Page 39 - The Royal Lancers Chapka 2017

REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL LANCERS (QUEEN ELIZABETHS’ OWN) 37
Corporal Hills asks Staff Sergeant Nunn, ‘what Regiment are you from then?’
number of vehicles from across the UK to allow all four Sabre Squadrons to manoeuvre from Catterick and into the Scottish borders. This task was not without frictions and headaches, as we corralled over 150 vehicles to supplement our own unit hold- ings. When totalled up we calculated that we had driven around the world with enough ‘spare change’ to get us to South Africa. I’ll stress that this was actually just getting the vehicles to camp (never mind training upon them). We managed to pull togeth- er the fleet with all the necessary inspections and radio checks done, with just hours to spare prior to H-Hour. It is agreed this was a close-run-thing, however, we managed it and the Regiment then proceeded to exercise in the North of England for the next three weeks. The task of handing all the vehicles and equipment back to their original custodians is not something I will bore you with, but it was more painful than collecting the kit in the first place, as you might imagine!
Pre-loading stores ready for Exercise NORTHERN LANCER
Corporal Smith contemplates, ‘I wonder if all these batteries could power camp?’ – QM(T) Ans: Yes
Staff Sergeant Cholerton wonders, ‘what does this red button do?’
The challenge of supplying logistics to support the Regiment at various locations around the UK has taken thought, skill and sweat from all members of the Quartermaster Technical’s De- partment. Nobody has been found slacking. The Regiment now prepares for our deployment to Cyprus as part of the United Na- tions Force in Cyprus, so ‘Tech’, as ever, re-focussed on to the next challenge. This will be my last Chapka article writing for the department before I hand over to my successor Captain Jon Ryan, a good friend of many years (and hopefully many to come after this handover). I will reflect upon my last two years fondly as I have learned so much and will use this knowledge to help me in my next appointment. As the Quartermaster Technical of The Royal Lancers I could not be more proud to have known and operated alongside such a dedicated and hardworking team – thank you.
MJ
The Tech Team sorting vehicles parts for Squadron Fitter Sections prior to Exercise NORTHERN LANCER
The QM(T) is frightened as Sergeant Davies lifts heavy snow in his company car. The recovery mechanics were quickly dispatched a short time after this photo was taken.