Page 20 - Cavalry Regiment

20 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards
LCpl Rowlands at one with the assault bike
Attention now turned to the second major dismounted serial of the year: the
Cambrian Patrol.
for Waterloo and the Regimental 60th, of which more elsewhere in this Journal. C Sqn’s role was to provide the camouflage and weapons stands for the Families’ Day. Of note, Brig Richmond presented SSM WO2 Ruddy with a commenda- tion at the parade and SQMS Walker was a proud member of the colour party for both the parade and at Llandaff Cathedral. Over this time we took part in the Luck Cup and, thanks to some forgettable results, battled to third place overall, but managed wins in the warrior fitness led by LCpl Rowlands and netball led by LCpl Old. I am not sure how those two disciplines go together, but clearly they do.
Attention now turned to the second major dismounted serial of the year: the Cambrian Patrol. C Sqn had been tasked by the CO to enter ‘at least one’ team and we were determined to send two. With a certain amount of previous experience in the Sqn, we ran four weeks of training in July for all of us with the intention to whittle numbers down to a squad during a selection exercise after summer leave. Other requirements and injuries grad- ually crept up on us, however, and the main draw on our manpower after leave was supporting Ex Wessex Storm RLS and range team where the rest of the Regiment was playing enemy. However in between this we fitted in some more Cambrian training, notably an excellent exercise in the Black Mountains run by Sgt Davies 220 and a team-led yomp round the Peak District in (mostly) mis- leadingly fantastic weather.
Just prior to the actual event we greeted the Swiss Special Forces team whom we were hosting at Robertson for the last week, giving them some training in the SA80 and British reporting procedures. Despite courses and injuries forcing a few last minute changes, our two teams deployed to Wales with confidence high. It was to be dented soon after moving off, however, as bad weather and inju- ries took their toll. The first team, led by Lt Groome and Cpl Howells, lost three members before the water crossing – but pushed on to complete the challenge with only five and still managed to get a bronze. Lt Cooper and LCpl Smith’s team lost two early on but still managed a silver. Both teams were bitterly disap- pointed not to get the top prize but those who finished had shown guts and deter- mination in the face of the odds, not to mention military skills, that they should
Winning the shield
The victorious warrior fitness team