DEC
1980
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The Journal of
THE QUEEN'S REGIMENT
UNCONQUERED I SERVE
Vol. 14, No. 2 December, 1980
Battle Honours borne on The Colours
The R egimental Colour:
"Tangier, 1662-80," "Namur, 1695," "Gibraltar, 1704-5", "Blenhei.Jn," "Ramillies," "Malplaquet,"
"Dettingen," "Louisburg," "Guadeloupe, 1759," "Quebec, 1759," "Martinique, 1762," "St. Lucia,
1778,'' ''Seringapatam,'' ''Maida,'' ''Vimiera,'' ''Corunna,'' ''Douro,'' ''Talavera,'' ''Albuhera,''
''Almaraz,'' ''Badajoz,'' ''Salamanca,'' ''Vittoria,'' ''Afghanistan, 1839,'' ''Punniar'','' ''Moodkee,''
''Sobraon,'' ''lnkennan,'' ''Sevastopol,'' ''Lucknow,'' ''Taku Forts,'' ''New Zealand,'' ''South Africa,
1879," "Nile, 1884-85," "Burma, 1885-87," "Chitral," "Relief of Ladysmith," "Relief of Kimberley,"
"South Africa, 1899-1902," "Korea, 1950-51."
The Quee11 's Colour:
"Mons," "Marne, 1914-18," "Aisne, 1914," "Ypres, 1914-15-16-17-18," "Hill 60," "Festubert, 1915,"
"Somme,1916, 18," "Albert,1916,18," "Vi.Jny,1917," "Cambrai,1917,18," "HindenburgLine," "Italy,
1917-18," "Macedonia, 1915-18," "Gallipoli, 1915," "Gaza," "Jerusalem," "Palestine, 1917-18,"
"Defence ofKut al Amara," "Mesopotamia, 1915-18"," "N.W. Frontier India, 1915, 1916-17," "Dunkirk,
1940," "Normandy Landing," "North West Europe, 1940, 44-45," "Abyssinia, 1941," "Omars," "Alam
el Halfa," "El Alamein," "Longstop Hill, 1943," "North Africa, 1940-43," "Sicily, 1943," "Sangro,"
"Salerno," "Anzio," "Cassino," "Italy, 1943-45," "Malta, 1940-42," "Malaya, 1941-42," "Hong Kong, "
"Defence of Kohi.Jna," "Burma, 1943-45."
Allied Colo11els-in-Chief
HER ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCESS JULIANA of the Netherlands
HER MAJESTY QUEEN MARGRETHE 11 of Denmark
Colonel of Th e Regiment: Maj .-General R. S. N. MANS, CBE
Deputy Colonel of Th e Regiment: Brigadier H . C . MILLMAN , OBE, ADC
2 The Canadian Armed Forces-
ALLIANCES The Queen's York Rangers (RCAC)
The South Alberta Light Horse (RCAC)
AFFILIATIONS The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada
The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment
1st Battalion The Royal New Brunswick Regiment (Carleton & York)
The Essex and Kent Scottish
The Australian Military Forces-
The Royal New South Wales Regiment
The University of New South Wales Regiment
The Royal Western Australia Regiment
The New Zealand Army-
2nd Battalion (Canterbury, Nelson, Mar!borough and West Coast)
The Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment
5th Battalion (Wellington West Coast and Taranaki) The Royal New
Zealand Infantry Regiment
The Pakistan Army-
12th, 14th 15th and 17th Battalions, The Punjab Regiment
Hong K ong-
The Royal Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers)
HMS Excellent, HMS K ent and HMS Brighton
The Royal Marines (A "Bond of Friendship ")
The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
The Royal Anglian Regiment
The King's Own Scottish Borderers
No. 3 Squadron (Harriers) Royal Air Force
The Royal Danish Life Guards (An "Unofficial Alliance' }
AFFILIATED UNITS OF THE CADET FORCE
C. C. F. School Contingents
(A(G(kEHCirrlnadoasngirtmnrst'ehegsmeral)bySam;ruc)HhrCS;yocaoC)oh;mlllro,eSapognttCl.eob;;anrJRnooSotGohetyk.nrraba'SlsAmucGlrShomyrcoy;aahosmrioKlu;omSislCncaghr(CraLsooStnoeollcallne;hetihoggHGeoehri;lrghaS(heBGmcaghrudmaio)igtloe;ahdlrt;SfSootSDcn.rhcduhLo)Cl;oowaoolSw;illicl;rreHhegLRnueCcaor;enosgtcleCplCiernihogeMgielrcl;pehaCognEeoeiswanltlseto(etRrogbCedaoHo;mu'slirlMsgenSggheicaelhtlC;eSo)oHToc;lhlihlTole(legSohelaSJe;;nucdSdhHCwodkaooiiblncSlle;nhycr)eehdR;rroase'SossetlhSd. eVsc(ErThIsdSoo'mcoFnAhlbouosrr(nkoimTdedl;gu''ssenCRSS)boe;ccrlihhTilgdeooahggooteeeell
Wells); Tonbridge School; Whitgift School; William Ellis School; Wilsons Grammar School.
A . C.F. Units/Sub-Units Cadet Coys. Nos . 25 and 26.
Greater London: Nos. 194 (Hounslow), 195 (Staines), 205 (Willesden), 2 11 (Edgware), 225
Cadet Coys. (Tottenham), 226 (Hornsey).
N.E. London Sector Nos. 133, 141 , 143, 151, 152, 153, 155, 161 to 165,167
Cadet Coys. 1st, 2nd and 5th Cadet Bns., The Queen's Regiment (Surrey A.C .F.).
N. W. London Sector Cadet Bns. 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Cadet Bns., The Queen 's Regiment (Kent A. C. F.).
Cadet Bns. Nos. 2 (Seaford), 3 (Hastings), 4 (Lewes), 6 (Crawley), 7 (Chichester), 8
S. W. London Sector Cadet Pis. (Crowborough), 10 (Eastbourne), 11 (Horsham), 13 (Shoreham), 14
(Bex hill), 15 (Brighton), 16 (Hurstpierpoint), 17 (Bognor), 18
Surrey: (Littlehampton), 20 (Lewes OGS), 22 (Tilgate), Mayfield College.
Kent :
Sussex:
3
REGIMENTAL HEADQUARTERS
Howe Barracks, Canterbury, Kent (Tel.: 57411)
Regimental Secretary: Col. ] . N. Shipster, CBE, DSO (Ext. 295)
Assistant Regimemal Secretary: Maj. G. U. Weymouth, MBE (Ext. 250)
Financial Secretary & Sussex Affairs: Maj. E. A. M cCarchy (Ext. 251)
Archives & Surrey Affairs: Maj. F. ] . Reed (Ext. 253)
Association and Kent Affairs: Maj. H. C. L. Tennent (Ext. 252)
Recruiting, Admin. and Middx. Affairs: Maj. R . Waite (Ext. 254)
Regimental Careers Officer: Maj. M. P. Lawson (Ext . 255)
OC RIT: Capt. M. ]. Ay/ward, MBE (Maidstone Mil Ext. 292)
REGULAR BATTALIONS
1st Battalion
Howe Barracks CO: Lt.-Col. D. J. C. Dickins, MBE
Canterbury, Kent(*)
(*)In Belize (BFPO 12) until 6110 Apr '81
2nd Battalion Op Banner (to 3 Aug. CO: Lt. Col. P. de S. Barrow
'80) CO: Lt. Col. G . Bulloch, MBE
Hyderabad Barracks
Colchester, Essex C02 7NZ
3rd Battalion
Connaught Barracks
Dover, Kent
5th (V) Battalion TAVR BATTALIONS
Leros T &AVR Centre
Sturry Road CO: Lt. Col. R. C. B. Dixon, TD
Canterbury, Kent. Hon. Col: Col. H . H . Prince
Georg of Denmark, KCVO
6th/7th (V) Battalion
Norfolk TA Centre CO: Lt. Col. M. J. Dudding
Denne Road
Horsham, Sussex. Hon . Col: Col. D. A. H.
Sime, OBE, MC, TD
QUEEN'S DIVISION DEPOT
Bassingbourn Barracks Reg. Rep : Maj . P. P. Critchley
Royston, Hens SG8 SLX
4
Editor: contents
Major G . U. Weymouth,
M .B.E. (Ret 'd .)
Regimental Headquaners,
Howe Barracks,
Canterbury, Kent.
Cap Badge Message from the Colonel of The Regiment Page
Collar Badge Editorial. .. ...
Forecast of Events 1981 5
Button Mainly About People ... 7
The Ist Battalion ... 8
The 2nd Battalion 9
Senior NCOs Location List 13
The 3rd Battalion 19
The 5th (Volunteer) Battalion 25
The 6th/7th (Volunteer) Battalion ...
Display of Colours and Silver ... 29
IJLB Shornchffe ... 35
JSB Taunton ...
UDR 41
Regimental Secretary's Notes ... 42/43
The Rt Hon The Lord Mayor
" The Queens Regt and The Lord Mayor of London" 50
RCO 's Report 51
Regimental Representative, Denmark ...
Alliances ... 51
Regimental Association 52
The Grand Reunion, 3 Aug 1980 53
Letters 54
Officers' Club 56
The Golfing Society
Divisional Beating of Retreat , 1981 57
Book Reviews 57
The County Association 57
Marriages and Deaths 58
Obituaries 61
"Op Agila" ... 62
Regimental Shop .. . 62
Journal Order Form 63
64
65
73
74
77
81
83
Printers : COVER PICTURE
Kent County Printers A channing picture of Her Majesty Queen
Canterbury. Herne Bay and Margrethe, our Allied Colonel-in-Chief, during
Her visit to Howe Barracks, Canterbury, on 19
Deal, Kent June , 1980.
Picture by PR HQ UKLF
5
~~~~~~~~~~~
I i)!} <!Cbristmas :message
i
From the Colonel of the Regiment
~
"An o ld so ldi er and an old priest.
i One has devo ted himse lf to his co un try on ea rth and the oth er to his cou ntry in Heaven"
~. ~.· Victor Hugo
-~ I believe that it is appropriate at Christmastide for us, as soldiers-both
young and old-to ponder for a moment on the relationship between our calling
-~· · and our Religion . Some people find it strange that the profession of Arms can
have any affinity with Christian ethics.
·1
Whilst serving in Canada some years ago, I recall doorstep discussions with
~~. the youthful disciples ofJehovah's Witnesses and, to their surprise, I emphasised
that soldiers live closer to God than most. Many a soldier has prayed for the first
-~· time, and prayed hard, when the shot and shell fell about him .
~- The first Colonel of one of our founding Regiments-the Earl of
Peterborough-put the soldiers' priorities succinctly in his Standing Orders: he
·1i~ told his men to follow their three Duties-To God; to their Sovereign, and to
their comrades.
~~. ·
I find much affinity between the true spirit of Christianity and what the i
. British soldier is called upon to do in the present troubled world. He makes a
. major contribution to the continuing freedom of our way of life and, at the same ~. -
time, he keeps the Peace: however uneasy this latter task may be he has,
~ nevertheless, prevented wholesale mayhem both in Ulster over the past decade ~~
and in Zimbabwe earlier this year. Moreover, the soldier understands the true
~~~. ·. meaning of the Christian principle of the Brotherhood of Man. We call it ~
:~.· stak~ritishComradeship and we rely on each other implicitly, often when life itself is at ~. ll.
soldiers need have no qualms about a conflict between their ~
~~ profession and the Christian belief: on the contrary, by protecting our own
essential freedoms and preserving them for others, they are closer to the real ·
teaching of Christ than are many others who profess to follow His lead, but,
when the crunch comes, look for an easier road. i~
M y Best Wishes to you all for a very happy Christmas and a rewarding N ew ;·
Year; and es pecially to All Ranks of the 1st Battalion
se parated from each other this Christmastide; a very ;a~ned~~th:e~iref:am:i~lites;wthhoemar.e ~
~~ Major-General
Colonel of The Regiment
~~
6
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It can also be made in silver, or set with gems-and there are regimental
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of jewellery and other gifts.
Ask the Military Department for a copy ofthe Garrard Catalogue.
Prices arc subject to adjustment due to Enquire about tax-free overseas prices.
flu ctuating costs of precious metals.
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112 REGENT STREET · LONDON WIA 2)) · TELEPHONE : 01 -734 7020
7
EDITORIAL
Our thirteenth year has been a very full one and the fact that all three of our regular
battalions were home-based in 1980 makes it an unique one too . Our families, however,
might consider the term "home-based" a bit of a misnomer, for professional soldiers do not
'stay put' for very long during a UK tour.
The highlight of the year was undoubtedly the visit of our charming Allied Colonel-in-
Chief-Queen Mar.grethe-to the Regimental "Home" on 19 June, details of which appear
elsewhere . The 1st Bn "hosted" this memorable occasion with their usual efficiency and
with the desired emphasis on informality. Other important events in which the 1st were
involved were the provision of a strong representation at HMS Excellent's !50th
Anniversary celebrations at Whale Island in June; a Royal Guard of Honour for HM The
Queen Mother in July when, as Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, She visited Hythe; and
the Grand Reunion of Old Comrades on Sun 3 Aug.
The 2nd Bn returned to Colchester in August after a quiet (and therefore successful)
tour in North Armagh during which, unhappily, Pte Ellis lost a foot from terrorist action.
Soon after this, the Battalion took part in Exercise "Crusader" and, although they are now
on "Spearhead", we trust they will have a happy Christmas united with their families . In
November they are off to Cyprus for a six month's tour with the United National Force.
The 3rd Bn seem to have enjoyed their training in Canada (June/July); also during the
year, elements were able to fly out to Cyprus and Belize for short spells. In Feb/March, the
Battalion moves to BAOR (Fallingbostel) and we wish them all a truly happy and successful
tour.
Lt-Col Richard Dixon (a 'Territorial') took over command of the 5th(V) Bn on 3 Oct.
from Lt-Col Simon Boucher (congratulations to the latter on becoming a "Freeman" of the
City of London recently). Next Summer, the Battalion look forward to training in Denmark
as part of the UK Mobile Force exercising with Maj-Gen Reynolds ' NATO European ACE
Mobile Force.
The 6th/7th (V) Bn took part in the much-publicised UK Home defence exercise this
year and are now preparing for their big parade in July-the presentation of new Colours at
Ardingly by Lavinia, Duchess of Norfolk.
This year's Lord Mayor's Procession on 8 Nov was particularly significant in that the
Regiment- by special request of Col Sir Ronald Gardner-Thorpe, the new incumbent (and 2
former Buff)-participated in strength; a separate article covering this event appears
e ls ew her e .
. For many, the year will also be remembered with sadness by the untimely deaths of HH
Pnncess Anne of Denmark, Lt-Col John Pollard and Maj Jack East and we send to those
who mourn their passing most, our heartfelt sympathy .
Finally, I would like to convey to all our readers, and particularly to all those on whom I
rely heavily for producing this Journal, a very happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
8
Forecast of Events 1981
January Aug. 1 QUEENS Open Day (for City of
16 Regimental Assn. Exec. Committee 1 Howe Barracks,
Canterbury)
Meeting & AGM, London 2 Grand Reunion,
(provisional) ·
February
10 Sobraon Day (1st Bn.)
March September
4-8 3 QUEENS move to Fallingbostel, BFPO 8 Regtl Golf: match v. Queen's Own Buffs
38 G.S. Epsom
6 R. Sussex Officers Reunion, London
14 Football League Cup Final: Bands and Sevastopol Day (2nd Bn)
Drums of 1 and 2 QUEENS 9 Salerno Day (1st Bn)
13 Quebec Day (3rd Bn)
20 Queen's Own Buffs Assn Service of
Remembrance and Reunion, Canterbury
April 1 QUEENS return from Belize October
6/10 R Sussex Assn St. George's Day Service and 2 R Sussex Officers Dinner, Arundel Castle
23 9 Queen's Surreys Officers' Club Luncheon,
Reception, Chichester
25 R Sussex Assn Reunion Dinner and AGM, London (provisional)
Lewes I 0/11 Cadet Force Officers Weekend, Shorncliffe
May 15/16 Queen's Surreys G .S. Autumn Meeting,
1 Queen's Surreys G.S. Spring Meeting and
AGM, Richmond Richmond
10 R Sussex Assn Aubers Ridge Parade and 16 Officers' Club Cocktail Party,
Service, Lewes
16 Albuhera Day Haberdashers Hall
21 Queen 's Own Royal West Kent Officers' Club
Cocktail Party, Army and Navy Club November
30/31 "Glorious First ofJune" celebrations, with 6 Queen's Surreys Assn Annual Reunion, U nion
HMS Excellent, Howe Bks, Canterbury
31 R Sussex Cricket match, Arundel Castle jack Club, London
7 Lord Mayor's Procession
8 Queen's Surreys Assn . Remembrance Day
Parades, Guildford and Kingston
27 2 QUEENS tour with UNICYP, Cyprus
June "Glorious First of June"-(lst Bn.)
1 Bands and Drums of Queens Div. Beating
9-11 Retreat on Horse Guards (Queen's Regt.
14 Night on the 9th)
Queen's Surreys Assn Annual Church Service,
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Guildford Cathedral
The Editor acknowledges, with thanks, receipt of the
July fo llowing publications;-
Between 1 July and 5 Aug (date to be arranged)
Globe & Laurel, May-Aug., Sep.-Oct. '80
2 QUEENS exercise the " Privilege" in the The Fusilier, Jun . '80
City of London Legion (Canada), Jun.-Oct. '80
The Cadet Journal & Gazette, Jun . '80
! (pm) Grand ConceM by Bands of The Regt at SSAFA News, Summer & Autumn '80
Civic Hall, Guildford (in aid of the ABF) Blesmag, Jul and Oct. '80
British Army Review, Aug . '80
4 6/7 QUEENS Annual Camp, (to 18th) Queen's Coy. USB Taunton) Newsletter, Mar ./Aug . '80
7 Queen's Surreys G .S. match v. Royal Marines, Invicta (2nd Bn 's. News letter from N. Armagh,
Richmond Apr.-Aug. '80
16 6/7 QUEENS Presentation of new Colours, The Die-Hards Newsletter, Jun . '80
The Queen's Div. Newsletter, Oct. '80
Ardingly Showground Queen's Surreys Newsletter, Nov . '80
17 Queen's Own Royal West Kent Officers' Club
Dinner
18 Laying-up of old RWK (TA) Colours,
Maidstone
28 1 QUEENS "Free dom " march ,
Canterbury
28-1
Aug . R Sussex Assn, Goodwood Races
29 Canterbury Cricket Week (to 4 Aug)
3011 Folkestone Tattoo
Mainly About People 9
Maj.-Gen. M. F. Reynolds has been granted an Promotions in 1981
Audience with HM Queen Margrethe on 7 Jan '81 in To Brig: Col. P. D. Johnson
Cope nhag en To Col: Lt.-Col. j. G. W. Davidson
To Lt.-Col: Majs. M. R. I. Constantine and I. G.
New Hon. Colonel
Lt.-Col. A. Colin Cole, CVO, TD, Garter Baillie
Principal King of Arms is to be Hon. Col. of 6/7 Command Appointments in 1981
QUEENS vice Col. D. A. H. Sime, OBE, MC, TD on I Maj. P. F. Packham, MBE-2nd Bn. in Mar. '81
Aug. '81 (subject to confirmation by MOD) Maj. R. H. Graham, MBE-3rd Bn. in July '81
Maj . I. G. Baillie-Div. Depot in July '81
Honours and Awards Maj. j. R. G. Putnam, TD-6th/7th (V) Bn. in Aug.
BEM: Cpl. C . M. Bishop (1st Bn.) '81
TA Efficiency Decoration: Maj. G. W. Evans Lt.-Col. R. W. Acworth-10 UDR in Sep. '81
(5th Bn.)
Exchange Appointments
C-in-C's Commendation: Cpl. M. Gordon, Cpl. Lt. K. S. Hames (lst Bn.) is to be our exchange
K. San>1s, Pte. A. Foster and Pte. D . Pettitt (all 2nd Bn.)
officer with The Royal Marines (vice Capt. T. J.
Promotions (30 Jun. '80) to substantive rank
Brig. B. G. Marciandi, OBE; Lt.-Col. A. C. Ward; Hurley) in Sep. '8 1
Lt.·Col. M. J. Williams Staff Appointments (ex Staff CoUege)
Maj . R. A. M. Christmas-DAAG, DAR, MOD
Appointments Maj. J. A. B. Salmon-GS02 Def. Secretariat,
Brig. H . C . Millman, OBE, ADC was appointed
MOD
Aide de Camp to H.M. The Queen, on 29 Oct. He is A/Maj. M . C. Willis-GS02 Hohne Garrison
remaining as Divisional Brigadier until early 1983.
Degree Courses
Lt.-Col. P. H . Courtenay-GSO! D Ops NAT02 The following officers gained BSc 2/2 Hons. degrees
ACDS (Ops) MOD on 8 Oct. '80
following courses at Universities as stated:
Col. M . V. Hayward, OBE-AAG Ml(A), MOD on Lt. P. J. Newman (2nd Bn.)-Econ. and Politics
4 Dec. '80
(Southampton)
Lt.-Col. P. V. Panton-GSOI (SD) HQ UKLF in 2/Lt. M. J. S. Dunham (RMAS)-Econ. (Cardiff)
Dec '80 2/Lt. A. J. P. C. Wilson (RMAS-Pol. Se.
Lt.-Col. D. D . Fisher, MBE-GSO! (Red Comd.) (Birmingham)
RARDE in Jan . '81
Course Gradings
Brig. D. R. Bishop, MBE-Col. GS Dl3,
MOD-Mar. '8 1 ''Distinguished''
2/Lt. G. F. Bourne (1st Bn.) on PI. Comd's Course;
Col. C. L. Tarver, MBE-Senior Directing Staff,
NDC-Mar. '8 1 Sch. ofinf.
Lt. J. Barr (3rd Bn.) on Milan (Officers) Course
Lt.·Col. M . R. Tarver, CO 2RRF-GSO I (Author)
Staff College, Camberley, Aug '81 "A" Grading (all 3rd Bn.)
Lt. C. T. Bromfield-Service Funds Accounts
Lt.·Col. H . N . Tarver, CO SUDR-DS at RMCS L/Cpl. C. L. Anderson-Regt. Med. Assistant,
Lt.·Col. S. M. Boucher-GSOI (Psy/Ops) JWW, Class 3
NDC, in Apr. '81 W02 C. Garton-RQMS Course
Lt.-Col. C. G. Champion-GSOI (Trg . Doctrine) Shooting
Fort Monroe Virginia, USA, May '8 1 A team from 6/7 QUEENS won the SE Dist. TA
Col. G . G . Strong-Tour as Col. GS SHAPE Inter-Unit Championships at Ash Ranges on 25 May '80
extended to Aug. '83 In the Colonel Commandant's 1980 TA Shooting
Lt. -Col. G . Bulloch, MBE-GSOI (lnt.) HQ I (BR) Competition, 6/7 QUEENS came first and 5 QUEENS
Corps in Aug . '8 1 came fifth
Lt.-Col. (Col. in '81) j . G . W. Davidson - Col. AQ, Sport
HQ British Forces Hong Kong, Jan . '81 Capt. R. M. Jackson _(RCMS) and 2/Lt. J. P. B.
Regt. Rep. RMAS
Martm (3rd Bn.) played cncket for the Army during the
Capt. R. j . Knight (vice Capt. R. M . Jackson) on 8 1980 season
Dec. '80
10 Exiles
John W. Boston (formerly 3rd Bn.) is now an airline
"Mainly About People"-concinued
pilot and lives in California, USA
Regimental Sergeant Majors' "Musical Chairs"
Since publication of the last Journal, a number of Staff Training
A record number of Regimental officers are either at
changes in RSMs have occurred:
1 QUEENS: WOI D . Jamieson has handed over to Staff Colleges or will be attending same in 1981 : Maj . D.
C. F. Gouda is at the Belgium SC and Maj . ]. D .
WO I A. Hill; the former is to be RSM at The Divisional Jonklaas is at the Italian SC. Those going to Camberley
Depot in March . in '81 are (in alphabetical order): Capt. M . W. Allington,
Majs. A. W. Barratt, P. M. H . McGill, P. R. P. Howe
2 QUEENS: WOI M. J. Aylward, MBE has been and P. D . McLelland, Capts. R. M . Jackson, J. G.
commissioned and now commands The Regiment 's MacWilliam and A. C. Mieville and Maj. D. R. Pollard
Information Team. His successor is WOI V. D. Ebbens,
formerly of the 1st Bn but his last tour of Regimental Civic Freedom
duty was with 3 R ANGLIAN . Lt.-Col. S. M . Boucher was granted the Freedom of
3 QUEENS: WOI T . S. Fisher is now a Capt the City of London on 22 Oct.
(QM) in the Battalion and WOI M. W. Wischhusen is
the RSM (having previously been RQMS). ACO, Canterbury
Lt.-Col. J. N . Shepherd, on retirement; is to be the
5 QUEENS: WOI ]. H . Can has been posted to
HQ AFCENT and his place taken by WO! D. H . Army Careers Officers at Raper Road, Canterbury on I
Moore from 5 UDR. Jan . '81
6/7 QUEENS: WO! J. A. C. Burr has left for 8
CTT; WO! B. F. Lively, BEM, formerly Drum Major
2 QUEENS, has succeeded him.
OLD FRIENDS MEET IN CANADA
Lt-Col (Retd) Peter Worthy, General Manager of A re-union on Vancouver Island, B.C. (I to r): Lt-
Madame Tussaud's and The London Planatarium Col Richard Talbot, Maj Stephen Petzing
with a new wax model of HM Queen Margrethe (seated), the Editor, and Capt Niel Pearce-pre-
which was placed in the Exhibition on 15 Oct. dinner drinks at the latter's lovely home at
Col Peur was a GS02 ac HQ Queen 's Div 1968-69; Firsc Syaney.
CO of The J ebel R egc, SAF 1970-72; and AAG che Queens
D1v 1973-75. H e recired in 1977 and, afcer a managemenc
studies course, began his ((second " career with M adame
T u ssa u ds.
Picture by Donald Southern
BRIGADES COME BACK TO BAOR 11
(MINISTRY OF DEFENCE NEWS RELEASE, increases in the establishment of either men or
27 OCT 1980) equipment: equally, other than very minimal expenses
(arising from such things as repainting signboards), no
The eight Task Forces of the British Army of the additional costs will be involved.
Rhine under I (BR) Corps are to be re-titled as
Armoured Brigades from I Jan 1981; at the same time, So far as the four Field Forces in the UK and the
the Berlin Field Force will be re-titled as the " Berlin Gurkha Field Force in Hong Kong are concerned, the
Infantry Brigade." Army Board has decided to postpone any re-titling until
further studies have been completed.
In 1974, in order to help find the manpower savings
then called for, the Army Restructuring Plan abolished VISITORS TO RHQ
the Brigade level of command in the Field Army.
Subsequent experience showed however that if Among chose who signed che visitors book ac RHQ since
operations were to be conducted effectively, an che last issue, were, (in order of signing):-
intermediate level of command between division and
battlegroup was a necessity. Therefore, in September Col. Sir Sven-Aage Iversen (Head of The Mil. Staff
'79, Task Forces at "one star" (Brigadier) command of HM The Queen of Denmark), Maj . and Mrs. Roddy
level were formally established; in effect, although by Mellotte, T. MacDermot and D . J. Clarkson (2
another name, the brigade level of command had RNZIR), Col. John Francis, D. Allen (ACSM
returned, but without restoring the brigade headquarters Shorncliffe), Lt.-Col. Alec MacGregor (CO Univ. ~SW
to anything like its former scale. Regt.) and Mrs. MacGregor, Maj . Chris Grove and
Mrs . Grove, The Colonel of The Regt., Maj . George
Historically, "one star" formations in the Field Faulkner (on retirement), Miss Anne Bindoff (Kentish
Army have been called Brigades. The title is an Gazette), Maj . Riber (Governor of Queen Margrethe's
honoured one and well-understood within the Army; it Summer Palace) and Mrs . Riber, Brig.Charles Millman,
is also a title that is used by all our allies in NATO to Lt.-Col. Tim Trotman, Lt.-Col. Richard Talbot (from
describe their own "one star" formations. There is no British Columbia), Maj. Peter Swanson, Maj. Cheuk
doubt that our re-introduction of Brigade titles will be (RHKR(V)), W02 J. P. Hamill, Maj. Peter Hubert,
whole-heartedly welcomed both within our own Army Maj . Robin Stratford-Tuke, Capt. Andrew Roberts,
and within NATO. James Polley (ULO (West)), Maj .-Gen . and Mrs .
Christopher Man, Maj.-Gen. Fergus Ling; and, from
This re-introduction will involve no internal re- The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada-Col. and Mrs.
organisation of units or movement of them and no
Elliott Dalton, Lt.-Col. J. F. Lake, Maj. W. J. Barnard,
WO I (RSM) E. R. and Mrs. Simundson.
~ntish ~azttte
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The 1st Battalion 13
Editorial STOP PRESS-Army Boxing Finals, 27 Nov 1980
THE battalion looked forward to the move versus 1 KINGS, in BAOR. Result-lost 7 to 4.
to UK and to a settled and peaceful life at everyone trying their hardest, but D Coy just managed
the Regimental Home and in the quietness of to pip the others with the 'March and Shoot' which
our own English countryside. Far from it; the clinched their award of Kirke's Banner for 1980-81.
battalion has continued the frantic pace oflife
that was such a feature of BAOR although We are now firmly ensconced in Belize taking our
there are considerable compensations and full share of mosquitos, snakes and hurricanes but
advantages of being in and around developing very respectable suntans for our return in
Canterbury. April.
Ceremonial featured largely in our lives during the HMS EXCELLENT
summer months . No sooner had the barralion serrled
into Howe Barracks on return from leave, than Holland by Maj. P. R. Hitchcock
Coy., together with our own Band and Drums and the
Band of the 2nd Bn., moved to Portsmouth to rake pan "You know that as I don't like big parties", the 2IC
in HMS Excellent 's celebration of their ISO years at said, " I wasn't there; where are the notes on HMS
Whale Island; this fortunately coincided with the annual Excellent?" "Well," I replied, "I have wrirren them in
"Glorious First of June" celebrations, covered later in draft three times and I have lost them but I will, if you
these notes . keep insisting so nicely, try again." So here we are: for
those of you whose knowledge of Regimental History is
Having completed that 'run ashore', the barralion confined to the thought that the RSM was at the barrle
was honoured by the visit of HM Queen Margrethe. of Inkerman (or if he wasn't, he should have been), here
She, as usual, charmed everyone by her gracious is a burst of instant history. (Old readers may skip this).
informality and is always a most welcome visitor. The
third and final piece of ceremonial for the summer was in 1794, Thomas Atkin's forebe3rs were serving on
the visit of HM Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother in board HM Ships of the Line keeping the 'Frogs' in their
Her capacity as Lord Warden of the Cinque Pons. With proper place. Across the Atlantic came a supply convoy
the inclement weather blustering about the ranks, it of grain ships to feed the said starving Frogs (probably
must surely go on record as one of the shortest Royal with a load of garlic as well) and to prevent them was a
Guards of Honour in history; eight minutes from British Fleet commanded by Admiral Lord Howe
beginning to end! (Sorry-the barracks are named after a different ' Howe').
The Admiral, whose job was to sink the convoy, could
In between these ceremonial duties, we feverishly not keep his mind on such mundane matters; desiring a
prepared for our Belize tour and shook aside the heavy punch-up, he went off and sank the French Men O'War
diesel atmosphere of the mechanised conege for the who had sailed from harbour with the intention of
sprightly (spritely?) minuet of jungle warfare. Mixed up getting sunk (or winning-whichever came first) . This
with cadres and courses were the final events to decide gallant action, because it happened on the first day in
the Kirke's Coy Competition: the deciding event took June (and allowed the grain ships to reach harbour and
place on the day before the Advanced Party left for thereby prolong the war by 21 years) is known as the
Belize and the actual award was made by the Garrison " Glorious First of June" . Well, it was a good punch up .
Commander 30 minutes before the party left Howe
Barracks! It was a hotly contested competition with Since then, the successors of The Queen's Regt.
have barrled against the Royal Navy once a year
HMS EXCELLENT, JUNE 1980 (officially) in celebration. 1980 is the !50th Anniversary
1. HRH The Prince of Wales inspects the 1st Bn of the founding of HMS Excellent, which took over the
traditions of HMS Queen Charlotce wot'ad bin the
contingent commanded by Maj P. R. Flagship of Lord Howe . (Are you with me stili ?-Good).
Hitchcock.
2. Band Sgt Major W02 Willis (1st Bn) shares a We, the 1st Bn., had been invited-as the umteen
joke with the Prince of Wales. great grandsons of Thomas Atkin's forebears-to help
3. In the wardroom before dinner (celebrating HMS Excellent celebrate this occasion (apart from
"The Glorious First") are (I to r): Lt-Col anything else, they were a bit pushed; jolly Jack Tar is
Dickins, Cdr Duncan Ellin, Mrs Dickins and not as easy to get as he used to be). Traditionally, The
Mrs Ellin. "Glorious First of June " is rarely celebrated on the
4. Part of the 1st Bn's mechanized element First, so on 7 June, under the command arrangements of
during the march past at the Pageant. Holland Coy but drawing on virtually every soldier of
the barralion who could not cry 'Cadre' fast enough 1
Pictures kindly supplied by HMS Excellent. QUEENS with the able assistance of the band of the 2'nd
Bn ., sent along 140 men to participate in the event and it
was, all in all, a very enoyable week . Apart from leaping
around on the trapezOid (The Navy calls it a square) in
Royal Dtvtstons for HRH The Prince of Wales the
battalion also produced a large proportion of the nightly
14 Captain and arranged by Lt. Cdr. Knapp, RN . The
latter is no stranger to the Regiment; he is the brother-
pageant. Lt. Nick Keyes, during the battle scene of in-law of Lt.-Col. John Davidson and is married to the
"The Queen's to the Rescue ", managed to embarrass no daughter of Gen. Fergus Ling, our last Colonel.
less than four ordinary admirals as well as Admiral of the Nepotism will out!
Fleet, The Lord Hill Norton, by skirmishing towards
the Saluting Box and giving an unscripted 'Eyes Right' Royal Divisions were a great success. The Royal
as his team marched past. Bandmaster 'Toscanini' Hills Navy Display Team who, amongst other tasks, mount
managed the Regimental bands so successfully that a masts and do the Window Ladder Display at the Royal
very Senior Officer was heard to say to his (Royal Tournament, provided the Naval Colour Party and
Marine) ADC, that "the Queen's band were better than Guard . A certain sense of competition became apparent
the Roya l Marine Band." C/Sgt. Jimmy Pyper as The Queen's Regt Guard showed them how to do
commanded the lighting group which manned the drill the modern way, (the Navy do all movements in
ancient but still generally reliable searchlights borrowed slow time!) HRH was SIJ impressed that he spent a long
from the TA Searchlight Troop. Cries of "Expose" and time chatting to members of the battalion at the Garden
"Douse" echoed round the square when, during Party afterwards and his ADC sent a signal from the
rehearsals, all communications failed. Maj. Michael Royal Yacht congratulating all those who took part.
Parker, the Pageant producer was most impressed with
the standard of expertise shown by the lighting operators The Cricket was not as successful as the remainder
(all younger than the equipment they were using!) Apart of the week but this could be attributed to the hospitality
from the long hours spent in rehearsing for Royal shown to us the preceding evening. It was a good match,
Divisions and the Pageant, interesting visits were made well supported by old members of the regiment and it
to HMS Kenc, (an affiliated ship) now a training ship in was just unfortunate that we lost by 1 wicket and 28
Portsmouth. Forty members of the Coy were lucky runs . It is hoped that we manage to retrieve the Rose
enough to be invited to lunch and a guided tour of the Bowl Trophy next year!
Royal Yacht, HMS Brittania, by kind permission of the
THE REGIMENTAL CRICKET XI (v. HMS Excellent, 14 June 1980)
(Back row : (I to r) Lt R . Walker, Cpl Alien, Maj I. Lt·Col J. G. W. Davidson (Captain), Capt A. N.
R. Jones, Cpl Nurse and L/Cpl Townsend. Armitage-Smith and Cpl Clarke.
Front: Maj R. H. Graham, MBE, Maj P .C. Cook,
Picture by HMS Excellent
15
BATTALION SHOOTING TEAM VISIT OF QUEEN MARGRETHE U OF
DENMARK
by Maj. R. Gancz
On the 19 June the Battalion was honoured by the
The shooting squad settled down to serious practice visit of our Allied Colonel-in-Chief. Her Majesty arrived
in March knowing that 'The Woofers ' and The Black in a helicopter of the Queen's Flight and was welcomed
Watch were also competing in 3 Div Skill at Arms on landing by the Colonel and Deputy Colonel of the
Meeting and that qualifying for Bisley would be more Regiment. The Commanding Officer, Lt.-Col. D. J. C.
difficult than last year. After more than our fair share of Dickins, MBE was presented and then Her Majesty was
disasters the team qualified, coming 4th out of 12 major greeted with a Royal Salute by a Guard of Honour
unit teams which were competing.
commanded by Capt. A. W. Russell.
On moving to Canterbury the team entered the S.E.
Dist Skill at Arms Meeting where the competition was After coffee in the Officers ' Mess the Allied Colonel-
much tougher. Cpls. Wright and Dunnicliffe and Ptes. in-Chief toured the Barracks, in the co1.1rse of which Her
Mackenzie and Fry won the Falling Plate competition Majesty most graciously consented to plant a
and the Battalion was placed 6th overall out of 17 teams. commemorative tree and also to meet members of the
Battalion and their families. She completed her 'walk
As the 2nd and 3rd Bns had unfortunately fallen by about' by meeting members of the Queen's Own Buffs
the wayside, we were the only regular Queen's battalion Old Comrades Association and was then entertained in
represented at Bisley this year. The standard, as always,
was very high and in only the second year of senous the Sergeants' Mess.
competition we came 35th out of the 64 major unit
teams competing, an improvement of 16 places on last After lunching in the Officers' Mess, Her Majesty
year. The team did consistently well in most of the many
competitions and achieved the following honours: Cpl. joined us on the square for a formal set photograph
Dunnicliffe (63rd in the Army 100); W02 Hill (1st
Short Range Sniper); W02 Hill, Cpl. Wright and Pte. before conti nuing Her day with a private visit to
Chambers (1st Short Range Sniper Team and 2nd Long
Range Sniper Team); Pte. Chambers (1st Sniper Canterbury. (see picru res overleaf)
Aggregate); Maj. Gancz (3rd Long Range Target Rifle);
W02 Hill and Cpl. Wright (SMG Match, both reached THE BISLEY TEAM
the last 75).
Back row: (I tor) L/Cpls Wright and Dunnicliffe,
Ptes Swain and Mackenzie. Front row: Cpl (now
Sgt) Lawson, Maj. Gancz, the CO, W02 Hill (now
RSM) and Cpl Turrell. (Pte Chambers-now
discharged-was also a member of the team).
..Jj
<
17
H.M. QUEEN MARGRETHE OF DENMARK WE , THE LIMBLESS
LOOK TO YOU FOR
VISITS THE HOME OF THE REGIMENT ON HELP
19th JUNE 1980 We come from both Help BLESMA . please .
world wars. We come We need money desper-
1. The Colonel of the Regt meets our Allied from Kenya, Malaya. ately. And , we promise
Colonel-in-Chief on arrival at Howe Aden. Cyprus . . and from you. not a penny of it
Barracks. Col H. H. Prince Georg, Honorary Ulster. From keep ing the will be wasted .
Colonel of 5 QUEENS, is on the right. peace no less than from
war we limbless look to Donations and informa-
2. Accompanied by the Guard Commander, you for help. tion : Major The Earl of
Capt A. W. Russell, the Queen inspects the And you can help . by Ancaster, KCVO. TD..
Royal Guard of Honour found by the resident helping our Association. Midland Bank Limited , 60
battalion, 1 QUEENS. BLESMA (the British West Smithfield . London
Limbless Ex - Service EClA 9DX.
3. H.M. begins her "walk-about" accompanied Men 's Association) looks
by the CO, Lt-Col David Dickins, MBE, The after the limble ss from
Colonel of the Regt and Col Sir Sven-Aage all the Services. it helps .
lverson, KCVO, chief of HM's Adjutants with advice and encour-
Staff.
agement, to overcome
4. A charming smile for the families. the shock of losing arm s.
5. The Queen plants a commemorative tree or legs or an eye . lt sees
that red-tape does not
outside Bn HQ. stand in the way of the
6. A representative party from The Queen's right entitlement to pen-
sion . And , for the se-
Own Buffs Assn (of whom She is Patron) is verely handicapped and
presented to the Queen outside the WOs' and the elderly. it provides
Sgts' mess. Residential Homes where
they can live in peace
Pictures by Kentish Gazette and dignity.
British Limbl·ess Ex-Service Men's Association
"GIVE TO THOSE WHO GAVE-PLEASE'
The Best Man was
Maj Piers Storie-
Pugh (6/7 QUEENS)
and the Guard of
Honour included
Capts N. H. Carter, H.
W. R. Eagan and M.
Featherstone and
Lieuts N. P. Keyes,
L. R. Edwards, A. J.
Cooper, Lt R. R.
Madeley, RM and
Lt J. G . James, 1 Para.
T h e marria ge of C apt Jonathan Riley, 1st Bn to Miss Kathryn Mary Beard on 17 May 1980 at St.
John the Baptist, Bathwick. ...
19
The 2nd Battalion
Editorial One of our major tasks on return from N. Ireland (in
LIFE in 2 QUEENS has been rather hectic the short period before the deployment to BAOR) was
the de-kitting of all vehicles of their NI macrolon but the
since our last contribution to this august M T PI. had this well organised, (they can de-kit a
journal. Even the planners at MOD and HQ vehicle quicker than certain subalterns can tie a bow tie!)
UKLF could not fit everything into our
calendar and as a result had to reduce our Much to our surprise, Ex "Crusader/Spearpoint"
planned four and a half month tour in N. was good fun and very worthwhile. The Battalion
Ireland to four months so that we could be deployed to BAOR after the remainder of 7 Field Force
deployed to BAOR on Ex. "Crusader!" With and, having previously decided that life in a rented city
only two working weeks in between, our at Reinsehlen Camp would not be much cop, moved
administrators were subjected to a testing directly into a 443 area for our "Spearpoint" work-up
time but the outcome we believe, can give us a where each Coy found suitable barn accommodation.
feeling of quiet satisfaction. After a week or so, we deployed with 7 Field Force for
the Exercise itself. The Battalion was able to prepare a
1. Pte Davis of B Coy on cordon duty in N. complete defensive position with mines, wire and
Ireland. overhead cover-something we haven't done in years;
we also carried out a dismounted attack and a helicopter
2. Ptes Yeomans, Southern and London (also of attack (in Chinooks) supported by helicopter gunships,
B Coy) deploy from a Lynx helicopter (N. FGA aircraft and artillery. The locals were very friendly
Ireland). and even seemed to enjoy us digging big holes in their
orchards!
3. Pte Succo (D Coy) in a roof-top sniper's
position in N. Ireland. Since our return we have plunged straight into a
series of cadres; JNCO 's, Signals, MT, Mortars, Anti
4. Pte Priddey (Int Sec) leads the way on Ex Tank and Snipers, all of which were, owing to our
"Spearpoint '80". exercise and operational commitments, long overdue.
5. Our Provost staff with some ' locals' (someone Despite the pressure of work, we managed to send a
hasn't told the PRO that it is "Amber party to help HMS Kent (at their invitation) to celebrate
Three"!) Trafalgar Day: the party of 8 officers, 12 SNCOs and 24
ORs led by the Bn. 2IC, played HMS Kent at rugby (a
6. The Mortar PI await helicopter pick-up (Ex satisfactory result) and soccer (the less said about the
"Spearpoint '80". result the better) and were royally entertained
Pictures 4 and 5 from Chatham News throughout .
In Ulster, the Battalion's TAOR encompassed some No summary of the Battalion's activities during this
460 square miles of Counties Armagh and Tyrone. A period would be complete without reference to our
Coy less 3 PI was based in Cookstown; B in Middletown wives-for we have just completed what amounts to a 6
and Keady; C in Armagh City; D Coy plus 3 PI. in month unaccompanied tour. The Wives Club activities
Dungannon and Coalisland, and Bn. HQ and Ech., have included a Revue staged at the Musket Club
colocated with C Coy, in Armagh City. In relation to involving 15·20 wives and a harrassed OC Rear Party; a
previous tours, we had an extremely quiet time although "G rand Draw" in aid of the Stoke Mandeville Appeal
each Coy had its share of major incidents. Over Fund which raised £550; and various outings to places of
3,000lbs. of explosive was found in the TAOR, interest .
I,600lbs. of it already in position as cu lvert bombs;
approximately 200 rounds were fired at us and about Looking back, one of the most satisfying aspects has
400 rounds were returned. Three weapons were been clearly the internal team spirit engendered by the
recovered. Not much, the old Ulster hands wi ll say, but pressures upon the Battalion, due, in no small part, to
in the light of the prevailing situation and methods of the fact that in the main we have been able to keep the
operating, it represents a very great deal of hard work by same teams throughout.
all ranks .
For the future: well, with Spearhead on the agenda
It was a sad blow to the Battalion when having (twice) and Cyprus looming on the horizon-not to
almost come through the tour with no casualties, Cpl. mention possible defence cuts-it looks as if the
Thompson of I RHF, the unit taking over from us, was Battalion will be as busy as ever.
killed and Pte Ellis of the Battalion seriously wounded
when the suspicious car they were investigating NORTHERN IRELAND-AN OFFICER'S DAy
exploded at the permanent VCP at Aughnacloy; sadly,
Pte. Ellis lost his left foot in the incident. by Lt. J. P. Noble
1230: I receive my early call and get ready to face the
dangers of being a soldier in Northern Ireland (starting
with the lunch meal).
1330: Time to call in and see the man with his finger
on the pulse (ho lder of the D Coy account) Capt. A. J.
20 " watchkeeping" so I asked the Operations Officer.
" What's watchkeeping?", he replied!
Roberts : he will task me with a highly important
mission, such as emptying one of the 16 fruit machines; 2330: The ' hot' line to Capt. Kestrel (chief knife
or, if he has time, he may give me a combat mission. fighter) rings . We have been allocated 600 vacancies for
Some rather unkind people say that, due to his lack of the Harry Secombe show in Armagh . It is unfortunate
'on the ground' experience, his tasks are a waste of time; that we cannot take up this offer but A Coy have a day
I can 't agree with this: tonight I have been told to lurk ofT from the squash league so they can help out; this is
the railway station, always a prime PIRA target. There arranged via the lemonade line to Cookstown.
hasn 't been a railway in Dungannon since 1908 but the
Ops Officer . is always right (though sometimes his grid 0005: The town centre is destroyed by blast
references can be a little bit out!) If he keeps sending us incendiaries. We don't react-probably a 'come on' .
into Southern Ireland to set up VCP's we 'll create a
pattern. 0120: At last a victim drives into our VCP so I ask
him the three standard questions: Is it his car? Would he
1410-1600: Drums Platoon Orders. like his car completely dismantled? Or, would he prefer
to buy a set of Queen 's Regt stamps? We have to take his
1630: The OC's conference starts. H e's a strange car to bits.
man who tends to stay in his office counting the money
in the company account. To help the company funds he Only another two months (or 20,000 sets of stamps)
works for the cha rwallah in the evenings making to go, whichever comes last! Luckily I am a Regular.
cheeseburgers . However, considering he is on loan from
the TA, he is doing very well; he seems to live in fear of THE PARABLE OF THE THREE
the man they call ' Niner! ' I have never met Niner GRAVELBELLIES
(subalterns tend to be scarce when Niner visits-almost
as scarce as C Coy incident reports!) The conference by Sgt. Feakins, Mor PI.
should be a short one, the Ops Officer only has 127
points to bring up; it is interesting to note he is wearing And it came to pass there were three young
his urban patrol boots and gloves (he will have to wear gravelbellies and the gravelbellies did walk great
them in somehow). Halfway through OC Anti Tank PI distances and wallow in mud, for such was the lot of
fall s to the floor asleep, though nobody appears to gravelbellies. And so one day the three young
notice . When it eventually comes to the subalterns ' turn gravelbellies did approach the wiser men and elders of
to speak only the OC Drums has anything to say: their Tribe, with great wailings and lamentations and
another five of his platoon (including the Drum Major) saying "we wish to learn great wisdoms, and ride in
have gone absent into the town . Fortunately the CSM vehicles and do Landrover cadres and wallow not in the
says Company HQ can fill in . mud."
1700-1730: I do my stag in the rear sanger. The Judgement of the Wise Men : And so the wise
Unfortunately she is still on holiday so I let a soldier take men presented their judgement saying " Go thou hence;
over . thou art posted to SP Coy where great wisdom doth
abound and where all men do drive around and do not
1730: I call in to see IO North, a figure of great have to wallow in mud ."
respect amongst subalterns, due to the high office he is
about to fill - Seagull Major. Though in NI he is very The Three Men Meet Captain: And so the three
casual with us subalterns, he is known (for reasons of men departed the~r tnbe and came thence to the land of
security) only by his code name FMT 3. There is a SP Coy And there stood before them a man with three
strong rumour that he is to be decorated at the end of the stars upon his shoulder who spake thus, saying "Thou
tour . Once, whilst travelling in his covert patrol vehicle, art welcome to SP Coy and thou hast a choice of which
he kept some schoolgirls under surveillance; at the saA-le tribe thou willst abide with, but thy choice is not subject
time a lorry driven by a terrorist attempted to run them to change nor amendment nor inter-platoon posting."
ove r. Fortunately FMT 3 managed to ram the back of And the three clamoured unto him whom they called
the lorry and saved the girls (of course the other reason captain saying "shew us the three tribes that we may
he must remain anonymous is so he can continue to decide with which we wouldst abide."
claim vast sums of money from the army) .
The First Path : And Captain took them along a path
1745: Eric (IO North 's link-man with the secret that was wide and fl at and called Drumming Practice,
seven) rushes into the office with a hot tip. FRI C, until they came to a place where were gathered a great
though only a L/C pl in the Pioneer Corps, commands multitude who did make a great noise and bore little
great res pect throughout the Int Ce ll (how does he grow evidence of long marches about them nor did they have
his hai r so long?). much mud from the trenches upon their countenance.
Apparently a female impersonator is to appea r at the The Second Path: And after shewing them these
Fea ther Clu b this evening . IO North immediately things Captain spake unto them saying "this is the tribe
of the Drums " and he shewed them then a second path,
rushes fo r his INT SUM . which was steep and covered with small stones, and
whose name was Anti-Tank cadre.
1800: I stop to talk to some of the COP in the
COM CEN; they turn out to be civi lian workers. Child Stays Behind : And the youngest of the three,
whose name was Child did quail at the sight of the path
1805: I m ake th e 73 rd amendm ent to and did say " I will stay with the tribe called Drums for
N ISOPs-' Bidd ing for squash courts '-by using the they make a loud and beautiful noise upon the Earth. "
shredding machi ne .
2 100: I start watchkeeping duties in the 'nerve
centre'-D Coy. Ops Room . I wanted a defin ition of
So it came to pass that only two ascended the second 21
path and came unto a place where there were many small
throngs gathered about and they would make a loud where a selection cadre was run; it was important that
noise and hurl projectiles great distances and always the platoon should consist of high-grade soldiers.
manage to just miss Tanks.
The main task of COP in N . Ireland was, as the title
And Captain spake unto them saying "this is the suggests, the close observation of selected targets; this
tribe of the Anti-Tanks." involves several skills not covered in normal infantry
training, not least the use of SLR Cameras. Individual
The Third Path: And then he shewed them a third skills had to be brought up to a high standard, for living
path that was exceedingly steep and difficult and covered under a bush for five days without being detected,
with boulders and this path was called Mortar cadre. requires extremely good fieldcraft and willpower. The
Boy Stays Behind: And some of the pair saw the NCOs, due to the complexity of the operations, spent
path and his heart grew faint and his name was Boy, and many hours preparing and delivering long sets of orders.
he spake, saying "here I will stay for this tribe be
powerful and always can just miss the Tanks." Most of the training took place in Colchester,
although the final polishing was done on courses run by
And so the last man ascended the third path and NITAT at Lydd . The COP moved to NI with our pre-
came unto the tribe called Mortars; and he was exhalted, advance party and had their final testing at Ballykinler
and called Motarmen and No. 3 and unto him was given with members of 2 Para whose gym staff tried to give us
the great wisdom of Netheravon. blisters by running over the sand dunes. However, the
range work and practice of drills were very valuable.
The Meeting in the Char Wallahs: And it came to
pass that the three did meet m the char wallahs. We arrived at Armagh on the 25 March, to be
welcomed by our counterparts from 16 AD Regt RA .
The Lamentations of Child: And Child did lament The main body was due to arrive a week later, so we
saying "My tribe are but childfen who get engaged at spent our time driving around our T AOR and patrolling
the drop of a hat and who eat all the eggs from the some of the main towns, in keen anticipation of carrying
cookhouse with no thought for others and do shout into out our first operation.
the radio when they need but speak and although my life
is better than a gravelbellies I am cursed and shall The first four weeks, were very disappointing, so,
remain childish for the rest of my days ." rather than having leave and guards, we spent most of
our time on border patrols (not nature rambles as some
The lot of Boy: And Boy spake saying "my lot is
better than thine for I am privy to the mysteries of thought). We had some fine weather and, after a friendly
Concentricity but even so I must toil searching for the farmer took it upon himself to educate us, we now know
Holy Scriptures of Codex which were lost, and when why cows need minerals . We also discovered that the
found must be chained to the body. And I am beset by term 'Farmer's Daughter Patrol' (chatting up farmers
strange tongues saying unto me "by gum" and "Ee lad" and their families) is a misnomer-we didn't find any
and the Big Nev, who has all the knowledge and 'daughters'!
incessantly tells me so, and so I must remain a Boy to the
end of my days." At the quarter point of the tour, we hadn 't shot
anyone, crashed any vehicles, or run over any old ladies,
The Exaltation of Mortarman: And Mortarman but work started to trickle in. (It's amazing how easy it is
cried unto them "0 cursed art thou who would not to build up trust with the intelligence agencies). Since
climb the third path, for I am exalted for I have climbed that time we were kept relatively busy and have been
the path called Mortar Cadre and have been given the quite successful. We tried to civilianise ourselves
laws of Deployment and Firepower; unto me are given although, after a while, the Regimental Sergeant Major
the knowledge of Fire Control and Plotting Procedures persuaded us that civilians do have short hair. R & R
and I am raised amongst men for I march not, neither do came and passed and some soldiers returned more tired
I wallow in the mud, but rather possess 76% of the than when they left; Our C/Sgt went to Germany to help
Battalions firepower and know the mysteries of Laser train the RHF and returned with his 'duty free'.
Rangefinder and travel in vehicles now and forever
more ." Whilst 'on patrol ' we learned that the countryside,
although very picturesque, is also very wet. On many
The Fruits of Being A Mortarman: As it was then so occasions a young lad had to be extracted from a peat
it is now, for he that will join SP Coy shall be exalted, bog and put at the rear of the formation-down wind! At
but he who joins the Mortars shall be called Mortarman the end of such operations we were welcomed back to
and Specialist and be blessed with Landrover cadres and our accomodation by our Admin NCO who resembles a
CP tents and shall sit in his vehicle whilst others toil in villian from a Victorian Melodrama.
the rain . So give thee thy transfer request to thy CSM
and thou shall be blessed likewise. At this point , the MT Dept. must be ment ioned: we
know that at times we were a pain , but their efforts are
IT'S A FAIR COP-OR SOCIETY'S TO BLAME
by an Anonymous Lieutenant appreciated (what a shame we didn 't get the cigar lighter
in the van). Talking of our van, the QM took a large
The Close Observation Platoon (COP for short) is mterest and we were very touched by his concern . Of
su re to be a new term to some; it is the odd piece of the course we had our platoon pin-up; she was constantly
jigsaw and as there is no establishment for such an wtth us and canng for us. Yes, it was our M O who
organisation, the 'standard ' was raised in Gibraltar adorned our Ops room, captured in Kodacrome, whilst
playmg football at Lydd . We had to do these zany things
in the quieter periods, and I extended the Platoon's
thanks to the old lady from East G rinstead who kept us
22 the notice you lot take of me!") The exercise area was
SW of H anover and some Coys in the Bn defensive area
supplied with a quantity of balaclavas and tins of plum were separated by more than 3km .-an ideal opportunity
cake. to get around and take photographs but unfortunately
fo r me, C Coy was detached to the Devon and Dorsets in
EX. "CRUSADER"-THE PR front of us. They had a much more interesting battle
PHOTOGRAPHER WRITES HOME than most with 2 bridges to guard, an American
Dear All , parachute drop to watch and a defensive position to dig;
Hope everyone 's well . I've just got back from the they were eventually overrun by the Americans but
exercise and am havi ng a well-earned long weekend on managed to stay in their position and inflict casualties
the 'patch' with Mary who is well and sends her love. I from platoon hides.
was on the first fl ight out on Sunday 7 Sept. and it was
the usual 'hurry up and wait' story. We were given a At this stage the visiting press arrived and we had to
meal and 3 packed lunches in the space of seven hours host them until the end of the exercise. They were a
and arrived at RAF Giitersloh feeling tired and bloated good bunch (mainly from K ent) and one in particular
having flown across in a H ercules . After the usual had a good sense of humour : the 10, feeling somewhat
exasperating journey through RAF reception, we were depressed about the state of his balding head, passed his
all amused to watch the 10, (chalk comd) stride up to the hand over his crown and remarked " It feels as smooth as
coach driver and launch into his '0 ' level German with my wifes bottom" . Quick as a flash this reporter leaned
the aid of his phrase book. The latter looked balled, across, passed his hand over the IO 's head and said " Yes
sc ratched his head and said, " its no use tha talking to me it does a bit doesn't it". During the first 3 or 4 days I
lad, I'm only 'bus driver" . There followed a long coach kept out of peoples hair as they dug main and alternative
journey to Reinsehlen Camp, near Soltau and then to a positions, Milan, Wombat and Striker trenches and also
village called Hellwecke. Bn HQ was located in a very laid some 44 miles of line . The locals reaction was
comfortable farm complex which had been attacked by marvellous; men of A and B Coy had their combats
the British at the end of the last war and still bore the washed, meals cooked, sandwiches and thermos flasks
marks on the wa lls. The compound was guarded by a full of coffee provided for sentries at night.
fearsome looking dog, offspring of a cheeky poodle and a
sleeping wolfhound . We all went to sleep that night in M y landrover started to play up so I drove to
the milking shed. The next day was Sevastopol Day and Echelon in the woods behind the Bentheburg feature but
was mostly spent in the loca l Gasrhaus by way of I arrived back in time for Brig Spacie's visit; by this time
celebration . The Advance Party told me that two cooks we were into the Nuclear Phase and all clad in NBC
had gone to the nearest town one night and one had suits . The Brigadier approached the Information Post
stopped by a hedge to relieve himself. The other one (an and barked at one of the RP's " What would you do if
old Germany hand) had warned him that if the Polizei you saw a man suffering from the effects of Nerve Agent
saw him it would mean an on-the-spot DM20.00 fine. poisoning?" " I would check his respirator, give him an
Suddenly a pair of headlights appeared around the bend; Antropine injection every 15 minutes" was the reply .
the first cook dodged behind the hedge and fell into a "And what if it was an Officer?" asked the Brigadier.
canal! T he RP thought a minute and then said "Which
The whole battalion had arrived by the l Oth and the Office r?" '
work-up training got into full swing. The PRO
comp lained bitterly on the first night that fi ve officers We had just completed the main position when we
were all expected to strip in the front cow barn; on the were tasked to do a battalion attack on the bridge which
following night a calf joined them which the PRO found the American Paras had captured 12 hours previously.
'intolerable' . The 10 started to use a baked bean tin as a This took most of one night and the next day to plan and
potty at night, but that's another story. The work-up carry out, but with the help of some tanks and a Mech
went well and was enjoyed by all: the Signa l PI moved Coy we were awarded the bridge (The Americans had
the CP each time we returned to Bn HQ; the Assault not bothered to dig in). One big black American para
Pioneers constructed new and better tracks for the remarked " If at first you don 't succeed-so much for
farm er; and the Mortar PI. ... we ll, the less said about parachuting".
them the better.
At the weekend we were given a choice of H amburg, We returned for the main defensive battle in which
the Border, or Belsen and, since I suspected that names I PI was wiped out by a 'notional' battalion and then
of those going to Hamburg would top the agenda at the gripped by the OC for not seei ng it in time to call for
next Wives ' Club coffee morning, I went to Belsen! This Artillery support . The battle was not taken to its logical
was a moving experience but I had to chuckle at what conclusion (The 2nd Echelon was diverted past the VIP
happened whilst I was waiting in the car park: a German stand) and so for us the theory was not really tested and
was busi ly taking photographs of his family and, as I the action, in the event, a bit of an anti-climax. However
imagmed a complete fa mily group was what he wanted, I the exercise was to end on a high note with an
pomted at the camera and at myself. The G erman looked 'Apocalypse Now ' battalion heli-attack in Chinooks on a
balled, shrugged hi s shoulders and , courteous to · ·." bridge; they form ed up in 'chalks' in a fie ld outside
last, took a photograph of me! Ronnenburg and watched 12 Chinooks land in
On the I 5th we moved to Reinsehlen Camp to start formation , Vietnam style. No messing about with the
the exe rcise proper; here we were greeted by a harassed Americans; the battalion emplaned, (rear link vehicle,
Adjutant (" ! might as well be the invisible man for all laser and all) and sat waiting for the word to go . We were
equipped to last for 24 hours and, to save weight, Boh (5
PI.) had left his compo and was carrying powdered food ;
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SUPPUM ENT No. I-PAGE TWO Printed in G reat Britain
later, it rained, and he put on 22lbs! After a I0 min flight 23
we arrived at the objective just too late to prevent it
being blown. The helicopter pilots understandably dia QUEEN'S STAMPS
not hang around and took off with shouts of
'Kimayoyo'-the last part of whtch means ·your on your QUEEN'S BLAZE THE POSTAL TRAIL ... so
own'. We secured the bridgehead and waited for 'Hell read the headlines in International, National, Provincial,
on Wheels' (an American Cavalry unit) to pass through Philatelic and In House Press.
us before the exercise ended.
The 'stamp' (or more correctly, 'labels') fall into the
Back in Reinsehlen we were given the choice of Cinderella category for collectors and were the joint
visiting the local towns whilst waiting for the flight back. brainchild of the Commanding Officer and Capt Bill
I went to Celle Naafi and bought Mary a black lace Knight-Hughes.
nightie; I was a bit worried about the colour running so
asked the old lady behind the counter if she thought the Requests for the stamps have come from Japan,
nightie was fast. "Fast dear", she said. "No, I wouldn't Italy, South Africa and the USA. Apart from showing a
say it was fast; sophisticated yes, but not fast"! 7So/o profit on the initial investment, publicity for the
Regiment has been tremendous.
All my love,
Fred The stamps were designed by a Cambridgeshire
artist-Brian Warwick-, and depict the face of a
SOLDIERS' SWIFf ACTION BRINGS C-in-C's modern Queen's soldier next to a variety of paintings
COMMENDATION including an Ulster street patrol, armoured vehicle,
weapons and 1811 uniform.
The C-in-C UKLF has commended four of our
soldiers whose swift action saved the lives of two men Something that we originally intended to be no more
sleeping in butted accommodation at Hythe; during than colourful embellishment on the free mail from N.
their Northern Ireland training, fire broke out at 1 a.m. Ireland during our tour is now very much a collectors
on Sunday 2 Mar. 1980. item.
Cpl Kevin Sands,- the camp guard TUF.Qt!E£1'1 '8 JU)OIMt.:NT T"!,tt,:Qt,TEI:N"8ROOtMf:N T Ti t ~ l.l t' F~'Ii " fl.l<ol ' . l l '
commander-was standing outside the Guardroom
when he noticed a sudden flash followed by the glow of PERSONALITY CHANGES
fire on the far side of the barracks. Summoning
assistance from the remainder of the guard, he and three Following Ex. "Crusader ", the Bn 2IC, Maj. Buster
others dashed to the fire. Carlston, handed over (after 21 months in the chair-or
is it saddle?) to Maj Andrew Dawson, recently OC D
Arriving at Hut 21 they found one end burning Coy.; Ma1 Peter Howe has handed over B Coy to Capt
fiercely, including the main entrance and on checking Btll Kmght-Hughes who has vacated his post as IO in
the fire escape door, found it jammed from the inside; no favour ofLt Wayne Harber; and Maj Howe is off to the
windows were open. Staff College.
Cpl Martin Gordon broke open a door near the seat Maj Peter Bishop is now OC D Coy (vice Maj
of the fire and attacked it with extinguishers. Entry was Dawson) after a period of variously PRO and OC Rear
gained by breaking another window during which Pte Party .
Derek Pettitt received cuts to his arm requiring ten
stitches. A search of the hut revealed two soldiers HQ 7 Field Force have pinched our Adjutant Capt
overcome by smoke and fumes . Cpl Sands, Cpl Gordon, John Huskisson and Capt Dick Whuthouse succeeds
Pte Pettitt and Pte Anthony Foster (the fourth man in him; we understand that Dick is going into the furniture
the group) pulled the two unconscious men to safety. busmess as a part-time activity. The new RSO is Capt
After leaving the building, Pte Foster was overcome by D•ck Harper (from C Coy) and the Ops Offr is now
smoke and fumes; the remaining three continued to fight Capt. David Wake from 5 Queens.
the fire until the arrival of other soldiers.
The. RSM WO! M. J . Aylward has left us on
ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY AWARD FOR comm•ss •omng to become OC RIT; his replacement,
'ROCK' SWIMMER RSM V. D. Ebbcns_, JOined us from 3R Anglian (where
he was RQMS) pnor to which he spent most of his
Pte Michael Moore, whilst se rving in Northern career with I Queens.
Ireland, received a Royal Humane Society award for
savmg life in Gibraltar.
Prior to moving to Colchester in September '79 the
Battalion was the resident infantry battalion in Gibraltar
and, whilst off duty and relaxing on a beach, Pte Moore
saw a swimmer in difficulty in the grip of the strong
currents which surround the ' Rock'.
He went into the water and recovered the swimmer
to the beach where, with the assistance of a policeman
and ambu lance crew, the individual's life was saved.
The award was presented by the GOC N . Ireland .
24
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D FORO FIESTA D FORO ESCORT
NAME.................... ..... RANK..... D FORO CAPRI D FORO GRANADA
Present Address .....
D FORO CORTINA D USED CARS
25
SENIOR NCOs LOCATION LIST
(As at 1 Nov. '80)
REGULARS W. R . Munday Trg 2 QUEENS
WARRANT OFFICERS CLASS I J. O'Sullivan OpsrTrg 3 QUEENS
B. j . Rawl ings 7CTT
F . N . Boyne Cambridge UOTC M . J. Reardon
) . A. C . Burr SCTT M. R. Rowney Depot
). H. Catt P . P. Ryan, MM Depot
T. S. Davis HQ AFCENT T. W. Saunders
V. D. Ebbens Bandmaster 3 QUEENS K. F. Scaddon CSM I QUEENS
R. ). Francis RSM 2 QUEENS D. A. Screene CSM 3 QUEENS
A. Hill R. ) . Shave I RRF
P. Hills Bandmaster 2 QUEENS P. T. Slater 5 QUEENS
P. A. Kearse RSM I QUEENS A. S. Smith RQMS, HQ, 2 Armd. Div.
Bandmaster I QUEENS C. Smith CSM 2 QUEENS
B. F . Lively BATT Zimbabwe j . Taylor HQ I (B r) Corps
D. H. Moore RSM 617 QUEENS N . R. Tickner Drum Major I QUEENS
) . Oakley RSM 5 QUEENS ). Thompson CSM I QUEENS
M . ) . Paterson 15 CTT D. S. Tonks TQMS I QUEENS
D. E. Price RSM RBMR B. M. Webb CSM 3 QUEENS
Bandmaster Depot D. N. Whalley ARSO 3 QUEENS
]. White CSM 3 QUEENS
WARRANT OFFICERS CLASS 11 CSM 3 QUEENS
j . S. Willis 3 QUEENS
P. ) . Anthony, QGM CSM 2 QUEENS D. E. Willmot
B. F . Archer !DB A. j . Wilson Band Sgt Major I QU
K . Arey R. P . Wood 3 QUEENS
R. F. Bartle CSM 3 QUEENS B. M. Wright Band 2 QUEENS
Depot 5 UDR
H. M . Beeson CSM 3 QUEENS ORQMS RBMR
M . G . Bernier CSM 2 QUEENS
M. Blackburn RAC Centre COLOUR SERGEANTS
). D. Blanchette Trg WO 2 QUEENS
A. D. Booth Cambridge UOTC D. H . Allaway OpsrTrg 3 QUEENS
B. M . Brazier PSI 5 QUEENS M . D. Anderson 10 UDR
B. M . Breach, BEM Fams 2 QUEENS ) . D. Ashe CQMS 3 QUEENS
S. R. Bream, QGM CSM I QUEENS R. ). Baker Drum Major 3 QUEENS
E. Brown !DB B. W. Barrett 5 QUEENS
). Brown ARSO I QUEENS B. D. Beckingham CQMS I QUEENS
D. A. Boden Sch of lnf
K. H. Brown PSI 5 QUEENS M . A. Britton , QGM
). Budgen CSM I QUEENS M. C. Broad CQMS 2 QUEENS
P. ) . Bull MT 3 QUEENS M . ] . Brown MTWO I QUEENS
ORS Sch of lnf C. Bruton I RRF
N. F . Cocking !DB M . F. Butcher
R. R. Cornick BATT Zimbabwe B. Camille Band 3 R Anglian
G. E. Davies !DB D. Campany CQMS 3 QUEENS
) . T . Doran, BEM 7 Regt AAC B. C. Charman CQMS I QUEENS
C. ) . Elkington TQMS 2 QUEENS ). Chester Band 2 QUEENS
) . Fensom RAEC Centre D. T . Cooper WT C/Sgt 3 QUEENS
Mor PI 2 QUEENS T . M . Daw 5 QUEENS
B. P. Fox LSP Hong Kong R. Denny 5 QUEENS
G. T . Fra nce CSM 3 QUEENS P. G . Dobson CQMS 2 QUEENS
RQMS 3 QUEENS N. W. Farley Atk PI 2 QUEENS
) . A. Fros t, BEM 2 RRF ) . P . Flanagan CQMS I QUEENS
C. W. Ga rton, BEM PSI 5 QU EENS M . M . Fores ter Band 3 RRF
) . P. Hamill CSM 2 Q UEENS R. D. Furlotte 7 R Anglian
Band I RRF M . E. Gauntlet
G . Harmen WTWO I QUEENS M . T . G ill QM Dept 2 QUEENS
CSM 3 QUEENS H . ) . G ree n, BEM Asslt Pnr PI 2 QUEENS
R. ) . Hay lcy CSM I QUEENS B. E. Hayward CQMS 2 QUEENS
ARSO 2 QUEENS ) . Hedges R & LSE D ist
D. T . lrv ing-James De pot B. D . Hilton, BEM Asslt Par PI 3 Q U EEN S
M . G . James B. ) . Hom er 5 QUEENS
N. Ja mieso n London UOT C A. P . Howard 6/7 QUEENS
10 U DR S. Howick CQMS 3 QUEENS
R. D. Jcnkinson, BEM B. F. Hunt MT C/Sgt 3 Q UEEN S
R. ) . ) ones London UOTC T . G . lsaacs CQMS I QUEENS
CSM 2 QUEENS C. A. Jarvts CQMS I QUEENS
S. W. )ones PS I 5 QUEENS M . M . ]ones R & L HQ Lond tst
N. T . King M or PI 3 QUEENS P. A. Juhel I QUEENS
CSM 3 QUEENS
A. B. Kni ght CQMS 2 QUEENS
I. Lawra nce ) SB
E. Law rence
PI Comd I QUEENS
D. McCatg
R. L. Mead
R. A. M tl ham
G. B. Moss
26
Colou r Sergea ncs-co m1nued !DB D. j . Buddle PI Sgt 2 QUEENS
RAC Centre Provost 2 QUEENS
A. K1 ami l PSI 6/7 QUEENS J. Burr Sch of lnf
D . H . K~rk CQMS 3 QUEENS W. Butler 3 QUEENS
G . D. Lame !DB B. F. Cairns Provost 3 QUEENS
R. j . Lambert jSB W. L. Caldwell ORC HQ Queens Div
K. S. Last Band 3 QUEENS j . A. Carter RMSM
j . j . Manuel Depot D. B. Catt Atk PI I QUEENS
R. M ax low CQMS 3 QUEENS N. N. Chapman PI Sgt 2 QUEENS
P. Maye Band 5 QUEENS A. P. Clark R & L Londist
I. McLeod Offrs' Mess 2 QUEENS B. Clarke ACIO Finchley
F. j . McManus Milan PI 3 QUEENS S. H . Cochrane QM Dept. I QUEENS
R. M ead CQMS 2 QUEENS N. W. Collins ORC 3 QUEENS
P. R. M ears 2 QUEENS B. Cooper ACIO Brighton
B. Miller ORS I R Anglian QM Dept I QUEENS
B. W . M1ller lnt Sgt 2 QUEENS j . P. Costan Band 3 QUEENS
R . D . Mill igan MT PI 2 QUEENS T . A. Crawford Sgts' Mess Caterer 2 QUEENS
L. T . Moat 3 QUEENS R. Cross ACIO Surbiton
B. C. Older RMAS j . Crossan PI Sgt 3 QUEENS
T . A. Page PSI 6/7 QUEENS ]. P. Cullinane PI Sgt Depot
G . Pa ine PSI 6/7 QUEENS P. T. Daines 3 QUEENS
D . Paterson clo RHQ V. P. Daly PI Sgt 3 QUEENS
R. I. Piper PSI 5 QUEENS ]. Dapprich 3 QUEENS
B. W. Pitchforth CQMS I QUEENS D. A. Davidson 3 QUEENS
R. Pollington Offrs' M ess 3 QUEENS R. Davies 5 UDR
j . H . Pyper QM Dept 2 QUEENS S. T . Davies I QUEENS
j . Reid PSI 6/7 QUEENS ]. M . Dent 3 QUEENS
G . D. Ri ckerby N . De-Warrenne-Waller PI Sgt 3 QUEENS
D. j . Roberts Depot E. W . Dixon Depot
j . E. Smith Sigs I QUEENS E. G . Drew I QUEENS
M . D. Smith QM Dept I QUEENS L. j . Duflield PI Sgt 3 QUEENS
E. H. Stenning I. C. Dunning Sch of Inf
]. R. Stent IJLB J . A. Edwards PI Sgt 3 QUEENS
P. j . Stewart Y List j. E. Fagg PI Sgt 3 QUEENS
P. L. Stone Atk PI I QUEENS T. R. Farrow Int Sec 2 QUEENS
B. L. Street PSI 5 QUEENS K. Fidge Band I QUEENS
j . E. Tombling ORS 2 QUEENS ]. B. Foster QM Dept I QUEENS
N . A. Turner MT 3 QUEENS F. D. Francis
P. A. Turner Sigs PI 3 QUEENS R. W. Freeman JSB
W. P. Venner Depot M. D. Giles ACIO Mill Hill
j . H . Waiters lnt Sgt 2 QUEENS A. R. Gittings QM Dept 3 QUEENS
R. j . Wild Sigs PI 2 QUEENS D. M . Goodacre PI Sgt 3 QUEENS
D. Willmott Clo Sgt 3 QUEENS R. j . Goodman
D. Wilson CQMS 2 QUEENS ]. Graham Depot
M . N. Wilson PSI 5 QUEENS R. Greengrass Offrs' Mess I QUEENS
B. W. Winter RMAS ] . A. Grieve Sgts' Mess 2 QUEENS
c/o RHQ ]. Grinham R & L HQ SE Dist
R. P. Wisdcn CQMS 2 QUEENS M . P. Guilfoyle I QUEENS
C. G . Whitall 5 QUEENS C. P. Gurr ORC I QUEENS
R . Worth y, BEM ORS 3 R Anglian P . S. H ail Band 3 QUEENS
G . R. Yandali-Wright A. W . Hamilton I QUEENS
D. j . Harbinson R & L Staff HQ SE Dist
R. Abrahams SERGEANTS PI Sgt 2 QUEENS
R. J. Ake hurst R. A. Harwood PI Sgt 2 QUEENS
A. Albrecht 3 QUEENS PI Sgt 2 QUEENS
E. M . Alfred PI Sgt 2 QUEENS A. Hassan Band I QUEENS
A. Amber PI Sgt 3 QUEENS D. ] . Haynes I QUEENS
G. W. Anghn MT I QUEENS D. j . Heaphy
] . R. Back I QUEENS A. W. H ewett JSB
D. S. Ba1lcs Arfk PI I QUEENS M . D. Higgins 5 QUEENS
j . Bart on Fams I QU EENS D. j . Hinds Trg Wing 3 QUEENS
A. A. Basham O RC Sch of lnf S. G . Hinton Mor PI I QUEENS
P. E. Bea rd RIT Ma1dstonc M . ]. Holland MT I QUEENS
M . P. Benneu RA C Ce ntre F. j . Holloway PI Sgt 2 QUEENS
P. M . Berry 5 QUEENS C. G . Hole PI Sgt 3 QUEENS
A J Booker PI Sgt 3 QUEENS T . Hunting Sigs Sgt 3 QUEENS
R. W Bradford ORC I QUEENS P. j . Ives PI Sgt 3 QUEENS
S1g PI 2 QUEENS R . j acobs PI Sgt I QUEENS
P. Bradley Band 2 QUEENS I. R. johnston ACIO Canterbury
A. G Branch PI Sgt 2 QUEENS D . johnson ORC 2 QUEENS
S Broome Depot L. T . Jordan
T S Buckle Mor PI I QUEENS B. Kelhng Depot
R. C Buckwell R & L Staff HQ LondiSt A. Ken nedy R & L HQ Lond iS t
S1gs PI I QUEENS D. P. Knott QM Dept 2 QUEENS
J . R. Knowl es PI Sgt 2 QUEENS
V. i-1 . Laker PSI 5 QUEENS
E. Lavery RIT M aidstone C . V. Wh ee ler 27
K . !. Leach K. White
D. M . Lemare PI Sgt I QUEENS MT PI 2 QUEENS
A. A. Lewis PI Sgt I 2 QUEENS P. R. White I QUEENS
N . G . Linsay Drums 2 QUEENS R. S. Wi les PI Sgt 2 QUEENS
D . ] . Lovell 5 QUEENS C. Wi lson ] SB
R. N . Malam Mor PI I QUEENS B. F. \X' mder PI Sgt 3 QUEENS
I QUEENS C. L. Witten 12 Int & Sy Coy
S. Manji M . W. Woodward Band 3 QUEENS
B. G . Marshall 3 Div HQ M . A. Yoa Depot
P. ]. Marshall I QUEENS
A. B. Mason Drums 2 QUEENS
R. C. M cAndrews Trg Wing 3 QUEENS TAVR PERSONNEL
K. J . M cCieave HQ 4 Armd Div Sig Sqn 5 QUEENS
!. ]. MacCo rmack 2 QUEENS
A. ] . Mclvor PI Sgt 3 QUEENS WARRANT OFFICER CLASS I
P. ]. Mead I QUEENS
B. L. Miller 5 QUEENS E. T . F. Clark, MBE Bandmaster
7 CTT
B. R. Morrison PI Sgt 2 QUEENS WARRANT OFFICERS CLASS 11
B. ] . Mullender QM Dept 2 QUEENS
C. H . Noel 2RRF R. Arthur B Coy
Mor PI I QUEENS G. A. Bigwood 2IC Mor PI
R. ]. Norman QM Dept 2 QUEENS A. Cau lkett A Coy
C. Norton Band 3 QUEENS ]. B. Cavanagh RQMS
]. R. Norton QM Dept 3 QUEENS G. Croxford Band
]. M . Oliver PI Sgt Depot K. M . Dye E Coy
]. ]. O'Shea G . Fairfax A Coy
G . W . Page ACIO Finchley W. E . Gaw ler Asst RSO
PSI 5 QUEENS M . G . Holder H Q Coy
T. A. Page PI Sgt 3 QUEENS A. ] . Kiff C Coy
]. G. Palmer !DB HQ Coy
M . ] . Palmer Band 2 QUEENS C. 1'. Sharp
P. C. Parker PSI 5 QUEENS
QM Dept 3 QUEENS COLOUR SERGEANTS
R. G. Patterson Mor PI I QUEENS
G. Perkins HQ 2 Armd Div & Sig Regt G . R. Anderson HQ Coy
D. T . Petty Sig Sgt 3 QUEENS K. M . ] . Bell ORS
D . Philips MT Sgt 3 QUEENS D. E. Gardner B Coy
C. ] . Piper PI Sgt I QUEENS A. S. Hoad A/Tk PI
M. T . Pons PI Sgt 2 QUEENS 0 . T . j ames Band
R. Prangnell 5 CTT E . C. Rawlings A Coy
R. A. Preston MT I QUEENS P. S. Solley Drum M ajo r
T . Price D. F. Tyler C Coy
IJLB H . B. Aldous HQ Coy
] . ] . Pyman 3 QUEENS L. S. Bai ley A Coy
]. W. Reid QM Dept 3 QUEENS
W. ] . Reid Band 2 QUEENS !. A . Bates SERGEANTS
PI Sgt I QUEENS ]. l'. Bright
R. M . R ic hards PI Sgt 3 QUEENS ]. R. Alien E Coy
T . Robinson !DB !. E . ]. C hatfield C Coy
C. ] . Rodziewicz Med Sgt I QUEENS D. G . Cross HQ Coy
M . ]. Roo kl ey 5 QUEENS C. G . Davis A Coy
]. D. Rushbrook I QUEENS R. Davey C Coy
B. A. Rylands RIT M aidstone P. C . Dove A Coy
S. ]. D . Scu ll y Sch of Inf D. ] . Eag le HQ Coy
N. Shaw Drum Major I QUEENS B. F. Eas ter A Coy
M . ] . Sinden 3 QUEENS G . Flint HQ Coy
R. A. Smith A. A. Franklin H Q Coy
S. Smith c/o RH Q T. Fry Band
PI Sgt 3 QUEENS E. C. Fulker, BEM B Coy
]. R. Spicer PI Sgt 2 QUEENS A. C. Harris HQ Coy
]. E. Stephens PI Sgt Depot G . W . C. Healey Band
S. Still QM Dept I QUEENS F. Hill HQ Coy
5 QUEENS B. A. Hoad Band
R. Sturgeon Band I QUEENS A. R. ) ones HQ Coy
E. Tackley Mess Sgt I QUEENS G . W. Kcmp E Coy
Offrs ' Mess Caterer Depot B. K. E. Lane B Coy
A. R. Ta lman H Q SE Dist E Coy
A. ] . Taylor 3 R Anglian C Coy
L. F. Taylor
P. E. Thayre I QUEENS
RIT Maidstone
P. R. Thomas c/o RHQ
G . A. T horne Drum Sgt 3 QUEENS
P. K. Tidcy PI Sgt Depot
T . A. Took PI Sgt 2 QUEENS
!. D . Townsley PI Sgt 3 QUEENS
M . Turner Drum Major 2 QUEENS
M . ] . Ve nmore
M . K . Vessey
F. R. Wake man
R. W. Ward
28
Scrgeams- co mumed COLOUR SERGEANTS
A. ]. Longley B Coy ]. E. Baker C Coy
E. ]. Lunn B Coy A Coy
R. Porter Band R. ]. Bicker ORQMS
M . D. Randall C Coy ]. Coote D Coy
R. ]. Rankin HQ Coy D. E. Debnam Chief Clerk
P. L. Roast A Coy W. T . Downes B Coy
R. C. Sau nders HQ Coy A. L. Cowlard HQ Coy
E Coy Offrs' Mess
R. J. Skinner Band A. R. Fratcr
E Coy D. R. Rendell
G. Snowdon E Coy
P. ]. Twort HQ Coy SERGEANTS
]. E. T ynan C Coy
M . ] . Ward, BEM A Coy B. R. Cox D Coy
R. S. Waters Band D Coy
H . ]. Welford S. M. Dunkley
]. W. A. Wood K . G. Dunning A Coy
W. T . Fisher A Coy
6/7 QUEENS R. W. Givens
C Coy
WARRANT OFFICERS CLASS 11 ]. Lashmore B Coy
K . Lightowlers D Coy
R. W. Bird D Coy ]. Lendrum
D. H. Bowen HQ Coy ]. R. McLucas C Coy
D. Cadywould D Coy
A. E. Dale B Coy T . L. Pidgeon B Coy
]. A. Langley RQMS ]. M . Sajdler B Coy
G. D. Peel HQ Coy B. L. Saunders B Coy
W. S. White R. Thornton HQ Coy
C Coy G. P. Truran
A Coy C Coy
S. P. Va llence D Coy
H Q Coy
B. S. Williams
El~. Bradley& Vaughan
~--------------------------------~
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29
The 3rd Battalion All pictures by Cpl Robert ]ones
WHEN the June edition of this Journal is Gatwick Airport and have been on Spearhead (also three
published, the 3rd Bn will be in BAOR at times) when we have been warned for-but just not quite
deployed to-such diverse destinations as Hong Kong
Fallingbostel under command of I Armd Div. and Zaire. We have visited every principal training area
The Battalion has not been stationed in in Britain; performed ceremonial duties throughout the
BAOR since it left Lemgo in early 1970 and regimental recruiting area and found Guards of Honour
the prospect of conversion from being an for The Prince of Wales and The Queen Mother. In
airportable battalion in the UK to a addition, we pride ourselves in being the UK Novices
mechanized battalion in BAOR is a challenge Boxing Champions and the UK Infantry Hockey
for some, a novelty for most and a pleasure for Champions. The undoubted highlight of ou r time at
all. Dover, however, was our 4-month tour in South
Armagh when the Battalion reached a peak in training
Germany will not be entirely new to the Battalion and a corporate spirit.
however because its primary role, while at Dover as part
of 6th Field Force, has been to be ready to reinforce We are now in the middle of our transition to
NATO in Europe and it has taken part in two major mechanization. On 11 Nov we came off our final 'stag '
exercises in BAOR in the past couple of years.
on Spearhead (ending of our work for 6th Field Force)
and, during the period covered by these notes, the
highlight has been our second trip to Canada on Ex
(Left): Signalman Vicary (Rear Link De!) on the (We have no record of their actually moving!)
Kananaskis River in the Rockies. (Lower): The Combat Engineers move in, watched
by an expert (Is that you, Henry?!) on Ex "Tiger
(Centre): L/Cpls Steve Arnou and 'Pop' Nicklin Head".
with a party about to hit the trail in the Old West.
Dover has been a popular station; it is not so far " Pond Jump West" at Wainwright, Alberta, known to a
from home for most single soldiers and our families were lot of readers for its outstanding value in the training of
the first to occupy the excellent new quarters adjacent to an airportable battalion. It is seldom that a unit can
barracks. Since arriving from Catterick in Jan '78 we occupy a defensive position, clear unlimited fields offtre
have had a busy time; hardly a unique situation but we
can claim to have had a more than usually varied life in (by chopping down entire woods) and then fire all its
that time and plenty of enjoyment too. Apart from the weapons, direct and indirect. We were able to do that
two NATO exercises in Germany, the whole Battalion and mount company attacks supported by live artillery
has been twice to Canada, sent companies to Belize, and mortar; moreover, the whole Battalion was able to
Cyprus, Italy and Denmark, and had adventurous
training parties in Switzerland, Norway and Scotland. watch, for the first time, our Milan firing live at hard
We have exercised three times with the Police at targets and witness the outstanding accuracy of the
weapon . Western Canad~ also provided an opportunity
for adventurous trammg 10 the Rockies when 80 soldiers
30 Regiment's name in boxing at novice and intermediate
level. Recently C Coy also won the Battalion cross
spent a week climbing, canoeing and riding in some of country run but came last in the swimming, won by B
the most spectacular surroundings they are ever likely to Coy. In the boxing, the latter came second equal with A
see. Coy who came second in the cross-country. So far,
there fore, the spo rting honours are fairly even ly shared
Our last four months in Dover will give us our between the Rifle Companies .
longest unbroken period in barracks since arrival,
though paradoxically, many who are undergoing The observant reader wi ll notice that this editorial is
mechanized conversion courses will experience one of not followed by the usual collection of pithy, witty and
their lon gest periods ow of station; the nur.ober away on informative articles. After being battalion editor for five
courses each week ranges betwee n 50 and ! 50. issues, this scribe can tell you that not one such article
has been volunteered; all have had to be dragged from
C Coy (for the second year running) has won the contributors like novices to the boxing ring! On this
inter-company novices boxing competition; the standard occasion, space allocation has been shared with our
has been outstandingly high, reflecting the enormous Battalion Photographer (Cpl Robert Jones) whose work
effort put into training and the marvellous inter- readers have been regularly enjoying in these columns.
company spirit during the competition, and in each Photographs mainly depict personalities and feature, in
company every soldier classed as a novice ' had a go' (and particular, some of our attached NCOs and soldiers who
the odd officer too). While we salute the 1st Bn for its add so much to battalion life .
continued success in the Open competition and the 2nd
Bn for the success at Army level of some of its individual
boxers, the 3rd Bn. is striving to build on the
***
(Top): Sgt Alan Thubron, ACC, receives his LS &
GC medal from the CO just before retiring.
(Lower): Sgt Bill Naylor and Pte lan Coobes
(ACC) place SQMS Dick Wagland in his own stew
shortly before he retired.
IN CANADA
I. Sgt George McGacken (ACC) on patrol yes
Patrol!
2. C/Sgt Jackie Ashe (CQMS C COY but late of
the MT and formerly of the Mortar PI) seems
to know how to use a map.
3. L/Cpl Tom Harding, B Coy, on Sniper Patrol.
AT HOME
4. L/Cpl Chris Anderson (fortunately a RMA2)
extracts a hand from Cpl Tony Williams'
(REME) splinter!
5. Sgt John Carron, RAPC (a Sig PI member of
the Bn Football team) giving advice to Pte
Paul Oliver assisted by Cpl Robin Johnson-
Perkins RAPC, in Cpls' Mess Treasurer and
formerly a Queensman in the 2nd Bn.
6. Cfn Tony Down REME-an A2 Armourer
working on a mortar mount.
7. L/Cpl Jim Prior, a Combat Engineer, working
on the LMD (a permanent occupation ?!)
>1
THE Jrd BN BAND, OCT 1980. Picture by Ideal Photos, Deal.
(Top): B Coy Swimming team with Miss Susie
Bessant-the Battalion Pin-Up (Susie is currently
Miss Eastbourne but was also Miss Deal and Miss
Brighton)
(Centre): The Bn Cub Pack (Recce PI in 1990?)
The Chief Owls (at the back) are Sgt Hebden, Mrs.
Milham, Mrs. Hedges, and S/Sgt Hedges, REME.
(Lower): Bdsm Leonard Cooper (left), lead
clarinet and Bdsm Douglas Elliott (re-joined
recently after two years as a 'copper'.
33
3rd Bn.-continued
(Left): Pte Ian 'Pip' Wicks, our most senior Leathers, electronic genius and mini-bus driver
Private, checking his vehicle. Originally with the extraordinary, has been PRI NCO since ' 74. Cpl
old 4th Bn. , he is on a 22 year engagement. Derreck "Slim" Sivens, HEM has been " postie"
(Right): The "Dynamite Duo"-Cpl Dick since 1968; he is also a Group Scout Leader and
Army Scripture Reader.
(Left): Cpl John Russell (the artist who has (Right): A portrait of Cpl Russell by Pte Jonathan
provided many cartoons for the Journal) at work
on a caricature. Smith of the Officers' Mess reveals new talent in
the Bn.
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35
The 5th (Volunteer) Battalion
General highlights of this weekend was the arrival of E Coy's
" DON'T forget the Journal notes" said the new Mahout (complete with Ashplant) to inspect his new
command. Sadly he was unable to give them his full
Adjutant (wearing the full insignia of attention due to an unexpected meeting with some old
Life President of the Thanet Chapter of the acquaintances (if you call "o ld " those over 16) in or near
Anglo-Saxon Concave Chest Club) as he 'The Hatch ' (come to think of it, it may have been
slunk out of the Office on handover. another (Easter?) Weekend). On 14 and 15 June it was
the turn of A and B Coys to pit their wits against each
How could we forget them-the last lot for which he other. One, which shall be nameless but led by the well
was responsible bore a closer resemblance to a clip from known Historian and TV personality (Songs of Praise
"Comic Cuts" than a 'rush' from ''Film 80"; however, took a real body blow that afternoon), occupied a
considering he was suffering from a severe bout of pre- position in a tropical rain forest halfway up the side of a
natal depression combined with self-inflicted alcoholic hill. The other company (led by a chain-smoking
poisoning, he didn't do too badly. In the belief that at transporter mogul) occupied a similar type of wood on
least David Wake has read this far (should we say 'can the opposite side of the area; meanwhile Mr Catt
read this far ', which may be in doubt due to the shaky occupied most of the rest of the area. The weather was
mandibles and eyes like a BAOR roadman) we will quite atrocious and those that had bought periscopes and
catalogue for you the deeds and misdeeds of this gallant waders were well ahead of the rest. Everyone got wet at
battalion since we left you in a state of high suspense at least three times in the course of the exercise-everyone,
the end of our last notes . To save you rushing to the loo that is, including the Adjutant who got wet three times
to retrieve the June copy of the journal (don't let me co llecting more of those horrible magazines from
prevent a rush for any other reason) we must remind you
that we left you wondering if the battalion would make it
back to their drill halls, or anywhere else for that matter,
at the end of Ex " Tiger Head", (This was an exercise
which bore an unreal likeness to the only Tiger in living
memory which needed NHS teeth). We are able to
reassure you that the battalion managed to return safely
despite a movement table that effectively prevented any
vehicle moving at more than 17 mph . One particular
vehicle did manage to avoid this tedious restriction and
actually overtook the Commanding Officer 's landrover;
there is no doubt that both the driver and his passenger
would have paid for their crime had not our bold
leader's eyeballs been glowing like red-hot coals as he
studied those strange magazines which are never far
from the left-hand seat of his vehicle.
Exercise "June Jaunt" " If you'd marched 20 miles to get here you'd be
After the terrors of "Tiger Head ", all ranks wearing Shirt Sleeve Order_" '
prepared themselves for the rigours of the test exercise
(entitled above) for the rifle companies. It took place at The Colonel of the Regiment with the CO Maj
Pippingford Park (renamed "Punklandia" for the
occasion), a few miles North East of Crowborough-for Haigh and Maj Fowler. '
those who don't realise that "Foreign" is North of
Potters Bar and that the channel was specia lly designed
to keep French Lamb and Golden Delicious out.
Because of the size of the area and the numbers involved,
including two RSMs (Mr Catt was handing over to Mr
Moore at the time) there was only room for two
Companies (and Mr Catt) each weekend . On the first
weekend, "Elephant Battery" entered the lists against
the "Little Grey Man of Sussex". The weather was
particularly kind and, by dint of crafty patrolling and
some fai rly inspired guess-work, they each managed to
locate one another; and Tac HQ put in effective attacks
on everybody and everything. For some, one of the
36 At the mid-camp break, the social activities were
Callsign 9. (For Callsign devotees, it happened at the frenetic; all below the rank of Sgt-and some above that
time to be Zulu 9, otherwise he would never have got rank-disappeared in 50-seater coaches to sample the
away with it). On the last morning Cap! Alain Chissel, delights of various West Country resorts. The Warrant
Ops Officer and Assistant Magazine Reader, was heard Officers and Sgts and some selected Officers, sat down in
to murmer in his sleep (a solid 8-hour stretch for him on great strength to an excellent dinner on Saturday night.
full pay, a trick he learnt when serving with l Amongst the diversions was a new mess game known as
QUEENS): "There 's a snake in my sleeping bag", (No "Toast Juggling" . For this you don't even need an
surprise after what you 've been studying, the alert electric toaster like the traditional 'belt fed mortar'. (But
reader might observe). But when "Hissing Sid" was wait, Maj Fowler has a new variation; more of that
actually discovered nestling in the bosom of Tac HQ, later). On Sunday the Officers wined and lunched many
the quiet professional murmer of a front-line Field Force
battalion's HQ gave way to the eerie silence of a military guests including serving and past members of the
Marie Celeste as all took cover (some sought solace in Regiment living in the locality. We were particularly
'The Hatch'). Silent it was except for the gentle clank of pleased to see Col John Stephenson and his wife Karen,
fork against mess tin as the thoughtful Mr Catt 'tidied the former still fretting about the condition of the pitch
up' one or two 'deserted' breakfast mess tins. at Lords and the behaviour of members of the MCC;
and another ex-Commanding Officer, Col Paul
After the trials and tribulations of "June Jaunt ", 5
QUEENS sank back exhausted and waited for Camp ~~ !'> ~
1980.
""'' """ ....... aa;g =.~("').. o <So!::' :::
Camp-Salisbury Plain 0 :>=
::: a~
For this high point of the Training Year, the Cl ~~ ("')
powers-that-be selected Salisbury Plain-Westdown ::-
Camp (North) to be more precise. In their wisdom they 0c "::s <.. :t:
had chosen Westdown Camp (South) to be occupied by a . ."~
group of charming University Cadets (The university :; Q. 0 ~~"'·''"a0"::"'- >z
shall remain nameless if only to prevent 6/7 QUEENS
from recruiting them) As many know, the ' Plain' ':-'.,"·~'<e. 0
provides amost unrivalled range facilities for all weapons . .. ."0"
from Rifle to Mortar and Wombat, and all Companies t!~ ":t:'
and Specialist Platoons took full advantage of these in all :I. 00..,
conditions of weather (mostly bad) and at all hours of the :;r> ;; '0 0::s
day and night. The recruit cadre of some 140 souls .:;. ::-0 0 ("')
(including recruits from the other TA Bns in Queen's
Div) also got th eir share; that is of ranges-CSM Brown 5"2 :~:-. n: ,0
wouldn't let them near the UOTC. '!"::s
0 :t! 0?_ "Q. :::
Interspersed with range work in the first week was 2 ~::-
helicopter training and field training, and here it was "'· m..,
that the disadvantages of the 'Plain' at once became a l""c::
apparent: there are few other pieces of real estate which .. ."'?i" ~ ::j
look quite like Salisbury Plain (Quiet, you old Dhofar
hands, the wadis are sha llower and the natives less ::!! ~:;. "' 0z
acquisiti ve). Certainly it looks nothing like any of the a"::s ~n
ground in our operational deployment areas. It must also aerQ. .. 0 ::s
be one of the most over-used areas (turn South at the pile
of empty compo tins-Mr Cat! has beaten us to it again ; I
turn East at the trench 6/7 QUEENS dug on "Tiger "" a'0 :;>
Head " (not quite the full turnout for them either) and
forgot to fill in , and establish your CP while the Adjutant ::s ::s 0
met the General 's ADC last Sunday . .. and so on).
C>.'<
It is overpopulated too, as the mortars will tell you,
if you are prepared to listen to how , as they stealthily Courtenay and his wife Sarah, a short step from their
(who ever heard of a stealthy mortarman) approached new pad in Park Lane (Quarley not London). Once again
their objective on a night patrol exercise, 'goodies' the Adjutant nearly disgraced himself but thought better
rained down on them. Luckily 'the goodies', which were of it at the prospect of having to face up to the ADC's
not the brothers Hoad but a number of Heavy st ressed master, >. rather senior Royal Anglian General.
Platforms rigged by the jolly air loaders and dispatched
at 800', missed our fortunate heroes. Mercifully the only The first event in week two was an inter-platoon
casualty as the mortars stampeded back to their base March and Shoot Competition. Combined with this was
('The Boot' at Berwick St. James) was the Mortar an impromptu initiative test for company commanders.
Officer 's Cross Country Skate Board which lost a track. In essence, the platoons had to march from Westdown
Camp to Bulford Ranges (a distance of some 20 miles by
the Training Major's indirect route) pausing only to rest
and treat their blisters. Company commanders took it
upon themselves to move about in a very discrete fashion
attempnng to 'assist ' platoons of other companies to find
a more 'scenic' route, at the same time ensuring their
platoons remained on course. Further complications
were provided for the organisers in the form of last
continued on page 38
38
minute objections and counter proposals on the conduct " Check the WRAC Officer's dhobi" . This year we are
of the competitors. In the end, 2 PI of A Coy won and its able to report that the subalterns beat Maj Fowler
commander was so delighted that he immediately joined surprising ly quickly; and, with the latter hooting and
1 QUEENS; he was last heard of testing his Silva roaring in the distance, we ring down the curtain on our
Compass in Belize. Sgt Tynan won for his platoon the
prize for the most original piece of navigation in the activities to date.
whole battalion by reaching the final RV without having
checked in at any of the intermediate ones. What he won Personalities
from his platoon doesn 't bear repeating!
Finally, Camp wound up wit h a two-sided exercise. Lt-Col Richard Dixon has relieved Lt-Col Simon
Boucher who is currently ' resting on his Arms reversed'
This time C and E Coys joined forces to defeat Exercise prior to a course in America followed by a staff
Control and A and B Coys. Good use was made of appointment at Latimer. Col Richard assumed
helicopters, one of which tried to prove that oil for the command on a useful pair of crutches; however, we are
main motor bearing was not of prime importance (all by assured by the M Os (we have two at present) that he will
kind permission of Crab Air). Fences and minefields be fit for a personal march and shoot competition early
were produced by the hardworking Assault Pioneers.
Some patrols were see n to be wa lking on their hands, not next year.
in an effort to conceal their tracks but to rest their feet
after the ra vages of the March and Shoot Competition; We welcome back Maj Geoff Wright as 21C;
and one individual in C Coy, after an attack on Tac HQ, fortunately he still has a desk at HQ SEDIST and acts as
took refuge for the night in the Bulford Guardroom . our ' mole' in that Ivory Tower.
The exercise ended with the traditional dawn attack and
then eve ryone went back to Westdown Camp to enjoy a Maj Tony Haigh, having handed over command of
party laid on (bad choice of words) by Maj Tony Haigh. E Coy, assumed the mantle of OC Officer Cadet
Training Wing. No doubt all the latest officers will
So ended Camp and if one were casting around for appear as first-class orienteers, clasping a pipeful of
reco rds to attribute to Camp 1980, it must have been one smouldering mouldy socks in one hand and a glass of
in which a greater number of members visited the rather limp white wine in the other.
medical centre (for a variety of reasons) for a number of Capt Andy Roberts took over the Adjutant's chair
yea rs . Well done our Medical Sgt, Sgt Brooks, who (but sadly, not the manuals) from Capt David Wake.
coped with great skill and humour; this ex perience, WOI Moore, fresh from the fleshpots of the UDR,
together with a month teaching the WRAC to live (or at assumed the appointment of RSM from Mr Catt who is
least ex ist) in the field , shou ld be useful to him when he even now sorting out one or two little problems in
gets to Saudia Arabia. One word of advice, however: NATO; congratulations to the former on his GOC's
" Keep away from the balconies, man , particularly when Commendation for his service to the UDR.
,I you 're wearing the kilt ". The other record must concern We welcome Capt L. McKay as our new RMO and
the number of visitors of all shapes and sizes, and modes Lt Bob Stone as E Coy's new 2IC- "Each man has his
of dress. Each showed great interest in us and we look cross to bear and his is the cross at Fowle Hall "; and we
forward to seeing them all next yea r. say au revoir to Lt Peter Metiuk (who has joined 1
QUEENS) and to Lt Martin Mortimer who has become
Post Camp
a full-time civilian.
If Camp is the highest point of the training year, W02 Booth has left to take up a post at Cambridge
block leave after Camp comes nex t; it is the time when University OTC; his promise to appear on University
the roles of PSis and Territorials are reversed . The Challenge is as yet unfulfilled . C/Sgt Rickerby has gone
r: Territorials have the Drill Halls to themse lves during back to 2 QUEENS-A Coy's (and the WRAC Depot's)
the week and the PSis appear on Drill nights looking loss, their gain. Sgt Parker left B Coy for 2 QUEENS
worri ed and wondering where all the kit and vehicles where no doubt he will keep an eye on Capt Wake 's rust-
have got to. In September, the battalion co ncentrated at coloured Alfa Sud . Sgt McCleave has abandoned the
St. Martin 's Plai n to fire all the battalion anti-tank Anti-Tank PI and re joined 3 QUEENS in Dover; the
weapons and for the officers to dine out Co l Simon call of G erman 'duty free ', petrol coupons and LOA was
Boucher; each was a great success in its own way. too great. Sgt Hamilton has left E Coy for I QUEENS
Thanks to the herculean efforts of the QM, all the and the delights of Belize. We welcome W02 Brazier
ammunition (or nearly all) indented for arrived ; and, who has joined C Coy from I QUEENS Boxing T eam;
thanks to the organisation of the RSM , not only of the C/Sgt Hayward to A from I QUEENS; Sgt. Mclvor to
ranges but also of the weather, a really usefu l and B from 1 QUEENS; Sgt. Norton to C from 5 R
wort hwhile weekend was had by all-particularly by Sgt ANGLIAN : and Sgt Hinds toE Coy from 3 QUEENS .
Rank1n , who learnt one or two useful tips on grenade Mr Needham, our stalwart lmprest and G Clerk has also
demolition . Capt 1oe Bass ass isted by Capt Derek left; over the years he has done much work for the
M1rams, organised a first-class evening to dine out the Regiment in Canterbury and of late, his advice on
Commanding Office r. M aj 'O ld Ashplant ' Fowler was completion of AFs B 1771 (the mainstay of many a PSI)
President and introduced one or two interesting toasts has been of inestimable va lue. We wish him luck in his
(loyalty prevents actual details from being divulged) and retirement; hopefully he won't get his fingers ca ught in
also a useful after-din ner game (to amuse the subalterns the compost shredder he was presented with on
whi le the1r elders and betters were drinking) called departure. In his place we welcome Mrs. Russell .
We congratulate Lts Rumsey, Thompson, Milne 39
and Argent on passing their Lt to Capt promotion
exams; Capt C hissel also passed (well done, but why did Our accommodation was the local Belgian Army
you wait so long ?) We shou ld also congratulate Capt Barracks-really something to experience; ten double
Marchant on being promoted substantive Captain bunks to a room which would have been crowded with
without taking the exam! fou r. The food was 'different ' (the cookhouse must
surely be the only establishment to which Egon Ronay
Finally, we offer a substantial (liquid) prize to the awarded three spanners!)
member of 5 QUEENS who produces the best
(printable) caption before the next (June) issue of the Ou r weekend in Ypres was for the "Cats Festival".
magazine, for the two photographs shown below. All we re in festi ve mood; the Band marched here, there
and everywhere, with numerous stops at local hostelries
fo r refreshment. We also participated in the Last Post
ceremony at the M enin Gate.
Sunday was carniva l day but, since we had to get
back to Zeebrugge, we marched ahead of the main
process ion, arriving at our Belgium coach which had
been strategically parked fo r a quick get-away. (Our ow n
coach was hobbling its way back to the port). We left
Ypres with a police escort- lights flashing, siren blaring,
and, at a speed far exceeding the legal max im um, we
sped fa r beyond the limits of the C ity to pick up the
main Autoroute to the coast. At Zeebrugge we met our
own coach, transferred our kit and got on board .
At Dover we passed through Immigration and
Customs uneventfull y, except that C/Sgt Joe C hester
was trying to disow n C/Sgt Paddy M cManus who was in
full song. Another coach was waiting for us and we
completed the 16 mi les back to Leros, arri ving at
midnight. Back to work in the morning but what a great
weekend .
Owen T. James, C/Sgt
The Band of The Queen's Regiment TA We regret to announce the
death , on 29 Sep, of Her Highness ,
- A Weekend in "Wipers" Princess Anne of Denmark, our
Honorary Colonel's wife.
Another working weekend! Never mind, this time
it 's off to Ypres, a regular stomping ground for the At the funeral , in London on 6
Band . Oct, one Officer, one Warrant
Officer and six Rank and File from
04 30 hrs, Sat 10 M ay at Leros Barracks, the Band the Battalion provided the Bearer
meets to embus; not a pretty sight. The short trip to Party.
Dover is uneventful-even J.R. is dead . The coach
fin ally comes to rest in the bowels of a Townse nd'
T horenson ferry and then 41h hours afloat; the usual
card school gets underway with its entourage of 'tutors';
there are also the sleepers-(sleep anywhere) and, of
course the hard core who are determined to drin k the
boat dry before Zeebrugge. (We achieved this feat once,
but not this trip!)
We arrive at Zeebrugge; the sun is shining; no hold-
ups and off we go. J.R.'s awake: who's J.R.?-L/C pl
John Roper, whose wit and repartee is well known. S1t
back and enjoy it ; let's face it, where can you d tsal'pear
to in a 48-seater coach. In England we have D1ve rs•ons;
in Belgiu m they have Deviations and we found one; the
route would have done justice to a M otor Cycle Tnals
Circu it. We limped into Ypres with a broken rear spring
shackle. Belgium coaches (magnifi cent but we were
co nvi nced their drivers were stunt men for Sta rsky and
H utch) came to our rescue.
41
The 6th/7th (Volunteer) Battalion
Editorial the usual barrage from OC A Coy!) At the Annual Ball
When we last contributed, the battalion was in (Sat 11 Oct) more numbers than ever were present; it
went with the usual swing thanks to The Wallace
Annual Camp at Sennybridge and, since then, we have Collection and the Russ Henderson Steel Band. The Pay
been having an exacting but exciting time: I SO Team have also just held thei r annual dinner when they
Volunteers went to Arkansas in June to train with the dined out W02 Russell (late R Anglian). With the
National Guard and on 30 Aug., members ofC and HQ Christmas scene fast approaching (including the WOs
Coys together with the Queen's Regt. TA Band and Sgts M ess Draw night) we look forward to clearing
marched through Arundel to exercise the Regiment's our heads of that familiar fog early in the New Year.
"Freedom". A large contingent took part in the Lord
Mayor's Show on 8 Nov. and, in conjunction with 5 The CO has just completed his annual round of all
QUEENS, we laid up the Colours of the 3rd and 4th drill halls but this has produced nothing startli ng except
Bns Queen's Surreys (TA) in Southwark Cathedral on perhaps in D Coy: last year they were instructed to
16 Nov. Looking ahead, we now have to prepare for the lengthen the chain in the ladies loo so that any user
Presentation of New Colours on 16 Jul. under 7ft tall cou ld operate it. This year a pile of bricks
was discovered in the offending cubicle! The District
1. Brig-Gen Roy, Comd 45 Bde, Oklahoma Inspection Teams also descended on Bn HQ and C and
National Guard welcomes the company at A Coys which gave Majors Douglas Marnoch (our
Fort Smith airport. Adjutant) and Ron Lucas (our QM) the usual late hours;
however, true to form , they saw us through all of this
2. Pte King is 'medvacced' from Fort Chaffee wit h great credit. On 30 Oct the COS SE Dist carried
afier succumbing to temperatures of over out his formal inspect ion of Bn HQ and the A Coy Drill
lOO F . Hall at Camberley.
3. Cpl Lucas leading his section from a Chinook All Coys are taking advantage of the annual TA
during an exercise at Fort Chaffee. National Recruiting Campaign which is spearheaded by
a strong national newspaper advertising campaign and
4. Capt Cyril Young, RAMC (our MO for the several 'spots' on Capital Radio (which includes an
trip) seems pleased with his shooting on the excellent interview with Cpl Everard of A Coy) To
XM 203 grenade-launcher. coincide, every Coy has been busily engaged launching
their own style campaigns and the results so far look
5. Cpl Hicks of D Coy speaks to "the great rewarding. During the summer A, B and C Coys kept
American public" during a TV interview at the Regimental Flag flying by putting on displays and
Fort Chaffee. stands at the (respectively) Alton, Merton and Crawley
town shows.
6. Maj Mike Mercer, OC Coy, presents Lt-Col
John Kerr, CO 1/lSOth with one of our Tee The Catering Team under Lt Derek Harwood
Shirts. continues to go from strength to st rength. It is never an
easy task to recruit cooks but the team is now up to 18
Picture by 6/7 QUEENS and increasing. They have produced their own
Newsletter, 'The Informer' and, with 3 Sergeants in the
The exchange visit wit h the National Guard team headed by Sgt Smith, they have a well-estab lished
revealed the 'Volunteer Spirit ' at its best. All those rank structure which should give encouragement to
selected had to have attended Annual Camp and there younger members. Sgt Stobbart and Pte Carter were
was no shortage of volunteers. On reflection, the awarded bronze medals in the TA Field Cooking
battalion has accomplished a most satisfying amount of Competition at Aldershot on 7/8 Jun . The MT Section,
training this year and standards in all departments have under the experienced eye of Lt Peter Chapman, also
improved considerably. grows daily more eff1cient and entered a team in the
Sussex Area Regional Heat of the Lorry Driver of the
The exc itement and hect ic act ivity of the summer Year Competition: L/Cpl Barren achieved 9th place,
months was tempered by the very sad news of the death Cpl Quinn 17th, and Pte Thurston came 7th in the Road
of our Padre, Rev John Hughes, on 25 Sep. Route Section. This was a fine achievement especially as
they competed against professional drivers from the
Although we were not involved in Ex "Crusader", County Fire Brigade, Post Office, National Carriers and
we cannot help but fee l that we are now paying for it! As other Companies .
wit h almost every other unit, the cut back in fuel
allowances for the rest of the training year has left us During the last six months 54 Recruits attended the
wi th only enough for eac h vehicle to cove r various Recruit Courses at T he Depot, and Pte Kirri of
approximately 20 miles per month; in the case of some B Coy was "Best Recruit " on Cadre No. 73 ( 12-26 Jul.)
Coys, this doesn't allow them to reach their POL points,
let alone get back! Another success story of the year was the Potentia l
Officers Course run by Maj Bob Hall ably assisted by
The Off1cers' Dinner Club entertained Lt-Gen Sir C/Sgt Robens (PSI HQ Coy), Sgt Baker and Cpl Parr. It
John Stanier (VCGS) who, following dinner, gave a most
stimu lating talk, answering many questions (including continued on page 44
44 I'
1: started at the end of last year when 25 students enrolled excellent ranges. For the next six, the entire battalion
and at the end 19 were recommended for officer training was broken down into full sections and even those in Bn
HQ and HQ Coy (who normally consider themselves
at the RMA. The high standards achieved were well 'safe') found themselves in the training area at various
times of the day and night. The CO wrote a most
illustrated on the pass-out parade, held on the square at complex training programme detailing each section's
activities, including sleeping and feeding areas. The
The All Arms Drill Wing at the Guards Depot, overall plan ensured that each section made maximum
use of the training facilities available with the various
Pirbright. The salute was taken and an address given by ranges being run by Coy Comds and their teams.
Maj-Gen John Badcock, Chairman of the South East In order that each section should settle down as a
proper self-contained and controlled unit (a rare event in
TAVR Assn. The TA has been for some time (and the TA) and to allow their commanders considerable
responsibility, all remained on the training area for a full
probably will be for the forseeable future) short of good six days; and to test and train the 'Q' side, the three daily
meals were lifted from Sennybridge Camp onto the
young officers and this has proved to be a first class training area. With no two of them ever in the same
place (and with breakfast and the evening meals having
scheme. (The battalion gained 8 potential officers). 5 to be delivered before first and after last light
respectively) CQMSs and their staff drove many
QUEENS will be starting a similar course early next hundred' of miles supplying thei r Coys in a realistic
setting.
year.
Sections found the first two days extremely rugged,
On 30 Aug, members of C and HQ Coys together moving from range to range and from training area to
with The Queens TA Band exercised the Freedom of training area on foot and covering at least 25 miles every
Arundel. The salute was taken by the Mayor who was
accompanied by Maj Richard Putnam, (in the absence of 24 hours . During this period, each went through two
both the Colonel of the Regiment and the CO who had defence ranges, an attack range, CQB range, IBSR, and
other engagements); much credit for the performance a skirmish range. (The two defence ranges, the IBSR
must go to CSM David Bowen who worked the parade and an ambush range were also used for night firing); the
hard through the rehearsals . The Regimental Colour 'tour ' also included an assault course, a wiring and
was car ried by Lt Derek Harwood and the Colour Party mining area, a digging and trip-flare stand and grenade
comprised W02 Langley and C/Sgts Cowlard and throwing. The staff on the latter got through two full
days wit hout blinds or other mishap, thanks to the
Frater. in struction and practice throwing carried ou t
beforehand .
B Coy, under Maj Piers Storie-Pugh, managed to
arrange an exercise with an American unit from one of
the Air Bases in East Anglia (The Adjutant is still trying
to sort it all out!) Other Coys have trained on areas from
Imber Village to Hythe. Ptes Scott and Matthews of HQ
Coy hit the headlines by being used by MEL of Crawley
to pose for publicity photographs with their new range
of HF military radios. The pamphlets produced have
now been circu lated world wide and MEL's Marketing
Manager visited Bn HQ in October to make a number of
presentations.
The Battalion continues to increase in strength and During the 6-day period, each section marched back
many new candidates are still flowing through the TA to camp for what they thought was a breather only to
Recruit Courses at The Depot; most Coys are now over find four intensive Cadres on Map Reading, Signals,
lOO strong. High unemployment figures may be NBC and First Aid. As each subject lasted half a day, the
influencing matters but Coys can now afford to be Instructors repeated each course four times every two
selective. days! At the end of this phase of Camp, the general
opinion was that it had been intensive but valuable
Annual Camp 1980-Sennybridge, South Wales training; and we certainly had some very fit soldiers!
Without doubt , this was the toughest and most One of the highlights at camp for many, was the
testing 2-week training period to-date . It began on 19 Annual " Tickle Test " run, supervised by PTis from
Apr at Sennybridge Camp, Brecon and ended on
Salisbury Plain fifteen days later- the battalion having Brecon. The usual 3-mile course was over the training
joi ned Ex " Tiger's Head " on 29 Apr. (The latter was area and almost every man took part (half an hour before
the GOC SE Dist 's principal exercise for the UKMF(L) the start, the CO was seen to go round cam p unearthing
for 1980/81 and we were privileged to be included). soldiers fcom the woodwork!) Only ten failed to
complete the course in time; however, the re-run later in
The theme this yea r was to train and test our Junior the year should soon put this right!
NCOs and trained so ldiers: no recruits were included,
the1r first camp being spent at one of the TA Recruit We received a number of visitors: the GOC SE Dist.
Courses held at the Depot. The opening scenario and was preceded on the same day by his C hief of Staff, Brig
orders set the scene for the fortnight when we discovered D. Woodford . The latter's arrival caused some
that, because we were joining Ex " Tiger's Head ", no amusement: as the CO, his party and the Duty RP (Cpl.
pnvate cars were to be taken. All Coy officers had to Bonner) were wa iting on the lan ding ground, out of the
arnve at Sennybridge well in advance of the main body sun, and dead on time, came a Wessex V. The CO
to ensure that all concerned were practised in the art of app roached, sa luted and, when the door opened , a
mov1ng the1r Coys. soldier armed with a bicycle appeared! Who had hitched
a ride with whom was never quite clear'
The first two days were spent in settling down and On Tu esday of the second week we moved from
carrying out recces of the training area and all its quite Sennybridge to Salisbury Plain to join Ex "Tiger's
,. 45
Head", leaving a small rear party to conduct the good to hear that W02 llowen was on the receivmg end
handover-a mistake we shall never make again! The for once!) Before leaving us, the Germans presented an
2IC and Maj Hall spent 3 hours cleaning and polishing array of plaques and shields and in return the CO
every inch of the Officers' Mess and sleeping presented to each a regimental plaque.
accomodation, and the RSM did much the same in his
Mess! A SOLDIER'S VIEW OF CAMP AT
SENNYBRIDGE
Arriving on the Plain, Rifle Coys. were set to dig in
immediately to the west of Westdown Camp whilst Bn by Pte. Gray (of HQ Coy.)
HQ found itself in one of the small isolated woods on
top of a hill surrounded by armour and other units. It is Let me start by saying that I enjoyed my two weeks
on such occasions that a General Reserve Bn feels camp. As it was my first (apart from my recruit camp) I
somewhat inferior-with its meagre MT and ancient 1 cannot compare it with any others but I think that the
Ton Signals truck towing a most untactical and noisy best value and my overall enjoyment was due to being
generator to power its Pye signals equipment-especially part of the section. Many of us had never met before but
when it shares a harbour area with a unit such as The we soon got down to working together as a team; we
Blues and Royals. The latter were amazed when, on tried to share out the work fairly amongst ourselves and,
agreeing interlocking arcs, they found that the most whatever happened, we always found something to
potent weapon we had was an LMG and decided they laugh about.
had better guard our front for their own good! But that is
not good training. The organisation of the camp was good. The only
real complaint I had was that we did a considerab le
For the first 48 hours, Coys saw little action, their amount of marching in the first two or three days and I
main tasks being to guard KPs; however, one or two would have thought it obvious to the organisers that
"night incidents" were introduced by the Umpires. At some of us would suffer from blisters which, of course,
the same time there was much activity over the plain as effected their inefficiency for the rest of the period . All
some 7 to 8,000 other troops moved into the general ranges were run well; we were told exactly what we had
area. Coys moved positions once or twice and finally , by to do and then it was up to the Section Commander and
the end of the third day, two were guarding bridges on his men to do thei r best. The lectures and
the main axis of the enemy advance. The 'highlight' for
us was when one of these bridges was taken and a
spirited counter-attack was mustered involving a quick
move by helicopter for many and a wet river crossing for
some. Unfortunately the battalion had to withraw from
the Ex when it began to reach its climax; having been
away for 15 days, personnel had to return home and to
their civilian jobs.
Whilst at Annual Camp, we were pleased to
welcome a party of five Senior NCOs from the
Bundeswehr, Germany's Reserve Army; over recent
years we have been able to send a number of Volunteers
to Germany where they have been royally entertained
and it gave us a good opportunity to return the
compliment. The party arrived on the first day and,
following a detailed briefing on the battalion, its history
and role by the CO and 2IC, the visitors were attached
to va rious Coys for training; they were also taken on a
whistle-stop tour of South Wales and visited both the
School of Artillery at Larkhill and the School oflnfantry
at Warminster. At Bovington, thanks to Maj David
Shephard, they were also able to see the Battle Group
Tactical Trainer .
Our German friends also seemed to enjoy life in the
WOs ' and Sgts ' Mess where, having fa llen for one or two
of the old tricks, introduced some of their own
'traditions' to much good humour and ~ffect ; (It was
(Top): Our Bundeswehr visitors at Sennybridge
with the CO and RSM.
(Lower): Cpl (now Sgt) Stobbart and Pte Carter
winning their bronze medals in the TA Field
Cooking Competition at Aldershot.
46
demor:strations were also carried out well and no one Saunders of Hornsey astonished his American
found them too complicated or difficult to understand; instructors by hitting every moving tank target put up
indeed I heard some who had served longer than me say for him .
that they had definitely received something of
educational value. We had numerous visits-from buck privates to
2-star Generals; also from Maj-Gen A. C. S. Boswell, the
As for the exercise on Salisbury Plain, there is not a new DTA and C, who had flown out from England. Just
lot to be said, because nothing happened-but then our about every American wanted to see us in action, listen
Officer did explain that it was to test the Officers rather to our accents and find out all about England; the press
than us! and TV also descended on us at frequent intervals for
television interviews.
(see pictures fac ing page 41) Swapping bits of kit as souvenirs soon established
II Ex "Volunteer Warrior" the Regiment's Cap Badge as a currenc~ nvalhng the
dollar; American regimental and bngade badges
circulated as currency as well. On an offical level, the
Oklahomans presented the Coy with Honorary State
Nearly ISO members enjoyed an additional Citizenship and every man was made an Honorary
fortnight 's camp this year when they visited the United Colonel in their National Guard; this caused a run on
States to train with their American equivalent, the the PX as the Territorials flocked to buy their colonels
National Guard, at Fort Chaffee in Arkansas. The trip
was part of an annual exchange programme in which badges of rank!
selected TA Units send C0vs across the Atlantic for
training with their alhe8. In this year's exchange, we American hospitality was sampled at the mid-
joined the lst Bn the !80th Infantry Regt of the weekend by many who spent two days with National
Oklahoma National Guard at thetr annual trammg Guardsmen and their families up and down the State of
camp, whilst a detachment of Oklahomas joined a Oklahoma. They visited baseball matches, met local
British TA Unit training in Norfolk . mayors and County Sheriffs and, in a particularly
exciting "first" for many, saw that great western
spectacle, the Rodeo. Others hired cars whilst_ one
group, more enterprising than the rest, made fn_ends
In order to be selected, each Volunteer had to have with and hitched a lift from , the Texas Atr Nauonal
already attended Annual Camp or to have attended a
course in lieu; in addition, each had to have successfully Guard who were flying their giant Chinook helicopters
completed the " Tickle Test " and be recommended by to Dallas for the weekend.
his Coy Comd. Drawn from all our Dnll Halls, the The second week's training concentrated on
composite Coy, named " Thunderbird Coy" (after the
.II' Oklahomans' famed Indian bird emblem) flew out to the company exercises and manoeuvres in unrelenting heat
United States on 14 Jun after greeting the incoming (over IOOF) and high humidity; this caused problems for
Americans at the USAF base at Mildenhall in the middle some who had to be whisked away by helicopter to rest.
of a violent downpour . By contrast, the weather at the Flown by Air National Guardsmen, anxious to reach
refuelling stop at McGuire Air Force .Base in New their quota of flying hours, the Chinook and H uey
Jersey was hot; it was even hotter by the ume we arnved helicopters were available in apparently limitless
at Fort Smith, Arkansas, where the Coy was met by the numbers and afforded us opportunities to take part in
Oklahoman's Commanding General, Bng Gen different types of air-mobile operations by day_ and
Lawrence Roy and the National Guard Band (needless night. Our hosts pronounced themselves fully sausfied
to say, the latter played a selection of music from that Thunderbird Company was 'Air-mobile Qualified '
and presented the Coy with a giant pair of wings
" Oklahoma" !)
mounted on a shield.
" Thunderbird " Coy was commanded by Maj Mike At the end of the second week we were able to repay,
M ercer (then OC B Coy), with Capt Alistair Meldrum in some measure, the hospitality of our American hosts
his 2IC and they were accompamed by MaJ Ewan at a party which included members of other units we had
Christian, our Training Major. The first week was spent met. The fortnight's training was, without doubt, the
in acclimatisation to the very htgh temperature and best we had experienced, not only in terms of military
humidity, the American weapons a':ld equipment, and experience but also for the opportunity it gave us to meet
th e mid -wes tern drawl (wht ch took some kindred people in their own land.
understanding!) Other problems wer~ the . driving of
jeeps and other vehicles in areas swarmmg wtth Mthtary During the second week in Arkansas, L/C pl Levin
Policemen, and learning to cope wah msect pests (the (B Coy) assisted some injured Americans from a truck
tick and the chigger), rattlesnakes and copperheads. which had overturned and, as a result of a report sent
from the American Commander, Th e Deputy
The Coy learnt how to use and fire the M 16 rifle, Commander and COS SE Dist commended L/C pl Levin
the M 60 machine gun (which closely resembles the for his " notable good sense, initiative and despatch" and
British Army's own C PMG) the .45 pistol and the directed that a record of this be retained with his
XM203 grenade launcher; this latter is slung beneath personal documents.
the M 16 rifl e, is capable of finng ann-personnel
grenades up to 400 metres and proved to be surpnsmgly
easy to handl e and to fire accurately-a good piece of kit. On our return the foll owing message was rece ived
We also had the opportunity of training on the Tow and from th e Comm ander, Briti sh Defe nce St aff,
Dragon; on the Dragon simulator kit, C pl Dave Washington :
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