June 1992

COVER PICTURES
Front:
The Colour Party marches forward to lay the Colours on the Silver Drums at the 2nd Battalion Reunion in
Howe Barracks, Canterbury on 10 May 1992. (Picture by Capt L J Baynham.)
Back:
Corps of Drums of the Regular Battalions of The Queen 's Regiment.

CROWN COPYRIGHT
This Journal contains official Information. lt should be treated with discretion
by the recipient. The opinions expressed are those ol the authors and do not
necessarily reflect the policy and views , official or otherwlse1 of The Queen 's
Regiment or the Ministry of Defence. Advertisements are Included In good
faith and no responsibility for the quality of goods or services can be

accepted by the publishers or printers.

The Journal of

THE QUEEN'S REGIMENT

No 71 June 1992

BATTLE HONOURS Unconquered I Serve BATTLE HONOURS
ON THE REGIMENTAL COLOURS ON THE QUEEN 'S COLOURS
Mons, Marne 1914-18, Aisne 1914, Ypres 1914-
Tangier 1662-80, Namur 1695, Gibraltar 15-17-18, Hill60, Festubert 1915, Somme 1916,
1704-5, Blenheim , Ramilles, Malplaquet, 1918, Albert 1916 1918 Vimy 1917, Cambrai
Dettingen , Louisburg , Guadeloupe 1759, 1917-18, Hindenburg Line , Italy 1917-18,
Quebec 1759 , Martinique 1762, St Lucia Macedonia 1915-18 Gallipoli 1915, Gaza ,
1778 , Seringapatam , Mai da, Vimiera Jerusalem, Palestine 1917-18, Defence ol Kut al
Corunna , Douro, Tal avera , Albuhera, Amara, Mesopotamia 1915-18, NW Frontier India
Almaraz , Badajoz , Salamanca, Vittoria, 1915 1916- 17, Dunkirk 1940, Norma')Dy Landing ,
Afghanistan 1839 , Punni ar, Moodkee , North West Europe 1940 1944-45 Abyssinia
Sobraon, lnkerman , Sevastapol, Lucknow, 1941 , Omars , Alam el Halfa, El Alamein ,
Taku Forts, New Zealand , South Africa Longstop Hill 1943, North Africa 1940-43, Sicily
1879, Nile 1884-85 , Burma 1885-87 Chitral , 1943, Sang ro, Salerno, Anzio, Cassino, Italy
Relief of Ladysmith , Relief of Kimberley, 1943-45, Malaya 194 1-42, Malta 1940-42 Hong
Kong Defence of Kohima, Burma 1943-45
South Africa 1899-1902 , Korea 1950-51

ALLIED COLONELS-IN-CHIEF

HER ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCESS JULIANA ol the Netherlands
HER MAJESTY QUEEN MARGRETHE 11 of Denmark

COLONEL OF THE REGIMENT

Major General M F REYNOLDS , CB

DEPUTY COLONELS OF THE REGIMENT

Brigadier R W ACWORTH , CBE Brigadier M R I CONSTANTIN E CBE
Colonel R H GRAHAM , MBE Colonel D A BEVERIDGE, MBE

HONORARY COLONELS OF TERRITORIAL ARMY BATTALIONS J

Colonel The Rt Hon Robin LEIGH-PEMBERTON General Sir Edward BURGESS, KCB , OBE

(5th (Volunteer) Battalion) (6thnth (Volunteer) Battalion )

Colonel Sir Greville SPRATT, GBE , TD , DL, Dlitt

(8th (Volunteer) Battalion The Queen's Fusiliers (City of London))

HONORARY REGIMENTAL APPOINTMENTS

Honorary Regimental Chaplain The Venerable P MALLETT, CB
Honorary Regimental Solicitor Lieutenant Colonel U H B ALE XANDER , MBE, DL, DCL

Honorary Regimental Histo rian Major C J D HASWELL

CIVIC HONOURS

The 'Privilege' of the City of London (1666 ; permanently 1672) The Freedom of Arundel (1954). Ashford {1985 ; adoption
196 1}, Barnet (1955) , Belfast (1961) , Brighton (1944) , Canterbury (1948} , Chichester (1951) , Crowborough (1989),
Eastbourne (195 1}, Folkestone (1961 ; adoption 1960), Guildford (1944}, Hove {1958} , Kingston-upon-Thames (1944),
Lewes (1953) , Maidstone (1944} , Ramsgate (1959) , Reigate and Banstead (1963) , Tonbridge and Mailing {1985; adoption
1944), Worthing (1959)

ALLIANCES

The Canadian Armed Forces The New Zealand Army
2nd Battalion (Canterbury, Nelson , Marlborough and West
The Queen's York Range rs (RCAC) Coast) The Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment
The South Alberta Light Horse (RCAC) 5th Battalion (Well ington, West Coast and Taranaki} , The
The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment
The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment
1st Battalion the Royal New Brunswick Regiment The Pakistan Army
12th, 14th, 15th and 17th Battalions , The Punjab Regiment
(Carl eton & York)
The Essex and Kent Scottish

The Australian Military Forces Hong Kong
The Royal Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers)
The Royal New South Wales Regiment
The University of New South Wales Regiment
The Royal Western Australia Regiment

AFFILIATIONS

HMS Nelson, HMS Chatham The Royal Anglian Regiment
HMS Leeds Castle, HM S Unicorn and HM S Kent The King's Own Scottish Borderers
The Royal Marines (A 'Bond of Friendship) No. 3 (F) Sq uadron Royal Air Force
The Royal Danish Life Guards (an 'Unofficial Alliance)
The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers

The Worshipful Company of Habe rdashers

AFFILIATED UNITS OF THE CADET FORCES

CCF School Contingents

Alleyn's School ; Ardingl y College; Brighton College; Caterh am School ; Chichester Hig h School; Collyer's VI Form College
(Horsham); Cranbrook School; Cranleigh School; Dulwich College; Eastbou rne College ; Epsom College; Haberd asher'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 (Gui ldford}; Sir Roger Manwood's School (Sandwich); St Edmund's School (Canterbury); St John's School
(Leatherhead) ; St Lawrence College (Ramsgate) ; Skinners School (Tunbridge Well s) ; Sutton Valence School ; Tonbridge
School ; Whitgift School ; Wilsons Grammar School.

ACF Units/Sub-Units Cadet Companies Nos 25 and 26
Greater London : Cadet Companies Nos. 194,195, 205, 211 , 2 13, 216, 217

NE London Sector Cadet Companies No. 72
Middlesex and Cadet Detachments Nos 133, 134 , 136, 138 , 141 , 143, 149, 151, 153, 155, 156, 158
NW London Sector Cadet Battalions 1st (Caterham) and 2nd (Farnham) The Queen's Regiment (Surrey ACF)
SE London Sector Cadet Battalions 1st (Canterbury), 2nd (Sandgate) , 3rd (Tunbridge Well s) and 4th
SW London Sector (Maidstone) The Queen 's Regiment (Kent ACF)
Surrey: Cadet Platoons Nos 2 (Seaford }, 3 (Hastings), 4 (Lewes) , 5 (Haywa rd s Heath), 6 (Crawley) ,
Kent: 7 {C hichester) , 8 (Crowboroug h}. 9 (Worthing), 11 (Horsham), 13
(Sho reham ), 14 (Bex hill), 16 (Hurstpi erpoin t), 17 (Bog nor), 18
Sussex : (Littlehampton) , 19 (Hailsham). 20 (Lewes OGS) , 22 (Steyning)

Frimley and Camberley Cadet Corps 2

REGIM ENTAL HEADQUARTERS

How e Barracks Canterbury, Kent CT1 1JY (Telephone 0227 763434)

Regimental Secretary Col J W Francis (ext 4295)
Deputy Regimental Secretary Lt Col J J White (ext 4250)

Finance, Chattels, QUEENS Assn Benevolence and R SUSSEX Liaison Maj A Martin, MBE (ext 4251 )
Chairman Welfare and Benevolence Committee, Museum. Archives and
QUEEN 'S SURREYS Assn Affairs Lt Col L M Wilson , MBE (ext 4253)
QUEEN 'S OWN BUFFS Assn Affairs Maj A P O'Gorman (ext 4252)
RHO Admin Asst RCO. Regtl Assn and MX Assn Liaison Maj W 0 Marshall (ext 4254)

Amalgamation Project Officer Maj M J Aylward MBE (ext 4254)
Maj I R Jones (ext 4255)
Regimental Careers Officer
OC Regimental Information Team Capt A W Hewett (0622 671241 ext 292)
Capt T Major (0763 249300 ext 4302)
oc Regimental Free Fall Team 'The Flying Dragons '

REGULAR BATTALIONS TA BATTALIONS

1st Battalion 5th (V) Battal ion
Clifton Barracks , Minden, BFPO 29 Leros TA Centre , Slurry Road , Canterbury, Kent CT1 1HR
(Telephone 010.49 .571 .800.312)
(Telephone 0227 462769)
CO: Lt Col A C Mieville
CO: Lt Col C L Argent
2nd Battalion
Howe Barracks , Canterbury, Kent CT 1 1JY 6thf7th (V) Battalion
Norfolk TA Centre, Denne Road , Horsham, Sussex
(Telephone 0227 763434)
(Telephone 0403 66111)
CO: Lt Col 0 J Wake, MBE
CO: Lt Col P A D Storie-Pugh , MBE, TO
3rd Battalion
Salamanca Barracks , Episkopi , BFPO 53 8th (V) Battalion The Queen 's Fusiliers (City of London)
TA Centre , St John 's Hill, Clapham Junction, London SW11 1TT
(Telephone 010 35 7526)
Telephone 071 924 3122)
CO: Lt Col A A A Beattie
CO: Lt Col P 0 Mclelland

REGIMENTAL REPRESENTATIVES

Depot The Queen's Division Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst

Bassingbourn Barracks . Royston . Herts. SGB 5LX RMA Sandhurst, Camberley, Surrey GU15 4PO
(Telephone 0763 242271) (Telephone 0276 63344)
Maj MS Quinn Maj R F Whithouse

Denmark Junior Infantry Battalion (Shorncliffe)

HQ 1 (BR) Corps BFPO 39 Sir John Moo re Barracks , Shorncliffe , Kent CT20 3HE
Maj GC Brown (Telephone 0303 49541)
Maj PR P Howe

3

Editor: c0 nte nts

Lt Col J J While Main Dates to Remember page
Mainly About People
Regimental Headquarters , Editorial 5
Howe Barracks, 1st Battalion 5
Canterbury, Kent 2nd Battalion 8
CT1 1JY 3rd Battalion 9
5th (Volunteer) Battalion 12
Regimental Badge 6th/7th (Volunteer) Battalion 17
8th (Volunteer) Battalion The Queen's Fusiliers 21
Collar Badge Depot The Queen's Division 26
Regimental Information Team 31
Button Junior Infantry Battalion (Shorncliffe) 34
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst 34
News from Denmark 35
Regimental Bands 36
The Flying Dragons 37
Cadet News 38
Regimental Headquarters 42
Officers' Club 43
Marriages, Deaths and Obituaries 48
Regimental Associations 50
Alliances and Affiliations 51
Letters 57
Articles 63
66
69

Paper DEADLINE
K1ndly donated by Material for publication in the final edition of The Queen 's Regiment Journal must reach
Maj J l A Fowler, TO the Editor by 15 September. Th is is the latest date and copy will be welcome earlier.

Printers: 4
Geenngs of Ashlord Ltd

Cobbs Wood House
Chart Road

Ash ford, Kent

MAIN DATES TO REMEMBER

(Further details will be sent to those involved or may be obtained from Reg imental
Headquarters)

June 'Glorious First of June' (1794) 9 Amalgamation with R HAMPS
1
Official Birthday of HM The Queen 9 Salerno Day (1943)
13 13
14 QUEENS (QU EENS SURREYS) 15-20 Quebec Day (1759)
Reg imental Association Annual Church
18 Service Flying Dragons represent UK at World
Regimental Golfing Society Annual Meeting Parachuting Championships

July 2 QUEENS Falklands Tour October QUEENS (QUEENS SURREYS) Autu mn
1-Nov 1 Golf Meeting
92 Regimental Grand Reunion
1 QUEENS return from Minden to UK 2 QUEENS (QUEENS SURREYS) Officers'
5 Club Luncheon
27 10
QUEENS WOs' and Sergeants' Past and
Present Dinner

August Minden Day November
1 3 QUEENS return from Episkopi to UK
? 5 Field of Remembrance Ceremony
4-10 Canterbury Cricket Week
9 QUEENS (QUEENS OWN BUFFS) 6 QUEENS (QUEENS SURREYS)
Regimental Association Church Service and Regimental Association Reunion
7-17 Reunion
Regimental Display, Newhaven Fort 7 MX Regimental Association Service of
Rem emb rance

8 Remembrance Sunday

20 QUEENS Regimental Dinner

September December
6 QUEENS (QUEENS OWN BUFFS) 20 British Battalion Day (1941 )
31 26th Anniversary of Vesting Day (1966)
Regimental Association Church Service and
Re un io n I

MAINLV ABOUT PEOPLE I

Brig H C Millman OBE has been appointed a
Deputy Lieutenant of the County of Kent.

Brig Gen L W MacKenzie CD late Queen 's Own
Rifles of Canada who held an exchange appointment

with The Queen 's Regiment and is an Honorary
Member of our Officers' Club has been appointed Chief
of Staff to the UN Peacekeeping Force in Yugoslavia.

Brig M R I Constantine CBE has been appointed
Commander Individual Training Group starting in June

1992.

Col M J Ball was appointed Comdt Support
Weapons Wing at the School of Infantry in October

1991 .

Col D H A Shephard OBE was appointed Col Lt Col Les Wilson MBE holding his Regimental Medal of
Collective Training in BAOR in April 1992. Merit, with the Colonel of the Regiment and Regimental

Lt. Col A M F Jelf took over as 801 (C) ADTT in Secretary (left).
MOD in March 1992 .

5

. . - -· . . ·- --- --- - - --

Lt A Smith MBE, W02 P Devaney, Sgt P Gill and

Cpl R Hill all 6/7 QUEENS (V) were awarded the
Territorial Efficiency Medal.

2Lt A E A Selous 8 QF(V) has been selected to
represent the UK in a Young Officers' Workshop to be
held in Holland later in the year.

Philip Davies has won the 199 1 Queen's Regiment
Venture Project Award at Haberdashers ' Aske's

School CCF.

W01 (B/M) I R Peaple of the Albuhera Band has
passed th e Advanced Certificate of Music and is
entitled to 'psm ' after his name .

W02 (TOMS) Meade, 1 QUEENS achieved an A
Grade on the RQMS course .

W02 Leighton, 1 QUEENS achieved an A Grade on
the SFA course .

W02 (CSM) D L Fisher 1 QUEENS, achieved a
distinction on the Field Firing Qualification course .

W02 A Lawson and LCpl P Morley, both 6/7
QUEENS (V) were winners of the Infantry Driving

Championships .

HM The Queen Mother signs the Visitors' Book at the W02 R Webb 6/7 QUEENS (V) was 1st overall in
Constables Tower, Dover Castle, watched by Brig and the Veterans' SEDIST Orienteering Championship .
Mrs John Holman, 23 July 1991.
W02 Murphy, 3 QUEENS has been awarded The
Queen 's Regiment Medal of Merit presented to him by
the Colonel of the Regiment during his last visit to the
Battalion .

Lt Col A A A Beattie is to be S01 Platoon CSgt Bushell, 6/7 QUEENS(V) has been awarded
Commanders Division , School of Infantry in September the LSGC medal.
1992.
CSgt Watts and Sgt Stafford, 3 QUEENS have
Lt Col PAD Storie-Pugh MBE TO 6n QUEENS (V) been awarded a GOC's Commendation by AVM AFC
Hunter CBE , AFC CBF Cyprus .
has been awarded the first clasp to the Efficiency
Decoration (Territorial)

Lt Col P R P Swanson moved to HQ AFCENT as
S01 lnt Div in May 1992.

Maj V D Ebbens was appointed MBE in the New
Year's Honours List and Sgt N S Warner now serving
at JIB(S) and former Cpl R Brill were both awarded
BEMs .

Maj G F Wastie, Eastbourne College CCF, was
appointed MBE in the New Year's Honours List.

Capt M E Shannon AGC(V) serving with 8QF (V)

achieved a B+ grading on her Service Funds
Accounting Course.

Capt S J F Plowman BOF(V) came top in his NBC
Cell Controller's Course (1st out 22).

Lt Richardson, LCpl Samson and Pte Davidson
all 1 QUEENS were selected for the BAOR Infantry
cross-country team .

2 QUEENS teams commanded by Lt Gavin Col John Francis receives a picture presented to the
Saunders and Lt Hamish Bell won respectively the Regiment to mark its 25th Anniversary by the Mayor of
Silver and Bronze Medals in the Cambrian Patrol Crowborough, Cllr Paul Scott (right), and the Clerk to the
Competition . Council, Mr David Harris (left), during their visit to RHO on
13 February. The Honorary Freedom of Crowborough was
Lt N Davies 6/7 QUEENS (V) was winner of the granted to the Regiment on 24 June 1989.
Needlemakers' Sword Competition 1992.

Lt Cathy Downes 6/7 QUEENS (V) came 3rd
overall in the ladies' SEDIST Orienteering
Championship.

6

Sgt Walker, 1 QUEENS achieved an A Grade on the Mrs Margaret Smithers wearing the Regimental Medal of
w arrior O&M Instructor course. Merit, presented by the Colonel of the Regiment (right) in
the presence of her husband Sgt G A Smithers (left) and
Sgt M Brooks 1 QUEENS helped to save the life of other members of the 2nd Battalion WOs 'and Sgts' Mess.
an elderl y German who had fallen into a canal .
J Ldr Wilson and J Ldr Boreham, both QUEENS at
Sgt Sharratt 2 QUEEN S has played Hockey JIB(S), won respectively the 'Feather' and 'Li ght Welter
regularly fo r the Infantry team. Weight' competitions in the Army Junior Individual
Boxing Championships.
Sgt D Harper 6/7 QUEEN S (V) was 2nd overall in
the men's SEDIST TA Orienteering Championship. 1 QUEENS Biathlon Team co mpeted in th e Arm y
and National Champi onships, winning the Daily Te -
Sgt N Chandler REME (V) serving with 6/7 legraph Cup for the best Novice team. Pte Rush was
QUEEN S (V) was awarded a BEM in th e New Years selected for the British Olympic development squad.
Honours List.
6n QUEENS (V) Orienteering Team won the
LCpl Campbell , Ptes Cooksey, Klucznik.
Mahoney and Wilde all 1 QUEEN S won th eir weig hts SEDI ST TA Championship for the 7th consecutive
at the BAOR indi vidual box in g championships in Berlin yea r.
and together with Pies Rodden and Beckinsale we nt
forward to the Army Individual Championships in 211 (Edgware) Cadet Detachment (QUEENS) won
Ald ershot. the ACF Citizenship Award which was presented to
them by Field Marshal Lord Bramall.
LCpl Campbell 1 QUEENS was nominated Best
Boxer in the BAOR Individual Competiti on held in
Berlin.

LCpl Ferber 2 QUEENS represented Great Britain
in the Ski-Orientee ring World Championships.

LCpl J Fisher and Pte J Nolan 6/7 QUEEN S
(V) we re winners of the Army Cross Country Drivin g
Champi onship.

Pie Short 6/7 QUEENS (V) achieved an 'A' grading
on the PNCO Cadre at Depot the Queen's Division.

Ptes Beckinsale and Hamer both 1 QUEEN S have
been regular members of th e Army Boxin g team
squad .

Pte Upfold 1 QUEENS came third equal in the Army
Judo Champi onships (Lancashire Fusilier Cup) held on
25 Febru ary.

Pte Stewart 2 QUEENS has played Rugby regularly
for the Army under 21 XV and has been selected for the
Combined Services squad.

STOP PRESS J

Army Individual Boxing Championships
Aldershot, 13-14 April

1 QUEENS entered si x boxers. They won four weights and were runn ers up in two
semi-finals . Results were:

Pte Wilds winner Featherweight
Pte Cooksen winner Light Welterweight
Pte Klu cznik winner Middleweight
Pte Mannoney winner Special Bout Heavyweight
LCpl Campbell runner up semi-final Lightweig ht
Pte Rodden runner up semi-final Light Middleweight

7

. - -··· ·- --- -- - - --·

EDITORIAL

When the previous Editorial was written the Regiment was still reeling at the order to amalgamate with the
Royal Hampshire Regiment as well as lose a battalion by March 1993. This date has now been advanced to 9
September 1992 (Salerno Day) . Time being the great healer, some of the early bitterness is disappearing as
planning proceeds for the new Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Queen 's and Royal Hampshires) (PWRR).
A summary of the more important decisions taken so far is given in the Regimental Secretary's Notes elsewhere
in this Journal and further information will , of course , be promulgated later.

This is the penultimate edition of The Queen 's Regimental Journal. The final issue will contain news right up to
Amalgamation Day and will be published in the late Autumn . The first PWRR magazine will appear in June 1993
and subsequently these will be produced twice a year.

As always this Journal contains much news of the many activities of our busy battalions . Particularly noteworthy
results were achieved by the six boxers from the 1st Battalion in Minden who , in the Army Individual
Championships at Aldershot , won four weights and in the semi-finals had two runners-up . The 2nd Battalion ,
based in Canterbury carried out a very successful tour in Northern Ireland and returned in time for their XV to be
only narrowly defeated in the semi-finals of the Army Rugby Championships. Their teams in the Cambrian Patrol
Competition also very creditably won Silver and Bronze medals . The 3rd Battalion in Cyprus have been fully
occupied since their company group returned from the Falklands. They sent a training team to Kenya , provided
major support for a Royal Military Academy Sandhurst exercise and 2Lt Alasdair Browne became the 'Best Young
Officer Shot' at the Cyprus Skill at Arms Meeting .

Our TA battalions also report excellent results , particularly the 6th/7th which came away from the Cambrian
Patrol Competition with the TA Bronze Medal , won the Infantry prize in the Army Cross-Country Driving
Championships and has helped to raise over £100 ,000 for charity during the last three years.

The TA Battalions have already started to reorganise . You will read that the main changes are to the 6th/7th
(Volunteer) Battalion which will in future have TA Centres in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and to the 8th
(Volunteer) Battalion The Queen 's Fusiliers which will soon be replaced by The London Regiment' . This will
include companies badged QUEENS, RRF, LONDON SCOTTISH and LONDON IRISH .

Our Regular battalions will start reorganising in preparation for 1 PWRR at Colchester and 2 PWRR at
Canterbury in August when the 1st Battalion returns from Minden and the 3rd Battalion from Episkopi. A full
programme is planned for them both in 1993 including , it is hoped , a major ceremonial parade in the early
summer.

Later in this Journal we include obituaries to several prominent former members of the Regiment, including Col
and Alderman Sir Ronald Gardner-Thorpe. There is also an unusually large number of articles which cover a wide
variety of subjects.

There is thus much of interest to read while the many changes are planned and implemented . Nobody will
agree with all the decisions. However, through our forbears the history of this Regiment can be traced back more
than four centuries and the chapter entitled The Queen 's Regiment 1966 to 1992 covers only a very small part of
its long and eventful life . We must therefore look forward positively to the next episode of its story after yet another
amalgamation , wishing the new Regiment well on its formation and in the coming years.

'Veteri Frondescit Honore'

THE QUEEN'S REGIMENT FREE FALL PARACHUTE TEAM

..THE FLYING DRAGONS..

AVAILABLE FOR DISPLAYS, ONE DAY PARACHUTE COURSES
AND TANDEM FREE FALL JUMPS ETC.

CONTACT THE MEDAL WINNING SKY DIVERS

TELEPHONE: 0763 249300

8

1st BATTALION

Since our last notes for the Journal were published ,
time has sped by and all those future events that had
once appeared so distant are now very much current
affairs. Daily life is becoming increasingly dominated
by our departure from Clifton Barracks and their return
to the Federal authorities, and we have already started
to backload equipment and accommodation stores.
The Square is now a parking lot for our aged fleet of
APCs whi lst they await shipping space, followed
presumably by a direct move to the Gillette factory,
whilst the CO and Adjutant juggle with the currently
less than certain manpower plans. Deputations of
Germans have visited the barracks to determine to
what use they can be put, with the latest ideas being to
convert the pitches to a cemetery, the Officers' Mess to
an orphanage(!), and the barrack blocks to refugee
accommodation . Strange times to say the least.

AUTUMN EVENTS 'Individual' boxers from the 1st Battalion in Berlin.

Back in October, life was less strange. The Recce
Platoon took its Scimitars up to the Bergen-Hohne
ranges for their live-firing camp and for a first run
through put up a most creditable performance . Maj
,t Mans meanwhile took a KAPE tour back to England to major commitment usually reseNed for a unit with
be based on Hounslow and Longmoor. Many hundreds years of BAOR experience. Whilst we were
11 of children were given a glimpse of Army life and by all responsible for ensuring that three brigades worth of
y accounts it was a most successful venture . The battlegroup headquarters did not stray from the master
battalion's main activity during November was to run plan , the real battle was being fought by the OM who
exercise control for the 4th Armoured Division CPX , a had to build and administer a tent city in miserable
conditions. That we gained so much kudos was a direct
reflection on his efforts, with the cooks' constant flow of
hot and delicious food undoubtedly the battle-winning
factor. We thoroughly enjoyed working alongside Col
Argent and his team from 5 QUEENS , and those
present will long remember drinking beer in the
Officers' Mess tent whilst the water flowed purposefully
across the carpet, and CSgt Sullivan's aplomb as Mess
CSgt which would have put Jeeves to shame.

The CO controls the exercise, while the 21C attempts to In late November our novice boxers burst into life
control the OM - on 4 Armd Div CPX Exercise Quadriga once more with an exciting win (5-4) overt 0 Regt RCT.
Gallop. Th is was a memorable evening at which the standard
of boxing skill was quite outstanding . We also
despatched an expedition to Sardinia (or was it
Corsica?) under Lt Andree . This eight-man party
trekked considerable distances and completed top-
rope and abseil descents en route . They are also now
acknowledged pasta experts as this was the sole
foodstuff in the shops! The final month of 1991 sadly
saw our boxers defeated in a somewhat scruffy
competition against 2 R IRISH . Although this removed
us from the novice competition , there was no way the
Boxing Officer, Capt Abbot! , was going to return his
charges to their company commanders and most of
them were immediately entered for the Individual
Competition! The run up to Christmas saw the
customary flurry of parties and we said farewell to a
number of officers : Maj Mans to be 21C 3RRF, Maj

9

1st Battalion

Ashton to HQ RCZ, Capt Clinch to the Infantry Wing
Bovington and Capt Bolton to HQ 56 (London) Bde . We
also warmly welcomed our new RSM , Mr Grenfell, and
congratulated Mr Farrow both on his commission and
his appointment as 'A' Adjutant.

INTO THE NEW YEAR

The new year started with the Battalion driving 1 QUEENS Potential NCOs Cadre.
competition which the MTO had been plotting during
the Christmas break. Clearly most of the planning had practising for weeks. Although we have sadly not been
been done whilst suffering from a hangover as most of able to get soldiers away on SNOW QUEEN this year
the skills tasks appeared at first sight to be impossible due to the evaporation of official funds , we have
and the event drew quite a crowd of ghouls who managed to 'self-help ' and about 100 soldiers have got
delighted in watching the wretched drivers' desperate away skiing . Sgt Harris' article succinctly describes
attempts to negotiate the course. Albuhera Company their prowess on the slopes. Whilst covering sporting
won the team event whilst Sgt Walker and Mrs Parker prowess , mention should also be made of our
steered themselves to victory in the Best Soldier and orienteering and cross-country teams both of which
Best Wife categories. Our Nordic skiers under Capt continue to do extremely well.
Parsons were meanwhile competing in the Infantry and
Divisional Championships being held in Austria and
Bavaria. Their long work-up in Norway paid clear
dividends and the team put up an excellent
performance , managing to qualify for the National
Championships. A most impressive achievement 1n
only our second year. They were joined for the
Divisional Championships by the Battalion's team of

ageing Alpine skiers led by W02 Layzell, who readily

accepted the CO's call for the equivalent of a kamikaze
mission on skis. The team did splendidly and put to
shame some very smart teams who had been

We began our last Potential NCO cadre in late
January. The cadre , under the direction of Capt

Williams, was divided into two phases with the first
being held in Minden and the second in Berlin . The
tactics phase in Berlin saw the cad re making use of the

Grunewald Forest and the Ruhleben fighting village .
Although the forest was ideal for low-level patrol
tactics , the cadre had to contend with battalions of
ramblers , mountain-bikers and lost American soldiers
which tended to dent the realism! No matter, the
opportunity to train in areas which will soon be lost to
the British Army forever was too great to miss.
Congratulations to Pte (now LCpl) Page on his
nomination as top student.

On 12 February we welcomed our first visit from our
new divisional commander, Maj Gen Dennison-Smith.
The General visited the cadre and the MILAN platoon
in the field before returning to Clifton Barracks where
he visited our boxers in training and the Drums
Platoon . The visit concluded in the Officers' Mess
where the PMC interpreted the General's liking for light
lunches by providing T-bone steaks hewn from a
brontosaurus . lt was a most successful visit and we are
delighted to hear of the General's future appointment in
the new Regiment.

2Lt Timothy Richardson briefing an assault team on 1 At the end of February the Battalion deployed to
QUEENS Potential NCOs Cadre_ Sennelager for two weeks of field firing. Mercifully the
weather was extremely kind to us and we completed all
our shoots in quite excellent conditions. We held a

10

1st Battalion

patrol competition during the middle weekend which
was won by Lt Andree and his platoon from Sobraon
company and the period concluded with company
attacks watched by our brigade commander. During
field-firing the redundancies were announced and we
managed to squeeze an article out of Maj Fisher in
between his appointments for fitting his bowler.

March saw our boxers winning 5 out of 6 bouts and
LCpl Campbell nominated as Best Boxer in the BAOR
Individual Compet1t1on held 1n Berlin. The team IS now
in the UK for the Army Individuals and we fervently
hope that the new Regiment will not lose the boxing
tradition and prowess built up over the years. At the
end of the month we welcomed the Colonel of the
Regiment on a brief visit. He gave all three messes
thorough briefings on the state of amalgamation play,
which laid to rest the natural speculation that existed.
We look forward to seeing him back with us in late May.

THE FUTURE Maj Garry Bourne (third from left) briefs the Bri!jade
What of the remainder of our existence? Although Commander (second from left) while Lt Col Amedee
we are now officially non-operational , we are still Mieville and Maj John Russell hold the high ground.
training and are heavily involved in the Garrison Military
Skills Competition . We have inter-company swimming THE FINAL
and athletics competitions to complete , a session at the
Battle Group Trainer and the Divisional Skill at Arms
competition . Life is still full and we are concentrating on
getting as many as we can of our soldiers course
qualified before we all go our separate ways. Our finale
will centre around the Glorious 1st of June when we
shall have a parade inspected by the Colonel of the
Regiment, Mess balls and a Families Day. On 1 June
we officially become non-effective and by mid
September the Queen's will have left Minden forever.

REGIMENTAL GRAND REUNION

of

THE QUEEN'S REGIMENT

at Bassingbourn

SUNDAY 5 JULY 1992

(further details on page 58)

ALL MEMBERS OF THE REGIMENTAL FAMILY
ARE VERY WELCOME

The 1st Battalion Drums Platoon supporting a company
attack at Sennelager, March 1992.

11

2nd BATTALION

The Battalion returned to duty in October after its
well-earned but belated summer leave looking forward
to a penod of relative stability during the winter and
spnng . it was a heartening but rather novel sig ht to see
the whole Battalion on muster parade and to be able to
plan a programme of events some months in advance.
But only a month later the plan began to unravel , with
a warn1ng to undertake Spearhead duty in February
and , from then onwards, a seemingly inevitable chain
of events led to our deployment to Northern Ireland .

But in October, our main thoughts were to
establishing ourselves in 5 Airborne Brigade through
our showmg in the Cambrian Patrol Competition and
the forthcoming Brigade exercise which was clearly to
be a test 1n everything but name. Our first task was to
establish precisely what we were required to do.
Eventually we found that we were to deploy to
Otterburn v1a South Cerney, in Gloucestershire . This
was logical for R Company who had been selected to
fly in to secure Carlisle Airport but made no sense to
the rest of us who had to travel first the breadth and
then the length of the country by coach . At last the
exercise proper got under way with the com panies
be1ng dropped off at a point some thirty miles south of
Otterburn with orders to carry out an approach march
through the Kielder Forest to the training area. Sadly,
th1s proved to be no more than a test of endurance ,
although certainly a demanding one. The first day's
objective was the Kielder Dam but the foul weather had
reduced many of the forest rides to quagmires and it
was well into the evening before the last heavily-laden
soldier had reached his overnight harbour. Spirits rose
after a good night's rest and the companies made 2Lt Gavin Saunders enjoying a well earned break on the
excellent progress in the morning to reach their Cambrian Patrol Competition .

concentration area for the live firing phase of the Events in Canterbury leading up to Christmas
exercise . This started at first light the following day with centred around the lnvicta inter-company competition ,
company and then battalion attacks, supported by with the added requirement to select teams for the
artillery, lead1ng to our eventual extraction by Chinook Brigade's sports week in early December. We also held
helicopter at dusk . Afterwards , the Brigade an inter-platoon March and Shoot competition at Lydd ,
Commander congratulated the assembled Battalion on organised by Capt Harknett. All participants showed
its performance and handed to the CO the Pegasus immense determination but this was shown to be no
Pennant in recognition of being formally inducted into substitute for technique on the assault course or for
the Brigade . accurate shooting. The winners were 6 Platoon , led by

The Cambrian Patrol Competition was undertaken 2Lt Scales with B Company taking the aggregate prize.
by two man teams , led by 2Lt Saunders and Sgt Our MP, Julian Brazier, visited the later stages of the
O' Reilly and by 2Lt Bell and Sgt Singh , with competition but was soundly beaten in a challenge
administrative support provided by Sgt Kennedy . With shoot against the CO . The Brigade March and Shoot
little time to prepare , the teams had to rely on used the Guards Depot assault course which , for the
individuals' fitness built up in the Falklands and size and number of obstacles , makes the Howe
Canada and concentrate on the specific skills needed Barracks one seem something out of a childrens'
for the competition. 2Lt Saunders' account of the event playground . Local knowledge and the opportunity to
appears elsewhere. Both teams stuck to their tasks practise helped the Aldershot-based teams on the day
and completed the course despite minor injuries and and the 'maroon machine' took the prizes despite our
the foul weather. Their achievements were recognised best efforts.

by the award of silver medals to 2Lt Saunders' team In preparation for Spearhead duty, we had a
and bronze to 2Lt Bell 's. This result was genuinely Northern Ireland briefing just before Christmas, with an
outstand1ng given the limited training time available eight day training package at Hythe and Lydd in the
and it was fitting that the medals were presented by Col New Year. As we had had no opportunity for
Peter Cook, CO from 1985 to 1988 and now Chief of preparatory training , we started virtually from scratch
Staff HO Wales and Western District. and it was satisfying to see the enthusiasm of the

12

2nd Battalion

style, by Chinook direct from Howe Barracks square.
The anxiety for our families was heightened by having
no clear idea of when we would be returning . We had
received two signals quoting the same date but one
said 'not before ' and the other 'not later than'.The rest
of the Battalion moved by more conve ntional means
and we were complete in place within 96 hours of th e
original message .

We were fortunate that we were given our own area
in which to operate , part of East Tyrone, rather than
being split up to reinforce other units . But this did mean
that we had to establish ourselves more or less from
scratch . Battalion HQ, B and C Companies were
based in Cookstown with a platoon working from
Pomeroy. To make up our strength , we had been
reinforced by Y Company 1 R HAMPS, a felicitous
pairing, based at Magherafelt. A Company were
detached to 8 UDR , based in Dungannon with the
Milan Platoon attached but deployed to Coalisland.
Echelon was based at Portadown because there was
simply no space in the Cookstown camp. As it was ,
quite a few soldiers had to be housed in the indoor
range and the 21C took up residence in a disused
sangar. We had barely learnt our way round the patch
when the first incident happened : the machine gun
attack on Coalisland police station . But we were busy
in Cookstown too : terrorists had taken over a house
and ordered a Chinese takeaway but the man was then

Pte Gilmore on Sangar Duty.

soldiers translated into steadily improving standards as

the week progressed. GOC South East District, Lt Gen
Sir Richard Swinburn , paid us a short visit and saw all
the companies going through the training . At around
this time we were informed that the start date of our
duty was to come forward a month , necessitating a
good deal of hard work by our Q staff to complete the
preparations in a very short time . There was no rest for
the companies either, as we were required to field the
best part of the Battalion to support the All Arms Tactics
Course exercise on Salisbury Plain. This was
worthwhi le training for the soldiers and gave our
commanders the chance to watch the course students
and to learn from their mistakes .

At the beginning of February the commanders Ptes Munday, Clarke and Lawlor of the Recce Platoon
decamped to Bovington for the Battlegroup Trainer. relax after a patrol.
We soon became familiar with the Dorset countryside
and pubs in preparation for the simulated battle. This

duly took place on the Thursday morning , watched by
the Brigade Commander but the GO's orders for the
second battle were interrupted by a phone call
announcing our immediate departure for Northern
Ireland . Events moved quickly: by the time we had
returned to Canterbury, we were already on the third
version of the deployment Plan . There is a big
difference between the academic exercise of preparing
for Spearhead and the reality of deploying on
operations. However, the rush to get us into the
Province slowed sufficiently to give us a vital 24 hours

for preparation and some specialist training before the
CO and the advance party left. They did so in dramatic

13

2nd Battalion

Pie Wakefield and Cpl Parrish on duty in Cookstown. unusual rocket-launcher, found by the Milan Platoon.
However, the threat of a bomb materialised towards
instructed to deliver a bomb to the police station . He the end of the tour. A large but distant explosion which
was intercepted by one of our patrols who quickly rattled the windows in Cookstown turned out to be a
cleared the area but thankfully the device proved to be bomb on the road just outside Pomeroy, but there were
a hoax. Meanwhile the main attack was taking place at no patrols in the area and nobody was hurt. The
Coalisland. Fortunately, the Milan Platoon kept their follow-up almost turned to farce as the local MP
heads down and were unhurt. The only 'casualty' was
Lt Smith's shampoo, hit by a bullet which came through decided , against police advice, to visit the scene and
the window of his room. We played no part in the then proceeded to retrieve the bomb's firing pack. In
subsequent gun battle but, a little later, another of our our last week , a second bomb was discovered on the
patrols caught a wounded man trying to get out of the edge of Cookstown and successfu lly dealt with. A
area. A Company were heavily involved in the police Company also undertook a major bomb-clearance
follow-up and appeared on television news, though operation after a petrol station had been blown up. Our
they were not amused at being referred to as 'the sudden arrival in East Tyrone undoubtedly disrupted
Queen's Lancashire Regiment'. terrorist plans whilst our very vis ible presence on the
streets of Cookstown and in the neighhouring
The following month was relatively uneventful but cou ntryside reassured the vast majority of the local
with several patrols making finds of terrorists' weapons population . Being more used to operations in places
and equipment. The most interesting one was of an such as West Belfast, we were surprised by the
friendliness of most of the people we met and many
small acts of kindness were greatly appreciated by the
soldiers on patrol. At the end of the tour the CO
received a signal from the GOC thanking the Battalion
for its good work and congratulating us on th e
successes we had achieved, not least that the
terrorists had been unable to mount a single successfu l
operation against us.

Although our sports programme was truncated by
the Northern Ireland tour, we were able to compete in
the Army and Infantry competitions at rugby, soccer
and hockey. The season was again dominated by our
successes at rugby . Our XV won some dramatic
matches in the Army Cup, most notably against other
units in 5 Airborne Brigade, 36 Engineer Regiment and
the Blues and Royals. In the latter, our opponents
fought back strongly to take the match into extra time

The 2nd Battalion Rugby XV.
14

2nd Battalion

throughout Kent, with King 's School Canterbury the
winners. LCpl Ferber had the distinction of being
selected by the British Orienteering Federation for the
National Ski-Orienteering team for the World
Championships . In another departure from standard
orienteering , the 21C organised a Faltavlan event,
combinin g shooting with team orienteering: Sgt
Sharratt's team won , with Cpl Walker's a close second .

We were unable to enter the inter-unit boxing
competitions this season but sti ll had a thoroughly
successful lnvicta novices' event. The companies
worked hard to prepare their teams in the short time
available but their efforts were reflected in the high
standard of the bouts in the finals . By that stage, A
Company had established a clear lead which they
maintained to win five of the nine trophies. The tone for
the evening was established by the first bout between
Pte Little of B Company and Pte Palmer of A Company,
with the latter winning on a split decision. The courage
and determination of all the boxers was reflected in the
remarkable statistic that only one fight had to be
stopped short of the distan ce. Pte Lee of A Company
won the Best Boxe r award, with Cpl Wren of the Signal
Platoon adjudged the best runner-up .

The Crowborough Exercise Cycle We have welcomed several parties of visitors during
Cpl Miller and LCpl FitzAndrew test the exercise cycle, the winter including Tonbridge School CCF, under Lt
most generously given by Crowborough Town Council to Col Simon Boucher, SI Anselm 's School and the
the 2nd Battalion for their recent tour in Northern Ireland. Reculver Cub Scouts. Others have come simply to use
and we only gained the points needed to go forward to the assault course with supervision and appropriate
the semi-final five minutes before the final whistle. This encouragement from our PT staff. The biggest such
match, against 'Troops Hereford', was another hard- occasion was the lnvicta Challenge competition set up
fought contest, in which we were unable to turn our by Maj Gouda to raise funds for the Life for Laura
advantage in possession into a score. We came appeal. On two successive Sundays, teams competed
agonisingly close when Cpl White 's dive for the try line for the trophy provided by the Battalion and raised a
was deflected to just the wrong side of the corner flag. large sum for the appeal . However, our most
This time the match did end as a 3 - 3 draw after extra courageous volunteer for the assault course was
time but our opponents went through to the final on the undoubtedly Mrs Pat Holler who is totally blind . Guided
'away team advantage' rule. Individually, the season 's skilfully by SSgt Strong , Cpl Miller and LCpl McCarthy
star has been Pte Stewart who has played regularly for and cheered on by the Battalion , she completed the
the Army Under 21 XV and has been selected for the course successfully and raised £500 for Christmas
Combined Services squad. As he is only aged 19, he presents for children in the Kent and Canterbury
has a great opportunity to establish himself at the Hospital.
highest level. The Hockey XI had a steady season and
offers promise for the future , notably through the arrival Mrs Pat Hotter, who is totally blind , on the Assault Course
of Sgt Sharratt who has played regularly for the with SSgt Strong, Cpl Miller and LCpl McCarthy.
Infantry . The Battalion is only beginning to re-establish
its reputation at squash but 2Lt Bisseru , SSgt Strong
and Pte Williams are becoming the nucleus of a good
team along with the evergreen Sgt Popman of the
Band. Cpl Ley has done sterling work to raise the
profile of fencing as the sport had begun to gain a
following during our last Falklands tour. Fencers have
been competing regularly with local civi lian clubs and
we repaid their hospitality by laying on a competition in
Howe Barracks. The event was well supported by clubs

15

2nd Battalion

The Officers' Mess has welcomed 2Lts Sweeting
and Bisseru on commissioning and Baynham Minor
whose original attachment was extended to cover the
Northern Ireland tour and now appears permanent. We
have welcom ed Majs Maltman and Newell , Capt Maer
who has taken over as Adjutant and Capt Clapp and
have bid farewell to Maj Hurman, Capt Laidlaw, though
he has only moved down the hill to 5 QU EENS(V) Capt
Holmes and Lt Scott. Our congratu lations go to Capt
Maer and Us Smith and Scott on their marriages and to
Linda and James Cameron on the birth of their
daughter, Verity. With everyone back in the Mess we
have had some notable parties. The decoration of th e

Mess for Halloween, carried out by the B Company
officers , put the set of the average horror movie into the
shade whi lst the Mess Staff resembled extras from the
cast of The Munsters. But the best party was not an
official function at all. Helen Wake organised in great
secrecy a birthday party for the CO , comp lete with a

deception plan which worked to perfection. lt proved to
be almost a 2 QUEENS past and present reunion , with
many old friends there who had not had the chance to
visit us for some time.

The WOs' and Sergeants' Mess played host to three MILITARY CARICATURES
Australians from June to November 1991, Sgts
A collection of limited edition prints of 'Officers of the
Hawkswood , Rutherford and Marende, the latter British Army circa 1991 ' painted by Simon Dyer will be
departing after our Canada trip to join the Royal launched in the National Army Museum in June. The
Anglian Regiment in Germany. All three made many Queen's Regiment picture (No 33) is shown above.
friends durin g their stay with the Battalion and were The price is £30.00 (incl p & p) .
sadly missed by many when they returned to Australia.
Our Christmas Draw was held in early December in the Further particulars and copies may be obtained
MT Sheds, superbly decorated by W02 Duncan and from :
his committee, which resulted in an excellent evening
for all. Sadly, we have said farewell to W02 Cullinane Sporting and Military Caricature Publishing
(on posting) , W02 Lovel l, Sgt Fagg, Sgt Still , and Sgt The Old Rectory
Blanche on completion of their 22 years service . We Llangynidr
wish them all the very best for the future . We welcome Powys NP8 1LS (telephone 0874 730907)
back from postings W02 Vann , CSgt Pedder and Sgt
Sharratt, the latter previously 1 QUEENS. The Army Benevolent Fund will benefit from every print
so ld.
Th e last six months has seen the Battalion rise once
again in customary fashion to an unexpected
challenge. Our short but thoroughly successful stay in
Cookstown will almost certain ly have been the
Regiment's last Northern Ireland tour but the spirit of
professionalism and determination which marked this
and all our previous ones will undoubtedly be carried
forward into the new Regim ent. We now face a
challenge of a different order. At the same time as we
deploy 200 soldiers to the South Atlantic , the
amalgamation wi ll be getting under way. Six months
hence three quarters of those in Canterbury will not
have been here today whi lst conversely most of those
just returned from Northern Ireland wi ll have moved to
Colchester or elsewhere. Although the intervening
period wi ll certain ly not be easy, we can be sure that
the Battalion which reforms in November will be every
bit as good as it is today and wi ll have the inestimable
advantage of being fu lly manned. This wi ll indeed be a
firm fou ndation upon wh ich to build for the future .

16

3rd BATTALION

This period has been tragically marked by the untimely deaths of Cpl Eric Thomas and Onsm
Spencer Griffin. Our thoughts are with their families.

lt is hard to grasp that at the tim e of publication of tour both professionally and socially and we hope that
these notes we will be in the full throes of packing 1 R IRISH as the incoming unit achieve the same.
containers and handing over quarters for our return to
the UK. The reality of leaving Cyprus after over 2 years The start of this period was marked by a major
has yet to fully dawn , particularly as we will all be facing reorganisation of the battalion as B Company Group
new horizons and challenges on amalgamation . Whilst returned from the Falklands. In an effort to spread the
our time in Cyprus has been very busy we have , with experience and expertise gained in the Falklands there
the exception of our Falkland Islands deployment, was much cross posting amongst the companies and
been blissfully untouched by the major upheavals we also saw the resurrection of A and FSp Companies
faced by other battalions. In addition we have had full which had been placed in suspended animation .
recourse to all that Cyprus offers , sun , sea , Although experiencing the same problems faced by
adventurous training and the ever present holiday other battalion s due to undermanning , the new
atm osphere. The battalion has made the most of its companies very soon found their feet and settled back
into the Cyprus routine . Competition for command of A

The CO 's Bugle Competition. Left to Right- Capt J F Dyer,
LCpl Morris (Adjutant's Bugler) Lt Col A A A Beattie, Dmr
Murphy (CO's Bugler) and W01 (RSM) A R Shrubsall.

17

3rd Battalion

Company appeared to have been based on a
determined effort to share the pressures of command.
Due to postings and internal moves the appointment of
OC A Company passed in quick succession from Maj
/an Raynes to Capt Adrian Jones and then to Capt
Brennen Dwyer before eventually settling on Maj Peter
Jones . a 1 R HAMPS Officer. Although his arrival was
not a move resulting from the planned amalgamation ,
many have understandably seen it as such . We are
pleased to report that, with apparently little requirement
for adjustment, he has settled in well. The visit by CO
and 2/C 1 R HAM PS in March and the deployment of a
training team of six under Lt Barry Camille to Kenya in
October to assist on Exercise Grand Prix have
provided the opportunity for further contact with the
Hampshires.

In November the battalion was formally visited by 2Lt Alasdair Browne receives the award for Best Young
Commander British Forces Cyprus, AVM AFC Hunter Officer Shot from AVM Sandy Hunter CBE AFC, following
CBE AFC, as part of our ARU . After being greeted by a the Cyprus Skill at Arms Meeting.
quarter guard furnished by C Company he visited a
cross section of the battalion at work. The visit went Mark Rayner. FSp and HQ companies were also
extremely well with the Commander getting an even heavily involved in activities ranging from loading
greater insight into the workings and personalities of mortars onto donkeys to the inevitable taxi service
the battalion . We continue to be involved in the provided by the MT drivers. To a man , all involved
programme of many other visitors to Cyprus including a enjoyed the novelty of working alongside both the
recent visit by the Adjutant General who briefed us on officer cadets and the Gurkha Company who also
the background to the drawdown plan. Visits by the acted as enemy.
Colonel of the Regiment, the Divisional Colonel and a
team from IMRO(S) have kept us fully up to date with Our final few months in Cyprus promise to be
'options' and amalgamation matters. perhaps the busiest and most demanding of the tour.
Very soon we have the Cyprus Walkabout, a three day
Where possible, outside of routine Internal Security competition involving some 60 teams who , on Day 1
commitments, the companies have taken every run from Episkopi to Troodos (28 kms as the crow flys
opportunity for collective and individual training . and an increase in elevation of over 5,000 ft) and on
Although constraints peculiar to Cyprus such as the Day 2 run back down again . it is an extremely arduous
'heat stress index' and 'fire risk state' will very soon competition organised and controlled almost
preclude a lot of training , we have been fortunate that exclusively by the battalion . Of the seven battalion
all rifle companies have managed to achieve a week's teams entered it is hoped that we can equal or better
field firing . This was conducted at Akamas a range our previous best of second place. Following the
area on the north-western peninsula of the island . Walkabout C Company under Maj Ken Hames will
There the rugged terrain and wide arcs, added to a little deploy in early May on Exercise Dragons Hammer a
flair and imagination , offer the opportunity for two week multi-national NATO Exe rcise in the
exceptionally good training . The mortar platoon were Mediterranean . The Company will embark on the USS
able to fire in support of the company attacks although lnchcon as part of a Battalion Landing Team of the 24th
it is a pity that Milan cannot be fired anywhere on Marine Expeditionary Unit and conduct amphibious
island . operations in Sardinia and Sicily. As the RAF return C
Company to Cyprus, waiting at Akrotiri will be A
The battalion SAAM was conducted at Dhekelia Company under Maj Peter Jones ready to step on the
Ranges in March and was fairly convincing ly won by a same aircraft to fly to Portugal for Exe rcise Forest Fox
team from C Company. it proved to be a very useful a three week exercise conducted at the Santa
preamble to the Cyprus SAAM in early April where , Margarida training area.
although we were beaten by 1 WFR , a very creditable
series of scores was achieved . Of particular note was C Company will then trade fighting order for parade
the winning of the Best Young Officer Shot by 2Lt kit whi lst they and other elements of the battalion
Alasdair Browne. prepare two Guards and a Colour Party for the Queen 's
Birthday Parade in early June . Altogether a real
We continue to provide varying levels of manpower challenge for the battalion and the opportunity to leave
and equipment in support of visiting units on exercise. Cyprus and move on to amalgamation on a high note.
A major commitment in March was providing enemy
and most of our vehicles and radio to the Royal Military
Academy Sandhurst on Exercise Spring Victory, a final
exercise involving some 600 personnel from
Sandhurst. B and C companies combined to provide
the enemy forces under the overall command of Maj

18

3rd Battalion

our farewells in the last few months have included The exercise began with a three day workup period
Capts Paddy Reynolds and Adrian Jones, Lt Paul for the companies , essential to shake out the cobwebs
Moore, W02s Prosser, Munnery_. Crowley, Cavaglieri of the Cyprus routine . 11 marked the welcome return of
and Russell. We welcome MaJ Peter Jones (1 R some down-to-earth soldiering, but it was not long
HAMPS) , Lt Richard Fowler, 2Lts Geoff Minion and before the 'pink' went out of the window. Having
Gemma Hamlin . occupied a defensive position the battalion
successfully dealt with a number of probing attacks
We have also said farewell to all our SNCOs and over a 36 hour period and the plan was for C Company
JNCOs who have been granted redundancy in Phase 1 1 WFR to conduct a full attack on the position and force
of 'Options'. We wish them every success in their future a withdrawal in contact by night. Not an easy phase of
careers. war to achieve at any time , let alone when , totally
unexpectedly, we found ourselves in nearly one foot of
EXERCISE PINK FLAMINGO snow within a few hours. Preparation for the withdrawal
had already started with the regrouping of support
In February the battalion deployed on Exercise Pink weapons and other troops. Very soon vehicles became
Flam ingo, a two week FTX conducted in the Western bogged in and reports of cold weather injuries passed
Sovereign Base Training Areas and also on areas of on the net. What followed was a major operation to
land in the Republic of Cyprus. Under the 1960 Treaty regroup companies , some of them already on the
of Establishment, British forces are allowed to exercise move , and to recover vehicles. For the next 12 hours
in the Republic , rather along the lines of the '443' we experienced more cohesion and more initiative at
principle seen in BAOR. As with most theatres we all levels of co~mand than if we had been working to
found ourselves under increasing pressure to reduce any 'pink'. Nature had provided the unexpected and
both the length of time deployed and amount of real the battalion had benefitted from it.
estate used . That said we managed to secure areas of
local countryside which offered challenging terrain A change to a Counter Insurgency scenario then
away from our now well used and well known backdoor saw the companies conducting Fix and Destroy
training areas. Note was also taken of local 'green' operations from patrol bases set up in a magnificent
sensitivities by changing the name from last year's valley in the Republic. Although we did not have as
rather punchy Exercise Flaming Dragon to the rather long as we would like in the area, the opportunity to
less robust 'Pink Flamingo'. both patrol and use helicopters over new terrain was a
rewarding and enjoyable change for all companies.
The exercise was held back to back with 1 WFR who
moved up from the Eastern Sovereign Base Area . The next phase saw the companies ex-filtrating in
Whilst roughly the same areas were used , each section strength through some very rugged terrain
exercise was planned and controlled at battalion level covered by an enemy screen based on our own Recce
and was based on different scenarios. Both battalions Platoon and the Ferrets from D Squadron RH . After
undertook each other's IS Duties whilst deployed and moving 15 kms in 24 hours aiming to avoid any contact,
also provided a company of enemy to support the the sections arrived at a concentration area ready to
other's exercise. prepare for the final phase, a battalion attack on a
Paramali Village. Although unrehearsed , the attack
was watched by a large number of VIPs including the
British High Commissioner, His Excellency Mr David
Dain, and Commander British Forces Cyprus , AVM
AFC Hunter CBE, AFC. The first waves were delivered
by support helicopter and very soon a major FIBUA
battle was in progress . Paramali Village offers an ideal
setting for both exercising troops and spectators alike
and there is no doubt that this final attack was a
resounding success.

Overall the battalion gained much from the exercise .
Perhaps our only wish is that we could do it again.

SNOW IN CYPRUS

by 2Lt A Browne

Dmr Prince and Dmr Shaw man a GPMG (SF) on Exercise The strange weather that has brought Cyprus the
Pink Flamingo. worst winter in living memory also delivered the
Troodos Mountains thick snow that any Alpine
mountain would be proud to offer. This has given many
from the battalion the opportunity to attend week-long
downhill ski courses. While the length and variety of the
runs are not Alpine , they are extremely good for
beginners. Throughout the winter the mountains have
been littered with Queensmen hurtling down slopes

19

SANDHURSTRE~SITED
by 2Lt S Barker

Exercise Spring Victory was to be Sandhurst's final
exercise for all Officer Cadets passing out at Easter. To
play enemy for such an exercise is bound to bring back
some memories for any young officer but if the exercise
and its location are exactly the same as your own final
exercise , the experience is that much more evocative.

In preparation for the exercise I went to Bloodhound
Camp to the directing staff of Somme Company to
whom I was to provide enemy. The Company
Commander, on greeting me warmly, informed me that
I would be controlling my platoon of enemy from the
shelter of his DS headquarters which comes with camp
beds provided and in situ bar facilities . Avant-garde
styles of leadership are obviously obsolete in today's
Sandhurst!

The Company Commander and his band of
instructors had a flair for making Officer Cadets lives
difficult and I felt a conflict of interests. Although he had
informed me that 'the moment you step up those steps
you are one of us , old boy', I still felt a degree of
empathy for the wretched Officer Cadets. After the
hatching of one exceptionally devious plan I remember
watching the cadet platoon commander receiving his
orders and I had to fight back the desire to supply him
with the inside information .

Queensman Hamilton digs in on Mount Troodos. One particular event was the ambush of a road
move. The cadets were not expecting an incident when
with enthusiasm matched only by their luck in staying at about 0200 hours their convoy happened upon the
upright . scene of what appeared to be a nasty road accident.
The RMP were present with blue lights flashing and this
Two weeks of duties in the mountains have enabled convinced the Officer Cadets that this was a 'no play'
the new 'Franz Klammers ' to spend the odd day skiing . situation. I initiated the ambush just as the curious
Having spent the day on the pistes , they tend to return cadets on the 4 ton transport nodded back to sleep.
full of gleeful stories of near misses, wipe outs and They remained stunned and motionless for a full five
crashes that really leads me to wonder if they have seconds as the ambush vented its full force . I
quite grasped the intended attraction of skiing . remember watching the glee as they debussed , and
laughing aloud when they attempted a futile counter
On duty on Christmas Day in Troodos, with snow attack. I think I've just become one of us!
stacked up above the window and the contents of a
seasonal Red Cross parcel , one is led to ponder JUNIOR SUBALTERN
whether this is Cyprus. While snow ploughs were
forever working to clear roads in the mountains and the by 2Lt G Minton
soldiers were shovelling hard to keep the entrance to
the guardroom clear, others down in Episkopi were The Junior Subaltern . A short, snappy title which
swimming and enjoying the momentary sunshine. infers so much for one so lowly. As proud bearer of the
Such is life in Cyprus . label at present I am somewhat relieved to be able to
reveal that things , so I am told , have changed
However, whilst on the Battalion exercise most were dramatically since days past. Gone are the days of
lulled into a false sense of lowland security by the ostracism , gone are the days of painful and extensive
blazing sunshine. One may have thought the snow was initiations, now is the era of the 'wind up' to use the
reserved for the mountains . For the first time in living CO's vernacular. I have been assured , subsequently,
memory, not even the lowlands were spared the polar that I provided by far the most dramatic and successful
weather. Bitter lemons turned to bitter blizzards as the of 'wind ups' for some years.
snow built up .
I arrived at RAF Akrotiri after the most relaxing and
Fortunately the worst is now over and as the comfortable flight on board a Hercules to be greeted by
battalion prepares to move back to the UK, we are able the somewhat daunting vision of Lt Chris Rugg bearing
yet again to soak up the sunshine for which Cyprus will down upon me through the driving rain . I followed him ,
always be remembered . heavily suitcase-laden and at a distance appropriate to

20

3rd Battalion

a junior subaltern , to his car and was duly driven to my from the senior subaltern, Lt Mark Lindsay, the only
room in the RAF Mess at Akrotiri. This, apparently, was problem for me being that my dinner suit was st1ll at
the only place available for such as myself due to the Warminster and th e next best thing I could muster was
proliferation of mess gue~ts the Command1ng Off1cer a dark suit somewhere in Akrotiri. In the end , a rather
had staying. At my mentors suggest1on I grabbed a set sodden jacket and tie complete with badly chewed and
of combats , fresh from the washing machine and with much spattered trousers had to suffice, and things got
that 'just chewed by the regimental mascot' look and worse from there onwards. The fire which it was my
we departed for Episkopi. privilege to light as new arrival went out, and I was late
with the junior's drinks for the Mess. My already grubby
After some fifteen minutes driving which I was appearance was made somewhat worse by having my
assured was 'no problem by taxi' we arrived at the dinner launched trouser-wards by the duty waiter,
Mess. 1 was duly introduced to a few of the Mess Onsm Moore ('Jail him , junior'!) and my evening was
members whom I assumed were the most unfriendly crowned by the arrival of the Regimental Police , who
few, and to my 'Batman' , Qnsm Moore. After a hurried took me away for 'incorrect use of Her Majesty's
dinner I was whisked away to be marched before the cutlery'! Once released from co nfinement with a mad
Adjutant, the first of many new-arrivals nightmares. lt Cypriot-knifing jailbird I was rei ntroduced to a
was everything I had been led to believe, and more . somewhat amused member of the Provost Staff whom
After two attempts at making an entry I was finally I had previou sly known as the 'Adjutant', and an
allowed to stay and be shouted at; poor turnout, ten equally amused Lt Paul Moore, who, incidentally was
days late, expect rapid improvement, now get out. I did now refusing to 'bull ' my Sam Browne - even for a fee!
as 1 was bid and spent a somewhat depressed
afternoon in the Mess thinking about how much I had lt was the fi(st of many such 'wind ups' I have been
been looking forward to joining the battalion and subject to , and certainly the most successful , and in
wondering to myself why? My depression was some ways it provided an excellent introduction to the
deepened when Qnsm Moore told me that my MFO Regiment. I had seen the Guardroom, the Mess silve r,
would probably arrive around March sometime, but if I met the subalterns and seen the Adjutant's office all on
needed any kit, he cou ld provide it for only a nominal Day One. I am glad to report that it has now been a
fee . while since my last official 'wind up' so I must be settling
in- and that is not an open in vitation , should anyone be
Dinner was a black-tie affair. Such was the message wondering.

5th (VOLUNTEER) BATTALION

lt seems that every time we write for the Journal The Commanding Officer chats to Brig John Holman
something has or is about to happen which will affect CBE, Commander 2 lnf Bde, at the Skill at Arms Meeting .
the way in which we operate or train. In last
December's issue we were happy to tell of the eventual
arrival of SABO , having had the issue delayed
countless times over the preceding two and a half
years , and the rapid re-organisation to our Annual
Camp that resulted . This time the news is not as joyous
but must be considered within the context of what
might have happened. The reference is of course to
Options for Change. However, despite the uncertainty
that this has caused during the last six months the
battalion has continued training apace in what has
been one of the most exciting and original periods the
unit has seen for many a year. The Training Major,
John Harcus, recently returned from a stint in the sands
of the Middle East, must receive most of the praise for
the last nine months but not forgetting WOI (RSM)
Smith for his enthusiasm in improving our standard of
shooting , as was self evident during the recent
Battalion Skill at Arms meeting .

OPTIONS FOR CHANGE

No-one reading the Journal will need to be reminded
of the enormous changes which are soon to alter the

21

5th (Volunteer) Battalion

face of the Regiment and the affects they will have . The Colonel of the Regiment speaking to CSgt and
But, being a Territorial battalion , any changes in the Mrs Talbot after presenting the BEM.
unit structure, especially relocations, will take longer to
recover from, as by the nature of the beast it changes PERSONALITIES
only slowly. 5 QUEENS (V) has therefore been as
fortunate as it could have optimistically expected to be lt is pleasing to report that, since the bi-annual
in losing only one of its existing companies. But it is still change of senior appointments took place in the middle
with regret that we have to announce that B (Alamein) of last year, there are less farewells to be made this
Company based on the Isle of Thanet was closed with year. The one notable exception being Capt Mike
effect from 31 March 1992 although with thankfully Scott, the Adjutant who , after what seems like far more
most of its complement transferring to HQ Company than the usual tour, has left for two years on Division 11
based nearby in Canterbury. Whilst the closure was of the Army Staff Course at Shrivenham and
made effective quickly to lessen the 'Sword of Camberley. We wish him all the best and are left with
Damocles' syndrome which spreads through any1hing fond memories of a man who very rarely was perturbed
under the threat of closure , the relocation of D by anything, always showing a calm air of confidence,
(Kohima) Company from two of its three existing which probably meant he didn't realise what was
locations to takeover a TA Centre in Gillingham Will happening. His legacy to the battalion is the memory of
take much time and effort to complete but wi ll have an otherwise sane man reading comics, often at the
rewards in the long term . This newly structured crucial stage of an exercise , aided and abetted by the
company will be renamed as B Company retaining the Ops Officer. We welcome in his stead Capt Alistair
Battle Honour 'Kohima' in its title. C (Cinque Ports) Laidlaw and his wife Karen from 2 QUEENS and wish
Company is to lose its sub unit location at Eastbourne them we ll for their second chi ld , due in July.Changes to
and will have to strive hard to maintain its excellent the permanent staff see W02 Prosser taking up the
recruiting record of the past few years. A (Anzio) reigns as SPSI of HQ Company in conjunction with
Company having lost its third location in the TA CSgt Laker who joins as NRPS whi lst CSgt Kirkaldie
enhancement of 1985 has finally acquired another has returned to 2 QUEENS and is replaced by the
location at Cobham in the cuts of 1992. Isn't life buoyant figure of CSgt Toms as QPSI of A (Anzio)
strange? HQ (Aibuhera) Company has also gained a Company. Options for Change has meant that there
sub-unit location at Dover which was formally part of have been many changes to the TA appointments
the old B Company, and is home to the Assault Pioneer within the battalion , far too many to detail here, all of
Platoon. Sadly 31 March 1992 also saw the demise of which wi ll become effective on 1st April and will
E(HSF) Company, but we hope that many of its unfortunately mean that some of the stalwarts of the
members who remain young at heart will continue to battalion will probably not see the formation of the new
serve in the Battalion . Regiment. They wi ll all be sadly missed. On a happier
note our congratulations go to OCdt Butlin , and OCdt
The Commanding Officer presents Commander 20 Armd Ladd (who achieved an exceptional report) , both of A
Bde with his leaving present. (Anzio) Company for their success in passing Phase 2
Potential Officer Training at Aldershot , and also to Cpl
Scobie of the Recce Platoon in receiving an exceiiPnt
course report from the Section Commanders Ba .tle
Course at Brecon , which are rarely given .

22

5th (Volunteer) Battalion

5 QUEENS (V) Battlegroup HQ on Exercise Quadriga Gallop.

TRAIN ING Cambrian Patrol and whilst they did not achieve the
same degree of success as the Machine Gun Platoon
some valuable lessons for next time were learnt. One
As mentioned previously, training has continued disturbing trend began in November with the Rugby
unabated throughout the last six months which was World Cup final and carried on through to the end of
one of the most hectic periods the battalion has had for March ; and that was the unerring ability of the Training
many years. October started with the annual battalion Major to choose to work the battalion on weekends
patrol competition held on the Cinque Ports training when England were playing Internationals! The dates
areas and on Hythe ranges . The past two years has for the 1993 season have been given to him . The
seen CSgt Boddy's team from 9 Platoon C (Cinque esoteric aspects of training were not forgotten with
Ports) Company take the trophy with little serious battlegroup headquarters, as part of 20 Armoured
challenge and a hat-trick looked on the cards. Brigade , participating in Exercise Quadriga Gallop, a
However, throughout the day and night four teams 4th Armoured Division CPX in Germany. The jinx on 5
were locked within three points of each other, with CSgt QUEENS(V) continued with one of the wettest periods
Boddy's team lying fourth behind the three A (Anzio) since Annual Camp back in June aggravated by being
Company teams and an upset looking likely. At dawn held in barracks but with the exercise players under
on Sunday there was still little to choose between the sodden canvass on the playing fields . A fuller article
teams, with the result resting on the final phase on appears elsewhere in the Journal.
Hythe ranges : the team that shot the straightest would
win . Fortunately for CSgt Boddy it was not to be any of
his contenders and despite late protests for unusual The period leading up to Christmas is traditionally
interpretations of the ru les, CSgt Boddy and his team reserved for the families who support our soldiers
throughout the year, and rightly so. All companies held
took the trophy. family parties with HQ Company hosting an Age

November saw two of the battalions specialist Concern lunch in Leros TA Centre which gave many
platoons in action on different sides of the country. The PSis the chance to show the more human side of their
Machine Gun platoon commanded by W02 Anderson , nature. The lunch was a great success and was
firing Match 83 on a blustery day at Fingringhoe ranges enjoyed by all who participated . Our responsibilities as
near Colchester against four other units from Southern part of the community can too easily be overlooked but
District, and winning comfortably, in so doing being are nevertheless important. The lunch will be held
placed third in the UK of all units who fired the match . again this year.1992 started briskly with Bounty testing
Meanwhile the Recce Platoon under Capt Stuart on the second weekend in January and it seems to
Butler- Gallie were in action in the hills of Wales on the have hardly let up since. with only four weekends up to

23

5th (Volunteer) Battalion

the meet. The winn ing team captain showed that the
age of chiva lry is not over, by letting Pte Buckle , their
WRAC novice shot, collect the cup from the Brigadier.

The fin al event of the training year saw th e clan (the
Adjutants phrase, not mine) gather at Bovin gton . For
once the weather was kind and an enjoyable exercise
was had by all , except the staff at the Trainer who saw
their computer beaten by the ingenuity of the players
especially Cpl Scobie of the Recce Pl atoon who was
appearing in the most unlikely places bearing vital
information at vital times. All this despite being some 5
kilometres away from Battle Group Main and under
heavy enemy artillery fire !

Cap! Stuart Butler-Gallie and the Recce Platoon team IN MEMORIAM
on the Cambrian Patrol competition.
On the 5 March the battalion was honoured to
th e end of March when part or all of the battalion was provide the bugler and ushers at the memorial service
not working . held at St Lawrence Jewry, in the City of London , for
the life of Col Sir Ronald Gardner-Thorpe former Lord
lt has however, been an exciting period with the Mayor of London and Commanding Officer of the 4th
battalion improving its skills greatly on the new Battalion The Buffs.
rifle,both on APWT weekends which now appear to
cause less angst than ever before, and on field firing VISITORS AND AWARDS
exercises . On the latter the battalion was fortunate to
be allocated a slot, (on another International match On the 4 March Mr Martin O'Neil , the Opposition
weekend), on the advanced ranges at Lydd and Hythe Spokesman on Defence together with prospective
ranges . The package will not be forgotten quickly and Parliamentary candidates visited Canterbury TAC, and
will be the basis for many a tall story for years to come. were hosted by the Commanding Officer, Lt Col Chris
If only such ranges cou ld become available more often ; Argent. Our congratulations go to Maj John Pratten on
so much was learnt in such a short period of time. his Joint Commanders-in-Chief Certificate of
Commendation awarded for his work at the Joint
The end of February saw the start of our annual Forces Headquarters at High Wycombe .
Spring Cadres designed to improve those specialist
skills where courses are not generally available at
Regular Army training centres. This year courses
included LGV (otherwise known as HGV) , a Sniper
cadre, First Aid , Signals, Ass<tult Pioneer, and pre
Recruit Cadre. The courses ran over two weeks and
were attended by some 70 students, including 10 from
6/7 QUEENS(V).

During the middle weekend of the cadres the Lt Col Chris Argent meets Mr Martin O'Neill MP (centre),
battalion hierarchy dusted down the Aide Memoirs and Labour Party spokesman on defence, and his party at
other assorted paperwork, to prepare themselves for
the annual pilgrimage to Bovington to engage in Battalion HO, 4 March 1992.
combat with the Battle Group Trainer computer. Much

amusement was had during the CPX as command
posts engaged in exercise play, which towards 0400
hours included the England versus Pakistan
scorecard. Yes , the battalion was again working during
an international match , although , to be fair the last six
months have seen more than their usual complement.
But before battle could be joined at Bovington , the
Battalion Skill at Arms meeting at Hythe had to be
fought for, with A(Anzio) Company seeking to win the
trophy for the fourth time in five meetings. This they
achieved by building such a lead by the end of the first
phase that it was to prove unassailable despite efforts
from the other companies. lt was however pleasing

that at the prize ceremony, Brig JC Holman CBE ,
Commander 2 Infantry Brigade was able to present all
but one company with a prize for the various phases of

24

5th (Volunteer) Battalion

EXERCISE QUADRIGA GALLOP
by Maj M H Mortimer

The Divisional CPX Exe rcise Ouadriga Gallop
occurred in November 1991. lt will be remembered
mainly by the 1st Battalion who organised both the
Exe rcise and the administrative support , to the
detriment of their nerves but the benefit of their bar
profits. 11 was also a major event in our calendar since,
as part of 20 Armd Bde , we were required to
participate .

The air party indulged in the usual ritual of driving to
Canterbury in order to drive back up the road we had
just driven along to reach Lyneham so that we cou ld
board an aircraft that flew back over Canterbury.
Nevertheless Monday afternoon saw us enjoying a visit
to Detmold and the officers sojourning in a very
pleasant hotel in the town .

This civilised start to the exercise did not impress the Brig John Holman presents the Champion Company Cup
road party who had hardly reached their to Pte Buckle, at the Skill at Arms Meeting.
accommodation in the Garrison before, on a bleak
Tuesday morning , we commenced Exe rcise Quadriga The Officers' tents were on the football freld , ankle
Tart, as the 20 Armd Bde CPX was somewhat deep in mud by lunchtime on Day 1 (of 8) . The other
ambiguously named . This involved, for us, deploying to ranks' were on a tarmac pitch ; no mud but the rain
the training area, establishing Battalion Main HQ and co uldn't soak away so it formed numerous rivers and
then moving it all by daylight and by night. Night lakes.
movement on areas normally used by tracked vehicles
but subjected to heavy rain was not a wholly With this unpromising raw material , OM 1 QUEENS ,
pleasurable experience and the CO 's lament that we Capt Mick Berni er, and his team achieved a great deal
were not going to be in the field for the whole CPX was and the food in particular was superb. Well fed and ,
echoed by the rest loyally but not very sincerely. Our with Lt Richard Fowler becoming adept at 'borrowing'
enthusiasm for the CPX proper being in German Army heaters, we survived pretty well.
Barracks did not survive our first night of Kenel
barracks at Stadtoldendorf. The barracks were fine but The exercise itself was about normal for the large
we were not to be allowed indoors; we were to sleep on scale CPX . Bri efings were attended , 0 Groups held ,
the sports fields. This , in conjunction with the fact that movement orders issued , queried , reissued and then
Stadtoldendorf has its own climate (permanent rain torn up as the plan changed. Traces were urgently
whatever the rest of Europe does), meant the CO's sought and thoughtfully studied . We sent in demands
wish appeared to be granted. for every1hing from MILAN missiles to a Rabbi for the
RSWO. Finally and most usefully, we roamed from our
ce ll and spoke with the rest of the Division. We talked ,
exchanged views and argued with other Infantry units,
with Cavalry, Engineers, Gunners, Military Police and
anyone else we could find . For the Territorial , based in
England and se ldom seeing the rest of the Brigade let
alone the Division, this was the best part ':lf the
Exercise and we all learnt from it those aspects which
no amount of lectures and reading could ever instil .

The preliminary phases of the battle were
interrupted by aUK sponsored truce which broke down
after 24 hours, but long enough for Rememb rance Day
parades to be attended. Once again we are indebted to
the 1st Battalion for their hospitality to the officers in the
party as we stayed in thei r Mess and went to the
Rem embrance Service in Minden with them.

OCdt Marcus Butlin receives the award for 'Best Shot'. All in all the trip was well worth it. We learned a lot
and enjoyed it a lot. Sadly it is probably the last time
we 'll take part in such an exercise but if ever the chance
comes again , I for one, and many others I know too , will
be volunteering.

25

6thnth (VOLUNTEER) BATTALION

As these notes were put together (April 1), the
battalion's ORBAT post Options for Change was finally
settled .

Sadly we shall be disbanding C (Quebec) Company
based on Crawley and D (Cassino) Company based on
Sutton . However, on the plus side, the battalion will
take over A Company 2 WESSEX (V) based at
Portsmouth and a 2 WESSEX platoon based on the
Isle of Wight. HQ Company will also be expanded in
due course to take on an unyet specified allocation of
support weapons.

The full ORBAT will be:

A (Salerno) Company Farnham and

Camberley

B (Somme) Company Brighton and

Worthing

C (Duke of Portsmouth and

Connaught's)Company Newport. IOW

HQ (Alamein) Company Horsham and one

outstation from

the present C

Company

Since the publication of the battalion 's QUEENSMAN snRecently promoted Sgt 'Noddy' Holdor, a stalward of A
notes the 'no move before October' has changed. The
absorption of A Company 2 WESSEX (V) is now (Salerno) Company, QUEENS (V).
planned for 15 July. Additionally, 11 Platoon has
vacated the Kingston TA Centre and transferred to 5 outstanding service with the Catering Platoon and
QUEENS (V) at Cobham . Planning is underway for the especially as the Officers' Mess Manager. She was
re-roling of C (Quebec) Company as support weapons presented with her medal by His Grace the Duke of
specialists. Hornsea TA Centre and its HSF contingent Richmond and Gordon , Her Majestys Lord Lieutenant
have transfered to 8QF (V) . for West Sussex, at a ceremony held in November.

Further changes in the implementation plan may The Duke also presented Territorial Efficiency
occur in what is a fast changing environment but it is Medals to Lt Adrian Smith MBE HQ (Alamein)
hoped that the final position can be reported in the Company, former W02 John Williams and W02 Pat
Autumn Journal. Devaney, Sgt Peter Gill and Cpl Bob Hill, all of A
(Salerno) Company. The Commanding Officer was
There is no doubt that Options for Change has been also awarded the first clasp to the Efficiency
a considerable source of strain and work. The battalion Decoration (Territorial) . Lt Nick Davies was awarded
has had to fight its corner on several occasions but its the prestigious Needlemakers Sword at a ceremony in
efforts, and especially those of the Commanding London in March . The Sword is awarded on a
Officer, have been rewarded by an OR BAT which is the competitive basis to the subaltern who , in the
best that could be expected in very trying Commanding Officer's opinion . has achieved and
circumstances . contributed most within the battalion .

6n QUEENS (V) lives to fight another day! VISITORS

HONOURS AND AWARDS

Sgt Nigel Chandler REME (V) was awarded a British
Empire Medal in the New Year's Honours List. Sgt
Chandler has given outstanding service to the battalion
over a number of years , playing a significant role in
keeping the 'green fleet' on the road .

Another well deserved honour was The Queen's We were pleased to receive our Honorary Colonel ,
Regiment Medal of Merit awarded to SSgt Terry Gen Sir Edward Burgess at Farnham in March when he

Reynolds ACC (V) who was recognised for her visited A (Salerno) Company.

26

The Brigade Commander, Brig John Holman was
also a welcome visitor to C (Quebec) Company, HQ
(Alamein) Company and B (Somme) Company in
October, November and January respectively .

In February, Col Peter Thompson OBE TO and Lt
Col Foster Herd TO were guests of A (Salerno)
company at the opening of the refurbished bar
facilities . The refurbishment was made possible
through a most generous grant from the QUEENS
SURREYS (Territorial) Trustees of which Col
Thompson is chairman and Lt Col Herd a member. The
battalion is very pleased to maintain its close
association with Surrey following Options for Change
and is most grateful for the continuing support and
generosity of the Trustees .

Maj Chris Booth COS 2 Bde and Maj David
Shoesmith , newly appointed DCOS paid a visit to BHQ
and HO (Alamein) Company in March .

Finally, by the time this goes to print, the Officers'
Mess will have dined in 'General Ted' and hosted Col
Jean Blackwood OBE TA ADC , Commander Women
Services UKLF.

PERSONALITIES

W02 Bill White assumed the mantle of RQMS in
November. Capt Sean Burke joined the battalion as
Adjutant in January, replacing Capt Jim Dewar who is
putting his engineering background to good use at
Shrivenham .

Other January changes were CSgt Les Troll's Maj Tony Guthrie who joined the Brigade Specialist
promotion and appointment as CSM C (Quebec) Training Team in April.
Company, 2Lt George Farquar took on 4 Platoon and
2Lt Andrew Millward 5 Platoon . W02 Dave Truran was keep women out! Since that time. of course , the
appointed OC Cadet Liaison Team . Sgt Nick Higgins barriers of women officers and NCOs have been
became 21C Recce Platoon . Capts Charles Lindsay broken and women have been employed in a wide
and Frank Robertson transferred to unposted list. range of tasks including drivers. mechanics, signallers,
RPs, medics, intelligence. administrators and chefs. A
Maj Tony Guthrie has transferred to the Brigade woman has commanded the Defence Platoon and
Specialist Training Team . Capt Nick Clapham replaced Recruit Reception and Training Team , a woman is
him as OC A (Salerno) Company on promotion in April , currently CQMS HQ Company and a woman has been
whilst Maj Martin Ashley-Taylor and Maj Tony Dalby Officers Mess Manager for several years.
will swop roles , becoming OC B (Somme) Company
and Ops Officer respectively after the Families Day in With the demise of the WRAC, rebadging has had to
May. Lt Andrew Sims from the CHESHIRES (V) has be addressed over the last few months. Rebadging to
replaced W02 Alan Lawson as OC Recce, who will ACC took place before Christmas. at least one woman
also be joining the BSTI. has rebadged REME and the military accountants will
rebadge Adjutant General's Corps. However, it is now
Finally before his departure Capt Jim Dewar and Lt possible for those women outside these corps activities
Cathy Downes WRAC (V) announced their to be badged QUEENS. This is very different to the
engagement to be married. Regular Army where women are still not eligible to
become officers or to enlist into the Royal Armoured
SERVICEWOMEN Corps or Infantry.

Servicewomen badged WRAC have been a feature Whatever the capbadge , 6/7 QUEENS (V) will
of 6/7 QUEENS (V) for many years now. lt is very true continue to recruit women for employment in a wide
to say that without our women , the battalion would be range of activities and will continue to reap the benefits
very much weaker in terms of skill , operational of their skills, contribution to operational efficiency and
efficiency and in culture. of their positive effect on the battalion's culture .

This is a far cry from the very early days when toilet
arrangements, the weaker sex and the impact on the
licentious soldiery were all put forward as reasons to

27

6th/7th (Volunteer) Battalion

EXERCISE DRAGON'S TOR

Exercise Dragon 's Tor was the Commanding The eo addressing sn QUEENS (V) after Exercise
Officer's test exercise for the battalion . Using a
Falklands' type scenario, the exercise required the Dragon's Tor, with RSM Bilner in the foreground.
battalion to form-up at Okehampton at the end of CAMBRIAN PATROL COMPETITION
March ready for conventional operations over rough
terrain . Needless to say, the orders required the rifle
compan ies to clear the various tors of enemy which
they did in a series of company and battalion attacks .

The full range of Dartmoor weath ers was
experienced ranging from , on the Friday recce ,
unlimited visibility and sunshine to , in the small hours of
Sunday, torrential rain and sleet driven by high winds ,
all , of course , interspersed with different grades of
mist. However, the march into Okehampton for
breakfast on the Sunday was in bright, clear, weather
allowing people to dry out and take in the outstanding
natural beauty of the area.

The Training Major, Ken Molyneux-Carter, and Ops
Officer Maj Martin Ashley-Taylor, put a great deal of
planning and preparation into the exercise including
the production of local newspapers and radio tapes to
build-up the storyline. Exe rcise Dragons Tor was

certain ly testing for the 200 plus men and women who
took part and many lessons were learned in the areas
of fitness communications , tactics and sirnply living in
th e field in harsh conditions.

Finally, we were very pleased to find Cpl Bedwell!

The microchip plays a vital part in today's Arrny but
the Infantryman and his basic skills are just as

important as they ever were . That was the rnessage
from NATO's toughest test of infantry skills - the
Cambrian Patrol 91 - which involved over 600 soldiers
negotiating the rugged terrain of Wales.

Each patrol rnember carried 50 lbs of equipment as
well as their weapons. Navigating at night as well as by
day over some 60 kilometres over two days, the aim
was to pinpoint the enemy behind their lines. Along the
way, the patrol came into contact with make-believe
partisans and faced tests of physi cal and mental skills
including swimming across icy cold rivers in pitch
darkness, cas ualty evacuation and marksman ship.

Each patrol was competing against itself rather than
against each other with the mix of skills , stamina and
dedication being evaluated against gold, silver and

bronze standards.

lt was against this backg round that 2Lt Nick Davies
led the battalion's Cambrian Patrol team to a very
creditable bronze medal. As ever the conditions were
foul but the excellent performance was in part due to
the training provided by Capt Neil Strachan B (Somme)
Company and CSgt Tom Reddick PSI C (Quebec)
Company. Selection and training will start earlier this

yea r with the aim of 'going for gold' .

The elusive Cpl Bedwell of sn QUEENS (V) who makes a The full team were 2Lt Davies (C) Sgt Crofts (D)
LCpls James (D) and Leaver (B) Ptes Bacon (B)
speciality of tours on Dartmoor.
Brotherwood (D) Cohen (D) and Short (H). LCpl
Harrold (H) was the team reserve .

28

6th/7th (Volunteer) Battalion

2Lt Davies and the 6/7 QUEENS (V) Cambrian Patrol
Competition team which won a Bronze Medal.

COURAGE TROPHY ORIENTEERING - SEDIST TA CHAMPIONSHIP

The Courage Trophy co mpetition is open to all TA Against strong competition, excellent results were
units in London District and seeks to test participants in achieved with the battalion com ing 1st and 4th in the
a range of military skills. Th e 1992 Competition was men's competition (SEDIST TA Championship for 7th
held over the Aldershot training areas in March with consecutive year) and 2nd and 5th in the ladies
stands focusing upon shooting , communications , competition . Best overall positions were Sgt David
driving , first aid, NBC , AFV recognition and the Harper (Mens 2nd) and Lt Cathy Downes (Ladies 3rd)
inevitable night phase, cross country march (7 .5 whilst W02 Bob Webb came first in the veterans class .
kilometres) and assault course.
Other team members taking part were Sgt Jon
D (Cassino) Company, based at Sutton and Crofts, Cpl Scott and Pte McSharry.
Kingston , and thus eligible, represented 6/7 QUEENS
(V) . Team leader was Lt Martin Brown, Sgt Burke EXERCISE ROADMASTER 1992
headed-up the support team whilst Lt Duncan Gray
acted as umpire to another team . In all 16 people were
involved .

In the event, the team came 18th out of 43 teams. Two teams entered the Army Driving Championship,
This was a very creditable achievement given the W02 Alan Lawson and LCpl Pat Morley won the
limited amount of preparation and training possible and Infantry Championship whilst LCpl Jon Fisher and Pte
given that some units trained dedicated teams over the Jim Nolan were this years Army Cross Country Driving
preceding 12 months. As a result of the impending champions .
disbandment of D (Cassino) Company following
Options for Change, 6/7 QUEENS (V) is unlikely to be A fuller account of Exe rcise Roadmaster appears
eligible for the 1993 competitio n. later in Journal as an article in its own right.

29

6th/7th (Volunteer) Battalion

Inevitably, the average age of the HSF was high and
they had more than their fair share of grey hair; those
that had some that is! However, the 'Dads Army' label
that some tried to apply never stuck as the HSF was
well able to undertake their primary task of guarding

KPs.

Indeed , Dunkirk Company, earned a certain amount
of notoriety as reported by The Times, on Exercise
Brave Defender some years ago, when Cpl Newton
deployed his private collection of armoured vehicles! 11
was Dunkirk Company which took the 2 lnf Bde HSF
Challenge Shield during Exercise Tiger Fettle in
September 1991. They also proved to be a formidable
enemy on Exercise Dragon's Tor- their last outing with
the battalion .

Cpl Robert Rerrie, Top Sniper on the 6f7 QUEENS (V) To mark their disbandment, the company held a
cadre, fires his SLR for the last time on Longmoor social event at the end of March during which Maj Col in
Ranges. Bunce , OC Dunkirk Company, was presented with a
silver Armada dish. Maj Alan Stocks, (his predecessor)
CROSS COUNTRY was also in attendance as was Maj Colin Hurd,
Battalion 21C , representing the Commanding Officer.
617 QUEENS (V) entered six teams in the South East
District Cross Country Championships which were held Shortly before this , and on the day before their
at the Guards Division Depot, Pirbright, on Sunday 12 transfer to the soon to be formed London Regiment on
January. 12 March the Commanding Officer paid a farewell visit
to the HSF outpost in North London - home of the
Against a field of 36 teams A (Salerno) Company 'Hornsey Special Forces'.
achieved a very impressive overall third position ,
qualifying them for the National Cross Country The creation of the HSF cleared the way for the TA
Championships in Edinburgh later in the season . Home Defence battalions to be considered for a range
of more demanding and exciting tasks and proved the
Team leader was Sgt David Harper with Cpl Scott. principle of engaging 'veteran ' soldiers in an
LCpls McCartney and Atkinson and Ptes Morley and appropriate role. As a formed body, and after seven
Soanes. years , the HSF fades into military history but a good
number of eligible soldiers will transfer to TA
companies under the Options for Change
arrangements .

TRAINING

Training over, the last few months had focused on
the 'deliberate attack ', culminating in Exercise
Dragon 's Tor as described above . The receipt of the
new individual weapon and light support weapon has
inevitably meant a good deal of conversion training and
a rekindling of interest in shooting and marksmanship.

E (DUNKIRK) (HOME SERVICE FORCE) Annual Camp is planned for the last two weeks of
COMPANY September as part of the 2 lnf Bde Concentration and
this , along with the re-roling of C (Quebec) Company to
Sadly, the end of March saw the demise of the HSF support weapons will dictate training priorities for the
and with it, 6/7 QUEENS fifth company. The concept of coming months.
the HSF was simple, ie to recruit people with previous
military experience for KP security based on a very FINALLY
limited commitment.

In the event many HSF soldiers put in much more After a gap of a few years the battalion marched in
time than the minimum requirement and a remarkable the Lord Mayor's show last November. We look
esprit de corps was built-up. All branches of the forward to a large contingent also taking part in this
Services and the civil police were represented in the year's Show on 14 November.
HSF with many former WOs and Sergeants serving as
private soldiers . All were very experienced and many The battalion will also be 'on parade' for the Grand
Reunion in July.
had seen active service in a variety of locations.

30

8th (VOLUNTEER) BATTALION
THE QUEEN'S FUSILIERS (CITY OF LONDON)

Much has already been written about Options for September and even better by the time we are granted
Change and the restructuring of the TA and indeed we the Freedom of Wandsworth in July. A certain air of
left camp at Fremington last September very unsure of impatience is now inevitable with everybody looking
our future . Luckily the decision was not too long in forward to the challenges ahead and eager to get on
coming and in his announcement in November the with it.
Secretary of State for Defence set in motion a
considerable period of change for the Battalion . TRAINING

We were delighted to learn that we are to retain B
and C Companies intact with their outstations and to Despite all other distractions the training cycle has
under command G (London Scottish) Company, carried on as normal. In October, 115 officers and
take Highland Volunteers at Horseferry Road and soldiers departed for a composite company camp in
1/51 Cyprus , Exercise Lion star 2. 11 was based on
Catford and D (London Irish Rifles) Company, 4 Royal Bloodhound Camp in the Western Sovereign Base
Irish at the Duke of York's Headquarters and Uxbridge. area and the original plan was for the company to fly
The only sadness is that while we keep the Drill Hall at out to Akrotiri on the eighth and spend a day settling in
Flodden Road , A Company loses its identity as it before starting training in earnest. However the best
merges with HQ Company at St John's Hill. That said , laid plans and the Movements Staff conspired to
as the dust settles, we emerge as the largest TA ensure that the command group flew by Hercules on
infantry battalion in the British Army with five the seventh with the main body following on the ninth .
companies and ten drill halls . The title of the new This change of plan did at least give the platoon
battalion is likely to be the 'London Regiment' which will commanders a chance for a detailed helicopter recce!
stand alone in the Army List. Despite halts because of rising temperatures (32 ' C)
and boats sailing into the danger areas , the initial three
The announcement was really the easy part, for day range period passed without too much interruption.
since then the Commanding Officer has been buried in
the plethora of meetings and paperwork necessary to This was followed by a we lcome session of varied
get the new regiment off the ground. We were hopeful watersports very much due to the good offices of W02
that despite a tight time frame , we could be up and Russell and his staff from 3 QUEENS . The first days in
running by 1 April. However that was not to be and the field on Platoon Commanders' exercises were as
although we do have the new companies officially much a test of sensible drills in the heat as infantry
under command and a vast amount of work has ski lls. 11 was during these exercises that Pie Mullen
already been done there is still much staff work yet to from B Company had an encounter with the local
do in the MOD and so far we can only guess at a wild life. 11 transpired that he had been bitten by a
formation date. lt would be nice if that at least cou ld be Montpellier snake , the first such case on the island for
achieved before we go to camp as a battalion in

six years! Although he was unwell for four or five days
he happily made a full recovery. The nickname 'Snake
Bite' wi ll not disappear so easily! The Company
Commander's exercise which came later was
highlighted by a beach landing and the opportunity for
the whole company to be airlifted by Wessex to the
next phase of the exercise. For many of the younger

soldiers, this was their first time in a helicopter. Thanks
are due to 82 Squadron RAF for their assistance.

Some we lcome R and R in Ayia Napa provided a
suitable conclusion to a most enjoyable camp which
was very much enhanced by all the support and
assistance given by 3 QUEENS to whom many thanks
not enjoying the sun and duty free it
are due. For those making a start on the all important
was a question of
subjects of bounty testing and conversion to the new

rifles .

November is traditionally the marching season
starting with the Lord Mayor's Show for which the
battali on provided two guards and a very macho log

carrying detachment furnished by B Company, all blue
sweatshirts and toggle ropes! The impartial observer
cou ld be excused some confusion as sightings of the
A foretaste of 'The London Regiment' on HMS Belfast.

31

Queen's Fusiliers

CO were reported both with the loggies and in the cab Mrs Georgina Lavelle receives a cheque for £1 ,000
of a four tonner! Sadly no photographic evidence towards the King 's College Hospital Premature Baby
exists. Remembrance Sunday was duly celebrated by Appeal from A Company 8 QF (V). Sgt Mimnagh makes
all companies at their usual venues. The end of the the presentation, watched by Maj Nigel Easton.
month saw the management of Keogh Barracks for a
Brigade Study Day covering the rationale behind entered a team and much effort was expended at the
Options together with some informative presentations various stands and over the assault course. A
on the Gulf War including one by the OC of the Company produced the best battalion team on the day,
Grenadier Guards Company attached to 3RRF's which came in ninth position . However there is still
much to learn about this particular activity and we are
Battlegroup . still looking for higher placings in the future .

The run up to Christmas started well for the young LOCAL LINKS
officers in the form of a study day at St John's Hill.
Much note taking and sucking of pencils was in In addition to the purely training aspect , all
evidence as they struggled with the complexities of G1 , companies work hard at fostering and retaining their
G3 and G4 matters. The rest of December was largely local area links. A Company held its annual Lambeth
devoted to the social calendar as block leave Shoot in October which is open to shooting teams from
the uniformed Services in Lambeth . The Mayor is
approached. invited to field a team and it is both a competitive and
social evening . This year both the Mayor, Cllr Singh
The New Year brought us that much closer to the and the Deputy Lieutenant, Col Grace attended. The
end of the training year with thoughts very firmly event was won by a team of ACF adult instructors and
focussed on outstanding bounty tests and the final the Mayor presented the challenge cup.
chances to pass the necessary tests on the new
weapon. A weekend was devoted to both before there In November B Company was visited at Hornsey by
was a chance to fire at Pirbright later in January. This is the Mayor of Harringay and the Deputy Lieutenant, Mrs
also the time of year when all the majors are involved in Winifred Taylor, who had also visited the Battalion at
the annual round of ACF inspections mainly in south camp. During the visit she opened the newly
refurbished miniature range .
west London.

February saw the rifle companies involved in their
own exercises. B Company deployed to Hankley
Common for a refresher on patrolling and in passing
discovered the need for tight ammunition control with
the new rifle . They also managed to dispel the OC 's
misapprehension that six figure grid references are
only accurate to 800 metres! C Company took
themselves off to Bordon for some instruction on 432s
by the School of Infantry's Armoured Infantry Wing.
Many thanks are due to Capt Bob Keating and his team
for all their time and effort.

March was largely written off to the Courage Trophy
Competition with one weekend spent polishing up the
necessary skills run by A Company followed by the

competition itself two weeks later. All the companies

A Company's Christmas Party tried a change of
format . This year it was a sit-down meal with one

official guest. This was Mrs Georgina Lavelle, Chair of
the King's College Hospital Premature Baby Appeal.
Following the dinner, Maj Nigel Easton presented her
with a cheque for £1 ,000, raised by the company during
1991 mainly by sponsored events and a swearbox

which netted in excess of £1 00!

'A' Company Courage Trophy Team is briefed by the C Company's 9 Platoon provided a Guard of Honour
Chief of Staff 56 Bde, Maj Robert Bruce.
for the visit by the Lord Mayors of London and
Westminster to the Bromley Civic Centre on 21
February. As the St Mary Gray Drill Hall is one he has
previously served in , the Mayor of Bromley continues to
take an active interest in the platoon. Also in February,
HQ Company held their annual Pipemakers' Shoot for

32

Queen's Fusiliers

VISITORS

On the 5 November we were delighted for the first
time by the GOC London District, Maj Gen R J S
Corbett accompanied by the Deputy Commander 56
Brigade, Col G E Godbold . Following supper in the
Officers' Mess, the GOC presented a number of
awards before meeting medal recipients over a drink in
the Sergeants' Mess .

In January we were pleased to welcome again Maj
Bill Fisher who ca rried out our annual Catering
Inspection and in March we were visited by Lt Col P R
P Swanson who was carrying out a study into
assistance for affiliated ACF units .

As part of the process of forming the London
Regiment, Battalion Headquarters hosted a meeting of
all Honorary Colonels, the first occasion of what we
hope will be a long and happy association .

Sgt Birchmore explains the point of aim to Cllr Singh, SPORT
Mayor of Lambeth, at the Lambeth Shoot. Maj Nigel
Easton, OC A Company supervises. Congratulations are due to WPte Keating who has
recently joined C Company and SSgt Dominguez of
the trophy generously donated by their Livery HQ Company who came 2nd and 1Oth respectively in
Company . the District Ladies Cross-Country event with the team
finishing an overall 3rd. The RSM and RQMS were
On 24 March the link with Dulwich College was runners-up in the doubles event in the District
maintained when the only surviving drum of the old Badminton Tournament and Sgt Hill of C Company
Dulwich College OTC, refurbished by Mr Bert Mayle, continues to run the battalion Rugby side with varied
was presented to the College CCF by the Commanding results .
Officer at a contingent parade. lt was a fitting occasion
for the Corps of Drums to conclude the form al part of THE FUTURE
the evening. The Mayor of Wandsworth , Cllr Angela
Graham and her husband were entertained to dinner at As mentioned earlier we look forward to our new
St John's Hill later that evening and she later toured HQ name and with it a change of role with much
Company. The link with Wandsworth is much valued enthusiasm . In the immediate future , the Battalion Skill
and we look forward to the award of the Freedom of at Arms Meeting , Exercises Executive Stretch and
Wandsworth in July. Black Cat dominate the calendar with annual camp at
Wathgill in September to occupy the forward planners.
The pace does not slacken .

MESSES

The Officers' Mess held a Ladies' Night in the Great
Hall at Dulwich College on 16 November followed by a
display by the Corps of Drums and dancing to the Scots
Guards dance band . The evening was well attended
and provided a suitable opportunity to dine out our TA
Quartermaster, Maj Peter 1:3ateman who was·
instrumental in the formative months of the battalion in
1988. Luckily he is not that far away at the National
Army Museum so we can keep up the contact and use
his valuable fund of knowledge . This was followed by 3
wine-tasting held at Flodden Road in early December
organised by Maj Nigel Easton . A certain amount of
initial tasting was followed by some fairly serious wine
drinking and a good time was had by all.

The WOs ' and Sgts' Mess Draw was held this year at Lt Col Peter Mclelland presents a refurbished drum to
Balham which proved to be a most successful evening Dulwich College CCF.
largely due to the efforts of the C Company SNCOs
who organised it.

33

DEPOT THE QUEEN'S DIVISION

by Maj M S Quinn

During the six months from October 1991 to March Over the last six months we have bid farewell to Lt
1992 the number of recruits arriving at the Depot for the Clapp (2 QUEENS), Cpls Martin and Searle (3
Queen's Division was 329. Of that total 73 recruits QUEENS) and Sgt Berry (retired} . We welcome Lt
were for the Regiment. In the same period 58 Jarvis (1 QUEENS) .
Queensmen completed recruit training and moved on
to battalions. Two training companies (B and C) are Brig John Holman with Ptes Heffer and Hockley, Best
currently running with 5 recruit platoons in each. Recruits at PT, at the Passing Out Parade, 8 April 1992.

Brig John Holman was the Inspecting Officer at the
Passing Out Parade of Minden and Ypres Platoons on
8 April1992 . Pts Heffer and Hockley (2 QUEENS) were
presented with the prizes for Best Recruits at Physical
Training on the day.

Plans are now well in hand for the formation of an
Army Training Regiment at Bassingbourn to suc.ceed
the Depot. By January 1993 three training companies
will be established to train recruits for the Royal
Engineers, Royal Signals and the Queen's Division.
Recruits will complete Phase 1 recruit training only at
Bassingbourn (1 0 weeks} before moving on to
complete Special to Arm training . In the case of
Queen's Division recruits Phase 2 training (11 weeks}
will be conducted at Ouston Camp, Northumberland
(current location of JIB North} along with recruits of the
Scottish and Light Divisions. lt is intended that
permanent staff of the Queen 's Division will be split
between Bassingbourn and Ouston . The latter part of
1992 promises to be a busy and challenging period at

the Depot.

REGIMENTAL INFORMATION TEAM

Despite the impending amalgamation of the
Regiment and contrary to many prophecies , the
Regimental Information Team is still alive and kicking .
The winter period has seen us giving assistance to the
Army Cadet Force , culminating in the Cumberland
Sword Competition .

By September we will have said farewell to no less
than five members of the RIT, including Sgt Rod Smith,
Cpl Bob Mumford and Cpl Bill Smith all as a result of
voluntary redundancy. W02 Dave Wilson leaves the
Army after many years service, and there is no truth in
the rumour that he is supplying the remainder of the
money required to rebuild Charlton Athletic's football
stadium from his gratuity. LCpl Tracey Child comes to
the end of her 9 month attachment and her office skills
will be sadly missed . We wish them all the best for the
future .

The Colonel of the Regiment with Cdt CSgt P Long, of the
Tunbridge Wells Platoon, Kent ACF, who won the
Cumberland Sword Competition this year on 4-5 April.

34

The Kirke's Cane and Cumberland Sword Best Female: 151 QUEENS K1ng ston
competitions for QUEENS ACF were fiercely Cdt C Johnson
contested a sunny Saturday in April. Congratu lations to
all of those who took part and especially the prize Detachment ACF
winners listed below:
Kirke's Cane Winner:
Cumberland Sword Winner: Cdt J Keogan - 72 QUEENS Company ACF
CSgt P Long - 3 QUEENS (Kent) ACF
Runner up:
Runner up: Cpl M Streeter - 2 QUEENS (Surrey) ACF
Cpl D Murray- 2 QUEENS (Surrey) ACF
Best Female:
Cpl A Norman -151 QUEENS Kingston Detachment

ACF

JUNIOR INFANTRY BATTALION (SHORNCLIFFE)

by Maj P R P Howe

This is the last contribution to the Regimental
magazine from the Junior Infantry Battalion
(Shorncliffe) as our last Passing Out Parade takes
place on 31 July 1992. The new joint Queens/PofW
Division Company is established at Bramcote and from
1 July 1992 a Queen 's Division Junior Company will be
in being there . it is stil not certain what is to happen to
Sir John Moore Barracks at Shornclife although we
have put forward a plan for Infantry Phase 11 Training to
be carried out here. However, the fact that we could
save HO DT's budget over £25 million and provide the
best ranges in the country appears to count for little .

We have continued to be in the fore of Junior Army
Sport. Once again our cross-country team won the
Junior Army Relay and Cross Country Championships.
Our judo team won the Junior Army Team event. After
our success in winning the Junior Army boxing last year

Brig John Holman CBE, presents J Sgt Bryne with the
Director of Infantry's Prize.

we lost in the final this year to the Junior Guards and J

PARAS , 5-4, a result which would have gone our way
if our Captain , JLdr Boreham had been allowed to box .

He was deemed 'too good' and is at present boxing in
the Youth ABA. In the Individuals' Championships we
had six winners , two of them Oueensmen . The
renaissance of boxing here has, in may respects , been
due to the skill , enthusiasm and hard work of Sgt
Warner QUEENS and it was wonderful to hear of his
award of the BEM in the New Year's Honours List. The
soccer team has had outstanding success this year
winning the Junior Army Cup and is now in the finals of
the Youth Cup having beaten the Apprentices at

Chepstow in the semi-final.

Regimental Boxers in the Junior Infantry Battalion We are again looking forward to our Albuhera Day
(Shorncliffe) team. Left to Right: J Ldr Wilson, J Ldr celebrations which hopefully can continue when we
Meech (R HAMPS), Sgt Warner (coach) J Ldr Boreham , J close . The closure of JIB (Shorncliffe) is a precursor to
Ldr Garlick. many other changes in the Army and in particular in our
Regiment. Let us hope our ideals and standards
remain- DEUS VULT.

35

ROYAL MILITARY ACADEMY SANDHURST

by Lt Col P P 8 Critchley

HM Queen Margrethe 11 of Denmark, our Allied Colonel-in- where , by this time , the likes of Justin Bradburn , Mark
Chief, inspecting Officer Cadets at the Sovereign's Hughes, Simon Jagger and I had already made
Parade, RMA Sandhurst on 13 December 1991. ourselves more than comfortable in the Joint Services
Mess Room along with our skipper, Lt Col Critchley,
Friday 13th December: a cold but glorious day saw and the Bosun , Sgt Lambert. After an ale or three we
our Allied Colonel-in-Chief, Queen Margretthe 11 of eventually found our berth s although I did manage to
Denmark, taking the salute at the Sovereign's Parade. close what I thought was the door to the bow cabin
She was much admired especially by the cadets who thereby opening what Simon Clay1on thought was the
also enjoyed her address. Afterwards she met the loo door! - Well ignorance is bliss I suppose!
Colonel of the Regiment and his wife and other
Queensmen . Saturday morning came around rather too quickly for
my liking and I vaguely remember Mark Hughes
We are now into the last of the old courses and start handing Kale and me cups of tea which I recognised as
the new single commissioning course for all in a hint to get up. With an excellent breakfast inside us
September this year. and a couple of sickness pills we all donned our sailing
kit and proposed to venture across the Solent to
Cowes. The prospects looked bleak - force 7 and
getting stronger, however as the day progressed the
weather stayed moderate to fair and we all managed to
helm the vessels with varying degrees of accuracy
towards Cowes . Simon Jagger proved to be a key
member of the ship's crew managing a restful sleep
below decks during sail changes and the like!

The food seemed endless , Simon and Susie Clayton
having stocked up with what could have lasted for a
week easily; so we reluctantly grazed and drank all day
until we ambled into Cowes where we met up with the
other crew. Hastily docked and cleaned up, the team
ventured into Cowes via the chain ferry. Finding a
warm welcoming hostelry with room enough for us
proved tough and we had to force an entry using
Alastair Rogers- excellent FIBUA Skills. Once inside
we went firm in one corner and amid much chatter
about the day's adventures consumed further
quantities of liquids and solids.

SAIL TO LEAD
by Andy Smith
(Now commissioned and serving with 2 QUEENS)

Saturday 14 March Academy Drill Parade ; how the
hell can I get off this one? Well , no need to worry, we
have the Regimental Sailing Weekend.

The deal involved arduous training on two of /
Sandhurst's yachts , 'Wishstream 11 +a Saddler 34 Ex
White Horse ; all the Queen 's men from Sandhurst and Lt Col Philip Critchley (right) and crew.
their girlfriends, sisters and all.

Anyway Friday 13th and Alastair Rogers , Simon
Clayton and Nick Reid return from Exercise, collect
food and drinks and speedily head towards Gosport

36

The next morning the journey back to Gosport in
force 7 conditions was quite exciting but, w1th two
crews now fully switched on and well rehearsed in sail
changes, map reading and logging, not quite as scarey
as we at first thought it might be as we struggled to get
th e mainsail up in what appeared horribly strong w1nds.

Many thanks to our Skipper and Mark Hughes (a
friendly Green Jacket) tor bringing us safely to port and
to Sgt Lambert tor skippering the other boat. A most
enjoyable weekend - now just the final exercise to go.

The crew in action on the high seas.

NEWS FROM DEN MARK

by Maj G C Brown

By the time this is published I will have left Denmark, Allied Colonel in Chief and her hope that all would go
having completed just over two and a half years as the smoothly with regard to the formation of the new
Regimental Representative here. Sadly, this will be the regiment. During the same period in Copenhagen I was
last news direct from Denmark certainly for the next two able to say farewell to Her Majesty's Adjudantstab and
years , as my successor at HQ BALTAP is not from the was given a farewell lunch by the Royal Life Guards at
regiment. Although we shall no longer have a their barracks in Rosenborg . Previously, in December,
permanent representative in the area, the exchange of for the third and the last time , I had attended the annual
officers with the Royal Life Guards mentioned in my dinner of the Major Korps of the Royal Life Guards, also
last newsletter has been agreed , and this means that held in the barracks in Copenhagen .
the regimental links with Denmark can be maintained
on a personal , if somewhat peri odic, basis until such The connection between the regiment and the Royal
time as we re-establish the permanent presence . House of Denmark is widely known in Danish military
Despite all the upheaval connected with the formation circles as a result of there having been a QUEENS
of the new Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment the officer in the country for the last twenty years or more,
good news is that Her Majesty Queen Margrethe has and many people have expressed regret that the close
agreed to continue as Allied Colonel in Chief of the new representation will cease after my departure. I have
regiment . found it difficult sometimes to explain why the break is
occurring, but I have made it clear that The Queens
In March prior to my departure from Denmark I had a Regiment will always value its co nnection with the
private audience with Her Majesty at Amalienborg Danish Crown , and that in due course we hope to have
Palace in Copenhagen, during which she expressed someone back here on a permanent basis.
her obvious pleasure at being able to continue as our

37

REGIMENTAL BANDS

THE QUEBEC BAND
by W01 (B/M) J R Young

As we are all aware 1992 is a sad year for
Regimental Bands and their members as the
apprehension over defence cuts looms large. By the
time this article goes to print all the doubts and fears will
have been realised and a positive way forward will be
determined for us all. I! is hoped that the new look Army
Bands will be a shining example of military music and
achieve all the things that the streamlining sets out to
make possible. But most of all we hope that we are all
in regular employment by the end of the year.

Perhaps the highlight of the year for us was our
whistle stop tour of Egypt laid on especially by the

Royal Navy on board their luxury cruise liner HMS
Invincible. The smell of three months worth of 'gash'
stacked outside the galley as we made our way to and
from meals is a poignant memory that will live with us
forever. lt is quite possible to spend a three month
voyage on board a ship as large as that without ever
seeing the light of day, if one so wished.

But I digress. The reason we were treated to the one
star treatment was that a band was urgently required to
play at the British War Graves Service to
commemorate the Battle of Alemein . lt was a moving
experience which was only slightly marred by certain
members of the press who undermined the solemnity
of the event.

Of course those on HMS Invincible were quick to Brig c H Bond inspects Dmr Splendly during the

seize the opportunity and made full use of the band on Quinquennial Review. The Bandmaster, eo and RSM look
board. We Beat Retreat for the Admiral and the
Defence Minister, Archie Hamilton , then went down to on.
the other end of the boat to play at the dinner party
afterwards. A concert on the flight deck was also laid with both looking every bit the proud representatives of
on for the ship's company and the German band played the Regiment that they should be.
in the Warrant Officers' and Chief Petty Officers' Mess.
lt was a relief to return to the relative calm of life Phase Two, the concert section , was watched by
onshore in Cyprus where within a week we were to be many members of the battalion who , although initially
inspected by the big chief at Kneller Hall, the home of were directed to attend , actually enjoyed the
military music. The venue for the concert phase of the performance . The band 's performance throughout was
inspection was SI John's School Hall , Episkopi. As of the highest standards and fully deserved the grading
soon as the band had unpacked from the trip to Egypt of 'excellent' , which was awarded by the Inspectorate.
The bands thanks must go to all members of the 3rd
we moved directly into the hall for an intense week of Battalion who devoted so much time to assist us. A
rehearsals. As with all the band concerts here in the special thank you goes to Cap! Bill Munday and all
Episkopi Garrison we had some good ideas for the members of the QM's Department who have helped us
so much during our time in Cyprus . 11 is a shame that
theme and , as ever, the QM 's Department were on the Quebec Band only existed from 1 April 1984 until1
hand to transform these ideas into reality. As soon as August 1992 but at least we can say with some pride
the band finished each rehearsal the QM's Department that within that time the band had two band inspections
would strike up with the sound of hammers, saws and by Kneller Hall lnspectorates and both times were
drills busily erecting scaffolding and backing boards. awarded the grading 'Excellent!'
On the 1 November our time was up and at 0750 hours
the Quebec Band and Corps of Drums of the 3rd
Battalion marched into position on the barrack square .
At 0800 hrs the Inspectorate arrived and the inspection
got under way with Phase One - an inspection of
uniforms and a marching display. The marching display
had taken two months on and off to perfect and the
Band and Corps of Drums performed it like clockwork

38

THE ALBUHERA BAND
by W01 (B/M) I A Peaple

Many people will have read our con stant references
to the Royal Military School of Music. Nestling in the
leafy lanes of rural Twickenham and overshadowed by
the most famou s of all rugby grounds, Kneller Hall
takes its name from Sir Godfrey Kneller (1646-1723)
who was a famous Court painter during the period of
King Charles 11. Between 1709 and 1711 he built this
stately home as his country house and since 1857 it
has been the principal training school for Army
musicians. Two courses run concurrently at Kneller
Hall. Firstly, the intensive three year Student
Bandmasters' Course and secondly, a one year Pupils'
Course for young musicians seeking to improve their
instrumental periormance. So what exactly goes on at
Kneller Hall? Two members of the band , Bdsm
Newman and Bdsm Hodges have just returned from
the Pupils' Course and this is their account of a day's
work.

'At 0700hrs sharp the door crashes open , the lights
go on and a keen junior Student goes round throwing
everybody out of bed. After room jobs, muster parade
and inspection , the day starts at 0900hrs with either
individual practice , company band or a professor's
lesson. The hour-long lessons are extremely beneficial
giving one-to-one tuition from some of London 's
leading orchestral players. Naafi break is usually
followed by full band practice. During the summer
months, all rehearsals take place on the bandstand or
'Rock' as it is affectionately known. These rehearsals
continue until the Director of Music is satisfied which , if
people are not concentrating, can take a very long
time. The remainder of the day can involve lessons on
theory, dance bands , string orchestras and more
individual practice- or being the 'guinea-pigs' on which
the Student Bandmasters can practice their
conducting . The Wednesday evening summer
concerts can attract audiences from 3000-5000 people
and guest appearances are often made by eminent

Bdsm David Newman on two of the many roles required of
today's musician : Top: ' Look at Life Workshop' held in
Oldborough Manor School, Maidstone. Lower: On guard
as a member of the Rear Party in Howe Barracks,
Canterbury.

orchestral conductors. Overall , the good aspects of the
course include the musical training , sports activities
and making friends with foreign pupils from all over the
Commonwealth . If they could get rid of the guard
duties , chair fatigues , leaf sweeping and some of the
Student Bandmasters , it would be periect' .

Bandmaster tan Peapte instructing the Lady Mayoress of Musical highlights of the past few months have been
Canterbury before the Albuhera Band gave a concert in relatively scarce. We had an unforgettable night at the
the King's School in aid of her charity. (Kentish Gazette Lewes Bonfire Celebrations, a combined Beating
picture). Retreat with the Royal Green Jackets at Dover Castle
and a concert for the Strode Park Foundation at Herne

39

Bay. We are currently looking forward to the Lady The Kohima (Volunteer) Band playing at the Grosvenor
Mayoress's Charity Concert in Canterbury and a week House Hotel on New Year's Eve.
at the Eastbourne bandstand in August. So far, the
bulk of our 1992 performances have centred around trying to reach that point where they are perfectly in
rear party duties . tune , in time and in balance with each other. Add to this
the many hours travelling around in cramped coaches
Last Christmas we said farewell to Bdsm James sleeping in rough accommodation and eating varying
Shearman who , after three years ' outstanding Service, standards of haversack rations and you begin to realise
has successfully passed an audition for the Royal that it is not accident that the word band means
Academy of Music. In June , we will lose the services of together.
W02(BSM) Tony Cooper who retires after a
distinguished career with The Queen 's Regiment. We The second reason involves the motivation behind
offer our good wishes to them both . all that effort to attain high standards. lt is of course
pride and not just personal pride but pride in the
Finally, our Journal notes for December 1991 ended Regiment to which they belong and whose name they
with a speculative cornrnent about the proposals which spend most of their time promoting and publicising. lt is
were due to be announced in 'Options for Change'. As not difficult to imagine what happens to morale and
is now widely known , reaction to the announcement enthusiasm when the object of that pride is replaced . I
has been as diverse as it has been swift. Due to a delay wonder how the fans would react if Liverpool FC
in the decision concerning the future structure of Army decided to change its name to Manchester United FC
Bands, the ramifications for the Regiment's musicians or if both were forced to amalgamate under the title of
have not as yet, been promulgated . Regrettably Manpool Rovers or some other such concoction .
therefore , we are still none the wiser.
The last reason is the very practical one of finance
THE KOHIMA (V) BAND and the need to generate enough money to provide
and maintain the tools to do the job . Tunics, helmets,
by W01 (B/M) B Cunning ham stand banners, instruments and music all have to be
paid for and , having spent years saving for some of
We all know from experience that life in general is these items, it is discouraging in the extreme to find that
uncertain , but the last 25 years have certainly proved to due to an amalgamation a sizeable chunk of this hard
me that life in the Army in particular is subject to the earned cash has been earmarked to fund the changes.
most shocking and surprising change. Whatever
happened to the old maxim 'Why change a winning Although the Kohima (Volunteer) Band wi ll be less
side?' or the American equivalent 'If it ain 't broken , why affected than the Albuhera and Quebec Bands we will
fix it?'. There is no doubt that small close-knit units tend sti ll share in the unavoidable and painful transition
to suffer the most from cuts , amalgamations and which the whole Regiment is experiencing . The good
alterations to the size, shape and role of the team . news is that, no matter what life throws at us, it still
Bands are probably the best example of this for three goes on albeit in a different form and those who survive
very good reasons . The first and most obvious reason adversity usually emerge stronger.
is that musicians spend most of their career working
and socia li sing together to the almost total exclusion of
all others and in a role which involves them in the
pursuit of excellence to achieye the best possible
performances. This can only be done by constantly

The Kohima (Volunteer) Band on parade. ABOUT THE BAND

The engagement which gave us the highest profile
and the opportunity to perform before the biggest
audience began in 1991 ended in 1992 and lasted only

40

30 minutes. No its not a riddle. The engagement or 'gig' I can again report that we are still attracting new
in musician's terminology, was in the Grosvenor House members and are pleased to welcome WRAC Lynn
Hotel, Park Lane, London on New Year's Eve where an Royle (Tenor Saxophone) , Phil Hyde (Trombone) and
audience of over 900 people had paid £100 each for Griffiths (Percussion). it is a particular pleasure for me
the privilege of seeing us periorm. OK, they may also to welcome W02 Bob Maxlow who will be finishing his
have had a passing interest in our warm-up group. You regular service with us. Bob was one of my Band
may have heard of them , I think they were ca lled the Sergeant Majors in the Quebec Band and I will be
'Brotherhood of Man'. This was the second year we delighted if he decides to stay with the Kohima
were invited to appear in one of the most prestigious (Volunteer) Band when his Regular service ends.
venues in London . An event such as this is memorable
in itself but will probably be most remembered as a As well as continuing to play the full range of light
'non' event by Sgt Frank Franci s and WRAC Janet music, we have recently begun to explore some of the
Baker whose car broke down on the motorway and as more serious symphonic wind band music and in tend
a result they didn't make the gig. To add insult to injury to include some of these pieces in future prog rammes.
the coach carrying the other members of the band it is also our intention to generate for ourselves more
passed them by without stopping! Another reason we opportunities for concert pertormances in variou s
wi ll remember this occasion is the long journey home. venues and who knows we may pop up in your area.
Two hours of which was spent just getting out of centra l
London . Starting 1992 in this way must have been a THE QUEEN'S REGIMENTAL BAND
bad omen as our next engagement which was for the ASSOCIATION
RAMC TA Band in Keogh Barracks near Aldershot also
turned out to be eventful for the wrong reason . One or The association held its second function in March
two of us arrived quite early and eagerly awaited those and I am pleased to report that the numbers attending
travelling by mini bus and with the kit truck. We were were even greater than last year's launch. it was
due to start at 8 pm but this proved impossible as there particularly good to see those members who had
were still only four of us at that time. The others arrived travelled such long distances. People like Bob Cross
shortly after the guests began going in to dinner and from Manchester, Roy Bedford from Yorkshire , Terry
although we began late the band made up for it with a Young from Wales, Dave Catt from Germany, Gary
periormance which drew praise from all those Cook from Cyprus and many others from far and wide .
attending the dinner. The praise on ·that occasion was
especially satisfying as most of our audience were it was another marvellous reunion but it could have
fellow musicians. been even better if other former QUEENS bandsmen
had been there. Next year will be an even bigger and
Preparation for our camp is well under way and we better event, so make sure all our members are asked
are all looking forward to the one time each year when to keep their membership up to date . All
we can have a sustained period working together. This correspondence should be addressed to CSgt C
year we wi ll be staying at sunny Crowborough Camp Witten , Secretary, QRBA, Leros TA Centre, Slurry
and will be using the time to catch up on military Road , Canterbury, Kent. Tel : 0227 251324 Ext 137.
training , flying the flag in the local area including a
co ncert in Lewis Town Hall and preparing for the GO's
Cocktail Party and Beating Retreat the week after
camp. As always this will be a busy two weeks but it
should also prove to be useful , satisfying and
rewarding .

THE QUEEN'S REGIMENT FREE FALL PARACHUTE TEAM
··THE FLYING DRAGONs··

AVAILABLE FOR DISPLAYS, ONE DAY PARACHUTE COURSES
AND TANDEM FREE FALL JUMPS ETC .

CONTACT THE MEDAL WINNING SKY DIVERS
TELEPHONE: 0763 249300

41

THE QUEEN'S REGIMENT FREE FALL TEAM
THE FLYING DRAGONS

by Capt T Major

1992 started with a vengeance as expected and this The Flying Dragons enjoying themselves -as usual!
is likely to be our busiest year to date, with half the team
going to China in September this year to represent UK Some say the sun always shines in Southern
in the World Parachute Championships Canopy California. Many will be pleased to know that the sun
Relative Competition, and more public displays than hardly shone for us this year, hopefully satisfying some
ever before - the total now nearing 60, including The jealous minds! In fact , our tent site was flooded on a
Queen's Birthday Parade at SHAPE in Belgium . couple of occasions. However, the aim of the exercise
was achieved eventually after much patient waiting for
In January this year W02 Reader and Cpl Best clouds to clear and thunderstorms to pass. Each man
joined a Royal Signals exercise in Florida as completed between 80 and 100 descents and some
cameraman and Accelerated Freefall Instructor good progressive learning was achieved under the
respectively for a period of two weeks. Meanwhile back helpful guidance of our coach Barry Large.
in cold and wet England the team continued to take
bookings for the coming season and attended courses Pte Chris Morgan from 3 QUEENS and Pte Neil
both military and parachuting related . Holloway from 2 QUEENS have settled into the team
well and look forward to producing some good
In February, four members of the team went on the performances this summer. The older hands such as
first training camp to Flagler Beach Skydiving Centre in LCpl Robert Fahy and Pte Peter Thetford continue to
Florida as part of the British Team in preparation for the put in hard work for the team and hopefully will pick up
world championships. These included W02 Reader, some medals at the National and Army championships.
Cpl Best, LCpl Brierley and Pte Markham , who is kindly
on loan for training from 6/7 QUEENS (V) for the Even with the formation of the new Regiment the
championships. This camp was a great success with team is always looking for new recruits . Be under no
each man completing about 30 jumps. The three illusion about the long hours that are put in by the team
regular members of the team then flew on to California to achieve the results it does . For example, between
to join the remainder of the Flying Dragons on their five the middle of May and the middle of September this
week pre-season training camp at Perris Valley. year the team is working every weekend , with more
displays than ever before with plenty of student
courses to fill the gaps.

The Flying Dragons training over California this spring. STOP PRESS

ARMY COLOURS

Out of 16 Army colours awarded by the Army
Parachute Association for 1992, no less than six went
to the Flying Dragons. We warmly congratulate the
following recipients :
W02 Reader, Cpl Best, Cpl Cashman , LCpl Brierly,
LCpl Fahy, Pte Murphy.

CADET UNITS AFFILIATED TO THE REGIMENT

EPSOM COLLEGE CCF
by Cdt RSM J Thierry

The Epsom Contingent remains the largest in the UK
numbering some 450 cadets. We support three
sections - an RN watch and three RAF flights with the
majority of cadets in the Army section.

The last couple of years has seen much activity in
the Contingent. One of our proudest moments was
when our Patron , Her Majesty The Queen , visited the

College tor a day to open the Ronald Raven Sports

Centre which houses our climbing wall and an area

built by our SMI providing an assault course , abseil The Colonel of the Regiment speaking to William Walker
tower and command task obstacles. The complex has on the inspection of Tonbridge School CCF on 10 March.
Also in the picture are the Headmaster, Mr Martm
proved a wonderful addition to our training facilities. Hammond and Lt Col Simon Boucher, the Contingent
Commander. (Courier Newspapers picture).
Our affiliation with The Queen 's Regiment remains

strong. Maj Jones (Regimental Careers Officer) is a
regular visitor to Epsom and we were delighted that his L _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

last visit was to present The Queen's Regiment CCF Our CCF year has remained as busy as ever and
Junior March & Shoot Competition Trophy. Similarly concluded at Easter with our Annual Inspection . Our
we have enjoyed a visit by The Queen's Regiment to Reviewing Officer was Air Marshal Sir Michael Stear
demonstrate weapon systems and are grateful to the (Deputy C in C AFCENT) and other guests included
RIT tor their help on a number of Field Days. Maj Gen Peter Shapland and the Minister tor the
Armed Forces , the Rt. Hon . Archie Hamilton .
Our Adventurous Training Programme which by
tradition has been a week in either the Lake District or The Summer term sees the arrival of another 120
Snowdonia at Easter is now extended to include a recruits and the training begins all over again .
summer week in Scotland . We have also been pleased
to include an extension to our Duke of Edinburgh
Award Scheme so that, tor the first time, a number of
cadets have achieved their Gold Awards .

Shooting remains one of our most tremendous EASTBOURNE COLLEGE CCF
successes. We were amazed when our shooting team
won the Ashburton Shield at Bisley in 1990 but when by Lt Col A M Deighton
they regained it in 1991 this was an unbelievable
achievement. We remain hopeful tor this year's This has been a year of change at Eastbourne. Maj
competition and also wish luck to our two Athelings Forbes Wastie retired on 31 August 1991 after thirty
touring Canada in the Summer and our six national years of service to the contingent. His work with cadets
was honoured by the award of the MBE in the New
shooters . Year Honours List; he certainly deserved the
recognition that this gave him . He spent much of his
time interesting those at the college in a career in the
Services and had an excellent strike rate! He
commanded the contingent from 1968 to 1973,
remaining 21C until he retired . His wise council and
enthusiasm are sorely missed .

Maj Gen Simon Cooper inspecting Epsom College CCF. If the Commanding Officer is the figurehead of a
contingent, then the School Staff Instructor (SSI) is its
heart and soul. In June Capt T G Watson retires after
40 years service at Eastbourne and the details of his
career in the Army can be found in a separate article.
Briefly, he joined the Home Guard in 1942, and The
Buffs about three years later. There cannot be many
men still in uniformed service of his vintage. Our new
SSI is C Sgt T J Lucey RAF who has just finished his
regular career as PSI at 8QF(V) . We look forward to his
enthusiasm and drive , as well as his adventurous

training qualifications!

43

-. - -·· -------- -- --·

All three sections have been active over the last Alps, canoeing , climbing and walking , and a visit was
year, with many visits and camps consolidating our arranged to the nearby former Dachau concentration
strong links with the Services. Two of these links stand
out above the rest ; the first of these is that with The camp.
Queen's Regiment, who always seem able to help us
with camps and visits when others let us down . At the In the Autumn , 31 more cadets joined the Army
time of writing this we are preparing to visit 3 QUEENS section. For their first field day, a camp was held at
at Salamanca Barracks , Episkopi , secure in the Ampthill in Bedfordshire . This gives the new cadets an
knowledge that an interesting and varied programme idea of what they are letting themselves in tor. lt also
waits tor us. The second of these links is our provides leadership training tor the more senior cadets
connection with HMS Marlborough. In 1942 through command tasks devised by the NCOs.
Eastbourne College was requisitioned by the Navy as
a training establishment while the boys were Some of the more senior cadets visited the Depot
evacuated to Radley. We recently became affiliated to The Queen 's Division at Bassingbourne Barracks. The
the new HMS Marlborough and hope to celebrate the visit took the form of a pre-RCB , involving an indoor
50 years of our links in June. An exciting and forward assault course , command tasks and a talk from a
looking year is ahead of us which can only be good for young officer recently returned from Northern Ireland .
morale , as well as for the quality and quantity of training The visit was hosted by Maj lan Jones, supported by
taking place . several members of the Depot staff.

HABERDASHERS' ASKE'S SCHOOL CCF In October an advanced adventure training camp
by Cdt Sgt Jeremy Lamb
was held at Okehampton on Dartmoor. Several
At the end of February, twelve cadets visited the
Commando Training Centre RM at Lympstone . The ice strenuous navigation exercises were carried out, one
on the endurance course was specially broken to allow
us to brave Peter's Pool , the submerged tunnel and of these at night. A totally new activity was carried out
various other delights. We also completed the assault
course (several times!) and had an unarmed combat on this camp: caving. Under the supervision of caving
lesson. On the way back the following day we visited en,enthusiasts Cpl Jackson and Sgt Barratt of 4
the tank museum at the RAC centre at Bovington. we

During February, five cadets were invited to join the disappeared down a small muddy hole and emerged 2
HAC for a training weekend . This was both
instructional and enjoyable, with all cadets taking a full hours later with mixed feelings about the pleasures(?)
part in the aiming , loading and tiring of the 251b field
guns . of caving. We also abseiled on a local quarry and

canoe surfed at Bude .

The most recent outing was to Aldershot where the
entire Army section went shooting . We used the cadet
GP rifles and LMB(Bren gun) .

The future looks bright for the section with a larger
number of cadets than ever before. As regards the
March and Shoot competition, we will not be over
estimating anything this year.

On the 15 March , the CCF held a Biennial General SOUTH WEST LONDON SECTOR ACF
Inspection. The inspecting officer was Brig Patrick,
who also presented the trophies for the inter-section During the last few months all QUEEN 'S badged
competitions. The Army won both the assault course detachments have been fully occupied with the Army
competition (the Alex Wheatley Trophy) and the overall Proficiency Certificate Syllabus (ACF) with gratifying
competition, winning three out of the five events. results .

During Easter, an adventure training camp was held Time has also been found for cadets to enjoy
at Otterburn , Northumberland . Lots of walking , adventurous training weekends on Dartmoor and basic
climbing and abseiling was carried out despite very bad
weather. rock climbing tor which we are grateful to scn. All

Training tor The Queen's Regiment cadet March and detachments attended weekend training camps.
Shoot competition began in the Summer term. Every
available moment between GCSE and A-level exams Congratulations go to the following on the award of
was spent running or shooting. On arrival at Deputy Lieutenants' Certificates:
Canterbury, we soon realised that during training we
had over estimated '. .. a log shaped wooden object' Cdt Cpl J Booth 133 Detachment,
by approximately 10 feet . Undaunted , the team Cdt Sgt M Barker Wandsworth .
performed creditably to come third in the competition . Cdt Cpl M J Norgate 134 Detachment,
Merton .
The Summer Camp was held at Hemer in Germany. 151 Detachment,
Our hosts (3RRF) put on an extensive programme Kingston upon Thames.
including : an introduction to the Warrior AFV including
the 30mm Rarden Cannon , live firing the SA80, a blank In December 1991 we said farewell to our
firing exercise, PT every morning, the assault course Commandant, Col R J Reardon , on his retirement after
and visits to 26 Engineer Regiment and 202 Panzer 44 years devoted service to the ACF . In his place we
Grenadier Battalion (a German armoured infantry welcome Col D E Travers TD .
battalion) . We also spent four days in the Bavarian

44

The future has been the major topic of conversat1on
in the ACF . as it has been elsewhere. So far, there is no
indication that option for change will affect the ACF in
Surrey. Recruiting is an area where we are holding our
own - just, both for cadets and adult instructors.
Annual reports on detachments for 1992, have so far
been very satisfactory. We now have 17 detachments
authorised to recruit girls.

Sporting achievements have been the highlight
since September 1991 . With a Surrey Cadet, Cpl D
Underdown of Felbridge Detachment, being the
individual winner of the UKLF ACF orienteering
championship. Surrey teams have also periormed
creditably in ACF rugby, swimming and cross country
championships.

Field Marshal Lord Bramall presents the Citizenship While the military syllabus is still the priority,
Award to 2Lt Terry McNaney, accompanied by Cdt Cpl increasing emphasis is being placed on offering
Sean Cronin and Cdt Cpl Liam Cronin of 211 (Edgware) options which lead to achievemenets more readily
Cadet Detachment (QUEENS). recognised in the outside world. Most cadets now take
part in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme , and
MIDDLESEX AND NW LONDON SECTOR several have achieved gold standard in the last few
months- useful if you are looking for that first job .
211 (Edgware) Cadet Detachment (QUEENS) has
won a new award for its community work in Edgware . At the end of May, Surrey hopes to have its first team
The ACF recently launched the Greater London success in the Ten Tors Expedition , led by Capt Peter
Citizenship Award in recognition of the voluntary work Wright. Junior Cadets from Yorktown and Deepcut
done by its members . The 21 1 (Edgware) Detachment, Detachments have been practising hard for the event,
based in Deansbrook Road , beat around 120 units for discovering in the process that navigating with a map
the top award , presented for the first time . Cadet Cpl and compass is more difficult on Dartmoor than in the
Sean Cronin , 17, of Church End , Hendon, said the unit, classroom.
impressed the award panel with its wide range of
community activities.

The unit regularly helps out at the senior citizens
centre in Grahame Park, organising fund-raising fetes
and parties . The group also assists the Royal British
Legion and has helped to clean out a pond in the Moat
Mount Fields nature area.

Sean said: 'Community work such as this represents
a considerable commitment as it must be fitted around
the other ACF activities such as camping , field craft,
orienteering and drill. ' Lt Peter Murray. Commanding
Officer of the Edgware Detachment, said: 'I am very
pleased that not just our unit, but youth organisations in
general , are being noticed for their work in the
community. 'I hope this award gets the support I have
got from cadets in my unit who give up their free time
and help to dispel the generally poor reputation youth
has today with the general public. '

(Based on an article by Marina Pirotta in the local
Edgware newspaper).

SURREY ACF

Since the last report , Surrey has welcomed a new Cpl D Underdown of Surrey ACF , individual winner of the
commandant, Brig Graeme Bartlett MBE , who joins UKLF Orienteering Championships.
after 28 years service with the RCT.

45

KENT ACF demanding on the cadets, requiring them to look into
their inner-self to complete the course. Judging by the
3 QUEENS (ACF) results achieved and the feedback from the cadets the
format will be used as a basis for future years. The
As these notes are read the Battalion will be half way Battalion held its annual skill at arms meeting at
through its summer programme and on the final run up Shoreham Ranges on the first weekend in March.
to Annual Camp. With this in mind it is worth reflecting Cadets had the opportunity to classify on the Cadet
over some of the highlights and achievements of the Rifle and the Inter Platoon Shooting Competition was
past six months since the last Journal. also held with Tunbridge Wells Platoon being declared
the overall winners. Many background activities were
The Battalion fielded a number of cadets who laid on for the cadets whilst they waited to shoot
formed part of the Kent Cumberland Sword including LMG training , motor cycling , archery and
Competition Team at the beginning of April. After a survival techniques. Last month a four day training
keenly contested competition we are pleased to weekend was held at St Mary's Bay. 11 was as well
announce that C Sgt Paul Long of the Tunbridge Wells attended as usual with highlights including helicopter
Platoon emerged as the overall winner. This was a fine flying with the Army Air Corps , a 24 hour military
achievement for him and our congratulations go to him exercise , a range package , a watermanship package
and his Platoon Commander C Sgt Colin Hinton . and an adventure training package. The Battalion has

Recruiting has once again been high on the enjoyed the assistance of 7 Cadet Training Team on
Battalion's priorities, with a number of troop and parade nights with rock climbing and abseiling,
platoon Staff taking time off from their work to visit and canoeing , self defence and fitness training being but a
talk to groups of pupils from local schools. They have few of the activities laid on by them . The troops and
then been followed up with open evenings at troop and platoons have also managed a number of their own
platoon locations, building on the school visits . The weekends with the Royal Artillery badged cadets in the
resu lts from these have been encouraging and their unit receiving a large amount of assistance from 94
impact will be measured over the next few months and Locating Regiment's RIT, for which we are grateful.
attendance at Annual Camp. The unit is looking at the

possibility of forming a Tri-Service recruiting team with A number of staff have been away on qualification
the Sea Cadet Corps and Air Training Corps to visit courses including Frimley Park. Others have qualified
village fetes to show what excellent opportunities there in Canoeing , Top Roping and Abseiling thus increasing
are in our organisations for young people . As reported the range of activities that the Battalion can offer the
in the last edition of these notes, Huntley's Platoon was cadets. C Sgt Kirsty Forward was one of forty cadets
to disband due to the closure of the School. The who attended the Frimley Park master cadet course
Platoon paraded for the last time in early March and and she becomes the first member of the unit to be
closed its doors for the last time for over forty years. awarded her master cadet badge, for which we offer
The reunion for past members is well in hand and any her our congratulations.
ex cadets reading these notes who would be interested
in attending should contact Battalion Headquarters for As was mentioned at the opening of these notes the
details. Many of the Platoon 's staff have been Battalion is now on the run up to annual camp. This
contacted and are going to attend , including Capt John year the County is going to Long moor Training Camp in
Walton , so it should be quite a night. With the closure of Hampshire. A full and varied programme is planned
Huntley's a new platoon has been formed at Sandown based on the successful format used at Sennybridge
Court School in the east of the town. This will now last year. As well as the usual activities, visits have
been arranged to local Regular units including RAF
recruit from that area and the village of Pembury with Pitts Road , the Airborne Forces Parachute Training
the west side of the town and the village of Centre. A full report on this and the next six months will
Southborough being looked after by the Tunbridge appear in the December Edition .
Wells Platoon . The signs are good for Sandown with
the Battalion placing its own Pied Piper on the staff

there , SMI Mick Johns. Recruiting is good , the SUSSEX ACF
numbers and reputation of the Platoon are growing and by Lt Col A A McMahon
we hope that the ACF Centre at Huntley's School will
be moved there . On the subject of buildings, Wrotham The new training year got off to a flying start with a
Platoon moved into its own ACF Centre in April. The well attended Study Weekend for officers and adult
Platoon has been the Battalion gypsies since its instructors at Crowborough in early March . New
formation seven years ago, with no permanent Training Major David Bone produced a programme
accommodation . The Platoon Commander, C Sgt Sue which blended together 'evergreen ' refresher training ,
Wheeler and her staff are to be congratulated on with this year's theme of further improving and
maintaining such a well motivated platoon throughout harmonising training and testing standards across the
this period . three companies .

When reviewing the Battalion's training programme We were as usual ably assisted by 8CTI including
for the last six months you can see that there have not Sgt Spencer, and Sgt Plumpton and his men from the
been many spare weekends. In January twenty five RIT, who produced some typically trick command tasks
cadets attended a two part NCO's Cadre Course held requiring careful thought and good balance (see
at Crowborough Camp and St Mary's Bay Weekend photograph) , particularly by whichever team got the
Training Centre . The course as always was very

46

Colour was presented by the Lord Lieutenant ot
Surrey. The very smart parade was commanded by
Maj Brian Gould . Commandant and thanks to the
splendid arrangements made by the Headmaster and
Capt Peter Browning . the Corps Adjutant, the occasion
was enjoyed by a large number of parents and guests
which included the Mayor, Col Lindsay, Commandant
of Frimley Park CTC, and Col Beveridge Deputy
Colonel of the Regiment.

Annual Camp at Okehampton in Augu st by invitation
of Surrey ACF gave 22 of the more senior cadets a
happy if damp fortnight in Devon . Competition winners
there and during the year were rewarded at the annual
Review and Prizegiving at Caird Hall in October, so
graciously carried out by Maj Gen Morgan Llewellyn
CB OBE. Colonel of The Royal Welch Fusiliers.

Sussex ACF Adult Instructors 'Walking the Plank '. The Corps' own Service of Remembrance took place
on 27 October conducted by Padre, Paul Holt, and in
'bent' barrel! We were pleased to welcome for the first accordance with custom the names of the 63 ex-cadets
time W02 David Truran from Battalion HQ 6/7 who gave their lives in two wars were read out from the
QUEENS (V). well known to several units in C Book of Remembrance. The march past afterwards by
Company. and recently appointed as Cadet Liason the Corps and a body of old comrades and parents was
Officer. We feel sure that the contacts he made during led by the band of the Fleet and District Corps of
the weekend will bring our relationship with the TA
even closer to our mutual advantage. particularly Drum s.
during these times of change.
Other traditional events have taken place
Other highlights of the weekend included the successfully, namely the Carol Service (mince pies
combined Mess dinner. where the star of the karaoke afterwards) and the weekend camp at Browndown ,
session afterwards was undoubtedly the Bandmaster. always popular with cadets of all ages. which
and the slide presentation by Cdt C Sgt Cashmore from introduces the younger ones to Army camp life . As
Crowborough of his five week Canadian leadership usual the gallant lady helpers provided meals of superb
course last summer. We hope to gain a place on the quality. Mothering Sunday parade and Church Service
same course this year. and know that we shall be gave Padre Bert Steed the opportunity,
sending at least one cadet even further afield to on 29 March address . to remind the lads how much is
represent Sussex. having been selected to participate with a stirring
in the 1992 India exchange visit.
done for them at home.
Our thoughts are turning towards annual camp. and
we look forward to seeing friends old and new at St The Corps Association has been tireless in its efforts
Martin's Plain in August. to raise money and has for example provided four new
much needed target rifles . A sponsored walk. a draw, a
flag day in Camberley and a dinner-dance have all
contributed to cheer the Treasurer.

The Corps flourishes thanks to its volunteer leaders .
who do a magnificent job. Another volunteer would
always be welcome!

FRIMLEY AND CAMBERLEY CADET CORPS
by Col D A Sime

Readers may not know that the Corps was founded Arthur's Daily J
in 1908 by Miss Grace Reynolds and has been going
strong ever since . Carrothers

Some of the old Comrades are now in their nineties. Courtesy of Arther Prosser, Kent Messenger.
The Corps was affiliated to the 5th Bn . The Queen 's
Royal Regiment in 1912. lt has never suffered an
amalgamation or a reorganisation . has a current
strength of 80 and admits boys at the age of seven so
that when they reach the age to join Surrey ACF they
are old soldiers and loyal Queensmen!

The Corps suffered the loss of its Honorary Colonel
Reg Butterfield in December. His photograph appears
elsewhere in this issue. taken at the Consecration
cere mony of the new Colour which was the highlight of
last year's events. lt was performed by the Chaplain
General at the Gordon School near Waking and the

47

REGIMENTAL HEADQUARTERS

REGIMENTAL SECRETARY'S NOTES COLLAR BADGE - The present Co llar Badge of Th e
Queen's Regiment. In bronze on SD.
THE AMALGAMATION
BUTTON - The present Button of Th e Queen's
A summary of decisions on the new Regiment is Regiment. In bronze on SD.
given below. These include agreements by the
Colonels of both Regiments or their representatives on SLEEVE BADGE - An embroidered Tiger in Yellow
the Joint Amalgamation Committee, although certain on a Blu e background to be worn on the Left sleeve
points still await Royal Approval or other final between the shoulder and elbow.
clearance.
OFFICERS' RANK BADGES - Eversleigh styl e.

SAM BROWNE - Dark brown with whistle .

HIERACHY LANYARDS- Current 1st Battalion type for office rs
and WOs; 2nd Battalion type for other ranks.
The Princess of Wales is to be the Colonel in Chief.
Queen Margrethe is to be Allied Colonel in Chief. Maj NCO BADGES OF RANK - Blue backing.
Gen Anthony Denison-Smith MBE late Grenadier
Guards, is to be Colonel of the Regiment , subject to SHOULDER TITLES - Metal bronze on jerseys.
approval by Her Majesty. There will be five Deputy
Colonels, one for each County. BERET - Khaki (infantry) , with blue and mustard
yellow backing to the badge. Blue and mustard yellow
will be the Regimental colours.

AMALGAMATION DAY REGIMENTAL MARCHES

9th September 1992. (Salerno Day) . QUICK - Introduction 'Farmer's Boy', leading into

VESTING DAY (When the Colonel in Chief inspects 'Soldiers of the Queen ' to which we will march past.
SLOW- 'Minden Rose'.
her new Regiment)

Undecided but likely to be Spring 1993. BANDS

STRUCTURE Not yet decided by the Army Board . We will have

either one large band of 41 or two smaller regular
REGULAR- Two regular battalions comprising 25% bands. it is hoped that we will keep the Kohima
of each of the existing four battalions. The 1st Battalion (Volunteer) Band .

will form in Colchester and the 2nd Battalion in REGIMENTAL DAYS
Canterbury. In addition we shall have one extra
company badged PWRR which will be attached to 1 The Main days will be Albuhera , Minden , Sobraon
DERR for 18 months and two extra platoons badged and Gallipoli. Special Orders of the Day will be
PWRR attached to 1 RS and 1 RWF for 9 months. published on all other days presently recognised by
both Regiments.

TA - 5th (V) Battalion: HQ remains at Canterbury; AFFILIATIONS & ALLIANCES
HQ Coy in Dover; Rifle Coys in Guildford/Hounslow/
Cobham , Hastings/Seaford and Gillingham/ We are inviting all those with whom we are
Maidstone . 6th/7th (V) Battalion : HQ remains associated and who wish to become associated with
Horsham; HQ Coy in Crawley/Haywards Heath ; Rifle the new Regiment, to do so. The Haberdashers have
coys in Farnham/Camberley, Brighton/Worthing and already said they do .

Portsmouth/ lsle of Wight. B Coy, 8th Queen's Fusiliers CADET FORCES

will be one of the four nfle compan1es of the new They will remain affiliated , change their names and
London Regiment. it will be known as wear PWRR badges and uniform .

'Queen's ' Company and remain in Edgware/Hornsey. TRADITIONS AND PRACTICES
The other companies will be in the old Queen 's Drill
Hall , Camberwell. LOYAL TOAST - Sitting and carried out individually.

RHO - The RHO of the new Regiment will be in Queen Margrethe and the Colonel in Chief will be
Canterbury with an area office in Winchester. toasted seated .

HOME- As well as having RHO and HQ 5 PWRR(V) ALBUHERA DAY - The Silent Toast ceremony will
in Canterbury, it is hoped that our 'home based' regular be peliormed in accordance with custom.

battalion will normally be in Howe Barracks. This still THIRD COLOUR - To remain with the 1st Battalion .

has to be approved but has the backing of the Director SOBRAON DAY - The Regimental Colour will be
of Infantry. lodged in the WOs & Sgts's Mess.

ACCOUTREMENTS & DRESS CORUNNA MAJORS - Will be toasted in the
Officers' Messes of all Battalions .
CAP BADGE - The present Queen 's Regiment Cap
Badge with a Rose inserted beneath the Tudor Dragon SALT CEREMONY - Will be offered in accordance
and the scroll to show 'Princess of Wales's' instead of with custom at Officers' Mess Dinners.

'Queen 's'. In bronze on the beret and in No 2 Dress MINDEN DAY - The tradition of wearing Roses will
hats. be followed .

48