Page 41 - Cavalry Regiment

The Regimental Journal of The King’s Royal Hussars 13
Ready for some leave
the presence of numerous uniformed helpers at the festival, was very well received across the country. The French Company also sang but were most impressive when singing to their ambassador during their Bastille Day celebrations. British voices were heard again, however, during the ‘Tapa’s Got Talent’ contest, where the house band raised the roof to a rapturous crowd.
Back on their tanks, A Squadron deployed on Ex CRIMSON COMEBACK to allow their new Squadron Ldr, Maj Ben McNeil, a chance to shake out this new team before battlegroup efforts focussed on running a Potential JNCO cadre in Tapa Camp for KRH troopers, Engineer sappers and Royal Artillery gunners. The Foreign Legion left to be replaced by French marines from No.5 Coy 1st Marine Infantry Regiment. Visits from the Estonian Prime Minister, who spent his time in the turret sending self- ies to the new British PM, Boris Johnson, and GOC 3 (UK) Div rounded off the quieter summer period for the BG.
On return from leave, B Squadron deployed to Germany with 1 R WELSH for their CSTTX in Sennelager. C Squadron prepared the tank fleet for Exercise CRIMSON REACTOR, where their crews brushed up on the basics of armoured soldiering on Salisbury Plain. In Estonia, there was a return to Adazi ranges in Latvia for live firing. Although a tracer-ban forced last minute changes to the plan, a lot of firing was achieved and an impromptu train- ing exercise alongside Slovakian, Italian and Canadian troops showed just how good at operating alongside allies the KRH had become. This was further cemented at the end of September dur- ing Exercise CRIMSON MARSOUINS, a battlegroup exercise to test how well the new No.5 Coy had integrated: they passed with resounding success.
The first NATO pan-Baltic boxing contest showcased the box- ing talent of the battlegroup against fighters from Canada and the USA. Hard-fought contests in front of a very vocal crowd will remain in the minds of everyone present for a long time to come. 3rd Troop A Squadron missed the big night as they were in Latvia, competing in another NATO tank competition, but they made it back in time for a dinner night and a final opportunity to show off mess dress to our allies. Thoughts then turned to the imminent arrival of the QRH and Operation TRACTABLE, the deployment of their equipment by road, rail and boat to Estonia.
As the Quartermaster (Technical) and the Operations Officer became embroiled in the complexities of the deployment, Lieutenant Alex Worth was leading his B Squadron team to
win a silver medal on CAMBRIAN PATROL, outperforming many of the infantry teams in a dismounted patrol competition. Lieutenant Beatrice Ormerod’s troop were also in the limelight as they provided the armoured punch to the Army’s Combat Power Demonstration in Copehill Down Village. At the same time C Squadron were again supporting the Land Warfare Centre in training another group of new tank commanders on Exercises COMBAT TEAM and TEAM SPIRIT while they also took a group to Monte Cassino to study that famous battle.
By the time the regiment celebrated Balaklava day the first flights had already left Estonia. Although it was a slightly more muted celebration than normal, gunfire was still enjoyed and ‘The Charge of The Light Brigade’ film was shown in the Tapa cook- house. B and C Squadrons celebrated in better style, with gunfire, a viewing of the movie and a Balaklava dinner in the Officers’ Mess; the Emperor having made it back from Estonia just in time to close out the meal.
The handover to the QRH concluded with Exercise ESTONIAN HUSSAR, a tactical handover orchestrated by the sub-units. This included a demonstration of fighting in woods and forests by an A Squadron combat team in front of Commander Field Army, Lieutenant General Ivan Jones; he was the final official visitor before the flag-change the next day. Less an unfortunate few who remained in Estonia to load the boat with vehicles, soldiers departed for the UK shortly thereafter.
Operation CABRIT 4 had been so much more than anyone could have expected. Alongside the vast training opportunities – from Ex SPRING STORM, to live firing, survival training and battle- field studies – there were other benefits: kayaking, sailing, “fat biking”, marathons, IronMan, obstacle races, huge numbers of triathlons, playing rugby for the Tallinn team across the Baltic, playing football with the local children; representing NATO at air shows, fetes, Rally Estonia and further afield; representing the UK aboard HMS KENT and alongside the Ambassador in her residence; paddle boarding across the country or joining the local shoot; sauna culture and the Song and Dance Festival; play- ing in the battlegroup band, trying stand-up comedy for the first time, cycling home to the UK for charity or just exploring the country and meeting the people... the only limit was imagination and enthusiasm. The opportunity for personal development was profound.
As the year concluded, C Squadron went back to Castlemartin at the end of the year, joined by five QRH crews, to conduct their annual firing camp. Their return to camp after three weeks in Wales coincided with the return of the KRH battlegroup person- nel to work after a week of post-tour leave and the Regiment was together again for the first time in two years. Some significant socialising followed as might be expected: the Officers’ Dinner in London; the WOs’ and Sergeants’ Mess Ramnuggur Ball; the Officers’ Mess winter ball, and the children’s’ Christmas party (a little harder to enjoy, with the previous nights’ revellers hav- ing decidedly heavy heads that morning). There was then the full, traditional run-up to Christmas: the Regimental carol ser- vice (with another superb sermon from the Padre), Major Paul Taylor’s All Ranks Party, and the Brackenbury Trophy football match between the Troopers and the JNCOs. Troops departed in good spirits, leaving the officers and SNCOs to celebrate the end of the year together.
2020 looks to be another exciting year, full of new and varied chal- lenges. Whatever happens, the conditions have been set for the
KRH to excel once again.
RDD