Page 28 - The Royal Lancers Chapka 2017

26 REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL LANCERS (QUEEN ELIZABETHS’ OWN)
C Squadron Boxing Team
it is to C Squadron troopers. That said, the delights of Aviemore made up for it; Lance Corporal Hawkins continuing a theme with company directors.
When not on dating apps, the Squadron Second-in-Command managed to navigate the Adventurous Training Risk Assessment System – tricky for an economist – and took a crew out to sail around Cyprus (think Limassol). Luckily the Commanding Of- ficer spoke to him about ‘honey trapping’ and his thumb enjoyed a well-earned rest from ‘side-swiping’.
After bouncing from Scotland and Cyprus though an Equip- ment Inspection, the Squadron deployed on an Observation Post exercise in the Yorkshire Dales. Thanks to the Honour- able Tom Orde Powlett, members of the Squadron spent a week trying to locate a hidden Russian communications node located somewhere between the Wensleydale Heiffer and Lord Bolton’s ample front garden. With timeliness only the RAF are known for, 100 Squadron RAF and a bottle of Regimental Champagne soon crippled m’Lords Russian tendencies as said communica- tions node was removed with a surgical strike from 10000 feet, queued by Lancers in a wet hole in Capple Bank on the side of Penhill. The highlight of the week was seeing Corporal Pipe after being scared by a bull and having to dig through a sheer rock escarpment to get ‘eyes on’.
The real highlight of the year was a Regimental (re)deployment back to the simulators. CSTTX was the first time the Squadron Headquarters had really been tested in 2017. While one particu- lar member of C Squadron had their Tinder profile scrutinised by the Commanding Officer, the Squadron exercised as part of a Royal Lancer Bttlegroup and Sergeant Miles perfected the art of screaming at COMBAT terminals.
A well-earned period of leave came to an end with deployment on Exercise NORTHERN LANCER. It was a chance for the
Another Horendotab for C Squadron’s Anti-tank Troop - thanks Lieutenant Gardner for volunteering for ‘Reserve’
Squadron to return to some more reconnaissance routes and, at the same time, test some junior crew commanders whilst not on CVR(T). The Squadron were fortunate to be accommo- dated in vacant sheep barns in the Borders and taste the culi- nary delicacies of Greater Newcastle. A real highlight was the urban Observation Post conducted among the oblivious citi- zens of Stockton-on-Tees with some successful insertions and some sneaky extractions. The crack-addict Indian restaurant owning drum and base fan, remained oblivious as the Squadron Sergeant Major, Officer Commanding and Trooper Cheetham- Pasquier infiltrated in to sponsor the Emergency Rendezvous on extraction. His shock as their rover turned up almost trumped the Officer Commanding’s when he made the mistake of looking in said Trooper’s shower on his block inspection.
With a deployment on Salisbury Plain looming in the form of a BOWMAN user acceptance trial straight after Exercise NORTHERN LANCER, the Squadron took the opportunity to let their hare down. The final social event of the 2017 calendar was a Squadron outing to Newcastle Dogs. It was a chance for the Squadron to don their best flat caps and have a flutter at the racing. In what has to be the most forward-thinking activity of any Lancer, a member of C Squadron realised it was possible to sponsor a race. The ‘Neil Foot-Tapping Cycling Apprecia- tion Trophy’ was run as the penultimate race to great cheers and some bemusement. Luckily Trooper Allinson made it back on the bus and didn’t have to walk through any married quarters.
C Squadron on Salisbury Plain on Exercise MONS LANCER