood, B Company put the EU Battle Group through its paces. This enlightening experience brought the revelation that Latvians take a ‘robust’ and rather physical approach to minor aggro as well as the fact that a BG’s A1 Echelon can be prone to ransack by bands of thieves, particularly when the marauders are three platoon serjeants and a wide-eyed platoon commander.
Lt Prince on a platoon attack in Magilligan preparing for their upcoming deployment on Ex ASKARI STORM
50 SECOND BATTALION
THE RIFLES