June 1986

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THE JOURNAL OF THE QUEEN'S REGIMENT

lA half-yearly publication - June and December. Price £2 .00 per issue or £4 per annum - post free within the UKI

To The Editor,
The J ournal of The Queen 's Regiment,
Howe Barracks ,
Canterbury, Kent CT1 1JU

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(Please send this form to the Editor and not direct to your Bank)

iv Contents

Editor : Officers Location List page
lt Col J J White, Dates to Remember 4
Regimental Headquarters, Colonel of the Regiment's Preface 8
Howe Barracks, Editorial 9
Canterbury, Kent New Deputy Colonels 10
Mainly About People
en uu 1st Battalion 11
2nd Battalion 12
Regimental Badg e 3rd Battalion 13
5th (Volunteer) Battalion 18
Collar Badg e 6th/7th (Volunteer) Battalion 24
8th (Volunteer) Battalion The Queen's Fusiliers
Button Depot The Queen's Division 30
Junior Infantry Battalion
Printers : Regimental Bands 32
Geerings of Ashford ltd Regimental Information Team
The Flying Dragons 34
Cobbs Wood House 2nd Battalion Falklands Pictures
Chart Road Army Cadet Force News 35
Regimental Headquarters 35
Ashford , Kent Affiliated Regimental Associations 36
Alliances and Affiliations 38
Forthcoming Marriages, Marriages and Deaths 38
Obituaries
Articles 39
44
47

51
56

59
60
67

COVER PICTURES

Front : 2 QUEENS Recce Platoon in South Georgia next to the
Shackleton Memorial Cross .

Rear : 1 QUEENS WOs & Sgts on Sobraon Day in St Michael's Cave,
Gibraltar.

The Journal of
THE QUEEN'S REGIMENT

Volume 20 No 2 June 1986

Unconquered I Serve

Battle Honours borne on The Colours

The Regimental Colour :
" Tangier , 1662-80," " Namur , 1695," " Gibraltar , 1704-5," " Bienheim ," " Ramilles," " Malplaquet ," " Dettingen ," " Louisburg,"
" Guadeloupe , 1759," " Quebec , 1759," " Martinique , 1762," " St Lucia , 1778," " Seringapatam ," " Maida ," " Vimiera ,"
" Corunna ," " Douro ," " Talavera ," " Aibuhera ," " Almaraz ," " Badajoz ," " Salamanca ," "Vittoria ," " Afghanistan , 1839,"
" Punniar ," " Moodkee ," " Sobraon ," " ln kerman ," " Sevastopol," " Lucknow ," " Taku Forts," " New Zealand ," " South Africa ,
1879," " Nile , 1884-85," " Burma, 1885-87," " Chitral," " Relief of Ladysmith ," " Relief of Kimberley ," " South Africa , 1899- 1902,"

"Korea , 1950-5 1".

The Queen's Colour :

" Mons," " Marne, 1914- 18," " Aisne , 1914," "Ypres, 1914-15-1 7-18," " Hill 60," " Festubert , 1915," " Somme, 1916, 1918,"
" Aibert , 1916, 1918," "Vimy , 1917," "Cambrai , 1917-18," " Hindenburg Line, " " Italy, 1917- 18," " Macedonia , 1915-18,"
" Gallipoli , 1915," " Gaza," " Jerusalem ," " Palestine , 1917-18," " Defence of Kut al Amara ," " Mesopotamia , 1915-18," " NW
Frontier India, 1915, 1916- 17, " " Dunkirk , 1940," " Normandy Landing ," " North West Europe, 1940, 1944-45," " Abyssinia , 1941 ,"
" Omars , " Aiam el Halfa ," " El Alamein ," " Longstop Hill , 1943," " North Africa , 1940-43," " Sicily, 1943," " Sangro ," " Salerno ,"
" Anzio," " Cassino ," " Italy , 1943-45," " Malaya , 1941-42, " " Malta , 1940-42," " Hong Kong ," " Defence of Kohima ," " Burma ,

1943-45".

Allied Colonels-in-Chief

HER RO YA L HIGHNESS PRINCESS JULIANA of the Netherlands
HER MAJESTY QUEEN MARGRETHE 11 of Denmark

Colonel of the Regiment
Brigadier H C MILLMAN , OBE

Colonel R W ACWORTH , CBE Deputy Colonels of the Regiment Colonel M RI CONSTANTINE , OBE
Colonel J C HOLMAN , OBE

2

CIVIC HONOURS

The ' Privilege' of the City of London . The Freedom of Ki ngston -upon-Thames, Guildford , Reigat e and Banstead , Maidst one,
Canterbury , Ramsgate , Folkestone , Tonbridge and Mailing , Brighton , Chichester, Eastb ourne, Lew es, Arund el, Hove, W orthin g,
Barnet , and Belfast. 'Adoption ' by Ashford.

ALLIANCES

The Canadian Armed Forces The New Zealand Army
2nd Battalion (Canterbury , Nelson, Marlborough and W est
The Queen 's York Rangers (RCACI Coast)
The South Alberta Light Horse (RCACI
The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada The Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment
The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment 5th Battalion (Wellington , West Coast and Taranakil
1st Battalion The Royal New Brunswick Regiment
The Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment
(Carleton & York)
The Essex and Kent Scottish The Pakistan Army
12th , 14th , 15th and 17th Battalions, The Punjab Regiment
The Australian Military Forces
Hong Kong
The Royal New South Wales Regiment The Royal Hong Kong Regim ent (The Volunteers)
The University of New South Wales Regiment
The Royal Western Australia Regiment

AFFILIATIONS

HMS Nelson, HMS Kent and The Royal Anglian Regiment

HMS Leeds Castle The King 's Own Scottish Borderers

The Royal Marines (A ' Bond of Friendship ') No . 3 (FI Squadron Royal Air Force

The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers The Royal Danish Life Guards (an 'Unofficial Alliance ')

The Worshipful Company of Haberdashers

AFFILIATED UNITS OF THE CADET FORCES

CCF School Contingents

Alleyn's School , Dulwich ; Ardingly College ; St . Aloysius College ; Brighton College ; Chichester High School ; Collyer's VI Form
College (Horshaml; Cranbrook School ; Cranleigh School ; Dulwich College ; Eastbourne College ; Epsom College ; Haberdasher's
Aske's School (Eistree) ; Hampton Grammar School ; Highgate School ; Hurstpierpoint College ; Judd School (Tonbridge) ; King 's
School (Canterbury) ; Kingston Grammar School; Lancing College ; Mill Hill School ; Reeds School ; Reigate Grammar School ;
Royal Grammar School (Guildford) ; Sir Roger Manwood's School (Sandwich) ; St Edmund's School (Canterbury) ; St John 's
School (Leatherhead) ; St Lawrence College (Ramsgate) ; Skinners School (Tun bridge Well s) ; Sutton Valence School ; Ton bridge

School ; Whitgift School ; William Ellis School ; Wilson s Grammar School.

ACF Units / Sub-Units Cadet Coys Nos 25 and 26 .

Greater London : Cadet Coys Nos . 194, 195, 205, 211 , 216, 217 .
NE London Sector Cadet Coys
Cadet Dets No . 72.
Middlesex and Cadet Bns
NW London Sector Cadet Bns Nos 133to 136, 141 , 143, 147, 149, 151 to 153, 155to 158.
NE London Sector
SW London Sector Cadet Pis 1st (Redhill) and 2nd (Farnhaml The Queen 's Regiment (Surrey ACFI.

Surrey : 1st (Canterbury) , 2nd (Sandgate) , 3rd (Tunbridge Wells) and 4th (Maidstone) The
Kent : Queen 's Regiment (Kent ACF) .

Sussex : Nos 2 (Seaford) , 3 (Hastings ), 4 (Lew es), 6 (Crawley ), 7 (Chichester), 8 (Crow-
borough) , 10 (Eastbourne ). 11 (Horsham) , 13 (Shoreham ), 14 (Bexhill ). 16 (Hurst-
pierpoint) , 17 (Bognorl . 18 (Littlehampton) , 20 (Lew es OGSI , 22 (Southw aterl .

3

REGIMENTAL HEADQUARTER S
Ho w e Barr acks . Ca nterbur y . Kent CT11JU (Tel ep ho n e 0227 457411 )

Regimental Secretary Col J W Francis (ex t 295)
Lt Col J J White (ex t 250)
Deputy Regimen tal Secretary
Maj A Martin , MBE (ext 251 )
Finance, Chattels. QUEENS and R SUSSEX
A ssn Benevolence Lt Col L M Wil son , MBE (ext 253)

M useum, A rchives and QUEEN ' S SURREYS Maj H C L Tennent (ext 2521
A ssn A ffairs
Maj R W ai t e (ext 254)
Chairman Welfare and Benevolence Committee, Maj I R Jones (ext 255)
QUEENS OWN BUFFS A ssn Affairs Capt A Hill (0622 671 241 ext 292)

RHO Admin. Asst RCO. Regtl A ssn and M X Lt A V Brown (0763 42271 ext 3021
Assn Liaison

Regimental Careers Officer

OC Regimental Informa tion Team

OC Regimental Free Fall Team 'The Flying
Dragons'

REGULAR BATTALIONS TA BATTALIONS
1st Battali o n 5t h (V) Battalion

Lathbury Barracks. Gibraltar , BFPO 52 Leros T A Centre, Sturry Road . Canterbury , Kent CT1 1H R

CO: Lt Col M J Ball CO : Lt Col CM Joi nt
Hon Col : H H Prince Georg of Denmark , KCVO
Deputy Hon Col : Col J B Ogilvie, OBE T O DL

2nd Battalio n 6th / 7th (V) Bat talion
Oakington Barracks, Cambridge , CB4 5EJ Norfolk TA Cent re, Denne Road , Horsham . Sussex

CO : Lt Col P C Coo k CO : Lt Col R E Lowans. T O
Hon Col : Lt Col Sir A Colin Cole, KCVO . TO , FSA
3rd Battali on
Belize, BFPO 12 8th (V) Battalion
CO : Lt Col R M M cGhie Th e Queen 's Fusiliers (City of London)

TA Centre. St John's Hill , Clapham Juncti on . London SW 11 1TT

REGIMENTAL REPRESENTATIVES

Depot Th e Qu een 's Divi sion Royal M ilitar y A ca demy. Sandhurst
Bassingbo urn Barrac ks. Royst on . Herts . SGS 5LX RMA Sandhurst . Camberley , Surrey , GU15 4PQ

M aj S M Dow se Capt J P Riley

Denm ark Junior Infant ry Battalion
HQ BA LT A P. Naval Part y 1004. BFPO Ships Sir John Moore Barrac ks , Shorn cliffe, Kent CT20 3HE

Maj R A M Christm as Capt J C Maltman

4

OFFICERS LOCATION LIST

(as at 1 May 1986)

REGULAR OFFICERS

Major-General Majors (continued)

M F Reynolds CB lnternat Mil Staff HQ NATO R A M Christmas HO BALTAP
PDJCiarke Depot IHSI
S T W Anderson 0 BE MC Brigadier M J Cooper HO UKLF
M J Ooyle MBE P P Critchley 5 UDR
Depot (HSI !OA / MA Ankara Aug '86) W G A Crumley HO NE Oist
DA Pakistan Sch of lnf
A C Dawson Depot !PSI
A W Acworth CBE Colonels S M Dowse HO NI
C G Champion J Ewart ITOU Sch of lnf
RMAS A Gancz 3 QUEENS
M A I Constantine OBE MOl MOD IAI D C F Gouda 3 QUEENS
0 J C Dickins MBE JOSC (8 lnf Bde Nov '861 N J Grant HQ AFCENT IBAEI
M V Hayward OBE Dl IROWI MOD IAI CM M Grove 8 OF lVI
P Hiscock IMRD ISI PA Gwilliam HQ Queens Oiv (Depot (PS) Jun '861
Ord Board P J Gybbon-Monypenny StaH College
J C Holman OBE JFHQ W A Harber 1 QUEENS
A Lea DSO MBE OMO MOO !AI IRCB Jan '871
C l Tarver MBE D Sy MOD IAI J M Harcus 5 QUE ENS lVI
H N Tarver DGFVE N P Harris 1 QUEENS
T L. Trotman HO NI RHO PARA
A C Ward OBE TAl MOD IAI P A Hitchcock BAAT Nigeria 15 QUEENS (V) Dec '861
PAPHowe TA 1 IMOD IAII
Lieutenant Colonels 2 QUEENS
J F Huskisson RHO IRCOI
A M Amold AG Sec MOD !AI A M Jackson HO UKLF
BMATT Nigeria A M F Jelf GE StaH College
I G Baillie CO 1 QUEENS I A Jones 505 GL Sec
M J Ball DA Warsaw J 0 Jonklaas 1 OUEENS
P deS Barrow GS Sec 3a MOD IAJ W Knight-Hughes CSIT BAOR
G B Bateman OBE HQ UKLF J Langhorne
D A Beveridge MBE HQ ULKF MP Lawson DGPS IAI MOD
P Bishop SSI JDSC
IMEUoyd 464 GL Sec
S M Boucher NATO 2 ACDS MOD IAI PM H M cGilt HQ LSG
G Bulloch MBE RMAS
8 A Carlston MBE Trg Oev Team Sch of lnf P 0 Mclelland JIB
R H Chappell OBE CO2 QUEENS P Mallalieu GS Sec 3a MOD IAI
Dl4c MOD IAI 3 QUEENS
PC Cool< BGTT IUKI M 0 Maloney BEM Depot !PSI
P H Courtenay G4 HQ NORTHAG J C Maltman
A H Graham MBE RSAE Malvern SHAPE IBAEI
P J Hubert OBE AT W Mellotte HO NE Oist
N S Hunter CO 5 QUEENS lVI A C Mieville HO Berlin
CM Joint MS MOD IAI JP S Mills
MD Legg c / o RHO M B Montgomery DARC MOD IAI
CO 5 UDR A P Murphy HO 1 Armd Div
A F SUng MBE CO 3 QUEENS J N C Myles 2 QUEENS
A M M low HO Rheindahlen Garrison A W Neve MC 1 QUEENS IMS MOO Jul 861
A M McGhie SSI A P O'Gorman
M R M NewaU OBE HO 0 lnf J A Partridge 3 QUEENS
P V Panton OBE Staff College P L Pearce 2 QUEENS
D H A Shephard J N Pratten 3 QUEENS
M CWitlis Sch of lnf INCOs Tac Wing)
MS Ouinn
M A Aayner HO Trg Gp ACT
J DW Aeid 6/7 QUEENS lVI
HO SWOist
A J Aoberts LWC Canungra
J C Aogerson 3 QUEENS
A W Aussell
Sch of lnf
J 0 K Aussel1 2 QUEENS
N F Aussetl HO 1 Armd Oiv
JA B Salmon 1 QUEENS
J B Stirling HQ 2 lnf Bde
P A P Swanson MBE AJSM Bovington
S C Thorpe HO 49 lnf Bde
0 J Wake HO NE Oist
0 F Wall 2 QUEENS
A F Whithouse
A W Wilby
HA P Yorke

J C Acworth Majors P J Anthony OGM Captains
M J Ayling
7110 UDR J V Ashton 1 QUEENS
A W Barratt Depot tPSI M J Aylward MBE Sch of lnf INITATl
A A Bartlett 2 QUEENS I Barnacle 3 QUEENS
A A A Beattie Army Sch of Recruiting J Barr 2 QUE ENS
1 QUEENS H M Beeson HO 19 lnf Bde
R J Benson Sch of tnf ISWWI G F Bourne 3 QUEENS
GC Brown HO 1 I BRI Corps C T Bromfield 6/7 QUEENS lVI
NCGCann MAO ILSII5 UDR Aug '861 3 QUEENS
D S Carter BMAIT Zimbabwe J F Burke 3 QUEENS
RAF Cranwell J P Castle 5 QUEENS lVI
C G F Charter BCTT P R Corden 1 QUEENS
E L Christian

5

Captains (continued) Lieutenants (continued!

R P Crosble· Wood 2 QUEENS I P Oavis JIB
G W Cross 2 QUEE NS J Oixon 2 QUEENS
P T Crowley 1 QUEENS ISch of lnf Sep '86) J J Farrell Depot !PSI
S F Oeakin 1 QUEENS J A Frost BEM 2 QUEENS
S T 0 Ouggan 2 QUEENS 2 QUEENS
H W R Eagan HO 5 AB Bde C W Garton
V 0 Ebbens 1 QUEENS 0 J K Godda rd JI B
L A Edwards HQ 54 lnt Bde KW Gubbin 3 QUEENS
T S Fisher 5 RAF (Vl M J Haywood-Smith Exeter Univ
J C F Gamlin 2 QUEENS S St J Holmes 2 QUEENS
S C Garrett 40 Cdo AM C G A Mcleod London Univ
A M Gou lden HO 1 I BA I Corps 0 A Martin 1 QUEENS
(S taH College Oct '861 W A Munday 1 QUEENS
J S Graham 1 QUEENS
D J Greenfield 3 QUEENS J R O'Connor J IB
K SHames 1 QU EEN S J C Perry 1 QUEEN S
A Hill RIT J A J POVYell 1 QUEEN S
T J Hurley HO lnt & Sy Gp INII A A Ramsey 1 QUE ENS
12 QUEENS Jul '861 3 QUEENS
M J Hurman 3 QUEENS P B M Reynolds 3 QUEENS
N P L Keyes HO N I 1 QUEENS
S P 8 Kilpatrick 3 QUEENS J M Rowland 1 QUEENS
A J Knight HQ 7 Armd Bde M A Rowney Depot IPSI
C G Lambert HO 39 lnf Bde 3 QU EEN S
L S P Mans c / o RHO M G Scott 3 QU EENS
WO Marshall 5 QUEENS lVI 0 G Strun 3 QUEENS
CA Newell 2 QUEENS N J Versloot 1 QU EEN S
M A 0 Newman 2 QUEENS M J Wiltiams
P J Newman 2 QUEENS S S Wilson
JP Noble 2 QUEENS JP S Wright
0 J Phipps 2 QUEENS
I 0 Raynes 3 QUEEN S A J Bascombe 2nd Lieutenants
J P Riley RMAS P D Beat
N J Sharples 3 QUEENS A A Bolton 3 QUEENS
A Walker 1/7 GR J P Craig 3 QUEENS
DV Watson 3 QUEEN S G I Fothering ha m 1 QUEENS
G J Wood 3 QUEENS 3 QUEENS
E J Gemmell 1 QUEENS
A V Brown Lieutenants N M J Goble 3 QUEENS
M J Brown A I Harknett 2 QUEENS
J A Bulpitt Free Fall Team 8 A W Haynes 2 QUEENS
J A Burrows 1 QUEENS J E Hind 3 QUEENS
J E Cameron Depot !PSI M F lngledow 2 QUEENS
2 QUEENS S J Johns 3 QUEENS
1 QUEENS A G Jones 2 QUEENS
AN Laidlaw 2 QUEENS
MP Maer 2 QUEENS
J N 0 Moore 2 QUEENS
A Owen 1 QUEENS
1 QU EEN S

TA OFFICERS

M J Oudding TO ADC Colonels P H Grove Majors (continued)
J B Ogilvie OBE TO OL C J S Guth rie
J A G Putnam TO Project Officer BOF (V) A P Haigh TA Watchkeepers Pool
HO UKLF 6/7 QUEENS lVI
HO SE Oist AA Hall TO TA Watchkeepers Pool
W PT Harper HO SE Oist
EA Holmes TO Lieutenant Colonels P G Harrington TO 5 QUEEN S lVI
A E Lowans TO C K Hurd TO 220 Fd Amb
G H Wright TO CO 2 WESSEX lVI A J Leona rd 6/7 QUEENS lVI
CO 6 /7 OUEENSIV I A A Marchant Unposted
StaH College 0 C Mamoch 5 QUEENS lVI
T J Med ca lf 6/7 QUEENS lVI
M F H Adler TO Majors AS Meldrum TO 6/7 QUEENS lVI
C L Argent M C Mercer 6/7 QUEENS lVI
J A Bass TA GLO 1 I F) Sqn RAF T J Oyler TA Watchkeepers Pool
A J Bingham TO 5 QUEENS (VI 5 QUEENS lVI
P M P Broadbent 5 QUEENS (V) E S Parker 6/7 QUEENS lVI
PT Carroll CV HO C F G Parkinson 5 QUEENS lVI
TA Watchkeepers Pool A W Prior 6/7 QUEENS lVI
8 A Carte TO 6/7 QUEEN S lVI P I Aoberts TO Unposted
P J Chapman Unposted T O'G Roche 6/7 QUEENS lVI
6 17 QUEENS lVI 6/7 QUEENS lVI
A C Chissel 5 QUEENS lVI JHORoss 6/7 QUEENS lVI
G Dineley TO TA Watchkeepers Pool A J 0 Salter TO HO S E Oist
G W Evans TO HO 2 lnf Bde J Spanner HSF 6/7 OUEENSIVI
J L A Fowler TO HQ S E Oist A G N Stocks TO 6/7 QUEENS lVI
A F Gardner TO Public lnfo Offr HO SE Dist 5 QU EEN S lVI
G E Gibson 5 QUEENS lVI P A 0 Storie· Pugh TO TA Watchkeepers Pool
P Gibson 6/7 QUEENS lVI S J C Thompson 6/7 QUEENS lVI
A A Green 6/7 QUEENS lVI 5 QUEEN S lVI
A G C Thornton TO
J C Weaver
SE Wooles

Captains

T Benson 5 QUEENS lVI
SA Blausten London Univ OTC

6 TA Captains (continued) TA lieutenants (continued)

H Me C Brown 6/7 QUEENS lVI T P Foster Unposted
M G Butlin TA Watchkeepers Pool A 0 Gilpin TO
A J Cannon TA Watchkeepers Pool HSF
K I A Carter 6/7 QUEENS lVI A P Guthrie 6/7 QUEENS lV I
W F Conroy 5 QUEENS lVI N C Horwell 6/7 QUEENS lV I
A H 8 Dalby 6/7 QUEENS lVI M J King 6/7 QUEENS l V I
J Day 6/7 QUEENS lVI SA Lacey Lon Oist STT
WE Gawler 5 QUEENS lVI C M Undsay
0 HaiWOOd 6/7 QUEENS lVI SA McMahon 6/7 QUEENS l VI
T J Haynes 6/7 QUEENS lVI E J G MacCariello 5 QUEENS lVI
J Jones MBE 2/ 52 LOWLAND J MacDonald 5 QUEENS lVI
M J King 6/7 QUEENS lVI J A McNamara HSF
T J lynch 5 QUEENS lVI G I Muir
P S F McCardle 5 QUEENS lVI GWD Pike 6/7 QUEENS lVI
T N McOermott 5 QUEENS lVI M T A Pilkington 6/7 QUEENS lVI
MW McGhie 5 QUEENS lVI J A Aedfern 5 QUEENS lVI
J P Mclnerney Unposted A Robertson 5 QUEENS lVI
W D Milne 5 QUEENS lVI 5 QUEENS lVI
PA Newman 5 QUEENS lVI AAPNAogers
A H Partridge 6/7 QUEENS lVI PC Shalders 6/7 QUEENS lVI
S J F Plowman 6/7 QUEENS l VI G J Sparks HSF 5 QUEENS lV I
J Robb 5 QUEENS lVI
F Robertson 6/7 QUEENS lVI N A Strachan HSF 5 QUEENS lV I
MS Rumsey 5 QU EENS lVI S T Thorpe 6/7 QUEENS lVI
B M L Scripps 5 QUE ENS lVI D Truman 6/7 QUEENS lVI
R Sinclair-lee CV HO W E Vukmirovic Unposted
A E Stone Unposted M BA Whelan HSF 5 QUEENS I V)
MP Taylor 5 QUEENS lVI
D Wilson 6/7 QUEENS lVI
A M Wilson 5 QUEENS lV I
S M Windmill 5 QUEENS lVI
0 K Wray 5 QUEENS lVI
6/7 QUEENS l VI
6/7 QUEENS lVI

M G Asplin Lieutenants N Fields 2nd lieutenants
S M Berlow
K F Blackburn 6/7 QUE ENS lVI S R HoHman 5 QUEENS lVI
MAG Brett 5 QUEENS lVI DD M Houston 6/7 QUEENS lVI
2 QUEENS M D MacKenzie 5 QUEENS lVI
C A C Bunce 6/7 QUEENS lVI A A Mason 5 QUEENS lVI
P A Chattle HSF 6/7 QUEENS lVI P A Moore 5 QUEENS lVI
A M Clement 6/7 QUEENS lVI M l Phillips 5 QUEENS lVI
SW Coploy 6/7 QUEENS lVI B G Sage 5 QUEENS lVI
T J Downey 6/7 QUEENS lVI S J Scoones 5 QUEENS lVI
P Ooyle 6/7 QUEE NS lVI M W Steei-Jessop 5 QUEENS lVI
G J Ourston 6/7 QUEENS lVI J C Stretton 5 QUEENS lVI
6/7 QUEENS lVI 5 QUEENS lVI

ACF OFFICERS

0 A A Barnes JP Colonels J W Smith ACF Majors (continued)
P Tween I H Stewart
Hon Col Kent 14th Bn) Surrey
Comdt Surrey P LA Todd Kent
A Walker Kent
Sussex

WAG Crump Lieutenant Colonels 0 Blackwell Captains
CH G Philpin
A J Aeardon JP 0 Comdt Surrey M J Booth Sussex
C H Wilson 0 Comdt Kent S V Budd Surrey
0 Comdt London !SW) J A Cloudsdale Surrey
0 Comdt Surrey 0 KG Cox Surrey
M K Crowle Surrey
C M Bellingham Majors C P Oobson Sussex
A C Ford London !SW)
N H Benton Kent B F Grundy Sussex
A J Cameron London ISWJ I 0 Harman Kent
G W Canning Surrey P Jones Kent
M P Eastap London INW & Mxl London IN El
London lSE) A G Jones London INW & Mx )
0 A Jones Surrey London ISWJ
A A McMahon Sussex o Leech London INW & Mx)
J C McCullough Sussex Surrey
0 T Martin Kent A G McManus Sussex
W l May Surrey FJMMair Kent
A Moorton Sussex Surrey
K M O'Callaghan Surrey R Newton Kent
A PM Oldfield Surrey l Neville Sussex
G H Perkins London (NW & Mx ) M Pierce-Jones TO London ISEJ
London (NW & Mxl A G Ailey London ISWJ
A G Pinnock P W Aowles Sussex
E Smalley
M J Smith
D Somes

7

K E G Soulsby ACF Captains (continued! R S Ausbndger ACF Lieutenants (continued)
E G Spicer J R B Taylor
Sussex P Thompson Sussex
D N Talbot Kent A P Thwaites Surrey
A J Thompson Surrey A 0 Young
ME Tibble London ISWI K H Watkins Kent
M J Todhunter London ISWJ A W Welch Kent
N 0 Trafford London ISWJ D Whybrow Surrey
Surrey Surrey
S B Turner London INW & Mxl
A Wailer London INEI Sussex
Kent Kent
J H Walton Kent
D M J Woodhams 2nd Lieutenants

M R Baker li eute nants A M Blowers Surrey
I J C Bowen B 0 Earle
Kent M G Evans Sussex
K Burgess Surrey l 0 Fenton -O' Creevy
Kent V Forbes Surrey
W Burke Kent RE Fry Surrey
London ISEI A R Groves London ISWI
H Carpenter London (SW) I 0 Harman London (NW & Mxl
Surrey FM McGain Surrey
sM Cartwright Sussex J A McHugh Kent
Kent AECPage Kent
R DBVISOO Surrey Surrey
W A M Oeeprose London !NE) A M Pearce
Kent G A Risby Susse•
K A Gatter Surrey 0 Roberts Sussex
0 R Hancock Sussex E B A Sokolowski Surrey
N Huddart Kent MW Taylor London (SW)
P R Hughes Surrey London ISWJ
P R Hughes London (NW & Mxl J T Watkins Kent
M F Uewellyn Surrey P J Wright Surrey
K J Lowden Kent Surrey
M A McCauliffe London !NW & Mx)
0 F Marriner Sussex J G O' Neill Under Officers
A B Musk Surrey J P O'Neill
J McNeil Kent London ISWI
I A Perrin London I SW)
M Perry
J E Pezet
CM Riley

Don't miss

THE REGIMENTAL
GRAND REUNION

at Bassingbourn
on Sunday 13th July, 1986

Full Details on Page 49

8

DATES TO REMEMBER

June ' Glorious First of June' (1st Bn ). September
1 Queen 's Surrey 's Regtl Assn Service, 5 Regtl Golfing Society Match v Queen 's Own
1 Buffs GS, Epsom
Guildford Cathedral 8 Sevastopol Day (2nd Bn)
5 Royal Sussex Cricket v Lavinia Du chess of 9 Salerno Day (1st Bn)
7 Norfolk's XI, Arundel Castle 12 2nd Bn Parade, Minden
Regtl Cricket Match v Tonbridge School 13 Quebec Day (3rd Bn)
9-10 Regtl Cricket Match v Haberdashers ' Livery 17 Middlesex Regt GS Annual M eeting , North
Hants GC
11 Company
October
14 Goodwood Races Jun e Meeting (Royal 9 Official Opening of new Leros TA Centre,
14 Sussex) Canterbury
20
Regtl Golfing Society Match v RMA 10 3rd Bn return from Belize
21 10 Regimental Cocktail Party, Banqueting
Sandhurst, Aldershot
Official Birthday HM The Queen House, London
5th (V) Bn Exe rcise th e Freedom , Folkestone 11 WOs' & Sgts' Past and Present Dinner,
Regtl Golfing Society Match v RAF and R
Bassingbourn
ANGLIAN , John O' Gaunt GC 14 325th Anniversary of Raising of Tangier
5th (V) Bn Annual Cocktail Party .
Regt 1661
July 2nd Bn Farewell to Oakington 16 Queen 's Surrey's Golfing Society Autumn
4 Queen's Surreys Golfing Society Match v
9 Meeting
RM, North Hants GC 23 Regtl Golfing Society Match v Liphook GC,
11 Regtl Golf Match v Haberdashers' Livery
Company Liphook
13 Regtl Grand Reunion, Bassingbourn .
25 Regtl Golfing Society Match v Kent County November
Constabulary, Canterbury GC 6 Regtl Assn at Field of Remembrance, West-
29- Goodwood Races , July Meeting (Royal
2Aug. minster
Sussex) 7 Queen 's Surrey's Regtl Assn , All Ranks

August Reunion , Union Jack Club
7 6th /7th (V) Bn Annual Cocktail Party
2-8 Regimental Tent at Canterbury Cricket 8 Lord Mayor's Procession , London
8 Middlesex Regt Field of Remembrance
Week
3 Queen 's Own Buffs Regtl Assn Remem- Ceremony
9 Remembrance Day
brance Service and Reunion, Canterbury
11-20 2nd Bn moves to Minden December
22 Regtl Golfing Society Match v RM , 20 British Battalion Day
31 20th Anniversary of The Queen's
Canterbury GC
30 6th/7th (V) Bn Exercise the Freedom, Regiment

Arundel

RESPONSIBILITIES OF DEPUTY COLONELS

Col of Regt

I

RHO

Dep Col 'A ' Dep Coi 'B' Dep Col ' C'
(Acworth) IHolman) IConstantine)

Responsible for 1st Bn and 8 OF IV) Responsible fo r 2nd Bn and 5 Responsible fo r 3rd Bn and 6/7
affairs and County, Schools and QUEENS IV) affairs and County , QUEENS IV) affairs and County,
ACF liaison in Middx and Surrey Schools and ACF (including Schools and ACF liaison in East and
plus related OCA matters. London NE Sector) liaison in Kent West Sussex including Cumberland
plus related OCA matters. Sword Competition, plus related
OCA matters .

Notes la) Senior Dep Col to act as Vice Colonel, Sports President and President of OCA .
(b) Dep Col 'A ' to be President Officers' Club .
(c) Dep Col ' C' to be President of Regimental Dress Committee.

COLONEL OF THE REGIMENT'S PREFACE

'Life is a kind of chess ... and in which there is a vast
variety of good and evil events that are, in some degree,
the effect of prudence, or want of it . .. '

Benjamin Frank/in

I am very grateful to the many about the Regiment who sponsorship from the Prudentia l over the next three
so genuinely concerned themselves with my welfare years. I am sure this Freefall team venture has much to
during my recent illness. I was indeed flattered by all this commend it and particu larly in the recruiting field - or
caring goodwi ll and I have no doubt that it had a major hopefully. At the same time it is equally encouraging to
part to play in speeding my recovery . Now back on my announce that the Dover Museum Appeal is well and
feet, and ever conscious of the wisdom of the quotation tru ly off the launching pad and that an early and most
above, I have arranged to implement a prudent generous donor was Her Majesty The Queen Mother in
requirement I had foreseen some months back - the her capacity as the Constab le of Dover Castle and Lord
pressing need to broaden the top management base of Warden of The Cinque Ports . The second Officers'
the Regimental hierarchy. For with the recent addition of Dinner Club evening was even better than the first and so
8 OF (V) and the HSF Companies of 5 and 6/7 QUEENS many congratulations to all concerned . A pity more of
(V) we must now be about the largest Past and Present the most recent COs were not present. Hopefully we will
regimental community within the Infantry - that's 'a ll see them at the Grand Reunion instead .
up ' and including OCAs, CCF affi liations, ACF badged
detachments and all! lt is my considered view that to do Finally in looking ahead to major events in this
real justice to the ca lls of these varied community significant anniversary year I am able to announce that
interests, and to ensure fair representational sha res and Admiral of the Fleet Sir John Fieldhouse, Chief of the
best attenda nce cover for all in responding to them, we Defence Staff, has kindly agreed to do the honours at the
urgently need to thicken up the Regimental 'Brass'. To ceremony on Putney Heath on 14 October and that we
th is end three serving Deputy Colonels will now operate are still very hopeful that Her Majesty Queen Margrethe
in my support on a semi -functional rather than a purely wil l conduct an informal visit to Howe Barracks at the end
territorial basis. In this respect Her Majesty The Queen of the year - or 20 years on from the formation of the
recently approved the appointments of Colonels Bob Large Regiment.
Acworth and Mike Constantine as the additional Deputy
Colonels. The new sc heme (sometimes known as the Charles Millman,
'Osborne Diktat'!) became effective on 2 April and I have
no doubt that it w ill operate in the best and most effective Brigadier
representational interests of all sections of the regimental
community - past and present. lt has recently been
circularised to all concerned with its implementation. To
keep all however in the basic picture a schematic diagram

is shown at the foot of page 8 opposite .

Having said al l that I would like to think that all sections

of our sizeable regimental community would, from here
on , positively assist the new top management team in
ensuring that the Regular Battalions are maintained at
best manning strengths at all times. I am frankly
concerned at the current marginal level of both our
prolongation and recruiting figures. These inevitably
produce manning problems as Battalions change to
increased establishments on posting. To obviate such
traumas we clearly need to hang on to more of t he likely
lads we would wish to retain and to ensure that there is a
steady flow of good committed youngsters, and
especially from our ACF detachments, into the recruiting
pipeline. In short, both past and present have a major role

to play in these respects - end of cryptic message!

lt is very good news to be able to confirm that the

'Flying Dragons' have now received most generous

10

EDITORIAL

ttinhheeAMfs3ianrardacllwhBlaeaisygtstnao, lofiwowaenstiriunnaccicnCl ueiandsngsetfeuhnrlaebrtwuodrsuyfrof, rrionwimhtGseiarmbelrleaoiclttuhamrar,nabiwdasetehtdaial el irocotnohlensesiin2nidneBtdhrAaiBsObalJRetot a,iumlsri ontpanaarltcw.inthTgfihrcoeihnm1rAesJuttaugBnrunausetattdar.yllfitortonowmaiAsstphagrepiol p,oFrbdoaealktfcoolahrnsei nedgeist
departed for six months duty in Belize.
Battalion The
JQuuOnecuetrnio'tsnw,Fouasssitlpaiealrwrstao(rCtf ittVhyoeoluGfnLotoevneedrrnobmna)ettwnathl'isoicnehsxpwhaaansvsefioonnrmoowaflltbyheeeesTnteajrborliiitnsoehrdeiadlboAynrtmh1yeA. p8Wtrhilea(wVt ioSslhtuJnitotewheenrl')ls, Hill , Clapham
and welcome

for the first time its contribution to these pages.
iQNn ouOAveuueegrmnuscbmosetner,gntaroanwdtCueotlraoletMiCodinokeslel iBggCohootbtenodsAtBactnrwoigtoi nhrSetehtauOrawBrthEthoAawtnwhdaoCesorhslmaosBanodbOebeeBanAECcsMweBlCEoecrptitnher odt hmatenoodtrbeeedCc eoCtlnootmMfiNlmli kotaehr tnehdCeDeorrnAn8s/IrtMIaennlAfaatninnpdteorsyAthwBainarviregAdansbdk.eeaAerinnall
appointed Deputy Colonels of the Regiment.
cwOoefAmfliccnmoeomirts:hseeOioraunnrneoodctthoaenibnrglteronaeetTwuvhleaeCntiotoQmninusmeteathonnis'dsLi2nt 0RgCtehoOgliyfmfeBicaeoernbrt,oMfL(atctshGCeohopliRepReowogsghiemeodrennLtootowwhaaascnfoosbrmbTemeeDana,rnwthdrheesogatimhhpaeepsno3ttiar)nd,ktmeaBnseanotattvaeloCirofotnham.enmW6oatefnhfid/ca7ielnstrhgo,

(Volunteer) Battalion.

mb(saoeAtmtnasoolpiroeainncbcsilareewl atfhoesouaertdwuinrsiesuthbhinsetcotFhriciapsoltkiemoladnmnistdieoamInrseoliasrnnatedthcesee.psTinashcaritlrsiuycss!u)iploaeanrcniodtaoflwuffeoresauhtrouofprpeadeguhetathsysaoobt frethceeionsvleopinnuaitritsdipaifitnocivtrtuehfrriweossimlwloabtfheytehfieonblal2tohtntweadelifBdounatbu'tstyraefolu.iotnhnde'ssr
cinoaInnltlrmeibdyuittlieaodsntstE.odYtihtooeuriJawoliluIl rsbnaeaidlpatlehnaadstefwoderttowheinsohfitretsotthitniamctleuthdwiseeinmneopwwosrtsoahfnoQtwsueeoceutnrio'sAnCboaFfdtoghfeefdicReAerCsgFiimnuetnhnitetaslOaffasfmiaceirlreysghuLalosacraaigtteiaominn

List .
aesovlmemFnoiensmoatlnlo2yer0,e0eI0slswuecbo'ossup,clidrewibshaeaosrsktf .eaaaPbllcloehouausterebdurieteyinoaicnndogeubrsryuaotgtuower ihytohoewlupanr?ftRroiAeeginnSidmcusreebtnasotscaeprliupftrathcimoehnaiclsyiFercomturhamleanityriisootnaiwmlwonefascytohtshpisiiysnJsosioridz,ueeirfnttyhahoele.urfeWraorseenhtorpeucuaolbddvliiensbrhge.

Colonel M R I Constantine OBE In July 1983 he took over command of 2 QUEENS in
(continued from page 11) Londonderry and moved the Battalion to Oakington in
December 1984. On relinquishing command in
returned to 3 QUEENS in Lemgo as Adjutant and moved September 1985 he filled a short term com mitment as
with the Battalion to Ballykinler in Northern Ireland in S01 (Log) at the Permanent Planning Group JFHQ in
1970. From 1971 -73 he was posted to GS03 ITrg) in HQ Aldershot.
2nd Division in Germany. He returned to 3 QUEENS and
commanded C Company for a year in Gibraltar. In March 1986 he was posted on promotion to be
Commandant Junior Division Staff College at
In 1975 he attended the Joint Services Staff College in Warminster .
Wellington, India , and on comp letion of the course was
posted to the MOD as DAMS MSISB) from 1976-77. He He was appointed a Deputy Colonel of The Queen 's
rejoined 3 QUEENS in Dover as OC B Company and went Regiment on 1 April 1986.
with the Battalion to Canada and Northern Ireland . From
1980-81 he served as DCOS HO 4 Armoured Brigade in Colonel Constantine is married with two daughters. As
Munster and then moved on promotion in July 1981 to be a younger officer he was a keen sportsman and
Military Assistant to the Commander in Chief ULKF. represented the Army and Combined Services at
Athletics, played Rugger for BAOR and more recently
has represented the Infantry at Cricket.

11

NEW DEPUTY COLONELS

COL R W ACWORTH CBE Following a tour as GS01 (lnt) in Oman he
commanded 10 UDR in Belfast. This was immediately
followed by promotion and appointment as ACOS G2
(Colonel GS (Intelligence)) in Headquarters Northern
Ireland . He is now a College Commander at Sandhurst .

Col Acworth is married with one daughter and two
so ns and lists his hobbies as Tennis , Gardening,

Shooting and Fishing .

COL M RI CONSTANTINE OBE

Colonel M R I Constantine, who was educated at King
Edward 's School, Witley , joined the Army in 1961 and
went to RMA Sandhurst . He was co mmissioned into The
Royal Sussex Regiment in 1963 and served with the
Regiment in Malta , Aden and BAOR before leaving on
secondment to The Parachute Regiment.

Having joined 3rd Bn The Parachute Regiment in'
Aldershot in 1967 he subsequently served with them in
Malaya, North Africa and BAOR before being posted
once again with that Battalion to Malta . In 1969 he

(continued on page 10)

Col R W Acworth was born in 1938 and joined the
Army in 1957 straight from School. He was commis-
sioned from the RMA Sandhurst in 1958 into The
Queen 's Royal Regiment.

Following amalgamation of The Queen 's Royal
Regiment and East Surrey Regiment in October 1959 he
served with the 1st Battalion The Queen 's Royal Surrey
Regiment in Aden , Hong Kong and Germany leaving
the Battalion in Munster in 1964 to become ADC to the
Commander 1st (British) Corps . Following his
appointment as ADC he served in the Ministry of
Defence for two years from 1966 to 1968. He then spent
a year with 3 QUEENS in Lemgo before attending the
Staff College in 1970 after which he was posted to
Headquarters Allied Forces Northern Europe in Norway.

After two and half years as a Company Commander
in 1 QUEENS in Bulford and frequently in Northern
Ireland he spent two years as a DS at the Junior Division
of the Staff College and then 18 months as Second in
Command of 2 QUEENS thus becoming one of the few
officers to serve in all three regular Battalions.

12

MAINLY ABOUT PEOPLE

Brig S T W Anderson OBE , MC is to be DA / MA Maj PG Harrington TD has been awa rded a Clasp to
Ankara in August 1986. his Territoria l Decoration.

Col M R I Constantine. OBE. has been selected to Vice Admiral E Roast handed over his appointment
be Commander 81nfantry Brigade, starting in November as Chief of the Military House and Adjutant General to
1986. HM The Queen of the Netherlands to Lt Gen T J de Geu s
on 1 February 1986.
Col R W Acworth has been awarded the CBE for
services in Northern Ireland. Col M J Dudding TD ADC has been appointed TA
HM The Queen presented the Military Meda l to Cpl C K Colonel HQ D lnf .
Jordan . 2 QUEENS , at Bu ckingham Pala ce on 7
November 1985. Col A C Ward OBE has been appointed Col (TA
Coord) MOD (A).
CSgt B G Smith 6/7 QUEENS (V) was awarded
the BEM in the New Years Honours List. Lt Col ER Holmes TO, formerly5QUEENS . took over
Col M R Tarver OBE. lt Col R M Arnold and W02 command of 2 WESSEX (V) on 4 May 1986.
S Manji were Mentioned in Despatches for their services
in Northern Ireland . Lt Col P C Cook and Lt Col M C Willis having
W01 Crick. Kent ACF , has received the Lord successfully completed No 3 Course at the Joint Services
Lieutenant of Kent Meritorious Service Certificate . Defen ce College Greenwich are entitled to t he symbol
'jsdc' against their names in military records .

Maj G W Evans TD and Maj A P Haigh TD have been
awarded the 1st Clasp to the Efficie ncy Decoration
(TAVR).

Maj M C Mercer has been awarded the Efficien cy
Decoration (TAVR) .

Capt I D Raynes and Lt D J Greenfield have been
granted Regular Commissions in the Regiment .

Capt M J Wall . formerly RRF , has been selected for a
TAVR Commission in 8 QF (V) in a NRPS appointment
(PSAO).

The following W01s have been selected for
commissioning in FY 86-87 :

W01 I G Moss. 3 QUEENS

W01 D A Boden. 1 QUEENS

W01 S R Bream QGM , 5 UDR

The following W02s have been se.lected for promotion
toW01 :

W02 J Brown . to be RSM 1 QUEENS

W02 M Butcher, to be RSM 3 QUEENS

W02 T Daw. to join Army Works Study Group.

LCpl D Harper. 6/7 QUEENS (V) came first overall
in the South East District TA Cross Country Competition.

lt is with deepest regret that we announce the deaths of two serving
Oueensmen :

Private Neil Griffin, 1 QUEENS, on 19th March 1986
Corporal John Havart, Depot The Queen 's Division , on 23rd March 1986

We send our sincere sympathies to their families .

1st BATTALION

The past six months have thankfully provided a slight The first major Battalion event was the review (named,
lull in major activity for the Battalion, although it still feels perhaps inevitably, the Braganza Review) , for which
as busy as ever . The last major ceremo nial events of 1985 each Company and department provided a series of
were completed in November with the departure of the sketches . Many of these were quite hilarious , although it
Governor, Admiral Sir David Williams , and the arrival a was clear in some cases that there had been no thought
few days later of his successor , Air Chief Marshal Sir of winning a Good Taste Award! We will leave it to your
Peter Terry. Not that this meant an end nor even a imagination to consider such sights as a gang of Tangier
perceptible lessening of the Battalion 's commitment to Company soldiers wearing fig leaves and respirators ,
the drill square, as the Bn 21C and the RSM had waving scrimmed helmets around in the role normally
sc heduled the Kirke's Company Drill Competition for reserved by fan dancers for large feathers , doing the
Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, or a fictitious Battalion
November also . Guardroom (at least we think it was fictitious) draped
with swastikas, in which the Provost Sergeant wears
The competition took place on a fine if somewhat certain items of intimate female apparel! In between acts,
windy day, and was judged by the Deputy Fortress the Albuhera Band led Battalion ca rol singing , the
Commander, Brig R T P Hume (late Irish Guards) . He was volume increasing in direct relation to the amount of beer
assisted by Capt Drummond , Grenadier Guards, and consumed . This was generally voted to be a good
W02 Fairbairn, Coldstream Guards, so none could claim
that the judging team was either inexperienced or biased! even1ng.
lt was a keenly contested event, and Tangier Company
carried it off by a short head under the able direction of Another evening worthy of mention was that of the
CSM Camille . In addition, CSM Kelling (at the time CSM Wives' Club Christmas Dinner, which was served in
of Albuhera Company) was given an award by the Lathbury Barracks Dining Hall to nearly 200 ladies. After a
meal during which traditional Christmas drink and fare
Brigadier as the best CSM on parade . were consumed in traditional Christmas quantities and
which was enlivened, we hear, by CSM Kelling's
A bare three weeks before this prestigious event, we impromptu cabaret, the party moved to a disco in the
had also held a March and Shoot Competition, although George & Dragon Club where the husbands were waiting
this could more properly have been called a Shoot and and found that they had a lot of catching up to do .
March. Because our one and only range is still closed for
full -bore shooting, the shoot had to be .22, using Another very successful occasion .
conversion kits , so it was carried out before the march.
While the route for the march was only five miles, it Naturally, there were all the traditional events in the
involved some fairly stiff uphill climbs (is there anything various Messes and Dining Halls and through the
else in Gibraltar?) as well as a two mile tab through the generosity of Blands Ltd. (the principal Travel Agents in
tunnels inside the Rock. lt proved to be a very testing Gibraltar) a number of free air tickets to UK and Morocco
course, and while the winning platoon was 9 Platoon were won in various raffles. One last event which does
under Lt Perry and Sgt Fisher, the best overall Company however deserve particular mention was the Scavenger
aggregate score was Albuhera Company's, and they thus Hunt organised on 27 December . Small teams having
carried off the Kirke 's Shield . Indeed at the time of been provided with a list of items to obtain, some of the
writing, with only two Kirke 's results still to come, more unusual sights which resulted included a
Albuhera Company stands a very good chance of bewildered Gibraltarian lad who had been quietly walking
carrying off the overall co mpetition for the first time since his dog being 'kidnapped' at least three times (item 4 - a
dog), an equally bewildered Pakistani charwallah being
1979 . asked by the judges to prove his nationality (item 9 - a
live Moroccan) , and a hunted looking Adjutant running
Notable visitors in the period before Christmas hard (item 12 - an item of clothing worn by the Adjutant
included the Adjutant General, General Sir Roland Guy, today).
and the Military Secretary, General Sir David Mostyn .
The MS 's visit coincided with an impressive Guy Fawkes The New Year (and the mid point of our Gibraltar tour)
Night firework display at Lathbury Barracks , sponsored signalled a return to normality and we launched into our
by Fortress Headquarters , which was very well attended ARU inspection by the Deputy Fortress Commander .
by all three Services. lt was moreover just cold enough This led to an energetic 24 hours , and was in two phases.
(with a smattering of rain) for us to be able to imagine In the first phase each Company was given a clearance
task in a different area of the Rock , looking for IEDs -
ourselves home in UK! only one went off! In the afternoon , each Company
moved by sea to a drop off point whence they took a
These excitements over, Christmas was of course circuitous and rather arduous route , which included two
looming , and became a somewhat marathon affair . cli mbs and one abseil , to a FUP for an attack on
While all the normal commitments to the Convent and Buffadero Village. An exhausting but satisfactory day,
Frontier Guards continued , the Battalion was determined and one in which we acquitted ourselves well - the DFC
to enjoy itself, which aim it certainly achieved. Needless seemed happy enough!
to say the Albuhera Band was much in demand all over
the Rock, and the Band President and Bandmaster found
themselves the object of much cajolery from those who

had not thought ahead enough to book early.

14

1st Battalion
Officers' Mess
Ladies Night 1985.

The normal Mediterranean Adventure Training dropping down a league we started off in the GFA 1st
pursuits being suspended in winter , we launched a series Division. This has proved to be a very competitive league
of one week skiing expeditions into the Sierra Nevada in to be in , along with the RN and RAF teams . We ended
Spain . Assisted by generous subsidies from MOD and the season in second place, missing promotion by only
the excellent services on loan from the 3rd Battalion of two points . The team has had fresh blood throughout the
Cpl Be las, for which we are most grateful, these have season, but due to the demands of courses, exercises
proved a tremendous success. At the time of writing the and leave the standard has varied. The 1st Division
fifth of six expeditions is under way. and we hope to have Championship was twice within our grasp, but sadly we
a full report in the next edition of the Journal. failed to make the grade on the night. The Minor Units
League has been of a very high standard and the overall
Sobraon Day was, as ever, a splendid occasion, quality of the football played throughout the Battalion
marking as it does the first of the year's Regimental has risen considerably as a result ; certainly things look
anniversaries. This year's Sobraon Sergeant, Sgt A R good for the return to grass pitches in Tidworth. it looks
Scully ('Scully the Younger' ) acquitted himself manfully at the time of writing as if Tangier Company will come out
on the steep march up the hill to the WOs and Sergeants' top of this league and will be worthy winners . The rest of
Mess with the Regimental Colour, and we were the Company teams have acquitted themselves well and
particularly happy to have Col Sewell visiting us as the are all in the top half of the league .
time . No doubt it stirred memories for him of his time
both as the last CO of the 1st Bn The Queen's Royal In Hockey, too, the Battalion has had a creditable if not
Surrey Regiment and the first of the 1st Bn The Queen's particularly startling season . The Inter Company Trophy
was won by Tangier Company (again!) , but the Battalion
Regiment . was beaten in the Inter Unit League by the Gibraltar
Regiment . We were well represented in the Combined
An apparently never ending succession of TA recce Services side with Maj Lawson , Lts Wright and Owen ,
parties also brought home the fact that the exercise W01 Davis and Sgt Jackson all appearing regularly .
season was opening again, and almost before we knew
it, the first of eight TA companies to visit us this year had Our hopes in Boxing were sadly dashed by 22 Engineer
arrived, while Sobraon (Kirke's) Company was being Regiment who knocked us out of the UKLF Novices
reminded about UK weather on Sennybridge. We also
had a very successful visit by a party of cadets from 72 1st Battalion Personalities
(QUEENS) Company of the ACF . Tangier and Holland
Companies, having drawn a slightly longer straw, 1. Maj Steve Thorpe and Maj John Harcus .
prepared to deploy on their exercises to Portugal. The 2. Maj Malcolm Lawson at Sennybridge on Exercise
odyssey of the seaborne Advance Party for the first of Open Door.
these is a saga in itself , which is reported on page 80. 3. Capt Peter Anthony !right) and Lt Mick Rowney check
Suffice to say here that accusations that Capt Ebbens, the scores at a Battalion Golf Match.
the OM (A), now wears an eyepatch and carries a parrot 4. Sgt Guilfoyle Ior Asterix the Gaul ?) at Sennybridge.
on his shoulder are not well received! 5. W02 B Kelling up to his normal tricks .
6. Pte Patrick (now LCpl - following his inspection by a
On the sporting side , the traditional winter sport (less
Rugby - we unfortunately lost the only pitch available to Gibraltar Rock Ape).
us in Spain to a property developer) went ahead . The
Battalion Soccer team has had a mixed season; after

15

....

16

2

3 rrI 4

1. Tangier Company defend Gibraltar Airport on Exercise 4. 3 Platoon A Company on the final leg .
5. The Sobraon Day Colour Party march to the Officers'
Yogi Bear .
2. Capt L. E. Davies WRAC, Assistant Adjutant , and Maj Mess to colfect the Regimental Colour .
Steve Thorpe (the eventual winner) shoot for the 6. The CO, Lt Col Mike Ball handing over the Colour to the

Snowden Trophy. 1986 Sobraon Sergeant , Sgt A A Scully .
3. Milan Platoon going well on the March and Shoot

competition .

Championship . lt was a close match (5 to 4) and a sad 17
result for Capt Ebbens, Sgt Gildert and LCpl Phillips as
well as the squad , all of whom had worked and trained civilian life . Maj McGill departed for the MOD , with Maj
very hard , achieving a very high standard . Despite the Harcus arriving from Belgium to take over Tangier
disappointment we shall not be too downcast, having Company . Mrs Sarah Harcus was thus reunited for a
been out of the game for two years during the Omagh short while with her sister , Mrs Kate Eagan, before Capt
tour , and we are laying plans for a new, and we hope Eagan relinquished the Adjutantal chair to Capt Deakin
more successful, assault on the Championship next year. and departed for the Para Brigade , with the
There is certainly a great deal of talent available. congratulations on the birth of a daughter still echoing
around him. Maj Beattie took over Holland Company
Two particularly sad events recently were the sudden from Maj M clelland who went to Warminster , and W02
deaths of Private Neil Griffin of Holland Company , who Juhel also left Holland Company being replaced by W02
died after being evacuated to QEMH Woolwich , and that Kelling who moved across from Albuhera Company. Lt
of Corporal John Havart (ex Quebec Company) who was Powell returned from the Depot and met up with CSgt
killed in an accident on 23 March while serving at the Lovell back from 6/7 QUEENS (V). They were allowed 24
Depot. The whole Battalion was much saddened by hours to draw breath (so that CSgt Lovell could sew on
these events, and our thoughts are very much with their his W02's badges) and promptly despatched to join the
respective families . exercise in Portugal.

There have inevitably been some changes in Battalion Thus the Battalion is well into its second year on the
personalities over the period, mostly in the first two Rock. While this will certain ly be at least as busy as the
months of 1986. Maj Upson, albeit newly promoted , left first, our thoughts are also beginning to turn towards
his QM world in the hands of Capt Ebbens and went to Tidworth - no doubt with increasing frequency in the
months to come.

Participants in the Battalion
Golf Meeting held at
Atalaya Park in Spain,
19 February 1986.

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18

2nd BATTALION

THEFALKLANDSTOUR

' What have we acquired? What, but a bleak and
gloomy solitude, an island thrown aside from human
issue, stormy in winter and barren in summer; an island
which not the southern savages have dignified with
habitation ; where a garrison must be kept in a state that
contemplates with envy the exiles of Siberia ; of which
the expense will be perpetual and the use only occasional
and which if fortune sm1'les upon our labours, may
become a nest of smugglers in peace and in war the
refuge of future buccaneers. '

'Thoughts on the Falklands '

by Or Samuel Johnson, 1771

Some might say that these words of Or Samuel John- Tripartite Meeting in the Falklands - Col Crispin
san are quite sufficient for this editorial and I think many Champion , Col John Holman OBE and Lt Col Peter Cook .
of us would have agreed prior to our Falklands Tour . One
great advantage we all now have over that illustrious man expected and luckily none were really serious. Casevac
of letters is that we , at least, have visited the islands and was almost too efficient at times .
can report that much has changed from his 18th century
view . Yes, the islands were both stormy and barren but Company locations varied considerably. Voted some
the image of a forgotten and dispirited garrison cast aside way ahead of the rest was Fox Bay, a portacabin camp on
is far from reality now. Our ever shrinking world has now the edge of the bay with good fishing, plenty of wildlife
brought the Falklands in reach within a matter of hours and marvellous scenery. Both A and B Companies spent
rather than months, while the telephone and mail system approximately two months here . C Company was at
kept us closely in touch with life at home, particularly Kelly's Garden by San Carlos Water throughout, acting
with our long-suffering families . Their unfailing support as the QRF for the Islands which in addition to deterring
contributed in no small way to the successful outcome of Argentinian incursions included fighting fires and re-
laying the Stanley runway . This was again a portacabin
the tour. camp, but it was rather larger and noisier because the
company shared the facilities with the four Chinook
lt only seems like yesterday that the luxury coaches helicopters and crews of 1310 Chinook Det. This became
cruised out of the barracks bound for Brize Norton there a very happy ' marriage' which greatly contributed to the
to meet the twice weekly Jumbo flights to the South support we received from them . There was however an
Atlantic. Only 18 hours later we had arrived and by 8 understandable reluctance for visitors to stay overnight
at Kelly's Garden. a particularly repulsive RAF drink
November we had taken over from 1 Ll. called the ' Hooby' caught a number of us unawares while
the rest sensibly kept away. Finally Bn HQ, HQ Company
The Falkland Islands and South Georgia proved to be and one rifle company (B and A Companies for two
an outstanding experience for us all and it was a great months each) were at Stanley with accommodation on
deal more enjoyable than the more sceptical had the infamous Coastel3 , a floating hotel for an assortment
expected . We were of course fortunate that it was the of nearly 850 servicemen . There were four squash courts,
summer, although that took a lot of believing at times . two swimming pools and a gymnasium but the facilities
We never quite got used to the strong, ever present wind only partially made up for the cramped conditions many
but we all returned with ruddy, weather-beaten faces and of the soldiers experienced. Four to a cabin meant
a very high standard of fitness from tramping the hills on devising a shift system to use the en suite shower / loo
settlement patrols, live firing , the ' Death March ' (Bn and to get dressed in the mornings . The rifle compan y
Exercise) or simply fishing and bird watching trips . endured Coastel fatigues and the Phantom Guard when
not on training or patrol. lt therefore proved a good
The companies enjoyed a degree of independence decision to swop over the companies half way through
rarely experienced in an Infantry battalion these days and
they were able to carry out their operational tasks , the tour
battlefield tours and adventurous training with the fullest
support of inshore patrol vessels (Fl PVs) and a variety of We certainly must not forget our detachment in South
helicopters, including 'Woccas' (Chinooks), Scouts and Georgia who spent four months away on this most
the Sikorskis on contract from Bristow Helicopters,
known by everybody as 'Erics'. How grateful we are to
them all, for without them movement was laborious and
painful, such were the staggering loads that had to be
carried. Packs averaged over BOibs with the poor radio
operators and Mortar men having to carry well in excess
of 1001bs over the difficult and sometimes treacherous
terrain . There were injuries of course but less than

19

4

5

1. The CGS meets Capt Crosbie-Wood and CSgt Took . 4. C Company laying runway panels at RAF Stanley.
2. The CGS talks to the Drums Platoon at Boxer 5. Members of C Company on Onion Range .
6. Low level anti aircraft defence practice.
Bridge .
3. Jacques Cousteau visits Coastel 3.

20

I

'" Ere Bill , You know when you said we' ll have a brew
over by that mound ...."

striking of islands, the ' Gateway to Antarctica' , with its good reason to visit us. Colonels John Holman , Cris
impressive peaks, numerous glaciers, long since Champion and David Dickens and Maj Stephen Dowse
abandoned whaling stations and memories of all brought news from home and saw how our efforts
Shackleton's epic journeys . There were 40 in the party were being received .
commanded by Maj Bob Wilby, including our Recce
Platoon(-) , R SIGNALS and RE dets and a doctor, aRM The Battalion counts itself very lucky to have had the
Mountain Leadership Instructor and some administrative chance to operate in the Falklands and South Georgia as
staff. lt was to Grytviken that A Company undertook a we did. In the future, because of adjustments to
reinforcement exercise in January, sailing there and back deployments and force levels, it is sad to think that
aboard the LSL, RFA Sir Bedivere in company with HMS neither of our sister Battalions will get a similar chance .
Achilles and RFA Blue Rover (an oiler). Besides the four Many may be relieved about that, but we are very much
day exercise the Company visited St Andrews Bay which the wiser from our experiences and can now at least
is famous for its huge King Penguin colony and elephant speak with some authority on the whole Falklands
seals and Drygalski Fjord where the blue glaciers towered question.
over Sir Bedivere and wandering albatross glided
majestically above the wake of the ship . As to the future, Minden is only w,eeks away and Mech
Conversion training began in earnest on 1 April 1986, a
Our bosses were HQ BFFI, a rather large Joint Services rather inauspicious date. However , everything is going
HQ situated in a rabbit warren of a building in Port well despite a very congested programme.ln mid-August
Stanley itself. AVM ' Kip' Kemball CBE is currently CBF we undertake our three way roulement with 2 RGJ and 1
and he and his staff were most supportive of our ventures WFR , as we return to BAOR after an absence of 11 years .
and frequently visited their only Infantry battalion at
Company locations and out in the Camp as the locals call SOUTH GEORGIA -THE END OF THE LINE
those areas outside Port Stanley. HE The Governor and
Mrs Gordon Jewkes, who incidentally come from Kent, by Maj R W Wilby, OC Troops, South Georgia
were also frequent guests and kind and generous hosts.
Principal among our visitors from UK was the CGS, In mid October 1985 whilst the majority of the Battalion
General Sir Nigel Bagnell GCB CVO, MC whose excellent was still on leave, 27 all ranks with a Royal Marine
three day visit to the Battalion included overnight stays Sergeant attached, departed from civilisation to
with B and C Companies and a generous glass of the undertake the duties of the South Georgia garrison. On
'Hooby' which was taken quite unflinchingly. We were arrival at King Edward Point (KEP) they inherited six
also hosts to an All Party Group of MPs on a fact finding sappers, four signallers , a doctor and his assistant. Their
visit to the islands and, finally, perhaps our most task for the next four months was to demonstrate British
unexpected visitor was Jacques Cousteau , the sovereignty over the isolated , rugged and inhospitable
renowned underwater explorer and conservationist who island, 800 miles south east of the Falklands .
with some of his crew, joined the officers for a lunch on
Coastel 3 during his three weeks of filming in Falkland Sovereignty was demonstrated by patrolling and
waters . We were also particularly pleased that various visiting as mu ch of the island as possible. In addition
Regimental Officers are in appointments that gave them

21

1

1. CSgt Andrews and Capt Duggan put on a brave face . Chahal before the half marathon.
2. Ptes Head. Banton , Scragg , Cook , Farquhar and Jones 4. Kelly 's Garden .
shifting runway panels . 5. Ptes Murray, McCarthy and King of ' A ' Company .
3. Ptes Truelove, Holman, McHugh , LCpl Hulme and Pte 6. Bn Rugby XV v HMS Achilles . Match won 9-8.

22 'A' Company landing at Carlita Bay, South Georgia.

certain civil administrative tasks were also carried out on reinforcement execise , Ex ICE AXE . Regrettably their
behalf of the Falkland Islands Government . To do this the Trojan landing craft was written off on the very first
OC was appointed the Magistrate, Deputy Postmaster, evening operation , but thereafter A Company seemed to
Assistant Queen 's Harbour Master and the Customs and have a lot of fun carryi ng out land ings from the LSL in an
Immigration Officer. Two Special constables were also assortment of ships, boats and helicopters as operations
appointed in the guise of W02 Whittal and Sgt McMillon were carried out against the whaling stations. The
RM . exercise gave us the chance to broaden our horizons too
and to host HE the Governor and Mrs Jewkes and the
Throughout the tour there was no such thing as a CBF and Mrs Kemball who were fascinated observers of
typical day or week although a three day cycle of all they saw.
patrolling / training, and guards and duties, was adhered
to as far as possible . Entertainment was in part limited to the 30 videos sent
each month . The MO , Maj Waiter Bonnicci , was the se lf
Topography limited patrolling in the Grytiviken appointed and most co nscientious of video censors.
peninsula but patrolling further afield was also under- Other entertainment included the writings of our Poet
taken courtesy of visiting ships and helicopters who Laureate, LCpl Marchant, and the graffitti of LCpl Fisher .
could insert and extract our patrols . Capt Newman (the Photographing the scenery and the friendly and varied
walking man's Survival Aids demonstrator) and Sgt wildlife was fantastic and there were hundreds of books
McMillan (our RM Mountain and Arctic Warfare MLI) led available in Shackleton House. Christmas and New Year
or accompanied the majority of the patrols . Patrolling were celebrated in the appropriate manner and the
with heavy rucksacks over the steep broken ground in 'gunfire' team were strengthened by Sgt McAuley's
very changeable weather conditions was arduous and promotion on Christmas Da y. Christmas Da y was also
not without its dangers . Injuries however were slight; noted for the toga party and swim . The water was 4° C
twisted knees, sprained ankles , sunburn and occasional but the doctor was not required to surgically remove the
mild snowblindness were the worst. The most unusual lumps that appeared behind the ears!
injury occurred to LCpl ' Arthur' Daley who suffered the
ignominy of being bitten on both buttocks by an irate Eventually the time came to hand over to 2 / 2 GR and
elephant seal. return via the RSM 's personally selected hairdresser in
Port Stanley and to our delight another British Airways
A live firing area was right on the doorstep; pamphlet Jumbo home . There can be few more isolated garrison
21 and consideration for the local wildlife were its only troops in British Military history than those in South
constraints. A generous allocation of ammunition Georgia . What an experience it was for us all.
enabled some very good stage 4 and 51ive firing both by
day and night. In November everyone spent at least three
days skiing on a local snowfield during which Sgt Friday,
LCpl Tom ' Bonnington' Lindus , and Pte Head discovered
that snow really does penetrate arctic clothing if a lot of
time and effort is devoted to falling over.

Being at the end of the logistic chain certainly had its
problems . Food and stores arrived by LSL once a month ,
although bananas were airdropped with the mail on one
occasion. Shortages were ameliorated by scrounging
from visiting ships and meat was supplemented by the
occasional, quite legal , cull of the local reindeer . The two
cooks, Cpl Goudie and LCpl Little did their best to add a
bit of spice to our lives under some trying conditions,
including a large hole in the kitchen floor . Cpl Goudie
never did manage the art of bread making whereas LCpl
Little's 'chuff chart' was gauged in the number of rolls left
to bake. Mail came and went irregularly although it
arrived at least once each month by an air drop into the
bay. lt soon became well known that LCpl Lunney could
not sleep the night before the drop, but when mail did
arrive most of it would be for Cpl (now Sgt) Weavers
anyway.

South Georgia, it appears, was 'the place to visit'.
Many military and civilian visitors appeared on some
pretext or other each month on the RFA Sir Bedivere,
while the Royal Navy used the island as an R & R cruise
during their Falklands deployment. Grytiviken was also
used as a last port of call for ships heading into Antarctica
where they took on water at a mere £3 .75 per ton . Two
tour ships and three French yachts also visited us, the
former being extremely hospitable to those invited on
board , when the OC took the opportunity to sell
postcards and stamps. The largest influ x of visitors
occurred in January when A Company arrived for a

All'S WELL THANKS 23

The following letter by Pte Andy Reeves expresses the a heavy Bergen and pushing me instead of a pen . Things
feelings of the newly joined private soldier rather well and did not go too badly and afterwards I announced I was
gives an interesting insight into life in the platoons on considering re-badging (merely a plan to keep on the
duty in the Falklands . lt is also clear that Pte Reeves had right side of the right people).
great regard for his Corporal Instructor from the Depot,
Cpl Gaster. On e thing that really hit me in the groin though was an
exercise on Bense Isla nd ; escape and evasion sounded
Hello Corporal Gaster, like a holiday in the sun, but this holiday was slightly
different . More of a self-catering vacation where you dug
I hope you are well and not having too rough a time your own chalet and ca ught, killed and plucked your own
with the new lads . I'm out on West Falkland now. We're goose . Lu ckily for the wildlife this only went on for a few
down here till March. When we get back I am being days - lu cky for me too!
transferred to the Milan platoon, so I am very pleased
about that. I'm getting on well with the lads here . A lot of If you ask me, being in the Infantry is something you
them are from my area. Ogden and Kingsmill are still with need to experience before judging. I' m still enjoying it but
me. Newcombe and Price are in Stanley with B when I' m back in Oakington and safely behind my desk in
Company . I' m enjoying it here although some of it is hard the Pay Office, if someone asks me to do it again I'll say
work . We do patrols carrying over 1001b in weight. That 'Come back tomorrow, I' m busy'.
can be hard, but it's not impossible.

We' re guarding a radar base this week. We work on a
four week rota ; one week on KPs, then training , then
camp duties, then patrols. Being down here is certainly
an experience. We do a lot of work with 'choppers'. We
had a demonstration of contour flying (hedge-hopping!)
in a Chinook the other day . That was fun , although rather
nerve -wracking.

We change places with B Company and go to Stanley
at the end of this month. To get there , we will be doing a
30-mile approach march from Goose Green, with all our
kit. I' m not worried though. I know it's going to kill me!
We were tested on section battle drills the other day, and
somehow I remembered it all first time, even
PAWPERSO . Some of the older guys had forgotten half
of it!

I'll sign off now. Have a good Christmas, and good luck
w ith the new platoon .

Best wishes,

Andy Reeves

AN INSIGHT INTO THE INFANTRY

by Pte J G Dale RAPC

Being in the Infantry for four months did not really Top : LCpl Rocky plays the Last Post at Blue Beach
appeal at first . I joined the Pay Corps to get away from it Cemetery.
all , to be honest. No work and lack of uniform was what I
was used to, so arriving at Fox Bay was a shock to the Lower : LCpl Benham , Cpl Stones and Cpl Caley unload
system . Embezzling , cheating and lying had to wait ; the videos donated by the Sun Newspaper.
patrolling , guards and fatigues were going to be the new

words in my vocabulary.

After arriving at Fox Bay I had to await the return of the
platoon from their KP duties , but then things soon
started. A run was the first thing to overcome , a chance
to make an impression . . . and I managed a jubilant last
place and so hit it off just right . Well I could not do any
worse so being optimistic set my hopes on the patrol to
Saunders Island , something which would mean carrying

24

3rd BATTALION

EDITORIAL

The pace of life in the Battalion over the last few •
months has been particularly hectic . We have just arrived
1n Belize at the start of our six month tour and pausing for Lt Col Bob McGhie lleftl takes over command of 3
a moment we can reflect on the numerous changes that QUEENS from Lt Col David Beveridge MBE.
have occurred in the three months since we left
Fallingbostel. We have been part of four different The rebuild of the camp does not stop there. Work is in
brigades , firstly 7th Armoured Brigade in Germany, then hand to convert the main Sandhurst block into QM 's and
bnefly 2nd Infantry Brigade as we arrived in Canterbury , Company stores, a training theatre, classrooms and a
then we joined 5th Airborne Brigade and we are now part chapel. Alterations are also being made to the old
of HQ British Forces Belize. We have had three changes education block to turn it into a proper battalion HQ, and
of establishment - mechanised in BAOR , Type B in the Guardroom will at last face the main gate. Once all the
Canterbury and now a unique four rifle company work is complete and with the sports pitches and Old
establishment over here. We have had two major unit Park training area at the back of the camp , Howe
moves, firstly from Fallingbostel to Canterbury and more Barracks will be one of the finest Infantry barracks in the
recently Canterbury to Belize . Our final major change has country. With a bit of luck and some good weather we
been in Commanding Officers. This has seen the hope that all the work will be completed before we leave
departure of Lt Col David Beveridge to HQ UKLF and the Canterbury at the end of 1987.
arrival of Lt Col Bob McGhie from HQ 1 Infantry Brigade.
We wish Col David and Janet all the very best in their new Shortly after our arrival in Canterbury we joined 5
posting - whatever it may be! In welcoming Col Bob , Airborne Brigade and took up the role of an airlanded
Lmdy and the family to the Battalion it is worth noting battalion . With only ten weeks in England before we left
that he is the first officer directly commissioned into The we only had the opportunity to meet the Commander and
Queen's Regiment to command one of our regular some of his staff. However, this has given us a flavour of
things to come and the Battalion will undoubtedly have
battalions. an exciting and challenging role to fill on its return from
Belize. 5 Airborne Brigade 's main task is in Out of Area
We were kept busy right up to the moment when we Operations and some of the Battalion will have a chance
left Fallingbostel in January this year. We took part in a 22 to sample this on exercise in Oman at the end of the year.
Armoured Brigade FTX, prepared all our FV 432 APCs
and CVR(T) for inspection, carried out Site Guards and As well as unpacking from Germany and repacking for
made a farewell appearance on the RCDS Demonstration Belize we managed to cram in a considerab le amount of
which this year was run by 2 RTR. Despite these training for our jungle role in Belize . Most of this was
commitments we still managed to send 12 officers and comp leted in sub zero temperatures and at times it was
SNCOs to Brunei for a six week jungle training course , difficult to remember that we were preparing for a climate
complete helicopter handling and medical courses and where the temperature is often over 100° F! Nevertheless
cadres in preparation for Belize and still find a number of we carried out a week's ISAAC at Lydd where six inches
instructors to help train another unit for Northern Ireland . of snow and a biting wind added to the problems of the
So it was with some relief that we handed it all over to 1 Annual Personal Weapons test and the Tickle
STAFFORDS after a very busy, hard working , yet Competition .
rewarding five years in BAOR . However our sadness at
leaving the many friends we had made in Germany was In preparation for the Belize tour the Battalion
tempered by the thought of returning to England and the reorganised into four rifle companies, with Fire Support
'Home of the Regiment' in Canterbury. Company forming the fourth. lt now has four rifle
platoons formed from the Drums, Milan and Mortar
We have certainly not been disappointed and have platoons and yet still managed to provide Milan , Mortar
been made very welcome not only by Regimental Head - and Conbat detachments for the other companies. With
quarters but also by the Mayor and the people of the City.
Howe Barracks has seen a number of changes since the
1st Battalion left, the most significant of which is the
building of new single soldier accommodation and
married quarters . An article on the soldiers
accommodation is included later, suffice it to say that the
new flatlets are probably the best single soldier
accommodation in the Army. The married quarters
rebuild is in full swing but we still have families living in
Dover, Shorncliffe, Chatham and Rainham with all the
problems that such dispersion can cause. However, the
new quarters are very well designed and are sited on the
edge of the barracks which will be very much more
convenient for all concerned. We hope all the quarters
will have been completed by the time we return from

Belize in October.

25

the Recce Platoon on top of that we would never have 1
been able to find the men without the help of HQ Queen 's
Division and the 30 TA soldiers from the battalions in The
Queen 's Division who volunteered to come with us, to
whom we are much indebted.

The Battalion carried out its main training period at
Stanford where the temperature seldom rose above
freezing . Yet the companies still managed to carry out a
variety of training, including long marches with heavy
loads, field firing , jungle navigation, ambushes, attacks,
helicopter drills, and watermanship training . the
watermanship training was carried out on a river in the
training area and the companies had to break the ice
which formed overnight before the assault boats could
be launched . the training culminated in the Quebec
March and Shoot competition which this year was won
by 2 Platoon with Quebec Company retaining the Inter

Company Shield.

On return to Canterbury the handover of Commanding
Officers took place allowing the new Commanding
Officer only four days to get to know the Battalion before
the first soldiers , those going on the jungle warfare
course , left for Belize! The remainder then disappeared
on leave, leaving Howe Barracks in the capable hands of
our Rear Party which includes the Quebec Band. The
Band has already gained an excellent reputation in the
area , filling the 900 seat Marlowe Hall for a show which
demonstrated their versatility and included a number of
other local artistes. Their popu larity will no doubt be a
constant headache for OC Rear Party in his efforts to
arrange Guards and Duties!

The Battalion moved to Belize at the beginning of April
where we took over from 40 Commando RM. The fly-in
went smoothly although C Company contrived a day's
delay in Washington! Belize is a country about the size of
Wales and in some areas is equally mountainous. The
difference is that the hills are covered in dense jungle and
the temperature is considerably higher. In the South,
Battle Group HQ (South) and B Company occupy Rideau
Camp with Quebec Company in Salamanca Camp. In the
North, Battle Group HQ (North), Echelon and Fire
Support Company live at Airport Camp with C Company
in Holdfast Camp. Jungle patrolling is underway and by
the time the Journal is published we will have been here
two months and our successors will have been on their
recce . For the moment we are just beginning what will
undoubtedly be a hard and challenging tour particularly
for the junior commanders. A full report on the tour will
be included in the next edition of the Journal.

Life in Howe Barracks

1. The RSM. W01 G Moss, positions the Regimental
badge at the main gate, assisted by Sgt Cooper and Pte

Hollingsbee.
2. Ptes Oliver and Newton enjoying their new single

soldier accommodation.
3. The Mortar Platoon on pre-Belize fitness training in the

snow of Canterbury.

26 bit tricky in 432s) and out in to the demonstration area . In
line with B Company over to the left, picked up speed and
THE JOYS OF THE RCDS DEMONSTRATION 1985 then halted at our predestined positions . Pause and then
hatches opened , troops debussed and formed up in
by Maj D C F Gouda rambo style, posed in front of the APCs. The
demonstration continued as other sub-units arrived but
The Royal College of Defence Studies is an august they were behind us and unseen . A series of bangs
body of senior officers destined, at the end of their year- (Sappers, of course) marked the end of the first part of
long course , to become even more senior. They are also, the demonstration . The spectators then came forward to
apparently, masochists as each year the College visits chat with the soldiers and admire the vehicles . Lunch was
Falllngbostel - and enjoys it. Their purpose is to watch a served - compo chicken and rice for the RCDS , sand-
series of demonstrations laid on by 7th Armoured wiches, thankfully, for the crew . This was followed by
Brigade and collect their 'duty free' but it would be unfair the driving phase as the RCDS ' members' (not students,
and unjust to dwell on this latter aim! note) tried their hands at driving Challenger and 432.
Challenger was rather more popular . A hair-raising 45
The demonstrations include static displays, firepower minutes later it was all over.
and a demonstration of a full battle group . Last year the
Battle Group Demonstration was run by 2 RTR with I have described the Battle Group Demonstration in
assistance from Gunners and Sappers, together with B lighthearted style . Of course , it is a very serious event. lt
and C Companies from the battalion . The format of the is the only opportunity the RCDS gets during its course to
event is quite .simple. Spectators are seated, freezing see soldiers and the impression made is a lasting one.
qu1etly, 1n spec1ally erected stands. In front is a 1000 sq m Thank God it went , by all reports, very well.
area graded by much Sapper effort and beyond, hidden
1n the trees, the demonstrators are ready to move THE QUARTERMASTER'S LOT IS
forward when called. The order of march is roughly NOT A HAPPY ONE
tactical w1th recce elements first , then two squadrons,
Tac HQ, the two mechanised companies and finally a by Capt (QM) M J Aylward MBE
Gunner battery and Armoured Engineers appear . After five and a half years in Germany the QM 's
department was looking forward to back-loading the
Preparation for the event is time-consuming, boring problems of a 'mechanised' accounting and settling into
and not worth recounting. Suffice to say it involves very the relative quiet of an airportable battalion. However the
long hours by drivers. Rehearsals take place in the four ' Mandarins' in the MOD had other ideas . When I set foot
days prior to the demonstration, initially just with in Canterbury in November I was faced with the take-over
commanders and drivers. The trick is for the two of a new build of soldiers' accommodation and the
mechanised companies to emerge from their woods collection of the battalion's equipment table from the
simultaneously and in the right formation and to end up in Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in Edinburgh.
front of the stand simultaneously and in the right The new build of 22 town houses situated near the
formation. Not much chance there for a muck up you entrance to the barracks has accommodation for nearly
might think! I intend to gloss over the details of the 400 men . All the houses consist of three six-man flatlets ,
rehearsals because, like the telling, it would be each with their own self contained kitchens , baggage
repetitious . rooms, communal room, ablutions and drying rooms .
Sleeping accommodation is divided into a four man room
On the day of the demonstration, drivers and and two single rooms which are also fully carpeted . Sadly
commanders were ferried out to the area to meet up with this is an area where the designers got it slightly wrong as
their vehicles, which are left out under guard for the the carpets are unlikely to survive contact with Army
entire week . A sigh of relief as all start, more or less first boots and black polish . We are told that they will be put
right in the next build of this type of accommodation.
time . Sigh of relief turns to panic as f/J B, the lead vehicle Opinion so far varies from ' not bad ' to ' b . .. fantastic! '
and it is certainly a vast improvement on the
develops a faulty fuel pump. Estimates of repair time put accommodation in Fallingbostel. The flatlets even have
it back on the road about 15 minutes after the start time. Yale locks and door bells to keep the sergeant majors
Hot planning involving a change of roles for three other away! However my master key is always close at hand .
vehicles provided the answer . Thank God for The majority of the occupants seem delighted with their
interchangeable callsign boards . The Fitter Section new houses. Many an envious glance is cast by people
brought out specialist tools (sledgehammer) and within coming into camp and a young officer was most
disappointed when he was directed past the new
minutes r/J B was back on the road . The Fitter Section buildings and on to the real Officers' Mess.

became the most popular soldiers in the entire world.
Meanwhile the remainder of the Company arrived ,
embussed and were off to the Hide area. Final inspection
with CSM cheerfully slapping cam cream on less than
cheerful soldiers , final brief and then await the start. The
most popular soldiers in the entire world requested
politely to refrain from playing Frisby with aluminium
plates . Ten minutes to go, all mounted and ready for the
off . A sudden quiet pervaded the demonstration area and
a wild boar emerges from the woods, started to wander
towards the spectators stand before thinking better of it.
All that brass! Then the call to move and we roared off,
closed down, through the defile (an obstacle which
causes a body of troops to contract its front - pre-war
definition but presumably still valid; easy for troops but a

27

March and Shoot Competition
1. 4 Platoon at the river crossing.
2. LCpl Tomlinson of B Company on the Assault Course.
3. Cpl Garcia , Quebec Company briefs his section .
4. The CO presents the prizes to the winners , 2 Platoon .
5. Sgt West of 2 Platoon receives the trophy from the CO.

Taking them over was probably the easy part , for much
of the credit for the fa ct that they were ready in time for
the battalion 's arrival must go to Maj Joe Bass 5 QUEENS
IV) the project Liaison Officer throughout the
construction phase and Acceptance Board .

But enough of that. On to the more mundane problems
of unpacking from BAOR and repa cking for Belize . The
knotty problems of obtaining jungle boots and
lightweight combat kit while at the same time trying to
sort out the equipment table of a Type B Battalion in an
Airborne Brigade! The difficulties of providing cold
weather clothing and heaters for jungle training at
Stanford while packing the containers for the sea freight
for Belize! Oh , the Quartermaster's lot is not a happy one

28

Farewell Parade for CO

1. Pte Heselden marches with the Quebec Banner . eo3. . seizes the and .
2. The ' hit squad' arrives to snatch the CO at the end of
4.... rush him away to the helicopter.
the parade ...

29

JUNGLE WARFARE COURSE - BELIZE covered numerou s subjects, far too many to list , but as a
sample , we covered tra cking , nav igation , traps,
by Capt G J Wood
demolitions , survival and still the list goes on .
Prior to the Battalion moving out to Belize, 14 officers
and NCOs attended a two week jungle warfare course in There were the normal amusing incidents which occur
Belize - care of local experts . During the move out we on any course or exercise . Sgt Talbot, for example , aged
spent an excellent night in that well known first class by about ten years when he mistook a three in ch long and
hotel at Brize Norton and had a sp lendid flight, courtesy timid looking rat for a 6ft venemous snake . Presumably
of the Royal Air Force. During the flight the crew the same friendly rat trebled in size and actually atta cked
organised a competition to see who cou ld eat and drink Sgt West. Cpl Sherriffs stumbled upon a four inch spider
the most . The idea was to let everyone fall asleep and and immediately called for assistance . Sgt Adams, that
then commence the game . lt was really popular. After fearless devilishly good looking and hardened
brief re-fuelling stops at Gander and Dulles Airport, professional, immediately went to the rescue . Either the
Washington , where I counted 17 " Have a nice day, orig inal spider had disappeared or it had shrunk to half its
Sir" s, we arrived at the International Airport of Belize . size , no-one will ever know. Lt Huntley decided to save
W e instantly recognized the fact that it was truly an on para -cord and used vines to secure his A -frame.
international ai rport by t he intri cate maze of runways and Sudden ly one morning at about 3 am a crashing sound
complex customs system! could be heard followed by some disgruntled moans . He

W e were lucky enough to have four days in which to used para-cord for his repairs!
acclimatize before the course began. For t hose of us who
hadn't worked in t he jungle before, I think I can safely say Although sampling Belizian chicken, more commonly
that we were slightly apprehensive . The 'old sweats ' known as iguana, and watching Cpl W atson go from bad
amongst us added to t his with Great War stories from to wo rse , the highlight of the course was probably the
previous campaigns. I'm not sure w hether they served in fi nal camp attack . ltwas all live firing , and was initiated by
Vietnam or Belize . Wherever it was , the stories were of a Harrier strike. lt included various demolitions, including
good va lue .. . at least I think so . a counter attack by enemy mortars , cleari ng an LS ,
destroying the camp and finally a pick up by helicopter .
The two weeks proved to be extremely beneficial and Needless to say all of the safety rules and regulation.s
enj oyable . The last remaining doubts about it being a
mini selectio n course were soon dispelled . The were strictly adhered to!
instructors we re first class , and a pleasure to be with . We
The majority of the stud ents agreed that it was by far
the best and most enj oyab le course they had ever done . lt
certainly was for me and I can now tell some tall war

stories of my own.

THE QUEEN'S REGIMENT

MUSEUM APPEAL

The Queen's Regiment, England 's most senior Infantry Regiment, is asking for your
help in financing a new permanent home for the Regimental Museum in Dover Castle .

Donations may be sent to The Appeal Office , RHQ The Queen 's Regiment, Howe
Barracks, Canterbury, Kent CT1 1JU , payable to 'The Queen's Regiment Museum
Appeal '.

30

5th (VOLUNTEER) BATTALION

EDITORIAL I put up a noti ce on 5 QUEENS Bn HQ noticeboard,
and within one week had 19 willing volunteers. The date
The Battalion has practised internecine war again, this was set for Saturday 18January, which lu ckily turned out
time in Mereworth (Band C versus A and D), with Maj to be a dry, although chilly, day. We set off at 0900 hrs
Nigel Harris (Training Major), displaying his usual from Hythe miniature railway and headed for Canterbury
versatility by acting as umpire and Red Forces Com- via the so called ' Roman Route', stopping at two pubs
mander's driver simultaneously thus giving Red Forces along the way armed with our bucket to collect any
OC a welcome degree of inviolability of person. In April, donations from the customers and also to phone in our
Battalion Headquarters and Lower Controllers whereabouts to Radio lnvicta , who were doing a running
descended on the Battle Group Trainer to give the commentary on our progress.
Phantasians another nasty surprise, with aggressive
moves by the CO, Company Commanders and Everybody completed the 22 mile march, which took
Supporting Arms. An interesting innovation was the four hours overall. We were all nursing blisters, but it was
appearance of a TA helicopter pilot to fly the well worth it, as we raised £1,000forwhatwe all agreed is
commanders around. a very worthwhile cause.

Changes in personalities include Capt Sean Top : Maj Tim Oyler (standing, right) with members of HQ
MacMahon becoming Signals Officer, and Pedro, alias Company on the sponsored walk . (picture by Kentish
Capt Peter McCardle, having to resign owing to pressure Gazette)
of work. Capt Dan Whalley will take his place as 21C B Lower : LCpl Collymore (holding right end of cheque)
Company, whose CSM, W02 Jones, has transferred to presenting the £1000 raised to the Canterbury Special
the HSF after long service with the company. C Care Baby Unit.
Company has welcomed Lt Mark Whelan from 5/ 8
KING' S and 2Lt Stephen Scoones from Aberdeen
UOTC. CSM Lane is transferring his considerable talents
to the District Specialist Training Team , and he will be
replaced by CSgt Anderson. A Company is to lose Maj
Stuart Wooles, who takes over the Recruit Reception
and Training Team, and Capt Bill Conroy, who is to
become a Company Commander in 4 RGJ. Maj Willy
Harper will soon be joining 8 QF (V). We welcome Capt
Martin Glen from 1/ 51 HIGHLAND, who will take over A
Company, and Capt Martin Mortimer, who returns to
become 21C. In D Company, Lt Mike Pilkington will
shortly be confirmed as 21C and promoted.

We look forward to a recce and Command Post
Exercise in Germany in May, a Freedom March in
Folkestone, and Camp in Vogelsang in Germany, which
offers good training and splendid recreation!

For those soon to leave the regular battalions, we are
always ready to welcome you into our midst, particularly
at this time Bandsmen and Drummers in East Kent, and
ex SSC Officers, Medics, Cooks and HGV Drivers in all
areas!

SPONSORED WALK IN AID OF BABY CARE UNIT

by LCpl Collymore, 5 QUEENS (V)

After all the publicity surrounding the Band Aid and
Children in Need appeals, I felt that I would like to do
something for a local cause.

I decided on a sponsored march in aid of the special
care baby unit of Canterbury Hospital, which is always in
need of new equipment to keep premature and sick
babies alive . This very same unit saved the lives of my
wife's nephews who are now healthy eight year olds, and
a similar unit in London saved my own niece, so what
better cause could I choose?

31

1. Lt Col Charles Joint, the CO, inspects recruits at the 3. The OC and 21C HQ Company trying to find out where
Cadre Passing Out Parade. they are (Kentish Gazette picture) .
2. The CO presenting a prize at the same parade. RSM 4. The Recce Platoon at work .
McCaig in the background. 5. Action Men fighting in a built up area.

TA POTENTIAL OFFICER SELECTION AND IDSAT), followed by a nine day OCTLC and a 15 day
RMAS ITA) course, after which they may be
TRAINING commissioned and later do a PCD ITA) at S of I.

by Maj C F G Parkinson Those on the UBS enlist, train as recruits at QDD , B,
followed by USB if recommended by OC and CO, then
The Editor has asked me to avoid abbreviations, but I DAB , CO's interview, DSAT, OCTLC, RMASITA) and
always was a BF and a f ew seem to have crept in here . PCD ITA) at S of I.

I imagine you are all aching to know about the new TA Of course TAVRAs and CVHQsplaytheirpartand DAB
Officer Selection and Training System IOSTS), so here it is based on RCB methods. Candidates from UOTCs will
is, even if it is outside your TAOR , with apologies to however, normally do MTQ1 and MTQ2.
Ronnie Barker.
RAMC , RAChD , RADC and QRARANC are of course
Firstly, all POs are divided into those in the DES and exempt, and special rules apply to HAC and SAS.
those in the UBS , though all of cou rse follow the CMS Supervision is provided by HQ UKLF , IGTA and HQ
ITA) as laid down by MOD . SEDIST Iin our case) in the form of the GOC, his COS ,
DCOS , S02 G1 , 2, 3, 4 Ior more likely 5, under the
Those in the DES are sponsored by units at a POS D headi ng of refugees). or even his ADC.
and go before the DAB . If they pass they are enlisted as
OCdts, do a nine day POBC within the ITO under D lnf, Anyway, unless declared NBG , they pass and NFA
and go on to District and Special to Arm Training required. QED. OK?

32

6th/7th (VOLUNTEER) BATTALION

EDITORIAL

A criticism often levelled at the TA and not unheard in lt Col Roger Lowans TO (leftI happily assumes command
this Battalion is that of too little change , too much of 6/ 7 QUEENS (VI from Lt Col Peter Hubert OBE .
stability . Change meaning progress and the lack of it
stagnation . Currently, such a comment would invoke While on the subject of awards, we welcomed Her Grace,
rather more than a slightly raised eyebrow for, if nothing Lavinia , Duchess of Norfolk to Horsham when she
else, the last six months have certainly seen change! presented a number of awards to Territorials and Cadets .
The UPM, Capt Stephen Clark, received his Territorial
The last three months of 1985saw the usual build-up to Decoration and CSgt Long a Meritorious Service
the Christmas break with companies steeling themselves Certificate.
for the customary round of Staff and Commanding
Officer's Inspections . Much preparation was put into Success in the field of cross country running came to A
suitable programmes for the latter, only to see it all Company when LCpl David Harper competing in
change on the night! Certainly the sight of B Company appalling weather conditions and inches of mud came
engaged in an impromptu Battle PT lesson was not easily first in the South East District TA Cross Country
forgotten . The sight of so many unfamiliar faces on the Competition. David and his team mates also came first in
drill hall floor as the offices were emptied made it a the Battalion Inter-Company Competition. Set in the
memorable occasion . Just how the OC escaped has not rolling countryside around Pirbright, the six mile course
been divulged . ! consisted of tough and varied running conditions
including boggy ground and gruelling hills.
With such diversions out of the way preparations for
the annual cocktail party were finalised and a Friday Reverting to the topic of change, the last few weeks
evening in mid November saw a most successful have seen a number of farewells made to our outgoing
gathering at the Haberdashers' Hall. The work behind the Commanding Officer, Lt Col Peter Hubert. His two years
scenes is well worth it as the occasion does provide at in command have had a marked effect upon the
least one chance a year to renew old acquaintances and Battalion . Although we may not always be prepared to
to thank the many who have helped us throughout the admit it, his energy and distinctive style have sharpened
year. The following day saw the Battalion heavily our military thinking and jolted us out of a rather
committed to the Lord Mayor's Show. Despite strong comfortable rut . Time and experience he has given freely
winds and a sudden deluge at lunchtime it was an and in return demanded professionalism and
enjoyable occasion and actually provided a few seconds commitment. Certainly staff car and driver have had a
of spectacle in TV coverage! The weekend did not finish hard time with 85,000 miles clocked up criss-crossing the
here as companies were committed to their local Battalion 's patch! We thank him for all his efforts on our
Remembrance parades the next day. D Company behalf and wish him and Caroi-Anne the very best of
provided a detachment at the Cenotaph commanded by fortune in the new posting to HQ NORTHAG at
Capt Tim Haynes. Media coverage was not so kind and Rheindahlen . The 'government in exile' at the time of
they remained resolutely on the edge of the screen. The writing has just taken over the chair and we wish Lt Col
year closed with the usual welter of social activities as we Roger Lowans every success in the new appointment.
prepared for the 1986 phase in the training programme.
Other management changes are numerous. Having
This was not long in coming and a weekend early in commanded B Company for just ten months, the writer
January saw the management gathered at Longmoor for now finds himself at Horsham studying the Kremlin at
a re-introduction to FIBUA. Was it that long ago that we first hand and wrestling with the Journal notes! Maj Bob
last practised these skills? The rifle companies then had
the opportunity of testing their grasp of the subject over
two weekends . The presence of the video camera
provided some interesting lessons on playback and gave
commanders at all levels insights into their behaviour in
the heat of battle! Needless to say there has been the
usual mad scramble to qualify for bounty as the training
year draws to a close . This is one lesson we never take to
heart - perhaps next year .. .

Publication of the New Years Honours List saw the
award of the BEM to CSgt Brian Smith . ' Smudger' joined
the TA in 1958 when he enlisted in the Middlesex
Regiment and he has remained very much a ' Diehard ' at
heart ever since . He has firmly stamped his personality on
the Battalion over the years , not least in the excellent
service he has given as Officers' Mess Colour Sergeant.
We are delighted to see his service properly rewarded.
Now we need the right occasion to present his medal ...

33

Members of A Company displaying the Inter Company reading , basic first aid and w ea pon training. This training
Cross Country Trophy. takes place on drill nights followed by a weekend in the
field learning basic Infantry skills , cooking compo on
Hall takes over at Edgware and no doubt Aunt Aggie will hexamine stoves perhaps even adding their own culinary
keep a firm hand on policy decisions! We bid farewell to flair, digging in and patrolling ; one hopes on an equal
Maj Tony Prior as he disappears in the direction of 2
Brigade and welcome John Ross and Peter Gibson as footing with the men .
OCs of HQ and C Companies . OM (TA) appeared with
reorganised shoulder boards last week . Many After attending a recruit cadre at the WRAC Centre in
congratulations on his promotion are in order . Guildford where the initial skills learnt are further
enhanced , the girl is then employed by the Battalion in
What of the future? Camp at Sennybridge comes into her trade where further training to pass the basic trade
focus as the Training Major's desk disappears under piles test is undertaken. Obviously fitness and stamina play an
of Camp Instructions. Prior to that is the Battlegroup important part and for any girl to get maximum
Trainer for which Bn HQ was given a foretaste a few enjoyment from the TA and to use her potential to the full
weeks ago . Just who is this ace reporter Clark Kent and she must be fit . So it is pleasing to note that on fitness
will this tabloid hack continue to 'bern' the midnight oil training evenings at least half of those taking part are
printing scurrilous lies about our lads in khaki? We await WRAC. Recently some of the girls have been involved in
the next instalment ... cross-country running . A team of six was entered in the
SE District championships and later this month the team
April 1st saw the official launch of our new Brighton will be taking part in the national championships. Plans
Company . Based upon a portakabin at Preston Barracks are also afoot to start orienteering competitively - this is
and starting very much from scratch . Response from the where we discover just how good the map reading really
media has been encouraging with the CO , 21C and OC
appearing on Radio Sussex . The first Drill Night will be on is!
Apri116 which we hope will be a great success and in the
long term the success of this company will very much The role of the WRAC within the Battalion does seem
dictate the time at which the Diehard Company moves to to be changing, as it is within the Army generally. The
8 QF(V) . Times are changing . .. girls are becoming more actively involved with half the
Signal Platoon being WRAC as well as supporting in the
role of cooks and clerks - the Battalion does have to be
fed and paid! Nowhere was this seen more than at
Annual Camp where the WRAC helped to make up the
guard and next day were seen at their more customary
duties as stewardesses in the messes . The girls also
entered a team in the Section Competition. Every WRAC
has to remain versatile and can expect to carry out a
range of duties . To their credit these are all carried out
with enthusiasm and good humour . Of course it is not all
work; there is also a varied social life throughout the year
culminating in a WRAC Dinner .

WRAC IN A HOME DEFENCE BATTALION East District TA cross country competition .

by 2Lt Pam Sleigh WRAC

The WRAC element in 6/7 QUEENS (V) is becoming
an ever increasing part of the Battalion as numbers have
increased quite significantly over the last few years. The
roles fulfilled by the WRAC are wide and varied . There are
39 currently in the Battalion, including one officer,
employed as signallers, clerks , medics , cooks ,
stewardesses , drivers and storewomen .

When a girl applies to join 6/7 QUEENS (V) she is taken
on as a recruit and initially follows basic recruit training
with the men , which involves fitness training , map

34

8th (VOLUNTEER) BATTALION

THE QUEEN'S FUSILIERS
(CITY OF LONDON)

Few, even locals , know that behind the late Victorian TA - 21C, MajJ CM WebbTD , RRF ; OC HQ Coy, Maj
facade of 27 St John's Hill, opposite Clapham Junction W Harper, QUEENS .
station , lies a fairly impressive TA Centre undergoing
major surgery to accommodate Battalion Headquarters Civilian - Clerical Offi cer, Mr M Donegan ; Typist,
and Headquarter Company of 8 QF(V). The nucleus of Miss J Turpin.
this hybrid battalion is camping in three offices on the
ground floor at the front, while around us building Finally, what is our role? Answers please on a
proceeds apace. Already completed is the Officers' Mess postcard , in not more than 25 words , with particular
above on the first floor , and the basic shell of the rest of emphasis on the function of Bn HQ, to 8 QF (V) copy to
the building, now emerging as from a chrysalis, leads us HQ Arty Div.
to think that we shall have quite a showpiece when it is
finished in September. 8 QF (V) AT CAMBERWELL
ColT A Buchanan , DSO OBE MC ERD TD has kindly
What else few will know are the problems in forming a provided the following extract from 'Old and New
new battalion ; not so much in the recruiting , but the London ' by Edward Walford , which was published in
sheer mechanics. Those with a penchant for 1897:
mathematical trivia will be rivetted to know that an ' The loyalty and mHitary spirit at Camberwe/1, as a
Infantry battalion's scale of publications (with constituent portion of the County of Surrey, appear to
amendments) weighs 1240 kg; and that as a three have been maintained, without interruption, since the
company battalion we are entitled to one more mustard day of 'good Queen Bess ', Camberwe/1 having then
pot, one more coffee pot in peace and three more coffee furnished a valiant quota to the forces collected to
pots in war than a four company battalion . The brains of oppose the attempted Spanish invasion ; and having
those who devise scales often seem to operate on a level again, after the lapse of more than two centuries -
divorced from reality, and at times one is driven to the namely in 1798 - distinguished itself by forming a
brink of insanity sitting among piles of obscure 'Military Association ' under the presidency and
pamphlets dated 1971 issued to scale F (down to and command of Claude Champion de Crespigny - the lineal
including Cpl) asking oneself 'why?' . representative of one of the 'old families ' mentioned
above; which Association, in 1804 - when the country
Barring anything unforeseen , we shall start recruiting unanimously resented the menaces of Buonaparte -
Headquarter Company in mid to late summer . This of developed itself into a formal volunteer corps'.
course means a lot of specialists who will not be easy to (Men of the old County of Surrey were clearly part of
find. Our first rifle company - C Company 5 RRF in the Trained Bands of London , reviewed by Queen
Balham- isdueto come to us in April1987; our second, Elizabeth I in 1572, from which The Buffs- and hence, in
B Company 6/7 QUEENS in Edgware in 1988 (?) ; and A part, The Queen 's Regiment - have descended -
Company we shall have to recruit using as a nucleus 10 PI Editor . )
D Company 6/7 QUEENS (V), already here at St John's
Hill , but they will form at Camberwell which is presently a 51st HIGHLAND DIVISION
flattened site and unlikely to be completed before the end
of 1988 at the earliest. We have learnt to live with daily The 51st Highland Brigade as successors of the 51st
changing dates, and since they are outside our control Highland Division, use the famous Divisional Tac sign as
we have adopted a fairly laid back attitude to the its Brigade Tac sign . Hence the Brigade has authority to
announcement of yet another change. wear the Divisional tie, which is the repeated tac sign on
a royal blue 9ackground .
The Greater London TAVRA and HQ London District
have been helpful , but then they have not had one If any readers are interested, the tie can be obtained,
moment's peace from us, and we have acquired some cost £3.00 including postage, from: HQ 51st Highland
items, especially stationery, which would be the envy of a Brigade, 7 St Leonard's Bank, Perth PH2 8EB .
Regular Battalion Chief Clerk. We now administer
ourselves, after a month and a half of being looked after
by RHQ Scots Guards which gave us a whole new insight
into the workings of the Household Division, and having
at last got a typist and our first Clerical Officer feel that we
are in business.

The team is :

Regular - Training Major, Maj P A Gwilliam ,
QUEENS ; Quartermaster, Maj (QM) PR Bate men, RRF;
Chief Clerk, W02 (ORQMS) LT Jordan , RRF ; PSI , CSgt
A G Layzell , QUEENS; Driver, Pte PP Ayres, QUEENS .

35

DEPOT THE QUEEN'S DIVISION

lt is with great regret that these notes must record the D Company !who also control the ex- S~orncliff e
death of Cpl John Havart, late of 1 QUEENS . He was juniors). In addition they run pre- Brecon tramtng for
killed in a vehicle accident whilst on training at the Junior NCOs, pre Platoon Commanders Battle Courses
Battle Camp at Warcop . He leaves a young widow
Louise who is expecting their first child . His funeral was etc .
attended by a large contingent from the Depot at the The rebuild programme continues with th e
Church where he and Louise had married 3 years
before . permanent staff soldiers now occupying . modern
synopsis accommodation . The next stage wtll tnvolve
The QUEEN ' S senior element at the Depot is now the building of a new arms store, training rooms and
stronger than it has been for some time . Maj Stephen further accommodation ,' all of which are well over due.
Dowse is 21C ; Maj James Mills is OC B Company and
Maj Mike Ayling is QM . W02 Cooper is RQMS ; W02 Work on the lake is nearing its completion after 3
Kearse has taken over from W01 lrving -James as years of hard work by successive courses of RE heavy
Training Co-ordination WO ; W02s Slater, Pollington plant operator trainees . SSgt Long RE has been wtth us
and Howick are CSMs of A, D and HQ Companies from the start of the project and the lake will be handed
respectively and W02 Ryan , now on the Long Service over formally by the Commandant RSME on 2 May.
List , has recently arrived to act as QMSI in the Skill at Long 's Lake , as it will be known officially , and the htlls
Arms wing. W02s Hayward and Hilton are platoon formed by its creation add considerably to the airfield 's
commanders. The latter is looking forward to a less value as a training area . The fishing club , the shoot and
physically demanding job as an RQMS! sundry bird-watchers are also quite pleased!

Training of adult recruits continues apace with new In sport, the Depot has again had considerable
platoons forming every 2 weeks . The first batch of success . The Football Team are top of the local RAF
junior soldiers are with us having completed their initial Station Leqgue and were the losing finalists in the Army
training at Shorncliffe and our Royal Pioneer Corps Minor Units IUK) competition . The Hockey Team were
Company is now fully incorporated in the system . also finalists in both the Army Minor Units and Infant~
Cup competitions. In July we will again be holding the
TA recruit and course training is the responsibility of Grand Reunion and look forward to seeing many
friends.

JIB SHORNCLIFFE

As the Battalion now trains Junior Soldiers and at Otterburn brought a whole new meaning to the
Junior Leaders for The Queen 's Division , it is perhaps phrase 'character building stuff', and likewise , during
appropriate to afford Cassino Company - the Junior the Adventure Training at Penhale caused climbing and
Soldiers' Company - pride of place in this article . The canoeing to become rather too adventurous! On the
company is now at full strength and the Junior Soldiers purely military front , both senior and junior intakes have
undertake 20 weeks training here before moving to the turned in impressive performances as their training has
Depot for a second phase of 12 weeks. The first intake progressed. The Regiment is also represented in the
has already taken that path and the next follows in May Bisley Platoon which has been formed from all cap
1986. Of those under training in the two current intakes badges in the Battalion. The formation of this platoon
some 40 are badged to The Queen 's Regiment . The per- allows maximum shooting and minimum disruption to
manent staff of the company include representatives training for those selected for the shooting team .
from all three regular battalions and , with a Platoon
Commander and Sergeant as well as numerous Cor- On the sporting front , Salamanca Company produced
porals, there is a fair representation from the Regiment a formidable Boxing Team which , having carried all
across the rank structure. before it at Shorncliffe, then proceeded to demolish the
Guards at Pirbright. We are also well represented in the
In Salamanca Company, which continues to train the Battalion Soccer Team which has gone from strength to
Junior Leaders , the coup staged by the 3rd Battalion strength in Junior competitions. The Battalion swim-
with the arrival of Maj Maltman and W02 Turner at the ming competition saw the company win every race
end of 1985 may be short lived . Maj Maltman is due to except one Iwe came second) and then take the water
move on before the end of the year. Training has con- polo as well. Finally, even as we go to press , the com-
tinued in spite of the atrocious weather, not just in the pany has just won the Battalion Drill Competition
South East but wherever the company has deployed to! through 2 Platoon and the efforts of their own Junior
There had to be a few small programme changes as a Platoon Sergeant Barnett - The Queen's Regiment .
result of the weather which, during Leadership Training

36

REGIMENTAL BANDS

ALBUHERA BAND Apart from the recording, the New Year began
relatively slowly for the Band but as Easter approached
The Albuhera Band of The Queens Regiment, like the the usual hectic round of engagements increased. To
1st Battalion , has now completed over half its tour in perform at two or more engagements in the same day
Gibraltar. After more than 60 ceremonial changings of (with rehearsals) is quite normal in Gibraltar. Yet to
the Governor's Guard we think we have now got it right come are the Queens Birthday Parade, the 'Glorious
and we look forward with relish to the next 30. First of June' , Albuhera Day, piazza concerts, dances,
dinners and performances of the Ceremony of The
Without doubt the most popular events for Keys.
Bandsmen are performing in public concerts in the
famous St Michael 's Caves. The Band has given three In March the Band provided the musicians for the
such concerts with each one testing our originality and local production of 'OLIVER ', which was a lot of fun and
search for new ideas. Our last performance in the caves very successful. Next is a rival group 's Gilbert and Sulli -
was in March and was probably the wettest (the drips van production of ' PATIENCE'.
haven't stopped since the 2nd and 3rd Battalions left)
but best so far, due in no small measure to the The regularity with which the younger members of
tremendous support we receive from all members of the the band have visited the social club in the Royal Naval
Battalion. Hospital has had its obvious consequences (despite
many warnings from those who fell into the trap many
This last concert was performed in front of the new years ago). The result is now that we have two
Governor and his Lady. lt was also the launching Bandsmen married to RN nurses. Let us hope that the
platform for our latest recording. The Band spent two remainder have seen the folly and escape the remaining
rather long and tiring days in St Michael's Cave in 8 months before we depart.
January this year making a new cassette. The recording
features two soloists, at least five marches (four of A recent departure from the Band was W02 Francis
which have not been recorded before) and the after 19 years unbroken service with the 1st Battalion .
remainder of the cassette is made up of almost entirely He has been posted to the Army Apprentices College ,
new material. The recording is geared to visitors and Harrogate, as Band Sergeant Major to their part-time
tourists in Gibraltar and the cover shows an aerial view hobby band which includes bag-pipes! In his place we
of 'The Rock' and is currently selling well . welcome W02 (BSM) John Bainbridge and his family
who came to us from Harrogate .

37

QUEBEC BAND Some of you will remember John Elliott a young and
very promising Clarinetist who arrived fresh and
The Quebec Band are now well and truly installed in enthusiastic from the Depot in early 1984. Tragically
Canterbury, where after only a few months t hey are after only a few months with the Band his career was
already making a name for themselves and publicising ended as a result of a serious accident.
the Regiment in the Home Counties.
He recently spent the weekend with the Band and
Our first major engagement was on the 23 March travelled with us to an engagement in London . This was
where we arrang ed a show in the Marlowe Theatre an extremely happy reunion for all concerned and we
using some local talent as well as our own Beat Group, were delighted to see that he was quite obviously
Big Dance Band with vocalists and Germa n Oompah w inning the fight back to health and strength .
Band . This was a great success as was seen in the Press
Cuttings from the Kentish Gazette . John's will and determination to overcome every
obstacle is an examp le to us all and the weekend spent
Now that the Battalion is in Belize w e are committed with him was both uplifting and heart warming .
to Rear Party for the next 8 months . However this will
not deter us from finding time to perform , thereby
keeping the Regiment in the Public Eye .

The Quebec Band The Time Lords .
On parade in the Canterbury snow.

THE QUEEN 'S DIVISION REGULAR FORCES
EMPLOYMENT ASSOCIATION
by Priscilla Shears
The Association , together with the Ministry of
(Written following the Massed Bands Defence and the Manpower Services Commission, is
performance on Horse Guards, part of the Forces Resettlement Service. Our task is to
11th June 1985) assist all non-commissioned men and women who
served with good character for a minimum of three
Drum beats reverberate, years, or less if discharged on medical grounds, to find
lift the lazy Pigeons civil employment at the end of their engagements.
From their parade ground strutting,
As saffron kilted Irishmen Our services are free, and we take a long term interest
Wheel and pipe , among the red coated in ex-Regulars so they are available to them throughout
Bandsmen of The Queen's Division . their working lives .

A child marches soldier straight, Our Employment Officers are situated in Branches
Innocently fingering throughout the United Kingdom and they maintain
An imaginary Fife, close contact with local employers and Jobcentres.
And a young boy, Their addresses and telephone numbers can be
Bemused by music, obtained from Unit/ Ship Resettlement Officers; Corps,
Swings his arms upwards Regimental and Service Associations; Post Offices;
Echoing the Cymbal player's moves. Jobcentres and local telephone directories.

And the sun strikes brass During the period 1st April 1985-31st March 1986 the
like the flash of a flame , Association assisted 11,370 men and women with their
The bandsman's thoughts return to yesterday resettlement and placed 4,648 in employment. Of those
And another boy, arms swinging placed 2,164 were men and women from the Army and
To throw a rag fired bottle 28 were from The Queen 's Regiment .
In a bomb stricken Ulster street .

38

REGIMENTAL INFORMATION TEAM

The Regimental Information Team has been Top: Ptes Gerald and Turner putting the boot in.
extremely busy since the start of the New Year with
visits to 135 ACF Detachments, 15 CCF schools and 17 lower: Cpl Poile being foiled by an expectant mother
other schools, plus 10 weekend training camps all ILCpl Stephenson!l !Both pictures by Keith Gibsonl.
throughout the South East. During this time Sgt Cook
has managed to train the 'team' in Akido and Unarmed
Combat to quite a high standard. So far we have only
one accident - Pte Prime decided that his leg was
better to stop a knife than the way he had been taught!
LCpl Taylor has completed driver training for HGV Class
3 drivers who are waiting to be tested. With the help of
2, 5 and 6/7 QUEENS we completed the Winter
Programme without the normal transport problems. We
are now in the throes of planning the Summer Season
- at present it seems that every weekend is fully
committed from May until September. Finally we said
goodbye to Cpl Nash, LCpl Prior and Ptes Pepper and
Warrior back to 3 QUEENS and Pte Candy to 1
QUEENS. Ptes Vince and Panting are leaving for civilian
life. We welcome LCpl Thomas, Ptes Wright, Gibbs and
Sackey from 3 QUEENS. W02 Reardon is shortly to
arrive .

This year the Annual Cumberland Sword and Kirkes
Cane Competition was held at St Martin's Plain over the
weekend 19-20 April. For once the Saturday was fine
yet the rain pelted down on the Sunday during the
Team stretcher race. The winner of the Cumberland
Sword was Sgt A Treasure of 195 (Staines) Middlesex
and North West London Sector ACF and the Kirkes
Cane went to LCpl R Bye of No 17 Bognor Sussex ACF.
By far the majority of the competitors came from Surrey
(47). it is to be hoped that in future Sussex can produce
more than the 7 who arrived. it was very pleasing to see
four girls competing for the first time. LCpl Eleanor
Barnes of Huntleys Platoon, Kent ACF was the overall
winner of the First Aid Award.

THE QUEENS REGIMENTAL FREEFALL TEAM
THE FLYING DRAGONS

by Sgt W Sharp, Team Leader

In November last year, it was decided that unless a display team started . The major items included : Main
major UK sponsor could be found, the Team would be parachutes, reserve parachutes , container and harness
disbanded and its members returned to their battalions. systems, jumpsuits (all in Regimental colours) , helmets,
smoke brackets, boots, tracksuits, not to mention the
Fortunately, about the middle of December buying of a Ford Transit van, with an extension roof ,
Prudential Assu ranee expressed an interest in the Team smartly painted in Regimental livery.
and after a lot of discussion lasting into the New Year, a
contract of conditions was signed between the While all of the easy part of the job was being done by
Regiment and Prudential, for a 3 year period. We are yours truly , Mr Brown, our Team Commander was sent
extremely grateful for the magnificent support that the on a difficult journey to Australia to see if he could come
Company is so generously giving. up with any displays in that area! More about his trip
elsewhere .
lt was from this agreement that a very busy 5-6 weeks
of ordering and buying all the equipment needed for a The hard part of the whole ordering period was to get
everything together before our Team training started in

Fox Bay, West Falkland.

2nd Battalion
Falklands Tour

October 1985 - March 1986

I. Christmas Lunch, Coastel3.
2. Pucaras at RAF Stanley.
3. The Cricket Match at

Port San Car/os.
4. Three Wise Men?
5. A Chinook lifts a BV 206.
6. Regimental Badges at Fox Bay.
7. HQ Coy Barbecue at Surf Bay.

®®

1. Sgr Co/c/ough wirh e/ephanr seal.
2. RFA Sir Bedivere in S Georgia.
3. 'Kings ' ar Sr Andrews Bay.
4. King Edward Poinr, Gryrviken.

THE FLYING DRAGONS

1. Canopies and Jump Suits in Regimental Colours - a
drop at Lippspringe .

2. The Team IL to Rl Pte Morphy, Pte Lygo , Pte Deal , Pte
Cooper and Sgt Sharp .

3. The Team Minibus outside Regimental Headquarters.
4. Prudential 's Flying Dragon . Can you guess his name?

Germany so that the Team members cou ld get full awaiting their first engagement in Haywards Heath on
benefit of their new equipment. lt became a race against the 26th April . Th e rest of the yea r is filling up , although
time, but eve ntually all was ready to leave and away we we can still fit in other engagements .
went.
Th e Team members are: Lt A V Brown , Team
The training period lasted for one month but Commander ; Sgt W J Sharp , Team Instructor; Pte D
unfortunately the bad weather had also foll owed us Cooper , Pte T Deal, Pte M Lygo and Pte T Morphy,
from UK. However the Team sti ll gained much val uable Team Members and Pte Hipkiss, Team Driver.
knowledge and insight into the world of display
parachuting and completed on average about 30 Our thanks must go to all the many people within the
decents. Regiment and outside who have helped to get this
venuture off the groun d . Without your assistance we
As we go to press , the Team is back in Bassingbourn would not have been where we are today .

44

ARMY CADET FORCE NEWS

LONDON

North East Section
25 Cadet Company The Queen Regiment is based in

Stoke Newington, part of one of the most deprived of
the London Boroughs - Hackney, where many of the
schools , if not actively hostile to the military, are cer-
tainly adverse to overt assistance.

Despite these problems the Company is making good
progress and monthly weekend camps regularly have a
90 % attendance. The last of these was at Crowborough
where in a week-end of continuous rain cadets plucked
and skinned chickens and rabbits and cooked them over
fires of wet wood . The Cadets were enthusiastic saying
they felt like real Infantrymen . Annual Camp was at St
Martins Plain - well known to many Queensmen and
much good , hard training did a great deal to knit the unit
still closer together.

Back from camp the detachment set to work to re-
rack the unit store, and lowered the ceiling of their
accommodation to make conditions more cosy .

There is still much to be done but if young men can be
led to achievements such as these in the face of great
difficulties there cannot be much wrong with the youth
of our Country.

South East Section
Capt Smalley, CSgt Stevens and eighteen cadets of

72 Queens Cadet Company ACF visited the 1st Batta-
lion , The Queens Regiment in South Barracks, Gibraltar
in February 1986.

Under the auspices of Maj Harcus (QC A Coy) and Lt

CUMBERLAND SWORD
AND KIRKE'S CANE
COMPETITIONS

Top : Cadet Orr hard at work on
the Orienteering.

Lower : Col Mike Constantine
with the winner of The Cum-
berland Sword, Sgt A Treasure
and Sgt 0 Davis. leader of the
winning team from SW / SE
London Sector ACF.

Bulpitt (' Guide') the ten day programme incorporated 45
many aspects of M ilitary Train ing , Sports and Sight-
seei ng - t he highlights of wh ich included firing the 2 Lt John Watkins has visited Peru as a project officer
SM G, GPM G, Browning Pistol and SLR, abseiling, with Operation Raleigh, and three of our Cadets repre -
Chang ing of the Co nvent Guard, visits to RAF Gibraltar, sented the Army Cadet Force in a tri-service visit to India
t he Rock Apes, St Mi chaels Cave and Europa Point - in January. We are looking forward to a visit in the
not to mention a most informative visit to the Officers ' summer by 8 Cadets from the National Cadet Corps of
M ess w here they were shown t he Queen's and Regi- India . Although we do not have the excitements of the
menta l Colours and t he Regimental Si lve r. Aldershot Army Display and the Royal Tournament this
summer, we are running a Swimming Gala, the annual
A memorable ti me was had by al l, w ho wish to thank Inter Detachment Competition, Scidcomp, an Inter
the Com manding Officer and all ranks of 1 QUEENS for Company Patrol competition, and our 31st County Rifle
t he welcome extended and for a most informative, en- Meeting is to be held at Ash on 29 June. We go to camp
lightening and enjoyable visit to the Battalion and to at Nesscliff from 17 to 30 August , at the same time
Gibralta r. sending senior Cadets to Capel Curig for adventurous
training.
SURREY
We are well up to strength with 38 Officers, 51 Adult
A dministration and recruiting have been our main Instructors and 660 Cadets.
pre-occupatio n duri ng t he winter months, and good use
is being made of t he Queen's House Weekend Training KENT
Centre at Farncombe. Eac h batta lion uses the facilities
once a month, and t he high sta ndard of the centre is Since returning from camp on the Stanford Training
mu ch apprec iated . Area, the Queen 's badged units have gone through a
series of annual inspections and settled down to Army

1. Lt M Cartwright, 151 King ston
Detachment, instructs the girls
on the .303 rifle !Surrey Comet
p i c t ur e) .

2. Cadet CSM J Callery and
RSM I P Crick receive their
awards from the lord lieu-
tenant .

3. Mr Mark Wolfsen MP for
Sevenoaks, inspects t he new
cadet rifle at Sevenoak s
Platoon 's open day. (Sevenoaks
Chronicle picture).

46 ary Colonel of 4th Cadet Battalion . Major Ron M cG inley
MBE, lately Commanding 1st Cadet Battalion, has
Proficiency Certificate training, concentrating on recruit returned to his unit as its Honorary Colonel, an honour
and lower star levels. acclaimed by all as richly deserved following a lifetime of
service in the Regular Army , TA and ACF. Although
All units took part in Remembrance Sunday parades retired from the active list, both of these officers lead a
held within their respective home locations throughout far from inactive life and are maintaining close associa-
the County. Bandmaster J . Buckley, for instance, led tion with the Services . Colonel Barnes has been elected
the Band of the 2nd Cadet Battalion at the head of a a member of the South East T AVR Association and
parade at Folkestone - another piece of history was appointed Chairman of the Kent ACF Committee, whilst
made when, for the first time, five girl cadets were in the Colonel McGinley has accepted appointment as
ranks of the Band playing glockenspiels. Sergeant- Manager / Secretary of Kent ACF Officers' Mess .
Major Instructors P. Shilling and J . Humphreys respec-
tively were at New Romney and Folkestone where for a SUSSEX
number of years they have carried out the duties of
parade marshal . The highlight of the past six months was a visit of
some 40 cadets and 7 adults from the 15 QUEENS
Cadet CSM Jason Callery of Huntleys Platoon, 3rd badged detachments in Sussex to the Depot The
Cadet Battalion , won the Lord Lieutenant's award of Queen 's Division, Bassingbourn. Despite picking almost
Cadet of The Year and received a special badge to com- the snowiest weekend of the year everyone came away
memorate his splendid achievement at the Award saying what a smashing time they'd had, leaping off the
Ceremony. On the same occasion, W01 Peter Crick parachute tower, .22 shooting and particularly the night
who is currently serving as Kent ACF's RSM was orienteering exercise. WSI Lorraine Dale was heard to
awarded the Lord Lieutenant's Certificate of Good remark, after two hours in knee high snow on a check
Service. point, 'If this is what the A .C. F. is all about give me
more.' A special word of thanks to WO 11 Slater and Cpl
Sevenoaks Platoon, 3rd Cadet Battalion , held an Ridley for organising such a full and varied weekend for
open day in March when , despite the heavy snowfall ,
the public turned up in large numbers to learn what Kent us .
ACF had to offer. Mr Mark Wolfson , MP for Sevenoaks, Just to show we recognise there are other Regiments
Mr Bill Finney, Town Mayor, and Colonel James Ogilvie
OBE TO DL, Honorary Colonel of 3rd Cadet Battalion in the British Army, Eastbourne Platoon QUEENS paid a
and a Vice Chairman of the TAVR Association for the one day visit to the Welsh Guards at the Guards' Depot.
South East, were present as guests of honour and took The visit included a tour of the depot, a chance to
a lively interest in the static displays and demonstra- handle various weapons and to watch the Guards going
tions. One item on display - the new cadet rifle - through their training. As with both depot visits the
claimed a great deal of attention as its general issue is good food was a talking point amongst the cadets on
eagerly anticipated . their way home. The way to a cadet becoming a recruit
is through his stomach.
Two of Kent's QUEENs badged units have new
Honorary Colonels - .U Col David Barnes JP retired Annual Camp this year is at Wretham from August
from his post as Deputy Commandant of Kent ACF at 3rd to 6th. Visitors are very welcome.
the end of October 1985 and has been appointed Honor-

REGIMENTAL GOLFING SOCIETY
The programme for 1986 is as follows :

Date Fixture Venue
15/ 16 May Argyll and Sutherland Bowl Royal St Georges
22 May Annual Meeting Canterbury
11 June lpml Match v RMA Sandhurst Aldershot
20 June Queen's Division Match John O'Gaunts
11 July Match v Haberdashers' Company Canterbury
25 July lpml Match v Kent County Canterbury

22 August Constabulary Canterbury
5 September Match v Royal Marines Epsom
Match v Queen 's Own Buffs Liphook
23 October Match v Liphook GC

Further details may be obtained from the Hon Sec at Regimental
Headquarters.