Page 164 - Bugle Autumn 2014

Oxfordshire ACF
Brotheridge House, Arncott Wood Road Upper Arncott, Bicester OX25 1AB Telephone: 01869 259681
Email: caooxon-se@rfca.org.uk
Internet site: www.oxonacf.org.uk
BHQ and Command Structure
Honorary Colonel: Brigadier R A Draper CVO OBE
County Comdt: Colonel D G Bowyer Deputy Comdt: Lt Colonel P Brome Cadet Executive Officer: Major M V Batin Training Officer: Major G Cook
Media Officer: Major A W N Hames RSM: RSMI M A N Hames
Reception and Sounding
of Retreat
Guests including a Deputy Lord Lieutenant, Brigadier Ian Inshaw, the Lord Mayor of Oxford, Cllr Mohammed Abbasi, Mayors, Chairmen of Councils, senior service officers and other dignitaries from across the county attended a Reception and Sounding
of Retreat at Edward Brooks Barracks on Saturday 28th June. The event
was hosted by the Commandant, Colonel Daren Bowyer, the Officers, RSM and the Adult Instructors of the Battalion. At the end of the Reception the Honorary Colonel, Brigadier Robin Draper, presented the new Cadet RSM’s cane to Cdt RSM Stuart Rothwell and congratulated him on his appointment. After the Reception, the Corunna Bugles and Band of Oxfordshire (The Rifles) Battalion ACF gave a very commendable performance. At the end of the Sunset Ceremony, the Bugles and Band marched-off to the applause of the guests.
Cdt RSM Rothwell receiving his RSM’s cane from the Hon Col
NCO Cadres
52 cadets attended two NCO cadres held at Nesscliffe Training Camp during the period 6th to 11th April under the command of Major Brian Butler. The first was for
junior NCOs and the other for the seniors with Field Craft and leadership skills being the main emphasis. All the cadets enjoyed the ambush, harbour drills and patrol skills training. On 11th April the cadres returned to the Cadet Training Centre at Read House, Bicester for an end of course dinner. On Saturday 13th April the cadres joined with the Recruit Camp for a final parade.
Army Cadets Annual
Camp 2013
200 Oxfordshire cadets attended an interesting and enjoyable two week’s Annual Camp at Nesscliffe Camp near Shrewsbury. It is the site of a war time ammunition depot, the training area
Quebec Company with their haul of prizes
achieved. The middle weekend saw the exercise phase with all cadres putting into practice the training of the preceding week. The Monday following was ‘chill out’ day, with the cadets visiting a theme park. The majority of the second week was a combination of
is immediately accessible from the camp and has many building that help with training scenarios. The weather was good, thus the challenge of last year’s Dartmoor micro climate was not repeated. On the first Thursday, 22 visitors came to see the cadets training, including the Vice Lord Lieutenant of
Oxfordshire, Mr
John Harwood DL,
who presented
two cadets,
including Cdt
RSM McLennan,
with their BTEC
certificates. Another
visitor was Mr Cecil Jeffcoate, a WW2 Veteran who landed in Normandy by glider on 6 June 1966 as part of S Company 2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks Light Infantry, an antecedent of The Rifles. Both much enjoyed their visit. The camp was again run as a Cadre camp and many APC star passes were
the Inter-Company
...a combination of the Inter-Company Skills Competition and some ‘fun’
Skills Competition and some ‘fun’ activities, e.g. motor biking. The Inter-Company drill competition on
the final Thursday saw each of the four companies trying to outshine
each other with precision of their
drill and smartness of their turn-out. The afternoon heralded the annual prize giving, with Quebec Company acquiring the biggest ‘haul’ of prizes. By Friday tired, yet happy and still cheerful cadets, and adults, were ready for the return trip to Oxfordshire.
Recruit Camp
For the period of 5th to 11th April, 102 new recruits took part in Recruit Camp 2014, held
at the Read House Cadet Training Centre at Bicester under the command of Major Steve Foster. Activities included archery, learning basic camp-craft skills, drill, military knowledge and drill and turn-out. The Camp ended with the cadets all looking forward to being able to attend the Annual Camp at Queen Elizabeth Barracks, Strensall in the summer. On Saturday 12th April, the recruits joined with the NCO Cadres for the final parade on the parade square at St. George’s Barracks, lead by the Oxfordshire (The Rifles) ACF Bugles and Band. At the parade the Hon Colonel, Brigadier Robin Draper, commended the cadets for taking the first milestone step in their cadet careers. While parents looked on proudly, the recruits were awarded their hard-earned Rifles cap badges.
162 CADETS
THE RIFLES