Page 11 - QARANC Vol 17 No 1 2019

chemical warfare has taken place. At each site, group members provided some background information before exploring the sites independently. The full impact of this war was felt by personnel; whether this was because of sheer numbers, or understanding the effects of the brutality of chemical warfare, it was hard to pinpoint. Each cemetery contained a record book of all the names listed and a key for where to find them, with one of our group successfully locating a relative.
After returning to the hotel in Ypres for a quick change into ceremonial dress, we then headed over to the Menin Gate for the evening ceremony. This ceremony is undertaken by the Last Post Association nightly, and is attended by members of the public. However, we attended this ceremony not as spectators but on parade. Group members from all three Services laid wreaths in memory of the fallen and a recital of the ‘Ode of Remembrance’ from the poem ‘For the Fallen’ by Laurence Binyon was delivered by Corporal Barter. We all felt truly privileged to stand proud and represent the military in all three Services on such a solemn yet humbling parade in front of so many people.
On the final day, our group visited Talbot House in Poperinge which was a clubhouse established by Chaplain Philip ‘Tubby’ Clayton for soldiers as a ‘Home from Home’ to and from the front lines. Here we were treated to tea, coffee and the hidden talents of Corporal Cross and Warrant Officer 2 Beech on the piano. This was a good way of seeing how the R&R of Troops was managed, helping to increase the mental resilience of the Soldiers and Officers embroiled in these trying times. Our final stop before the journey back home was the Poperinge execution cells and public execution post, which is also commemorated at the National Arboretum in the ‘Shot at Dawn’ Memorial. Here, reality hit home about the stress that this Great War had on soldiers.
This battlefield tour has helped members of the JHG(S) Preceptorship Programme to have an understanding of how the Great War has had an impact on a myriad of different aspects of today’s operations. It was an educational, enlightening, but most of all, humbling experience.
Corporal L Barter and Corporal M Bonnen
THE GAZETTE QARANC 9
Exercise Dragon Natrix
Ex DRAGON NATRIX 1 (22 – 28 September 2018) saw eight members of Defence Medical Services (Whittington) pit themselves against 50 miles of the River Wye and the vagaries of British early autumn weather. The exercise aimed to introduce novice canoeists to the joys of self-supported open canoe touring while at the same time provide the opportunity for participants to train and be assessed for the Joint Services Adventurous Training Scheme’s Open Canoe 2-Star Foundation (O2F) qualification. It was set to be a busy seven days.
The group comprised two instructors (Colonel Tony Crook and Warrant Officer 2 Ed Hargreaves), and personnel from the Royal Navy and Army. This instructor-to-student ratio was ideal to maximise solo boating opportunities for all.
Due to the living-in-the-field nature of the exercise it was necessary to cover pre-deployment study in advance. An essential aspect of this study was a lesson on personal gear and most importantly how to pack so gear stays dry - there’s nothing more likely to lower morale than a wet sleeping bag! Additional training included familiarisation of driving and reversing with a trailer as well as a practical test. This spectacle was conducted on the parade square in full view of the cookhouse, providing diners with an
amusing form of entertainment.
With final packing and preparation undertaken, it was a cold, dark and drizzly Saturday morning when the team set off to the first campsite at Witney on Wye. Notwithstanding a Satnav that thought ‘close-ish’ was good enough, on arrival at the campsite we were the sole occupants and it didn’t take long to set up tents around a central messing awning. Some of the participants had never camped before, so learning how to put up a tent was lesson number one. In line with our plan, the original intention had been to undertake an introduction to tandem boating in the afternoon and, with camp established, we all ventured
down to assess river conditions.
The River Wye is the UK’s 5th longest river and is considered part of British canoe and kayak paddling heritage. Ordinarily its meandering and occasionally tumbling waters provide the perfect setting for an introductory river canoe trip. The river is mostly flat with a few ‘riffles’ and faster flowing sections for excitement. In average weather conditions the normal level of the river is between 0.17 and 0.2 metres. On Saturday 22 September the river at Witney was running at an average depth of... 3.07 metres! We all stood on the bank, looking at the fast flowing, swirling, murky brown water and wondered what we’d let
ourselves in for.
One of Adventure Training’s key principles is the controlled exposure to risk and the instructors rapidly adapted the programme to suit the conditions. Rather than undertake tandem boating and capsize drills, it was assessed that lashing the canoes into rafts would provide a more stable and controlled introduction to the river.
The afternoon’s activities commenced with a short drive ten miles upstream from the campsite. With the canoes unloaded to the water’s edge, Colonel Crook nobly volunteered to throw himself into the river so we could practice river bank rescue by deploying throwing lines. We all lined up and down the bank, spaced at roughly 10- yard intervals, knowing that Colonel Tony had entered the water round the river bend and out of sight. As he appeared, it’s fair to say he was going at quite a lick in the fast flowing current and it immediately became clear that if we didn’t get a rope to him, he’d be some miles downstream in no time. This added excitement proved too much for the first thrower (who’ll remain nameless). Her yell of ‘swimmer’ was followed by an adrenaline-fuelled throw which saw the line arc gracefully upwards like a firework before landing with a thud in the field behind her. The next two throwing lines made it into the river but not close enough. Thankfully, blessed with sheer fluke and possibly an eye on the report he’d have to write