Page 15 - Cavalry Regiment

1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards
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LCpl Knuckey briefly interrupts looking in the mirror to look at the camera
completing several activities ranging from white water kayaking to rock climbing, a great way for the Sqn to relax and let off some steam after their toils in the African heat just weeks before. After AT, the Sqn found itself having an unexpected two more weeks in Kenya, courtesy of the upheaval in Sudan. The extra time, though frustrating, allowed individuals from the Sqn to further explore the local culture, sights and attractions before all returning home for some much-antici- pated and well deserved Easter leave.
Leave, a time that was relaxing for many but not the SSM and SQMS who decided it was a good idea to run the London Marathon with a 20 kg stretcher. An unthinkable task to many with words such as hideous and disgusting being just a few of the terms I have heard them use to describe the experience. Regardless of this they completed the Marathon in a little over seven hours – an exceptional achievement.
Following leave, the Sqn swiftly found itself preparing to deploy again, this time to Warcop for the Regimental range package. The Sqn deployed in May ready for a week of dismounted ranges followed by a week of mounted ranges. The dismounted ranges saw a progres- sion of firing up to section level Live Fire Tactical Training, allowing the Troop Leaders to get muddy leading the sec- tion attacks. The mounted week saw the Sqn progress up to section Live Fire Exercise 6. The progression of shoot- ing enabled the Sqn to hold a number of competitions to determine the best
The mounted week saw the Sqn progress up to section
Live Fire Exercise 6.
At full alert
crew/driver/operator. Top Annual Crew Test was won in typical style by the SSM WO2 Thomas commanding with LCpl Knuckey operating and Tpr Hopkins driving. Tpr Hopkins also won the top driver award, nimbly moving his Jackal across the range. Finally, the top oper- ator award was won by Tpr Moore 318 who shot exceptionally well for the whole week. The Sqn returned from ranges with a four week run up to Summer Leave, a chance to enjoy camp routine, sum- mer parties and the generally outstand- ing Norfolk summer weather. The Sqn secured the Luck Cup being presented this alongside several other awards for Sqn personnel most notably two 7 Brigade Commander Commendations: one for the Sqn clerk Pte Limbu AGC for all his hard work when in RHQ transfer- ring the Regiment to the new computer system and to B Sqn SQMS SSgt Davies for his exceptional performance through- out his tenure. Before leave commenced it was also time to change Sqn Ldrs with Maj Duncan Wiggins, departing to start Staff College, handing over to Maj Ben Matthews and also Capt Harry Russell providing vital continuity as the Sqn 2IC role also swapped hands from Capt George Jackson to Capt Joe Kite.
It was, however, during Summer Leave that the Regiment received the sad news of the death of Tpr Sion Rosier of B Sqn. Completely unexpected, this shocked the Sqn to the core, and it is admirable the way the soldiers reacted, conducting themselves outstandingly. Be they his close friends who were on guard at the time the news arrived or those who bal- anced the family’s wishes and supported them while also preparing the Sqn for Ex Wessex Storm 4/19 the team rose to the challenge such awful events present. The team of mixed Sqn soldiers did a superb job supporting his very well attended funeral at Llandaff Cathedral where Sion was provided the best send-off possible by the Regiment.
‘King’ of health and safety
Radio Joe