Autumn 1992

------ - - - . ---- .. ··- --

Dunng the same eight days a total of 320 cadets
rowed on the lake whilst another 320 rode mountain
bikes around it . a distance of approxim ately 12 miles.

Cwyrt y Gollen Camp, Crickhowell

The facilities of this camp were available during the
first week at camp. The combat trail was excellent and
enjoyed by all , well , almost all ; there were some who
forgot to take a change of clothes. One group voted this
the best day of camp as they had inadvertently been
directed to a shower block which was being used by
female cadets of the Air Training Corps who had also

used the combat trail!

A party was held at the Abbey Arms in Sennybridge Sussex ACF Band leaves Horse Guards for the Mall, in
to say goodbye to Bob Mumford and Tony Gaskin of June.
The Queen's Regimental Information Team . Both are
leaving the team after camp and 21 Group showed achieved in Signals testing in July. Our 'U-Bet' Jago
their appreciation in the usual way. Maj Steve Turner Jeep display team excited audiences at the South of
presented them both with an engraved tankard and told England Show (where we rubbed shoulders with the
those assembled that these two had been the most RIT Kent Section) and other venues and were
effective and popular team members ever to have delighted to appear at Bassingbourn for the July Grand
worked with 21 Group. We wish them good luck in their Reunion .
future endeavours.

All too soon the camp came to an end and despite
some appalling weather conditions we managed to
leave Sennybridge in good order and with vivid
memories of a hard but satisfying camp.

SUSSEX ACF The Band comprising Cadets from Chichester,
Littlehampton and Worthing Platoons, at last now all
This year's busy season has been as busy as (bar one!) resplendent in 'scarlets', appeared at
ever with sport , band , signals , parascending various events around the County. The high spot of
sponsored walks , Jago Jeep displays and numerous their season however was the National Music Day
PR/recruiting activities going on alongside all the usual 'Salute to The Queen ' in London in June. They were
training,including a successful Annual Camp. among nearly 6000 musicians from all over the country
who had the thrill of marching from Horse Guards
The Burke brothers from Lewes Old Grammar Parade up The Mall to Buckingham Palace where the
School Platoon were 1st and 3rd in the ACF national salute was taken by The Duke and Duchess of
senior cross country in May, and 100% passes were Gloucester; you now have to request an audience to
speak to the Bandmaster! Chichester Platoon won the
County annual community service competition for the
first time thanks largely to their band activities including
several engagements for the Royal Sussex

Association.

August saw us almost on home territory at St.
Martins Plain , for an action packed Annual Camp .
Cadres , range and watermanship days at Hythe then
company exercises and competitions filled a
successful two week programme. Sussex students,
adult and cadet , gained 100% passes on the courses
run by 8CTI commanded by Capt Jeff Brown . W02
Dave Truran 6/7 QUEENS (V). Cadet Liaison Officer,
ensured maximum use of range facilities while Sgt
Plumpton 's RIT lads demonstrated (amongst other
things) practical living in the field , this year managing to
run not only the fairy lights but a fridge , TV and
microwave with their hardworking generator. Welcome
visitors included Brig John Holman and Maj lan Jones
in his new role as S03 TA/Cadets ; the latter's origins
were confirmed by his rousing rendition of 'Sussex by

the Sea' at Dinner Night.

Sussex ACF team stripping and manhandling their jeep. With just a tinge of sadness we await rebadging at
the same time looking forward to becoming part of a

fine new Regiment.

49

FRIMLEY AND CAMBERLEY CADET CORPS

by Col D A Sime, OBE , MC, TD

Since the last account, elements of th e Corps
have been to annual Camp at Fremington , near
Barnstaple, kind ly hosted by Surrey ACF . For three
days during the first week a move was made to Yoxter
near the Cheddar Gorge . it rained and it rained
butthanks to some very exce llent training videos ,
disaster was avoided.

Back at base the weather improved and a visit to
nearby RAF Chivenor was notable for the interest
shown and hospitality offered by the Royal Air Force.
The constant low-flying passes by their planes at high
speed served as a reminder of the continuous training
of young pilots .

Frimley and Camberley Cadet Corps on parade for Brig
Bartlett, Commandant of Surrey ACF.

Full use of the 'Death-slide' in camp was made (led
by the Adjutant Capt Peter Browning) together with a
happy mix of billet inspections , square bashing,
swimming , training on the sand dunes, shopping,
excellent grub and the sort of comradeship that
develops during a fortnight away from home under
Camp conditions.

One of the highlights was a trip to the Royal Navy at
Plymouth which included an exciting time on board the
frigate HMS Cornwall and a sight of the mass of
sophisticated equipment found in the Navy's modern
vessels. The day fini shed with a sail in a liberty boat.

On 2 October the Corps will welcome Brig Graeme
Bartlett MBE and his wife for the annual Review and
Prize Giving at Caird Hall. He is Commandant of Surrey
ACF with which the Corps enjoys a special relationship
-not every County is in a position to recruit cadets who ,
joining Blue Company at the age of 7, have been 'in
The Army' for 7 years!

Frimley and Camberley Cadet Corps well protected by The Frimley and Camberley Cadet corps has always
some of HMS Cornwall's armaments. cherished the honour of being a member of The

Queen 's Regimental family. it takes note of what has

been ordained and next year it will tran sfer its
allegiance , whi le still retaining memories of the past, to

The Princess of Wales 's Royal Regim ent (Queen 's and
Royal Hampshires) . it will do so with pride.

50

REGIMENTAL HEADQUARTERS

VISITORS TO RHO

The following signed the RHO Visitors' Book
between the last edition of the Journal being published

and the Amalgamation :

Maj Ted Parker, Brig Robert Long (Colonel R

HAMPS) , the Colonel of the Regiment , Maj Les

Edwards , Brig Tony Pielow, Maj Colin Hurd , Maj Gerald

Bartlett, Capt Alastair Laid law, Maj George Simpson ,

Maj John Powell , the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress

of Canterbury (C II r and Mrs John Purchese) , Col and

Mrs Hank Elliot (QOR of C) , Lt Col and Mrs John

Strathy (QOR of C), Mr and Mrs Bob Goodwin , Mrs

John Francis, Mrs John White , Col Mike Ball , Col John

Tilleard , Maj Roy Crosbie-Wood, Lt Steve Tucker (R

HAMPS) , Maj Wayne Harber, Maj Trevor Finklaire (R

HAMPS) , Lt Laurie Manton , Capt Roger Tutt , Lt Tony

Wasley (R HAMPS), Maj and Mrs Nicholas Beswick, The Lord Mayor of Canterbury Cllr John Purchese
Maj Guy Weymouth , Co l John Shipster, Maj and Mrs (third from right) and Col Hank Elliot Queen 's Own Rifles
Peter Godden , Co l Peter Lauritzen (Principal ADC to of Canada (sixth from right) with other guests and staff at
HM Queen Margrethe 11 of Denmark) , Capt Soren Lund
(Danish DA), Lt Col Bu ster Carlston , Maj Nigel Harri s, Regimental Headquarters on 12 May 1992.

Capt Alistair Nelson , Lt Stephen Taylor, WOI K

McCreadie , Mr Eric Graham , WOI (B/M) Ian Peaple, Mr Mott, Maj Peter Howe , Lt J Edwards , Lt Col Piers
Jim Garden , Maj Alastair Goulden , Maj Derek Adkins , Storie- Pu gh , Lt Col and Mrs Peter McLelland , Col and
Maj Gen Anthony Denison-S mith (Colonel of the Mrs David Beveridge, Lt Col and Mrs Mike Cooper, Brig
Regiment Designate), Lt Gen Sir Henry and Lady and Mrs Bob Acworth , Lt Col Amedee Mieville , Lt Co l
Beverley, Brig and Mrs Stuart Anderson, The High and Mrs David Wake , Maj and Mrs Joe O'Gorman , Lt
Sheriff of Kent and Mrs Henry Villiers , Maj and Mrs Col Les Wilson , Lt Col and Mrs John White , Lt Col and
Roderick Petley, Col Richard Graham , Mr Julian Mrs Anthony Beattie, The Colonel of the Regiment and
Brazier MP and Mrs Brazier, Gen Sir Edward and Lady Mrs Mike Reynolds, Col and Mrs John Francis, Brig
Burgess, the Lord Mayor of Canterbury (CII r Pat and Mrs Mike Constantine , Maj and Mrs Bill Marshall ,
Burke), Mr David Thurgood , Lt Col and Mrs Mike Lt Co l Andrew Barratt, Mr David Sergeant, Lt Col Mike
Reeve-Tu cker (R HAMPS), Lt Col Hu gh Keatinge (R Cooper, Maj John Reed , Lt Col Mike Martin (late R
HAMPS) , Lt Col and Mrs David Wake , Maj and Mrs HAM PS ), Co l Peter Cook, Lt Co l Peter Bishop, Co l and
James Camero n, Mi ss Verity Cameron , th e Mrs John Bu ckeridge , Co l and Mrs Jim Richardson
Archdeacon of Canterb ury and Mrs Michae l Till , Maj (Roya l Western Australia Regiment), Maj Peter Emery
Christopher Booth (LI ), Lt Col and Mrs David Earlam , (R HAM PS) , Mr Dominic Clark, Co l David Dickins .
2Lt Alistair Rogers, 2Lt Leon Thompson , 2Lt Richard

OFFICERS' CLUB

FORTHCOMING MARRIAGES

Capt J A E Clinch and Miss S J Crichton-Brown Capt J F Dyer and Capt B A David

The engagement is announced between Capt J A E Th e engagement is announced between Capt J F
Clinch , Th e Prin cess of Wales's Royal Regiment Dyer, The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment
(Queen 's and Royal Hampshires) younger son of Maj (Queen 's and Royal Hampshires) , son of Mr Fredrick
and Mrs M J Clinch of Stanford , Kent and Samantha Dyer of Hen ley in Arden and Capt Anne David
Jane, elder daugh ter of Mr and Mrs A Crichton-Brown OARANC , only daughter of Mr and Mrs Brian David of

of Peaslake , Surrey . Pyle , Bridgend .

51

Lt D J Jefferis and Miss S Wiggins Lt S J Taylor and Miss V J Derbyshire

The engagement is announced between Lt David The marriage took place on 18 July 1992 at All
Jefferis, The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, Saints Church, Faringdon of Lt Stephen Taylor, The
eldest son of Mr and Mrs A L Jefferis of Stamford , Queen 's Regiment and Miss Varley Derbyshire
Lincolnshire, and Sandra , daughter of Mr and Mrs B
Wiggins of Coxwold , North Yorkshire Maj L R Edwards and Miss L Richardson

Capt N M Wright and Miss A H Toussaint The marriage took place on 23 September between
Maj Les Edwards, The Princess of Wales's Royal
The engagement is announced between Capt Nigel Regiment , and Miss Lisa Richardson.
Wright, The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment ,
youngest son of Mr and Mrs J J Wright , of Bletchingly,
Surrey, and Angela Harriot, only daugher of Mr and Mrs
A J Toussaint of Fleet, Hampshire .

WEDDINGS REGIMENTAL WEDDING PRESENTS

Capt G I Fotheringham and Froken M E Toft Letters of thanks to all members of the Officers' Club
for the gifts of a Regimental wedding present have
The marriage took place on 18 April 1992 in been received from Capt and Mrs G I Fotheringham ,
Copenhagen between Capt G I Fotheringham, The Capt and Mrs J J H Smith , Capt and Mrs A W Nelson ,
Queen 's Regiment and Froken M E Toft. Capt and Mrs G P Jones, and Lt and Mrs S J Taylor.

MARRIAGES

We congratulate the following on their Collins, Cpl L M to Miss Kirsten Martina Schmidt
marriages:

Brown , Pte P F to Miss Maxine Jane Cansdale 29.06 .92
19.06.92
11 .04.92 Mason , Cpl S D to Miss Sandra Shearer
Clark, Pte K J P to Miss Josephine And rea George
Stafford , LCpl S J to Miss Despina Demetriou

Ray, Pte M D to Miss Carol Ann Page 02 .05 .92 08 .07.92
04 .04 .92 Warren , Pte C R to Miss Daryl Rachel Brazier

Malloy, Pte C J to Miss Teresa Marie Arnold 25.04 .92 13 .06 .92
Robinson , Pte E E H to Miss Lisa Jane Roberts
Fuller, Cpl K J to Miss Rebecca Lind 09 .05.92

Fogg , LCpl D G to Miss Kiymet Ozbas 09.05 .92 25 .07.92
Alien , Sgt D R to Miss Linda Margaret McPherson
Snelling, LCpl G to Miss Karen Jane Cleaver

06.06.92 07 .08 .92
Godden , Pte VS to Miss Joanne Streeting 07.03.92 Blaylock , LCpl S J to Miss Amanda Joy Leonard

Hobden , LCpl M A to Miss Helen Christina Proctor 07 .08 .92
15.08 .92
16.05 .92 King , Pte K K to Miss Karen Ganly
Adams , Pte G L to Miss Samantha Georgina Oldfield
Azzopardi , Cpl B G to Miss Christina Dawn Hemmings
14.05.92
Tidey, Sgt CM to Miss Emma Jane Dexter 07.06.92 15 .08 .92
Popman , Sgt K J to Miss Donna Marie Slater 8.08.92
Hill , LCpl S C to Miss Debra Joanne Benzies 8.07.92
Smith , Pte P K to Miss Anna-Marie King 05 .09 .92
Tiltman . Pte N K to Miss Maree Frances Cheesman

11 07.92

DEATHS

FAULKNER. On 27 May 1992, Maj G T Faulkner, TARVER. On 14 September 1992, Margaret Tarver,
late BUFFS and QUEENS. wife of the late Maj Gen C H Tarver, CB, CBE . DSO ,
former Deputy Colonel of the Regiment.
BROWN. On 14 July 1992, Lt Col Robert Brown TD ,
late RWK CHEESMAN. On 4 October 1992, Lt Col Peter
Cheesman , late MX and QUEENS .
PHELPS. On 13 September 1992, Lt Col Geoffrey
Arthur 'Pips' Phelps, late R SUSSEX .

52

OBITUARIES

CANON JOHN F DEVINE After two years in Berlin , he joi ned , o n
demobilisation , the Catholi c Diocese of Portsmouth
Priest and Wartime Chaplain in the British Army and served in Wokingham , Jersey, Alderney, Milford
on Sea and Christchurch before moving in 1957 to
Died on 21 May 1992, aged 91 years Bordon in Hampshire. There, in addition to his Parish
responsibilities, he was Roman Catholic Chaplain to
Canon Jack Devine was born on 1st May, 1901 at the Garrison . His Church, at that time , was a
Ballygar 1n County Galway . He was one of the younger 'temporary' building dating from the First World War
of a famtly of eleven , havtng ftve brothers (his twin and situated within the Military Camp.
brother Lawrence died in 1991) and five sisters.
Father Jack was a man of many qualities not least
After studying languages and theology at St. among which were love of his fellow men and a passion
Patnck's College , Maynooth , he was ordained in 1925 for fair-dealing and justice. During the War he had
and served as a curate in the Dioceses of Elphine and become deeply conscious that a battalion's success
Galway, which led to his appointment, by his Diocesan depended on the well-being and wholehearted effort of
Bishop , to the Irish Army. every member. As a result he felt keenly for those
whose enduring efforts received no official recognition
In 1926, when threatened with TB, he was sent to and , to remedy this , he founded the Order of Great Men
the United States where he served for six years as and appointed himself Grand Master, retaining sole
assistant pastor to the Parish of the Holy Rosary in power to select and enrol members 'in recognition of
Southern California. During this time , in addition to outstanding Service to Humanity'. Somehow this
establishing contacts in Hollywood, he attended the reached the ears of his Brigade Commander, who ,
1932 Olympic Games where , to his great joy, two of his scenting something potentially seditious , sent for
fellow countrymen won Gold Medals. Father Jack and demanded an explanation . The
interview ended with the already much decorated
On his recall to Ireland , after a short appointment in Brigade Commander accepting his Certificate of
Dundee, he was re-appointed to the Irish Army as Membership.
Chaplain and in 1940, following an urgent appeal for
Catholic Chaplains for our Forces , he volunteered , with Landmarks during his tenure at Bordon included the
the approval of his own Bishop, for the British Army- a celebrations of the Golden and Diamond Anniversaries
dectston wh tch was to have an important bearing on the of his ordination and the consecration in 1990 of the
remainder of his long life. magnificent new Sacred Heart Church at the top of
Chalet Hill , Bordon which owes its being so very much
On arrival in Egypt in the early summer of 1942, he to his iron will , unsparing efforts and the generosity of
was posted as one of the three chaplains to 131 himself and his family .
(Queens) Infantry Brigade when , to their great good
fortune , he was attached to 1st/6th Queens. During the In 1984, on retirement from active ministry his final
next few months, due to his personality and presence, years were spent as Resident Priest at the Sue Ryder
he began to estab lish himself as the much respected Home near Langrish where , as in every previous
and we ll loved 'elder' that he was later to become , and appointment, he was greatly loved and deeply
by the time of the Battle of El Alamein he was known by respected by all who knew him . Throughout this time
All Ranks of the battalion as Father Jack. he said Sunday Mass at the Chapel of the Assumption ,
East Meon .
From El Alamein on , 131 Brigade formed the Lorried
Infantry Brigade of 7th Armoured Division (The Desert A delightful and precious manifestation of the regard
Rats) which had the great distinction of fighting from in which he was held came on the occasion of his 90th
Egypt to Berlin by way of Tripoli , Tunis, Salerno and Birthday last year when Liz Roberts , the Matron, most
Normandy. And Father Jack, who had been mentioned generously arranged and graciously hosted, a party
in despatches for his service in the Desert, was one of which all who attended will never forget. How Father
the distinguished number who completed the whole Jack deserved this, and more particularly, how much
journey, moving to g DLI when 1st/6th Queens he enjoyed the assembled company which included , as
withdrew to England . His new Commanding Officer well as his nephew Father Michael Devine , so many of
has recently recalled 'In an astonishingly short time he his 'boys' as he always referred to us soldiers.
got to know every soldier, quickly learning the Geordie
language and earning the affection and respect of At his funeral service, so movingly conducted by
every officer and man . He was always moving about Monsignor Murtagh, the Sacred Heart Church was
the forward companies and seemed immune to the filled to capacity . His coffin was draped with the Union
noise and heat of battle. In addition, he had the unique Flag and bore his war medals together with the
se nse of spotting the man who had had a surfeit of symbols of his priestly office. In his wonderful Homily,
shelltng and wou ld dtscreetly arrange for htm to have Father Michael outlined his Uncle's meaningful life and
t1me out of the line A wonderful Chaplatnl ' illustrated his nature and characteristics with colourful
anecdotes . He mentioned that Father Jack enjoyed the
odd flutter on the horses though his guiding principle

53

that Irish bred horses were superior to English World War as Adjutant 7th Battalion , Queen 's Own
remained viable only so long as Arkle was running . But Royal We st Kent Regiment , with . the Bntish
it was a quote from one of their last conversations that Expeditionary Force 1n France . Although InJured when
many of us feel reflected the indomitable nature of the a mine exploded, he escaped and reached England .
man . 'Dying , Mickey,' he said to his nephew 'is a dreary Later joined Special Forces and became a pioneer in
business. If I were you , I'd have nothing to do with it!' Combined Operations ; then appointed director of
military training , attached to 9th Division , Au stralian
He is survived by his younger brother, who lives in Army ; he advised on the formation of an Australian
Boston , Mass, by his youngest sister and by Father Staff College and served with the 5th and 6th
Michael Devine, the son of his elder brother Daniel. Australian Divisions in New Guinea. Sales director
John Dewar, distillers (during his term of office the firm
MF was granted the Queen 's Award for Export
Achievement five times).
lt Col ROBERT BROWN
(Reprinted from The Daily Telegraph , 18 Augu st
Lt Col Robert Brown , Aged 80. Served Second 1992.)

l\.egtmental )?Issoriattons

THE QUEEN'S REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATION

by Maj W D Marshal!

The '9th of September' has been and gone. I know Chairman Midlands Maj J R Barrel!
you will all join me in wishing The Princess of Wales's Branch Mr Colin McGowan
Royal Regiment (Queens and Royal Hampshires) best Secretary
W02 Mick Bennett
wishes for a long and successful future . The name of Secretary Sutton
The Queen 's Regiment proudly borne on our Colours Branch W01 (BM) B Cunningham
CSgt Colin Witten
and in our hearts for twenty six distinguished years is Chairman The Queen 's
now part of the history of the ever changing British Band Association
Army . The same strong links that bound us with our Secretary
Forbear Regiments have already begun to be forged
with the new Regiment. An example of this is the new

name for our Regimental Association . After much
discussion (and emotion) at various meetings held with
the Branch Chairmen and the Executive Committee,
the President of the Regimental Association has
decided that the title of the Association is to be:

'The Queen 'sAssociation ofThe Princess ofWales 's
Royal Regiment'

Branches will add their own titles after the main title .

The following are the current Association and branch
officials :

President Maj Gen M F Reynolds CB The Venerable Peter Mallet!, Honorary Regimental
Chairman Col J W Francis
Secretary Maj W D Marshal! Chaplain , and the Reverend Paul Carter, Depot Padre,
Association conduct the Drumhead Service at the Regimental Grand
Maj A Martin MBE Reunion.
Benevolence Secretary
Chairman City and Inner Brig HC Millman OBE DL
London Branch Maj Brian Wright
Secretary
Acting Chairman Maj D Harwood TO
Hornsey (Aibuhera) Mr Ned Kelly
Branch
Secretary Mr K Atkins
Mr Bob Gardiner
Chairman Shepway
Branch
Secretary

54

All members of the Queen 's Assoc1at1on should

encourage everyone who served 1n The Queen 's
Regiment to join existing branches of the Association
or, if more convenient , those of our forbear reg1ments.

The weather was not kind for th1s year's Reg1mental

Grand Reunion . However, the spirit of those who
attended was not dampened by this setback . Our
Honorary Chaplain the Ven Peter Mallett CB and the
Depot Padre the Revd Paul Carter CF conducted the
Drumhead Service . The greetings received from
Princess Juliana and Queen Margrethe our Allied
Colonels-in-Chief were passed to all by the Colonel of

the Regiment after he had read the Lesson .

The Colours of the 6/7th (Volunteer) Battalion were

escorted by a Guard of Honour commanded by
Maj Nick Clapham. the 'Terriers' as ever gave us a fine
parade. The music during the Service and March Past
was provided by the Albuhera Band and Corps of
Drums of the 2nd Battalion. The Association is grateful
for the services of the officers, soldiers and musicians

from these battalions. Well done all of you .

Bad weather prevented The Flying Dragons from
jumping . I am sure all will join us in sending them best
wishes as they represent the UK in the World
Championship to be held in China.

Hampered by the weather we may have been , but
honours for a bright and cheerful exhibition of

- enthusiasm and expertise must go to the Jeep
.:.- Assembly Team from Sussex ACF. Those young men
well and truly deserved the applause they received

from an appreciative audience .

Keen interest being shown in the inter-association We are grateful to the Commanding Officer of the
shooting competition at the Regimental Gra nd Reun ion . Depot for use of the superb facilities at Bassingbourn .
Also our Regimental Team led once again by Maj Mark
If anyone is interested in forming a new branch they Quinn , deserve high praise for the excellent
should contact the Association Secretary. organisation that made our Reunion a successful and
enjoyable day.
The Queen 's Regiment Benevolence Fund is
unaffected by the amalgamation and remains in SHEPWAY BRANCH
existence for the benefit of those who served in the by Ron Harper
Regiment and their dependants . Applicants will
continue to apply via SSAFA or other such
organisations to Maj Alan Martin at RHO Canterbury
where their cases will be considered by the Welfare
and Benevolence Committee under the Chairmanship
of Lt Col Les Wilson .

The Queen 's Association of The Princess of Wales's The July meeting of the branch was mainly taken up
Royal Regiment will march behind The Queen's by discussing the option to keep our present title
Regiment flag at any future Grand Reunion or orchange along with the Regimental title . With some
equivalent functions. sadness the vote was unanimously for the latter, with
all agreeing that we should give the new regiment the
The Queen 's Association will attend the Field of same loyalty we have always given .
Remembrance Westminster Abbey cross planting and
the Cenotaph Muster, Whiteha ll, Remembrance We as a branch were invited to a cocktail party at the
ceremonies as at present. National Army Museum , Chelsea by our friends in the
Hornsey Branch . Unfortunately, for various reason s,
If The Princess of Wales 's Royal Regiment decides we were unable to attend . We finished the evening with
to hold WOs' and Sergeants' 'Past and Present' family and friend s and musical entertainment topped
Dinners, Queen 's Association members wi ll be eligible off with a plate of bangers and mash .
to attend. If not, the Secretary of The Queen 's
Association will continue to organise these dinners, As this is the last report of the Shepway Branch , The
provided a suitable venue can be found . Branch Queen's Regimental Association . may I propose a
Secretaries of the Queen 's Association will continue to Toast to The Regiment (Present and Future): 'The
organise their own functions as at present. Regiment' .

55

- - --- ·-· - -·- ---- - - ·-

HORNSEY BRANCH members from the City Branch and also the Buffs and
Surreys. This was the first time that the different
by Ned Kelly branches had got together other than the Reunion and
I th ink it went very we ll . We will be visiting the City
We had about 50 members and their families at the Branch in the near fu ture . Our thanks go to Maj Peter
last Bassingbourn Reunion . One of our members, Maj Bateman, Assistant Di rector of the National Army
Derrick Harwood TD , received The Queen's Regiment Muse um , and his staff for their hard work and
Medal of Merit from the Colonel of the Regiment. lt was assistance in making th e occasion the success it was.
a shame that the last Reunion had to take place in the Many of our members are still serving in the TA and wi ll
hangar especially as the weather took a turn for the form part of the new London Regiment . We look
better after the decision was made . Still we all enjoyed forward to becoming part of th e Princess of Wales '
ourselves . Royal Regim ent Association but many of us are a little
sad at th e passing of Th e Qu een's Regiment.
Our committee organised a Cocktail Party at the
National Army Museum in August . We were joined by

The Queen's Regiment
Association

Queen's Surreys

Since the last notes the President has held his Cpt Waghorn and Mr John Holman of the QUEEN 'S
annual reception for the Mayors of Guildford, Kingston SURREYS Regimental Association.
upon Thames, and Reigate and Banstead in the
regimental museum at Clandon Park.

We were delighted to welcome a large number of
distinguished regimental guests including General Sir
Edward and Lady Burgess, and the Chairman of the
Royal Sussex and Middlesex Associations and their
wives .

In a short welcoming speech Brig Mike Doyle spoke
of the importance that the Regiment and Association
placed on our links between us as an Association , the
Regiment and the civic authorities, who had honoured
us with the Freedoms of their boroughs.

He also spoke of the past, present and future of our
regimental links with these historic towns and was
confident that we as an Association would continue to
foster this association with the towns and the new
Regiment. In July we had a very good turnout for the
last Queen 's Regiment reunion at Bassingbourn. Sadly
as you will have read elsewhere in these columns we
were all disappointed that we were unable, due to
inclement weather, to march past the Colonel of the
Regiment for the last time as Queensmen .

Our branch associations continue to hold their own
reunions . Two in particular should be mentioned , The
5th Old Members Association at Guildford attracted a
larger then normal turnout and some new faces for their
annual dinner in May, whilst in September a small
group of The Queen 's (Southwark Branch) led by Maj

John Tamplin went to Sint - Niklass , Belgium to attend
their annual Liberation Anniversary celebration s.

56

------. - - --. -- ·-- -· - -

. ~- ~' The Queen's Regimental
~· Association
...~... (The Queen 's Own Buffs)

This past year has been dominated by the pending
amalgamation and decisions concerni ng the future of
our As sociation . At the An nua l Meeting of the
Regimental Association on 25 Apri l it was decided ,
after much discussion , to associate ourselves with The
Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Queen 's and
Royal Hampshires) and to amend our titl e to read :

The Regimental Association of the Queen 's Own
Buffs (PWRR)

All our branches are happy with this decision and
look forward to a long association with the new
Reg iment.

On 5 July we prod uced a good turnout for the Grand
Reunion at Bassingbourn and although the weather
was unkind to us at the time of the Remembrance
Parade , it did clear up afterwards and allowed us to
picnic in the open. Thi s event must conti nue. lt is
growing in popularity and caters for all age groups . lt
also provi des good recrui ting materia l for our
Association branches.

CANTERBURY REMEMBRANCE SERVICE
AND REUNION
9 August 1992

For the past two yea rs we have been blessed by Canterbury Branch standard party marching past t he
good weather and this year was no exception . Our Cathedral before the Queen's Own Buffs Remembrance
numbers on parade appear to increase year by year, Service on 9 August.
which supports the theory that 'old soldiers never die'.
As th e parade marched to th e Cathedral under the MAIDSTONE REMEMBRANCE SERVICE AND
com mand of Maj G Dineley TO led by the Kohima REUNION
Band, it was indeed an impressive sight.
6 September 1992
We we re joined in the Cathedral by the Lord Mayor
and Lady Mayoress of Canterbu ry for the Service of Having been informed that the Old Barracks in
Remembrance. Afte r the Service, wreaths were laid in Sandling Road was due to be handed over to the
the Warrio rs' Chape l by the President of the Counci l, permission was sought and granted for us to
Association , the Lord Mayor and rep resentatives of the form up in the barracks and for one last time to march
Association . out of the barracks, which had been home to the
Queen's Own Royal West Ke nt Regiment for many
The Reunion was held in Howe Barracks by kind years. We were also fortunate to have the services of
permission of the Commanding Officer 2 QUEENS. As the Al buhera Band, who kindly broke their journey to
th e weather was fine most picnicked outside on the Sweden to play for us and lead us from the barracks to
grass whilst be in g entertain ed to a musica l Brenchley Gardens, and from there to All Saints'
extravaganza by th e Kohima Band.

The day ended with th e Band an d Drums of the 5th
Battalion displaying their ski ll s on the square and the
Reunion ended with the Eve ning Hymn. A most
successful day, thoroughly enjoyable and so well
supported .

57

. - - --·- -·--- -·-- --- ---

Church. The weather for once was not on our side and
we marched in gentle rain - stopped us overheating! lt
was a moving occasion , much appreciated by those on
parade , especially being able to march behind a
Regular band and listen to their own Regimental
Marches.

The Service at the Cenotaph in Brenchley Gardens
was conducted by the Revd C J Morgan Jones, the
newly arrived Vicar of All Saints'. After wreaths were
laid by the President , Mayor of Maidstone and
members of the Association, th e parade reformed and
marched to All Saints' for the Remembrance Service,
at which the Revd D W Towne, a former member of the
Regiment , gave a stirring Address .

The Reunion this year was held in Boxley Road Drill
Hall and proved to be a very acceptable alternative to
the Kent Hall. During the afternoon the Standard
Bearers Competition was won by Bryan Bartlett and the
Certificate of Merit was awarded to Tom Alderson of
the Maidstone Branch.

Mr Nobby Clarke of the Canterbury Branch of the Queen 's

Own Buffs Regimental Association records the Grand
Reunion for posterity.

THE BUFFS MUSEUM

The Museum is now open to the public. Work on
the medal and silver display cases will continue for
some time but there has been a noticeable
improvement in the display so far. lt is hoped that once
this stage of renovation is completed , the overall eHect
will be greatly enhanced.

FUTURE EVENTS

Please note the following dates for your 1993
diaries:

1 August 1993: Canterbury Service of
Remembranc e and Reunion .

5 September 1993: Buffs Service of Remembrance ,
Tower of London .

Maj Joe O'Gorman , Secretary of the Queen's Own 12 September 1993: Maid stone Service of

Buffs Association, at the Regimental Grand Reunion . Remembrance and Reun ion.

58

The Royal Sussex Regiment
Association

(Representing The Queen's Regiment in Sussex)

ROYAL SUSSEX OFFICE John's in depth knowledge of all things Regimental
con nected with the Royal Sussex Regiment cannot
Confirmation that our phone numbers are -Mi litary ever be surpassed . Th e Tru stees are extremely
-C hichester 7863 11 extn . 4240 and Civi li an -530852 . grateful to him and are heartened by the knowledge
We man the office Tuesday and Friday mornings. Dick that he will be available on the end of a phone to
Barton is the Secretary and Eddy Clout the Assistant. answer the many queries that doubtless will arise.
Both Sussex born and Sussex bred, strong in the arm,
weak in the head, but somehow between us we usually Bob Burns is already a well known character in Royal
come up with an answer. Sussex ci rcles and we wish him well in his
appointment.

ST. GEORGE'S DAY

On 23 April our St. George's Day Service in the
Cathedral was exceptional ly we ll attended . The
Service was taken by the Dean, The Very Reverend
John Treadgold . We have now established a tradition
of singing 'Sussex by the Sea' at the end of the Service .
We th en process over to the Dolphin and Anchor for
war stories and liquid refreshment.

GOODWOOD

Th e Royal Sussex Regiment Race was run at
Goodwood on 21 May 1992. lt was won by 'Landowner'
owned by Sheikh Mohammed . Our President's wife ,
Mrs Patricia Bucke ridge presented the Royal Sussex
Trophy.

BRANCHES

Our branch meetings con tinu e to be we ll
attended . As this sadly is the last time we subscribe to
this Journal we again reiterate that we we lcome all
members or ex members of The Queen 's Regiment.
Our branches are located at Arundel , Brighton ,
Eastbourne , Lewes , Chichester, Hastings , Mid
Sussex, Midhurst and London .

THE MUSEUM
REDOUBT FORTRESS, EASTBOURNE

After several attempts to hand over his museum
duties that failed for various reasons , Maj John
Ainsworth has handed over Secretary to the Museum

Trustees to Bob Burn s.

John took over a mediocre co llection of artifacts and The Royal Sussex Association well represented in the
records and by years of sheer hard work raised the queue at the Regimental Grand Reunion .
collecti on to the centre of excellence that we know

today .

59

-. -·- --·
- -· . --- ---

Regimental Association of
The Middlesex Regiment (DCO)

(Affiliated with The Queen's Regiment)

OFFICERS' CLUB DINNER THE ANNUAL REUNION

The annual dinner was held at the Naval and The Annual Reunion was held in the Carisbrooke
Military Club, London W1, on 8 May 1992. Lt Col T W Hall of the Vi ctory Services Club , London W1 . The
Chattey presided . reunion was a great success and the attendance
continues to increase.
Principal guests were Maj Gen and Mrs M F
Reynolds , Colonel The Queen 's Regiment , Maj C J
Bellingham , Royal Hong Kong Regiment (The
Volunteers) , Mr lan C Robertson, Director National
Army Museum , Maj P R Bateman, Assistant Director
National Army Museum , and the Revd and Mrs W E B
Jones, together with seven of our widows. 54 members
attended .

ALBUHERA SERVICE OF REMEMBRANCE 2/1 Oth BN THE MIDDLESEX REGIMENT (DCO)
1914-18
Th e annual Albuhera Service of Remembrance
was held in the Regimental Chapel of St Paul's The 64th Annual Luncheon of the 2/ 1Oth Bn
Cathedral on 9 May 1992. (1914- 18) was held at the Victory Services Club on 2
May . Thi s luncheon commemorated the 75th
The Service was led by the Dean , the Very Revd T E anniversary of the 1st and 2nd Battles of Gaza in March
Evans , assisted by the Revd W E B Jones and the and April1917 . Mr AD Scudamore, now 96 , presided .
Revd P Tuft. Our chairman , Brig BA M Pielow read the Lt Col T W Chattey, Brig B A M Pielow, Maj A E F
Lesson . The Dean concluded the Service by giving the Waldron and Capt D A Hawkins plus many 'friends'
Blessing . attended .

This Service continues to be well attended.

ALLIANCES AND AFFILIATIONS

HMS NELSON

HMS NELSON became aHiliated with The Queen's
Regiment following the demise of the former HMS
EXCELLENT located at Whale Island in Portsmouth .
While the intervening years have brought changes for
the Regiment, the Island has also undergone some
significant developments and there are more to come.

Whale Island was originally largely created by land .'
reclamation in the 1880s and became HMS
Maj Gen R J Sharp, Honorary Colonel of the Royal New
EXC ELLENT the Navy's Gunnery School until 1985.
Now an outstation of HMS NELSON , the Island is the South Wales Regiment (fourth from right) and other top
home of numerous units including the Weapon
Engineering StaH of Flag OHicer Surface Flotilla, the table guests at the Regimental Dinner in Sydney on 20
Royal Navy Regulating School and the Portsmouth June 1992.
Field Gun Crew and is undergoing a major
redevelopment programme with a total value of some
£70 million .

60

Whale Island is to become the new location for the THE QUEEN 'S OWN RIFLES OF CANADA
Royal Navy's Nuclear Biological Chemical Defence DRUM IN CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL
School which will in clude a purpose- built school with
associated training equipment which is due to open in After turning the page of his Regiment's Book of Life in
September 1993. In addition , a new Fire Fighting the Warriors' Chapel, Col Hank Elliot (left) inspects the
Training Unit will be built to provide a unique . drum held by Lt Col John Strathy which had been
environmentally friendly propane-gas fired , computer presented in 1960 by Col Strathy's father on behalf of the
controlled prototype training unit to enter service at the
end of 1996. Queen's Own Rifles.

Arrangements are also fully in place to transfer the
Royal Navy's leadership training from HMS ROYAL
ARTHUR in Wiltshire , to Whale Island by January
1993. Thi s will bring all of the Navy's leadership and
management training under one roof as the Royal
Navy Divisional and Management School is already
located on the Island .

lt is also intended that the staffs of Commandant
General Royal Marines (London) , HQ Commando
Forces (Plymouth) and HQ Training and Reserve
Forces (Poole) will combine at Whale Island sometime
in late 1994.

In support of all these projects, work is also planned
to improve and develop the infrastructure of the Island.
These include large improvements to dining areas,
galleys and accommodation plus new roads and car
parks .

The Commodore HMS NELSON and his Ship's
Company have va lued and enjoyed the close ties with
The Queen's Regiment . We send our best wishes to
the new Regiment and hope that the links between the
Senior Service and the Senior English Infantry
Regiment of the Line continue as strongly as before .

HMS CHATHAM

by Lt Simon R Petitt RN

After the final Gulf Enhancements were fitted and On 16 June , the ship reached the Suez Canal for her
an Assisted Maintenance Period , CHATHAM sailed for transit to the Red Sea and the Middle East. At Port
her six months !asking in the Gulf. The deployment Said, many of the ship's company were disembarked to
officially started when the ship sailed from Portland for visit Cairo and the Pyramids. The rest of us carried on
four days of Weapon Training under the guidance of through this amazing piece of civi l enginering to Port
the staff of Flag Officer Sea Training . CHATHAM was Suez where we picked up the 'Pyramid Tourists'
then assessed as being ready for her new role and carrying their hard fought goods and recounting stories

sailed for the Gulf. However, on the first leg of the trip , of camels and belly-dancers.
the ship carried a few training staff to assist with the
crew's work up in order that everybody would be ready CHATHAM emerged from Suez and instead of
heading straight down the Red Sea, we turned left at
to cope with any eventuality. Mount Sinai , carryi ng on in a north-easterly direction to
the Jordanian port of Aqaba . Aqaba is not a typical
The first stop on the way to the Gulf was Gibraltar. Royal Navy 'run ashore ', nevertheless the ship was
Here the ship refuelled and had a weekend alongside given a very warm welcome . The city itself had much to
to taste the wares of this bastion of Britain so close to offer with some fine beaches and hotels along with
Spain . Many of the ship's company have been to Gib cheap restaurants . However, the high point of the visit
before and , of cou rse , did not take long to find the usual was the organised trips inland to the ancient Nabatean
'Jack' haunts. Although the skyline had changed since city of Petra. Most of the ship's company made this trip
I last visited , the entertainment certainly had not. The and all were astounded by this breathtaking city carved
ship then sailed through the Mediterranean carrying out of rock and recently filmed during the making of
out essential Staff Covered Damage Control Exercises 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade'.
before reaching Souda in Crete for another refuelling
break and then Cyprus where we disembarked the
training personnel. Cyprus was the realistic start point
of the deployment: all the staff were now gone and the

ship was 'on her own '.

61

. . - --- . --- -·-- - - --

After Aqaba we co ntinued through th e Red Sea CHATHAM di se mbarked a guard of honour and
carrying out Passage Exercises with the sh ips of the wreath-layin g party to the War Graves at Diego Suarez,
Multi-National Maritime Interdiction Force. en route. the place of rest for those British killed during the
CHATHAM navigated round the coast of Arabia and invasion of 1942.
through the Strait of Hormuz in time to take over the
mantle of the 'Armilla Patrol'. Thi s was achieved during The visit to Mombasa was a long one, two weeks in
a day's handover and consisted of many boat transfers total, and it was particularly important for a large
in order that personnel could exchange information number of the sh ip's company as their wives and
about this unusual area of operation. The role of girlfriends flew out from Britain . However, those left
Commander of the Gulf Task Group was formally behind had plenty to do ; there were many safaris
handed over to Captain Hogg , the Commanding Officer booked and even with a fai rly heavy work load there
of HMS CHATHAM , after a sa il past by the outgoing was still time for visits to loca l hotels and 'carved
task group of HMS YORK and HMS BEAVER . The woode n elephant' shopping trips. As usual sports
patrol had started with HMS CHATHAM and HMS matches were organised and well attended .
EDINBURGH ready to defend British interests in the
world's biggest oil highway. The next and last 'out of area' visit for the ship was to
Karachi , Pakistan. Thi s was anoth er great shopping
Whilst HMS EDINBURGH started her patrol within run where the ship's company bought their Afghan
the Gulf, HMS CHATHAM carried out two Gulf State rugs , rosewood trunks and leather jackets. As the visit
visits before departing the Persian Gulf for her 'out of ended , the ship's period away from ope rations also
area' time . The first of these Gulf visits was to Jebel Ali , finished . The sh ip returned to sea for a period of
the largest man-made port in the world and , it must be weapon training in the Gulf of Oman and a successful
said, HMS CHATHAM looked very small in comparison Seawall shoot and on 29 Augu st HMS CHATHAM
to some of the vast tankers which were berthed nearby. resumed operations in the Gulf and EDINBURGH left
Jebel Ali is the major port for the United Arab Emirates in turn for her 'out of area ' time. I am writing thi s article
and although not much fun in itself, it is only 40 minutes after another long stay in Jebel Ali where another
away from Dubai, possibly the cheapest Duty Free city important event in the deployment occurred . HMS
in the world . Dubai is a haven for shopping and many of CHATHAM was asked to be the ve nue for the Gulf
the ship's company took advantage of this and bought Maritime Commanders' Conference. This was where
cameras , hi-lis and gold all of which are of particularly the Allied Gulf Maritime Commanders, both western
good value. and Arabs, discussed important military issues relevant
to the region .

The ship then sailed north to Bahrain and enjoyed a We are now just over half way through the
long weekend in this more westernised , popular Arab deployment and looking forward to a few more visits
country before leaving the Persian Gulf. around the Gulf, whilst operationally we are 'top line'.
On 23 October we handover to the new Task Group
The first of the 'out of area' visits was the idyllic and make our way back home for some hard earned
island setting of the Seychelles. The beautiful Christmas leave with our familie s. In Cyprus we hope to
environment of these islands was ideal for the ship's pick up some members of the Princess of Wales's
company to unwind, whether by lazing on the beaches ; Royal Regiment for our voyage home via Rome and
driving round the main island in hired jeeps; diving off Porta .
the reefs ; playing golf or simply enjoying the plentiful
night life. The time passed quickly and, after six days in As you can see the trip has been both busy and
the Seychelles, it was time to sail for a much more enjoyable . it is a shame that we have not been able to
formal visit to Madagascar. visit Kent this year. However, we hope to be able to visit
our affiliated town in the near future . The ship's
The Malagasy people claimed that HMS CHATHAM company of HMS CHATHAM offer the men of the
was the first Royal Navy ship to have visited their island Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment , everywhere, their
since HMS GLADIATOR in 1862. However, they best wishes.
omitted to mention the British invasion of the island in
1942, when they were saved from the Vichy French HMS LEEDS CASTLE
and probable Japanese rule . Consequently, the
welcome the ship 's company received was
outstanding .

The island is the 11th poorest country in the world HMS LEEDS CASTLE has enjoyed her first summer
and possibly because of this everything was very in UK for three years . The ship's programme has been
cheap . Some of the older members of the ship's a busy one combined with the inevitable short notice
company did claim it was like the old days as they rode changes going with Service life, but three wee ks
around the town in rickshaws for a few pennies. Due to summer leave provided everybody with a well earned
the official nature of the visit there were many well and necessary break after the ship's work-up period
attended sporting events organised , of which the most followed immediately by 'Fish Patrol ' in the North Sea .
important was a televised football match against the
local side, which happily HMS CHATHAM won . The June finally saw the end - well almost - of a
visit was a great success , with nearly 900 people maintenance and trials period which lasted so mewhat
visiting the ship during the 'Ship Open to Visitors' and longer than expected . The ship then set to work to get
after four days the ship sailed for Mombasa. On the back into an operational state by first undergoing a
way round the northern tip of the island , HMS shakedown period where the ship's company shook

62

and then back to Fish Patrol during November and
December before tak1ng late Christmas leave 1n

January.

The ship plans to make a v1sit to Hastings, the ship's
affiliated town , next summer and looks forward to
playing host to a number of vis itors from the South
East. We all sincerely hope that the transitional penod
during the amalgamation has gone smoothly and that
the new Regiment enjoys the success of its
predecessors. We hope also that our affiliation will
continue to flourish , and look forward to hosting any
member of the Regiment who would like to spend some
time on board and savour the life of Cap'n Birdseye .

HMS UNICORN

A Scottish trawler is closely inspected by HMS LEEDS HMS UNICORN is the fourth and last of the Type
CASTLE . 2400 Upholder class diesel electric submarines to be
built for the Royal Navy. The name UNICORN is an old
out 8 months worth of cobwebs. Thi s was an intensive and famou s one in Naval History, dating back to 1544
period of se lf inspection before we were to be assessed when the first of the name was captu red from the Scots
by training staff from th e ship's base port, Rosyth . Thi s at Leith and includes fourteen other ships which bore
took place at Portland and after a short time at the name in the service of their country. Battle honours
Plymouth , the ship returned to Rosyth for the sea span the whole of the 'modern' navy from the Armada
phase of our BOST - Basic Operational Sea Training. in 1588, through the wars against the Dutch in the 17th
Ten long and full days saw the whole ship's company Century, single and multi-ship actions against the
put through their paces in all areas ultimately to French throughout the turbulent 18th century, the
determine whether or not the ship was ready to return Second World War and Korea in the 1950s. The last
to an operational status. On top of the exercises thrown UNICORN saw continuous service from 1943,
at the ship, LEEDS CASTLE was involved in a Search including the allied landings at Salerno and the Korean
and Rescue operation when a RAF aircraft tragically War, before decommissioning for the final time in 1957.
ditched in the approaches to the Forth killing both crew .
The hard work put in by all members of the ship's UNICORN 's keel was laid down on the 13 March
company was rewarded as the ship received a 'very 1990 at Cammell Laird Shipbuilders (CLS), Birkenhead
satisfactory' assessment overall for BOST. and has since been progressively prepared for her sea

trials due to start in January 1993.

Immediately on comp letion of BOST in mid July,
LEEDS CASTLE sa iled for her first patrol as part of the
Fishery Protection Squadron . Thi s took place in the
North Sea section of 'Area East' -an area extending
from the Thames Estuary to the English-Scottish
border and out to the extent of British waters to the
East. Numerous boardings were achieved during the
three weeks on patrol , with one resulting in the ship
escorting a Danish fishing vessel into Grimsby for
having an illegal catch - this resulted in the fisherman
being taken to court and subsequently heavily fined .
Other boardings also proved fruitful - or 'fruits de

mer-full' - with kind donations by the skippers of a
number of vesse ls al lowing us to tru ly experience fresh

fish!

Summer leave was followed by a two week patrol in HMS UNICORN
Scottish waters mainly off the East coast, before the
sh ip returned to Rosyth to complete outstanding work The Big Day - on the morning of the launch, UNICORN
from her long maintenance period . A six day visit to waits expectantly on the slipway.
Amsterdam follows this in October which makes up for

the loss of the foreign 'run ashore' originally planned in

June. After a relaxing time in Amsterdam , the ship
takes part in a five day exercise in the English Channel

63

-.
-. -· -··- - ... - - -·- --·

The first key milestone in UNICORN 's life was 16 conjunction with elements of the Royal Australian Air
April 1992 when she was launched off the slipway into Force and the Royal Australian Navy, to test th e
the River Mersey. There was a lot of local and media brigade in VAP of the Exmouth area of Western
attention culminating in 5,500 people attending . Many Australia .
VIPs , including the Colonel of the Regiment , were on
the platform to witness the launch . We were blessed Both battalions of the Regiment are conducti ng
with good weather which made a welcome change as training courses to upgrade the promotion
submarines launched at CLS have done so in rain , qualifications to Corporal and Sergeant as well as
sleet and even fog! Even so UNICORN had to be gently specia list ski ll s for Mortarm en , Assault Pioneers and
'encouraged' to enter the water, with a friendly push Drivers. Drive rs courses are of particular importance as
from the submarine's sponsor, Lady Grose, wife of Flag both battali ons are to become motorized in the near
Officer Plymouth . As UNICORN moved slowly down future. This will require new aspects to the training
the slipway the band struck up with 'Rule Britannia ', programme, the most important being the maintenance
close ly followed by our adopted marches, 'Sir Manley and repair of the 80 extra ve hicles each battalion will be
Power' and 'Paddy's Resource ', which was presented issued with . Low level operations wi ll remain the key
to the last UNICORN by the Middlesex Regiment( Duke aspect of the training for the brigade for this year,with
of Cambridge's Own) by Special Order of the Day on the emphasis changing to promotion and specialist
April 20 1952. With the music and the majestic sight of co urses in 1993.

the submarine entering her element a few damp eyes Ceremonial will come to the forefront of activities in
could be seen in the crowds. 1993, with 16 Battalion being granted the Freedom of

Now fully complemented with 46 men, led by the the City of Kalgoorlie in August and the Regiment
Commanding Officer Lieutenant Commander John exercising the right of entry to the City of Perth in
Gower, UNICORN has been preparing for sea trials . September.

After completing these , she wi ll Commission into Her Since the formation of the Royal Western Australia
Majesty's Fleet in the summer of 1993. The Regiment on the 1st July 1960, the Regiment has been
Commanding Officer and Ships' company of the new divided into two battalions, then three ,the names have
UNICORN look forward to maintaining the links been changed,two battalions were reduced to inde-
between Ship and Regiment and hope for a long and endent rifle companies ,then the two independent rifle
successful affiliation . companies were linked to form one battalion ,all in our

short 32 year history. With this constant series of
upheavals to our own Regiment, we can well imagine
ROYAL WESTERN AUSTRALIA REGIMENT the trauma at present being experienced by our allied
regiments , The Queens Regiment and the Queens
The battalions of the Regiment are part of the Army Own Highlanders (Seaforth and Cameron) with their
Reserve , 13th Brigade , based in Western Australia . hundreds of years of unit history at stake again after
The major elements and HQs of the major units of the already being through a traumatic amalgamation some
brigade are situated in Perth , with some companies of years ago.
the infantry battalions in the country towns ofAibany,
Bunbury, Collie and Katanning , (11 /28 RWAR ) and lt has been said that the only constant factor of
Geraldton and Kalgoorlie (16 RWAR) . military service is change. No matter how resigned we
are to the prospect of changes, it does not lessen the
The tasks of the brigade are the protection of vital damage to morale or the rebuilding that has to be done
assets (VAP) including airfields, communication if the Regiment is to survive until the next set of
facilities , civilian townships as we ll as the vast mining changes.
infrastructure of the North Western area of the State.
The major exercise for 1992 will be 'Spiderman 92' We , in Western Australia wi ll watch with interest and
involving the national callout of our reserve soldiers in understanding . We hope that the proposed
amalgamations will cause as little trauma as possible.

64

REGIMENTAL GOLFING SOCIETY

MATCH v. TONBRIDGE SCHOOL

Knole Park GC - 10 March

The annual match between The Queens
Regiment and Tonbridge School was held at the Knole
Park Golf Club on 10 March 1992. The match was
played to the foursomes format with the result being a
win for Tonbridge School by 3 to 1.

The game was played in wet and windy conditions.
The result shows the Tonbridge School fielded a
very good team .
Our thanks go to the committee of Knole Park Golf
Club for the use of the course and the excellent tea.
Result: Tonbridge School 3, QUEENS 1.

MAR

ARGYLL AND SUTHERLAND BOWL THE QUEEN ' S REGIMENT GOLF MEETING
COMPETITION 18 JUNE 1992

Sandwich and Deal, 21 and 22 May Capt Charles Bromfield, Regimental Golfing Society
Captain 1992, (right) and Sgt Brian Welch with the cups
This year, in our attempt to retotaeinnttehretwboowtl~aitmswatos and trophies.
particularly pleasing to be able
Whilst both teams lost their matches in the second
confuse the enemy. Availability of Society members is round it has to be said The Queen 's Regiment were
again well represented and continue to be held in high
always difficult and grateful thanks must go to those regard by the golfing fraternity.

who flew the 'Regimental Flag' on the day. The 'A' CTB

Team consisted John Davidson , Charles Bromfield , MATCH v. KENT COUNTY CONSTABULARY

Ham Wh1tty and John Holman. The 'B' Team of Peter Canterbury GC - 2g May

Johnson , Alan Hewitt, Richard Lea and Robin The team captain Maj Pat Carroll was involved in
a road accident on his way to the match , fortunately
Chappell. Both teams received a bye into the second without injury. This however did not deter our team
and , ably led by Capt Alan Hewett, they won by 4
round . lt was anticipated several Royal Green Jacket matches to 0.

teams would be in the field and therefore no surprise to lt was not however as easy as the result suggests,
two matches we re won by 2 and 1, and the match
find our 'A' Team meeting their 'B ' Team for the first involving Maj Guy Weymouth and Wally Waiters was
decided on the last hole .
match . All four members of the team played well . John
Thanks must go to Canterbury Golf Club for their
Davidson playing No 1 and, in his usual way, hospitality and the course being in excellent condition
despite incessant rain all morning .
successfully held his match to a half. Charles Bromfield
Result: QUEENS 4, Kent Constabulary 0.
hadan extremely close match losing on the 18th green
AWH
to h1s opponent who sunk what can only be described

as a disgracefully 'long ' putt to go 1 down . Ham Whitty

fought hard to contain his opponent; however, he lost

to a very consistent player. John Holman was on good

form, winning his match by one hole .

The 'B' Team met the Royal Scots in the second
round . This was the first time each member of the team
had played in such a competition and also, in three
cases, the first time they had played the Royal St
George's Championship course. A daunting thought
on both counts .. All four members of the team fought
hard. Alan Hew1tt (team capta1n) and Robin Chappell
played well winning their matches convincingly. Peter
Johnson and Richard Lea came up against strong
opponents and struggled to find their form . The overall
team result was very commendable - losing by only

one hole.

65

. -- -··- - ·-·- - - - --

MATCH v. RMA SANDHURST

Army GC, Aldershot - 24 June

Watching our team tee off and then watch1ng the
opposi tion, it looked as though we we re going to have
a successful day. But, like a fisherman after a day·s
fi shing , it's th e one that got away whi ch decides the
result , which we lost th ree to one. I wo uld to th ank the
members of 2 QUEENS who stood in at ve ry short
notice .

Result: RMA Sandhurst 3, QUEENS 1.

JO

Col John Shipster and other members await the Annual MATCH v RRF AND R ANGLIAN
General Meeting.
Bury St Edmunds GC- 17 July

ANNUAL MEETING After several last minute adjustments to team
composition the Society turned out to play again at
Canterbury GC, 18 June Bury St Edmunds Golf Club .

Once again , 46 members of the Golfing Society The format , between teams of 10 players, was
played at the Annual Meeting at Canterbury GC on played over two round s of sing les Stableford with lunch
Thu rsday 18 June . The weather was fine except for a in between rounds . Weather condition s were
heavy shower when play resumed after the usual favourab le - the course a credit to its green-keeping
excellent buffet lunch . staff and , as always, the meeting up with golfing friends
an enjoyable feature of the match . The Queen 's
Mrs. John Davidson kind ly presented awards to the Regiment were runners-up to the Royal Angl ian
following winners at the close of play: Regiment. Leading individual scores for the Regiment
were Capt Bromfield 70, Maj Mills 61 , Capt Hewitt 60 .
A special thanks must go to W01 Lewis and CSgt
Grogan-Jarvis for turning out at such short notice .

Results: R ANGLIAN 567, QUE ENS 520, RRF 515.

CTB

Scratch Cup : Col J G W Davidson MATCH v ROYAL MARINES
Tiger Cup: Capt J Oakley
Weekender Cup : Maj P A S Wollocombe Canterbury GC - 25 August
Maj A P O'Gorman
Rabbits Cup : Maj RA Green
Veterans Cup:

Rose Bowls: Maj J Burke 2 QUEENS The morning started cloudy but by the time of play
Battalion Cup: Mr G E Davies most of us were down to shirt sleeves. Unfortunately
President's Putter: Sgt S J Richards, the golf didn't improve by the same degree and by
lunchtime Gary Davies and Bob Davey were the only
LCpl PS Hunt pair to have any success.
Col J W Francis

Maj G V Simpson After filling ourselves at the buffet lunch the

Among other decisions at the Annual General Meeting afternoon beckoned for a fighting revival but alas it was
which followed , Lt Col R H Chappe ll OBE was
not to be . Brig Anderson and Ned Kelly, both halving
unanimously elected Captain for 1993 in succession to their games , were the on ly po ints scored , although two
Capt C T Bromfie ld who received a vote of thanks for all
that he has done for the Society as Captain in 1991 and games went to the 18th hole before losing by one hole .
1992. lt was also decided by a majority vote that, after
amalgamation , the Society should become The Despite losing , all the games were played in a friendly

atmosphere which continued in the 19th after getting
changed .

Princess of Wales 's Roya l Regiment (Queen 's and Result: Royal Marines 10, QUEENS 2

Royal Hampshires) Golfing Society. GF

66

----- . - - -- -- - -· .. -·

MATCH v QUEEN 'S OWN BUFFS In other words. long may 1t cont1nue , and despite the
RAC Country Club Epsom - 4 September rain that afternoon wh1ch was very heavy for qu1te a
long while , I'm ce rtain that everyone enjoyed 11.
Another most enjoyable encounter. arranged once
again at bargain rates by Maj George Simpson , Pete Leighton did an excellent jOb of organising 1t,
resulted in a close win by the Queen 's Own Buffs . making the Captain 's job a s1necu re .
Because we found ourselves starting behind a string of
three and four balls in the afternoon , the format was Result: Canterbury GC 10, QUEENS 2
changed from foursomes to four balls both morning PHA
and afternoon . Some of the older but less bold found
this a touch over-taxing. Th e fact that ORGS did rather MATCH v KINGS SCHOOL
better pm than am says something for our relative Canterbury GC - 29 September
fitne ss !
When we all assembled at the clubhouse at
Result: QUEENS OWN BUFFS 5112, QUEENS 4112 Cante rbury it was a beautiful sunny day with hardly any
PASW wind and a nice air temperature of 21 degrees
centigrade. Littl e did we expect the 4-0 drubbing wh1ch
MATCH v. THE HABERDASHERS COMPANY was handed out by th e students on this 'Black
New Zealand GC -17 September Tue sday'. The writing was on the wall on the 3rd hole 1n
the third match (Jeffery/Webb versus Michael Webb
Thu rsday 17 September was memorable for the and James Munday of the King's School) when from an
sun that shone for most of the day, the exce ll ent almost impossible li e in thick grass at the edge of the
hospitality of our generous hosts, the superb lun ch and bunker. the chip shot landed 8 inches from the cup .
the renewal of the friend ly relationship between our two Needless to say, this match was lost 8-7 and, no. I'm
organisations . not going to repeat it .

The secondary activity, namely golf, was not so Col Richard Lea and Maj Guy Weymouth fought a
memorab le for the Regimen t since we were stern rearguard action but eventually went down 3-2 .
comprehensively beaten in an aggregate Stableford
match 248 points to 223 . Thi s meant the return of th e On the day we were outp layed but the re's always
'Oakman Cup ' to its presenters for the first time in its next year!
short life . Th eir pleasure in regaining it made it alm ost
worth us losing it! Result: King 's School 4, QUEENS 0
RLJJ
Individual scores were inconsequential on such a
day as no-one had cause for elation or MATCH v LIPHOOK
embarrassment. An excel lent day's golf, only marred Liphook GC - 23 October
by one team having to beat the other.
Twelve members of the Golfing Society (ten on our
Result: Haberdashers 248 , QU EEN S 223 . side and two on Liphook's) enjoyed a th oroughly
RAG pleasant day. The home team was too strong in the
morning leading 4112 - 112, but the Society did much
better after lunch , winni ng three out of five matches.

Resu lt: Liphook GC 6112, QUEENS 3112.
CMCD

MATCH v CANTERBURY GC REGIMENTAL GOLF

Canterbury GC - 21 September Th e Queen 's Regiment Golfing Society voted at their
Annual General Meeting this year to be renamed The
Our si de were overwhelmed by the opposition . Our Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Qu een's and
on ly winners were Wally Wa iters and Pat Carrell in the Royal Hampshires) Golfing Society' and to admit
4 ball matches and Gary Davies in the sing les. We golfers who are serving in the new Regiment and
were beaten in th e morning by very good sub par golf former members of any of its forebear regiments .
by the President. Dick Th rush , and in the afternoon I
fai led to make any sort of showing against their Captain The Society normally has twelve regular fi xtures
Jim Copestroke . each year and wou ld welcome some extra matche s,
parti cularly in Hampshire .
The final result was a defeat by 10 matches to 2. In
every other respect we had a good day. The hospitality Any serving or retired member of the Reg iment or its
was excellent, the course in very good condition . and fore bears interested in joi ning the Society or wi lling to
Canterbury again expressed their enjoyment and the arrange a new fi xture should write to the Honorary
importance that they put on this match in maintaining Secretary, Lt Col John White at RHO PWRR . Howe
their relati onship with the Regiment. Barracks, Canterbury. Kent CT1 1JY for further details.

67

- . -· -· - - --- -·- - -· -.. --

REGIMENTAL CRICKET 1992

by Maj I R Jones

All five fixtures were completed in the final season of v Kings School Canterbury. Won by 6 wickets
The Queen's Regimental Cricket Club. My grateful
thanks to all those who have supported the club so well Kings 89 all out QUEENS 90 for 4
over the years . Next year wi ll see the birth of The (Brown 4 for 7)
Princess of Wales 's Royal Regiment (Queen 's and
Individual Averages- Batting
Royal Ham pshires) Cricket Club .
Player Batt ed Not Total Hrg hestAve rage
Sco re
Results: Played 5 Won 3 Drawn 1 Lost 1 Cocker Ou t Runs
Storey 90 90.00
v Dulwich School. Lost by 6 wickets Cornh lll 1 90
Russell 68 68 .00
Dulwich 142 for 4 QUEENS 141 all out Claridge 1 68 72 38.00
Wakely 2 76 39 ' 29.00
(Storey 2 for 44) (Storey 68) 4 2 58
4 1 82 35 27 .33
v Tonbridge 2nd XI. Drawn 3 1 46 27* 23.00

Tonbridge 192 for 6 QUEENS 154 for 5 Individual Averages - Bowling
(Corn hill 3 for 41) (Cornh ill 39 not out)
{Ciaridge 35) Bow le r Overs MaldensRuns W1ckets Averages

v Haberdashers Won by 2 wickets. Brown 847 4 1.75
Wakely 7 7.14
Haberdashers 127 for 8 QUEENS 128 for 8 Johns 12.5 1 50 7 14.00
(Russe ll 4 for 40) (Corn hill 72) Cocker 33 8 98 2 18.00
(Johns 3 for 35) Ru ssell 6 19.17
Corn hill 16 2 36 3 21 .00

25 2 11 5
22.5 5 63

v Bradfield. Won by 3 wickets

Bradfield 169 all out QUEENS 172 for 7
(Wakely 7 for 50) (Cocker 90)

LETTERS

FLYING DRAGONS AT SHAPE ACF 'BRITISH TRUST FOR YOUNG
From Lt Col P L Pearce to the Regimental Secretary ACHIEVERS

My dear John , From Mr Harris P Jacobs to the Editor

As you know , we have ju st ce lebrated the Queen 's Reg iste red Office,
Birthday here at SHAPE (an event which we ca n only 23 Stafford Road ,
do once every three years) and the Flyi ng Dragons Croydon CR9 4BQ
executed a splendid and faultless display. Despite Tel : 081-680 22 11
appalling weather, we got a break in th e clouds at just
the right moment, and judging by the exclamations Dear Sir,
from the crowd (mostly military people from the Allied
nations who have seen free fall teams before) the jump I am writing to you as an executive of the British
was a highlight of the ce lebration . Tru st for Young Achi evers. This charity was created in
1991 to assist the Army's yo uth organisation , The Army
I have been overwhelmed with complim ents about Cadet Force , with funding for expeditions and
the team si nce the event. Not only the jump itself, but adventure/initiative training.
thei r turnout and bearing have been favourably
com mented up on by many of my international In the curren t economic clim ate I know that it is not a
colleagues . good time t o be asking people to give money, but
Without enlisting the help of our friends to get the
I have recommended that they be invited back for proJect off . the ground , there is a danger that the
the 1995 Queen 's Birthd ay, and everyone here was moment wtU be lost. I hope you might feel able to
most enthusiastic that they should. support us, 1n the knowled ge that you wi ll be helping
young people to take. a pride in them se lves, develop
Yours ever, the qual1t1es of good c1t1 ze nsh1p, and most of all a spirit
of serv1ce to thetr local community, Queen and country .
Philip

I wou ld like to ask you to help by making a donation ,
however sma ll. Th is letter is a persona l initiative of the
Trustees by which we hope to have written to a total of

68

4,400 friends . If the average donation were to be £10 ,
we would have raised enough money to establish the

structure for the Trust and start operations.

Thank you very much for your help, and I will keep SSAFAIFHS
you informed of the Trust's progress.

Yours sincerely,

Harris P. Jacobs SSAFAIFHS exists to serve all men and women

IJ L8 who serve or have ever served in any branch of the
Armed Forces of the Crown , including the Reserve s,

From: Mr. BA Roberts to the Editor Territorial Army, National Service, their families and
dependants. They can call on us for the rest of their
Th e Caretakers House lives. We give practical help , good advice and
Magdalen College House friendship to those in need . Approximately 14 million
St Johns Site people in Britain today are eligible for our help should
High Street, Brackley they need it.
Northants NN13 5AE
0208 701981 There are 900 branches and divisions throughout
12 August 1992 the UK. Many are in urgent need of more volunteers.

Dear Sir, As well as needing more caseworkers to look after our
clients, we often need people to be responsible for our
I am a former member of the Infantry Junior Leaders Branches and Divisions; fund raisers ; training
Battalion 1960-1962 (Royal Anglian Regiment) . I am in organisers ; publicity officers ; typists ; office
the process of collecting information so that I can put administrators and treasurers. The list is endless.
together a History of the IJLB from when it was formed

in Tu xford, through Plumer Barracks, Plymouth to Park Training is given and all out-of-pocket expenses

Hall Camp in Oswestry. If any members of your paid .
Regiment , past or present, who have served as boys or
permanent staff at the Infantry Junior Leaders Battalion For more details contact SSAFA's Organisation and
have any information (photographs , documents , Recruitment Officer, Ann Needle, at:

stories, etc) can they get in touch with me . Any Queen El izabeth The Queen Mother House , 19
documents, photographs , etc. that are sent will be Queen Elizabeth Street, London SE1 2LP (telephone
071-403 8783 , ext 223) .
returned.

Yours sincerely,

BA Roberts

ARTICLES

BACK TO THE GRAND BAZAAR

by Lt Col J 8 Ray MBE

. . the army intended to re-capture Kabul , . As a punishment for the treacherous
and among other regiments to join the conduct of the Afghan people . it was
force assembling at Peshawar was the decided to destroy the Grand Bazaar of
Thirty-First Regiment which marched from Kabul . This was carried out on October 9,
Agra on January 15 1842, mustering 996 four companies of the Thirty-First being on
bayonets, and in the highest state of duty on the occasion . '
disciplined efficiency . '
Th e History relates that the Regiment advanced from
So reads an extract from volume 1 of the History of the Peshawar to Jalalabad and then on to Kabul , fighting at
East Surrey Regiment and , later in the same chapter Mazina and Khoord Kabul pass before finally reaching
on the First Afghan War, it continues:- the city. lt was a hard campaign fought against fiercely

69

--.
-- -·- - --- - ·- - - --·

installed Naj1bullah regime . I have always been
intrigued by this wild part of the world and said to Peter
that shou ld he ever go back I wou ld like the chance of
going too . In spring this year he telephoned and said
that because of the war against Russia and the
subsequent internal strife in Afghanistan , the
underground water system had been destroyed in
some areas, dams needed attention and irrigation
improved . He had in mind escorting an irrigation
engineer around the country in orde r that a report cou ld
be co mpiled; in particular he wished to look at the area
of Chak Wardat in the Hazarajat mountains. Peter also
wanted to take a nurse from Peshawar to work in the
hospital at Chak. 'Are you on? ' he asked; I was .

Tim Stephens was the irrigation engineer and he,
Peter and I flew to Peshawa r via lslamabad on 6th
June . Peshawar was HOT! but we would have little
time to acclimatise. We booked in at the modest
Green's Hotel and went straight off to see one of our
contacts , Haji Rashid lbrahim , to firm up our plans.
With us we had the nurse, Kate Straub, who was to go
with us to Chak. Her ability to speak Daru (a Farsi
dialect) would prove invaluable. Haji Rashid arranged
a vehicle for us and a driver and guide , both Pashtuns.
He also advised us to dress as Afghans so as not to
offend the more fundamentalist tribesmen . We spent
the next day obtaining our visas for Afghanistan, a
permit to travel through the North-West Frontier District
and, finally, buying our Afghan clothing in the Old
Bazaar. Tim , being dark and bearded made a fine
tribesman ; but Peter and l. ..well , we were something
else!

The route from Kabul to Jalalabad following the Kabul Our Toyota was a 'double cab' pick-up; this meant
river gorge. we could just squeeze three of us into the front and the
remaining three in the back, with our baggage in the
rear under a canvas canopy. We looked rather uneasily
at the worn tyres and battered body-work, but Kamal,
our driver, said it was a good idea to have a
clapped-out vehicle as anything too smart migh t be
confiscated by the Mujahideen . Thus comforted we set
out for Afghanistan .

brave opponents over savage terrain ; the success in
taking Kabul was on ly achieved at the cost of six

officers and a large number of soldiers of the Thirty-

First, some of whom died th ro ugh heat exhaustion ,

dysentery or cholera. Queen Victoria , when she heard

of the Regiment's conduct in the campaign , personally
ordered the battle honour 'Cabool 1842' to be borne on
the Regimental Colour.

Exactly 150 years later I was lucky enough to have

the opportunity of travelling in Afghanistan and of
visiting the Grand Bazaar in Kabul. (it has been re-built

since the sacking by the Thirty- Firstl) My return journey

from Kabul to Peshawar was via Jalalabad and the

Khyber Pass - the same route covered by the
Thirty- First in the First Afghan War; but I did it in a
Toyota Hilux 4x4, they did it in boots I

My visit was made possible by a friend , Peter Kamal , our driver, with the well-worn Hilux (Asanov
Stewart-Richardson. He had been instrumental in aircraft at Khost in background).

gaining access into Afghanistan for a medical team at
the time that the Mujahideen were fighting the Soviet-

70

Tanks and trucks where they were destroyed. Chak Wardat is in the hills west of Kabul and we

Tne North West Frontier Di strict will be well known spent several days there . Our search for suitable dam
by many readers . Sufficient to say it is both rugged and sites took us into the hills on foot escorted by
dramatic. Our route followed a pass to the south of that Mujahideen of the Jamiat-i-lslami . They, like all the
taken by the Thirty-First, and we entered Afghanistan Afghans we met and worked with , were generous 1n
via the border town of Saddar. The dirt road was rutted their hospitality. We drank gallons of ween tea and ate
and pot-holed and we were to find that all the roads we a mountain of soured yoghurt; espec1ally over the E1d
travelled on in the country were dreadful . Surfaces had
collapsed under the weight of 50 ton tanks and military period .
load-carriers. There was also the hazard of mines on
some verges ; caution in answering the calls of nature it was planned for Kale to remain at the tiny hospital
seemed wise if one was to avoid too explosive an in Chak for several months , but when we left for Kabul
experience ... on 13th June she came with us in order to continue as
our interpreter a little longer. We arranged for her to be
Many of the vi llages we passed through bore the escorted back to Chak from the city a couple of days
marks of air or artillery attack, and some were later. On our journey to Kabul we passed the goat hair
completely destroyed ; the rusting litter of war was tents of Kuchi nomads. These are Pashtuns from the
evident at the roadside . But the main impression we Ahmadzai , Mohmand and Safi tribes. In summer they
formed of the country was its beauty; the mud brick move with their stock up the valleys to the peaks,
villages set in their green gardens fit naturally into the returning later in the year to cross the Pakistan border
landscape. Where there is irrigation the gardens are
lush with citrus, with here and there the bright splashes for the winter.
of roses and poppies . We saw rice fields, mulberry
orchards and mature walnut trees . On the lower slopes Even by Afghan standards the road to Kabul from
of the mountains there are many varieties of wild the west is terribly battered ; our slow progress was
flowers , and birds are numerous; we spotted hoopoes, further delayed by Mujahideen check posts which
rollers, bee-eaters, chikors , drongos and golden orioles became more numerous as we neared Kabul. They
amongst others . Always with the mighty snow-capped were all much the same; a fluttering green flag or two ,
mountains of the Hindu Kush as background. a tank or APC with its gun directed at the road , and
groups of armed fighters sitting in nearby shade. We
stopped at all of them as we had heard stories of
vehicles which failed to halt having their tyres shot out.
Even so we did have an AK round or two fired over the
truck when we ignored the flagging down signals of a
group of passing Mujahideen. We later discovered that
one of these had nimbly leapt into the back of our truck ,
and he was soon joined by others who climbed aboard
at check posts for a trip to town . Those who could not
get right inside stood on the rear bumper and we
shuddered anxiously along on our bald tyres and
bumping springs. The light was fading and we were
becoming uneasy as it was dangerous to be out after
the nightly curfew. At last we crawled into the outskirts
of Kabul , shedding our un-invited passengers a few at
a time . Our guide , Abdul Haq , took us to the house of a
friend , Malik Fati Mohammad , who hastened us 1ns1de
and made us welcome . That night we were treated to

We spent our first night in Afghanistan in the battle The coffee house at Khost. Abdul Haq, Tim, Lt Col Brian
scarred coffee house at Khost. This had been the first Ray and Peter Stewart-Richardson.
town to be taken by the Mujahideen from the
Government troops. it was still tense , and as we
approached in the fading evening light, files of heavily
armed Hezb-i-lslami fighters moved through the streets
taking up positions for the night. Possibly in
anticipation and celebration of the approaching
Moslem festival Eid al Adhaa' we were kept awake by

bursts of AK47 and machine-gun fire , and even the
'crump-crump' of mortars. A host of howling dogs took
care of any potentially peaceful periods between shots.
We were glad to move on at dawn , past the airfield
littered with the carcasses of Russian Asanov troop

carrying aircraft.

71

- . - --- - ---- -- - - --

The Grand Bazaar in Kabul1992. Thirty-First Foot on their final approach to the Cap1tal.
lt was sti fling hot even for us in a vehicle; marching and
the sound of a greater variety of weapons than we had fighting over that terrain must have been horrific. Soon
heard thus far. We slept sou ndly. we passed through the scene of an ambush during the
Russian occupation. Tanks and trucks lay where th ey
The following two nights we spent in the centre of the had been destroyed , mile after mile . Green and wh ite
city near the Ministry of Power and Irrigation where our flags marked the graves of the Faithful , who had been
business lay. Kabul , like Khost , was tense. At every buried where they fell . Many Russians had been kil led
important road junction stood an armoured vehicle and here and Kamal told us that the terrifi ed young
the entrances to Government and public buildings were conscripts had climbed back into their burning veh icles
guarded by Mujahideen. The city was divided amongst rather than be taken by the tribesmen pouring over the
the various groups and incidents were commonplace. hills . Some of the broken tanks now had effigies of
On our second afternoon th e Deputy Commander of Soviet and Government soldiers swinging by their
the Hezb-i- lslami was kidnapped and this sparked off a necks from the gun barrels.
very noisy night!
After a humid night in an Afghan house in Jalalabad,
The Grand Bazaar was as busy, colourful and noisy we headed for the Khyber Pass . bound for Peshawar.
as it should be. We bought two birds in a cage for Malik, Hardly had we left the outskirts of Jalalabad when an
our host for the first night. Prices in the Bazaar were ailing bearing in the Hilux finally seized up and , rather
very low, and we stocked up with a few gifts. Most we dramatically, burst into flames . Getting a lift was not
bought in Chicken Street, well known for its jewelry and easy; none of the gaily painted Bedford 'busses' wo uld
antiques. Many shops were boarded up , their owners stop for us on that notorious road . Eventually two
fled , but one of the best was still trading; Haji Gada Pakistanis in a Susuki van agreed to take us for 400
runs Kabul House , an Aladdin 's cave of furs , rupees each. Off we caree red , stopping frequently to
leatherwork , pottery and , best of all , Ku chi top up the leaking rad iator from wayside streams. The
embroidered waistcoats and jewelry in silver and driver's mate offered us some hasheesh and , when we
agate. refused , proceeded to stick a plug in hi s cheek . We
suspected the driver was doing the same; twice we
Our route from Kabul to Jalalabad followed the screeched to a halt on th e wrong side of the road whilst
Kabul river gorge, through which once tramped the oncoming trucks missed us by a whisker. This as we
wound up and then down the hairpins of the Khyber
Pass. We saw little of the historic country we were
passing through , but simply clung on and hoped for the
best!

On the flight back to Heathrow via Karachi and
Dubai , and armed with a powerful whisky and soda
(first for a fortnight) I was able to reflect on a laconic
senten ce in the Surreys Histo ry. lt followed the
description of the sacking of th e Grand Bazaar;-

.. and exactly three days later the army
set out on the return march to India, which
took exactly one month .'
That's an awful lot of sweat!

EXERCISE QUEBEC ENDEAVOUR

by Maj K Hames, 3 QUEENS

Exe rcise Quebec Endeavour witnessed a unique switchback roads add to a unique feeling of being in the
opportunity for Queensmen from Cyprus to emulate ve ry womb of the mountains. The population speak
their ancestors by storming cliffs of a different kind, both Italian, and German and the region is still referred
namely the towering limestone towe rs of the Dolomite to as the 'Sud Tirol '. What is not commonly known is
Mountains. that the region witnessed bitter conflict during the 1st
World War between the Austrian Imperial Riflemen
The Alto Adige region of the Italian Alp s (Kaiserjager) and the Italian Alpine Soldiers (Aipini).
encapsulates the pioneering spirit of Alpinism with its These brave men found themselves opposed on some
towenng limestone peaks dotted w1th seem1ngly of the steepest and most dangerous terrain the Alps
1mposs1ble routes The steep Sided va lleys and

72

----·- . - -- -- - - - .. .

has to offer and prompted them to build the unique 'Via Pie Green, 3 QUEENS at the top of Tchierspitze V in the
Ferratta' or 'Iron Ways'. These ladders , cableways and Dolomites.
marked paths enable fast oHensive through normally
inaccessible areas. In modern terms they allow the
Alpinist to savour classic routes amidst breathtaking
scenery devoting only a days climb to what wou ld be,
without the aid , a major two to three day undertaking .

The expedition of sixteen men arrived to tackle the
more difficult Via Ferratta of the Dolomites. Armed with
ropes , karabiners and hopefully enough 'bottle ' we
arrived in Garmisch Portenkirchen in Germany on 26
June at the beginning of the beeriest. Bad planning!
Our first route, designed as a warm up , was on the
Alpspitz Ferratta Steig a 1500ft vertical wall with wire
ropes for protection leading to the 2676 metre summit
of the mountain . This passed without incident although
we found to our horror that on the crux top pitch of 150'
the cab les had been replaced by thicker ones so our
karabiners were not big enough to clip the cable -steel
nerve required and steady climbing over a 2,500' drop

to the vall ey.

After one more warm-up route in Germany we fou nd
ourse lves ca mped right in the middle of the Dolomites
ready to attempt our first major route straight into the
heart of the Sell a Towers via the famou s Via Ferratta
Brigata Trid entina'. This route forces its way through
one of the wi ldest and most remote areas of the Sella
North flank up 440 metres of fixed wire rope , 130 iron
brackets and an airy suspension bridge between the
Exner and Bruneck towers . The suspension bridge was
a place for bravado after the anxiety of the very
exposed final 200ft and Qmns Rogers, Green and
Martin took it upon themselves to swing this to and fro
and give it the Anglo Saxon seal of approval.

The next three routes were in glorious sunshine
through very steep terrain . QMSI Danny Bryan led us

to the Toblinger Knoten 2520 metres up over hanging
ladders while Lt Stuart Barker took on the more elegant
(but heavily iced) 'lvan Dibano' high level route (3300
metres) through the Cristallo Massif. The real test of
nerve was to come on 5 July on the Punta Sud 2989 in
the Faris Group . The Via Ferratta 'Tomaselli' is fitted
with on ly 800 metres of thin guide ropes leaving the
route very much in a natural state over finger-broad
ledges , walls with sma ll holds and vertical corners to
the almost 3000m summit. The expedition found this
route exceptionally demanding with many of the

inexperienced gaining their first real Alpine rock spurs.
For the more experienced an elegant treat .

Maj Sieve Cade RMO 3 QUEENS and Lt Stuart Barker Italy proved an expensive venue in financial terms
take a breather during Exercise Quebec Venture in the and the Expedition found itself back in Garmisch for the
last four days having completed a Grade 5 white water
Dolomites. descent down the Inns river in Austria . The doctor, Maj
Steve Cade , who obviously has naval ancestors. found
himself more in the water than out tackling the rapids in

true pioneer fashion .

73

--- .
- -··- - --- -·- -·- --·

The finale for the expedition was a 'free' ascent of needing ropes and a great deal of care . Luckily after a
the Portenkirchner Dreitorspitzer the second highest seven hour descent and the world's most violent
mountain in the Weltorsteingebirge. The ascent to the thunderstorm the beeriest was sti ll open!
first hut above the spectacular Rheintal Valley was
steep and exhausting taking eight hours to complete Exercise Quebec Endeavour was a great success
the 4,500ft climb. Footsore we settled into the 'sharen' and introduced Alpine techniques to novices from the
hut to the sound of cowbells and rockfall caused by the Regiment. This expedition was unique in that it was the
chamois descending to the Alpine pastures to graze. Regiment's first (and last) attempt on a number of
After a three hour ascent to the Meiler Hut early next routes and peaks rather than something specific.
morning the expedition found itself split with five of the When the new Regiment forms it shou ld look to these
group too exhausted to continue. The rema1n1ng 11 areas to promote mountaineering and remember well
made a successful ascent to the summit via the vertical the exploits of the Alpini who describes one of the most
South Wall greeted by a breaktaking view of the demanding Via Ferratta as a path by which the guard
surrounding German and Austrian peaks. The descent used to change at night and which the Alpini troop
was very haza rdous over steep, stepped scree slopes regarded as amusing climbing practice.

IN THE TRACKS OFT E LAWRENCE

by Lt Col R Gancz, BMM to SANG

For anyone who has read T E Lawrence's 'Seven N
Pillars of Wisdom ' the opportunity to explore some ot
the areas in Arabia where his legend was created f
should be too great a chance to miss. And so it was that
Eryl and I, our daughter, and three other families , set
out from Jeddah in Saudi Arabia in search of the Hejaz
railway . Completed in 1908 it ran from Damascus to
Madinah supporting Turkish influence in the Arabian
part of the Ottoman Empire, and transporting faithful
Moslems on their pilgrimages to the holy cities of
Mekkah and Madinah .

Our journey started on New Year's Day and our plan
was to drive north via Madinah to the ancient Nabatean
city of Madain Salih , close to which the Turks had built
a fort and railway workshop at al Ula. This part of the
trip was to be along good tarmac roads , and the return
journey from al Ula to Madinah along the line of the
railway through the Hejaz mountains.

By mid afternoon on the first day we had negotiated
our way through the police checkpoints and around the
holy, and forbidden , city of Madinah. We made good
progress and spent a cold night camped in rock strewn
desert near the town of Khayber, 600 kilometres north
of Jeddah . The following morning we set off in pouring
rain through bleak, dark grey mountain country almost
devoid of habitation whose barrenness was relieved
only by sparse acacia trees.

About 70 kilometres south of Madain Salih the road
climbed onto an open gravel plain and suddenly we
were aware of a line of disused telegraph poles on our
left running parallel to the road some 200 metres away.
lt took us a moment to realize that the low embankment
beside them was the line of the railway track. The
railway lines and steel sleepers had long since been
removed by the Bedu to be used in the construction of
their houses and for marking their territorial
boundaries , but the embankments and culverts
appeared almost as fresh as the day they were built.
Within two hours we reached Madain Salih having
covered 850 kilometres since leaving Jeddah .

74

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Derailed train north of Mudarray. end of WW1 , there have been several fail ed attempts
to reopen it, but it was extraordinary how well
preserved th e partially restored station buildings had
remained . Spaced at about 20 kilometre intervals and
built of basalt blocks, the fortified square buildings, with

their rifle slit windows , looked today much as they
would have done in 1908. Around many of the stat1ons,
and on the jebals above them , stood the remains of
stone buildings and the sangars of the outer defences.
lt was not difficult to imagine the harsh life endured by
the Turki sh garrisons in that barren wi lderness.

Foll owing th e windi ng line through open wadis and
narrow rocky defiles, one cou ld almost hear the
laboured panting of the engines as they breasted the
inclines, and feel th e nervous anticipati on of the
passengers and Turkish guards awaiting possible
attack. The evidence of some of these attacks was still
there: the wreckage of trains, railway lines twisted like
straws, and the remains of rolling stock, many bearing
the still decipherable names of Guttsmann AG ,
Breslau, 1908 and Roechling NP and GHH 1907.

Almost all that remains of this ancienl city is the large
number of magnificent Nabatean tombs carved from
the solid sandstone rock. The temp le-like facades
which adorn the cliff faces resemb le the rock carvings
at Petra in Jordan and date from the first millenium BC ,
Nearby, at al Ula , are the partially restored Tu rkish fort ,
ra ilway station , and railway workshops in which we
found the remains of three carriages and a steam
locomotive . This whole area has dramatic beauty.
Huge sandstone outcrops , eroded by wind and
weather, rise ve rtically out of the sandy desert creating
a landscape of Byzantine like beauty and proportions.
lt was in the shelter of one of these cathedral like
pi llars, corraled against a biting co ld wind , that we

spent our second night.

The next morning, in brig ht, warm sunshine, we The station at Hadiya.
turned south and , after retracing our steps for a short
distance , left the road and picked up the line of the Our third night was spent near the stati on at
railway . Following the line was quite easy as we we re Mudarraj where there was a Tu rkish graveyard .
able to drive along or beside the original track-bed for
most of the time. Since the demise of the railway at the

The train at Hadiya . The following morning we passed through kilometre
1121 about 4.5 kilometres south of Mudarraj where
Lawrence made his second attack on the rai lway - 'At
ra ndom I pitched upon kilometres 1121 fro m
Damascus for the mine'. lt was fascinating to look up at
the ridge where Lawrence had lain to watch his first
attempt to blow this mine fai l. After negotiating an area
of dunes and soft sand , we crossed a viaduct at the
approach to Hadiya, the station from which a train was
eventually destroyed by the mine at the second
attempt. Emerging through a narrow defile onto a small
plain , before us lay the station and a complete train cut
off from the world when the railway closed . Tragically,
the train was pushed over on its side a few years ago
by the Bedu . On another siding stood the metal
skeletons of six wagons , the wooden superstructures
having been removed long ago for fuelling Bedou in
fires, but the makers names and markings still
remained. Nearby were more Turkish graves. On the
jebal overlooking the station and the viad uct were a

75

-. - - - --·
-- -··· - -----

series of stone sangars forming part of the Turkish Lawrence wrote - 'We had taken 30 prisoners, a
defensive positions . mare, two camels and some more sheep ; and had
killed and wounded 70 of th e garri son, at a cost to
Pressing on through narrow defiles, negotiating a ourselves of one man slightly hurt. Traffic was held up
60ft embankment partially washed away in one place, for three days of repair and investigation . So we did not
and some soft sand we came to Aba ab Naam , the site wholly fail. '
of Lawrence's first attack. Here he had positioned
mines north and south of the station and, supported by Shortly after rejoining the tarmac road north of
light artillery, assaulted the outer defences of the Madinah , we visited the station at Buwayr where stood
station with 300 tribesmen . During the battle an an intact repair train seemingly trapped in a time warp .
escaping train was only partially damaged on the The fi ve hour drive back to Jeddah was an anti-climax
southern mine, much to Lawrence 's chagrin . However, after a remarkable journey back in time .

A TOUR WITH 5 UDR/5 R IRISH

by Lt H R Bell, 2 QUEENS

lt was time I got some experience of the Province, walking past. Two RUC men sat unconcernedly in a car
and despite the forthcoming Spearhead Tour, it did not in line of sight of the suspect vehicle . I put the men in
seem likely that I would get it with the battalion . position and suggested that our friends , the policemen
Colleagues before me had been to the Ulster Defence move back. lt was only after the device had been
Regiment and brought back tales of interest and declared a hoax, that I realised that there were too few
enjoyment, so I volunteered and was posted to 5 UDR incidents in Limavady for the police to know what they
in Ballykelly for a six month attachment. should do.

In the weeks before I left I went through N Ireland In South Derry, operations were generally foot
training with 2 QUEENS as the situation in Ulster patrols, often helicopter deployed . In many hours of
worsened . lt was still a shock however, when the day tabbing cross-country we played the cat and mouse
after I arrived in Ballykelly, 2 QUEENS arrived on game with the terrorists so familiar to troops in Ulster of
Spearhead deployment in Cookstown and whatever cap badge. The UDR soldiers were generally
Dungannon . While they were busy mopping up the older and more mature than Regulars and though often
Coalisland incident, I was trying to understand how the less enthusiastic for physical exertion, they made up
UDR Permanent Cadre(PC) operate. for this by their thorough knowledge of the TAOR and
the tasks involved , that could only come from living in
The battalion TAOR is the biggest in the Province the area and doing the job year after year.
and covers most of County Londonderry and North
Antrim . There are two PC companies which alternate Towards the end of my tour I was put (despite
working in the north of the TAOR , which is protests) in the Bisley Shooting Team . This led to me
comparative ly trouble free with working from socialising with some of the Part-Timers and getting a
Magherafelt in South Derry where there is a much feel for the relaxed nature of local Ulster life. The team
greater level of threat. was in England when the amalgamation occurred with
the Royal Irish Rangers to form the Royal Irish
When I arrived my company was working in the north Regiment. Most did not think it would change much for
and I soon experienced my only incidents . Firstly, we the men on the ground in Ulster.
heard of a shooting in Coleraine and were tasked to put
a check point on one likely escape road . Apparently the 5 R IRISH were 8th overall at Bisley. I returned to the
incident had been almost a comedy of errors, with the Province in time to watch the Twelfth of July parade in
would-be Loyalist assassins arguing about who would Londonderry and get in a bit more patrolling which
pull the trigger, only wounding their Sinn Fein victim , thankfully passed off uneventfully. At the end of my
losing the keys to their get-away car and having to steal tour 1felt 1had had a most enjoyable and informative
another. They did not come our way. experience and it was with some amusement that I
realised that on 9 September I wou ld have served in
Later in the cycle we were ca lled to cordon off a four regiments in seven months!
bomb on a vehicle in Limavady. There were RUC men
on the ground but they were not stopping civilians from

76

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NAMIBIA REVISITED

by Maj M P Lawson

To have spent the first six months of any deployment Maj Malcolm Lawson , (second from left) with other
to a new country is in itself extremely worthwhile and members of the BMATT Namibia, at the Inaugural Rifle
exciting , but to return to the same place some 18 Meeting.
months later, and to see the progression to a
professional and eHective training environment is By the time this is published I will be back in good old
England wrestling with Resettlement Briefings and
doubly so. terminal leave. Namibia is a success story and I am
proud to have been part of it.
So it was that I was posted back to Namibia as the
Chief Instructor at the Military School in Okahandja in REQUIEM
April of this year to spend the next six months as the
last British Officer, as part of BMATT Namibia, to serve Now is the Regiment laid to rest ;
at the school. As one of the first to have set up Those six formed into one .
Okahandja as a training establishment following The six who into Queen's were welded
Independence in March 1990, it seems apt that I am it's duty is declared as done .

the last to leave.

The changes have been immense. No longer are
BMATT undertaking all the instruction, Namibian
officers and senior NCOs are now doing it, with
ourse lves as the individuals responsible for monitoring
and validating the training standards of the school. As
the Centre of Excellence', (where have I heard that
before?) all courses of instruction for the Namibian
Defence Force are currently held at the Military School ,
from Platoon Commanders courses to Basic Chefs
courses , with the school itself divided into Wings , each
commanded by a captain , together with a number of
officers and SNCOs as instructors in the various
disciplines .

As we ll as our duties at the school both I and my
W02 from the Duke of Wellington 's Regiment have
been involved in other activities, such as the Army Rifle
Meeting, held at Windhoek in the last week of July. This
'Bisley in the Sun ' was the very first Namibian Defence
Force Rifle Meeting , and units from all over the country

took part. When you consider that Namibia is four times
bigger than the United Kingdom you wi ll realise the
logistics involved in just getting the teams to Windhoek .
lt was a successful week ending with an invitation
falling plate competition between a team of military
attaches and the Ministry of Defence. The diplomats'
lost, well what would you expect?

Needless to say thi s country provides a wealth of
locations to visit, from the elephant and lion of the
Etosha Game Reserve, to the wi ld and windswept
Skeleton coast and on to the high dunes of the Namib
Desert itself. This time around I have been able to see
most, if not all , this country has to oHer.

On a personal note, this being my last tour of duty Once more then sha ll we expand
before redundancy, I can leave the Army on a high note Yet keep our we ll established verve
with what has been probably one of the most And whi le we honour our Princess
worthwhile jobs that I have undertaken . There are only Still unconquered we shall serve.
450 Loan Service personnel worldwide , and I consider
myself very fortunate indeed to have been able to MAGR
return here to Namibia. Even if you are unfortunate not 1992
to be posted here in the near future , this is one part of

Africa you must visit.

77

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WHAT NO McDONALDS?

by Lt E P Scates 2 PWRR

The Falklands - a barren desolate wasteland and lt is of course a shame that you have to trave l 8,000
that's with the map th e right way up. However it does mile s in order to train with your platoon to this extent
have its plus points apparently. So what have we been
up to? Well , assaulted a bridge and blown it up (yes, and I suppose with the current clim ate it is unlikely to
you can fulfil any fetish you want here) . Cpl Craycraft change in Engl and .
has blown up virtually anything he can get his hands on
including the bridge. Everyon e misses home of course , even though Cpl
Dodman tries to make it as close to home as poss ible
We've also carried out more conventional training with his 'different' pi zzas, and to that end the platoon
from individual COB to platoon attacks but of course it's and the wh ole of Sevastopol Company have a strong
always good to throw in the odd hostage rescue or identity .
attack an enemy HQ . That old cliche of these islands
So, needless to say, I hope that when we return to
being good for training is true , the only limitation being Canterbury, McDonald's has stocked up and all the
one's imagination . However, if I were to spend any women of Kent are ready for that perfect chat-up line , 'I
longer down here the battle pictures for the COBs really love you - and that's not the beer talking '. (it' s
would probably change from the good old 'You 're cut also got nothing to do with the fact that I haven't even
off and have to get back to base' to 'You are Bru ce seen a normal woman in four months!)
Willis and you 've had a bad day! '

A CADET OFFICER IN THE GULF WAR

by Capt J B R Taylor, Surrey ACF

lt was with great pride that I received the Gulf Medal sponsors to be told that 3 Romeo was indeed correct
with clasp from Gen Sir Peter de la Billiere at a as NIAID had told them so. lt transpired that the
explosions were US Naval gunnery practice and the
ceremony held on 3 September 1992 at the Royal NIAID had been triggered by an aircraft leaking fuel.
Overseas League, London . lt was a double honour to
receive this award from the General as not only was he
the Commander British Forces, Gulf, he is now the During the course of my work I had to travel to the
President of the Army Cadet Force Association . Eight Red Sea coast where British representation was nil , to
medals were awarded to my colleagues and me in oversee, in companionship with an RAF Movements
recognition of our service in support of the British Controller, the unloading of a quantity of 20001b bombs
forces in the Gulf prior to and during the conflict as destined for a forward air station . This trip really
members of the Government Freight Agency. brought home to me the spirit of co-operation that
of the GFA at such times being to provide the The role prevailed at the time . We were transported by the
shipping French Air Force , assisted by the Saudi National Guard
necessary to carry all forms of material to the and made tea by a Syrian Major which we drank in the
operational area. company of Egyptian officers. The assistance and
support from all these people and the welcome that I,
Being a commissioned officer for some 12 years in as a civilian in this context , received from the forces
the ACF I thought that I had some idea of matters was second to none and greatly appreciated .
military, but nothing in my experience had prepared me
for the sheer scale of Operation Granby. I had only Despite the worry caused by being in an operational
been in theatre for some ten days before the actual area, albeit well to the rear, I found my time in Saudi
conflict started so the majority of my total time of four Arabia was a fascinating insight into the workings of the
and a half weeks was spent under war conditions.

Whilst the effect of this on me , stationed at AI Jubail Military Machine and it was good to see Regular Forces
some 150k to south of the border,
minimal , there was the ever present was in essence carrying out the work for which they are trained . lt is all
Scud threat so I too easy for us 'part time '
undertook some hasty NBC training as such matters do have all the answers and I soldiers to believe that we
not form part of the ACF experience. Having been believe that my experience
taught me a lot.
introduced to my Noddy suit and Respirator all was well
and I was happy until two loud explosions occurred and
every single air raid siren started to go off at once. This I shall wear my medal with pride and now have a
you may say is part of war, and of course it is, but my unique combination of the Cadet Forces Medal and the
careful training had not covered this scenario where I Gulf Medal . I hope that , if and when cadets who I meet
was taking a shower at the time . Having gone to Dress ask me about it, I shall be able to impart to them some
State 3 Romeo' I made contact with my military insight into the world of the real soldier at work under an
operational situation .

78

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THE BLACK CAT BRIGADE

by Capt A R Bolton

In January 1992 I was fortunate enough to be
appointed as Staff Captain G (or S03 G3 Opsffrg/
CoordffA to the modernists amongst you!) in HQ 56
London Brigade . Brigade Headquarters is currently
and temporarily in Chelsea Barracks , SWI , having
been evacuated from Wellington 's bedroom in Horse
Guards, Whitehall , late in 1991 (along with HQ London
District & HQ Household Division) before that fine old

edifice collapsed due to lack of maintenance .

In this period of great uncertainty within the Army I
felt not a little surprised at, having left a Battalion (1st)
which was disbanding , from a Regiment (QUEENS)
which was amalgamating, from a Brigade (11 Armd)
which was closing down , from a Garrison (Minden)
which was drawing down, arriving in a Brigade
Headquarters that too was for the 'Options' axe. Is

someone trying to tell me something?

56 London Brigade, the largest Brigade in the British
Army, is the successor to 1st (London) Division which
was raised in 1908 on the formation of the Territorial
Army . In February 1916 this formation was re-titled 56
(LONDON ) Division and formed from London TA units
already in France, which included the 117th and 1/Bth
Battalions of the Middlesex Regiment as part of 167

Infantry Brigade.

The Division survived the demobilisation plan at the Capt Anthony Bolton having a break from London aboard
end of the First World War and became 56 (1st HMS Ark Royal.
LONDON ) Division TA, which remained unchanged in
configuration until1935 when it became 56 (LONDON) In 1961 the Division was disbanded and reformed as
Infantry Division . Carrying this title , this unique 56 LONDON Bde under command of 54 East Anqlian
formation went to war in 1939. In its ranks the re was to Division until 1967 when it was finally disbanded
be found 169 Infantry Brigade consisting of 2/5, 2/6 and having completed 59 years of unbroken service .
2/7 Queens who performed so we ll at Salerno on the 9 Twenty years later in January 1987 the Brigade was
September 1943, a date which sti ll carries great, but reformed , and this time has lasted only six happy
not so glorious, sign ificance. years , as the Brigade will disband in December 1992.

Further changes occurred in 1947 when the Division To embody the close links that the brigade and our
became 56 Armoured Division and counted amongst units have with either the City or County of London , the
its number 42 Royal Tank Regiment. As all symbol of Dick Whittington 's black cat coupled with the
Queensmen wi ll know, 42 RTR started life as the 4th bayonet sword, which was first featured in the 56
Volunteer Battalion , East Surrey Regim ent who in turn (LONDON) Infantry Divisional symbol of 1956, is the
became the 23rd Battalion , The London Regiment badge of the Black Cat Brigade.
(another name you will hear of again) . After 140 years
as infantrymen they converted to armour in 1938 . In On a more personal note, come the demise of the
August 1956 they rejoined the East Surrey Regiment Headquarters, I am bidden to take up my in tray and
having resumed their title 23rd London Regiment , and walk , sorry, march , across Chelsea Barracks drill
their true role as infantrymen , and were based at 27, St square and take post as S03 G3 Trg HQ LONDIST, a
John's Hill , SW11 , the current home of the London new post I like to think created especially for me , in
Regiment and also the original site of 4th East Surrey. order to further retain the QUEENS links, with the
capital of our beloved country in this concrete jungle of
Less than a year later, (at the end of 1947), 56 Guardsmen .
(LONDON) Infantry Division TA was reborn . In 1956 as
part of the Division , 168 County of London Infantry Pristinae virtutis memor.
Brigade included 23 London Regiment and
interestingly 1 London Scottish and 1 London Irish
Rifles , which, all bar the Royal Fusi liers (whose 8th Bn
was in the sister 167 City of London Brigade) , are the
constituen t parts of the new London Regiment!

79

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SHORT SERVICE LIMITED COMMISSION IN CYPRUS

by 2Lt Gemma Hamlin, AG CORPS (SPS)

I arrived at RMA Sandhurst on 9 October 1991 , a day out photographs , staff lists, historical records to name
I remember vividly, feelings of uncertainty, expectation but a few projects . I also spent a week on an audit
and excitement all intermingled . I can still picture the board tor Headquarters British Forces in Cyprus and
grand steps of Old College main entrance, my first three weeks undergoing a 100% stock check on a
experience of the British Army and all that it stands tor. board of officers tor the Quartermaster of Episkopi
Garrison. When the battalion embarked upon Exercise
As a Short Service Limited Commission I was only Pink Flamingo in February 1992 , I, the Chief Clerk, the
required to complete 31/2 weeks at Sandhurst Documents Clerk and PRI Corporal formed a press
alongside the doctors, padres, dentists , vets and team kilted out with cameras and video recorders to
lawyers. I can say that it was probably the longest 31/2 record the last 3 QUEENS battalion exercise. The
weeks of my lite, pushing myself to my physical and cookhouse bacon sandwiches kept us fuelled in what
emotional limits and being one of three females in the turned out to be th e worst week of weather Cyprus can
platoon , we did not have it easy.
remember. Snow was seen where snow had never
On 1 November, proud parents, family and friends been seen before and my faith in those who assured
watched 52 of us parade on our passing out. it was a me that the sun shone in Cyprus faded rapidly .
fabulous feeling to march with the band in uniform
alongside those who had survived the course too. I was
trying to conceal my excitement at the news that I was Being part of the British Army over the past year has
posted to Cyprus tor 10 months with the 3rd Battalion been very interesting. With 'Options tor Change' and
The Queen's Regiment in Episkopi and had five days to the amalgamation of The Queen 's Regiment with the
pack and prepare. Royal Hampshires to form the Princess of Wales's
Royal Regiment, I have experienced a major change
The 'Gateway House' experience overcome, I was generating much emotion and loyalty amonst those
flying to Cyprus, a numb feeling of anticipation inside : involved. Seeing this happening first hand has been a
Would someone be there to meet me?; Were there any fabulous but sad experience and much more
other females?; what job was I going to do?; what was interesting than reading newspaper reports about it.
Mess life like?; would the Commanding Officer eat me
tor breakfast? Another major change within the structure of the
Army during my time in Cyprus has been the
All was to be revealed within the first few days of my disbandment of the Women 's Royal Army Corps and
arrival. A subaltern met me at RAF Akrotiri ; the the formation of the Adjutant General's Corp on 7 April
paymaster was the only other female in the battalion; I 1992. In Cyprus the event was marked by a WRAC
was given the title of Assistant Adjutant and shown to weekend tor all females serving on the island with
my desk and phone; Mess lite was extremely civilised potted sports, barbeque , Church service and curry
with my own room, meals cooked tor us , beds made lunch in the company of Brig Anne Field (Retd).

and rooms cleaned and Lt Col Anthony Beattie, the One of the most interesting weeks I've had must
Commanding Officer was charming and even smiled at have been my attachment to the 15th/ 19th Hussars
me! He explained to me that I was to expect a steep serving a six month tour in Nicosia as part of the United
learning curve. I would be more inclined to describe it Nations. I spent a week shadowing a press team sent
as vertical! There was so much to take in, so many out from UKLF and producing local boy stories and
names , three-letter abbreviations and rules to television coverage from the Newcastle based
remember. Regiment. I saw the United Nations at work , drove

The other living-in mess members were superb and along the butter zone, saw Greek and Turkish soldiers
looked after me very well, guiding and advising me . facing each other across the Green Line which divides
There was a company serving an emergency 4 month Cyprus into two distinct halves. Thi s experience helped
tour in the Falkland Islands so numbers were limited me to understand the 'Cyprus Problem ' and the politics
which was no bad thing. I soon found my feet , settled in surrounding it. I also gained experience of the workings
and came to terms with lite in sunny Cyprus. of the tabloid press and media methods.

My job as Assistant Adjutant has, throughout the I've also taken full advantage of the adventu rous
year encompassed an enormous variety of different training available in Cyprus. I gained my bronze skiing
experiences. My hat also was as Unit Press Officer so qualification on the Troodos Mountains in January,
I soon discovered the whereabouts of the local much to everyone at home's disbelief as they didn't
newspaper offices and the Public Relations appreciate that Cyprus saw snow at any time of the
Department who were very helpful with advice and year. I've spent two weeks gaining my RYA competent
guidance in this new field . Capt John Dyer was my crew qualification and spent two weeks sa1l1ng a 38 tt
Adjutant and he ensured that I was kept busy, sorting yacht from Rhodes , around the Greek Islands A sea

80

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canoe1ng proficiency course and novice sub-aqua confidence has improved and I've gained a large
course has completed my introduction to the amount of in dependance living away from home for the
watersports world which is so good in Cyprus. first time.

In my spare time , I've spent much time improving my The Army and 3 QUEENS especially have
water skiing , windsurfing and tenni s as well as touring welcomed me exceptionally well and the patience I've
the Island North and South, East and West. Cyprus experienced from people has at times been
otters so much that time does not allow one to overwhelming. Livi ng in a Regimental Mess and being
complete everything . an intregal part of a battalion has provided me with
experience of great camaraderie and bonding between
My final weeks on the island saw 3 QUEENS people . I've been guided along and learnt so much
disband to various posts in Colchester and Canterbury, from those around me that an invaluable lesson has
leaving me in Cyprus to spend a fortnight as a canoe been learnt, not only about the Army, but about other
instructor with the Summer Youth Camp provided for people and myself too .
the Service children during their break from school. I
have also spent a superb fortnig ht in the Garrison I would recommend the SSLC scheme to anyone
Medical Centre and hospital, gaining experience as a willing to take up a challenge and work at making their
prospective medical stu dent about to embark upon my time as special as mine has been . lt isn't always easy
studies at university. I've inspected the local slaughter to fit into something new and strange but perseve rance
house, seen a kidney stone operation , cleaned the has left me with some tremendous memories , and left
teeth of the guard dogs, attended an antenatal clinic me a much more rounded person . For someone with
and seen the mosquito problems facing Cyprus, to no military background this year has provided me with
mention just a few. an insight into the Service life, one which I will very
much miss when I leave .
My SSLC has given me the time of my life and
provided me with the opportunity to live and work
alongside professional people of all levels. My self-

EXERCISE LONG LOOK

by Cpl McCartney, 2 QUEENS

Exerc ise Long Look is a 5-month exchange exercise As the time got closer for me to come home I was
to either the Austra lian or New Zealand armies for given time to visit Sydney and I spent some memorable
members of any rank, arm or service of our own Army . days on Bondi Beach. I found the Australian soldier to
Th e exercise lasts annually from July to November and be very professional and I envied them for being able to
I was lucky enough to be chosen to visit 5/7 Royal operate in desert , jungle and snow all in the same
Australian Regiment, a mechani sed battalion stationed co untry. To close I wou ld like to thank 5/7 RAR and
in the town of Holswo rthy near Sydney. The RAF flew especia lly Delta Company for looking after me so well
us all out - taking three days to do so - and we during my five months with them .
arrived tired but looking forward to the experience of
our first trip Down Under.

Wh en I arrived at the battalion guardroom I was met Cpl McCartney (Right) and LCpl Law at Alice Springs
by LCpl Mick Law, who was later to become a good during Exercise Long Look.
frie nd, and then shown to my room . I just had ti me to
drop my bags before being asked to have a beer! That
night we visited Sydney by night. On the first day at
work I met my OC , Maj Sherden , and the CSM and a
few days later I met the CO and RSM. My first day's
work took me down to th e vehicle sheds where I was

introduced to the M11 3 APC. There was a radical
difterence between them and our own Mk 1 432s -they
worked! A few weeks later I went with the battalion for
an exce llent live-fi ring exercise at the infantry rang es at
Singleton. I was also invited to go on Exercise Distant
Call which was a three week signal platoon exercise .
The Australian idea of distance is dilterent to ours and
the exercise took me thousands of miles into the
Outback and included visits to Ayers Rock, Alice
Spri ngs and Darwin

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THE THORN IN THE EMERALD ISLE

by Capt C J 0 Farmer, 2 QUEENS

During some function or other in the Mess the CO bargain from one of th e company commanders. Th e
further I drove fro m home the louder the squeaks
poked me in the chest and sa id 'about time we got you became. I started to wo nder if I had been 'done over' by
this honest used ca r sa lesman! Nevertheless it made it,
a gong, young Farmer', and with that he walked off. lt the first part of the journey over.

was a few days later that the Adjutant phoned me up Early the next morning I dragged myself out of th e
with the offer of the post of Company 2 IC with what little B&B and headed for the docks. lt was a beautiful
morning , the Irish sea was calm , th e sky clear, a great
was then 7/10 UDR . With the GO's words still ringing in

my ears I enthusiastically volunteered (did he jump or
was he pushed ?).

I was not sure what I was letting myself in for. As it day for a sail. The ferry left bang on time . We were off .
became general knowledge that I was going , the war The Scottish coast faded into th e distance. Suddenly
stories from the 88 Belfast tour started to emerge. everything did not seem so bad , six months of blu e
What a great time we had - watch out for the dogs skies, partying and drinking Guinness. Everyone I had
-North Howard Street Mill -the bus station - OPs on spoken to had said what a good time I would have .

Divis Flats, all the great landmarks around the city and Then I suddenly realised where I was going. Wait and

everywhere an incident going on , Was it really true that see, keep an open mind, I thought to myself.

you could not move for terrorists, RPG 7 and command

wires all over the place? I was met at the port by one of the company's

The part-time elements of the battalion were on their platoon commanders. I had last seen him when I left
Summer Camp down at Hythe during July. I was keen the OTC . He was not the first familiar face I was to
to get down to Napier Barracks and see these people at meet, I continually seem to be bumping into people 1

first hand, but first I had to get past the beady eyes of had known from Sandhurst, Warminster or elsewhere .

'Jimbo'! I saw a window in the busy training program- After a quick drive into the City we arrived at Malone

me, opened it, climbed out and made my escape. I Road . This base housed Battalion HQ and A
arrived to find the Headquarters element running
around . lt seemed that the boys had been performing Company, to which I was to be attached. I was given a
down town , and, to cap it all , someone had told the quick guided tour and lunch , then it was off to the pub ,
but what about my take-over, hand-over, ground
newspapers! (lt was good to see that there was little familiarisation patrol , and welcoming interview from the
difference between the soldiers I had been used to and company commander? Never mind all that, there will
those in the UDR or the Royal Irish Regiment as it is be plenty of time next week I was told ; who was I to
now called.) argue?

I met the Commanding Officer, Lt Col Kennan , who
explained which company I would be working with , the Having been here several weeks now (and had the
ORBAT of the battalion and the battalion 's TAOR . handover brief!) I am at last beginning to understand
Some of the many questions I had were answered. I just how hard the platoons are worked . They are at it all

was to be attached to A Company who worked out of year round . Regular Army battalions come and go , yet

Malone Road in the South of the city. The company, the Royal Irish battalions cannot go anywhere else .

wh1ch 1s below full strength at ninety men , operates They have been here from the start and there seems to
mainly in the City Centre, although can be deployed be no light at the end of tunnel. The face of these home
anywhere in the Province during its reserve cycle .
service battalions has changed greatly over time ,

The battalion had just gone through amalgamation, especially the City Battalion . In the beginning the then

but it had changed very little except in name. lt still UDR was perhaps considered a Mickey Mouse

retained three permanent companies of full-time organisation but this is no longer the case. The City
soldiers with three companies of part-time soldiers. I Battalion has learnt by hard experience over time and
was slightly concerned when he mentioned that my is now a highly professional unit.
company commander was an ex Para!

As I left Canterbury behind , the Falklands group had I am sure that the next six months will be full of
left and Cassino Company was settling into a summer surprises and it will certainly be interesting. I must
of RAAT tasks, cricket, and adventurous training . Was
I sorry to be leaving Canterbury just as the Summer finish here as I have to get ready for an afternoons fly
was getting under way? Not really ; what better way to fishing . I hope to get back in time for my riding lesson
spend ones summer than in the Emerald Isle?
this evening, before going out to dinner with some
friends!

The day arrived to start for the north and the P.S. I have been out on patrol but that was only a
Stranraer ferry . I had bought what I believed to be a mistake I!

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LEAVE FROM CYPRUS

by 2Lt McCully 3 QUEENS

Ten days leave , quite a daunting prospect when in We eventually arrived back at the border an hour
Cyprus. Endless opportunities present themselves ; later but, moving fast we eventually emerged on the far
long days spent fine tuning the suntan , equally long side of the border at about 1.15 pm . We went up to the
nights quenching the thirst in Limassol or meeting nearest Egyptian and asked him the time for the Cairo
interesting people in Ayia Napa. But why be boring bus; sure enough it was one o'clock . I consoled myself
when , just over the horizon , a short windsurf trip away, with the thought that 15 extras was not the end of the
lie the Holy Land and Egypt. world. The border guard then grinned and pointed at a
bar saying we cou ld spend the next 45 minutes waiting
So after a detailed appreciation :- there . Puzzled we looked at our watches , the guard
laughed and reminded us of the hour difference in
'lsrael and Egypt?' times between Israel and Egypt. Eventually, after
fighting our way through the rest of Egypt, we made it
'Yeah , why not? ' back to Cyprus. lt was a thoroughly enjoyable trip and
one that I would strongly recommend -but only with a
Complex administrative planning:-
visa .
'Got the tickets? '

'Yup!'

Detailed orders :-

'Let's go! '

As a result 2Lt Alasdair Browne and I found GUTTMANN SPORTS CENTRE, STOKE MANDEVILLE
ourselves heading for Israel. In ten days we could 10TH TO 16TH JULY 1993

hardly have seen or done more , walking on the Sea of :-:)1
Galilee, shopping in Tel Aviv, being petrol bombed in
Jerusalem , sight seeing in Bethlehem , beach partying _,..,.,.~··,,Y1Y .....~
on the Dead Sea, climbing the fortress at Massada,
rock concerting in Elat, wedding reception in Cairo and Toe-Q71!17liJI.ll
camel riding around the Pyramids. However, a couple
of moments are slightly more memorable than others. ~•• on 'i1l01!3o<

We had hoped to meet Lt Col Mike Cooper on the
Israel/Egypt border as he was serving with the
Multinational Forces in Sinai at the time . We tried
telephoning on a number of occasions but his 'side
kick' informed us he was 'out to lunch' and hence we
were never able to make contact.

Disappointed but not disheartened we decided to Royal Opening
tackle the border unaided and arrived there at about 10 International Television Coverage
o'clock to discover that the next bus did not leave for World-wide representation
Cairo until 1 o'clock . On looking through the wire we
could see Egypt was an uninhabited wasteland and
therefore decided to delay our departure from
civilisation until midday, returning to Elat for a drink.
Punctually at 11 .55 am we approached the border with
our passports clasped before us. lt was at this moment
that our friend the border guard decided to inform us
that in this part of the world it was traditional to carry a
visa when crossing borders. Knowing I was on duty on
Monday morning it suddenly became quite important to

catch that one o'clock bus.

We leapt into the nearest taxi and sped towards the Unique sporting event
Egyptian Consulate. The Consulate was closed , the
Visa Section in particular, and I began to count the Reconciliation and Rehabilitation
'extras '. With some negotiation we persuaded the through friendly competition
porter to find the 'visa man' who was duly summoned
from his afternoon siesta . With a combi nation of
Sandhurst charm and solid determination , two visas

were obtained .

83

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