Page 27 - Bugle Autumn 2014

Rfn Rich, and LCpl Harriman cover their arcs during a strike op in Paramali village on EX LION STAR
Ex LION STAR
Much of A Coy deployed to Cyprus for
2 weeks on Ex LION STAR as part of a
6 RIFLES company group, an excellent opportunity for us to build closer links with our paired Reserve Battalion as part of the new army 2020 format. It started off with a training package to give the Reserve Riflemen and junior commanders a chance to revise the
Normandy 70
A composite Platoon from A Coy had the honour to represent the Battalion and support the veterans of its antecedent Regiments at the 70th anniversary of the D Day landings between the 2-7 June 2014.
On 5 June the Platoon were honoured to help facilitate the
52nd Group, led by Gen Sir Robert Pascoe KCB MBE, in their initial commemorations around Pegasus Bridge. The 52nd Group included veterans of the original ‘coup de main’ force that took Pegasus Bridge in the first act to reclaim the continent from the Nazi’s. The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall briefly visited Pegasus Bridge in
the late morning with the Duchess taking the opportunity to meet a few of the Riflemen and talk about the experience they were having. The evening of the 5th saw the Platoon team up with brother Rfn from 4 RIFLES in facilitating an evening
vigil at Pegasus Bridge. Chief of
the General Staff, Gen Sir Peter Wall, and the Prime Minister, David Cameron, joined the veterans of the 52nd Group to commemorate the exact moment they touched down in their gliders 70 years previously.
6 June saw the Platoon split forces. Half spent the day in further commemorations with the Oxf and Bucks LI veterans in the area of Pegasus Bridge, Benouville and Herouville. The other half travelled to Asnelles to again join with 4 RIFLES in a ceremony by the coast.
The Platoon travelled back to
the UK on the 7th, stopping first to conduct a study on Sword Beach. Overall it was a hugely humbling and rewarding exercise. The scale of the commemorations was truly astonishing whilst only hinting at the scale of the operation in 1944. The time spent with veterans of
the Ox and Bucks LI and Glider Pilot Regiment who so bravely liberated Normandy 70 years ago was something that the Rfn on the exercise will be able to look back on in years to come.
Capt Joe Murray, Platoon Commander, Reconnaissance Platoon
basic skills and drills. This was designed to be progressive, ending with section and platoon attacks just prior to the main exercise phase.
The exercise then stepped into full gear and the company group deployed out onto the ground
fire power.
The final 4 days
involved a three way rotation of adventurous training between
the beach and the mountains at Trudos. Unfortunately this
The exercise then
stepped into full gear and the company group deployed out onto the ground for a five day final training exercise phase. It was a good chance to train as part of a larger light role company grouping in a
was largely hampered by some phenomenally poor weather
for Cyprus, but the riflemen took the opportunity to catch up on their sleep. Lt Nick Massey, Platoon Commander, 1 Platoon
conventional war fighting scenario. This involved a number of phases of battle from platoons operating independently,
to the company conducting an advance to contact. It culminated in a deliberate company attack on the final day, with support from the mixed 1 and 6 RIFLES machine gun platoon providing a lot of the
Rfn Maddison and Cpl Eggerton hold an enemy strong hold during a clearance op on EX LION STAR
THE RIFLES
FIRST BATTALION 25