Page 79 - Cavalry Regiment

The Regimental Journal of The Light Dragoons
B Squadron – The Guards
2019 has been a very different year, such is the oscillating nature that Army life brings us. In some respects, it feels like it has been a quieter year, but as I reel off the various events and sig- nificant moments, one realises that it has been a different kind of busy. Whilst it may have been touched upon in last year’s journal it’s worth
highlighting the Sqn’s efforts on Ex ASKARI STORM (Kenya). As the months have gone by, it becomes ever more apparent that our deployment to Kenya was very special. For many of those Cpls and below, Kenya was an entirely new experience, both within the Army, but in life too. For a few, travel outside of Europe was novel and for some individuals this was their first time out of the UK. Ex ASKARI STORM offered an opportunity to play enemy to 1LANCS – the war of the roses mk2 was on... However, there was very little ‘play’ about it as the exercise proved to be arduous, challenging and serious. The Sqn developed their dismounted skills immeasurably, going toe-to-toe with a Light Role Infantry Battalion was no small feat and the guys and girls did a fantastic job. The sights, sounds, smells and the odd Tusca beer were a real joy, not to mention the abundance in wildlife.
Back to camp and back to the reality of a year without any more Overseas Training Exercises. A challenge in a different form presented itself with the Regiment receiving an inspection of its kit and equipment. B Sqn had for some time covered the com- mitment to the Joint Expeditionary Force Light Brigade (bit of a mouthful), which meant we had been held at readiness and impor-
OC 2IC SSM
tantly, held the fleet of vehicles (Jackal and Coyote). This meant much ‘spannering’ on the tank park and a constant drive to keep the vehicle availability over 90%. The team worked exceptionally hard and were a credit to the Regiment passing the LEA with fly- ing colours. All work and no play make Jack a dull boy and so it was that we headed en masse to Wales for some Regimentally-run AT. It was a change to Newquay, but a fantastic package including canyoning (jumping off cliffs into a river), climbing Mt Snowdon, mountain biking and climbing. The experience in river environ- ments served us well as B Sqn contributed significantly to the relief at Whaley Bridge, where floods caused a dam to burst. Lt Strawbridge, Sgt Hartin and others led a team filling sandbags and reassuring locals. One flood followed another and in a matter of weeks members of B Sqn would again deploy, but this time to give
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