Page 25 - Bugle Autumn 2014

Welsh Warriors – The Cambrian Patrol
In addition to mounting 5 teams, the Battalion was given two foreign teams to host: the Polish (with A Company) and the Dutch (with B Company). We had to ensure that they were not just accommodated and entertained, but also that they received some training to enable them to take part.
Mission success (a gold medal) was
the task that all the selected patrol commanders were eager to achieve. How the battalion was going to achieve this
was placed in WO2 Jones’ hands. Off the teams went to Sennybridge Training area (SENTA) for a week of tactical lessons and a mini Cambrian patrol. The teams were given an envelope containing orders, RVs, an issue of rations and radios. The next five days consisted of subject-matter expert- delivered lessons, followed by orders, patrol action, hot de-brief and the much-loved construction of a patrol report. All the teams gained maximum benefit from the week of training, with a structured program of points to work on for the forthcoming weeks.
The Competition
When we arrived in a dingy car park full
of Army minibuses at about 0330hrs somewhere in the Elan Valley, we were given directions to a ‘Release Point’. There we were briefed and set off by vehicle, being dropped off for our recce patrol at a bleak point in the hills.
Op PITCHPOLE
During the winter of 2013, the UK experienced its wettest winter since records began in 1910. Due to the heavy
rainfall severe flooding was experienced across the country. Operation PITCHPOLE was the Military response to a request by the Government for military aid in the cross-Government and multi agency relief efforts.
1 RIFLES were deployed to assist residents in Herefordshire. 80 Riflemen from Support Company were pulled together at short notice and headed to Hereford in a fleet of TCV’s (Troop Carrying Vehicles) in order to support the local community.
Having spent the first night in the meeting hall of Hereford City Hall the Coy were kindly moved into the local Reserve training centre from which they mounted operations across the county. Working to the local constabulary the Coy split down into small teams and pushed out to establish the level of help needed across the county.
Due to heavy sandbagging having already been established the efforts were mainly focused on the reassurance of the local population in the authorities’ ability to provide help where needed. In the TCV’s troops were able to drive through 1.5
m of water, providing relief and vital supplies where they were needed.
The Coy collapsed its operations after 3 days of relief work having left the people of Hereford City and the surrounding counties in no doubt that support was there if needed. Despite the lack of military-delivered practical assistance, this information operation to provide reassurance was a real success story in one of our historic recruitment areas.
Capt Joe Murray, Reconnaissance Platoon Commander
The next phase was a brutal forced march across the valley. Mile after mile was covered from about 1800 to 0400 patrolling rapidly. Five minute rests were taken to sustain us with the Rfn not on sentry asleep within seconds, still with bergans on!
For the rest of that day we moved from stand to stand. First our most junior Rfn were taken away and taught lessons in fire- lighting and water purification, to be taught back to ‘locals’ later on. We then tabbed to the river crossing, an icy October dip in the Lyne Brianne Reservoir. This was one of the worst bits. The cold water made everyone seize up and drop body temperature, slowed us down and made our packs extremely heavy. In addition, we were mortified to watch the Polish team pull little military lilos out of their packs, complete with flippers, and paddle themselves across rapidly, completely dry.
The Brecon phase began with an ambush whilst we were assisting a civilian vehicle, which we successfully repulsed. From
there, we intervened in a prisoner-abuse serial, teaching the locals about the Geneva Convention, re-supplied a mortar line, treated and then evacuated a casualty, and then patrolled to a intelligence debrief point (the final serial).
Finally, we reached a farmhouse and were de-briefed for intelligence. In this, the Riflemen excelled. During our training,
we had constantly demanded they
absorb information, but then also make logical deductions from it. Therefore,
when questioned, they provided accurate descriptions of what we had seen, but critically what it meant for us. They broke down the intent of the enemy, his weapons, vehicles and morale in detail, and gave some incredibly good feedback, proof,
if ever, of the success of the ‘thinking Rifleman’ ethos. After a short last tab, we arrived at the finish at 0300hrs on the third day. We were loaded onto our minibus and taken back to Sennybridge Camp for a few hours sleep.
We had not until this point heard how
the other teams had fared, and with some texting we were delighted to hear that the Recce Platoon had achieved a gold medal, C Company a silver, and B Company a bronze. The second C Company composite team had unfortunately had to withdraw due to injuries (not uncommon over such difficult terrain). Our own team was surprised and delighted to be awarded gold as well,
one of only nine across the Army (three of which were earned by RIFLES Teams!) The months of training put in by the Polish team served them well- they achieved a silver medal, a very impressive feat.
Lt Jim Foster, Platoon Commander,
and CSM (WO2) Paul Jones, Company Serjeant Major, HQ Company
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THE RIFLES
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