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1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards
the evenings enjoying. A superb time was had by the entire team, and it was a great opportunity to recuperate and relax after the arduous deployment on Op NEWCOMBE 2.
Ex EAGLE EAGLE
Another April expedition was the C Squadron Golf team going on tour to the Algarve in Portugal and playing the Carvoeiro Golfe Club. The trip started with an early start at the airport and the obligatory early morning coffee/pint. Here the team convened and, due to the airport workforce crisis, had plenty of time to talk about their swings and how they would try to get birdies and eagles. It was clear after the warmup round that most of the team were indeed deluded and that just getting the ball in the correct direction was the main priority. Sergeant Major Taylor claimed at one stage that he ‘would never play again’ and was off to sell his clubs. Fortu- nately, the team were back on form for the subsequent matches. Lance Corporal Lewis scored the best overall throughout the week and despite slander from Corporal Harrison, Lance Corporal Lewis also managed to make the most of his handicap to take 2nd place throughout the week. Captain Seb Maxell deserves special praise for not only surviving the C Squadron banter for a week but for also losing more golf balls than the rest of the entire team combined. Whilst the author is unable to verify, Captain Cooper claims to have scored an Eagle (apparently a good score in golf) on the final hole of the week, during a closely fought battle with Sergeant Major Davies 220. Overall, the week was a brilliant week of compet- itive and well-natured golf played in the sunshine and set the golf team up for future opportunities and success.
Ex SEA EAGLE
Ex SEA EAGLE or Exercise ‘Seagull’ as it became affectionally known was designed to provide members of C Squadron with the opportunity to test their sailing skills and earn some sailing qualifications. After jumping through the required paperwork challenges and a particularly frustrating Lifejacket legis- lation debacle, it was plain sailing from there, and officers and soldiers from the squadron set off for the Dalmatian Coast in Croatia. The plan was ruth- lessly simple – a week exploring the islands which make up much of Croatia’s coastline. The sailing was progressive, starting with boat familiarisation and the learning of technical elements, and knots, progressing to the more complex elements of sailing. Typically, when the knowledge and experience was at its lowest, the crew experienced a Croatian storm, but they thankfully managed to negotiate it and learnt some valuable
Parade Prep
skills. Once the storm clouds had cleared, the crew settled into a good rhythm, getting to grips with life on board ship. Time was provided at the end of each day for the crew to jump ship and explore the many islands which dominate the region. Over the course of the week and under the excellent tutelage of Lieutenant Toby Clark, the crew perfected their roles and responsibilities, consistently showing up other crews in the harbour at the end of each day. The self-pro- claimed ‘long-range sailing patrol’ saw the crew visit four separate islands and even stumble across a decommissioned soviet era nuclear submarine pen! With tans topped up and thirsts quenched, the team headed back to the UK after a thor- oughly enjoyable week.
Ex RUCKING DRAGOON
On a glorious summer’s Friday afternoon, the C Squadron rugby team departed for Dendermonde in Belgium to take part in the annual Flanders 10s rugby tour- nament. This international tournament encompasses the full spectrum of rugby, from the beer drinking rugby clubs to the fully professional rugby athletes and international veterans. The C Squadron team under the guidance of Sergeant De Jongh could hold its own at both ends of the spectrum, being able to enjoy the local beer at times but also playing compet- itive and good quality rugby. The team entered into the ‘Social Cup’ which is a social tournament played in the spirit of rugby, despite some of the games being fiercely contested and including some of the greats of the game. Throughout the week, the team played six games, winning three, drawing one and losing two. These games included playing a team of French ballerinas, through to a German military team. In the evenings all the teams would come together for entertainment, the highlight being when all 3000 people joined together in the central tent for the prize giving; this event showed the wide ranging and varied audience which attends and how the game bought people together from across the world.
The team used the journey back from Dendermonde as an opportunity to visit the various battlefields in the region. This included the site of Waterloo and the pivotal battles of both the First and Second World Wars. Spending a full day
Op BALLAM
visiting the battle of Waterloo, learning how the Regimental forebears valiantly fought was an experience which the team will not forget – a poignant end to the week.
Ex URBAN EAGLE
After a series of post tour activities, including presentations, leave and adventure training, as spring turned to summer, the Squadron began to focus on a return to soldering. On 23 May, C Squadron deployed to Corsham Mines Training Area, part of the Salis- bury Plain training estate. The purpose of this deployment was to conduct a dismounted urban exercise focussed on building core knowledge in this battlefield discipline. The deployment to Corsham Mines had followed a week of in-camp training, increasing the overall capa- bility of the Squadron prior to operating in more complex terrain. The Corsham Mine complex is made up of 284 acres of underground tunnels and rooms, perfect for testing soldiers in multifaceted terrain with limited communications and no natural light. Soldiers initially practiced in Fire Team groups before progressing to Section, Troop and finally Squadron serials.
C Squadron, the first QDG Squadron to have operated in these mines, proved their capacity and capability to operate in this demanding terrain. The environ- ment tested every level of command and showed that from Trooper to Squadron Leader, each person was integral to the battle and would have to seek ways of adding value at all times. Particu- larly important were the Corporals and Lance Corporals leading their fire teams and sections, all of whom performed incredibly well given the lack of previous training in the environment. The week proved to be a huge success and verified the ability for Light Cavalry formations to operate in the urban environment. Whilst this remains primarily an infantry tasking, C Squadron demonstrated QDG soldiers can be asked to fulfil any task asked of them to a very high standard.
Whilst deployed on Ex URBAN EAGLE, three members of the Squadron were fortunate to head to London for the day to be part of the United Nations Peace Keeping day in Whitehall. This was attended by numerous personnel from not only the British Army but other