Page 55 - The Royal Lancers Chapka 2018

REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL LANCERS (QUEEN ELIZABETHS’ OWN) 53 Catering Department
2018 has been an extremely busy and testing year for the Roy- al Lancers Catering Department. We have deployed on an abundance of exercises, an operational tour of Cyprus, executed many regimental functions and even taken part in catering com- petitions. We have said farwell to several members of the de- partment and also welcomed a few. Acting Sergeant Magson de- parted on promotion to The 4th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland, and we said goodbye to Private Allen on leaving the Army. The department welcomed in Sergeant Holmes, Corporal Tress, Lance Corporal Catton and Privates Spence, Hunt and Brankin.
Operation TOSCA and the build-up to deployment were the department’s main effort. Those members to deploy were Staff Sergeant Smith, Sergeants Magson and Holmes, Corporals Sa- hai and Tress, Lance Corporals Arckless and Wake and Private Spence. They were also joined by Corporal Black, 5 Medical Regiment; Corporals Hunter and Gurung, 1 Royal Regiment of Fusiliers; Corporal Gurung and Private Houghton, The Prin- cess of Wales’s Royal Regiment; Lance Corporal Gurung Scots Guards and Private Sherwood, Household Cavalry. All attended the ARB at Nescliffe Training Area with Corporal Tress, Lance Corporal Wake and Private Spence in order to cater and take part in the MRX.
Once in theatre, the department integrated into operational life well. It oversaw the day to day running of the catering facilities, high profile functions and events in addition to taking part in all activities and even running training days to benefit the Regi- ment. We took part in the takeover of authority parade, inter sector sports competition, ran improvised cooking lessons and lead a healthy lifestyle campaign. We even undertook various rolls in the messes.
Not all our time during the tour was occupied with work. Whilst deployed, members of the department had chances to take part in various activities on the island. Private Spence took part in ‘Ride the Buffer Zone’ and the ‘Run Under The Moon’ Race, Corporal Sahai took part in Sky Diving and Cor-
poral Tress represented the Regimental basketball team against the Turkish Forces. Members of the de- partment also achieved a foundation qualification in either mountain biking or rock climbing. Meanwhile, Private Lang deployed to
BATUS in support of the King’s Royal Hussars’ battle group in May, predom- inantly working out of Crowfoot Kitchen.
Sergeant Holmes listening to Danger Zone
The remainder of the department stayed in Catterick as part of the Rear Operations Group. This included Sergeant Elliott, Lance Corporals White and Catton and Privates Allen, Hunt, Lang and Brankin. The Department undertook several func- tions for welfare and a light aid detachment function for the Ar- tificer Sergeant Major’s dine out held up in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical hangars, in addition to managing the catering elements in barracks.
On return from operations, the department re-as- sumed the catering operation of Cambrai Barracks and started planning for the medals parade and
all the functions leading up to Christmas.
Private Spence’s “run under the moon”
Promotions
2018 has proven to be a good year for pro- motions in the Catering Department. We have seen acting Sergeant Mag- son and Corporal Tress selected for promotion to sergeant and Lance
Corporal Wake to Corporal.
Staff Sergeant Smith in fancy dress
Sergeant Magson’s Improvised Cooking Lessons