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Published by Queen's Regimental Association, 2016-02-28 18:04:25

December 1985

Get the best of
Both Worlds

When you leave the A rmy
join t he TA - all t he f un of
so ldierin g - little of t he ro ut ine.
W e need yo ur expe ri ence .
TA Centres at :

6 QUEENS (V) 6/7 QUEENS (V)

BHO CANTERBURY BHO HORSHAM

HO COY CANTERBURY" HO COY HORSHAM'

A COY GUILDFORD' A COY FARNHAM'
HOUNSLOW CAMBERLEY

B COY BROADSTAIRS" B COY EDGWARE
DOVER HORNSEY
FOLKESTONE
C COY CRAWLEY'
C COY HASTINGS. HAYWARDS HEATH
EASTBOURNE
SEAFORD D COY SUTTON
CAMBERWELL
D COY TONBRIDGE" KINGSTON
MAIDSTONE
SEVENOAKS

• Home Service Force Platoons with lower
training obligations and higher age limits are also
recru1ted at the locations marked with an
astensk.

Come along any drill n1ght and see for yourself.

Details of service, full addresses of TA Centres
and day of drill night, can be obtained by
nngmg the Orderly rooms at Canterbury
61397 / 462769 or Horsham 66111 .

join the T. A.

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THE JOURNAL OF THE QUEEN'S REGIMENT

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Why does the Army Benevolent Fund still need help?

For most of us nowadays the memories we have of the two
World Wars have become dimmed by time , but for those who
were left disabled- and for the many bereaved families- the
tragic aftermath of war is ever present. Many are suffering great
hardships. The Army has also been in act ion in many parts of
the world since the end of World War 11. Thu s even in peace-
time the problem continues .

The sole object of the Army Benevolent Fund is to try to lessen
this suffering . It does this by making contributions to the Corps
and Regimental Associations and National Service charitable
organisations which have been set up for this purpose . All the
money, which is used in this really good cause is given
voluntarily, by means of donations and bequests . You can help
by giving as much as you possibly can yourself - and by
recommending others to do the same .

Donations and Legacies should be sent to :

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Pa tron : Her Majesty Th e Q ueen

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(Regi stered un der the War C harit ies Act, 1940) (Th isspaced onated by W . NASH LTD. . St. Paul'sCra y, Kent)

BY APPOINT MENT BYAPPOIN HAENI flY APPOINT MENT
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YOUR iii

SECOND KENT COLLEGE
CAREER
CANTERBURY
CAN BE AS
ENTRANCE EXAMINATION:
CHALLENGING 12th February, 1986
AS YOUR
FIRST A Christian Independent School, Co-educational ,
Boarding and Day, offering places at ages 11-14 and
in the Sixth Form.

Formerly a Direct Grant Grammar School, Kent
College is one of the group of Methodist Residential
Schools. The School has accepted the invitation of
the Department of Education and Science to partici-
pate in the Assisted Places Scheme.

Entry to Senior School (560 pupils) at age 11 + .
Occasional vacancies later.

Entry to Junior School (100 pupils) at age 7 + or
later.

Almost all pupils remain into the Sixth Form which
contains 170 students. We have a good academic
record, excellent opportunities for other activities
including Art, Music and Drama together with high
standards and fine facilities for Sport.

Boarding fees : £4083 p.a . (Senior School), £3711 p.a.
(Junior School). Day fees : £2211 p.a .

Examinations for entrance in September 1986
including Scholarships, Bursaries and Assisted
Places, will be held on 12th February, 1986.
Completed application forms should reach the
School by end of January . Visitors welcome.
Prospectus available on request from the Head-
master , Kent College, Canterbury, Kent CT2 9DT .

FRIARS SCHOOL

Great Chart, Ashford, Kent, TN23 3DJ

Telephone Ashford (Kent) 0233 20493

Pre-Preparatory 4 ~ - 7 (Day) and
Preparatory 7-14 (Boarding and Day,
including weekly boarding). Boys only.
Friars School is situated on I0~ acres . It is
within easy reach of Heathrow, Gatwick, the
Channel Ports and Charing Cross. Classes are
small. There is a close-knit community with a
friendly atmosphere. Every consideration is
given to the boarding needs of the boys.
Gymnasium and allweather surface area
constructed 1980. Mountbatten building,
comprising Science Laboratory, Art Room
and Computer Room, to be opened in Spring
1986.

Soccer, rugby, hockey, cricket, atheletics and
golf are major games . Numerous extra-
curricular activites .

Special reduction in fees for Service personnel.
Scholarships available up to SOo/o of fees to
boys under 9 on February 22nd, 1986, the date
of the examination.

Apply, quoting ref. QR to the Headmaster,
Mr. J . M. Stevens, BA, Cert.Ed.

For Ford in Kent

T he latest 1985 Fords are in
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For fu ll deta il s of our tax tree
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Northdown Road . Cl o ·ue Tel : Thoanet 26554

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""

Editor : Contents
Lt Col J J White,
Reg•mental Headquarters, Dates to Remember 1985 page
Howe Barracks. Colonel of the Regiment's Preface
Canterbury, Kent Editorial 4
Mainly About People 5
CT1 1JU Senior NCOs Location List 6
Regimental Badge Freedom Marches 21-25 May 1985 6
Massed Bands on Horse Guards 11 - 13June 1985 7
Collar Badge 1st Battalion 10
2nd Battalion 12
Bun on 3rd Battalion 14
5th (Volunteer) Battalion 18
Printers : 6th/7th (Volunteer) Battalion
Geermgs of Ashford Ltd Regimental Headquarters 24
Depot The Queen's Division 30
Cobbs Wood House Junior Infantry Battalion
Chart Road Army Cadet Force News 35
Regimental Sport 40
Ashford , Kent Affiliated Regimental Associations 44
Marriages, Deaths , Obituaries
HMS Leeds Castle 45
News from Allied Regiments 46
Letters
Articles 50
53
59
62
62
63
65

COVER PICTURES

Front: The Prime Minister meets Capt David Wall (QUEENS) at the conclusion of
the Beating Retreat on Horse Guards , 11 June 1985. Maj Gen Mike Reynolds ,

Colonel Commandant of The Queen's Division is in the background .
Rear : Top : Capt Nick Sharples and a friend ' show the flag ' 7,000 feet over

locarno. Switzerland.
Lower : The 3rd Battalion on the Trooping the Colour parade. Fallingbostel ,

4 October 1985.

The Journal of
THE QUEEN'S REGIMENT

Volume 19 No 2 December 1985

Unconquered I Serve

Battle Honours borne on The Colours

The Regimental Colour :

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

" Korea , 1950-51 ".

The Queen 's Colour :

" Mons," " Marne, 1914- 18," " Aisne, 1914," " Ypres, 1914-15-16- 17- 18," " Hill 60," " Festubert, 1915," "Somme, 1916, 1918,"
" Aibert, 1916, 1918," " Vimy, 1917," " Cambrai , 1917- 18," " Hindenburg Line," " Italy, 1917-18, " " Macedonia , 1915-18,"
" Gallipoli , 1915," " Gaza ," " Jerusalem," " Palestine, 191 7- 18," " Defence of Kut al Amara, " "Mesopotamia , 1915- 18, " " NW
Fronti er India, 1915, 1916-17," " Dunkirk, 1940," " Normandy Landing ," " North West Europe , 1940, 1944-45," " Abyssinia , 1941 ,"
" Omars, " Aiam el Halfa ," " El A lamein ," " Longstop Hill , 1943," " North Africa , 1940-43," " Sicily, 1943, " " Sangro," " Salerno ,"

" Anzio ," " Cassino ," " Italy, 1943-45," " Malta , 1940-42," " Hong Kong ," " Defence of Kohima," " Burma , 1943-45".

Allied Colonels-in-Chief
HER ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCESS JULIANA of the Netherlands

HER MAJESTY QUEEN MARGRETHE 11 of Denmark
Co lonel of the Regiment

Brigadier H C MILLMAN , OBE
Deputy Colonel of the Regiment

Colonel J C HOLMAN , OBE

2

CIVIC HONOURS

The 'Privilege' of the City of London . The Freedom of the Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames , Guildford , Reigate and Banstead ,
Maidstone, Canterbury, Ramsgate, Folkestone , Tonbridge and Mailing , Brighton , Chichester, Eastbourne, Lewes, Arundel ,
Hove, Worthing , Hendon and Barnet, and Belfast. 'Adoption' by Ashford .

ALLIANCES

The Canadian Armed Forces The New Zealand Army

The Queen' s York Rangers IRCAC) 2nd Battalion (Canterbury, Nelson , Marlborough and West
The South Alberta Light Horse IRCAC) Coast)
The Queen' s Own Rifles of Canada
The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment The Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment
1st Battalion The Royal New Brunswick Regiment 5th Battalion (Wellington , West Coast and Taranaki)

ICarleton & York) The Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment
The Essex and Kent Scottish
The Pakistan Army

The Australian Military Forces 12th, 14th, 15th and 17th Battalions , The Punjab Regiment

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

HMS Excellent, HMS Brighton and AFFILIATIONS
HMS Leeds Castle
The Royal Marines lA 'Bond of Friendship ') The Royal Anglian Regiment
The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers The King' s Own Scottish Borderers
No. 3 I F) Squadron Royal Air Force
The Royal Danish Life Guards (an 'Unofficial Alliance')

AFFILIATED UNITS OF THE CADET FORCES

CCF School Contingents

Alleyn's School , Dulwich ; Ardingly College ; St. Aloysius College; Brighton College ; Chichester High School; Collyer's VI Form
College (Horsham) ; Cranbrook School ; Cranleigh School; Dulwich College ; Eastbourne College ; Epsom College; Haberdasher' s
Aske's Schooi(Eistree) ; Hampton Grammar School; Highgate School ; Hurstpierpoint College ; Judd Schooi(Tonbridge) ; King's
Schooi(Canterbury) ; Kingston Grammar School; Lancing College ; Mill Hill School ; Reeds School ; Reigate Grammar School ;
Royal Grammar School (Guildford); Sir Roger Manwood's School (Sandwich) ; St Edmund's School (Canterbury); St John' s
School (Leatherhead) ; St Lawrence College IRamsgate) ; Skinners School (Tunbridge Wells) ; Sutton Valence School ; Tonbridge
School ; Whitgift School ; William 81is School ; Wilsons Grammar School.

ACF Units/ Sub-Units Cadet Coys Nos 25 and 26.
Greater London :
Cadet Coys Nos. 194, 195, 205, 211, 216, 217 .
NE London Sector Cadet Coys
Middlesex and Cadet Dets No . 72 .
Cadet Bns
NW London Sector Cadet Bns Nos 133 to 136, 141 , 143, 147, 149, 151 to 153, 155 to 158.
NE London Sector
SW London Sector Cadet Pis 1st (Redhill) and 2nd (Farnham) The Queen's Regiment (Surrey ACF).
Su rrey :
Kent : 1st (Canterbury) , 2nd ISandgate) , 3rd (Tunbridge Wells) and 4th (Maidstone) The
Queen' s Regiment (Kent ACF) .
Sussex :
Nos 2 (Seaford) , 3 (Hastings) , 4 (Lewes). 6 ICrawley) , 7 !Chichester) , 8 !Crow-
borough) , 10 (Eastbourne), 11 (Horsham) , 13 IShoreham). 14 IBexhill ), 16 I Hu rst-
pierpoint) , 17 IBognor) , 18 ILittlehampton), 20 ILewes OGSl , 22 ISouthwater) .

3

REGIMENTAL HEADQUARTERS
Howe Barracks , Canterbury, Kent CT1 1JU (Telephone 0227-4574111

Regimental Secretary Col J W Francis (ext 2951 .
Deputy Regimental Secretary Lt Col J J White lext 2501
Financ1al Secretary and Sussex Affairs Maj A Martin, MBE lext 2511
Lt Col L M B Wilson , MBE (ext 2531
Archives and Surre y Affairs Maj H C L Tennent (ext 2521
Kent Affairs
Maj R Waite (ext 2541
Recruiting, Regimental Assoc1ation Maj I R Jones (ext 2551
and Admin. Capt A Hill (Maidstone Military ext 2921

Regimental Careers Officer
OC Regimental Information Team

REGULAR BATTALIONS TA BATTALIONS
1st Battalion 5th lVI Battalion
Leros TA Centre, Sturry Road , Canterbury, Kent CT1 1HR
Lathbury Barracks, Gibraltar, BFPO 52 CO: Lt Col C M Joint
CO : Lt Col M J Ball Hon Col : H H Prince Georg of Denmark, KCVO
Deputy Hon Col: Col J B Ogilvie, OBE TD DL
2nd Battalion
British Forces , Falkland Islands, BFPO 666 6th/7th lVI Battalion
Norfolk TA Centre, Denne Road , Horsham, Sussex
CO : Lt Col PC Cook
CO : Lt Col P J Hubert, OBE
3rd Battalion Hon Col: Lt Col Sir A Colin Cole, KCVO , TD , FSA
St Barbara Barracks, Fallingbostel , BFPO 38

CO : l t Col D A Beveridg e, MBE

REGIMENTAL REPRESENTATIVES

Depot The Queen's Division Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst

Bassingbourn Barracks, Royston, Herts. SGB 5LX RMA Sandhurst , Camberley, Surrey, GU15 4PQ
Lt J R J Powell Capt J P Riley

Denmark Junior Infantry Battalion

HQ BALTA P, Naval Party 1004, BFPO Ships Sir John Moore Barracks, Shorncliffe , Kent CT20 3HE
Maj R A M Christmas Capt J C Maltman

4

DATES TO REMEMBER 1986

January 9-10 Goodwood Races June Meeting (Royal
(mid) 3rd Bn moves to Canterbury .
11 Sussex)
February Regtl Golfing Society Match v RMA
10 Sobraon Day (1st Bnl 14 Sandhurst, Aldershot
15 Official Birthday HM The Queen
March 2nd Bn returns from Falkland Islands to 5th (VI Bn Exercise the Freedom,
(Early) Oakington. 20 Folkestone
7 Royal Sussex Regtl Assn Committee Regtl Golfing Society Match v RRF and
Meeting and Officers' Reunion Party, 21 R ANGLIAN, John O'Gaunt GC
21 5th (V) Bn Annual Cocktail Party
22 London.
Officers' Club Dinner, Duke of July
York's HQ.
Royal Sussex Regtl Assn Exec Com- 9 Queen ' s Surrey's Golfing Society
mittee, Chichester . Match v RM , North Hants GC

April 3rd Bn moves to Belize . 11 Regtl Golfing Society Match v Haber-
(Early) 8 OF (V) established . dashers' Livery Company
Birthday of HM Queen Margrethe
1 Queen's Surrey Golfing Society Spring 13 Regimental Grand Reunion, Bas-
16 Meeting, Richmond singbourn
17 Middlesex Regt 2/ 10th Bn Annual
Lunch, Victory Services Club 25 Regtl Golfing Society Match v Kent
19 Cumberland Sword and Kirke's Cane County Constabulary , Canterbury GC

19 Competition 29 - Goodwood Races, July Meeting (Royal
Queen's Own Buffs Regtl Assn AGM 2 August Sussex)
19 and Inter-Branch Darts Match
Royal Sussex Regtl Assn St George's August Regimental Tent at Canterbury
23 Day Service , Chichester 2-8
YPRES Day (1st Bnl Cricket Week
23 Middlesex Regt 1/7th Bn (39-451 Dinner 3 Queen's Own Buffs Regtl Assn Remem-
26 Club , Hornsey brance Service and Reunion , Canter-
Royal Sussex Regtl Assn AGM and (Mid) bury
26 Reunion Dinner Lewes 22 2nd Bn moves to Minden
Birthday of HRH Princess Juliana Regtl Golfing Society Match v RM ,
30 30 Canterbury GC
6th/7th (V) Bn Exercise the Freedom,
Arundel

May Regtl Cricket Match v Wellington Col- September
3 lege 5 Regtl Golfing Society Match v Queen' s
8 Regtl Cricket Match v Cranleigh School
9 Middlesex Regt Officers' Club Dinner, Own Buffs GS , Epsom
10 Cavalry and Guards Club 8 Sevastopol Day (2nd Bn)
Middlesex Regt Albuhera Day Service, 9 Salerno Day (1st Bnl
15 St Paul's; Reunion in Victory Services 13 Quebec Day (3rd Bn)
Club and AGM 17 Middlesex Regt GS Annual Meeting
15-16 RWK Officers ' Club Reception and
Cocktail Party Duke of York's HQ North Hants GC
16 Regtl Golfing Society, Argyll and
21-22 Sutherland Bowl Competition, St October
10 3rd Bn return from Belize
22 George's, Sandwich 10 Regimental Cocktail Party, Ban-
Albuhera Day
28 queting House, London
30-31 Goodwood Races May Meeting (Royal 11 WO's & Sgts' Past and Present
Sussex)
Regtl Golfing Society Annual Meeting , Dinner, Bassingbourn
Canterbury GC 14 325th Anniversary of Raising of Tangier
Regtl Cricket Match v Dulwich College
" Glorious First of June" Celebrations Regt 1661
and Cricket, HMS Nelson 16 Queen ' s Surrey' s Golfing Society

June " Glorious First of June" (1st Bnl Autumn Meeting
1 Queen' s Surrey's Regtl Assn Service , 23 Regtl Golfing Society Match v Liphook
1 Guildford Cathedral
Royal Sussex Cri c ket v Lavinia , GC , Liphook
5 Duchess of Norfolk 's XI , Arundel Castle
7 Regtl Cricket Match v Tonbridge School November
7 Queen' s Surrey's Regtl Assn , All Ranks
Regtl Cricket Match v Habderdashers·
Livery Company Reunion, Union Jack Club
7 6th/7th (VI Bn Annual Cocktail Party
8 Lord Mayor's Procession, London
9 Remembrance Day

December
20 British Battalion Day

31 20th Anniversary of The Queens Regi-
ment

5

.~~~~~~~~~
~

COLONEL OF THE REGIMENT'S PREFACE

The Colonel of the Regiment"s audience with HRH Lt Col David Beveridge MBE, CO 3 QUEENS is third from
Princess Juliana of the Netherlands, 19 June 1985. The the left.
Regimental Secretary is seated second from left and

This past summer has seen a number of both cavalry and line regiments celebrate their tercentenaries (they were
raised primarily by James 11 to suppress the Monmouth Rebellion) . The related celebrations have inevitably high-
lighted the Regimental System - or the great regimental family approach as I would like to think of it. Where the
em phasis remains on leadership and the especial relationship 'twixt the Officer, the soldier and his family. Or put

?J• another way the Sandhurst motto ' Serve to Lead ' is the order of the day (we only manage accounts and the like in
the Infantry!) . However as Tim Heald put it in a ' Daily Telegraph ' article last Spring (after attending one such
~te rce ntenary event) , it is said that other service people, especially in the RAF and Navy, strongly disapprove ...
~ other chaps say such institutions are founded on an anachronistic and even ineffective sentimentality.

As the turn of the year approaches we look towards two significant landmarks in the history of the Regiment in
1986. The 325th Anniversary of the raising of Kirke's Tangier Regiment of Foot and the 20th Anniversary of the
formation of the now Large Regiment - The Queen 's Regiment. Or honoured 'birthdays' of the senior and junior
generations in a proud regimental history. Both occasions will be appropriately marked and, I am sure, will be very
well supported by both Past & Present Queensmen . For however much our critics may knock the Regimental
System its values are as meaningful today as they ever were. The great family regiment remains precisely that - a
close-knit and caring community in which everybody matters, nobody is friendless, good times and troubles are

21 shared and great pride is taken in corporate achievement. Just the atmosphere that pervaded throughout all my

i battalion visits over the past year. In the same context it never ceases to impress me how the depth of the family feel
is so clearly cherished by the increasing .numbers now attending the various Regimental events - and notably the

annual Grand Reunion at Bassingbourn . Despite our critics we have perhaps on offer a much valued and true sense
• of belonging . Something the modern and increasingly mercenary society is so patently lacking .

lt is very good news to learn that, despite a different mentor, the ' Glorious First' Cricket Match will continue to be
played biannually on that hallowed turf at Whale Island! Better news still is that English Heritage have finally agreed
to accept the Regimental Museum in Dover Castle as part of their overall plan for a major 'facelift' of this historic
monument . The target date for the opening of the new style museum is April 1987. However to meet this deadline
we shall need a sizable sum of money to match our share of the cost of this joint project. To this end an appeal is

currently underway to raise £75,000.

• In wishing al l Oueensmen, Past & Present and their families, a Happy Christmas and Prosperous New Year ; an~
Iespecial thought goes out to those serving with the 2nd Battalion in the Falklands this Yuletide and to their families
here at home in Oakington. May theirs too be as peaceful and joyous a Christmas as possible. •
Charles Millman,
Brigadier
~~~~~~~~

6

EDITORIAL

lt is difficult to keep up with the moves and activities of our battalions . In January the 3rd Battalion come to Canterbury,
the " Home" of the Regiment from Fallingbostel , next carry out an unaccompanied tour in Belize from April to October
and are then posted to Aldergrove in early 1988. The 2nd Battalion return from the Falkland Islands to Oakington in
March , train for a mechanised role and move to Minden in August . The 1st Battalion arrive in Tidworth from Gibraltar in
January 1987 and immediately have the prospect of an emergency tour in Armagh , from June to October that year, ahead
of them . We wish them all , and our TA battalions, the very best in the many different situations in which they will find
themselves .

There were two changes of command in September and we congratulate Lt Col Peter Cook and Lt Col Charles Joint on
their appointments respectively to the 2nd and 5th (V) Battalions.

In this edition are reports of two important regimental events that took place this summer after our June edition had
gone to the printers. These were the Beating Retreat on Horse Guards by the Massed Bands of The Queen 's Division
when the Prime Minister took the salute on our Regimental night - the subject of our front cover picture - and the exer-
cising of the Regiment's Freedom in five of the nineteen cities, boroughs and towns that have honoured us .

Later in the Journal are several pages of news of Queen 's badged ACF units. Cadets are an important part of the Regi-
mental family and we hope to include contributions from the ACF in all future editions .

Finally, may I thank all contributors and others who have worked so hard to help me produce the Journal this year for
their most valuable assistance and wish them and all our Readers a very happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

MAINLY ABOUT PEOPLE

Honours and Awards became the Army Individual Free Fall Champion for the
second successful year at the Army Championships at
Col C N Mearns TO was awarded the OBE in the Netheravon in August .
Queen's Birthday Honours .
Cpl Jackson, 2 QUEENS, represented the Amateur
Maj 0 I Patterson AAC (1 QUEENS 1961-68) has Boxing Association Home Counties team at Heavy-
been awarded the Air Force Cross. weight against West Germany and won convincingly.

Maj R G C Thornton TO has been awarded the 1st W02 M F Butcher, 3 QUEENS, obtained an A
Clasp to the Territorial Efficiency Decoration. grading on the all Arms RQMS / CQMS Course at the
School of Ordnance RAOC, from 1 July-2 August 1985.
Capt W P T Harper has been awarded the Efficiency
Decoration (Territorial). Pte Norris of C Company 3 QUEENS has been
presented with the Duke of Edinburgh's Gold Award by
Promotions the Patron of the Scheme himself, at St James's Palace .

Lt Col P Hiscock was promoted to Colonel as Col Capt C T Bromfield and W02 Oavies won prizes in
the 1 Armd Div Golf Meeting in which the 3 QUEENS
(W) Ordance Board in Jun 85 . The following have been Team of which they were members came second
overall .
provisionally selected for promotion in 1986:
W02 G France, QUEENS, represented The Middle-
To Colonel To Lieutenant Colonel sex Regiment and laid a wreath in Hong Kong at the
ceremonies commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the
Lt Col G Bulloch MBE Maj P Bishop Liberation on 26 August 1945.

lt Col 0 A Beveridge MBE Maj R M McGhie Cpl A C lrving, 1 QUEENS , was graded 'Distin-
guished ' on the Milan SNCO Course.
Lt Col M R I Constantine OBE Maj B A Carlston MBE

Lt Col A C Ward OBE

Miscellaneous The following members of 1 QUEENS received 'A'
Gradings on the courses shown:
Capts J P Riley, 0 V Watson and A M Goulden
have been selected for the Army Staff Course starting in LCpl A P Barrett Methods of Instruction
1986. LCpl S L llbury Methods of Instruction
Pte N 0 Bradbery Regtl Hygiene, Pest and
Capt C J Bromfield has been selected for a OM
commission in 1986/ 87. Pte G J King Mosquito Control
Pte 0 Patrick Basic Rock Climbing
Lt J R J Powell has had his SRC converted to a Basic Offshore Sailing
Regular Commission.

Sgt W Sharp, 2 QUEENS, the Team Leader of the
Regimental Free Fall Team , 'The Flying Dragons'

7

SENIOR NCOs LOCATION LIST

(as at 1 October 1985)

REGULAR ARMY

Warrant Officers Class 1 Colour Sergeants

M G Bernier RSM 6/7 OUEENSIVI R J Akehurst 2 QUEENS
RSM 1 QUEENS A Amber
D A Boden RSM 5 UDR AC IO Guildford
S A Bream QGM B/ M 3 QUEENS G W Anglin
8 Cunningham B/ M 1 QUEENS P J Archer RMAS
B/ M Depot P E Beard 1 QUEENS
T S Davis ARCM FTCL psm K Bowdrey 5 OUEENSIVI
A J Francis 36CTT 3 QUEENS
JP Hamill M A N Brinon QGM 2 QUEENS
RMSM S Broome
P E Hills FLCM psm RSM 5 OUEENSIVI RC Buckwell 6/7 OUEENSIVI
0 J McCaig Supt Clk Royal Brunei Armed For ; es
R 0 Milligan RSM 3 QUEENS W Butler 1 QUEENS
W01 2 QUEENS 0 J Buddle 3 QUEENS
G Moss RSM 2 QUEENS W Caldwell
J Taylor J A Carter 2 QUEENS
J Thompson M J Carter 5 OUEENSIVI
8 Charman 1 QUEENS
Warrant Officers Class 2 A P Clari< 3 QUEENS
8 Clar1te
0 Allaway Depot 5CTT
K Arey 3 QUEENS S H Cochrane 2 QUEENS
D S Bailes 5 UDR A P Cooper 3 QUEENS
A Baker Depot B Cooper 3 QUEENS
C A D Barber OGM R Cross 1 QUEENS
J D Blanchette 2 QUEENS J P Cullinane 1 QUEENS
8 l M Brazier HO SEDIST 3 QUEENS
5 R ANGLIAN P J Daines 5 OUEENSIVI
J Brown 1 RAF E J Dale School of lnf
C Bruton Depot V P Daty School of lnf
P Bull R Oenny
RAC Centre E G Drew 6/7 OUEENSIVI
M Butcher 3 QUEENS 2 QUEENS
B F Camille 1 QUEENS JEMFagg 3 QUEENS
0 T Cooper Depot J Foster 2 QUEENS
A Cornick R J A Goodman 5 OUEENSIVI
CPTA A Greengrass 1 QUEENS
0 A Davidson 3 QUEENS A R Hayes
G Cavies 3 QUEENS 0 Haynes 1 QUEENS
2 QUEENS 6/7 OUEENSIVI
T Oaw 1 QUEENS J Hedges 2 QUEENS
PG Oobson 2 QUEENS DJ Hinds
l J Outfield 3 QUEENS M 0 Higgins 1 QUEENS
J Edwards 3 QUEENS 3 QUEENS
T R Farrow 1 QUEENS T C Hobgen 1 QUEENS
F D Francis M J Holland BEM
Royal Hong Kong Regt F J Holloway 5 OUEENSIVI
G T France 2 QUEENS B J Horner
ME Gauntlett A P Howard 1 QUEENS
H J Green BEM RSME
Depot B Hunt 1 QUEENS
B E Hayward P J Ives
A W Hewett 1 QUEENS I A Johnston AIT
8 0 Hilton BEM Depot 0 H Kirk 6/7 OUEENSIVI
S Hinton 3 QUEENS ACIO Holloway
Depot J Knowles 3 QUEENS
S Howick Depot K I Leach 1 QUEENS
0 T lrving -James 5 OUEENSIVI 0 J Lovell RAC Centre
T G lsaacs 2 QUEENS 5 Manji 5 OUEENSIVI
CA Jarvis TCS/ Ranges SEDIST R C McAndrews 1 QUEENS
A Jenkinson BEM K E McCreadie 6/7 OUEENSIVI
1 QUEENS A J Mclvor
P A Juhel 1 QUEENS G D Morrow 10 UDR
B Kelling C Norton 2 QUEENS
P A Kearse London UOTC 6/7 OUEENSIVI
R Mali;IOW 3 QUEENS G W Page 1 QUEENS
3 QUEENS TAJPage
PRCMears 5 OUEENSIVI J G Palmer 2 QUEENS
SW Miller 1 QUEENS 3 QUEENS
0 Paterson 22 SAS P Parker 3 QUEENS
B W Pitchfonh 3 QUEENS G 5 Parkins 3 QUEENS
R Pollington C J Piper
AIT RHO
8 J Rawlings 2 QUEENS RI Piper 2 QUEENS
M J Reardon 5 OUEENSIVI M T Potts 1 QUEENS
G Rickerby 1 QUEENS A J H Prangnell 3 QUEENS
PP M Ryan MM 5 OUEENSIVI
RMAS C J Rodziewicz
T Saunders Depot 5 J 0 Scully 1 QUEENS
PT Slater LV Tanner 2 QUEENS
P l Stone 1 QUEENS 3 QUEENS
G A Thorne Depot L F Tay\or 1 QUEENS
N R Tickner 5 OUEENSIVI P K Tldey
3 RAF T Took 2 QUEENS
J E Tombling BEM 1 QUEENS
D Tanks 10 UDR ID Townsley
P A Turner 3 QUEENS J Vann RMAS
J Waiters 2 QUEENS R W Ward
B Webb NITE F R Wakeman 2 QUEENS
Depot
K White 1 QUEENS GM Walker
GWhittall 2 QUEENS
R J Wild 2 QUEENS R Weaver 2 QUEENS
P White 1 QUEENS
M N Wilson 2 QUEENS D Wilson LSP Oman
B W Winter MBE
5 OUEENSIVI CC Wilson 1 QUEENS
G A Yandaii· Wright B Winkworth 2 QUEENS
2 QUEENS 2 QUEENS
JIB
5 RAF
1 QUEENS

8 Sergeants 0 J Kennedy 2 QUEENS
MS Kirkaldie 5 OUEENSIVI
A K Adams 3 QU EEN S E Lavery HO LONDIST
AB Albrecht ACIO Edmonton A G Layzell
8 J Alien 1 QUE ENS J E leefmans 1 QUEENS
A J Alien 1 QUEENS A A A Lewis 1 QUEENS
R I Anthony 2 QUEENS F W Lewis 2 QUEENS
G A Amot Depot
M Avery 3 QUEENS MW Utchmore FAU I Nil
M Avis 3 QUEENS I J MacCormack 3 QUEENS
A Ballard 3 QUEENS RN Malam HO LONOIST
KW Barren. 1 QUEENS P J Marshal! 1 QUEENS
B D Bartlett 1 QUEENS A G Martin Depot
J Banon 1 QUEENS A May ACID Brighton
D G Bence 2 QUEENS K J M cCieave 3 QUEENS
MP Bennett 5CTT 1 McCu lloch
SNBoampong 3 QUEENS AS McEwan ITDU
G D Booker 3 QUEENS S McNulty (ARFI Depot
J W Boxell 1 QUEENS Depot
C J Brazier 1 QUEENS G Meade 2 QUEENS
A 0 Brewer ACID Acton S C Mitchell 1 QUEENS
EA Brown 2 QUEENS 0 Munday
FE Brown Depot P Munnery 2 QUEENS
K P Brown 3 Aegt ACC Depot
N 8 T Cavaglieri 3 QUEENS J G Murphy 3 QUEEN S
P J Churcher 3 QUEENS J P A Newman
l F Clarke School of lnf G A Nicol 3 QUEENS
P J Clarke 1 QUEENS C H Noel 2 QUEENS
GC Clarkson 1 QUEENS K Nolan
P J Coffey 1 QUEENS R J Norman AMAS
M Collins 3 QUEENS W A Norman 1 QUEENS
N A H Collins 3 QUEENS J P O' Connor 3 QUEENS
J J Cooper 3 QUEENS 2 QUEENS
1 QUEENS S K Olliver
M CC- 1 QUEENS J J O' Shea 2 QUEENS
P Copeman 3 QUEENS 8 A Parker 5 OUEENSIVI
JP W Costan 3 QUEENS 3 QUEENS
C Crofton 2 QUEENS J M Phillips 3 QUEENS
J P Crossan 3 QUEEN S T J Power
G Crowley 5 OUEENSIVI T Prosser 1 QU EEN S
S A Dane 3 A Anglian A A Rice 3 QUEENS
NB Dawson 1 QUEENS T Robinson AEME Bordon
N Oe· Warrenne· Waller 2 A Angtian 3 QUEENS
0 Dumbleton 2 QUEENS A J Robson 1 QUEENS
J Duncan 2 QUEENS P W Russell 1 QUEENS
R P Duplock 2 QUEENS
M FaiiO'NS 1 QUEENS A A Scully 3 QUEENS
A A Farquha rson ACID Hounslow C C Seeker 8 CTT
E C Fearon 3 QUEENS S A Sellen 1 QUEENS
K Fklge 1 QUEENS 1 QUEENS
0 l Fisher 8 CTT W J Sharp
J D Flaming 2 QUEENS I A Sheret 1 QUEENS
P F Friday 3 QUEENS A A Smith
J Gaylor ACID Maidstone AIT
P George 3 QUEENS BP Smith 5 CTT
l Greenhalgh 3 QUEENS A W Smith Depot
J Gorey 2 QUEENS PG Smith 3 QUEENS
1 QUEENS 6/7 OUEENSIVI
~ ~i8~~1foyle 1 QUEENS S Snoad 2 QUEENS
5 OUEENSIVI A Songhurst Princess Marina College
IL Hall A & LS LONDIST C J Stamp 3 QUEENS
S T Hannington 2 QUEENS 2 QUEENS
D Harbinson 2 QUEENS S Still Sennelager Trg Centre
DJ Haynes 22 SAS C A Stott 1 QUEENS
0 J Hills 5 OUEENSIVI F C Sullivan 1 QUEENS
C G Hole 3 QUEEN S T D Sullivan
T G Holman Depot PM Talbot 1 QUEENS
8 A Hubbard 3 QUEENS
CH V Hull 1 QUEENS A Taylor 5 OUEENSI VI
I Jackson 1 QUEENS G A Thomas
R Jacobs 1 QUEENS HR Thomas 3 QUEENS
A P Janes JIB
S Jarvis 2 QUEENS E C Thorne 1 RAF
A l J Jeffrey 1 QUEENS PM Toms 2 QUEENS
W Jenn•ngs 1 QUE ENS J N Trenowden
G A Jones A & LS LONDIST PM Turrell 3 QUE EN S
A Kennedy A F Uppington 3 QUEENS
1 QUEENS
M J Venmore
M K Vessey 3 QUEENS
2 QUEENS
C S Vickers 2 QUEENS
A V Weare
G A West 3 QUEENS
JIB
J V West 1 QUEENS
R S Wiles 3 QUEENS
A Wilson 155 TPT REGT
M W Woodward 12 INT & SY COY
1 QUEENS
M A Yoa
C T Young AI T
3 QUEENS

9

5 QUEENS (V) TERRITORIAL ARMY

S Cook I 6/ 7 QUEENS (V)

G R Anderson Warrant Officer Class 1
A l Arthur
KM Bell Warrant Officers Class 2
G A Bigwood
A Caulkett D Bowen
KM Dye 0 Cadywould MBE
G Fairfax A Frater
A A Jones BEM J Langley
P J Roast G Lane
B K E lane D Mclucas
K Lea P Neat
G Peel
E A ll ison B White
S S Anderson
A Birch Colour Sergeants
A H Bamford
J P Bright J Baker
I E J Chatfield D Bicker
G Croxford E Cavinder
A Oavey C Osborn
A A Franklin T Ra per
R J Gawler A Skogland
0 R Peters A Smith
R J Stockford A Thornton
P J Twort 0 Truran
0 F Tyler
FA Wakeman Sergeants

M D Beach RAG Howard A Baxter J Lashmore
J F Bennett P J Howtand P Beales A Lawson
W D Bennett P Booker G Morrison
A C Bobrow 0 M Lemare 8 Cox P Nuttycombe
P J Crossland 0 W Lobb J Dooling G Parr
0 J Cross B J l ucas R Dunn G Sallatt
I H Czapiewski R S Marsh P Sweatman
C G Davis P Devaney L Vile
A l Oawson FA Mason N Hicks JWiltiams
0 J Eagle A P Noble A Hole A Wishart
B F Easter M KOwst TWard
C H Feaver E Hunt
G Flint M O'Rourke V Lambert D Roberts
TF<v M P Page J Rotfe
B J Guinnessy 0 P Papa
P J Graham A 0 Rutter
D Green
0 R Hams A Staves
S Harrington C Stroud
A C Vernall
J S WilliS 0 M Whitethread

P A Bartlen Non-Regular Permanen t St aff
DPBKnott W arrant Officers Class 2

D Dragonett•

M Elsey

I

J Coote SelCo lour rgeant: Ha<me•
C Friend
C Long

10

FREEDOM MARCHES 21-25 MAY 1985

by Maj A W Barratt, Parade Commander

Drum Major Ward, 2 QUEENS. leads the Freedom March through Lewes.

(lewes Town Council picture , taken by Edward Reeves)

During the latter part of May this year a series of Long hours were spent in " bulling", rehearsals and
" Queen's Freedom Marches" were held in various travel, and it proved to be a hard but very enjoyable
towns in Kent and Sussex. They were: Lewes, Ashford , week . The enjoyment was in the main due to the tre-
Tonbridge and Mailing, Hove and Eastbourne. In mendous receptions we received from the crowds lining
addition, the Quebec Band Beat Retreat at Lewes and the routes , and the convivial entertainment provided by
Eastbourne. the councils following each parade .

The Regiment was principally represented by C At each town the salute was taken by the Mayor con-
Company of the 2nd Battalion. led by the Quebec Band cerned , and the Regiment was represented by the
and the Corps of Drums of the 2nd and 3rd Battalions. Deputy Colonel of The Regiment, Col J C Holman OBE,
Some 180 all ranks took part. To make up the numbers, except at Ashford by the Regimental Secretary, Col J W
soldiers from all Companies of the 2nd Battalion were Francis .
on parade. They included a body from Support llnvicta)
Company who provided a representative selection of The Army Benevolent Fund took the opportunity of
vehicles and crews . At Eastbourne 5 QUEENS IV) also collecting at each parade, and a handsome sum was
provided a smart and appreciated contingent. raised . Also present, and working hard, was the Regi-
mental Information Team who were able to capitalise on
The month of May was, therefore , set aside for drill the interest shown.
and rehearsals under the expert eye of W01 IRSM)
J Taylor, who acted as Parade Sergeant Major. The The parades were an undoubtable success. The
Colour Party was commanded by Lt D Nelson , who Mayors were happy and without exception would like us
carried the Regimental Colour . The others in the Colour to return . The many members of the Regimental Asso-
Party were W02 ICSM) Waiters and CSgts P R White ciations present were complime ntary, and entertaining
and D J L Buddle. at the receptions. Finally, the publicity achieved went
some way to reinforce The Queen's Regiment in its
The parades were mounted from Lydd Camp in Kent. proper position as the Regiment of the Home Counties.

11

1 LEWES , 21 May - The Deputy Colonel makes the the Regiment with the Freedom, since our formation in
Declaration . 1966.

2 ASHFORD , 22 May - The Parade Commander , Maj A 4 WEST MALLING. 23 May - The Quebec Band and the
W Barratt reports the Parade to the Mayor. The Regi- Corps of Drums lead the parade.
mental Secretary stands next to the Mayor.
3 TONBRIDGE, 23 May - The Deputy Colonel presents a 5 HOVE , 24 May - The Mayor presents the Borough
silver bowl to the Borough on behalf of the Regiment. shield to the Deputy Colonel.
Tonbridge and Mailing was the first borough to honour
6 EASTBOURNE , 25 May - The March along the Sea-
front .

12

THE QUEEN'S DIVISION MASSED BANDS ON HORSE

GUARDS, 11-13 JUNE 1985

By Maj A M F Jelf

The Regiment was host at the Beating Retreat by the regiments within the Division to be considered, it was
Massed Bands of The Queen's Division on Horse obvious that everybody could not be satisfied . There-
Guards Parade on Tuesday 11 June 1985 when the fore as part of the programme, the music was drawn
Prime Minister, Mrs Margaret Thatcher, took the from popular well-known songs and tunes to represent
Salute, accompanied by Mr Denis Thatcher , sporting the Regimental ties and links within counties and areas .
the Regimental Tie . lt was a rather damp evening, as W01 (BM) Phillip Hills of the Albuhera Band, our senior
many will recall , but the conditions hardly affected bandmaster, had a rather difficult task, but he caught
everyone's enjoyment of the spectacular Beating the flavour of the Home Counties admirably by
Retreat carried out by 500 musicians from the Division arranging such tunes as " Maybe it's Because I'm A
and its affiliated Ulster Defence Regiment battalions. Londoner", " The Old Kent Road " and " Sussex By The
However, we were all very glad of a stiff drink after- Sea" . These favourite old songs certainly had the
wards at the excellent reception held in the Banqueting audience singing for all they were worth at the
Hall , for which our thanks must go to Regimental Head- memorable Dress Rehearsal for the Colonel Comman-
dant. Nearly 3,000 pensioners, disabled and infirmed
quarters. from homes and clubs all over London had accepted our
invitations to attend and their obvious enthusiasm and
lt was back in June 1981 under the direction of the pleasure was heart warming.
then Divisional Brigadier, Brigadier Charles Millman
OBE ADC , that the first Massed Bands Display by the The UDR Pipes and Drums who once again per-
Queen's Division took place . The resounding financial formed magnificently this year, were drawn mainly from
success of that occasion proved that such an event is the 5th (County Londonderry) and 7th / 10th (City of
worth all the effort and so it was agreed in 1982 that the Belfast) Battalions. Their distinctive saffron kilts , green
bonnets and traditional Irish and Scottish tunes were an
event should be repeated in 1985. admirable contrast to the rest of the programme and
were particularly popular with our American cousins.
A Project Staff was gradually formed in the New Year
under the Divisional Brigadier, Brigadier Mike Thorne lt is difficult to choose any items from the rest of the
CBE. Once again there was a very strong Regimental programme for special mention but Wolfe's Patrol ,
flavour to the Team . Apart from the Project Officer, composed by W01 (BM) Terry Davis is an excellent and
there were also Major Max Maloney BEM , Captain Brian comparatively new work . lt has a very catchy melody
Wright RRF (late 1, 2 and 5 QUEENS) , Captain David throughout , finishing in a strong swaggering style and is
Wall, The Director of Music, W01 (BM in limbo) Roger ideally su ited to Massed Bands and Corps of Drums.
Francis, W01 (RSMI Bernard Lively BEM and Pte Arm- However, it was the Victory Beatings that might be the
strong, an enterprising young man from Australia, lasting memory for many. Arranged by W02 (DMI Rick
whose only failing was that he supported the wrong Baker, the Beatings were performed by thirty-five
cricket team! As if this Regimental influence was not drummers in an outstanding display of precision
enough Major General Mike Reynold s CB is of course drumming that left us breathless.
cu rrently Colonel Commandant of The Queen 's Division
and therefore was very much involved throughout . lt was very sad and much regretted that the Regiment
was not fully represented by our Bands and Corps of
The aim of this year's event was to wave the flag as Drums . After extensive research it was proved that the
far and wide as possible on behalf of the Regiments of Albuhera Band could not have been brought back home
the Division . At the end of the day, what profit was and replaced in Gibraltar by the RAOC Staff Band for
made, was to be divided amongst Regimental Charities less than 0,000. The proposal was therefore sadly but
and the ABF. A keen interest was therefore shown by sensibly dropped . The TA Band and 5th Battalion's
the Colonel of the Regiment and we were grateful for Corps of Drums were unfortunately committed to
his advice and support throughout. lt is very hard to Annual Camp. The Quebec Band and Corps of Drums
quantify the success of our publicity campaign, but over of the 2nd and 3rd Battalions did take part however,
22,000 people came to the event over the four days ; with some of our Junior Bandsmen . Led by Captain
there were TV appearances on Pebble Mill at One and David Wall , W01 (BM) Terry Davis (JSM from the
Breakfast TV , as well as a prolific poster campaign and Depot) , Brian Cunningham , Drum Majors Roger Ward,
press coverage after the PM 's appearance . Despite large Peter Churcher and Rick Baker, the Division 's Senior
movement costs, the financial success was extremely Drum Major, al l our musicians were a great credit to the
pleasing . The AB F (Eastern Region) have received Regiment throughout . They certainly made up for the
£5,400 so far and we hope that as records and cassettes lack of numbers . They continued to perform magnifi-
continue to sell, a further donation can be made . Regi- cently on the following nights when first HRH The Duke
mental Charities received up to £2,000 from the overall of Kent and then HM Queen Elizabeth The Queen

profit of £15,000. Mother took the Salute.

Choosing the music programme for the event was And so fini shed the four memorable nights of The
ce rtainly not easy . Everybody would have liked to hear
his old regimental marches but with over twenty former

. rt\·' '~... .•.. :. .:... ~ , ' -I 13

'"~'"' I

'

Queen 's Division 's Beating Retreat 1985, an event that Project Team , particularly RHO, the RIT , our Recruiters
we hope will be repeated in 1989. lt remains for me to and the officers, SNCOs and soldiers of the 2nd Batta-
thank all those who so willingly and ably assisted the lion and Depot who all contributed to the success.

14

1st BATTALION

The Battalion has certainly not been idle since the table absence from the Massed Bands display at Horse
appearance of the last Journal ; the highlights of the Guards) and the many hours of drill and rehearsals were
summer have included the Queen's Birthday Parade, an amply rewarded by the generous applause of a very
exercise in UK for each of the Companies, the first full- good crowd. Early fears concerning the unsettled
scale Gibraltar Military Tattoo and last but by no means weather were unfounded - indeed the sun was hot
least visits from the Colonel Commandant of the enough to melt the polish on leather which resulted in a
Queen 's Division and the Colonel of the Regiment. Lest busy time for the cleaners in the first few days after the
you think that there were troughs between these peaks, parade! We still await the final editing of a video of the
we of course carried on with such things as Ceremonies parade, which we hope will turn out well enough to
of the Keys, visits (effectively mini Open Days) by the provide a fitting souvenir of a marvellous occasion .
Gibraltar Civil Police and a seemingly inexhaustible flow
of RAF cadets, adventure training expeditions to We had already launched the Gibraltar Summer
Season two weeks earlier with 'Glorious First of June'
Drummer Sammy Trent blows his farewell to Gibraltar Balls in both the Officers' and WOs and Sergeants'
and the Army. The Water Catchment Area and the Both Messes . These were tremendous events, which
Worlds Beach are in the background . required considerable stamina from the CO and those
others who attended both! On the morning of the
Morocco and Spain and of course the continuation of 'Glorious First' itself we played cricket against HMS
the Kirke 's Company Competition . ROOK E. lt was a very closely fought match - with one
ball left, we needed two runs to win. A tremendous hit
The Queen's Birthday Parade took place this year in to the boundary was unfortunately brilliantly caught by
Victoria Stadium, rather than the more usual venue in an RN officer who thus pipped us at the post. None-
recent years of Navy No 1 Ground . From a presenta- theless, it was a defeat with honour, and we are grateful
tional point of view, this was a much more satisfactory to the Second Battalion for restoring the balance in their
setting for what was in the event a splendid parade . The match against HMS EXCELLENT.
Battalion provided four Guards with the Gibraltar Regi-
ment providing the fifth . The Commanding Officer of At this stage we also. launched into the exercise
course commanded the Parade, with the 2 IC of the season, with each of the Rifle Companies in turn
Gibraltar Regiment acting as Parade Major, and the heading off for two weeks training at Sennybridge.
Parade Adjutant and Parade RSM were our very own Tangier and Kirke's Companies, we hear, got very wet
Captain Eagan and W01 Boden . Our Regimental Colour while Holland Company, who were the second of the
was trooped at the Dress Rehearsal (where the salute three apparently got the whole of this year's summer in
was taken by the Deputy Fortress Commander, UK, as they came back with better suntans than when
Brigadier R T P Hume) and the Queen's Colour at the they left! Gibraltar hands will of course remember that
actual parade. The Albuhera Band as ever provided the while our Companies are away they are replaced here by
splendid musical accompaniment (hence their regret- TA Companies on Exercise Marble Tor, and South
Barracks echoed to a succession of r3gional accents -
Geordie, Brum, Scots and East Anglian soldiers all
passed through in quick succession , followed by York-
shiremen later in the summer when Quebec Company
went to Salisbury Plain and Sennybridge (again - it
was still very wet, according to the Recce Platoon who
proved that the Military Swimming Test is an important
requirement). These exercises enabled the Companies
to do their APWT and other important training , made
yet more vital by the fact that we suffered a severe blow
to our training programme in Gibraltar when it was dis-
covered that the one and only full bore range, the 135
metre ETR, was unsafe and had to be closed. An expert
having ascertained that it will take a major rebuild to
make it safe, we are down to one 30 metre range and
some .22 shooting.

Throughout this time, however, the major event of
the summer was drawing ever closer - the Gibraltar
Military Tattoo. The Brigadier having decreed that this
was to be a major spectacular in aid of SSAFA, and
Major Peter Hitchcock having been appointed Producer,
the preparations went into full swing . The logistics were
fairly mind-boggling - one example, to give you an
idea, is that 40 tons of scaffolding had to be brought
from UK to build the seating, and this had to be
unpacked from the containers by hand , as the dockyard

15

3

1 The Colonel Commandant, Queen's Division, Maj Gen 3 Lt Col Mike Ball uncovers the bench made by LCpl
Mike Reynolds meets Sgt Brazier of the AWTC Staff - Lauman for King's Chapel.
and makes him laugh.
4 Presentation of NI Awards at the Convent: HE The
2 The General with LCpl Stentiford, Sgt Farquharson, Governor and Lady Williams flank CSgt Holland BEM
Capt Crowley and Maj Hitchcock, all of Support Com- and family, Cpl Moffat IGOC Commendation) and Mrs
pany. Moffat.

did not have the right equipment to offload them fully of a building and absei ling face first down the side to
loaded! A very full and varied programme was worked rescue a damsel in distress from a gang of terrorists.
out, and virtual ly the whole Battalion was involved . Kirke 's Company provided the less glamorous but vital
Tangier Company put on an excellent silent drill display arena parties, and some excellent contributions from
(170 drill movements without a single word of com- the Gibraltar Regiment, including a reenactment of the
mand) , Holland Company worked out a gymnastics Ceremony of the Keys in 18th Century Dress and a race
display in which the tossing around of 250 lb logs
figured prominently , and Quebec Company carried out between 105mm Light Guns coming into action , also
a spectacular raid , landing from the RN Lyn x on the roof added to the pageantry. The RAF joined in with a Police
Dog display (a suspiciously friendly animal called Ben) ,

16

the MTO laid on a vehicle march past , and the Albuhera back and compete in the preliminary rounds in SW
Band yet again came up trumps, the musical highlight District .
of the evening being the Band with the Corps of Drums
of both the Battalion and the Gibraltar Regiment giving As was mentioned at the beginning of these Notes,
a spectacular rendition of the 1812 Overture complete we also had two particularly enjoyable visits from the
with the full Kneller Hall fireworks pack and the guns of Colonel of the Regiment, who came to see us in April,
the Gibraltar Regiment. There were three public per- and the Colonel Commandant of the Queen 's Division
formances of the Tattoo (the first being a dress who spent a couple of days with us in June. We were
rehearsal for schoolchildren) and all who saw it agreed able to provide both Brigadier Millman and Major
that it was thoroughly enjoyable and a great success . General Reynolds with packed programmes redolent of
Sadly, we did not attract the crowds we had hoped for nostalgia for an ex Commanding Officer and an ex
from the Costa Del Sol, and ticket sales were disap- Second in Command of the Battalion, but these were of
pointingly low. Nonetheless, the performance itself course not the only visits we had. The Regimental
went so well that all concerned were justifiably able to Secretary and the new Divisional Brigadier, The
congratulate themselves on a job very well done (note Queen 's Division also came to see us, while other
that the author was possibly the only person in the notable visitors have included Lieutenant General Sir
Battalion whose participation was limited to the John Akehurst, Lieutenant General Sir John Chapple
purchase of a ticket!) and one which was much enjoyed and a House of Commons Defence Committee group .
by everyone as, hard work though it was, it was so The near future is about to bring the Adjutant General
different from the normal day to day life and duties that and the Military Secretary, so the Adjutantal Office is
it provided welcome variety. Those of you who read being kept fully employed!
Soldier magazine will have found coverage of the
Tattoo in the 7 October issue. Looking back over the summer there seems to have
been so much going on that it is difficult to know what
Our sporting calendar has been as full as ever, and we to put in without writing a whole book, but one other
won both the 20 over and 30 over Gibraltar leagues in highlight was a very successful Band Concert g1ven by
cricket. We also had a full athletics season, and there the Albuhera Band (who else?) and Corps of Drums in
was a well supported Battalion Athletics Meeting at the St Michael's Cave. This was in aid of local charities, and
beginning of the summer in which Tangier ~ompany raised over £1200. This was an inaugural performance
carried off the Kirke's Shield. The Battalion then for the new Bandmaster, W01 Davis, who arrived from
provided 95% of the Army team in the Inter Services the Depot to take over the baton from W01 Hills on the
Competition, where we were just beaten by the Royal latter's departure to Kneller Hall. Mr Hill's departure was
Navy by a very narrow margin, and then went on to a sad landmark, as he had been with the 1st Battalion
provide 75% of the Combined Services team which Band and then the Albuhera Band for seven years, but
convincingly defeated the Gibraltar side. Swimming we were delighted to be able to welcome in his stead a
also saw the Battalion very active. Here it was Albuhera Bandmaster who has not only been a Queensman for
Company took the Kirke's Shield, but again the Batta- many years but also was well known to many of us from
lion provided the bulk of the Army team which defeated his time at the Depot. Needless to say, W01 Dav1s's
the other two Services in swimming and water polo. We arrival was welcomed with yelps of glee from the Batta-
also had a very enjoyable friendly competition against lion hockey players who are determined to discomfit the
the Gibraltar Police (we won again!) but particularly Gibraltar sides this season!
worthy of note was the effort of LCpl McFadden who
organised a sponsored swim in support of Gibraltar Another particularly sad departure was that of
Cancer Relief . A team of six sw1mmers, the Battalion Captain Bill Marshal! who vacated the QM's chair in
being represented by LCpls McFadden and Kent and September to go to the 5th Battalion. He had been with
Pte Holt swam in pairs for 24 hours. Each sw1mmer the Battalion so long that he was in severe danger of
completed eight miles in that time, and over £400 was becoming an institution to be pointed out to visiting
raised . As this is written , the hockey, rugby and football firemen and new recruits! Captain Gary Bourne left to
seasons have of course just started but it would be be Adjutant of the 6th/7th Battalion, Captain Jeremy
inconceivable to write on the subject of sports and the Ashton went to NITAT, Captain Neal Peckham and
1st Battalion without mentioning boxing! After a hiatus Lieutenant Andy Wright promoted themselves to
in this area over the Northern Ireland tour, we were civilians, W02 Jock Patterson went to Ashford, W02
delighted to be able to say that there was as much talent Steve Howick went to the Depot to try out his new rank
and keenness as ever for the Colonel of the Regiment's badges, Colour Sergeant Anglin is now beasting future
favourite sport, and the Battalion competition ended generations of officers at Sandhurst, while the well
with a very keenly fought contest indeed , Holland Com- known Colour Sergeant ' Biuey' Hedges was already at
pany triumphantly carrying off the Kirke's Shield . ~s Canterbury to welcome Captain Marshal! on his arrival,
you will see from one of the photographs elsewhere 1n along with Colour Sergeant Steve Broome. The MT lost
this issue OC Holland Company (seen encourag1ng one Colour Sergeant Barton who went to serve with the
of his fighters in one of the preliminary rounds) was Royal Anglians in Minden , and as I write this I am
almost as involved as the boxers themselves! The beginning to wonder if it wouldn't be easier to work out
particularly good news in this area is that we have been who has not left us this summer!
given permission to take part 1n the UKLFstage of the
Army Novices Grade 3 inter umt Champ1onsh1ps th1s Ceremonial co ntinu es apace; as these words are
season, and the squad is hard at work prepanng to go written the RSM is drilling a tri-Services Guard of
Honour on the Square in preparation for the imminent
hand over by HE The Governor to his successor, and our

17

Pte Ollerenshaw, HQ Company, gets the decision over REGULAR FORCES EMPLOYMENT
Pte Gordon A Company on his way to becoming the new
Battalion Light Heavyweight Champion. ASSOCIATION
2 Spectators watch the Kirkes Inter Company Boxing
Competition . L to R : Capt W Marshal!, Boxing Officer, The Association, together with the Ministry of
Maj P D Mclelland QC B Company and Lt M Scott. Defence and the Manpower Services Commission, is
3 2Lt Richard Owen looking a little put off after just part of the Forces Resettlement Service. Our task is to
being declared not the winner. The winner, Pte Gotch. assist all non-commissioned men and women who
4 HQ Company swimming team , winners of the Kirkes served with good character for a minimum of three
Competition , having only dropped 3 points from the years , or less if discharged on medical grounds, to find
Highest Score Possible. civil employment at the end of their engagements .

t houghts are turn ing also t o such major events as the Our services are free, and we take a long term interest
Kirke's Drill and March & Shoot com petitions, not to in ex-Regulars so they are available to them throughout
mention training in Portugal in the spring. W e are their working lives.
advised that there wi ll be a period of 24 hours abo ut t he
middle of Janua ry w hen we ca n draw breath , but at Our Employment Officers are situated in Branches
least no one can complain of being under-employed! throughout the United Kingdom and they maintain
close contact with local employers and Jobcentres.
Their addresses and telephone numbers can be
obtained from Unit/ Ship Resettlement Officers ; Corps,
Regimental and Service Associations ; Post Offices ;
Jobcentres and local telephone directories.

During the period 1st April 1984 - 31st March 1985 the
Association assisted 10,452 men and women with their
resettlement and placed 4,290 in employment . Of those
placed 2,220 were men and women from the Army and
44 were from The Queen 's Regiment .

18

2nd BATTALION

EDITORIAL really rather sad to see them go - apart that is from the
MTO who cou ld not drop this responsibility quick
In the annals of peacetime soldiering there can be few enough! Ex Brave Defender rather diverted our attention
years to match our current year, a year that began last from our Falklands build-up and indeed from the matter
July and which will end in July / August next year as the of the Commanding Officer's change of command. At
Battalion sighs with relief and returns to BAOR after an least that went well and a fond farewell was given to Lt
absence of 11 years . it is a year in which the Battalion Col Mike Constantine . We wish him, Gay and the
was required to undertake, first Ex Pond Jump West, children all the very best in their future postings. Sorry
then, as if to confirm our Home Defence training, Ex about the surprise Colonel, but she insisted!
Brave Defender, a four month tour in the Falkland
Islands and South Georgia and finally , but by no means it remains to be seen how well our hectic preparations
least, the conversion from a Type B Infantry Battalion for the Falklands Tour have prepared us, but it is clear
into a Mechanised Battalion in barely three and a half that ability in HF, First Aid and fitness held the key to
short months next summer. it is no wonder that the success, so at least we have concentrated on these . A
Commanding Officers changed over recently! little language training has been necessary to cope with
FISPEAK and such terms as WOCCA (Chinook). FITS
Our summary of Battalion activity however, must (certainly not what happens after 3 months) and the
begin back in May when C Company, our Corps of dreaded FIGPU (not a nasty smell but the Garrison
Drums and the Quebec Band set out around the Home Police Unit). Of course after a matter of weeks we will
Counties to carry out a series of Freedom Marches in be the experts, such is the roulement of units and
Tonbridge and Mailing, Lewes, Eastbourne, Hove and individuals. Tough , hardened professionals we may be,
Ashford who have 'adopted' the Regiment. These but it is sad to be away from home over Christmas
parades were a great success and much enjoyed b:y both again. Save a little Christmas Cake for us and as you
participants and spectators alike. it is always such a read your eagerly awaited Journal in the warmth of your
pleasure to see the support from former members of the homes, think awhile of us, enjoying the Falklands
Regiment and its forbears. Surprisingly, the rain fell only summer but missing you all! We wish all our wives and
once, perhaps a record for this memorable, or should I girlfriends, families and friends a Very Happy Christmas,
say, miserable summer. and thanks for the presents!

In July, the Battalion, less our Rear Party and Bisley Finally, one particular individual who has been our
Team undertook Ex Pond Jump West at Wainwright, link from Northern Ireland to Oakington to Wainwright
Alberta. This exercise was an outstanding success and a and back and who regrettably cannot come with us to
fitting culmination to both the Commanding Officer's the South Atlantic is Lt Andrew Brown. You will recall
and Second-in-Command's tours with the Battalion. that he suffered terrible injuries in Northern Ireland just
The training was hard fought, varied and was coupled about a year ago. Andrew has received enormous
with five days' adventure training in Jasper National support Regimentally and from within the Battalion , but
Park and a few days R & R, giving us all an opportunity recovery cannot be achieved without steadfast deter-
to see how Canada really can look away from the dust, mination and spirit. Such qualities are clearly manifest in
mosquitoes and barren landscape of the Battle River, this young officer, so much so that in Wainwright he
Border Lake and the 'Bad Lands'. There is no doubt that was soon attempting to windsurf , of all things, without
our first period of Battalion conventional training since his artificial leg! Although his efforts resulted in a
1982 was a great success and perhaps has at last dis- dislocated shou lder having to be reset on the jetty , it
pelled the Northern Ireland syndrome, for the time was gratifying to see that Andrew Brown is well on the
being . While we were away, the Bisley Team was road to recovery.
gaining valuable experience at RASAM 85 and certainly
did not come away empty handed. We expect rumours will filter back as to how we are
getting on down Sou: h, but unfortunately you will now
Apart from a Study Day or two earlier in the year, our have to wait for June 86 to read al l about our adventures
role as a Home Defence Battalion has taken second in those far away islands, rarely thought of before 1982.
place and a certain mystique has surrounded HO
matters . As the only available regular HO Battalion in POND JUMP WEST TWO - AN
Eastern District, the prospect" of Ex Brave Defender
rather co ncentrated our thoughts on HO for a few ALTERNATIVE VIEW
weeks in August and September . Regrettably, through
no fault of our own, Battalion HQ played a rather by Capt S T D Duggan
undistinguished role during the exercise but the com-
panies , frequently split down to platoons and sections In the eighteenth century they came in search of
on KP Guards, enjoyed a new-found freedom and beaver, in the nineteenth for gold and millions of acres
luxury, encompassed in the Kennings Car Hire Mini- of fertile prairie, and now, in the late twentieth century a
Buses . Forty of these gleaming white vehicles , with new breed of pioneer arrives lured by tales of sunshine,
comfortable seats, built in radios and all round vision limited live training areas and a chance to see Rambo
were issued to the Battalion to supplement our troop annihilate a few thousand 'gooks' before the folks back
lift . Thousands of miles were covered in the week and to home .
the drivers' credit not an accident occu rred . We were

19

3

1 The Adjutant General talking to Maj Ouinn , OC A 4 Capt Duggan leads HO Company team in the March
Company. and Shoot competition .

2 LCpl Mills and Pte lbrahim prepare for the Defence 5 The CO presents the March and Shoot competition
Exercise . medals to the Support Company team - the winners.
6 The CO presents the Winners Medal to Capt Newell at
3 The Assault Pioneer Platoon on the bridge they built. the end of the March and Shoot Competition.

20

was fortunate enough to stow away on a DC10 ADVENTURE TRAINING IN THE ROCKY
carrying a band of these intrepid explorers across the MOUNTAINS
Atlantic bound for Wainwright, Alberta . The jumbled
notes that follow are all that remained legible in my diary As part of the Pond Jump West 11 package , the
after my canoe was overturned by a rabid brown bear Battalion took part in adventure training in the Rocky
(Major Quinn) whilst navigating the treacherous waters Mountains of Jasper National Park. The results of our
of Nott Lake with my nature guide 'Trapper John' (Lt recce in April meant that during the first three weeks of
Frost) . July , 570 all ranks took part in our adventure training
package .
July 3rd .. The sun was unbearably hot on this
day . I persuaded the Second in Command to take me The adventure training was organised and run from a
onto the infamous area K where we drove around in base camp situated in an old gravel pit some 13km south
diminishing circles for most of the morning . At noon we of the township of Jasper . The base camp was mainly
extracted our compasses and after complex theor~tical tented and could cater for up to 150 men under canvas
calculations unanimously agreed that we could not be with the Main Battle Group some 600km away in
where we were! We were not alone in this startling Wainwright . Administration was difficult, but W02
observation - others were making it all over the Daw as Camp CSM, quickly got to grips with the
training area . The afternoon found us paddling in problems and had the base camp running smoothly.
Border Lake, later to become a favourite pastime of the The adventure training staff consisted of 26 personnel ,
Signal Platoon! ranging from instructors, to administrators, cooks, MT
drivers, vehicle mechani cs and medics . The instructors
July 7th .. . On the Platoon in Defence Range at were pooled from a variety of sources from UK, the
Gallipoli the much maligned steel helmet proved its Depot provided Lt Strutt who ran the rock climbing ,
worth by preventing numerous head bangs in the together with our Sgt Colclough (APTC) , LCpl Rocky,
subterranean passages: Gopher (Lt Hayward Smith) Cpl Brooks, and LCpl Gallagher and Pte Poole from 19
was sighted several times today but inevitably popped Fd Amb. The canoe instructors were Sgt Keeley REME ,
back into a hole at the first sign of the enemy . Cpl Thomas RM (from JSMTC Scotland) and Cpl
Findlay. We were also lucky enough to have Lt Wormel
July 10th . . . C Company ran past the Mess at (WRAC) and Pte Haywood who were our riding instruc-
about 3am this morning . Boy do they deserve to win the tors . The remaining instructors were local civilians who
lnvicta March and Shoot Competition! Each morning in dealt with the white water rafting.
the Mess sees the following ritual. The 'runners' leap
out of bed at 4am, stamp on the floor , bellow hearty Pte Hunt of B Company with the Gib 2oz Rainbow Trout
greetings to their fellow perverts down the corridor he caught in Canada.
before popping out for a quick PR jog around the Mess .
At breakfast they continually make loud comments such
as ' I must have missed you on the Edmonton Flyover'.

Wed 11 July . . . Arrived Stalag 19, Wabesso
Adventure Training Camp, Jasper National Park , this
morning . At the first parade Herr Stalag Gruppen -
Fuhrer (Capt Phipps) lectured us on the theme of
'Adventure Training Macht frie! ', warning of the dire
consequences of failure to impress his super fit , alert,
eagle eyed staff . A sigh of relief passed down the line
when we were not ordered immediately to the 'shower
block'.

12 July ... Camped above snowline in the Maligne
Pass . Cold but spectacular scenery . Much grizzly bear
spore seen on the way which lead to a spontaneous
outburst of whistling , none of us overly keen to catch a
bear with his pants down .

24 July ... Today the final exercise ' Buffs Delight'
continues . Yesterday the live firing company attacks
were a resounding success. So realistic in fact that on
several occasions the safety staff were seen diving for
cover . Much to everyone's relief Dragon Battery's
gunfire support remained close but not 'intimate'. The
recce platoon in two fre e customised landrovers,
wearing go faster headbands and sporting hip mounted
machine guns have just swept through Ta c HQ again .
Rumour has it they are still trying to find their way ba ck
to their ca mp and are hoping to capture a guide to show
them the w ay. Maybe I have been hit and can lie down
now and do some serious sunbathing . it w ill be R & R
soon .

21

2 QUEENS SHOOTING TEAM RASAM 1985

1 Pte Marchant, Winner of the Rapid Aggregate Match . 3 The CO with the Team . which overall came 38th out of
2 Cpl Curley. Winner of the Sniper Aggregate Match.
70 in the Major Unit Championship .

22

Sgt Churchill and his cooks worked hard to provide "OK Guys! You're really
two hot meals a day from his fi eld kitchen. whilst Cpl gonna LOVE this!!"
Bodd ie ensured t hat our vehicles were correctly main-
tained and efficiently used , no mean feat when you ' re storms, rain and sleet. The base camp was hit by a dust
600km away from the nearest REME workshop . storm.

Du ring the adventure training package we catered for The adventure training proved very worthwhile and
four company groups, of approximately 150 men and extremely enjoyable for most of those that took part.
the Battery of approximately 120 men. The training Jasper National Park was unblemished by the time the
cycle was a six day package, two days of which were Battalion returned to Wainwright and relations with the
taken up with travelling from and to Wainwright by civilians went well. Whilst being expensive, it was
coach . During the four days at base camp the soldiers money well spent, and many soldiers were able to take
took part in wilderness trekking (two days' duration) , part in adventurous training in an environment to which
rock climbing , canoeing (white water), white water they were definitely not accustomed.
rafting , and riding (all of one day's duration).
EXERCISE BRAVE DEFENDER
The canoeing and rafting, negotiated rapids down the by 2Lt R I Harknett
Athabasca River. from below the Athabasca Falls to a
point on the river opposite Jasper called Old Fort Point, Exercise Brave Defender 'took off' for A Company on
a total distance of some 37km. The rock climbing was on Saturday 7th September. We deployed to our
on a limestone cliff face known as the ' rock gardens' various KPs stretching eastwards from the docks of
near the Maligne Canyon . The rock face varied in Mistley out along the Stour estuary. This was the first
heights from 50 feet to 250 feet, and proved to be very phase of what was to prove for us a four phase opera-
worthwhile activity and the days training was rounded tion .
off with a quick jog up the Maligue Canyon complete
with back packs, only some 3km. The rock climbing 2 Platoon and Company HQ took over the KP at
went well with only minor injuries such as sprained Mistley. 1 Platoon were next in line and were stationed
ankles and dented ego's. The white water rafting at Wrabness. Finally 3 Platoon , who looked after the
proved to be the most exciting . A total of 400 men Rail / Freight Sea Terminal at Harwich.
managed to race down the Athabasca river during the
three weeks much to the amusement and sometimes lt is interesting to reflect that even today in the 20th
horror of the civilian instructors and local holiday Century, that old breed the camp follower is sti ll in
makers. The rafts were 8 man dinghys . The soldiers evidence. 3 Platoon had hardly finished unloading and
were equipped with a paddle, life jacket and a bailing moving into the area before there were groups of young
bucket and were then set off down the river . The water ladies stand ing at the gates and by the perimeter fence .
proved not only very fast (grade 3-4 rapids in places) but A Hamburger van also arrived and started running a
also very cold, but this did nothing to deter the soldier food line through the wire .
debussing in mid stream, with paddle and bailing
bucket!! Unfortunately the enemy were simu lating a riot,
observed by some of the local likely lads who also
Canoeing proved just as adventurous, especially as obviously thought that this was a great idea and
the open Canadian two man canoe proved somewhat
unstable in the rapids! They co uld have done with more
of those bailing buckets.

For those who preferred the drier activities, riding was
very popular, but painful at times! Duly armed with
stetson , waterbottle , packed lunch and suntan lotion ,
the soldiers left for Pyramid Mountain to claim their
horses. The riding lasted all day and ranged from gentle
up hill walks , to down hill turbocharged gallops. Whilst
the steering mechanism worked fairly satisfactorily, the
braking system invariably seemed to fail ! Still , the
soldiers stuck to it with great bravado, (literally) and
lived to walk another day, even if somewhat oddly!

The wilderness trekking proved to be quite arduous .
A two day hike in the mountains with back packs tested
the teams' endurance and the team leade rs' leadership
qualities . Groups were between seven and ten men in
strength , rationed with compo and , armed with fishing
rods , they ventured into the mountains in search of
wildlife and fish, usually not finding either. C Company
were first through the package, and most of the
problems were 'smoothed out' by the time A Company
arrived to take over. A Company, together with 127
Dragon Bty enjoyed the best of the weather. The
weather whilst being good was very changeable, with

23

commenced shouting and hurling bottles. Forever straight from 'Apocalypse Now'. US soldiers sitting on
respectful of public privacy, there was no hesitation in sangers shrouded in fog , laughing hysterically and firing
asking the Police Constable attached to deal with them . off clips from their M16s . Flat back trucks zooming
about, lights flashing and announcing through a loud
The civilian office workers seemed to take the hailer in a deep south accent : 'The Fog, The Fog .'
exe rcise in their stride showing alarm only twice during
our stay. The first when we came under fire from three At one point 2 Platoon found themselves attacking
enemy gunmen, who were swiftly dealt with . The through this swirling fog , dressed from head to foot in
second, when a 'bomb' was hurled into the office by an bright silver flame proof suits complete with 'Goldfish
enemy intruder and the building was evacuated with Bowl ' helmets . Unfortunately the enemy had stolen a
great haste . 'chewy' and roared off before 2 Platoon got close, and
so this attempt at ' Psyops' was not fully appreciated.
This first phase lasted, almost without incident, until
Tuesday when down came the defences and off we One night was enough! We moved on Thursday out
moved to Suffolk and RAF Wattisham . to the Stanford training area.

RAF Wattisham was completely without incident. We Perhaps it was because it was Friday the 13th or
arrived and were moved through the RAF's version of perhaps it was " The Fog of War", but the final attack,
Brave Defender (didn't anybody tell them there was no although carried out with speed and ultimate success ,
NBC threat?) to a hardened aircraft shelter (HAS) where was at times confused. Ten minutes into reorganisation
we were to stay without touching anything or venturing and the Royal Anglians we had expected to push
outside, unless when organised on a 'bog trot' . This through to our right came through the company
then was the second phase. Thankfully it was not to last position first advancing then withdrawing then
for long. advancing then withdrawing, advancing ,
withdrawing ...
Wednesday evening arrived and it was time to move
again. 3 Platoon were to reinforce the friendly forces at Finally ' ENDEX' was sounded and the normal
Waterbeach and the rest of the Company moved to decamouflaging and weapon clearance was followed by
USAF Bentwaters. the arrival of the huge convoy of our bright white
Kennings hire vans that had ferried us throughout the
3 Platoon arrived at Waterbeach in time to get a full exercise in such style.
brief on the situation and start to deploy . Start is the
correct word , since twenty minutes after w e had arrived Looking back at Brave Defender in the ' Big Picture'
ENDEX was given! So it was a case of move now and sense , one has to accept that it was not an exercise
off we went to find Bentwaters. planned for platoons, but for HQ Groups to test
logistics, administration and communications on the
After an initial search we ended up reporting to No 81 grand scale .
Lawe nforcement Section . Lu ckily, after radio contact
was established it was found that we were not all that The latest that has been heard on exercise Brave
far away from the rest of the Company . Defender is that it is to be serialised on Moscow TV
under the title Brav Defendnik (Contracts are being
I think USAF Bentwaters must have been one of the negotiated).
strangest bases I have ever been to. it was a scene

The farewell to lt Col Mike Constantine OBE .

24

3rd BATTALION

Lavinia , Duchess of Norfolk with the Colonel of the Regiment and the Officers. 3 QUEENS.

EDITORIAL shed their armoured personal carriers and operate on
their feet again.
The pace of life in the Battalion has continued at a
gallop since the last edition of the Journal and we are The end of June saw a series of internal cadres and
certainly going to be extremely busy right up to the time we were able to devote some time to support helicopter
of our move to Canterbury in January 1986. training and in particu lar, training helicopter handling
teams from the Companies in preparation for the Belize
At the end of May, A and B Companies , the majority tour in 1986. During this period we were visited in
of C Company and elements of Fire Support and Head- barracks by the new Corps Commander Lt Gen Sir Brian
quarter Company returned from Canada having com- Kenny. We were also able to fit in two of the events for
pleted a very successful and demanding exercise at the the Quebec Company Competition; the Sports and
British Army Training Unit, Suffield. March and Shoot Competitions. Although there was no
prize for overall winner of all the Sports Competitions,
With only just sufficient time to dust off the sand Headquarter Company showed that age and experience
from the Prairies, C Company Group then found itself does count for something by winning 4 of the 6 compe-
involved in a live firing Company / squadron Battle Run titions. The March and Shoot Competition was won by
on the Bergen / Hohne Ranges . This provided an excel- 3 Platoon A Company and the overa ll winning company
lent opportunity, particularly for those who had not was A Company.
been to BATUS, to experience the many aspects of a
' live' all arms operation. C Company then moved up to For Quebec (Fire Sp) Company the main events
the Soltau Training Area where they carried out during this period were the Milan and Mortar Concentra-
mechanised training and were able to exercise with all tion and the Recce Platoon firing camp. The former was
four squadrons from the Royal Hussars . At the same a Corps Concentration held at Putlos and I am pleased
time Battle Group Headquarters and the Headquarters to report that the Milan Platoon again demonstrated its
of A , B and Quebec (Fire Sp) Companies took to the highly professional skills and knowledge. The 1st
field for a 7 Armoured Brigade 'Command Post' Armoured Division Mortar Concentration took place on
exercise. After this the Rifle Companies each spent a 48 the Munsterlager South Ranges and there the Mortar
hour period on concentrated training for their role as Platoon showed that they too are at the peak of their
enemy (Spetsnaz Forces) for Exercise Brave Defender, training and in every respect ready for war.
the major UK home defence exercise, in September. To
add realism to this training we were able to transform The Recce Platoon received an outstanding report
Reinsehlen Camp into various key points which were from the Royal Armoured Corps Gunnery Wing after
guarded by members of Quebec Company . This training their week of firing on the Bergen / Hohne Ranges . The
was very worthwhile and it was clea r from the Recce Platoon has achieved a great deal since its
enthusiasm of the soldiers taking part that they were formation last year . and in only 12 months it has been
looking forward to the exercise in UK when they could adjudged to be every bit as professional as the best of
the highly experienced Royal Armoured Corps Recce

Troops. Coming from Royal Armoured Corps Gunnery 25
Instructors this is high praise indeed. advance parties will be in Canterbury and the handover
to 1 STAFFORDS will be in full swing.
The Quebec Band has had an extremely busy season,
which is a measure of how popular the Band is locally. The Battalion will be leaving Fallingbostel with mixed
Indeed their popularity is now international, since they feelings. For many there will be sadness in leaving
have had several engagements in France, Denmark and behind the many friends we have made over the years ,
Sweden, as well as their many engagements in but everyone is looking forward to returning to England
Germany both for British Military and German civi lian and the challenges that lie ahead with our new role. The
audiences. Battalion can be proud of what it has accomplished
during its BAOR tour and it is no exaggeration to say
The Band 's musical ability and professional know- that the Battalion has built an extremely high reputation
ledge was tested to the full when they received their during its five years in Fallingbostel.
quinquennial Kneller Hall Inspection in May. You will
not be surprised to hear that The Quebec Band was The CO presents the prizes to 3 Platoon A Company,
graded " excellent", having put on a superb perform- winners of the March and Shoot competition .
ance.

The main event in July was Exercise Tight Corner.
This was a major engineer demonstration aimed at
showing the capabilities of the Royal Engineers in
BAOR. The Battalion 's involvement was to add realism ,
as the whole demonstration was cond ucted within a
tactical scenario. Both B and C Companies and the
Recce Platoon were fully committed to the demonstra-
tion and an "Archers" team, to add a little colour to the
commentary, was provided by A Company.

In the second half of July and the beginning of
August a.further series of specialist cadres were held
and OC Recce Platoon conducted a very challenging
and successful Potential NCOs Cadres. Also during this
time Quebec ('Fire Support) Company hosted a visit
from Reigate Grammar School CCF who seemed to
enjoy themselves thoroughly, especially when they were
on exercise on the Soltau Training Area.

In August the Battalion departed for 'places various'
for a very welcome and well earned three week leave
period. On return from leave the Battalion started
moving to the U K for Exercise Brave Defender . The
move to England was by air and by LSL and for some it
was a very long and rough crossing. However, the
exercise was very worthwhile and it was thoroughly
enjoyed by all members of the Battalion who took part.
The spirit and enthusiasm of the soldiers was first class
and it is clear from the various letters of appreciation
that 3 QUEENS, and consequently the Regiment, now
enjoys a very high reputation within North West
District.

On returning to BAOR in the middle of September all
attention was focused on the Quebec Weekend Cele-
brations which took place on 4 and 5 October. We were
honoured by the presence of Lavinia , Duchess of
Norfolk for the celebrations and it was again a pleasure
to welcome the Colonel of the Regiment. The Weekend
is the subject of a separate article but there is no doubt
that the celebrations were a resounding success.

Just prior to the celebrations the final competitions
for the Quebec Company Competitions were held . The
Orienteering and Drill was won by B Company and A
Company won the Cross Country to become the 1985
winners of the Quebec Company Competition .

Planning and activity is now well in hand for the
Battalion 's move to Canterbury in January 1986. By the
time this Journal is printed the pre-advance and

26

QUEBEC WEEKEND CELEBRATIONS

The Quebec Weekend Celebrations were held on 4 ficient time to change before the Ceremony of Beating
and 5 October (Exercise Brave Defender having taken Retreat was performed by the Quebec Band and the
care of 13 September!) and the aim of the celebrations Corps of Drums . Although I may be prejudiced , the per·
was threefold ; firstly to celebrate the Battalion Day in formance was the best I have ever seen as the APC
some style, secondly to mark the approaching end of searchlights in the failing light of the evening provided a
the Battalion 's five year tour in BAOR and thirdly to dramatic setting for the ceremony. This comment was
show our appreciation to the local German dignatories echoed by all the guests and especially by the Old
and the British military units in the 1st Armoured Comrades. This was followed by an Officers ' Mess
Cocktail party and All Ranks Dance.
Division area .
The next day commenced with the Duchess signing
lt was a great honour for the Batta lion that Lavinia , the Golden Book at the Fallingbostel Rathaus
Duchess of Norfolk was present at the celebrations. W e (Townhall). There then followed a Families Open Day
were also very pleased to have the Colonel of th e Regi- which included various stalls organised by the Com-
ment with us . Other guests included the Reg imental panies, the Wives Club, the Brownies and many others .
Secretary and his wife, the Mayor and Mayoress of the There was also an Inter Company / Department " it's a
Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames , the Mayor Knock Out" Competition which was won by our gallant
and Mayoress of Chichester, the Deputy Mayor and REME Light Aid Detachment (LAD). The Duchess was
Mayoress of Canterbury and press representatives from entertained to luncheon in the Warrant Officers and
Sussex, Surrey and Kent . Finally it was a particular Sergeants Mess and then she departed after a very full
pleasure for us to see some 50 Old Comrades represen- programme, during which she had met nearly everyone
ting all four affiliated Regimental Associations . in the Battalion and without doubt had established
herself as our favourite lady . The Open Day was con-
A very full programme of events was organised for cluded by an exciting free fall parachute display from a
the weekend beginning with the Mayors and Mayor- helicopter. One of the parachutists was Private Morphy
esses and the Old Comrades being presented to the who is to be a member of the newly formed Queen's
Du chess . The Old Comrades were in excellent spirits Regiment Free Fall Display Team .
and it was not long before the lanterns were swinging
and old war stories were being recounted . At midday For the Officers and their guests the celebrations
there was the Trooping The Colour Parade which was a continued with the Quebec Ball , with the majority who
truly memorabl e spectacle. The last occasion that the attended still there at sunrise. Meanwhile the Old
Regimental Colour was trooped was in 1975 in Gibraltar Comrades were entertained at a " Pub Night" in the
and therefore for the majority it was the first time that Warrant Officers and Sergeants' Mess and the
they had participated in such a parade . The parade was Corporals ' Mess held a Discotheque Evening .
also used as an opportunity for the Duchess to present
General Officer Commanding Northern Ireland Com- The Quebec Weekend was a great success. All our
mendations to Captain Barr, Corporal Clarke, Lance various guests were full of praise, whilst the Old
Corporal Martin and Privates Brace and Winfield , and Comrades in particular were in great form and clearly
the Long Service and Good Conduct M eda l to Lance enjoyed themselves from beginning to end . From our
Corporal Malcolm. As the four Guards mounted off the point of view it was tremendous to see so many Old
square their hearts were lifted by the large Royal Sussex Comrades from all four founding Regiments; they now
Contingent of Old Comrades bursting into song when know that their Regiment lives on in The Queen 's Regi-
they heard " Sussex By The Sea" . ment, and our young soldiers were reminded of their
great heritage from the past. Most importantly a good
The parade was followed by official luncheons in both time was had by all!
the Officers' and Sergeants ' Messes leaving just suf-

EXERCISE SUMMER VIXEN
Notes made by an unmilitary participant!

July 12th somewhere .
6pm
8pm - 7130pm
Forty-five enthusiastic wives are lined up on our
square, dressed in a variety of husband 's kit (size 10 in Time to cam up, what a sight we look! We have
size 16), inspected by our Regimental Sergeant Major, lessons in how to make and camouflage bashers (no
Mr Moss, waved off by laughing husbands , and dis- trenches so far) and supper cooked in mess tins on
patched in trucks. There are several of us who now hexamene blocks . How do you open a hot tin of
have seco nd thoughts especia lly having seen the 24 spaghetti? Easy, we find , if you don't mind it spurting
hour ration pack . No time to back out now! everywhere! We get out ou r mosquito spray, at least
they are enjoying their meal!
7pm
We arri ved at various 'designated ' areas, dust bowls lt is a beautiful evening so far ; wa rm , clear and dry . lt
is dark and we are briefed on the objective of our night
chewed up by tracked vehicles, ride cross country in attack - to ca pture a radi o. Guards are mounted on the
ACPs (Aspi rin No 1), and are deposited in a wood camp, and the rest of us depart as quietly as possible in
borrowed boots.

27

Scenes from The Quebec Weekend

1-3 Trooping the Colour Parade. 6 Lavinia. Duchess of Norfolk. with some Old Com-
4 Pte Brace receiving GOC's Northern Ireland Commen- rades .
dation .
7 The Mayor and Mayoress of Chichester and Col Pip
5 LCpl Malcolm receiving the LSGC. Newton with other Old Comrades.

28

Some of the 3 QUEENS
wives on Ex SUMMER
VIXEN - still smiling!

July 13th Time to go Home
Midnight - 2am
8.30am- 9am
We are off . Quietly (well!) we head off across country
with eyes in every direction. Our boots are soon full of No the trucks haven 't broken down , we were meant
water, no piggy-backs over the ford. Our ears are sensi- to march the last few hundred yards into camp! We
tive to every sound. Then we hear GRUNTING only march with gusto, left, right, left, right, our RSM
yards away. WILD BOAR - horror, what do we do? enjoying every minute of it! Our Corps of Drums
We freeze with fright - there is no giggling now. appears around the corner to lead us in. What a home
Sergeant Munnery disperses them - what a relief! We coming - all our families are there to cheer us on. We
continue to creep apprehensively towards our target. all have breakfast in the Cookhouse and swap experi -
The attacking group go off to capture the radio , the ences while our husbands listen with an amused and
diversionary group follow a little later while the rest of us ' You had it easy' expression on their faces!
wait , the snuffling boar nearby. Suddenly there is much
commotion , flares in the sky and shouting. Have they Nobody really wants to go home but we do . After a
captu red the radio? No - nearly, but not quite! We hot bath suddenly we feel exhausted.
retreat back to camp . lt is very dark now. We decided
that the best place for the wild pig is in the freezer . 3 QUEENS LAD - FAREWELL TO FRIENDS

2am - 4am lt may strike many readers as presumptuous for an
attached organisation wearing a different hat badge to
We are safely back! We post guards around the wish to contribute to their Regimental Magazine . None-
camp . Surprisingly we find we are not tired . We listen to theless after five years of service inside the 3rd Battalion
the owls and foxes in the distance, and see again the and shortly before we go our separate ways, it is appro-
dark shapes of the boar nearby . priate for us to say something on our own behalf and
not, as usual , as part of the large and incongruous amal-
4am - 5.30am gum of departments known as HQ Company. When the
Battalion arrived in Fallingbostel they found the LAD in
Just when we think all is well we are attacked. How situ having been left behind with the equipment by 3
did they know we were here? W e all tried so hard to be RRF. No-one from that original team is still here for the
quiet and not give away our position . Ah well! lt is only REME posting system moves individuals every two and
an exercise - our first one . We obviously have a lot to a half years or so , therefore although the establishments
learn . Oh - for a cup of tea. W e break camp. is just under 70, in the last five years about 200 REME
soldiers have served with the Battalion. Most of the
lt is now light . We head off on a map reading and tradesmen are vehicle mechanics but there are also
compass bearing exercise. This is serious work . Unless sizeable electricians and armourer sections. These
we find our way to the other end we don' t get breakfast! trades bring the LAD into close contact with individuals
The borrowed boots are beginning to rub , the ankles at all levels in the Battalion and so integration was
swell. We make it to the trucks - what now? managed quickly . From the outset we were able to
achieve a sense of belonging which is so important if we
6am - 8am are to do our job properly.
The Battalion will leave behind many friends within the
After a ride along the range road, we pose for a group LAD who will , in the fullness of time , be spread to every
photo, breakfast by a river, wash, and cam up yet agai n . corner of the Army . For the moment however it is
We have a visitor - the CO up ear ly this morning . There appropriate to say " Goodbye 3 QUEENS , we wish you
are grins from the men as we ask what happens next for the best for the future , Canterbury, Belize and beyond " .
the exercise sti ll has three hours to run . lt is a surprise
artillery attack. Amid st explosions and bangs the RSM
screams to us to advance in sectio ns through dense
woods and bracken , first moving forward , then crawling
on bellies and elbows . Finally scratc hed and weary , we
have to run up a steep bank .

Our transport waits on the other side.

29

BATUS 1985
by 2Lt P Beat

For months we had been working up for one of the
toughest tests a mechanised battalion can face, 2 Y,
weeks on the prairie at the British Army Training Unit,

Suffield (BATUS) .

I soon discovered that the myth of the vast flat
featureless prairie being difficult to navigate on was
totally false, many was the time that I knew where I
was.

The exercise started off with the Special to Arm
phase which , for the Infantry, included section attacks,
platoon attacks and then again with armour in close
support . We soon learnt the value of keeping as close to
the tanks as possible on debussing and getting fire
down on the enemy as quickly as we could.

Th e tanks also learnt that if a properly dug-in
defensive position is to be taken out quickly, they must
remain in close support while the Infantry take out the
trenches one at a time using fire and manoeuvre.

The value of proper maintenance and planning were
brought home by the very few breakdowns that
occurred. A lot of hard work was put in on the two
maintenance days especially by the drivers and LAD .

Other parts of the Infantry package were a night
defensive battle, a number of fighting patrols, battle
inoculation runs , trench clearance in section strength
using anti-tank weapons and grenades, and a demon-
stration on obstacle clearance by assault pioneers .

Then after Company I Squadron training and a Battle
Group exercise, the final exercise was upon us . The
high level of expertise the men had gained and the high
morale made this final phase seem all too easy for the
Infantry . Th e fact that it was a mechanised exercise and
was led by a tank regiment meant that the emphasis was
on a fast moving armoured battle and not on the clear-
ance of tough enemy defensive positions as the Infantry
would have wished.

However, there were many chances for the Infantry
to get stuck in with the armour in close support, with
co-operation remaining at a very high level.

Towards the end of the exercise a rather junior
platoon commander having just led his Company on a
long night move finishing in a very dark place was heard
to say "Hello(;! B this 30 ... I think ... we're here. " The

rather dry reply was "I think you're right. "

Before we knew it, " R 2nd R" was upon us . One 1 Support Helicopter training.
soldier took the opportunity to marry a girl he had met a 2 5 Platoon, B Company on the March and Shoot Com-
few weeks before on the advance party, whilst another petition.
renewed his close association with the Military Police !
For the rest, life was slightly less hectic with ski ing, 3 Cpl Whittaker's Section of 3 Platoon , A Company on
parachuting , ranching or sightseeing . the Canadian Prairies.

30

5th (VOLUNTEER) BATTALION

EDITORIAL 1 Prince Georg of Denmark, Honorary Colonel of 5
QUEENS lVI with the CO , Lt Col David Shephard .
One of the joys of editing Battalion Notes for the 2 Maj Nigel Harris, Training Major, at work .
Journal is reading contributions written, apparently, in
Sanskrit or Serbo-Croat . Either this indicates that our
Captains of Industry (even when disguised as Captains
of Infantry) have not yet got to the joined-up writing
stage, or their revenge on the 21C for requiring articles
takes a particularly unsubtle form. Anyway , as a " Tele-
graph " reader , I am used to transposed lines and
garbled words , and add here a few of my own .

We have said a sad goodbye to our Commanding
Officer, Lt Col David Shephard and his wife Barbara ,
whose enthusiasm for the Battalion has been truly
inspiring , and welcome in his place Lt Col Charles Joint
who , like his predecessor, is no stranger to the TA , or
indeed to the 5th Battalion, having been its Adjutant
within living memory - well , w ithin mine anyway! RSM
Curtis has also left us after a tour in which he impressed
his very considerable personality on the Battalion . He
has fully earned his Commission , and we welcome in his
place RSM McCaig from the 3rd Battalion . The OM ,
Major Stan Billett, is due to retire from the Army soon. I
shall miss his enigmatic smile, which seems to suggest
that he knows something I don 't , - which , come to
think of it, is just possible after 35 years as a Regular
soldier. We will welcome in his place Capt W D Marshall
from the 1st Battalion . lt used to be said that the
Regular Soldier serving with the TA provided the
professionalism , whilst the TA soldier provided the
enthusiasm, but regular appointees to the 5th Battalion
in recent years appear to have been overstepping the
mark into TA territory!

TA appointment changes include Maj Thompson 's
promotion to the Command of B Company, and Lt Mike
Pilkington 's appointment as 21C D Company on transfer
from 1 MERCIAN . Six new " Ruperts", 2Lts Ashwell,
Sage , Steei-Jessop, Phillips , Moore and Stretton have
survived the new, lengthy and thorough selection and
training system and are now urgently needed to
command platoons . A Unit Selection Board in
September began the process of finding some more
o f f i cers.

Our HSF Company is in good form , and achieved
notabl e su ccess against the " Speznaz" in the
Folkestone / Dover area on Exercise Brave Defender.

Our success in the UKLF GPMG (SF) Competition, in
SLR , SMG and GPMG in SEDSAM , in the BAOR Milan
Concentration at Putlos and UKLF Mortar Concentra-
t ion at Otterburn have been detailed elsewhere, and
modesty forbids a re-run , but it has been a good year for
training. We had , at last, aUK Camp , which was a great
success, culminating in an ARU , which resulted in a
ve ry good report from the Commander 2 lnf Bde. Camp
next year will be wi th BAOR at Vogelsang , and
promises to be good .

The photographs, the cartoons from " Pedro" (Capt
Peter McCardle ) and Pte Cobb of 3 Platoo n A Company
w ill tell you more of what the 5th Battalion has been up
to .

31

EXERCISE THIRD FLIGHT Station and the Reeperbahn . The vast bulk of the
Platoon (not Private Stead) arrived and did its best to be
by Capt M S Rumsey bestial but well disciplined. LCpl Frank De La Harp (our
Canadian import) soon realised that sounding like an
I suppose that I asked for it. Being one of the few American had severe effects on the price of most
officers in 5 QUEENS who can sign their name, let alone things! Sufficient and miraculous to add all returned
complete a coherent sentence, it was inevitable that I safely and relatively sober - it's amazing what cold
should be asked to write something - or anything! water and a rubber truncheon will do (thanks Polizei).

'They' said to me, "Haven't you been to Putlos?" The final two exercises (one set by the writer, one by
- I thought for a moment, geography not being my the SWW) arrived and provided some excellent training
strong point, and replied (the name sounded foreign) - each exercise culminating in the firing of six missiles.
" Yes ." With a full range of effects and the use of Puma heli-
copters, this was undoubtedly the most realistic training
To cut a very long story short, Milan Platoon suc- undertaken by the Platoon . The results of these two
cessfu lly crossed to Ostend . The words of a truck driver exercises were very satisfactory and the award of the
rang in my ears, " Forget the enemy, if you crack the 'Battleworthy' designation successfully clinched our
British Customs everything else will be a picnic. " stay in BAOR, the only TA Platoon ever to have taken
part in the 1(BR) Corps MILAN Concentration .
As I am instructed by my Editor to be brief, I shall
merely add that via Fallingbostel and our friends in 3 )OU 7WrT/ THE. Y C. rv£5 >t:>U
QUEENS we arrived with all our vehicles (kindly loaned THE SAND WHGN You 4GT
by the Victoria and Albert Museum).
To U>NC.MOOR If·
" Round he cast his baleful eye, that witnessed large
affliction and dismay". So this was Putlos, we might EXERCISE WALES EXPLORER
have known . The camp, near to where V1s and V2s by Capt W F Conroy
were tested looked as though it had received a number
of direct hits from In-flight failures . With echoes of the Colonel of the Regiment's
message earlier this year heard on the Jimmy Young
Now to the serious part. The Concentration admin programme, A Company decided to put some more fun
was provided by the 1st Battalion The Welsh Guards. back into the TA. Lt Col David Shephard on his own
To say that nothing was too much trouble was only admission had worked the Battalion hard over the
stating the truth. Under the Command of Major Paul previous two years for our primary role in BAOR , and it
Betcher (OC Concentration), we received superb was dectded that 25-30 members of the Company would
coope ration and assistance. In addition to this , the carry out a week's adventure in North Wales based on
kindness and hospitality shown on a personal level Capel Curig Camp , from 26 April to 4 May 1985.
could not have been bettered .
The extensive services of Capts Brian Scripps, PSAO
I think that it is fair to say that "Third Flight" was a
very hard test, most especially for the Detachment Com-
manders and their men who were put under severe
stress . Any success that we achieved is to their credit .
The Platoon was tested in the full range of MILAN skills,
and proved that their determination and enthusiasm
helped greatly when occasional weaknesses were found
in their skills . Some efforts stood out particularly. Cpl
Hayler and his Detachment in the Fire Control Tests
started as rank outsiders, yet managed quickly to
become the best in this field . Cpl Fry and his friend Pte
Stubbs, with the help of " mutually supporting eyeballs"
managed to achieve assessment level two in AFV . This
assessment has little to do with recognising AFVs -
that's kids stuff. If from the evidence of six inches of
metal protruding from a bush two kilometres away you
conclude that the vehicle involved is a T64K (variant
239). it was produced at the 'October Revolution Demo-
cratic Tank Factory' in Omsk, and that the driver's name
is Grigory, you are getting there. As this is a family
periodical I shall not mention the weather except that
we did have one and a half hour's sunshine which
coi ncid ed with our changing into full NBC on the
Infantry Combat Fitness Test - full kit, eight miles in
two hours .

The culmination of the training came with the trip to
Hamburg . Seven hours in Hamburg - or would have
been if the transport had arrived to take us back,
breaking the land speed record between the Railway

32

A Company, plus Tom Lynch, PSAO B Company, searching audition Bandmaster " Steve" Cook LRAM
swung into action . Tom Lynch had been an instru ctor at ARCM , ex- Bandmaster of the Royal Marines Staff Band
Tywyn for two years and his experience and knowledge at Deal , was appointed to lead what is arguably the best
of the ground proved invaluable. As D Day approached and most famous TA band in the country.
Brian Scripps grappled with the enormous bureaucratic
maze we had to go through just to get soldiers on the At the first rehearsal , the Band and Bandmaster faced
ground . ea ch other apprehensively but in no time at all Mr Cook
had settled in . In his own inimitable style, with rye and
On Friday 26th April we mustered and said goodbye amusing humour, he started to stamp his personality on
to Guildford . We also left behind Brian Scripps who had the band.
put his back out and Tom Lynch who broke his leg
skiing down a mountain! The expedition also had a lot There followed an extremely testing and busy
of the company stalwarts in it. Personalities included summer season, but with unfailing good humour and
W02 Caulkett, Sgts Beach and Davis, plus an APTC patience Bandmaster Cook proved to be an excellent
instructor attached, Sgt Lyle from the RAOC Depot, choice to follow in Bandmaster Clarke's footsteps .
Blackdown . The week's training programme was varied ,
so every soldier carried out a number of activities, and The programme this year included marching displays
on Sunday w e che cked everyone's ability to read a map and Retreat Beatings at Margate, Hastings, Dunkirk
and use a compass and generally shake ou t. and, of course , Canterbury . Concerts were also given at
Folkestone , Eastbourne , Cambridge and Canterbury .
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday was spent on a
t hree day ci rcuit, one day rock climbing , a day canoeing Summer camp was spent partially at the Depot,
and a day mountain walking the Snowdon Horseshoe, Bassingbourn , where the Band rehearsed with the Boys
and boy did it rain! On Thursday and Friday the weather Band for the re-union displays and partially at Thetford
broke, with sunshine the order of the day. On these two where the " getting to know you " sessions between
days we embarked on our final expedition with the com- Bandmaster and Band continued .
pany group split into section strength moving across
country with all the usual heavy bits and pieces. We All in all it has been an exciting and interesting year so
were also delighted to welcome the CO up for a couple far and ex- Bandmaster Clarke may rest easy that the
of days. Although his driver, LCpl Collymore , only came band is in good shape and in good hands .
for the canoeing, he ended doing a little walking as well.

The company group came together on the Thursday
night to camp just under the snow line and on the Friday
morning we awoke to f ind ourselves well above the
cloud level. A quick breakfast and w e moved off for a
few more hours walk to be met by our OPSI, CSgt
Piper . Looking ba ck on the week it w as an undoubted
success. W e now look towa rds next year and rumour
control has it that Penhale Camp has bee n booked for
1st-11th May 1986 for Ex Seaspray .

TA BAND SOLDIERS ON q Db '{ou nf1·rvl<; &oB Gf:L'l>ofF
w ou~oo t:>o A C.O OJCB(.,.- F ol<. U'S ? "
Plus ea change plus c'est la meme chose !the more
thi ngs change the more they remain t he same). Th ese
words written by Alphonse Karr in t he nineteenth cen-
tury have ce rtainly proved prophetic for th e TA Band of
The Qu eens Regiment over th e past year, where despite
some dramatic changes, the band is still blowing strong
and mora le is high .

In M arch, after twenty- two years at the helm , Band-
master " Ted" Clarke MBE retired . At a farew ell party
nearly two hundred friend s, includin g present and past
bandsmen and Band Presidents, gave Ted a rousing
send-off w hich included a specia lly prepared scrap-book
and a skit on a marching display. By t he end of the party
t here was hardly a completely sober person in sight. lt
was a te rrif ic se nd -off .

M r Clarke's departure left a bit of a vacuum as it
coi ncided with quite a few other resignations of se nior
bandsmen , who were begin ning to feel the pressure of
advancing years . However, t he ba nd soon took on a
new look as new musicians were enrolled .

In the face of extremely toug h competition and after a

33

3

1 Maj Gibson, OC 0 Company with his senior PSI. WOII
Rickerby.
2 0 Cdt Ashwell on FIBUA training .
3 and 4 0 Company train with a Chinook helicopter.

(Ptctures 1-4 by Kent and Sussex Couner)

5 and 6 Milan Platoon training at Putlos.

34 THE ROBERT'S SWORD COMPETITION

FIRST RSM FOR QUEEN 'S REGIMENT The first annual competition between the TA batta-
lions was won this year by the 5th (V) Bn and the
Nineteen years after its formation the Queen's Colonel of the Regiment presented the Robert's Sword
Regiment now has its first RSM recruited as a Queens- to the CO in a short ceremony at the Duke of York's HQ
man . on Friday 11 October.

RSM David McCaig from Storrington , Sussex joined The competition was the idea of General Rowley
the Army at Horsham on 5 September 1967 expecting to Mans, when Colonel of the Regiment, and he has kindly
join the newly named 3rd Battalion . On co mpleting his written the following short account of Major 'Atti'
recruit training he was sent instead to the 4th Battalion Roberts : " Just before the museum at Kingston closed a
in Belfast : the unification process had already started! lady gave in a presentation gold watch to Major John
RSM McCaig has served in all the Queen 's Battalions Reed which had been given to her late father by a Cap-
except for the First. tain Roberts of the 2nd Bn The Queens for carrying him
from No Mans Land in late 1914 when he had been left
" I've benefited a great deal from belonging to the for dead . Her father had been Atti's batman .
large Regiment. it's given me the chance to do a wide
variety of jobs while at the same time giving me a good Coincidentally at the same time I was trying to
career structure," he says. discover who the oldest surviving officer of The Queen 's
Regiment was and where he lived . Guy Weymouth
Having done eleven jobs and served in nine countries discovered that it was the self same Major Roberts who
during his time, he has now taken up the appointment lived in the village of Bashley .
of RSM 5 QUEENS (V).
I made contact with him and his wife and visited them
The TA is not new to him ; he was a permanent staff on a number of occasions . He was bedridden but had a
instructor with 6/7 QUEENS (V) in 1979. However, remarkable memory and recalled many incidents from
being an RSM has presented him with a new challenge before 1914. He had originally been commissioned into
which he welcomes. the West Indian Regiment and transferred into the
Queens around 1908. He recalled seeing Lily Langtry on
We welcome and congratulate our first Queensman the stage in New York!
RSM.
He was in charge of the rear details in camp at
/-IOW toN?; HA Vl" We HAD Lyndhurst after the 2nd Bn went to France having
S HCE:PS&N UPf-.OLSTE€Y /IV MY returned from South Africa just after the war began. He
took them over to France in Nov 1914 as a company and
?RaV££2. c,PL . SNQo~S was severely wounded in his first action.

One anecdote . Atti retired in 1929 - many would
have liked him to command but as he said, " I was sur-
rounded by much cleverer chaps at the time - all those
brevets like Giffard, Bassett etc. " After he retired he
went to teach at the crammer in Farnham .

He was called back in 1939 to teach at an OCTU but
they would only give him a derisory rate of pay owing to
some anomaly - as he said, enough for a small packet
of Players a day. He was only brought on to full pay in
1944. Being the perfect gentleman that he was he
treated the whole matter as a joke .

He died when he was 97. His widow, a very charming
lady (she died last year aged 101) , said that she would
like my family to have a number of his regimental pos-
sessions including his sword . " I had it refurbished and
carried it as Colonel of the Regiment . I am especially
pleased that it will now go on as a competition in honour
of a great Regimental soldier among those 'twice a
citizens' who as you know I admire so much ."

35

6th/7th (VOLUNTEER) BATTALION

The main event for the Battalion in the last six months In July we bade a sad farewell to Capt Neil Wright,
has been our involvement in Exercise Brave Defender. our Adjutant, who although having never been allowed
We have been training for our role intensively for the to become a 'territorial convert' joined in the fun with
last eighteen months and we came through with 'flying gusto. He is selling houses in Gibraltar, having left the
colou rs'. Army, and no doubt drinking with members of the First
Battalion! We wish him well and welcome Capt Gary
The Commanding Officer has received several letters Bourne in his place.
from various commanders of higher formations praising
sub-units of the Battalion for their outstanding contri- Another sad departure was that of OC D Company.
bution to the exercise and their "professional" Major Anthony Leonard, who has gone off to defend
approach. After ten years we have been given the stage more criminals and not the country and learn to cope
to prove that we can do the job we were formed to per- with a new baby. The PMC of the Officers' Mess found
form and we have come out on top. the Mess Meeting at Camp very dull without ' Fatty'
giving his views on everything from toilet rolls to the
The other area in which we have adopted a high
profile is in our contact with the media particularly the Cocktail Party!
local and national newspapers and the radio . Like some
other Territorial units we have been thrust into the Our Shooting Team (see below) have again brought
centre of the TA expansion with the new battalion in credit to us although with their high standard they
London and the requirement to recruit yet another com- would have liked to have done even better.
pany in Sussex. Our aim is to get a climate in Sussex
that when people "Think TA" they "Think 6/7 A happy and challenging six months with a great deal
OUEENS(V)". Thus we have spent a great deal of effort of activity has been experienced by all ranks.
maintaining contact with the ladies and gentlemen of
the media. The results have been first class and we have EXERCISE BRAVE DEFENDER

featured in papers from The Times (see below) to The Exercise Brave Defender ran from the 2nd September
West Sussex County Times and from London Weekend to 13th September 1985. lt was the largest conventional
exercise in Great Britain since the Second World War . lt
Television to Radio Mercury. On the latter the involved some 65,000 men and women from the Royal
aggressive manner in which the Second in Command Navy, Royal Marines, Army and Royal Air Force with
answered a question on home defence must have Regular, Reserve, Territorial and Auxiliary forces inclu-
swayed the good people of Crawley as it seems a CND ding the newly formed Home Service Force .
march was so badly attended it never took place!
Coverage has included training , recruiting , Exercise it is considered that the Soviet Union has highly
Brave Defender and Annual Camp . After the television trained special purpose forces called ' Spetsnaz' . The
coverage the CO bought the beer for all who took part Spetsnaz are trained to land secretly by air or sea to
but forgot to put an upper limit on it, but being Terri - sabotage key military and economic installations . Ports,
torials we were able to arrange a second mortgage for communication centres, depots and other bases would
him! be the targets of such covert attacks. The Spetsnaz
threat led to a major re-think of how this country con-
In addition, we ran in September a recruiting seminar ducts home defence. In May 1983, the United Kingdom
for ourselves and other TA units in South East England . Commanders in Chief decided to undertake a home
lt was well attended and favourably received . defence exercise in 1985 to try out the new concept in
the conventional ground defence of our country . A
Albuhera Day was celebrated in the traditional number of questions were posed and at the time of
manner at Sutton . lt was good to see a number of our writing a detailed evaluation of the exercise is taking
former co mmanding officers present and one or two place. The questions were : How well could Great
other old faces. If there are any past or present officers Britain defend itself from a skilful and determined
or senior NCOs who will be in Sussex next May please special force? Or from conventiona l air attacks on key
let us know as we would welcome you to our Albuhera po~nts? How would the defence be commanded and
celebrations. controlled ?

Training has included a Battalion exercise on Salis- This Battalion played a small part in trying to answer
bury Plain where a certain ex-lrish Guards officer (OC D the above questions. We were part of the South East
Company) refused to get his boots wet! A weekend at District reserve . On Friday 6th September and Saturday
Stanford doing live firing where a certain Major Piers 7th September we mobilised upon our TA Centres at
Storie-Pugh confessed that he would soon be married Edgware, Sutton, Farnham, Crawley and Horsham . Our
(at last and to whom?). A Battalion SAAM where we recruits were sent off to a recruits cadre and E Company
welcomed the families and a certain Training Major con- (Home Service Force) were the first to be deployed .
tacted his friends in 'S howbiz' and got a jazz band to They went to a Key Point (KP) at Thorney Island while
play during Sunday lunch! the remainder of the Battalion went to a survival area
where we practised our routines and in cricketing terms
After a week on Exercise Brave Defender we moved " warmed up". This was the only time we were under
to East Wretham and completed our annual camp with
more live firing and our annual sections com petition .

36

2

1 Ex Brave Defender . Maj Hurd briefs the Press. Pte Newton.
2 The RSM in conversation with Capt Dalby. 4 2Lt Neil Stratchen map-reading on the Cambrian
3 The famous E Company ' Pig', with its owner and driver Marches !" Gosh, which way now!").

the command of our Commanding Officer and from field exercise, and they should have been easy meat for
then onwards he became, in his own words, " nothing the 4th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment.
more than a postman" .
However, the paras who are members of the Terri-
A Company and D Company were deployed in Kent, torial Army, had reckoned without Private John
C Company to Sussex, B Company to Surrey with one Newton.
platoon at Odiham ARF and HQ Company went to
Horsham . In civilian life he is involved in the hire of earth-moving
equipment, but his hobby is to keep a number of military
While this deployment was taking place ' E' Company vehicles .
IHSF) were covering themselves in glory at Thorney
Island . The Times of Monday 9th September 1985 When he went off on Britain 's largest home defence
reported : " When the Parachute Regiment took on exercise, Brave Defender, he went in his own armoured
Dad's Army it found it had bought a "pig" in a poke . personnel carrier, a "Pig" of the type used by the Army
in Northern Ireland, and he took with him floodlighting
Dad's Army, known officially as the Home Service equipment. The result was that as the paras launched
Force, is the latest addition to the British Armed two attacks on Saturday evening on the disused control
Services. A force of 5,000 men is being recruited and is tower of the airfield on Thorney Island, which was mas-
in straight line of descent from the Home Guard of the querading as a vital installation and was being defended
Second World War . by Private Newton and his colleagues, they ran into
more than the rifle and machine gun fire that they might
it is made up of people up to the age of 50 who have have expected. Their carefully-concealed approach
had at least two years' experience in the regular or across the airfield was suddenly illuminated as Private
Territorial Army, and who are prepared to give about 10 Newton's floodlighting was switched on, and he
days a year for training . In war t heir task would be to charged around other areas of the airfield in the " Pig"
defend f ixed points. with the searchlights switched on seeking out other
attackers.
E ! Home Service Force) Company of the 6th/7th
Battalion The Queen's Regiment deployed on Thorney The attack was judged to have been beaten off with
Island near Portsmouth this weekend for their first-ever

37

heavy casualties and at least three prisoners were taken We moved to Norfolk on Saturday 7th September
by the men of the Home Service Force . Private and carried out a number of range recces. The following
Newton's "Pig" will certainly have been the only day live firing started at section level and progressed
armoured vehicle in the hands of the " force" . throughout the week along with NBC and fitness
training. Each day tested either further skills or different
E Company were not the only company to cover commanders.
themselves in glory . B Company had to deal with a
hijacked aircraft. The Edgware and Mill Hill Times The last two days in Norfolk were given over to the
reported it with the following headline: Annual Section Competition for the plate presented by
" Our boys in daring hijack drama " . With a touch of The Worshipful Company of Builders Merchants . B
hyperbole the newspaper account continues - Company (Cpl Lyons in particular) lost their grip on the
trophy to A Company who won it for the first time with
" A hijacked passenger jet stands motionless and a section commanded by Cpl Diaper.
silent on the tarmac of a Sussex airfield . Police
have made no headway in talks with three The week included the familiar hectic round of social
German terrorists who have seized the plane and events including dinner nights in both the Officers' and
wired it up to explode at the touch of a button. WOs' and Sgts' messes. One tradition that has grown
up over the years and is worth special mention is the
Then B Company 6th/7th (Volunteer) Battalion Corporals' Dinner Night . lt is held in the WOs' and the
The Queen's Regiment, many based at the Sgts' Mess and the SNCOs act as waiters for the
Deansbrook Road Drill Hall, Edgware, move in . evening .
With cool efficiency the hijackers are " taken out"
and the rescue team disarms the deadly cargo. The backroom boys worked as hard as ever. The Pay
Team under W02 Scales, the UPM was a visiting
The scene belongs to a nail-biting screen director this year , rose to the task as did our cooks
epic . . . but took place as part of the massive under the direction of W02 Smith. The MT performed
Exercise Brave Defender". well with CSgt Chas Long coming to Camp for what
really is the last time! We are grateful to them all.
Not everybody grabbed the headlines in quite the
same way as B and E Companies but all worked hard at CAMBRIAN MARCH PATROL COMPETITION
their many tasks . Companies were tasked to carry out
VCPs , patrol, carry out cordon and searches, reinforce 4/6 Oct 85
KPs, attack enemy in defensive positions and act as the
District AR F. All in all it was an active and testing The Battalion was nominated as fifteenth reserve
exercise and greatly enjoyed by the vast majority of the team for CMPC 85 in its 25th year . We received notice
Battalion . of a place only three days before the event. This resulted
in spending the preceding Wednesday drill night search-
This Battalion rose to the challenge and is more ing for " volunteers " and on hectic last minute prepara-
confident for doing so. Furthermore, Brave Defender tion of men and equipment .
has given Home Defence the importance it should have
in our defence planning as a nation . The final nine man team consisted of members of the
Mortar and Defence platoons, an MT private, and
ANNUAL CAMP recruit with only eight weeks' experience.

Brave Defender was the first phase of Camp . The After a quick dash to Wales where we were
second was a patrol exercise in the Aldershot area and welcomed by the inevitable rainstorm , followed by a
the third required the Battalion to move to Stanford . briefing at Sennybridge Camp, and a further 30 mile
Here our Training Major's (Major John Rogerson) plan- journey to the centre of the Cambrian Mountains, we
ning came to fruition.

'A ' Company won the Batta-
lion SAA competition .
Major Hurd collects the
trophy from the Master of
the Haberdashers' Livery
Company. Captain M B
Barrow DSO RN . Clerk to
the Company, Major John
Rogerson and the CO. Lt Col
Peter Hubert OBE are in the
background .

38

were on the ground commencing the first leg at 0200 hrs TASAM 85
Saturday morning.
We were ninth in the Unit Championship and there
The rest of the day was spent moving between RVs were some good individual results.
where various military skills were tested , from timed
assault boat crossing of a lake (ie getting wet) , to Volongdis (LMGI 1st OCdt S Hoffman
treating a casualty affected by a non-persistent blood and Cpl J Bishop
agent. The Queen's Medal (a record score of
TA 50 SLR 1731
The patrol phase that night, recce of a river crossing, Welsh Dragon Cup (SLR)
tested the team further - Wales living fully up to Stage 3 Queen's Medal 3rd OCdt S Hoffman
expectations, with foul weather and terrain to match .
19th Capt J Day
Eight of the team made the RV with the support 50th Pte D McMurray
vehicles at 0900 next morning , that just left the march
and shoot phase between Sennybridge ranges J & H. 1st OCdt S Hoffman

In conclusion a good position considering limited time 1st Capt J Day
for preparation , and a taxing but enjoyable event in
retrospect. NRA Individual Competitions

SHOOTING TEAM Home Guard Trophy 2nd Cpl P Brookes

The Shooting Team have done well at both District BSA Cup 3rd Cpl P Brookes
level and at Bisley . However, it takes time to build up a
successful team and each year our expectations are Noble Trophy 2nd OCdt S Hoffman
higher . They need not only to keep winning but
improving on performances. Queen Mary 2nd OCdt S Hoffman
Cambridge Trophy 2nd OCdt S Hoffman
At SEDSAM 85 the A team won the Unit Champion-
ship for the seventh year running and the B team were In the SLR sitting and standing competitions OCdt
third. At the same meeting CSgt R Bicker was TA SLR Hoffman scored the highest possible score .
Champion Shot and Cpl R Brookes was runner-up .
Inter-Services Rifle Competition

TARA XIII - Capt J Day and OCdt
S Hoffman

The team is now recruiting some ' new blood '. The
mixture of experience and youth will need to blend

together quickly to allow us to maintain our position in
TA shooting .

Ex-SERVICE FELLOWSHIP CENTRES

The Ex-Service Fellowship Centres run two residential homes for ex-servicemen and ex-merchant
seamen and their w idows . New Belvedere House in Stepney, East London , can take 29 residents .
Hollenden House in Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, can take 52. Residents , who must ordinarily be of
pensionable age, have their own rooms in comfortable buildings. They are not nursing homes and
residents on admission must be capable of looking after themselves though some help, for example with
bathing, can be given. Those interested should apply to :

The Administrator
Ex-Service Fellowship Centres
8 Lower Grosvenor Place
London SW1W OEP

39

THE FIRST NINE MONTHS is extended to former Regular or TA Queen's Regiment
SNCOs and JNCOs, who are aged in their thirties or
by Maj A G H Stocks TD forties, and may be missing the comradeship of service
life, to come along to any of our locations with a view to
Following the excellent introductory articles relating enlisting in the HSF.
to E(HSF) Company 5 QUEENS( V) in the last two issues
of the Regimental Journal, I have chosen nine months The focal point of the training year must be Exercise
- the gestation period of both the human female and Brave Defender . Its early stages were effectively the first
the cow - to report to the Regiment on the progress of test exercise for the 50 HSF Companies up and down
the Home Service Force element of the 6th /7th Batta- the country. Although the crash course training pro-
lion . The timing was selected not for deeply Freudian gramme had done a lot to prepare the Company for its
reasons, but that this period represented Phase 1 of this role, I was aware through my previous appointment at
Company's formation and training, culminating in HQ 5 Airborne Brigade that we would be at a severe
Exercise Brave Defender, about which more later . disadvantage against our exercise "Spetsnaz" enemy,
4th Bn The Parachute Regiment. lt was, therefore,
From the outset it was apparent that the HSF was not deemed tactically sound to take along two extra items of
unlike the TA in certain respects. Some things happen defence stores privately owned by members of the
quickly - the writer was asked to attend a Selection Company, namely a set of floodlights and generator,
Board for the appointment of company commander one and a Humber "Pig" APC. This appreciation was based
Wednesday evening in February; was telephoned the on three of the principles of defence; defence in depth,
next day to be informed of his selection, and was mutual support, and surprise; subsequent events
running in his first weekend's training the following proved that the appreciation was sound!
Saturday and Sunday. Some things happen slowly -
the aforementioned company commander has still not The phase of Brave Defender in which the HSF was
officially been transferred from his previous job in HQ 5 involved was concluded on Sunday afternoon, after a
Airborne Brigade. Nothing changes! number of civil disobedience incidents on Sunday
morning, accompanied by visits from a large number of
Training over the initial period has consisted of a members of the press, and a similar number of senior
crash course in revision of basic Infantry skills, appro- officers . After the last of over twenty visitors had left
priate to our primary role of the provision of KP guards . after pa~sing a sometimes benign, sometimes critical
This was essential as we knew from the start that much eye over the HSF, I felt that the HSF motto might be:
media interest would be focused on the HSF in the early
stages of Brave Defender, and that this interest could be " Never in the field of human conflict, has so
harnessed to our advantage by a good performance, but much, been expected by so many, of so few".
would be acutely embarrassing if we failed to perform (with apologies to the late Rt. Hon. Sir Winston
well. L S Churchill, KG, OM, CH, TD, LLD, MP,
Honorary Colonel 5th and 4/ 5th Battalions The
Facilities for training have been adequate for the Royal Sussex Regiment (TA) 1941-1965)
limited number of training days required of HSF per-
sonnel. The most valuable asset has been the unstinting Subsequent to Brave Defender, E(HSF) Company
assistance from host TA Companies at Crawley, Farn- 6/7 QUEENS(V) received excellent press coverage (See
ham and Horsham, in the provision of administration Battalion report above).
and documentation services, and the sharing of drill hall
facilities and MT. However, this has proved to be a two- After a 30 year period of cutbacks in the strength of
way exchange, as a number of ex-Regular Army HSF the Armed Services, the current enhancement of the TA
members have special skills and experience which have and HSF is surely to be welcomed, but only if it is in
been made available to the host companies . In addition addition to the maintenance of the existing strength of
a number of HSF personnel stayed on with the Battalion the Regular Army. lt would be disastrous if the TA and
at Camp and assisted as drivers and signallers . HSF enhancement were to be used as an argument for
further reductions in Regular Army strength on the
Company HQ has clearly shown itself to be free of grounds of financial expediency.
racial prejudice, having established its accommodation
in "The Black Box" at Horsham TA Centre . lt is again The TA and HS F can never be a replacement for
adequate for the limited number of training days, in Regular forces , as a considerable period is needed for
addition to which the first Tuesday or Wednesday Drill concentrated training to bring personnel up to an
Night in each month has been made compulsory for acceptable level of skill and practice and in this day and
HSF personnel at our three locations, in order to main- age who can guarantee a sufficient period of time. lt is
tain continuity . important that after the euphoria of Brave Defender it is
realised that a lot of training is needed to make the HS F
Recruiting is proceeding slowly with current strength at effective, and it is important that we do not make the
40% of establishment. Retention rate during the initial mistake of believing our own publicity from the media.
period has been good, and the company mobilised on
Brave Defender at 103% of its recruited strength ; claims The Colonel of the Regiment called for soldiering to
may be made to the Editor by any TA Company that can be fun . In 6/7 QUEENS(V) we all agree. However my
beat that percentage I lt is anticipated that the resultant aim, after twenty-five years as a TA Infantry officer in
publicity from Brave Defender, and the normal Autumn The Royal Sussex Regiment and The Queen's Regi-
recruiting campaign will do much to move the Company ment, is to make life in E(HSF) Coy 6/7 QUEENS(V) as
up to full strength by early next year . A special invitation interesting as possible, effective within the limitations
outlined in the previous paragraph, and good value for
money to the Battalion and The Regiment.

40

REGIMENTAL HEADQUARTERS

REGIMENTAL SECRETARY'S NOTES Targett , Capt Trevor Fisher, Lt John Burke, Capt John
Doran , Maj Guy Weymouth , Col Mike Dudding, Canon
Allied Colonels in Chief Peter Brett, Rear Adml David Macey, Lt Col Jim Shep-
The Colonel of the Regiment, the CO of the 3rd Batta-
hard , Mrs Jenny Tilton , Capt Peter Cousins and Capt
lion and I were received in Audience by HRH Princess Peter Coppock 2 RNSWR ; Lt Col John Sherry, Capt
Juliana of the Netherlands on 19 June, and the Colonel Skip Simpson and W01 Morris , Hastings and Prince
of the Regiment and I were received by our other Allied Edward Regt ; Capt Keith Ross, Maj Mike Clinch , Mr
Colonel in Chief, HM Queen Margrethe 11 of Denmark, Peter Rumble , Mr Malcolm McBratney, Mr Malcolm
on 20 November. it was a great privilege to be present Wood , Brig Michael Lee , Lt Col Paul Long R ANGLIAN ,
on both occasions and to learn at first hand the deep Lt Col John Jones late R ANGLIAN , Lt Col Peter
interest they both have in their Regiment . Hubert, Rev John Webb , Lt Col Tony Ling , Maj Peter
Broadbent, Col David Cobb, 2Lt Paddy Reynolds, 2Lt
The Queen 's Regiment Museum Nicholas Goble , 2Lt Michael Williams , 2Lt Richard
The Colonel of the Regiment has now agreed with Harknett, 2Lt Gordon Fotheringham , Col Gerald
Mullins, Mr and Mrs Frazer Bird , Brig Brian Parritt, Lt
English Heritage that the Regimental Museum will be Col Peter Cook, Maj Gen Bryan Webster, Mr and Mrs
moved from Howe Barracks, Canterbury, to Dover Jack lnd , Lt Col and Mrs Alan Kenway 1 DEAR , Maj
Castle . The "target" date for opening there is April1987 Charles Moss , Cpl and Mrs Driscoll41 RNSWR , Mr and
and an Appeal is being launched to raise the £75,000 it Mrs Kay Weeke from Denmark, Maj Mac McGinley, Maj
will cost us to move . The interesting collection of John Reed , Lt Col Charles Joint, Lt Col David
exhibits that we have will be seen by very many more Shephard, Lt Dan Whalley, Rev Paddy Craig , Maj Harry
visitors in its new location and will doubtless prove to be Yorke, Maj Nigel Brooks RAF, Maj Mike Jelf, Brig
one of the main attractions in the castle. Charles Barnes, Lt Mick Rowney, Brig Tony Pielow, Maj
Piers Storie- Pugh .
New Illustrated History

A new short illustrated history of The Queen 's

Regiment, written by Major Jock Haswell, a former . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ,
OFFICERS' CLUB
Queen 's Royal Regiment officer, and masterminded by

Lt Col Les Wilson, will be published shortly. it will tell

the story of the Regiment from our famous forebear

Regiments to the present day in an attractive and Regimental Cocktail Party

readable form which should appeal to us all. Over 250 Members of the Officers' Club and their

Portraits of Colonels of the Regiment guests attended the ann ual Reg imental Cocktail Party in
the Haberdashers' Hall on Friday 11 October. Among

Major Guy Weymouth, the last Deputy Regimental our guests we were particularly pleased to see Brig C M

Secretary, who is also a portrait artist, has now com- J Barnes OBE, the new Divisional Brigadier.

pleted a series of excellent paintings of our three former

Colonels of the Regiment and Brigadier Charles

Millman . it is proposed to hang these pictures initially in Dinner Club
RHO.
Following the many favourable comments after the

Book of Remembrance first meeti ng of the Dinner Club last year, the next
dinner will again be held in the Duke of York's HO,
The Regimental Book of Remembran ce has now been Chelsea . The date is Friday 21 March. Please enter it in
made . it is inscribed with the number, rank, name and your diary, now.
unit of all Regular members of the Regiment who have

died while serving on the Active List, and names of our

TA soldiers who have died while on duty. Those killed List of Members
as a result of enemy or terrorist action are listed in gold.
The Book is held in Regimental Headquarters until its fhe new List of Members will be published shortly.
final location is decided . Certain delays have occurred over addresses and annual
subscriptions. Please ensu re that you inform RHO im-

VISITORS TO RHO mediately of any future changes of address .

The following have signed the Visitors ' Book at RHO Wedding Presents

since the last edition of the Journal : Letters of thanks to all members of the Officers' Club

Lt Brendan Haynes, Maj Peter Bishop, Maj Robin for the gifts of engraved silver salvers on the occasion of

JCohhrinstmPoa~selCl ,apLtt Jonathan Riley , Maj Ma x Maloney, Lt their respective weddings have been received from Capt
John Redfern , Lt Gen Sir Geoffrey 1 D Raynes , Lt J Dixon and Lt G I Muir .
Howlett, Lt David Martin, Col Eric W oodman , Mr Ken L - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


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