Page 11 - Bugle Issue 16 Autumn 2020

1RIFLES
OP TORAL 8 MEDALS PARADE
and Brig (Retd) Richard Toomey (County Col Somerset). The parade was kept short and sweet due to the fierce weather conditions and ended with the traditional double off.
Despite the conditions the parade was a huge success: a fitting tribute for the efforts of the 400 who deployed for seven months, and a result of many months of planning by the RSM and the HQ Company team.
On 6th December 19, 1 RIFLES held their Op TORAL 8 medals parade, 350 soldiers on the parade square in Beachley Barracks supported by the massed Band and Bugles of The Rifles. Over 500 families and friends attended, all braving the persistent winter rain. The event started with a reception
for families and friends, with the principal guests hosted in the WOs’ & Sjts’ Mess. We had representatives from all the Battalion’s affiliated counties.
Once the Battalion was on parade the RSM handed the parade over to the new CO, Lt
Col Mark Shercliff who welcomed the HRH The Duke of Kent. Medals were presented
by an array of serving and retired officers
in addition to the Duke: Brigadier Alan Richmond (Comd 160 Bde), Brigadier Charlie Maconachie (Late RIFLES and Dep Col South West), Col Matt Baker (previous CO 1 RIFLES), Brig (Retd) Simon Young (County Col Devon)
Exercise
AJEYA WARRIOR
The closing ceremony
Exercise AJEYA WARRIOR is a bilateral training exercise with the Indian Army to exchange tactics and to learn best practice from each other. 2020 was the UK’s turn to host 14 Dogra Regiment and this task fell to B Coy.
They deployed to Salisbury Plain and after a few days training on British weapons B Coy and the Indians conducted low-level integration training including counter-IED and building clearance. This was particularly valuable as the Indians are facing a more urban and IED capable adversary.
The next phase saw a combined 14 Dogra / 1 RIFLES Coy become part of the 2 R ANGLIAN Battlegroup. They inserted into Copehill Down which had been occupied by an insurgent group. They occupied and fortified a FOB
and launched patrols conducting vehicle checkpoints, clearance operations and cordon & search operations. Despite the language barrier we were able to overcome cultural and procedural differences to achieve the commander’s intent. The final task for the company was to wrestle back control of a village from the clutches of the insurgents.
1 RIFLES Op TORAL 8
medals Pde
Despite the conditions the parade was a huge success
Lt Heath training
The final task for the company was to wrestle back control of a village from the clutches of the insurgents.
Despite limited experience in night operations the company successfully inserted at night for a dawn attack. On H-hour the company methodically cleared the village and within an hour the village was clear.
The closing ceremony was the final serial. We were able to show-off the wonders of Stonehenge and our bugling abilities. The however Indians demonstrated their spectac- ular martial arts and dancing which even the Brigadier was enticed to get involved in!
The exercise allowed both parties to reflect on their shared histories including wars fought together. It also gave Riflemen the chance to practice working alongside foreign nations and overcome some of the frictions which that entails. It is certainly not an exercise any of those involved are likely to forget soon.
Lt John Heath, B Coy
with the Indian Army
RIFLES The Bugle 11