Page 142 - AGC-Journal-2016

AGC JOURNAL 2016

Exercise

Changamoto Kubwa 2016

By Second Lieutenant Joseph Read

“In order to break the Setting Off Final Preparations
monotony of life one had only

to start taking risks again”, The group reassembled on the 31 January Once at Nanyuki the final admin phases
kicked in; stoves and tents were tested,
2016 at Heathrow’s Terminal 2 Travelodge
or so said the Italian POW for final checks of passports, medical rations were distributed and last fresh
Felice Benuzzi, who escaped a cards and to be issued our invaluable meals enjoyed. Around late afternoon, the
collapsible wash-bowls. We flew out the
clouds parted and we saw Mount Kenya
British Prisoner of War camp next morning cleverly disguised as the Ray for the first time. The peaks in the distance
and climbed Mount Kenya in Mears Fan Club. It was already dark when looked formidable, but it was clear then
1943. we arrived, but stepping out of the airport, why 70 years ago Benuzzi risked his life
the buzz of the Kenyan capital surrounded
to escape the camp just to climb that
us. At our hotel for the night we toasted mountain.
our safe arrival with bottles of cold water.
Driving to the park gates eyes were peeled
The first morning we set off toward for the wildlife that Benuzzi had feared
Nanyuki and British Army Training Unit meeting, but it was hard not to spend time
Kenya, battling our way through the gazing up at the peaks as they loomed
Nairobi traffic, we took in the sights and closer. We met our guides and porters and
sounds of one of Africa’s most vibrant set off on our first leg up to Old Moses
cities. Out of the city the frenetic energy of Camp. This first day’s walking allowed
Nairobi was replaced with the vivid colours us to begin to acclimatise to the heat and
and wide sky of the countryside. On the altitude. We were pleasantly surprised by
way we stopped off and tested our Swahili the accommodation at Old Moses and our
ordering drinks from a roadside stall. first dinner of rations was cooked looking
back over the plains below us as the sun
set and the sky lit up with stars.
Walking toward Liki Valley

Training in high altitude first aid in the Lake District

Preparation

Twelve members of Educational and
Training Services (North) set out to follow
in Benuzzi’s footsteps, thankfully armed
with more than just the picture on a ration
label to guide us.
The group first assembled at Halton
Training Camp in January for two days
of training. The snow of the Lake District
seemed far removed from the conditions
we would face in Kenya, but the training in
high-altitude first aid from our Mountain
Leaders, honed our skills for the risks we
may have faced on the mountain.

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