Page 25 - Cavalry Regiment

Quartermaster Department
1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards
25
In line with pretty much every other arti- cle, “It’s been another busy year”.
From a department perspective, it’s fair to say we’ve been stripped, stretched, bashed and bruised trying to meet the needs of the Regiment deploying far and wide, with most incumbents having to step up and down out of their comfort zones. But through some weird stroke of luck (potentially) we have within reason not been found wanting, but let’s be hon- est, G4 just happens doesn’t it?
From supporting the Live Firing Ranges in Warcop to deploying pretty much the entire Regiment out the door as OPFOR on Ex Askari Storm (BATUK), then sub- sequently on Ex Wessex Storm (SPTA), we have collectively driven in ensuring that the logistical needs of the Regiment have not only been met but surpassed. Although everyone will swing a lantern, none of this is easy these days, with Whole Fleet Management restricting the availability of vehicles and equipment at Regimental Duty, so the team often finds itself travelling at short notice the length and breadth of the country, beg- ging, borrowing and stealing (not in the literal sense) to support the multiple and overlapping activities the Regiment are involved in.
Capt (Bongo) Davies managed to find time within his busy rugby calendar to deploy on Op Cabrit as the NSE Commander, where he oversaw the build-up and smooth HOTO between A Sqn and the Scots DG, no mean feat given the com- plexities in theatre and the sheer quantity of vehicles and equipment. He was also quite rightly selected as the Head Coach of the UKAF U23 as well as the Backs Coach of the Army U23, positions that have not only seen the respective teams improve but have spread the benefit to the Regimental Rugby Team who have gone from strength to strength in what can only be described as an exceptional season.
With a new closure date of 2031 for Robertson Barracks, Capt (Chris) Homewood was set the task of trying to sort some of the legacy funding issues that have seen the camp fall slightly below the standard expected. As you can imagine getting the sums of money required out of the system to achieve this is no mean feat, but through some nar- ratively strong emails and business case submissions it looks like the site will be a hive of activity in 2020, from a com- plete revamp of the SLA for the ORs, to an upgraded armoury to support the storage of the Heavy Weapons, the list remains endless and limitless – if you can imagine it, then we will always see if we can make it happen.
The team is quite clearly what makes the whole thing succeed, with a couple of G4 stalwarts returning from ERE in Sgts (Kieran) Taylor and (Sky) Korovulavula and the new blood freshening things up with WO2 (John) Davies and SSgts (Boxer) Davies and (Al) Pope RLC all coming into the fold. After the comple- tion of Op Cabrit (Poland) in Apr 19, the department was lucky enough to addi- tionally welcome LCpl (Gary) Brennan and Tpr (Joshua) Tucker and the one and only Tpr (Lukas) Davies, all of whom have added real value and much needed humour around the place.
Every new arrival is often sadly as a result of somebody else moving on to pastures new. It was pleasing to see now WO2 (Tom) Hughes move on as MTWO, although it is still a rarity for him not to be found wondering around the QM building daily. After what seemed like an
Every new arrival is often sadly as a result of somebody
else moving on to pastures new.
“Hello, QM Dept, how may we help you?”
Yet another social
eternity, SSgt (Jigme) Lama left to return to the comforts of an RLC unit, it’s safe to say both he and his culinary prow- ess will be missed (mmm, momos). Sgt (Kevin) Young decided that he needed yet another post at ERE, this time in Cyprus where clearly, he will be hiding in the shadows of the sun trying to avoid being burnt, very similar to his time in post at RD... Sgt (James) Sudlow came and went in quick order, with everyone still wondering exactly what it was he did? One of the biggest losses was in Tpr (Luke) Kemp, a seasoned soldier whose work ethic and capacity far exceeded that of the rank he achieved. We ulti- mately wish them all the very best and hope to see them succeed in the future, be that in service or as a dirty civilian.
In summary, the department as whole has changed significantly over the past 12 months, as have the work and results we are expected to achieve and com- plete on a daily basis. The team works tirelessly and often well after everyone else has knocked off for the day to accomplish this. It is testament to what they produce and the environment they have created that we have JNCOs and soldiers from the Sabre Sqns knocking on the door to see if there are any posi- tions available – something unknown of historically.
Rigid organisation in the QM hangar
CLH