Page 58 - The Bugle Autumn 2016 Issue 12

Camp Swift built to house the HQ and A Coy for Ex SARMIS
HQ Company overview
Headquarter ‘Wild Geese’ Company has been kept The Commanding Of cer’s Inkerman Day
HQ Coy The Wild Geese
extremely busy this past twelve mnths with many ‘adventures’ had. The Company has regained the title of ‘Champion Company’ due to their perfor- mances on both the Salamanca Day Sports Compe- tition and the Commanding Of cer’s Inkerman Day Challenge; much to the annoyance of the other
Companies.
The Company swept the board
at the majority of Salamanca Sports Day events nishing with a sterling performance at the nal event; the Tug of War, where a combination of pure strength and teamwork won the day. It was very pleasing to see the Wild Geese adopted Ri emen, both male and female, come together in the ideal spirit and strive to win; long may this continue! Some say it was down to the hearty Bugle Breakfast enjoyed by all prior to an energetic Battalion cross-country run outside of camp around the lake at Hillsborough Castle. The day was nished off with a Battalion BBQ, a couple of bottles of Ri es beer and good banter with ‘Wild Geese’ departing with a spring in their step
and laden with trophies.
Challenge did what it said on the tin, testing the Companies both physically and mentally. A cheeky gun-run was the treat for the majority of the Company followed by a Superstar’s Fitness Test for the elite warriors while the remainder participated in a row and shoot. All members of the Company took part in the activities and contributed in some way to yet another trophy in the Headquarter Company display cabinet!
Wild Geese entered a small but determined team in the Battalion Inter-Company Boxing this year. All performed extremely well with the heavy-weight champion’s belt returning to the Company thanks to a gutsy performance from Cpl Robinson (MT). The Company also performed well on the Battalion SAAM held on a rare sunny day in Ballykinler. A heroic third place in the Falling Plate Competition, beating the Sniper Platoon and winning Best LMG Shot thanks to the outstanding shoot/performance from Rfn Fourie (CIS Pl), were the supreme highlights of the competition.
Socially, the Company Christmas Party was a particular success, enjoyed by all with some very unusual Christmas jumpers on display. A few members of the Company were game enough to be hypnotised with hilarious consequences, all captured for posterity, very worrying.
The Company, as always, has fully supported the Battalion’s FOE throughout the year with elements deploying on the many tasks thrown at us, ranging from RAAT on the mainland to Kenya, the Falklands, Gabon, Somalia, Belize and Romania, to name but a few. Many were at short notice but ‘Wild Geese’ rose to all challenges, never faltered and added value to all. The soldiers of Headquarter Company are not resting on their laurels and as I type this the Company are preparing to defend the Salamanca Day Sports Competition. The LAD are putting the nishing touches to the Company Chariot as part of this year’s Commanding Of cer’s ‘fun’ challenge and if successful, the chariot will no doubt make an appearance on the revamped Top Gear.
Maj C Lamb MBE, OC HQ Company
A FEW MEMBERS OF THE COMPANY WERE GAME ENOUGH TO BE HYPNOTISED WITH HILARIOUS CONSEQUENCES, ALL CAPTURED FOR POSTERITY, VERY WORRYING.
56 SECOND BATTALION
THE RIFLES