LONDONSʼ RETURN
Edition
9 2012
Edition
8 2011
LONDONSʼ RETURN - THE NEWSLETTER OF THE LONDON REGIMENT
Contents
THE TEAM
3 - Commanding Officer’s Notes
4- Address to 2011 Armistice Day Service
5- London District TA and Army Boxing Club
6- Greetings from Afghanistan
7- A Company
9 - Vimy Company
12 - Forty Eight Hours in Helmand
16 - Greek Spartathalon
17 - LONDONS’ Life
18 - Commissioning at RMAS
19 - C Company
22 - D Company
23 - Ex Cockney Carver
Commanding Officer - Lt Col Marc Overton TD
Battalion 2IC -Maj Rupert Hill
Training Major - Maj Ben Jesty GG
Adjutant - Capt Nigel Torp-Petersen GG
Quartermaster - Maj Graham Donald SG
Regimental Sergeant Major - WO1 Spencer Wright CG
Regimental Administration Officer- Maj Steve Wake
Chief Clerk - WO2 Tony Packer
OC A Company- Maj Geoffrey Strickland
OC B Company- Maj Tim Smart
OC C Company- Maj James Swanston
OC D Company- Maj Crispin Swayne
OC HQ Company- Maj Martin Gordon
25 - LONDONS’ Life
Editor’s Notes - Capt Rob Hill
Welcome to the LONDONS’ RETURN Edition 9. Thank you to those who supplied articles and pictures for this
edition and those who didn’t - you know who you are. Please be aware that a number of these articles were
supplied at the end of last year so cover a range of Regimental activities from 2011 and 2012 so far.
2
Commanding Officer’s
Notes
The Regiment has been massively
busy since coming back from
Christmas leave. With 54 soldiers
currently deploying to Afghanistan
on HERRICK 16 and the training
of 40 soldiers to go on HERRICK
17, the Regiment is once again
heavily committed to Operations
and welfare support. As well as
this, we are also the Force
Preparation unit for the TA
contribution to HERRICK 17. With
around 300 soldiers under training
from across 10 reserve units, in
February and March we have
been running Battle Camps (field
firing and MATTS) in Warcop to
prepare them for mobilisation at
the end of May.
On top of all of this there has been
a national reserve recruiting surge
to start generating the 30,000
trained strength stated in FR20. As
a result of this and along with our
own recruiting activities, in the last
12 months we have enlisted 130
soldiers into the Regiment and
trained nearly 60 through the
Combat Infantrymans Course. As
well as this, nearly 30 soldiers
have transferred in from OTCs/
other units and ex Regular Foot
Guards. This means we are now
100% fully manned which is an
excellent
achievement.
50 soldiers of VIMY Coy
(HERRICK 16) are with the 1st
Battalion
Grenadier Guards, with the
majority deploying in the
Dismounted Close Combat role.
Having visited them on a couple of
occasions the feedback has been
very positive. It is clear the
soldiers have been fully integrated
and are doing well. The support of
the Regimental Welfare Officer
Capt ‘Faz' Farrell has been
excellent, especially when we
conducted the
families’ briefing. This level of
integration with our Regular Foot
Guards Battalion is invaluable.
Early involvement with the 1st
Battalion the Scots Guards started
before Christmas with our
HERRICK 17 soldiers (GAZA Coy)
having been allocated their roles
well in advance.
A number of key appointments
have also been sourced (Influence
Officer and Coy Plans) with a
Platoon Commander and 3
Section Commanders being
loaded onto the Regular 3 month
School of Infantry courses in order
to deploy in role. For Reservists to
attend these career courses is
unique and is a real benefit of
working closely with our Regular
units. Cpl
Ross from A Coy received a
distinction on his Skill at Arms
phase which is an outstanding
achievement for a Regular let
alone a Reservist.
Another excellent performance
was in the Cambrian Patrol where
the LONDONS team won one of
only two medals awarded to
Reservist units.
Looking forward, the tempo is not
going to reduce. The Queen's
Diamond Jubilee activities for us
will centre around the Armed
Forces Muster in which all serving
capbadges of the British Army will
be represented. As unique units in
3
the British Army this means that 26
soldiers from the London Scottish
and the London Irish Rifles will be
on parade along with the Pipes
and Drums. The Pipes and Drums
will also once again taking part in
the Beating Retreat on Horse
Guards, which keeps up profile in
the public
eye, especially as our Colonel
HRH Earl of Wessex is taking the
salute on 14 June. Following the
Jubilee celebrations the Regiment
is then providing 50 soldiers and
the Company HQ for the
LONDIST TA Venue Security
Force for the Olympics. Based in
the Olympic Park these soldiers
will be mobilised for the month
covering the games. Indeed by
July we will have nearly 150
soldiers mobilised for Operations
in the UK and Afghanistan, half of
the trained strength of the unit.
Finally we have also had a number
of important visitors to the
Regiment including CLF, DCLF,
DMA and CITG. With the ARMY
2020 Study ongoing visits like this
help inform thinking and influence
the wider debate on the use of
Reserves.
In conclusion I would like to thank
everyone for supporting the
Regiment during this busy time. I
would alse like to wish our soldiers
deployed to Afghanistan and their
families a safe tour. Our thoughts
are with you all and we look
forward to welcoming you home at
the VIMY Coy HERRICK 16
Homecoming Parade on Sunday
4th November.
Lt Col Marc Overton TD
Commanding Officer
Address to 2011
Armistice Day Service in
St Marys Church
Battersea
names on
photos on
companies
very same
to return.
Its been a busy year and quite a
journey which began with
welcoming back AMIENS coy from
Afghan with a moving homecoming
parade and reception held by the
Lord Mayor in the Guildhall this
time last year.
May saw the return of Ypres Coy
from HERRICK 13 and their
homecoming was marked by the
first visit of our newly appointed
Honorary Colonel – HRH the Earl
of Wessex, who is taking a great
interest in both us as his Regiment
and the TA in general as he
develops his role of championing
the Reserve Forces.
The journey has been one of
rebuilding the Regiment who, as
one of the most deployed TA
INFANTRY units in the British
Army, was depleted from the
effects of serial mobilisations to
both Iraq and Afghanistan.
I’m pleased to report that the
recruiting is going well and in
addition to turning around the
retention following operational
tours, we will have recruited and
trained over 100 young soldiers this
year.
In March we visited Ypres and sites
of our battle honours around that
town to help the young soldiers
understand the realities of combat.
It was made all the more pertinent
by soldiers finding their relatives
memorials and seeing
the drill hall walls of
who mobilised from the
drill hall in 1914, never
Many of our young and not so
young soldiers will be heading off
later this year, to carry out the most
demanding job that the Army has to
offer – that of dismounted close
combat operations, against a
determined enemy in one of the
most demanding places on earth Afghanistan.
Preparation for this has to be
challenging, and the year’s training
culminated in our annual battle
camp in Cumbria where the
arduous exercises, live firing night
attacks and the tail end of
Hurricane KATRINA, really tested
people to their limits. They did well
and were in good form for a visit by
the Regimental Colonel, HRH Earl
of Wessex and Alderman Fiona
Wolff who joined our Regimental
Council this year to represent the
City.
Doing all this is a real challenge,
which requires personal resolve
and dedication; so to balance this
commitment with civilian work and
family life in these tough economic
times is exceptional.
I would like to take a moment to
thank our families sincerely for their
support. It takes a lot of personal
sacrifice to let loved ones depart
time and again on evenings and
weekends. We couldn’t do it
without you, so on behalf of all of
us in uniform, I’d like to say a huge
thanks for allowing us to do what
we do, supporting our nations
interests here and abroad.
Lt Col MAJ Overton TD
Commanding Officer
The Commanding Officer in the Memorial Gardens
4
NATIONAL LEVEL SUCCESS
FOR THE LONDON DISTRICT
TA & ARMY BOXING CLUB
As the club moves towards the end of our
fourth successful year on the amateur
boxing circuit in London, we have yet
again excelled at every level in the sport.
In the last year, we have produced two
national champions at Class B Novice
level, one male and one female. Isaac
Dogboe has been selected for Ghana’s
Olympic squad and is currently in Africa,
on his return he will be attested into A Coy.
Both these young boxers originate from
inner London suburbs and have committed
many hours of their spare time to undergo
a relentless training regime delivered by,
Captain’s Andy Haines (LONDONS) and
Tom Roach (101 Engr Regt).
In addition to producing National
Champions (Tanya Villers & Isaac
Dogboe) many more have taken the brave
decision to step into the ring for their first
competitive bouts. The membership
numbers continue to rise. However due to
the intense nature of the training and the
level of commitment required in this
demanding sport, some decide to throw
the towel in at a very early stage.
With community engagement high on the
agenda of all military units permission has
been sought and granted to permit
civilians to join the club. This means that
the criteria to only allow serving members
of the Regular Army or TA to join has now
been lifted which is already seeing
numbers increase as a result. The upshot
of this move is an increased level of
military awareness within the local
community, which will also hopefully result
in recruitment into local TA units.
Tom Roach, Andy Haines and National Class
B Novice Champion Isaac Dogboe
LONDON REGIMENT SOLDIER RECEIVES
MONEY FOR THE WELFARE CHARITY
FUND
A London branch of Waitrose paid tribute to local Armed
Forces by supporting the military charity, the London
Regiment Welfare and Benevolent Fund.
On the 1st February Cpl Sebukima was presented with a
cheque for the charity from Mr Shamim Uddin, the Branch
Manager of Waitrose in Tottenham Court Road.
Anyone interested in joining the club or
supporting some of our activities please
get in touch via our website
www.londdistboxingclub.org
Capt Andy Haines
PSAO
A Coy
Shamim Uddin presents a cheque to Cpl
Sebukima of The London Regiment.
5
GREETINGS
AFGHANISTAN!
FROM
Last August I was asked if I would like
to be the first person to fill a newly
created position in one of the UK's
headquarters in Afghanistan. My
civilian background was suited to the
role, so after much discussion with my
wife Tor, I decided to accept. The only
issue was timing. The job hadn't yet
been established yet they wanted me
to deploy as soon as possible! In late
September it finally became apparent
that the job would be established,
which meant I could be mobilised.
So, after three years on the Chief of
the General Staff's Briefing Team,
touring the country with Powerpoint,
two weeks at RTMC saw me bring my
military skills up to scratch. I had been
running round the Wiltshire
countryside to bring my fitness up to
standard and was somewhat gratified
that at 46 I could still run the Army's
basic 1.5 miles faster than some
soldiers ten years younger than me
(11minutes 10 if you must know!)
Further specialist training followed,
along with briefings relevant to the job
and in late November I flew to Camp
Bastion via Cyprus.
From Bastion I flew to Kandahar,
where I am based. Kandahar, which
appears on the first page of 'Study in
Scarlet' (the first Sherlock Holmes
story of all) by Conan Doyle, is the
capital of Kandahar Province. The
base is centred around the airport,
one of the busiest in the world and
home to nearly 30,000 military and
civilian personnel, all supporting the
NATO/Coalition efforts within the
country. To say that I have seen most
nations while in Kandahar and indeed
Afghanistan is not far from the truth.
At Kandahar we have large numbers
of Singaporean military and the
protection of the base is provided by
Eastern European nations. When you
travel to Kabul, the first military
personnel you are likely to see are
Mongolians, who provide the airport
guard.
I mentioned that Kandahar is a busy
airfield and for those who are light
sleepers it wouldn't suit, given that
aircraft and helicopters take off at all
hours, in the case of fighter jets with
full after-burners going and the
AC-130 gunships located there tend
to use the ranges at strange times of
night; you wake up wondering if the
resounding 'boom' is a Taliban rocket
or a 105mm shell from the AC-130!
Looking out of the back of a
Chinook
My role sees me out and about a fair
amount, both within Kandahar, which
is home to Regional Command South,
currently provided by the US 82nd
Airborne Division, and to Camp
Leatherneck, home to Regional
Command South West, provided by
2nd US Marine Division until last
month, now 1st US Marine
Expeditionary Force. Suffice to say
that working with the US forces is an
experience in itself! In addition I have
occasional trips to Lashkar Gar, the
UK's main operating base and home
to Task Force Helmand. Situated in
the middle of the town of Lash', it
makes for an interesting arrival, as the
helicopter will travel fast, low and
weaving across the town into the
base. Once inside the base it is as
though one has stepped into a British
safe-haven, there is even a small
garden in the middle of the base, a
volleyball court and of course, the
chapel.
Nothing stopped for Christmas in
Afghanistan, except for the sand
storms. You may remember that
David Cameron failed to get to Camp
Bastion, well at the same time I was
stuck in Camp Bastion trying to get
home - it took three days. It is
something you quickly learn here, go
for a meeting, but be prepared to stay
a couple of days as virtually all
transport is by air, whether aeroplane
or helicopter. For that reason one
6
begins to count the different aircraft
types flown on and it can quickly
mount. The 'first prize' for most British
personnel is a flight in a US Marine
Corps V-22 Osprey, which takes off
like a helicopter and then 'transitions'
its engines so it can fly like a plane very impressive and I'm glad to have
had the experience. Rather more
sobering was the CH53, an aircraft
which 'looks' old when you get inside
it and makes you wonder for their
safety.
I've seen many things over the past
few months, some fleetingly such as
the streets of Kabul with children
gathering litter to recycle and sell, or
the stunning beauty of the snowcovered Hindu Kush or the Helmand
Valley as one flies low over it in a
helicopter. Perhaps best of all was a
black Labrador called Zeke who made
me feel much better recently. I came
across Zeke on the infamous
Kandahar Boardwalk, home to dodgy
shops and TGI Fridays (Tim Horton's
disappeared when the Canadians
left) with his US Army handler. I asked
if he was a Search dog and was told
that he is a 'Combat Therapy Dog',
travelling to Patrol Bases across the
RC(S) area, just to make soldiers feel
better in themselves; he certainly
made me feel better that day!
I was until February the only
LONDONS officer in country, this
changed with the arrival of Chris
Green, who I have had cause to work
with. Milan Torbica has now deployed
and sits across the desk from me.
Unfortunately I am unlikely to see
many from the battalion as I now have
about a month to go, having just come
back from R&R; I wish them all well
with their tour and safe home.
My regards to all in the UK.
Maj Giles Morgan
A COMPANY
With exactly one month to go before
The Queens and No.2 Company’s
deploy to theatre - with the Inkerman
boys going in the next 24hrs! Our
training has now reached the dizzy
heights of the HMG and GMG
weapons training, or as we’ve renamed them ‘Big Boys Guns’ (BBG).
It was quite refreshing - and relieving
- to find ourselves back in the
warmth of Lille Barracks after
completing our final field exercise on
Salisbury Plain a week before, where
we spent a muddy and helmet
frosting 8 days sharpening our
mission specific skills, to now be
given hands on training on the
impressive ‘BBG’s’ that we had been
admiring from a short distance with
them mounted on Jackals and
Mastiffs in the FOBs and ranges
over the past three months.
With the weapon handling tests for
these out of the way (more boxes
ticked) we have been filling our time
doing a full kit-list check, boxing and
clearing out our rooms and taking
care of the usual last minute admin
issues. The only training we have left
now before our pre tour break are
some ‘confidence’ remedial lessons
on the Vallon lanes and ground sign
awareness (can never have enough
of those) and of course the final PT
‘beasting’ sessions to counter the
inevitable abuse of alcohol, late
nights and dodgy take-aways that is
pre-deployment leave (or in my case,
a lovely all inclusive week in the
Caribbean).
Morale is good with the guys and
we’re all looking forward to the
challenge ahead and just want to get
out there now and get on with it. With
the programme of routine and duties
changing every week in regards to
our specific theatre role(s), it’s going
to be an eye-opening experience of
how fluid and dynamic the change
over that we are all playing a part in
will be. Ultimately, we look forward to
seeing a vast change and a good job
done by the time September comes
round and we pass our hard work
over to the HERRICK 17 boys to
Shura the days away, drinking tea
and soaking up the desert sun. Oh,
and the cold desert nights. Brrr!!!!!
Think it best to leave the kilts at
home for this one lads!
again at a later date! We quickly
discovered that several rank slides
had been produced using lead
chevrons – the extra weight of which
placed those with increasing rank at
a disproportionate disadvantage.
Most of us pulled through however,
with all wounds quickly healed after
the consumption of the magical
brown bags that had appeared to be
in fast supply for the duration of the
weekend.
Pte Allen
Now came the time for the real fun to
start – the Ironmonger’s Trophy! A
Company had grown tired of being
honorary custodian of the Brass Boot
and felt it was time to return it to its
rightful owners. The chase for victory
started with a cheeky 1 mile tab.
Each of the teams was comprised of
people with varying ability - we are
all different and this is what makes
the Army such a fun environment to
work in. Recognising people’s
strengths and weaknesses can help
to ensure the best result is achieved
for the team, with this event proving
that better than any other on the
weekend.
A Coy, London Scottish
IRONMONGER’S TROPHY
– HIGHLIGHTING THE
BENEFITS OF REAL TEAM
WORK
The weekend started out promisingly
enough. A good turn out from A
Company as always, excusing a
chosen few who were too busy
polishing their drill boots or nailing on
their blakey's. The weather had also
favoured us with a nice coating of
snow evenly scattered across the
Pirbright training area - being Jocks
this was only to work to our
advantage, surely. The scheduled
programme was a mixture of MATTs
training for the bounty hunters
among us, along with an 8 mile tab –
all to be followed up by the
Ironmonger’s Trophy after a
successful (for most!) zeroing
session in the morning. It is still a
mystery as to whether or not certain
Private’s had mistakenly been given
magnetic rounds, as they simply
refused to produce a tight grouping.
The MATTs were a relatively
straightforward affair – with every
soldier successfully passing
everything, to ensure a well
deserved bounty would be received
by all. This weekend also helped to
ensure the Jubilee Medal would be
safe for all of those who were
eligible. From that perspective, the
weekend was a great success and
achieved it’s main aim. At this point
we could all relax – and what better
way to start than with an 8 mile tab
around an ice white Pirbright.
Thoroughly enjoyed by all, with some
people even offering to repeat it
7
A Company held strong as a team
throughout the weighted mile run,
encouraging each other and pushing
forward as a single strong block with
no man left behind. You wouldn’t
leave your comrades behind in the
battlefield and we were in Surrey
after all so good drills all round. This
resulted in a blistering sub 5 minute
mile – all on track for “airborne” PFT
times on the next annual fitness test
you will be pleased to hear! In
contrast other teams neglected their
team spirit which led to “the retreat
from Moscow” in many instances,
which reflected in poor overall times
as the last man clambered over the
finish grid.
The run was quickly followed up with
a shoot while the beads of sweat
were still fresh on the brow, only to
freeze a moment later. The Jocks
pulled through well on the shoot
scoring towards the higher end of
the scale, with some shooters opting
to go prone complete with
daysack…. Treat yourself!
Overall, our teamwork proved to be
the decisive factor in securing
victory. We had by no means
achieved the best shooting score,
but we all arrived at the point as a
section and pushed forward as one
team. Standing back from the
situation, it wouldn’t be unreasonable
to assume that this is what was really
being assessed throughout the entire
exercise.
SOLDIERS WIVES
Below is a press release to the
Twickenham and Richmond Times
by the band Chairman. It is a short
note about the concert in support of
The London Regiment's Benevolent
Fund.
A SPECTACULAR SUCCESS
For some it would appear the
weekend had not been challenging
enough. After a quick head-count the
coach began to head off. Pte Solomon
Suronku-Lindsay had other ideas – he
extracted himself from the group in
true Walktenkommando style. Being a
sporting chap, he gave the coach a
100m head start before he began his
chase for the front gate. When he
caught up he repeatedly struck the
side of the coach announcing his
victory. This was mistaken as an
intention to be let on to the coach, at
which point we promptly stopped. A
victorious Suronku-Lindsay appeared
beaming with pride and announcing
we would now be allowed to continue
our journey back to HFR, complete
with medals in hand...
Pte Martin
A (London Scottish) Company The
‘Mean’ Team
THE ROCK JOCKS
The Rock Jocks have had an eventful
last few months, all have been
pushing their climbing grades and
strength set, and what with the
climbing centre changing their routes it
has presented new challenges.
SOLDIERS WIVES: THE FAMILIES
OF THE LONDON REGIMENT
Gary has been mobilised and will
deploy to Afghanistan soon.
On Friday 16th March a contingent
of The London Regiment departed
We wish both good luck and a speedy for training prior to a posting in
return to the London Scottish family.
Afghanistan. The
Regiment's Welfare and Benevolent
LCpl Dan Dixey and myself entered Fund give the much needed
our climbing club’s Halloween fancy support to the soldiers’ wives and
dress (optional) climbing competition, families in however it is needed. On
the routes were hard, but fun and with Sunday, 18th March, appropriately
Dan attempting some routes that only Mothers' Day, the Concert Band of
a squirrel would attempt, we were not the Middlesex Yeomanry (Duke of
placed at the end of the competition Cambridge's Hussars) gave its
but we had some fun and met old Spring Concert in aid of the this
friends and made some new ones.
Fund. Showtime
Spectacular including musical
If you are interested in coming climbing favourites from the Sound of Music
with Dan and I, or just thinking what it’s to Les Miserables received a rousing
like to try climbing, then don’t hesitate, reception from an audience which
act now and phone me and let’s get included regimental family
climbing this week.
members and soldiers who have
already had tours of duty in
Rock On.
Afghanistan. The Bandmaster and
Band President echoed the
Carl Amos
thoughts of all who were there in
wishing our serving men a safe
2 Platoon Sergeant
return.
A Company
We have had several outdoor trips as
pairs down to the rock outcrops in
Sevenoaks called Harrisons Rocks,
LCpl Gary Cue and LCpl Dan Dixie
and myself and a colleague, both in
separate sessions.We have to sadly
say farewell to LCpl Dean Porrit who
has left the Rock Jocks to live and
work in Cornwall as an Outdoor
Pursuits Instructor which for any rock
climber is just heaven and the greatest
job in the world.
Also LCpl Gary Cue is taking some
time out from climbing to search the
warmer climates for a view of some
decent mountains, but not to climb as
8
Bandmaster Michael Robinson, with Capt Gary Anglin and two of
the soldiers from the Regiment.
VIMY COMPANY
Now that the departure of Vimy
Company for Afghanistan has arrived,
it has fallen to me to provide an
insight into our experiences
integrating with the Grenadier Guards
and give you some idea of what our
pre-deployment training involved.
Our first stop in the process of
mobilisation was a week at Chilwell
beginning in early December. All
would agree that this period was a
rapid learning curve but one which
was very beneficial. Wading through
an ocean of administration, medicals,
new kit, lectures and fitness tests was
time consuming and all very
necessary to prepare us for what will
be a challenging tour. We then
travelled straight down to OPTAG at
Lydde for a further week of live firing
and additional theatre specific
training.
pleasantly surprised by the all round
competence of the Territorials.
this exercise had the best training
value of our pre-deployment phase.
Back in camp, we set ourselves to the
task of learning the customs and daily
routine of a Guards’ soldier. Roll calls,
kit inspections, room inspections and
regular PT sessions were all hurdles
those of us unused to Regular army
life had to surmount. Barrack life is
not unpleasant and this aspect of the
pre-deployment period was crucial for
us to further get to know the
colleagues we will be operating with in
Afghanistan.
The whole Battalion came together
again in February to take part in our 9
day final training exercise on
Salisbury Plain. This exercise was
designed to test the skills and drills of
the individual soldiers on the ground
and for the commanders it was a
chance to test their chain of command
and procedures. For many this was a
long and exhausting exercise, often
due to being part of under manned
formations. Daily patrols, night
operations, cold weather and sentry
duty took a heavy toll on soldiers.
However the quantity of assets
deployed and the infrastructure of the
exercise were excellent and all came
away with a real sense of what
operations in Afghanistan will be like.
After some weeks spent with our
adopted Battalion the various
companies and even platoons began
to branch out and follow their own
separate training programmes. For
instance the rifle companies focused
on infantry skills such as weapons,
ground sign awareness and
Left to right: Pte MacDonnell, Cpl
Anderson, LCpl Mellis, Pte Lyon,
Pte Sidonio, Pte Willis and Pte
Robertson
In January any apprehension about
linking up with the Regular soldiers at
Lille barracks in Aldershot were
quickly dispelled by the rapid way in
which we were all welcomed into our
respective companies and platoons.
Within a week we were off to Castle
Martin in Pembrokeshire for a 3 day
live exercise. This had the great
benefit of allowing us to get to know
the other soldiers we will be working
with for the duration of the tour. It was
a good gauge for us to see the level
of professionalism the Grenadier
Guards operate under and to try out
the new knowledge and training we
had been subjected to at Chilwell and
Lydde. I think the Regulars were
9
Families of Vimy Soldiers Day at
the Imperial War Museum and
London Aquarium
compound clearance drills. With my
platoon we focused on navigation
skills crucial for reconnaissance and
fitness. Vimy Company were reunited
in late January to complete a
confirmatory training exercise at
STANTA in Norfolk. Here we had the
opportunity to, amongst other things,
patrol through a very convincing mock
Afghan village and bazaar. We were
also able to really get used to and test
the numerous new pieces of
kit and weaponry which some of us
had never used before. In my opinion
After finishing the final exercise we
mainly set
ourselves
the task of
packing and
organising
our personal
kit for the
t o u r, a n d
assisting
with the
enormous
task
of
sending a
b a t t l e
group's
worth of kit
thousands
of miles out
t
o
Afghanistan
in time for
our arrival.
Now our
rooms are emptied, the Battalion
stores are packed and we have two
weeks of well earned leave. Some of
our Territorial colleagues have been
given early deployment dates and will
arrive several weeks before the rest of
the Battalion.
Summing up the pre-deployment
phase of our training I would say it
has been enormously beneficial and
nowhere near as tough as I was
previously prepared to believe. Our
skills and drills are now at a very high
level and we are fully integrated into
the Battalion. We are now ready for
the next big test beginning in April.
VIMY COMPANY
With the Battle Camp behind us, the
newly established VIMY Company
formed up for the first time at St
John’s Hill (SJH) in October for 8
weeks of fine tuning. This was the
final preparation to join the First
Battalion Grenadier Guards in
Aldershot for the duration of their
Operational tour to Afghanistan on
Herrick 16. There was still much to
cover, ranging from PIHP fitting and
dental work for the deployment to drill
lessons in preparation for the Lord
Mayor’s Show taking place just prior
to our mobilisation.
26 November was suddenly upon us
and the rush to complete final checks
and kit issue went seamlessly; all pax
boarded the coach and off we went.
Chilwell was the usual series of
lectures interspersed with more kit
issue, medicals and lots of tests.
Sadly, not all VIMY pax made it
through the process with the numbers
reduced from 60 to 52 by the time we
departed a week later. Following a
rather unexpected turn, we found
ourselves off to Lydd and Hythe
ranges for a range package
immediately after. We utilised many of
the ranges over the course of a week
including the individual battle shooting
range and the fire teams range.
Various activities such as a top
cover shoot, ‘pairs fire and
manoeuvre’, and a night shoot took
place. All pax were required to
pass weapon handling tests on the
Grenade, the Light Machine Gun
(LMG) and the General Purpose
Machine Gun (GPMG). As a
number of of the soldiers had not
previously had the opportunity to
work with some of the weapon
systems, intensive revision was
required. Many pax commented
that this was the best range
package they had undertaken.
VIMY Company were then stood
down for Christmas leave until 3
Jan when we formed up for the
final time at SJH for our journey to
Aldershot. There was a mixed air of
excitement and unease whilst last
minute amendments to kit were
made. Once at Aldershot, many
pax were glad to finally be
integrated into the Grenadier
Guards Battle Group (1GG). The
formal parading began along with
interviews and integration and was
closely followed by the Combined
Arms Field Exercise Test
(CALFEX). This was the first
opportunity for the LONDONS to
show their Grenadier Guards
counterparts what they were made
of. The three day exercise went
well and helped
commence the
integration of the
LONDONS. The
platoons
conducted a
series of patrols,
offering an
opportunity to
gain more hands
on experience of
Op Barma using
the Valon.
Additionally, a
casualty
evacuation, an
HMG shoot and
a Company
compound
clearance were
carried out.
The companies
of the Grenadier
Guards were
10
sadly running along quite separate
timelines following this point and so
from herewith I am only able to
comment on the journey of the
Queen’s Company.
Pte Quartey, Vimy Company
The Captain of the Queen’s
Company had decided that a great
way of integrating the LONDONS
contingent into the fold would be to
take us on a Battlefield Tour to
Belgium, with a secondary objective
of sharing some of the spectacular
history of the Grenadier Guards with
the LONDONS, something that is
understandably very important to all
of their pax from Guardsman
through to Commanding Officer.
The Battlefield tour allowed us to
trace the footsteps of some of the
original Grenadier Guards to
battlefields such as Ypres where
soldiers from The London Regiment
had flanked them. For some of the
LONDONS pax this was a return to
a few of the sights we had visited
the previous year and the fond
memory of the unforgettable march
we made through the town of Ypres
to the Menin Gate. For others, this
was the first opportunity to see sites
including Sanctuary Wood, Artillery
Cemetery and Waterloo. For some,
viewing the immaculate graves
tended to by the Commonwealth
War Graves Commission made
them think more seriously about the
potential consequences of the
upcoming Operational Tour.
Training on the ranges
On a personal note, the highlight for
the Battlefield was a visit to the St
Sebastian Guild at Bruges,
particularly significant to the
Grenadier Guards as this was where
King Charles took exile and where
the 1st Battallian of the Grenadier
Guards were subsequently reformed
in 1656. We were all shown around
the stunning Guild and given a brief
history of the Guild along with a glass
of beer (G&T for me!) with the
Officers and Senior Non
Commissioned Officers invited back
later that evening for an Archery
competition (which we won), drinks
(55% Charteusse) and nibbles. To be
invited into this exclusive, male only
club, was a truly extraordinary and
memorable experience.
It could not be all fun and games
however, and at the end of January
the LONDONS contingent travelled to
Thetford for a Confirmatory Exercise
(CFX). It was a different setup to that
experienced by 1GG when they had
completed their CFX as this one had
been set up for the Combat Service
Support Arms rather than the Infantry
and it was the Infantry who had to
adjust their expectations. The
LONDONS formed a platoon with
their counterparts from the KRH and
occupied a Control Point (CP), set up
the security of the CP and
established their daily routine.
Alongside the Afghanistan National
Security Forces (ANSF) they
conducted a Shura with the local key
leaders in order to establish a
working relationship. It was important
to inform the key leaders of our
intention to push the insurgents out,
provide security for local nationals
and improve their day-to-day lives
wherever we could. Daily patrols of
the local area were conducted in
partnership with the ANSF, with the
intention of reassuring the local
population as well as information
gathering. Although this was a much
quieter time than expected it taught
the boys a valuable lesson: how
easy it is to switch off when the pace
drops and the discipline necessary to
counter it; something that will no
doubt be experienced at times in
Afghanistan.
Back in the folds of the Grenadier
Guards we continued with low level
training and physical training until
departing on the Final Testing
Exercise (FTX) at Salisbury Plain in
February. On arrival we were all
required to carry out the Deployment
Administration Check (DAC),
followed by which the Commanders
were taken through a series of
presentations related to what we
would be experiencing through the
week. Subsequently, The Queens
Company set up at FOB Pegish
where an Operations Room was
established. The platoons moved
into their various locations around
the camp and established security
via the sangars and main gates. The
platoons took part in a round-robin
which consisted of providing a ISAF
presence in a village within our AO,
whilst maintaining the security of the
FOB through sangar duty or QRF.
We provided partnering and
mentoring to the Jordanian Forces
who were distributed throughout the
three rifle platoons. The Jordanian
forces shadowed the activity of the
members of the platoons and were
requested to take the lead with the
local nationals wherever possible, a
tactic that will be employed in a
similar way with the ANSF in
Afghanistan, helping to transition
from an ISAF lead to an ANSF
lead. The performance of the
soldiers on the ground was
monitored throughout by observer
mentors and TES vests which were
used to track movement, record
when soldiers had been hit by a
notional IED or a round from a
weapon and could report the status
of the person wearing it, i.e.
whether they are a casualty etc.
Since returning to Aldershot the
LONDONS have undertaken a
heavy weapon cadre and a series
of weapon handling tests whilst
concurrently tying up loose ends of
other administration. The incoming
pre-deployment leave and
subsequent two weeks will precede
the departure of The Queen’s
Company to Nahre e Saraj North
on 7 Apr 2012. Everyone is itching
to get out to theatre now although
undoubtedly, the nerves will rise
and the apprehension is sure to set
in as the time to depart
approaches.
Capt Michelle Debono-Evans
2IC VIMY Company
Capt Michelle Debono-Evans
11
FORTY-EIGHT HOURS IN
HELMAND
Day One:
The fire alarm goes off at 05.10. It’s a
piercing tone that cannot be ignored,
which is just as well because fire can
rip through the tented city in which
we live at frightening speed.
However, the smoke detector in our
eight man pod is especially sensitive
and prone to false alarms. I lie in the
dark listening out for the sounds that
must surely accompany a genuine
alarm; running feet, raised voices or
roaring flames and mentally rehearse
the five or so paces it will take me to
reach the exit, but I hear nothing.
Satisfied the alarm can be ignored I
roll over and try to go back to sleep.
By 05.50 I admit defeat and head for
the wash tent. Despite the early hour,
I have to wait in turn to use one of
the eight communal sinks. The
Commanding Officer, Lieutenant
Colonel James Bowder, MBE and
Regimental Sergeant Major, Glen
Snazle join the queue behind me –
there are no privileges of rank when
it comes to daily ablutions. The
Sergeant Major is a terrifying man
mountain who can barely fit behind
the narrow metal sink and since I am
unable to judge his mood I shave in
silence to lessen the risk of offending
him in some way.
I pop over to the welfare centre and
check my Hotmail and Facebook
accounts, which are my lifeline to the
world outside Helmand, before
heading to the D-FAC (short for
Dining Facility), the ridiculous 21st
Century name for the Cookhouse.
The only problem with the food at
Main Operating Base (MOB) PRICE
is that there is too much of it. I
somehow avoid the temptation of a
full English and settle for grapefruit
segments.
After breakfast I wander down to the
HeliPad to meet Press Association
photographer, Ben Birchall. He will
be covering the Vigil Service to be
held in memory of the six 3 YORKS
soldiers killed when their Warrior
armoured vehicle struck an IED at
DURAI junction. The rest of Helmand
have already paid their respects, but
the service at PRICE has been
delayed for 48 hours by a major
operation to clear insurgents from an
area less than 10km from where the
Warrior was hit.
I’ve been assigned as Ben’s “media
escort” and I’m feeling pretty
confident that I’ve got two good news
stories for him that will act as a
counterpoint to the tragedy. Less
than 24 hours earlier in two separate
incidents WO2 Richard Burton (not
his real name) took a round through
the map pocket of his trousers during
a small arms fire (SAF) contact while
Sergeant Mark James walked away
unscathed from an IED strike on his
vehicle. In the week that news
headlines have been dominated by
the terrible tragedy 3 YORKS have
suffered, Sergeant James is one of
five IED strikes we’ve had in as
many days without a single casualty.
It is testament to the quality of the
new generation of protected mobility
(PM) vehicles that we have been so
fortunate.
I brief Ben over fresh brewed coffee,
courtesy of the Danish contingent we
work alongside in the Nar E Saraj
(North) district. It’s the second time
I’ve had the pleasure of working with
the Danish military, the first being
some 22 years earlier back in 1990
on a UN tour in Cyprus.
Appearances can be deceptive and
despite the unconventional facial hair
most Danish soldiers seem to favour,
they are highly professional soldiers
who more than hold their own
alongside the more modestly
coiffured British Battle Group. Coffee
finished, we go in search of Sgt
James. Despite yesterday’s incident
he’s already back at work in the MT
section where he’s preparing to lead
another road move back to camp
BASTION. It turns out he’s a natural
in front of the camera and Ben is
able to get a number of really good
shots which are subsequently picked
up by a variety of regional
newspapers back in the UK.
While Ben is filing his story I find
WO2 Burton enjoying a crafty smoke
round the back of the Ops tent. He’s
no longer wearing his “lucky”
trousers which he tells me are now
reserved for special occasions. I’m
struck by how matter of fact he is
and at one point in our conversation
he even chides the poor
marksmanship skills of his adversary
who should have done better. “A
miss is as good as a mile” he says.
However, he also reveals that his
wife and family are under the
impression that he’s spent the last
six months in a cushy job in the rear
headquarters. With less than a week
to go before he completes his tour
he’s understandably anxious about
talking to the press. We agree that
Ben cannot tell his story and I
secretly suspect that no-one outside
the immediate circle of soldiers who
have served alongside him will ever
learn the truth.
As Ben and I are heading down to
the D-FAC for lunch the tannoy
system hiccups into life with a series
of muffled clicks and the words
“Standby for broadcast” echo across
the camp. My heart sinks when I
hear the words that follow: “Op
MINIMISE, Op MINIMISE, Op
MINIMISE”. As everyone is painfully
over before the patrol I’m
impressed. I judge that he
hasn’t weighed himself
down with too much kit,
has sufficient water (3
litres) for the duration and
is correctly wearing his
body armour, helmet and
personal protection
equipment (PPE),
including gloves, knee
pads, pelvic protector or
“combat nappy”, protective
glasses and ear defenders.
He’s also rigged up two
cameras onto his body
armour in such a way that
he can easily shoot from
both but also keep his
hands free when he needs
to.
aware this means that a comrade
has been killed or seriously injured
and telephone and internet services
will be suspended until next of kin
have been notified. We learn later
that Captain Rupert Bowers has
been killed in an explosion. Rupert is
one of the “Advisor Three Zero”
callsigns who live alongside and
mentor the Afghan National Army
(ANA) in Camp Gereshk, just next
door to our own base.
Ben is concerned he’ll be intruding if
he attends the Vigil Service with his
camera and to try and allay his fears
we speak to Camp Quartermaster,
Captain Mick Guyatt and Padre Gary
Scott. They’re both keen for him to
record the moment and we all agree
that Ben’s presence will be
announced immediately before the
service begins, allowing anyone who
would prefer not to be photographed
the opportunity to stand in the rear
rank. When it comes to it there are
no takers. Held in bright sunshine
under piercing blue skies, Ben’s
photos are compositions of light and
shadow that brilliantly capture the
mood of the service. As the names
and dates of birth of the fallen are
read out I cannot help but reflect that
one, Private Daniel Wilford was born
in 1991, the year of the first Gulf War
and my first operational tour of duty.
He is just 21. I was older then than
he is now and have already lived
more than half a life. In that moment
of realisation, were it possible, I
would gladly trade what’s left for him.
Like so many others around me I
bow my head to hide the tears I shed
for men I have never known.
Day Two:
The next day, Ben and I head out to
Patrol Base (PB) CLIFTON where we
are to join the men of C Company,
the 1st Battalion the Princess of
Wales Royal Regiment (1 PWRR) on
their last patrol in Helmand Province
before heading home. They will be
conducting a “familiarisation” patrol
with members of the Inkerman
Company, the 1st Battalion the
Grenadier Guards (1 GREN GDS)
who are replacing them and will be
conducting the first patrol of their
own tour of duty. It’s a nice day for it,
bright and clear but not too hot.
The Patrol Base sits on high ground
just outside the green zone (GZ) and
the plan is to patrol into the small
hamlet or kolay of KAKORAN. It’s a
known insurgent stronghold and
previous patrols have been met with
SAF from multiple firing points. It’s no
time to be complacent.
I’d noticed the previous day that
Ben’s admin is all over the place.
Coats, bags, cameras, laptops and
other tools of his trade are quickly
strewn across the desk we give him
to work from but when I check him
I make ready at the loading
bay with the rest of the
patrol and hard target
through the front gate and
into a scene from Monty Python’s
Life of Brian. Men in shemagh’s and
dish dashes stare at us with blank
expressions from the corner of
compound walls while herds of goats
scratch around in the bare earth
looking for something to graze on. As
we pass a gaggle of children Ben
throws the youngest of them a bag of
sweets. He’s immediately pounced
on by his mates who try to rip them
from him, but he’s not going down
without a fight.
We continue to patrol down into the
GZ where we go firm on the side of a
dirt road beside an ANA checkpoint
which is surrounded on all sides by
poppy fields. The ANA lads look
bored and wander around in flip flops
and t-shirts, pretending to ignore
what we’re up to. Someone is
preparing a meal while another man
splits logs with a lump hammer and a
metal stake. I also notice that no-one
is manning the machine gun or
carrying weapons. A battered white
Nissan pulls up and five or six lads
get out. Although they’re in civvies
they’re obviously part of the gang
and there’s lots of hugging and fast
talking. In the distance I see men
labouring in the poppy fields in a
slow, measured way that suggests
they’re pacing themselves for a
lifetime of hard manual labour.
Nothing much has changed here for
centuries it seems, so there’s no
great rush to get anything done. It’s
also quite clear that everyone is
watching us and waiting to see what
our next move will be. Up to this
point Ben has not taken a single
photograph because, he tells me,
this is quintessential Afghanistan and
there are already a thousand images
just like the one we’re living in right
now. He’s right, of course. I’ve seem
so many of them before myself.
After about 30 minutes we’re given
the order to move and head out
across the fields towards some
compounds about 200 metres
distant. We’re following a safe lane
cleared by a Vallon operator and
marked by his number two with blue
spray paint. It’s a slow but essential
process. IEDs are the insurgents’
weapon of choice and the number
one source of “Cat A” casualties
amongst International Security
Assistance Force (ISAF) and ANA
soldiers. A Cat A is defined as a life
threatening injury which requires
urgent medical attention within 90
minutes. In Helmand the Medical
Emergency Response Team (MERT)
take pride in providing life saving
surgery in under half that time,
literally on the battlefield, or more
accurately above it. The MERT is
essentially a mobile surgical ward,
complete with surgeons,
anaesthetists and theatre nurses,
which deploys in the back of a
Chinook helicopter as close to the
point of wounding as possible, often
while troops are still in contact. Their
incredible bravery and skill means
that even the most severe blast
injuries involving multiple traumatic
amputation are survivable, but not
without life changing consequences.
It is such a prevalent risk that every
soldier in Helmand has to embrace
the possibility they may return home
without one or more of their limbs.
I’ve lost count of the number of
conversations I’ve had about the
best (below the knee) and worst
(upper thigh) types of amputation
that I know I am not alone in trying to
project what life might be like without
legs.
At first the going is pretty straightforward but as we move deeper into
the GZ the ground becomes heavily
waterlogged and the going gets
tougher and tougher as mud oozes
first over the tops of our boots and
then up to our knees.
It’s almost impossible to mark a safe
lane in this sea of watery mud but I
take consolation from the fact that it
would be very difficult to maintain the
integrity of a battery pack, an
essential component of any IED, in
this volume of water. By the time we
reach the tree line I’m blowing hard
and covered in filth – there’s also a
dodgy stench about me that may or
may not be human excrement. I try
not to think about it. I’m grateful for
the camelback I was issued at the
Reserve Training and Mobilisation
Centre (RTMC) Chilwell in
Nottingham and suck down some
deliciously cool water through the
drinking tube that I’ve clipped to the
front of my body armour. Somehow
Ben has managed to keep his
cameras free of mud and is now
busy clicking away.
We go firm in the tree line and scan
our arcs. There are plenty of local
nationals (LN’s) who have come out
to watch the show. For us it’s a good
sign because it means that the
insurgents haven’t warned them off
to stay away but we’re not letting
down our guard. A number of shifty
looking blokes of fighting age are
having a bit of a chin wag about 300
metres away and one of them is
clearly talking into a mobile phone. A
couple of motorbikes are also
whizzing up and down a track on our
left who appear to be keeping tabs
on our movements. In order to try
and get a clearer picture of what’s
going on we decide to push forward
across another field but first we have
to cross an irrigation ditch. It’s full of
waist deep murky brown water with
steep banks on either side. There’s
no way to jump across with all the kit
we’re carrying and in any case it’s a
vulnerable point (VP) which will have
to be cleared by the Vallon. The
insurgents are experts at identifying
likely crossing points such as this
and placing IED’s in the banks to
catch unwary soldiers as they climb
in or out. Ben is ahead of me as we
clear the ditch but the guy behind me
is struggling to find a foothold on the
slippery bank. I lend him a hand and
he nearly pulls my arm out of its
socket as he hauls himself out.
Unbalanced, I take a step backwards
and stumble before falling headlong
down the other side of the bank. I try
desperately to stay in the safe lane
but to no avail. We’ve been told that
90% of IED casualties are caused by
straying out of lane but it turns out
not to be the moment that my life
changes forever.
In the short time it’s taken us to clear
the ditch the “atmospherics” have
changed. Women and children are
seen leaving the area and the likely
lads we saw earlier have now split
into two groups and moved into two
compounds about 150 metres to our
front. One of our blokes has seen
what he thinks is a long barrelled
weapon being taken into one of the
compounds which we now assess to
be the most likely direction of any
threat. We continue to move towards
this compound expecting to come
under fire at any moment. I keep
checking the safety catch on my
weapon with the index finger of my
right hand but resist the temptation to
slip it to “off”. Unless I’m unlucky
enough to be hit by the initial burst of
fire, in which case it’ll make no
difference anyway, there’ll be plenty
of time to depress the safety as I
sight the weapon.
I’m taking a long hard look at the
compound wall, trying to identify any
likely firing points or murder holes
when there is a huge explosion. My
first thought is that someone has
initiated an IED but then I see smoke
billowing from the compound and
wonder if perhaps it’s an IED own
goal. However, moments later I hear
the distinctive sound of rotor blades
and turn to see an Apache attack
helicopter (AH) approach from
behind us at about 500 feet. It has
fired a hellfire missile into the
compound and now follows up with a
long burst of 30 mm cannon. I take a
knee and watch as the building
appears to disintegrate into a cloud
of dust in front of us. I feel strangely
impassive but, given that we are
between the AH and the target it
crosses my mind that now would not
be a good time for the pilot to
sneeze. This clearly hasn’t occurred
to Ben who is standing in the open at
the corner of the field capturing it all
on a video camera I hadn’t even
noticed he was carrying before this
point.
the gates. The PWRR lads have
completed their last patrol in Deh
Adam Khan and their mates are on
hand to celebrate their safe return.
Capt Chris Green on a patrol
We learn later that, unbeknown to us
and the likely lads, the AH pilot had
come on station a few minutes
earlier. Even from his vantage point
5km behind and above us the pilot
had been able to see what we could
not from less than 150m away on the
ground. He had positively identified
two shooters about to open fire and
under ISAF rules of engagement he
was given permission to make a preemptive strike on the basis of
“imminent threat to life”. In this case
our lives.
The AH remains on station for
another 20 minutes during which
time life returns to normal. I watch a
man come out of his compound
pushing a wheel barrow and begin to
tend to his crops less than five
minutes after the hellfire missile has
been fired. Kids appear from
nowhere to stand and stare and
curiosity even gets the better of one
or two women dressed in head to
foot burkhas who come out to watch
the show. When it’s clear that no-one
is moving in the target compound
someone makes the decision that
we’ve done enough “familiarisation”
for one day and we pull back towards
the patrol base. Everyone remains
vigilant on the return journey as the
insurgents frequently “shoot and
scoot” at returning patrols. However,
we arrive back at the PB without
incident and are greeted by a
cheering crowd as we walk through
Later that day I bump into WO2
“Bullet Magnet” Barrow, another
London Regiment (LONDONS)
soldier who has just completed his
first week in theatre and already
acquired a new nickname. He’s
landed the job of Inkerman
Company’s Intelligence Warrant
Officer and has been involved in its
first significant contact of the tour.
The experience does not seem to
have dampened his enthusiasm. He
gathers together half a dozen
LONDONS who have also been
assigned to Inkerman and there’s
just time for a quick chat and a brew
before a Chinook arrives to take Ben
and I back to BASTION. We are
catching a ride with the last of the
PWRR and as the aircraft takes off
there are cheers and high fives all
round. It’s clearly an emotional
moment for them and the RAF
Loadie knows better than to interrupt
the celebrations.
Back in BASTION I drop Ben off at
the Media Operations cell and say
my farewells. We exchange email
addresses and promise to stay in
touch. It’s been a real pleasure
working with him. In a short space of
time he has managed to really
capture the highs and lows of
operations in Afghanistan. Over the
coming few days his pictures will
appear in The Daily Mail, The
Telegraph and The Metro as well as
several regional newspapers and
websites.
I wander over to the BASTION DFAC where I bump into the
LONDONS Quartermaster, Major
Rob Brown. He has deployed with 5
Rifles and has just completed his first
day in theatre. Over the course of a
steak dinner we discover that we’re
neighbours for one night. He has
been billeted in transit camp 507
while I am in 508 and we agree to
walk back together. However, when
we depart the D-FAC we can’t agree
on the right route back so rather than
fall out over it we shake hands, wish
each other luck and go our separate
ways. BASTION is a vast and
confusing place for those who don’t
live there but ten minutes later I’m at
my destination. For all I know, Rob is
still out there somewhere, still
searching for 507.
Capt Chris Green QCVS
LONDONS
CF NES (N) Info Ops Officer.
Photos courtesy of Ben Birchall
RUNNING TO FORM - ULTRA MARATHON RUNNER SAMMY KILPATRICK TAKES ON
BRITAIN’S LONGEST RACE AND THE GREEK SPARTATHLON.
On Wednesday 22 June 2011, CSgt Kilpatrick QPSI D(LIR) Company The London Regiment lined up with the other
38 competitors to commence the Thames Ring Ultra 250 mile race.
This is the second time this event has been held as it is a bi-annual event first hosted in 2009. The race is billed as
the longest trail race in Britain and attracts athletes from Europe and as far away as South Africa.
The race starts in Streatley and follows an anti-clockwise course on the Thames path and the Grand Union Canal
and Oxford Canal tow paths and back on to the Thames path
to finish in Streatley. Runners have a 100 hour time limit to
complete the race and have to travel unsupported for
distances of up to 26 miles between checkpoints.
On arrival at each checkpoint the runner is given the
directions to the next checkpoint. Here the runners are also
provided with food and water, and have access to their
personal drop bags which are being transported around the
course by the organisers. Once refuelled the runners are on
their way again to the next checkpoint.
Getting the administration to a fine art at checkpoints is vital
in a race of this nature as runners also have a chance to
have a rest period, sleep or power nap. However stopping
too long at checkpoints could result in the athlete being
timed out of the race.
The event does have a high drop out rate and competitors
fall behind the cut off time at checkpoints for various
reasons including sore feet, blisters, fatigue or exhaustion.
Of the 38 who started this years race, 17 finished including
CSgt Kilpatrick who finished 6th overall in a time of 83 hours
59 minutes.
The Greek Spartathlon was the next big event following
only a few months later and with just enough time to
recover from the Thames Ring Ultra, Sammy started the
Spartathlon on Friday 30th September 2011. This is another
gruelling event of 153 miles which starts at the Acropolis in
Athens and finishes in Sparta.
The race follows the route of Pheidippides the Greek
messenger as he ran from Athens to Sparta to request
reinforcements to resist the Persian invaders in 490 BC.
CSgt Kilpatrick at the end of the Spartathlon
Athletes now have 36 hours to complete the event as they make their way to Sparta via several checkpoints en
route. Each checkpoint has a cut off time and any runner who fails to get to the checkpoint within the time limit is not
allowed to progress any further and is eliminated from the race. Due to the strict timelines and the mountainous
terrain which the athletes have to endure, only a third of the starters make it to the finish line.
The Spartathlon is an International event and as such attracts runners from all over the world. The entry procedure
is also strict with runners having to have a qualifying 100km race inside ten and a half hours prior to being accepted.
Out of 319 runners that started the Spartathlon, 143 finished and Sammy finished in 127th position in 35hrs 30mins.
As with any sporting event, training and preparation is vital to success and in addition to this an experienced support
crew during the event is another key element.
Sammy would like to thank Mr Tony Robinson and LCpl Will Aspinall for supporting him on the Thames Ring Race,
which in turn has led to success on the Spartathlon.
CSgt Kilpatrick QPSI
D(LIR) Company
LONDONSʼ LIFE
14
COMMISSIONING AT
RMAS – 01 OCT 2011
Slow marching up the steps of Old
College on my commissioning day
was everything I had hoped it would
be – I was touched that 35 of my
friends and family were watching
me, relieved that the course was
finally over, keen to start putting my
training into practice…but mostly
desperate to get as far away from
Camberley as possible and start
celebrating.
The three-week commissioning
course at the Royal Military
Academy Sandhurst, is the last
stage of testing after numerous
hurdles that for me, stretched over 3
years. As the course is so short there
is no time for teaching so instead you
are assessed from day one.
Despite being set in beautiful grounds
with buildings dating back to the
1800s, no Officer Cadet can
appreciate this when they arrive. As I
was moving enough kit into my room
to last a year, it was only fear that was
showing on everyone’s faces. Out of
the 82 that started at the Academy
with me, less than 65 passed and the
renowned high fail rate was clearly on
everyone’s mind.
I was pleased that I had spent the
previous month completing my final
stages of assessment as everything
felt very fresh in my mind. I had been
in Grantham with LDRTC revising and
testing a range of topics from the
writing and delivering of orders to
leading platoon attacks. The best bit
about this course was meeting so
many others who would later be in my
platoon at Sandhurst and so we were
able to get to know each others
strengths from an early stage.
Despite feeling prepared when I
initially drove through the grounds, this
was mostly thanks to buying
everything possible on
www.rvops.co.uk, and didn’t negate
the pressure I was feeling to succeed.
Friends who had previously attended
the course told me to try and go and
enjoy myself, but it is only upon
reflection that I am able to do that now.
The course itself included two
exercises, with an 8-day one taking
place in Thetford.
18
This was our key testing phase where
we were bombarded with command
2Lt Izzie Currie at Sandhurst with LONDONS support
appointments for platoon attacks, fighting and recce
patrols, which culminated in a company attack on the
final morning. Here, our objectives were called Blood,
Sweat and Tears which were certainly all seen at
different points within our platoon.
When you are not in the field, the days of the course
are filled with command tasks, fitness tests, drill, war
studies lectures and hiding from your Colour Sergeant.
Time seems to standstill while you are there and you
quickly forget the outside world as you are submerged
in Sandhurst’s traditions and culture. After walking up
the steps and hearing the band playing the final few
notes to escort Prince Edward away, I suddenly began
to admire where I had been living. However, it was not
until the formal photographs were over and I was
driving away that I could look into my rear view mirror,
overjoyed to have finished, and finally able to truly
appreciate how impressive the Academy really is.
2Lt Izzie Currie
C COMPANY
INTRODUCTION
2012 is proving to be an
exceptionally busy time for C
Company and The London Regiment
as we deal with three operational
mobilisations – Herrick 16, Herrick
17 and the Olympics – as well as the
impact of the Carter Review which
will clearly have far reaching
consequences for the Regular and
Reserve components of the British
Army. We started this year with a
number of our soldiers being
recognised at a dinner for winning
the Ironmongers Shield in 2011
(Fusiliers Clark, Claybourne,
Lockhart and Slade). A number of
our soldiers are firmly embedded
with the 1st Battalion Grenadier
Guards in readiness for Op Herrick
16 where the majority of them will be
in dismounted close combat roles
and closely integrated with their
regular counterparts. We are also
fortunate to now have a permanent
SPSI, Wayne Hemmings who will
hopefully be with us for a couple of
years and will be crucial to building
the company to full capacity.
Maj James Swanston
Three months has passed in a flash;
it feels like only last week we where
filing through the door of the Surge
Hanger at Chilwell for the first of
many briefs.
Since then there have been some
real challenges and in some cases a
very steep learning curve. Of the 67
originally lined up for Vimy
Company at the close of ATP last
September, 52 made it to posts in
Regular Battalions. For those that
have had to withdraw or not made
it through the puzzle that is RTMC,
the effort and willingness to be part
of the Company is noted and their
absence is felt by all.
With Maj Brown going to the Rifles
in Edinburgh and Cpl Anderson to
the Welsh Guards in Hounslow, the
balance of Vimy Company (the
name given to the LONDONS
contribution to Herrick 16) has now
fully integrated with the Grenadier
Guards. The Company has been
divided roughly evenly among the
3 Rifle Companies, except Sgt
Scott who, as ever, must be
different and go to Support
Company where he will be
deploying as part of a mentoring
team.
We have attended a variety of
training starting with a 12
Mechanized Brigade concentration
of the augmented personnel at
Lydd directly after mobilisation.
This was well run and proved
useful in bringing some of the skills
revised over the annual training
camp back to the fore.
The Grenadier Guards have also
laid on some outstanding training
at both Company and Platoon level
to ensure the new Company
members are entirely conversant
with their TTP’s and drills. The
Company deployed en mass to
Stanford training area during
January to attend
a compulsory
seven
day
Confirmatory
Field Exercise
(CFX) with 4
Logistical Support
Regiment. This
was to say the
least interesting
and it would be
fair to say our
Royal Logistic
Corps colleagues
perhaps got more
than
they
bargained for!!
C Company At The Lord Mayorʼs Show
19
There was also an opportunity to
deploy on the individual Company
CALFEX (Confirmatory Live Fire
Exercise); a Company level live fire
exercise rehearsing all the key skills
of the task ahead at all levels.
At the point of writing this the Final
Exercise for all Herrick 16 Battle
Groups has been completed,
Exercise Pashtun Dawn was by far
the most challenging of all. Designed
to replicate the most difficult and
challenging tempo possible for a 5
day period, all came away with a
real confidence in their part in the
task ahead.
WO2 Lee Bland
THE LAST 12 MONTHS
2011 commenced with us welcoming
home some of our soldiers from a
successful tour in Afghanistan on
Herrick 12, with one of our soldiers
still there, and our SPSI, WO2
Radford heading off on tour. The end
of 2011 sees us again sending guys
to Afghanistan on operations, and
when we write the 2012 edition, we
expect that at least 20 of our number
will have deployed and/or joined the
Regular army.
This year also was notable for the
appointment of a Royal Colonel for
The London Regiment. His Royal
Highness The Prince Edward, Earl
of Wessex, became our Colonel
midway through the year and his first
duty was to present bravery
commendations to a number of our
soldiers who had served on Herrick
12.
Coming from the Regular Army into
the Territorial Army, you kind of
expect things to be a bit easier; but
that is not the case. The London
Regiment is an incredibly busy
place, where we are not only
responsible for training our people
for war, but also to do recruiting and
recruit training, as well as maintain
our engagement in the local
community. It is truly a challenging
job for us all, particularly as we
juggle our military and civilian lives,
but it is great to be part of something
that continues to be focused on
operations.
At the Minden Dinner on 6 August, it
was particularly nice to be able to read
out the citation for Lt Robin Kelly who
was awarded the United States Army
Commendation Medal for his efforts in
Afghanistan as part of the NCO
training team that my predecessor,
Major Richard Celm, commanded.
WO2 Radford, our SPSI, spent most
of the year deployed, and has now left
the Regiment, taking up a position
with the Welsh Guards. We look
forward to welcoming WO2 Hemmings
into the Company.
Maj James Swanston
ANNUAL CAMP AND PREDEPLOYMENT TRAINING
Training for war has been a major
priority for the company this year, and
no sooner had we finished the winter
ball in January, we were straight into
pre-deployment training in preparation
for the Regiment to send 100 of our
people on operations in 2012.
C Company ran the first three predeployment weekends which were
focused on getting the basics right –
individual skills and drills, and then up
to platoon attacks. We supplemented
this with first aid and IED training from
our guys who had recent experience
of this (aside from those deployed in
frontline infantry roles, we had a
number of our soldiers doing
protection party work for counter-IED
teams). This enabled the guys to
really start getting in the mindset of
what they needed to be doing when
they got to Afghanistan and start to
appreciate the harsh realities of
operating in that environment.
In between these weekends and the
Annual Camp at Warcop, C Company
managed to win the Ironmongers
Shield during a march and shoot Operations. Part of the reason for
competition during the late summer.
doing this is to start to build up
relationships for the soldiers with
The annual training camp was help in those that they will be fighting
Warcop in mid-September comprising alongside next year in Afghanistan.
a demanding field training exercise
where companies went through a The majority of LONDONS soldiers,
number of different stands, looking at all of whom are considering
a range of scenarios that many of deploying on Operation HERRICK
them may face in Afghanistan. It 16 with the GREN GDS BG in
should not be particularly surprising 2012, were attached to Inkerman
that the FTX was accompanied by a and No.2 companies and undertook
fairly biblical downpour. Following the training alongside their regular
FTX and a short break, everyone c o u n t e r p a r t s . S o m e o f t h e
moved into a series of field firing LONDONS soldiers had prior
activities to get those deploying up to o p e r a t i o n a l e x p e r i e n c e i n
t h e s t a n d a r d r e q u i r e d b e f o r e Afghanistan and Iraq to draw on,
mobilisation.
but for many this was their first time
working with Regular soldiers and
their longest field deployment.
Regardless of prior experience all
agreed however that this was a
very physically challenging and
demanding exercise.
The Battle Group role was that of a
NATO task force which is assigned
to restore national boundaries in the
oil and gas rich district of
Pokharistan between the
neighbouring countries of the
United Western States and the
Northern Democratic Federation.
Although the exercise is intended to
provide foundation training for the
“All Arms” battle and included the
use of AS90 and Challenger 2,
which have never deployed to
Afghanistan, there was nonetheless
a close parallel with current
operations in some of the serials.
Troops were required to operate out
of FOBs in villages which bear a
2Lt Jonty Irving smiling through the
striking resemblance to those in
pain
Afghanistan and conduct “influence
patrols”, interacting with Afghan
CANADA
actors playing civilians, local
security forces and insurgents
Thirty two soldiers from The London through the use of interpreters or
Regiment, including a number of C “terps”.
Company personnel, joined the 1st
Battalion Grenadier Guards on LORD MAYORS' SHOW
Exercise PRAIRIE
THUNDER 3 in
F ol lo w e d b y o ur Ce r e m on ia l
Canada,
a
Pioneers, The London Regiment
demanding 22 day
paraded through the streets of the
Brigade level field
City of London in the 800 year old
training exercise
tradition that is the Lord Mayor's
involving all arms
Show on 12 November. It was a
live firing serials, as
long day, starting with a Regimental
well
as
an
photo at Horse Guards just as dawn
extensive Tactical
broke and then we were off to
Effect Simulation
Smithfields to await the start of the
(TES) exercise
parade – of course, it was very
covering both
important for us to have a quick
Force-on-Force
swig of port to kick proceedings off.
and Stability
20
It had been quite an effort to try and
get our new No.2 dress uniforms
ready in time and also fit in drill
practice to our training regime, but
the Regiment looked great on the
day, and was particularly special for
us as we hold the Freedom of the
City of London. Hopefully in two
years when a member of the
London's Regimental Council is
installed as the new Lord Mayor, we
will be able to be at the front of the
parade!
SOCIAL EVENTS
The Company has had a very
social year as well. Earlier in the
year, we did a battlefield tour to
Ypres and were on parade at the
Menin Gate when the last post was
sounded, which was a very special
occasion for us all. And of course, it
was only appropriate that we also
got to sample some of the local
beverages which was good fun.
C Company ran both the winter and
summer balls for the Regiment –
the latter was at Wellington
Barracks and we had over 350
people, and the event was
sponsored by Red Bull and Ministry
of Sound which isn't a bad effort.
The Company was also involved in
Armed Forces Day at Battersea
Park at which the Company
Commander even got to judge a
dog competition! The Minden
Dinner was held at Her Majesty's
Tower of London this year and we
were able to be joined by a number
of officers from the Royal Anglians
as well as some Royal Navy
bretheren. As in years gone by, the
Cordwainers again hosted the
Company and wives/ partners at
the Law Society where the funds
kindly raised by the Cordwainers
were handed over.
On the 25th June, we hosted the
Cordwainers at Balham as they
were undertaking a challenge to
raise as much money as possible
for the RRF benevolent fund. We
set out a few challenges for them –
put up a tent (blindfolded), strip and
assemble a weapon, cook a ration
pack meal, do drill and a .22 range.
The girls team were amazingly
accurate in the range shoot, and
the efforts to put up the 9 x 9 were
a real sight to behold. However, the
end result was that the
Cordwainers were able to raise an
amazing £20,000 (out of a total of
£25,000 that they donated this year
to our fund).
C Company soldiers with the
Mayor of Wandsworth
C COMPANY FROM AN
SPSI PERSPECTIVE
On the 28th November 2011 I
assumed my new post as the SPSI
of C Company. I commenced the
post with little experience of the TA.
Therefore, I had preconceived
views about the TA and its soldiers.
My ideas encompassed overweight
59 year old Lance Corporals, badly
shaped berets and a Tuesday night
drinking culture. With my first drill
night looming
I had visions
of ‘Dads
Army’ and
was avidly
looking for Mr
Mainwaring.
As
the
s o l d i e r s
started to
arrive I did
not find one
59 year old
L a n c e
Corporal,
M c D o n a l d ’s
gold card
holders or indeed Mr Mainwaring.
However, some very junior recruits
were present so a few berets met
my expectations! The soldiers on
parade looked like any other soldier
I have experienced in my time in
the Regular army. Many questions
such as ‘could this be right? Am I in
the right place? Is this a dream?’
ran through my mind. For years I
had assumed that my Regular,
unjustified, army perspective of a
TA soldier was correct.
The soldier of C Company has two
lives. In one of his lives he is a
family man, often working long
hours in demanding jobs, which you
could argue is the same as a
Regular soldier. However, his
second life as a soldier is just as
demanding and takes up a lot of his
spare time. This is where I believe
the comparison to Regular soldiers
differs. If a Regular soldier is not on
operations or exercise how
precious are his weekends? Often
weekend guards are swapped or
sold on the ‘black-market’ to safe
guard his weekend. Therefore, as
much as it may contradict a
generalised view of the TA by some
Regular soldiers, I believe that the
TA soldier shows as much, if not
more commitment than his Regular
counterpart.
The days of the TA drinking club
are gone with TA soldiers deploying
on operations at regular intervals as
well as managing a civilian career.
The soldering ability of the TA
soldier is often questioned.
However, this is due to a lack of
time to conduct training that is
comparable to the training a
Regular soldier receives, as part of
his full time employment. The TA
soldier has to conduct his training
during a 2 hour period on a drill
night or at weekends. Surely we
would not expect our Regular
soldiers to be as proficient if they
were as constricted by time?
I am looking forward to the next two
years with C Company. I believe
that it will be rewarding, challenging
and frustrating. Hopefully not in
equal proportions…………
WO2 Wayne Hemmings 1RRF
D COMPANY
May I start with best wishes for a
speedy recovery to Eric Craig, and
congratulations on all those recently
promoted, including Sgt Craig.
I am pleased to say that the year to
Spring 2012 has been a much more
successful one than the Company
has enjoyed for some time, and not
just due to the perennial efforts of
Barbara and Kevin, the QPSI CSgt
Kilpatrick and Cpl Roberts!
Having a CSM (WO2 Downard), 2IC
(Captain Cheese) and OC meant a
year of stability for the London Irish
Rifles after several of turbulence.
We said goodbye and thanks to our
Honorary Colonel Brigadier O’Lone,
Lt Quentin, the CQMS CSgt
Dickens, Sgt Amos, Sgt Anderson,
LCpl Gent and LCpl Groombridge,
not forgetting 2Lt McConkey who
has left to pursue a career in interior
decorating. Having redecorated the
Mess with mashed potato one night
he should do very well! We say hello
to the new SPSI from the Irish
Guards WO2 Waddell, CQMS CSgt
Tester, and a number of other people
mentioned in this article.
Our main effort is to support the Foot
Guards on Operations. 15 (Trained
Soldier) Platoon (from whom our
operational volunteers come), has
been renamed ‘Anzio’. We saw the
return of Ranger Simpson and LCpl
Sebukima safely from Afghanistan in
Autumn 2011, however a recent
Herrick veteran Ranger Ryan is
recovering after being hit by a car in
South London. Currently mobilised
on Herrick 16 from the Company are
WO2 Carter, LCpls Hayward and
Beck, and Rangers Badjie,
Babatunde, Noonan and Denne. We
wish them a successful and safe
tour and look forward to their return
in October 2012. A box is sat just
inside Connaught House for nonperishable ‘goodies’ to be sent to
them if you are passing, please
contribute. We are now preparing to
send perhaps another seven soldiers
on HERRICK 17 and mobilise others
for the 2012 Olympics security
taskings. I urge Association members
to continue to ask after those who
have returned from Afghanistan and
Iraq, as tours continue emotionally for
some time on return. The Platoon is
currently run by 2Lt Croft recently
joined from RLC and Sgt Craig.
After operational facilitation, recruiting
has been our next priority. Recruiting
in Camberwell has always been a
problem but is not necessarily
remedied by moving somewhere else.
However a Company HQ nearer to
where those likely to join the
Association work or live is desirable.
Therefore a two phase operation is in
progress, to bolster the critical mass
at Connaught House with the move
there of Mitchell Platoon (the multicapbadged Battalion Recruit Training
Platoon I started 2 years ago), and
furthermore find additional premises
in central London but within reach of
Camberwell. Phase 1 is in place. My
successor will hopefully report on the
completion of stage two in the next
Company notes.
Four Open Evenings will have been
held over the last year, and two
‘Saxon Starters’ resulting in more D
Company recruits on ‘Fastrack’ over
Summer 11 than all the Londons
Companies put together. Credit is due
to the PSAO Captain Bartlett for his
courage in predicting this to RHQ and
the SPSI WO2 Hodgson for doggedly
preserving quality amidst the quantity.
13 (Recruit Training) Platoon, has
been renamed ‘Highwood’ in honour
of the Surrey’s legacy at Flodden
Road, and the enlivened Platoon
having been so well nurtured by 2Lt
Connolly and WO2 Carter(who have
left us for Reg C Sandhurst and
Afghanistan respectively) is now
presided over by the capable Lt
Bunton (Australian Army) and CSgt
Bessell.
19
The Company has very
successfully run two Range
weekends, a section attack
weekend, the COIN phase of ATP
and a Patrols Exercise (the timbre
of which persuaded several
members of other Regiments to recapbadge). We shortly expect to
see Berkhamsted Cadet force also
adopt the Caubeen, as well as
Major General Sir Sebastian
Roberts KCVO OBE who we
welcome as our new Honorary
Colonel, bringing us ever closer
into the Guards fold.
Since the last Emerald LCpl Styles
came 6th in the 100k UK
Trailwalker Competition, we visited
the Loos battlefield, reinstated the
Lambeth Shoot, held numerous
‘Alliance’ lunches for ‘friends’ of the
LIR, supported OTC Exercises
across the whole of the UK, raised
£1500 organising camping in parks
for disadvantaged kids in Lambeth,
marched on St Patricks Day, the
Lord Mayors Parade, Loos Sunday,
Remembrance Sunday, the
disbanded Irish Regiments Parade
and the West Indian Ex Service
Persons Parade through Brixton, a
first, surely! We also provided an
honour guard for Camilla, Duchess
of Cornwall at a charity event in
Burlington Arcade which raised
over £20k for BLESMA and Decaid,
a Services Charity marking 10
years in Afghanistan.
I should like to thank all members
of the Company, Association and
friends of the London Irish Rifles
who have helped me through this
interesting time in the life of the
Regiment, and wish the very best
of luck to the PSAO, CSM, 2IC,
and all who continue to wear the
Caubeen with pride and style, as
we navigate the next stages of our
own individual military careers. It’s
been fun, and an honour.
Maj JAC Swayne,
OC D Company
EX COCKNEY CARVER –VAL D’ISERE
7TH -21ST JANUARY 2012
Ex Cockney Carver was an Alpine Ski training
exercise set in Val d’Isere, France. With the main
effort to ensure each man conducted and passed
Joint Ski 1(JS1).
then evening conference at 1830 to account for everyone
and find out how the troops were progressing. After the
meeting each room would cook their evening meal. (The
cost provided by CILOR and was administered by the
platoon commanders which consisted of bulk shopping at
the local supermarket and then handed out to the
individual rooms). The rest of the evening was then free to
explore the delights of the local town.
The exercise was conducted over a two week period
with 70 troops from the Coldstream Guards 7
Company and 10 from The London Regiment
supported by nine instructors.
Thursday evening saw everybody meet up together for a
bit of apres ski and consisted of a company smoker at the
local Italian pizza restaurant then onto sample some of
the night life.
The first week saw 8 members of A COY (London
Scottish), 2 from D Coy London Irish Rifles and 1 from
HQ Coy, meet up with the 70 troops from the
Coldstream Guards at Wellington Barracks. Initial G1
checks were conducted; passport and next of kin. We
then had an evening meal before loading all kit and
equipment onto an impressive new state of the art
double decker coach. The coach set off for France via
the port of Dover and some 18 hours and numerous
DVD films of various taste selected from the troops
we arrived in snowy Val d’Isere. In fact due to a recent
heavy snowfall the road up to our accommodation
was not accessible by our state of the art coach. The
coach first getting stuck in the snow (much to the
annoyance of the local traffic). Then having to stop
short of our accommodation by 800 meters due to its
size. So all troops proceeded to unload the bus and
carry all the kit the rest of the way up.
Friday evening was soon upon us and we handed back in
the kit issued and cleared out our rooms ready for the
troops on the second week.
Summarising the first week, it was a fantastic weeks
skiing in great conditions which saw all non skiers’
progress to skiers and more advanced skiers tweak their
skills with all passing JS1.
It is hoped that more members of the Company take
advantage of the opportunity to join the Guards ski trip
next year. It is also worth mentioning that the LONDONS
were completely accepted as part of the Guards and
treated as their own, which is perhaps a measure of just
how well the TA have ‘shaped-up’ on Ops over the last ten
years or so in the eyes of the Regular Army.
Thanks go out to 2Lt Bragger the instructors and all from
The accommodation was Les Chalets Du Jardin Alpin. the Incremental Guards Companies for an extremely well
This consisted of 6 to 8 person flats. These were very run and enjoyable adventure training package.
comfortable and had all the mod cons including Sky
TV, a microwave and a dishwasher.
CSgt Tester
Once allocated our rooms we
were then issued with all
equipment needed for the
exercise; skis, boots, suits,
crash helmets. We were then
given timings for the next day
and then stood down for the
evening.
Monday morning at 0700 the
troops were split into groups;
non skiers and skiers. Non
skiers were then split down
again and were allocated
instructors. The skiers then
headed off to the ski area for
a quick ski ability
assessment. Once we were
assessed we were split into 3
groups led by an instructor.
So the next five days
followed with parade set at
0845, ski training up to 1630
(when the lifts closed) and
23
Pte Turton flying the flag
“RomComs” on the DVD player), we arrived in Val
d’Isère and moved into our accommodation: plush
chalets with fully stocked kitchens! We also shared the
chalet complex with Essex University, much to the
delight of the blokes!
EX COCKNEY CARVER: FOOT
GUARDS SKI TRIP
On January 7th, personnel from A Company (The
London Scottish) and D Company (The London Irish)
took part in adventure training with the Incremental
Companies from the Scots (F Coy), Coldstream (7
Coy) and Grenadier Guards (Nijmegen Company). We
moved from Wellington Barracks in London, to Val
d’Isère in the French Alps to ski for a week, as part of
the “Skiing Foundation One” course; aimed at
complete beginners.
The next day we met our instructors and began the
SF1 course. I can only speak from the experience of
my group, which were mostly Regular soldiers.
Starting out was simple enough, learning to stop and
go and simple turns. This proved harder to grasp for
some than others, which meant that certain members
of The London Regiment were constantly face down in
the snow…
My first impression of the young Guardsmen we were
working with was a very positive one indeed. I
expected many of them to regard us as lesser soldiers
for being Reservists. On the contrary, many of them
had heard of the reputation of the LONDONS, and
were very accepting of us within their ranks.
Our instructor was keen to challenge us, and had us
flying down red slopes by the end of day two, although
not always the right way up! By the end of day three,
we were tackling black slopes (the most difficult slopes
in the area) with relative ease. A civilian instructor
would never in his right mind allow his students onto
these slopes by day three! This goes to show how
keen they were for us to develop our courage and
determination as well as our skiing ability. Our phys
also improved dramatically, after spending 8 hours a
day skiing non-stop around the area for a week!
After an initial bonding period on what was literally an
emotional 20 hour coach ride (we had to endure many
By far my favourite experience consisted of skiing “offpiste”. This involves skiing off the designated slopes in
deep snow, which allows you to make your own tracks
across fresh powder. The only way the skiing could
have been better is if I had taken an IPod with some
Bond music on it!
Of course, the entire week didn’t just consist of racing
down the slopes. We were also privileged to be taken
to “La Folie Douce”, an outdoor bar/club on top of a
mountain, by the Officers. This resulted in much
drinking, dancing and waving of the Household
Division flag by members of the fairer sex!
On the last evening, the exped organisers treated us
all to dinner in an Italian restaurant, with free pizza
and wine served all evening! This was a fantastic way
to end the trip, and have a laugh with the Guardsmen
we had met.
The best thing about the exped for all of us was the
cost. For £150, we paid for what would cost a civvy
well over £1000 in kit hire, ski passes, food, drink and
accommodation. Because of the excellent conduct
from all The London Regiment soldiers who took part,
the Guards have expressed an interest in inviting the
Battalion on the same trip again next year. If the
opportunity arises: square yourself away!
Strike Sure
Pte Christy
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LONDONSʼ LIFE
25