Page 23 - RADC 2023

Varios 970 ultrasonic scaler
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The next stop was the Concentration Area in Brunswick Camp in Pirbright where the real challenges began. Fully stocked up with zinc oxide, blister plasters and sweets we were all ready and prepared for the next stage... MST2!
Concentration Area Pirbright
LCpl Gurung
Pirbright Camp – Home of the British Soldier. As we were approaching the camp, I couldn’t help but reminisce about my time as a recruit there. On entering the main drag we passed the boards emblazoned with the Values and Standards of the British Army (our ‘CDRILS’); and more drills were soon to come! After our arrival at Brunswick Lines transit accommodation, following a quick lunch, we had an arrival brief where we were told what to expect in the up-coming 10 days, including that we were to be gated until the end of the Op. We dispersed back to our accommodations and carried out of admin preparations for the next day ...
Day 1 – Early morning start, and first parade at the armoury to collect our weapons. Dressed in Barrack Dress and armed with a rifle, we were ready to go on the parade square (at Brunswick lines).
Rifle drill in the morning was followed by ‘forming sixes,’ which was basically going from a formation of 12 files to 6 in-time and conducting the correct foot drills. After a few practices we got the hang of it but were still a bit off-time, but I told myself not to worry
as we still had time to practice!
Day 2 – Another early morning start, and
we bused to Sandhurst where we practised alongside the other army contingents (every regiment and Corps being represented). This was also where we got to see the Commonwealth contingent doing their practice as well.
Being the first day it was a bit messy at the beginning getting all the contingents to carry out the rifle and foot drills in synch, and most of us had never taken part in a parade as big as this. More practices on the rifle drills and we were on the coach headed back to Pirbright.
Day 3 – We received our new RADC cap-badges (with the King’s crown) from the CRSM, marking the beginning of new era!
We began the day practising on our 12- to-6 drills and sharpening and execution of rifle drills.
Our arms and feet starting to get a bit sore at this point, but luckily our CRSM said we were OK to change into boots. Which
we all were honestly so grateful about! Ham sandwiches, crunchies, and apples for lunch, boots on and we were off again for more drill practice as a contingent. At the end of day, we returned back to Pirbright and were looking forward to some goodies Cpl Jamie Greenfield kindly got us from a supermarket run.
Day 4 – We started earlier than usual due to us conducting our rehearsals at RAF Odiham, which was the first time all
the contingents (Army, Navy, RAF, and Commonwealth) came together to practice as a whole.
It was an amazing experience seeing the whole Tri- Service ensemble come together as a one. The rehearsal went smoothly, and we could feel it starting to ‘come together.’
Day 5 – We are back in Sandhurst again. This day, we were scheduled for more rehearsals, and the pressure is starting to build as we are told Major General Ghika would be inspecting our drill that afternoon.
We had more practice runs on the forming 6’s as a procession group and fine tuning our rifle drills.
More Coronation procession rehearsals followed, and after the inspection we all received positive feedback.
Day 6 – We carried out a night rehearsal in London. The day was spent getting
our admin right, and at the end of the
day we headed out on the coach for the train station from where we would be heading to Waterloo and marching from Wellington Barracks to Whitehall and back to Buckingham Palace.
On our way to Waterloo, we started the evening with half of the train carriage singing Happy Birthday as it was LCpl Cannon’s birthday. The fun atmosphere raised everybody’s energy and set us in a positive mood.
However, on our way back after the night rehearsals, everybody was asleep on the train as it had been a very long night!
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